College Newsletter

Principal's Report

That's a wrap for Term Two

All students are active participants in a learning culture that promotes academic excellence and personal development through a diversity of challenging experiences.  

 

VISION

“Working together, learning together” – Working together to enable all students to achieve their potential and become confident, effective learners who contribute productively to society.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

Doncaster Secondary College acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which our school is situated, the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to elder's past, present and emerging and extend that respect to any and all Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. We value the ongoing contribution to the cultural heritage that the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung people provide to our school as well as the city of Manningham. We recognise that this land was never ceded and there is no treaty, and we commit to efforts towards reconciliation as a school community. We at Doncaster Secondary College are inclusive of individuals from all backgrounds including the LGBTQIA+, culturally and linguistically diverse as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

GENERAL ACHIEVEMENT TEST

All students studying a Unit 3/4 VCE subject are required to sit the General Achievement Test (GAT).  Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the GAT was postponed from its original date in early June.  The GAT will now be held at 10:00am – 1:15pm on Thursday 29 July 2021. 

Further information will be provided to families and students by the Senior School. 

CURRICULUM DAY

In an effort to ensure that face-to-face teaching time is prioritised, we are holding our next Curriculum Day on Thursday 29 July.  This decision has been made to ensure that our senior school students do not miss another day of face-to-face classes.  

 

The Curriculum Day will be used to focus on the Pre-Review Self Evaluation component of our School Review.  Key activities on this day will involve reflecting on our progress towards the goals from our 2018-2021 School Strategic Plan.  It will provide an opportunity for all staff to provide feedback on the actions that we have taken to improve student outcomes, identifying the enablers and barriers to their achievement. 

 

The process of school review will be rigorous and objective, and draw upon a strong evidence base to assess our school’s performance. At the end of the process, new goals, priorities and strategies will be developed for the next four years. 

 

As part of the Pre-Review Self Evaluation, staff, students and families on the School Council have provided feedback on the highlights from the past four years. Some of these include:

  • Response to Remote and Flexible Learning
  • Student leadership, voice and agency
  • Increased student wellbeing support
  • Improved College facilities
  • VCE median study score increasing to 30
  • Opportunities for students in Music, Sport and Camps
  • Implementation of the Doncaster Secondary College instructional Model

It is important that we take time to reflect on our achievements, and at the same time take a deep dive into areas for improvement. There will be opportunities for our families and our students to participate in the Pre-Review Self Evaluation through focus groups and forums which will be established early in term 3.

NAIDOC WEEK

NAIDOC stands for 'National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee'. Its origins can be traced to the advocacy of Aboriginal groups and organisations in the 1920s and 1930s, which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Aboriginal Australians. NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

 

National NAIDOC Week celebrations will occur from 4-11 July 2021, which is during the school holidays. This year’s national NAIDOC Week theme – Heal Country! – is a call to action, urging everyone to seek protection for Australia’s land and cultural heritage.  This week staff have been encouraged to incorporate NAIDOC week activities in a lesson. 

 

Due to current COVID-19 restrictions across the state, the Victorian NAIDOC Week has been postponed until October, but national NAIDOC Week remains a valuable opportunity for all staff to engage with this important week. 

CAREERS EXPERIENCE WEEK

I am incredibly proud of our Senior School team for persisting with the Careers Experience program. Over 100 students were involved in work placements. These onsite experiences enhance students engagement and understanding of the world of work, providing them with opportunities to see and experience different jobs. These explorations are vital to assist students in making informed career decisions. 

 

For those students who do not have an actual work place arrangement, the school provided an onsite Careers Experience Program. This program provided a great opportunity for students to learn and explore career areas. The Virtual Careers Experience Project Day on Wednesday June 23 was completed remotely and provide students with time to complete their projects. 

 

I would like to acknowledge the work of Vanessa Ramsay in maintaining her focus and being able to adapt to the changing restrictions. I also thank our students and families for your patience and understanding whilst we were awaiting updates from the Department of Education.

I wish you all the best for the term holidays and look forward to working with you in semester 2.

 

Glenn Morris

Principal