Principal's Report

Manningham Interfaith Network Welcoming Celebration Event

On Thursday 20 June, Manningham Interfaith Network celebrated World Refugee Day.  The Manningham Interfaith Network offers the City of Manningham a commitment to seek to live together in peace and goodwill. The group promote mutual respect and understanding of one another’s beliefs, cultures, and traditions which sits so neatly into what we are trying to achieve in our school community.

I was honoured to be invited to the Welcoming Celebration Event. This event included performances from local Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh communities as well as local primary schools (Doncaster Gardens PS and Beverley Hills PS) and our own Doncaster Secondary College rock band.  All performances were outstanding, but I thought our students were the highlight of the night.  Their rendition of “Faith” (written by Stevie Wonder) had the audience “bopping” in their seats!  Thanks again to Mr Nick Dean for his ongoing dedication to the music program and to our amazing music students.

The Welcoming Celebration Event was reported on the BLTV service of Fo Guang Shan in Taiwan (see English translation below).

“In response to the United Nation’s World Refugee Day, Manningham Interfaith Network held a special celebrating concert bringing different groups and people with different religious backgrounds together to share the value of “tolerance and peace” through music performances. Fo Guang Shan Melbourne and Young Adult Group of Buddha's Light International Association are invited.”

Notice of changes to Mobile Phone Policy

Recently there has been an announcement from the Minister for Education James Merlino that mobile phones will be banned for all students at Victorian state secondary schools from the start of 2020.  The aim of this policy is to reduce distraction, tackle cyberbullying and improve learning outcomes for students.  We will be phasing in this requirement during the second semester as further advice and resources become available.  Please see the item ‘Technology at DSC’ in this newsletter for an insight into our work in this area.

As always, when emergencies occur, parents and guardians can reach their child by calling the school.

Éva McMaster

Principal