Issue 2

Principal’s Report – 20 February 2026

With the first four weeks of the 2026 school year already behind us, there is a genuine sense of optimism and enthusiasm across the school. Classrooms are settled and purposeful, students are engaging confidently in their learning, and new routines are now well established. It has been particularly pleasing to see students reconnecting with friends, welcoming new peers and embracing the opportunities that a new school year brings.

Our new Year 7 students have taken to their new environment well and it has been lovely to speak to so many of them in these first few weeks. Beginning secondary school is both exciting and at times a little daunting. I sincerely hope the newest members of our community are starting to feel a true sense of belonging aided by the support of their morning mentors, teachers, year level coordinators and of course their peers. With Year 7 camp at Anglesea next week, I am sure that these connections will only strengthen. I do wish all campers and our staff a wonderful time at what is always a highlight of the Year 7 calendar.

It was also wonderful to see so many of our families attend our Year 7 social evening last week. It was a great opportunity to meet parents new to our College community and provide them with the opportunity to be led on a tour by their sons and daughters to gain a small insight into their daily movements at our school. The evening was two-fold with families also having the opportunity to attend the Instrumental Music Information and Recruitment sessions. I know that our Instrumental Music program will continue to thrive this year with many signing up. We look forward to seeing our Year 7s perform for us a bit later in the year!

An annual opportunity for student and staff connection was embraced last week when we held our College Swimming Carnival. Beyond the races and results, what stood out the most was the genuine enjoyment shared by students and staff alike. These are the moments that strengthen friendships, create lasting memories and build positive school culture. One highlight of the day came from our Year 12 students who never fail to disappoint as they go all out with their inventive costumes for the day. They truly live up to the carnival spirit! My sincere thanks to Michael James for his superb coordination of the event.

Last week’s Student Leadership Training Day also provided many of our students the opportunity to deepen their connections to the school, their peers and teachers. It was inspiring to see so many students stepping forward and embracing the opportunity to be actively involved in such an important and rewarding aspect of school life. Throughout the day, students demonstrated impressive confidence, thoughtful insights, and a genuine commitment to making a positive difference in our community. Their enthusiasm, creativity, and willingness to collaborate were clear strengths, and we look forward to seeing the energy and ideas from the day continue to shape and enrich our school in the year ahead.

Embracing the Season

In keeping with our commitment to building strong connections across our school community, we acknowledge that the holy month of Ramadan has commenced this week for many members of our community. To those observing, Ramadan Mubarak! We wish you a meaningful and peaceful time of reflection and connection with family. Wishing you a month of peace and blessings.

We also extend our warmest wishes to our Chinese students, families and staff celebrating the Lunar New Year. May the Year of the Horse bring happiness, good health and prosperity.

Upcoming opportunity to connect

Strong schools are built on strong partnerships which in turn support our young people to thrive. I would also like to take this opportunity to remind families that there are many ways to connect with the College. On Monday 23 February, our wonderful Parents and Friends Association invite you to a Meet and Greet Social Evening taking place at the College.

I know that many families find it difficult to make connections with other parents once students begin secondary school and this is certainly a wonderful opportunity to do just that. Whether you are new to the school or have been part of our community for years, this is a wonderful opportunity to connect, share ideas and build relationships. Even small contributions of time and involvement make a meaningful difference to our school community. Please refer to Compass newsfeed for more information.

Staying informed

To ensure that communication between school and home is strong, we ask that all families regularly check Compass. The Compass Learning Management System provides parents an opportunity to monitor many important aspects of their child’s learning and wellbeing. It is important that families are checking Compass on at least a bi-weekly basis so that they are well informed of upcoming events, student attendance data and learning outcomes.

We are committed to improving the quality of communications to parents – especially in relation to student learning. The management of Learning Tasks including descriptions, due dates, confirmation of submission and feedback on learning performance are all ways for teachers to engage and inform parents and students within this information feedback loop. Likewise, Compass provides you with the ability to communicate with your child’s teachers so that we can work in partnership to support our young people.

If you are encountering difficulties in accessing and using the COMPASS system, please do not hesitate to contact our General Office.

2026 School Council Update

A reminder that nominations for School Council close at 4:00pm this afternoon. School Council plays an important role in shaping the future direction of our school, and I thank those who have nominated. If an election is required, details will be shared via Compass newsfeed next week.

Farewell to a much-valued member of our School Council

With the tenure of our 2024-25 School Council completed at our School Council meeting held on Wednesday 11 February, I would once again like to thank our outgoing President Martin Roche. With the graduation of his daughter at the end of 2025, Martin’s eleven-year connection to our College comes to an end.

Martin has been a long-standing member of our School Council, providing valuable contributions since 2020. He has provided invaluable support as a member of the finance sub-committee, served as vice-President from 2023 and President in 2025.

Martin has overseen significant growth at our College during his tenure and he has always advocated for what is in the best interest of all students. He has been unwavering in his support of our College and for this we owe him immense gratitude.

School Uniform – Community, Belonging and Pride

As we continue to build a strong culture of belonging, I would like to remind families about the importance of students wearing the correct uniform. When students wear their uniform correctly, they demonstrate respect for themselves, their peers and our College. We greatly appreciate your support in reinforcing these expectations at home. Together, we help our young people understand that pride in presentation reflects unity and pride in community.

Parent – Student – Teacher Conferences – Tuesday 31 March 2026

Parent – Student – Teacher Conferences are to be held on Tuesday 31 March 2026. We encourage parents and students to avail themselves of this important opportunity to meet our teachers to discuss student progress. Students are not required to attend classes on Tuesday 31 March 2026 but are required to attend interviews with parents and teachers.

Interview Times are:
Interviews 12.30pm – 2.30pm
Interviews 2.45pm to 4.45pm
Interviews 5.30pm – 7.30pm

The Parent -Student – Teacher Conferences Booking System will be accessible from:

Year 12 Student Bookings – 12.00pm Wednesday 18 March until 12.00pm Monday 30 March.

Year 7 to 11 (including Year 11 students doing a Unit 3/4 subject) Student Bookings – 12.00pm Friday 20 March until 12.00pm Monday 30 March.

**Please note that bookings are essential – there will be no opportunity for unscheduled interviews. We also ask that only parents and enrolled students attend. Please be aware that bookings fill quickly, and you may not get the opportunity to see all teachers during these sessions. However, you are able to readily contact teachers via the Compass system if you have any concerns or questions. If parents attend on the day without an appointment the teachers will not be able to see them. ** Please note that while we offer an option an interpreter service for a number of languages, due to high demand we may not be able to accommodate all requests.

Please find attached the letter to parents/guardians and booking instructions: 2026 Term 1 Letter to Parents – Compass Online Bookings for Parent Student Teacher Conferences

Annual privacy reminder for our school community

CCTV at our College

East Doncaster Secondary College has recently upgraded the closed-circuit television (CCTV) system at our school.

Our school has an obligation to ensure the school environment is safe and secure, and fulfil our duty of care to students, staff and visitors. The CCTV system assists our school to fulfil these obligations and to prevent and manage other inappropriate behaviour on school grounds. CCTV will also provide enhanced capability to protect our school’s assets against vandalism and theft.

We will follow Department of Education policy requirements for the design, installation, management and use of the CCTV systems. This policy is available at: CCTV in Schools – Installation and Management.

We will also place a CCTV Privacy Notice on our school website with more information about our school’s use of CCTV.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Reception on 9842 2244 or via email: east.doncaster.sc@education.vic.gov.au

Cameron Campbell
Assistant Principal

School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS)

School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) is an evidence-based framework that has been implemented in many Victorian schools over the past 5 years. A number of our local primary schools have been using this approach so the terminology may be familiar to many. The SWPBS approach aims to foster positive, safe, and supportive learning environments.

In 2024, East Doncaster Secondary College started to explore this framework as a means to explicitly focus our attention on supporting positive behaviours. At our school we call them expected behaviours. We aim to create a predictable learning environment and ensure that our learning areas remain safe, calm and dignified. The SWPBS model brings together students, teachers, and families to promote a culture where positive behaviour is explicitly taught, acknowledged, and celebrated.

What have we done so far?
Last year, teachers and student focus groups collaborated to develop the EDSC School Wide Positive Behaviour Support matrix. This matrix identified a number of areas within the College where an explicit focus on how students and staff interact with each other and their community. We developed a number of statements that describe behaviours we want to see and we aligned these to our existing College values. The end result is a set of expected behaviours that guide how we do things at EDSC “at all times”, “in the classroom”, “in the yard”, “out in the community” and “while online”. A copy of the matrix is attached to this newsletter and can also be seen on the Compass newsfeed.

What does this look like?
SWPBS is a whole-school approach designed to improve social, emotional, behavioural, and academic outcomes for all students. By establishing clear behavioural expectations and consistently reinforcing them, our aim is to create an environment where positive behaviours are the norm. In class and during Positive Futures sessions, teachers are explicitly teaching the behaviours expected of our students in various settings, ensuring clarity and consistency.

When staff see students meeting these expectations, they post a chronicle which triggers an email to students and their families outlining what the staff member has observed. The College leadership team continues to reinforce the power of promoting expected behaviours and we are seeing a decrease in negative student interactions. The SWPBS approach combined with explicit classroom entry and exit routines and a consistent approach to managing student misbehaviour, is having a positive effect on our students. By establishing clear behavioural expectations and consistently reinforcing them, we are creating an environment where positive behaviours are the norm.

How can parents and carers get involved?

Engagement from families is crucial for the success of SWPBS. Parents and students can:

Stay informed: Understand the school’s behavioural expectations and positive reinforcement systems.

Reinforce at home: Encourage and acknowledge positive behaviours at home that align with school expectations.

Communicate: Maintain open lines of communication with teachers and school staff regarding behavioural expectations and student progress.

We will regularly update families on our progress with SWPBS via the Compass newsfeed so please keep an eye out. By embracing SWPBS, we aim to create an environment where positive behaviour is the foundation for academic success and personal growth.

East Doncaster Secondary College Policy Handbook 2025/2026

Our School Policy Handbook has been updated and approved by School Council.

For further document information and the College’s policies, please follow the below link:
School Documents and Policies

Please find below the link to the East Doncaster Secondary College Policy Handbook which is also available on our website.
2025/2026 Policy Handbook

Cameron Campbell
Assistant Principal

Please click on the links below for more information about EDSC

Camps, Sports and Excursions (CSEF) Fund

For further information on applying for 2026 Victorian Government CSEF Fund assistance please see the below links

Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund CSEF information

CSEF Resources and Information in different languages

College Philosophy

Compass Parent Guide

Compass allows you to access up to date and meaningful information about our College and your child’s progress.  

Compass Education Website Guide

Compass Parent Guide

Compass Parent Passwords

Cyber Safety and Responsible use of digital technologies

Kids Helpline

E-Safety – Young People

E-Safety – Counselling / Support Services

Child Safety and Wellbeing at EDSC

Damage to Students’ Personal Items/Property

Parent contact details

Have you moved house, changed phone numbers, email address?

If so, please remember to fill in the attached ‘Change of Details’ form. Please return this form as soon as possible. 

Change of details form

School Saving Bonus

Paying for school activities in Compass using outstanding SSB Funds from previous years.

Second-hand Textbooks and Uniforms

Sell and Buy Textbooks and Uniforms with Sustainable School Shop

EDSC – Second Hand Uniform Shop

EDSC – Second Hand Textbooks Shop

Sustainable School Shop

Student Absences

If a student is unable to attend school, is going to be late or needs to leave early, the school must be informed of ALL absences.

Compass Login

Student Absence Notification Form

Chinese – Student Absence Notification form

Fact Sheet for Parents and Carers

Student Lunches

Student Medical Expenses

Uniform Group – Product and Size Availability

Privacy reminder for our school community

Schools’ Privacy Policy

Schools’ Privacy Collection Notice – VIC Government

Schools Documents – Policies – Reports — Information for parents

Compass

Microsoft 365

Google Workspace for Education 

Office 365, Edapt, Oliver Library Management System and Halaxy

EDSC Open Night

Our 2026 Open Night will be held on Thursday 12 March. To prepare for this event, students will be dismissed at the end of Period 5 (2.25pm). We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank the many students who will be staying back to assist with hosting tours throughout the evening.

It has been wonderful to see our Middle School students adjusting to school routines this term, whether that be in the classroom or yard, during school events, in the student leadership program or in their participation of extracurricular opportunities. The first weeks of the term have been productive and enjoyable.

Our Year 7, 8, and 9 students made a splash at this year’s House Swimming and Diving Carnival on Monday 9th February, demonstrating a great sense of sportsmanship and curiosity. With each house competing in a range of swimming and diving events, the competition was healthy, and a sense of camaraderie and teamwork was evident in and around the pool. Congratulations to Dunlop who took out the top spot on the day, the second year in a row! Well done to all participants for their effort and enthusiasm – we look forward to seeing how the House points shape up throughout the year.

Year 7 Instrumental Music and Parent Evening

The Year 7 Social Evening on Tuesday 10th February was a chance for new families to visit the College and enjoy the sausage sizzle kindly put on by the Rotary Club of Manningham. Rotary were kindly supported by student members from our Interact Club, and we thank them for their assistance. Year 7 students did a great job showing their parents around the school on their “My EDSC” student-led school tour. Families were able to visit home rooms and other areas around the school, meet Morning Mentors, and get a sneak peek inside student lockers. The Year 7 students led their tour with pride, and we were delighted to see how excited they were to show their families how and where they spend their time at EDSC.

This social event was complimented with the Instrumental Music Information Presentation in the Performing Arts Centre. The evening gave families an opportunity to learn about the Instrumental Music Program, hear our music ensembles perform, and try out various instruments available for tuition at school. EDSC offers a full range of orchestral instruments for students wanting to begin or continue lessons, and this evening saw many new students signing up to participate in the program.

Events such as these would not be possible without the contributions of many. In particular, we thank our Transition Coordinator, Leanne Kaufmann, the Year 7 Coordinators, Natassia Bell, Duncan Anderson, and Rick Derons, Instrumental Music Coordinator, Carl Williams and Classroom Music Coordinator, Tegan Gaschk.

Year 7 Camp

We are excited for the upcoming Year 7 Camp at YMCA Anglesea next week! This camp promises to be an unforgettable adventure filled with fun, teamwork, and personal growth for all our attending students. Our happy campers will experience a range of exciting outdoor activities such as surfing, canoe building, high ropes courses and a beautiful night walk, all while developing lasting friendships and valuable life skills. With expert YMCA instructors leading the way, the camp is designed to challenge, inspire, and foster resilience in every student. We can’t wait for our Year 7s to embark on this amazing journey.

A reminder that students in 7A-I will be attending Monday 23rd – Wednesday 25th February, whilst students in 7J-R will attend Wednesday 25th – Friday 27th February. We ask that students arrive at school on Monday and Wednesday morning no later than 8:30am so the groups can get going on time. No mobile phones or electronic devices are permitted on camp. In the absence of these items, a wristwatch is a great idea. Students are expected at school for their usual academic program on the days they are not at camp. Students who are not attending the camp are expected at school as usual.

Year 8

The start of term one has begun well for our Year 8 students. The engaging start to the academic year has been complimented by the First Day Program and students have the House Swimming Carnival to look forward to next week. Looking ahead, we are pleased to share with you some of the various other events and activities we have planned for our Year 8 students in the year ahead.

This year, rather than a traditional camp, Year 8 students will take part in various excursions, incursions, and activities designed to enhance their learning experiences and promote teamwork, resilience, and personal growth. These experiences will include outdoor adventures, hands-on workshops, and team-building activities. The aim is to offer a diverse range of opportunities that will challenge students, foster creativity and curiosity, and help them build meaningful connections with their peers while deepening their understanding and development of lifelong skills.

We have a range of events this term aimed at promoting curiosity, physical activity, and environmental appreciation. Year 8 students will be participating in two major excursions, the Humanities Coasts Excursion and the end of term excursion to Enchanted Adventure in the beautiful hinterland of Arthurs Seat on the Mornington Peninsula. To support families’ financial planning of these events, kindly note that these excursions will cost approximately $50 – $100 each.

Fortunately, The Victorian School Saving Bonus and the CSEF can be allocated to these excursions. Using these financial resources gives students the opportunity to experience educational trips and connect with their peers and can also be applied to other events or school-related experiences throughout the year should you wish to use it at an alternative time.

We encourage students and families to stay connected with the school program and we encourage participation in these events. Please keep a look out on Compass in the coming weeks for information about the term 1 excursions. We look forward to an exciting and enriching year of activities and events.

Year 9

We are excited to announce that the Year 9 City Experience is coming up in the first half of Term 2. This extended excursion offers students the opportunity to explore key cultural, historical, and modern landmarks, while engaging in hands-on learning experiences. Students will meet in the city each day for a whole school week to engage in a program designed to foster independence, teamwork and develop students’ knowledge of the Melbourne CBD.

Dates for City Experience:
Term 2: Week 2, 9A-9H:
Monday 27 April – Friday 1 May

Term 2: Week 5, 9I-9P:
Monday 18 May – Friday 22 May

This excursion helps students learn about Melbourne’s rich history, cultural diversity, and urban life in a practical, engaging setting. It also fosters teamwork and problem-solving skills while allowing them to discover the city’s unique identity. Year 9 families are encouraged to review the recent Compass post for further information about this extended excursion and keep an eye out for the City Experience Payment/Consent Compass event which will appear in your Compass feed later this week.

Giulia Catalano
Middle School Assistant Principal

College Uniform

For Term 1 and Term 4, please refer to the Summer Uniform requirements.
The expectation is for students to wear the dress and shorts only in Term 1 and 4. Please note the Winter skirts are for Winter Term 2 and 3.
Shorts and Pants must be tailored and Navy.

Student Attendance / Absence Reminder

The school must be informed of ALL absences, whether it be illness, appointments, holidays or any other reason. You can do this via the following options.

• The easiest way, is to login to Compass with your Parent Login and add submit an ‘Attendance Note’ for the time of absence
• Calling the Absence Line BEFORE 8:30am on the day of the absence. Phone: 9842 2244 (dial option 1)
• Sending a note with the student for early departures. Teachers will not allow students out of class without a note or an approval on Compass
• Fill in a ‘Student Absence Notification’ form for any extended length of absence including holidays, overseas travel etc. (The College must have any extended leave submitted in writing)

If you have any attendance concerns or questions regarding an SMS message you have received, please call the College absence line and leave a message with your child’s details and we will follow up your enquiry. Please do not reply to the SMS as this service is not available.

Please remind your child/ren that they must sign out at the Middle School (Years 7,8,9) Compass Kiosk machines if they arrive late to school or have to leave early.

Unwell

Please remind your child/ren not to contact you directly during the day to let you know they are unwell.  Instead, if they are feeling unwell, they need to ask the teacher to visit our Sickbay and our First Aid Officer will contact you accordingly.  If you need to pick them up this will be organised via Sickbay.

Extended Absences

Please remember to fill in and return a ‘Student Absence Notification Form’ (Please see below) for any extended absences over 3 days.  Please ask your child to drop a copy into Reception or you can email this form to our school email address east.doncaster.sc@education.vic.gov.au

VCE students

Please remember to provide Medical Certificates for VCE students for any medical absences.  This is to help maintain their VCE Attendance requirements for all students who are in Year 11 and Year 12 and students that are in Year 10 and completing a Year 11 or 12 subject.  Please forward certificates to our school email address east.doncaster.sc@education.vic.gov.au

Student Absence Notification Form

Mandi Pigdon
Attendance Officer

Student Lunches

Just a reminder to parents that we are unable to deliver lunches to students during school time.  It is the student’s responsibility to come and collect their lunch if it has been dropped off at Reception. Hot food is not suitable to be left at Reception.

PLEASE NOTE: Take-away food is not allowed at the College during school hours.  Under no circumstances are students to be ordering take-away food to be delivered to the College.

Student Compass ID / Library / PTV Cards

Please remind all students that they must carry their Student Compass ID/Library/PTV Cards with them at all times.

ALL students must sign in with their card at the Middle School Office when they are arriving late and sign out at the Middle School Office when they are leaving early for any reason.

The cards are also used for any student photocopying that is done at school. The EDSC Student Compass ID/Library card can be used as ID for student PTV (Public Transport Victoria) travel. They are required to carry this card as student identification while travelling on public transport.

If a student loses their card, parents/guardians are able to re-order a replacement card via the Compass parent portal.

EDSC Open Night

Our 2026 Open Night will be held on Thursday 12 March. To prepare for this event, students will be dismissed at the end of Period 5 (2.25pm). We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank the many students who will be staying back to assist with hosting tours throughout the evening.

College Uniform

For Term 1 and Term 4 only, please refer to the Summer Uniform requirements.
The expectation is for students to wear the dress and shorts only in Term 1 and 4. Please note the Winter skirts are for Winter Term 2 and 3.
Shorts and Pants must be tailored and Navy.

Student Attendance / Absence Reminder

The school must be informed of ALL absences, whether it be illness, appointments, holidays or any other reason. You can do this via the following options.

• The easiest way, is to login to Compass with your Parent Login and add submit an ‘Attendance Note’ for the time of absence
• Calling the Absence Line BEFORE 8:30am on the day of the absence. Phone: 9842 2244 (dial option 1)
• Sending a note with the student for early departures. Teachers will not allow students out of class without a note or an approval on Compass
• Fill in a ‘Student Absence Notification’ form for any extended length of absence including holidays, overseas travel etc. (The College must have any extended leave submitted in writing)

If you have any attendance concerns or questions regarding an SMS message you have received, please call the College absence line and leave a message with your child’s details and we will follow up your enquiry. Please do not reply to the SMS as this service is not available.

Please remind your child/ren that they must sign out at the Senior School (Years 10,11,12) Compass Kiosk machines if they arrive late to school or have to leave early.

Unwell
Please remind your child/ren not to contact you directly during the day to let you know they are unwell. Instead, if they are feeling unwell, they need to ask the teacher to visit our Sickbay and our First Aid Officer will contact you accordingly. If you need to pick them up this will be organised via Sickbay.

Extended Absences
Please remember to fill in and return a ‘Student Absence Notification Form’ (Please see below) for any extended absences over 3 days. Please ask your child to drop a copy into Reception or you can email this form to our school email address east.doncaster.sc@education.vic.gov.au

VCE students
Please remember to provide Medical Certificates for VCE students for any medical absences. This is to help maintain their VCE Attendance requirements for all students who are in Year 11 and Year 12 and students that are in Year 10 and completing a Year 11 or 12 subject. Please forward certificates to our school email address east.doncaster.sc@education.vic.gov.au
Student Absence Notification Form.

Mandi Pigdon
Attendance Officer

Student Lunches

Just a reminder to parents that we are unable to deliver lunches to students during school time. It is the student’s responsibility to come and collect their lunch if it has been dropped off at Reception. Hot food is not suitable to be left at Reception.
PLEASE NOTE: Take-away food is not allowed at the College during school hours. Under no circumstances are students to be ordering take-away food to be delivered to the College.

Student Compass ID/Library/PTV Cards

Please remind all students that they must carry their Student Compass ID/Library/PTV Cards with them at all times.

ALL students must sign in and out with their card at The John Landy Centre (Senior School Building) when they are arriving late or leaving early for any reason.

The cards are also used for any student photocopying that is done at school. The EDSC Student Compass ID/Library card can be used as ID for student PTV (Public Transport Victoria) travel. They are required to carry this card as student identification while travelling on public transport.

If a student loses their card, parents/guardians are able to re-order a replacement card via the Compass parent portal.

Environment Club is back and looking to expand our native garden patches around the school. Despite the heat over the holidays our native plants have exploded and are providing shade and shelter for wildlife, plus cooling the wider area to make our school more comfortable. As the weather cools, we are looking forward to getting back to gardening!

Our eco tip of the week is don’t forget your reusable coffee cup when you’re going out and about. Australians use 1.5 BILLION disposable coffee cups annually, leading to over 60,000 kilograms of plastic going into landfill. Though the cups look like they’re made of paper, they are NOT recyclable and are an entirely preventable source of landfill waste.

Nicola Ritchie
Environment and Sustainability Club

What to do if a student is injured or sick at school

East Doncaster Secondary College has a dedicated Sick Bay which is located in the main Administration Building. It is there to service the needs of both students and staff. If a student requires medical attention during class time, that student will be sent by their teacher to the Sick Bay accompanied by another student (who will be sent back to class immediately). We will then assess the student and determine a course of action. If necessary, we will contact a parent or an emergency contact to provide them with the relevant details.

Students are NOT to contact their parent(s) by phone or text message before coming to the Sick Bay.

This causes undue stress for parents or carers, who understandably want to know the specifics about their child’s condition. We can assure parents that if their child is sick or injured and requires further intervention, they will be contacted. If a student is not feeling well or is injured, they are to come directly to Sick Bay.

Students are NOT to undertake it upon themselves to ask their parents to collect them from school.

Students are NOT permitted to walk, cycle, catch public transport or arrange for a ride home from school if they are injured or sick at school.

Adeline Seta
First Aid Officer

Spring Festival Festivities

On Tuesday 17 February our international students were invited to a special luncheon in celebration of the Lunar New Year. The event provided a wonderful opportunity for students to connect and engage with one another in a festive and welcoming atmosphere. Each student also received a traditional red envelope filled with special treats to take home, marking the occasion with a meaningful cultural gesture.

Simon Veerhuis
International Student Coordinator

Bentornati!

What a great start to the new year!

We are always very excited to meet our new intake of Year 7 students who have selected to learn Italian. So far, they have settled in well and are learning the alphabet and simple greetings which will allow them to start communicating in the language. The classrooms are buzzing with students walking around introducing themselves to other students in Italian.

This year we welcome Jason Fusco to our team. We are fortunate to have Jason here at the College as he brings with him experience and some fresh new ideas into the classroom.

The 2026 Italy Study Tour leaves on April 7th. Students (and teachers) are excited to see the famous sites of Italy but are also looking forward to meeting the students in our sister school in Novara. Students will spend a week at the school and stay with their homestay families, an opportunity to experience Italian life firsthand.

The 2026 Dante Alighieri Poetry Recitation Competition will happen again in June and already students have started signing up. Details about this will be coming.

It is always a busy year for the Italian faculty here at East Doncaster Secondary College and I look forward to sharing all the news with you.

Joyce Conidoni
Italian Domain Leader

Student eBook access information

This year, all booklisted eBooks that students have purchased from Lilydale Books will be accessed at the digital platform Educational Ebooks. 

If a student in your family speaks to you about experiencing eBook access issues, please refer to the below information. We welcome you assisting your child at home to request eBook support if needed, while classroom teachers will also be available to guide students through this process.

The quickest and easiest way to get eBook issues resolved is to open a support ticket with Lilydale Books. You can do this by visiting the Help Centre on the Educational Ebooks website. For full step-by-step instructions on how to open a support ticket and how to log into Educational Ebooks, please ask students to visit the EDSC Library website.

Please note: If a student uses a preferred name and a legal name, please make sure to include both of these names in your support ticket.

Valentines Day celebrated with books

The EDSC library recently celebrated Valentines Day (which is also Library Lovers Day!) with our popular Blind Date with a Book interactive display.

A variety of fiction books were wrapped up in paper with a brief description of the book attached to the front.

If students liked the sound of a book from the description, they could take the book on a “blind date” by borrowing it at the library loans desk, then unwrapping the book and finding out what mystery book they’d chosen.

Library staff have loved watching students take books on blind dates and hope that everyone has enjoyed their surprise reads.

New displays and activities will be revealed in the library soon. Keep an eye on the library website for all library news and updates.

Emily Andersen
Acting Library Coordinator

Science Fun!

Our senior science students have launched into a busy and exciting term of practical investigations, engaging discussions, and real-world applications.

VCE Psychology is currently all about the brain. Year 11 students have been learning about the brain, creating model brain hats to help visualise the brain’s complexities. Year 12 students meanwhile are studying about how the brain forms memories and neural plasticity.

Year 11 Biology classes are discovering how surface area to volume ratio affects biological structures and systems while Year 12 students are studying genes from what they do to how they are controlled.

Light has been the focus for our Year 11 Physics classes as they investigate refraction and reflection, while our Year 12 students are exploring amusement park physics ahead of putting their learning into practice at our upcoming Luna Park excursion.

Year 11 Chemistry students are expanding their understanding of metals and ionic compounds, while Year 12 students are getting hands on with exciting practical activities as they study fuels and energy content.

Emalyn Wicking and Johnson Yao
Science Domain Leaders

Cybersafety and Responsible Use of Digital Technologies

The following resources are available to parents and carers to assist them with guiding their children with the use of digital technology in a safe and responsible way. Parents and carers are their child’s first role model when it comes to online behaviour. Please find information to assist parents and carers when dealing with Cybersafety issues on the following websites:

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents
https://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/services-for-parents/Pages/parentline.aspx
https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/counselling-support-services

The following fact sheet may assist in encouraging the safe and respectful use of social media and to provide tips to parents for being a positive role model:

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/about/programs/bullystoppers/parentsocialmediaschoolcommunity.pdf

If parents/carers have any questions regarding Cybersafety or Digital Learnings in Schools and our Mobile Phone Policy, please contact Reception.

Cameron Campbell

Assistant Principal

Food & Financial Support

As we are all aware, the cost of living is increasing. We realise that this might be causing some distress to members of the EDSC community. If you are experiencing financial difficulties or food insecurity, please look at the website www.askizzy.org.au. This website can help you locate services for food, money, clothing, health and housing in your area.

The College is able to provide a range of food to families within the community. Foodbank Victoria provide EDSC fresh fruit, cereals, milk, different types of ready meals, fruit cups and Messy Monkey snacks. If you and your family are experiencing food insecurity, please contact the school to arrange a food collection. For a confidential conversation, please call Maddie Sill on 9842-2244.

Please also note that if your child forgets their lunch they can come to the Wellbeing Hub to access the pantry.

Child Safety Standards

East Doncaster Secondary College is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. This will be the primary focus of our care and decision making.

East Doncaster Secondary College has zero tolerance for child abuse.

East Doncaster Secondary College is committed to providing a child safe environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Particular attention will be paid to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as the safety of children with a disability.

Every person involved in East Doncaster Secondary College has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role he/she plays individually and collectively to ensure that the wellbeing and safety of all children and young people is at the forefront of all they do and every decision they make.

In our planning, decision making and operations, all personnel at East Doncaster Secondary College will:

• Take a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety;
• Value and empower children to participate in decisions which affect their lives;
• Foster a culture of openness that supports all persons to safely disclose risks of harm to children
• Respect diversity in cultures and child rearing practices while keeping child safety paramount;
• Provide written guidance on appropriate conduct and behaviour towards children;
• Engage only the most suitable people to work with children and have high quality staff and volunteer supervision and professional development;
• Ensure children know who to talk with if they are worried or are feeling unsafe, and that they are comfortable and encouraged to raise such issues;
• Report suspected abuse, neglect or mistreatment promptly to the appropriate authorities;
• Share information appropriately and lawfully with other organisations where the safety and wellbeing of children is at risk; and Value the input of and communicate regularly with families and carers.

For more information about Wellbeing at the College, please visit the following link: Student Wellbeing Information

Music information night

Over 300 people descended on the Performing Arts Centre on Tuesday 10 February for the annual Music Information Night. Families saw performances from our senior Chamber Strings and Symphonic Band ensembles, and the Euphonix vocal group. We’ve been excited to welcome more than 120 new Year 7 students to the program over the past week, and most students have had their first lessons on their new instruments this week.

Instrument tuition places still available

We still have a very limited number of places available on the following instruments: Tuba, French Horn, Bassoon and Double Bass.
Any students who would like to try out these instruments can speak to the Music staff in the Performing Arts Centre, or your Classroom Music teacher.

Carl Williams
Instrumental Music Coordinator

Meet & Greet Social Night 2026

EDSC’s Parents & Friends Association warmly invites all new and returning families to attend our “Meet & Greet Social Night 2026” Please see the details below.

When: Monday 23 February 2026

Time: 7pm

Venue: John Landy Centre, EDSC

The PFA would greatly appreciate your RSVP, via edscpfa@gmail.com to assist us with planning for the event. We look forward to hearing from you and welcoming you on the night. To help make the evening enjoyable for everyone, please bring a plate of food to share.

This is a wonderful opportunity to meet our current Parents & Friends Association members and learn more about how this enthusiastic and supportive group contributes to the college community.

The Parents & Friends Association is an informal and friendly group of parents who assist with various school events throughout the year, including information evenings, music nights, school productions, and parent/teacher interview days. The PFA also organises fundraising initiatives to support valuable projects that benefit the college community.

All parents are warmly invited to attend this social evening, connect with other families, and consider becoming part of the team. We look forward to welcoming many new members.

23 March 2026 – PFA AGM

The PFA will hold AGM on Monday 23 March 2026 with some new parents joining us on 7.00pm in the school staff room in the main office block.

Those who have already expressed interest will be sent an email invite.  If any more members of the school community would like to join, please email the PFA committee at edscpfa@gmail.com and we will very happily add you on to the distribution list.

Kindly note that all the positions for the committee will be open for election at this time.

A friendly reminder to the new members who will join this year, if you do not possess a WWCC (for volunteers) please apply for it and once obtained, forward it to the email address edscpfa@gmail.com.

PFA Membership

https://www.entbook.com.au/1863×41

Thank-you to everyone who has purchased a Membership from us so far!

To purchase your Membership and support our fundraising please use the following link and order: https://subscribe.entertainment.com.au/fundraiser/1863×41

Current Campaign – Purchase a Multi City Membership and receive a BONUS $50 eGift Card

Promotion Dates:  Monday 16 February 2026 at 5:00 pm – Monday 2 March 2026 at 3:00 pm

The Offer:  Multi City Membership will receive a BONUS $50 eGift Card

For a limited time, anyone who purchases a Multi City Membership will receive a BONUS $50 Visa eGift Card / $50 Woolworths eGift Card . It’s our way of celebrating the endless possibilities that come with having access to offers not just locally, but across Australia, New Zealand and Bali.

This exclusive offer ends 5pm AEDT / 7pm NZDT, Monday 2nd March, making now the perfect time to encourage your community to explore more, save more, and support your fundraiser in the process.

👉 Click below to buy your Membership today: https://subscribe.entertainment.com.au/fundraiser/1863×41)

*Terms & Conditions Apply. Please visit www.entertainment.com.au/promotions to view.
*Terms & Conditions Apply. Please visit www.entertainmentnz.com/promotions to view

And the best part? 20% of your Membership price supports our fundraiser! 🙌

Thank you for your continued support!

If you have any questions the Entertainment Customer Service Team are always available to help.
Please call 1300 159 707 or email contact@entertainment.com.au
For more information about the App, head over to our App FAQs on our website https://www.entertainment.com.au/faq
All Member offers are subject to terms and conditions. Check individual offers on the Entertainment Membership App or www.entertainment.com.au for more information. For all dining offers, it is optional for participating businesses to accept your
Entertainment Memberships on all official Australian and New Zealand public holidays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Valentine’s Day.

© 2026 Entertainment Group

What is the EDSC Positive Futures program?

Positive Education brings together the science of positive psychology with best-practice teaching.

The school’s journey with Positive Education began in 2012 with Positive Education focuses and values implemented across each year level and over time has evolved into the whole school approach launched in 2020.

Our Positive Futures program has some very clear goals:
• We want to improve student quality of life and their engagement with others, including with their teachers
• We seek to develop students in a more holistic way, with a stronger focus on wellbeing.

There are six tenets of Positive Psychology that are embedded into our model:

Positive Health – Positive Self

Developing knowledge, understanding and skills to promote health and well – being.

Positive Relationships

Nurturing positive relationships based on respect.

Accomplishment

Generating hope and optimism through the accomplishment of personal and community goals.

Positive Emotion

Building and experiencing positive emotion.

Meaning

Believing in serving something greater than ourselves.

Positive Engagement

Developing critical thinkers by promoting challenge, curiosity and creativity.

More resources and information can be found here: Positive Futures More Info

Georgina Hammond
Positive Futures Coordinator

What is Respectful Relationships?

Respectful Relationships education is a core component of the Victorian Curriculum from foundation to year 12. It is all about embedding a culture of respect and equality across the entire school community.
The Respectful Relationships program supports schools and early childhood settings to promote and model respect, positive attitudes and behaviours. It teaches our children how to build healthy relationships, resilience and confidence.

While many different strategies are needed to contribute to this population-wide approach, the Respectful Relationships initiative is a key example of successful primary prevention work to prevent gender-based violence in education settings.

Schools are unique as a setting in which primary prevention, early intervention, response and recovery operate alongside and in connection with one another. To be effective, Respectful Relationships must take a whole-of-school approach that works with leadership, systems and practices to support positive school cultures, age-appropriate curriculum delivery, policy development and community engagement.

Diversity and RRRR Calendar dates Term 1

March
15/3 International Day to combat Islamophobia
16 – 22/3 Harmony Week
17/3 Shrove Tuesday
17/3 St. Patricks Day
18/3 Ash Wednesday
19/3 – 20/3 Eid al – Fitr
20/3 Close the Gap Day
21/3 Nowruz New Year
21/3 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
29/3 Palm Sunday
31/3 Trans Day of Visibility

April
1-9/4 Passover
2/4 Maudy Thursday
3/4 Good Friday

Everyone in our community deserves to be respected, valued and treated equally. We know that changes in attitudes and behaviours can be achieved when positive attitudes, behaviours and equality are embedded in our education settings.

Respectful Relationships is about embedding a culture of respect and equality across our entire community, from our classrooms to staffrooms, sporting fields, fetes and social events. This approach leads to positive impacts on students’ academic outcomes, their mental health, classroom behaviour, and relationships between teachers and students.

Together, we can lead the way in saying yes to respect and equality and creating genuine and lasting change so that every child has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

The EDSC Respectful Relationships Pledge:

“All members of our school community have a responsibility to stand up against family violence and the misuse of gender power and control. We foster relationships that are respectful, caring and fair.”
If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic violence the following services are available.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000 and ask for the police.

For non-urgent help, please contact:

• 1800RESPECT: The national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. Phone and online services available 24/7.
• Doncare: (03) 9856 1500
• Free From Family Violence Service (FVREE): (03) 9249 4200 OR 0466 748 880
• Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre: 1800 015 188
• Migrant Information Centre support for people from diverse cultural backgrounds: (03) 9285 4888
• inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence at 1800 755 988
• Men’s Referral Service: 1300 766 491
• Eastern Community Legal Centre: 1300 325 200
• The Orange Door: 1800 354 322
• Rainbow Door: 1800 729 367 Free specialist LGBTQIA+ helpline

More resources/agencies can be found on our Wellbeing, Student Resources page of the East Doncaster Secondary College website
https://www.eastdonsc.vic.edu.au/wellbeing/student-resources

Dunlop wins the 2026 Swimming and Diving Carnival!

Dunlop house has won the 2026 EDSC Swimming and Diving Carnival after dominating all aspects of a wonderful day at the Boroondara Sport Complex on February 9.

In perfect weather conditions, students were able to participate in a variety of competitive and novelty events to earn points for their house. The atmosphere across the day was outstanding as students embraced the ‘House Spirit’ dress-up theme – led in large numbers by the Year 12 cohort and house captains. Overall, the day was enjoyed by all students and staff who in attendance at the carnival.

After a great day’s competition, the house points from the day are as follows:
1st – Dunlop 679
2nd – Chisholm 650
3rd – Bradman 576
4th – Sutherland 539

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded age group champions for the carnival – there were some closely contested age groups with all competitive swimming events contributing to overall champion points:

12-13yo Girls Alyssa – 7J
12-13yo Boys Ethan – 7C

14yo Girls Annabella – 8H
14yo Boys Sean – 9F

15yo Girls Cally – 10M
15yo Boys Ishaaq – 10L

16yo Girls Saya – 10N
16yo Boys Eugene – 10I

17yo Girls Ashleigh – 11N
17yo Boys Jeffrey – 11A

18-20yo Boys Anson – 11M

Ishaaq broke six college records on the day, with Leona breaking one record. Some of these records have stood for over a decade and these new benchmarks will take much beating in the coming years.
Our age champions, along with a large number of other students within the college will have the opportunity to represent the school in the Whitehorse Division Swimming Carnival on March 2 at Aquarena in Templestowe Lower. These participants will be informed via an event on Compass over the next few weeks. We wish them all the best with their preparation and training in the lead up to this event.

Thank you to all students and staff for their efforts in making our 2026 carnival a huge success.

Michael James
House Activities and Carnivals Coordinator

World’s Greatest Shave

On Tuesday 17 February, Five of our Events Captains attended an information session in the city about the World’s Greatest Shave. Run by the Leukaemia Foundation we heard firsthand what a blood cancer diagnosis can mean to a young person and the effect it can play in people’s future, as well as the support the Leukaemia Foundation provides for those effected by blood cancer.

After a break we were then given time to talk about what makes a great event and the students are raring to go on organising a World’s Greatest Shave event at EDSC this year.

Stay tuned for more details!

Rebecca James

Student Leadership Liaison

2026 Canteen

Online ordering is through the QKR app. Please find attached the QKR how to brochure. With the QKR app, you can place orders right up until 8.45am. We also welcome lunch orders directly at the canteen before school and at recess. Remember the most efficient way to beat the queue at lunch is to place a lunch order.

We do accept both cash and card as form of payments at the canteen. Please remember phones are not permitted as a method of payment, so please bring your card.

The Department of Education Victoria and East Doncaster Secondary College does not endorse the products or services of any private advertiser. No responsibility is accepted by the Victorian Department of Education and East Doncaster Secondary College for accuracy or information contained in advertisements or claims made by them.

Advertise in our College Newsletter

Do you have a business or are you part of a community organisation?
Do you want to reach over 1,000 families in the area every fortnight?
Our fortnightly e-newsletter has space available and can include direct links to your website (no social media sites).
Pricing:
$50 – A4 full page per edition
$10 – for community groups
$200 – per term
$700 – per year
Email the attached form to:
east.doncaster.sc@education.vic.gov.au or contact us on 9842 2244 for more information.