Issue 3

Principal’s Report – 6 March 2026

Building a Positive School Culture Together

One of the most important responsibilities we have as a school is to ensure that every student, and indeed every member of our school community, feels safe, respected and cared for. When young people feel secure and supported, they are far more able to engage in their learning, build positive relationships and develop the confidence and competencies they need to thrive both at school and in the world beyond it.

At the heart of this is our commitment to a strong and positive school culture. Culture is not created by chance; it is built through the everyday actions, expectations and relationships that shape how we work together as a community. We strive to create an environment where kindness, respect, responsibility and inclusion are reinforced every day.

Our focus on School Wide Positive Behaviour Supports is central to this work. In classrooms and in the yard, we regularly reinforce to students the behaviours that are expected of them at all times. These expected behaviours include being kind to others, celebrating and respecting diversity, using good manners, and speaking respectfully to both staff and peers. We emphasise to our students the importance of being inclusive, to consider the feelings of others, and to develop the important life skill of learning how to compromise and resolve conflicts or disagreements respectfully when they arise.

We understand that young people are still learning how to navigate relationships and social situations. From time to time, they will make mistakes or exercise poor judgement with their words or actions. While consequences are often a part of the school’s response to such situations, these moments also provide valuable opportunities for learning, reflection and personal growth.

We know that the most powerful impact occurs when school and home work together in genuine partnership. We encourage families to support this work by having conversations at home about what positive behaviour looks like-such as treating others with kindness, listening respectfully, including others, and thinking about the consequences of individual choices.

By reinforcing these shared expectations both at school and at home, we are helping our young people develop the skills, empathy and resilience they need for positive relationships and successful futures.

Thank you to our staff, students and families for the role you each play in contributing to the positive culture of our school. By working together and regularly engaging in these conversations with our students we assist them in making better choices for themselves and for those around them.

Year 7 Orientation Camps

Last week our Year 7 students embarked upon what is widely considered a highlight of their first year at the College- Year 7 Camp. A significant element of their transition to secondary school, Year 7 camp provides students with the opportunity to step outside the classroom, build stronger relationships with their peers and teachers, and helps students grow in confidence as they are afforded the opportunity to face new challenges. Held at Anglesea, Year 7 camp provided a range of exciting outdoor activities for our students with highlights including surfing, the giant swing, high ropes, bike riding and the night walks.

Both camps were a resounding success as evidenced by the smiling faces of our students upon their return and enthusiastic recounting of anecdotes from their camp experiences. Our Year Level Coordinators and other staff who attended are full of compliments for the Year 7 cohort who were so open to trying new things and were supportive and inclusive of their peers. It is always amazing to see how such a short time away together can have a visible impact on the strengthening of new connections and friendships.

I would like to acknowledge the Middle School team for their meticulous planning of the event. The emphasis is always on creating the best possible experience for our students. Experiences such as these take a significant amount of planning and with this in mind, I would like to extend a big thank you to Giulia Catalano (Assistant Principal for Middle School), Leanne Kaufmann (Transition Coordinator), Duncan Anderson, Natassia Bell and Rick Derons (Year 7 Coordinators) and Bree Murphy (Middle School Secretary). Camps such as these are also a success due to the tremendous efforts of all attending staff. Thank you to each of our staff who gave up their own valuable family time to contribute to the wonderful experiences our students had on camp.

EDSC win 2026 Whitehorse Division Swimming Carnival!

I am thrilled to be able to share the outstanding achievement of our students who came first at the Whitehorse Division Swimming Carnival held on Monday 2 March at Aquarena in Templestowe Lower. Our students ended the day very comfortably in first place followed by Box Hill HS, Blackburn HS, Koonung SC and SEDA College.

Special mention to our Anabella and Ishaaq who achieved record breaking performances on the day – some that have stood for over 45 years!

Anabella – 8H (Girls 14yr) – 50m Breaststroke

Ishaaq – 10L (Boys 14yr) – 50m Breaststroke

Ishaaq – 10L (Boys 14yr) – 50m Butterfly

Ishaaq – 10L (Boys 14yr) – 50m Backstroke

Ishaaq – 10L (Boys 15yr) – 200m Individual Medley

Ishaaq – 10L (Boys 15yr) – 50m Freestyle

There were also three record breaking performances from our relay teams:

4x50m Medley Relay (Girls 14yr)

4x50m Medley Relay (Boys 14yr)

4x50m Freestyle Relay (Boys 14yr)

Congratulations to all students involved!

I wish our students all the best at the EMR Swimming Carnival being held on March 30.

A big thank you to Michael James and Glenn Baker who play a crucial role in supporting our students in their success.

School Council Update

We are pleased to announce the School Council 2026 Declaration of Ballot.

Parent Member Category (no election required)

Nick Milani

Hatem Mourad

Stelios Georgiou

Deepak Kandpal

Department of Education – Employee Member Category (no election required)

Brett Lamb

Giulia Catalano

Thank you to the parents and staff who nominated. Your efforts to contribute to the College community are greatly appreciated.

School Council Open Meeting 2026

We are extending an invitation to the College Community to attend the March School Council Meeting and Open Public Meeting. This will be held at 6.30 pm on Wednesday 25 March. Interested parties are asked to please contact Lisa Bull at Lisa.Bull2@education.vic.gov.au for further details and to register attendance.  All attendees must be registered by 4.00pm Monday 23 March.

NAPLAN

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) for Years 7 and 9 students will be delivered online next week between Wednesday 11 March and Monday 16 March.

Catch up tests will be scheduled on Tuesday 17 March and Wednesday 18 March for individual students who are absent on test days. These events will appear on their Compass schedule.

NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skills in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. Over time, the NAPLAN tests provide parents, teachers and the school with a rich source of information on how students are progressing in literacy and numeracy as they advance through their schooling. Individual student results will be provided to parents and students later in the year.

Testing schedules appear as events on student Compass timetables. We ask that students arrive punctually with charged laptops and headphones as required.

Cycle One College Reports

A reminder for parents that our College Cycle One reports will be available on the Compass system on Friday 13 March.

Our first assessment cycle, although reflecting a relatively short timeframe for all subject areas, offers important feedback at this early stage of the school year. It is our aim that this level of initial feedback will allow for positive outcomes and work-habits to be reinforced and for any issues to be identified and improved upon in a timely manner that allows for a successful platform for learning growth throughout the year.

As the term comes to its conclusion it is hoped that parents and students will focus on this initial feedback to monitor learning progress and implement positive study habits.

Parent – Student – Teacher Conferences

Given the imminent release of our Cycle 1 reports, this is a further reminder that our Term 1 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. All bookings must be made via Compass.

Interview Times are:

Interviews 12.30pm – 2.30pm
Interviews 2.45pm to 4.45pm
Interviews 5.30pm – 7.30pm

The Parent – Student – Teacher Conference 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.

We acknowledge that the logistics of the afternoon and evening make it difficult for all parents to meet with each teacher, I would therefore advise parents to be selective and prioritise their bookings.

**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.

College Open Night

On Thursday 12 March, the College will host parents and students of our community at an Open Night to introduce our school to them. The evening will commence with School Tours at 4.45 pm. We look forward to this opportunity to showcase the varying dimensions of our College to prospective families of our community.

Due to the many students and staff involved in the set-up for Open Night, and additional preparations that need to be made, students will be dismissed at 2.25pm at the conclusion of period 5. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Attendance at this year’s Open Night will be by booking only. This arrangement may well impact the number of parents and prospective students who are able to attend. In recognition of this, we have organised several extra College Tours to be conducted for the remainder of Term 1. I would refer parents and students to the College website for further details of both events.

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.

Year 7 Camp

We are delighted to share the incredible experience that was the Year 7 Anglesea YMCA Camp! The camp offered students the opportunity to get outside and embrace challenges. With a fantastic mix of activities, ranging from team-building exercises to adventurous outdoor challenges, students tested their courage and teamwork skills on the high ropes, giant swing and canoeing. One of the highlights was surfing at the beautiful Anglesea Main Beach. Students suited up in wetsuits and took to the waves with confidence, giving it a go with smiles on their faces. They did not want the experience to end, and it is easy to understand why. The weather was lovely, the sun was shining, and they were free to learn at their own pace. This truly was a wonderful experience for our students!

Surrounded by the natural beauty of Anglesea, our students had the opportunity to disconnect from technology and connect with the environment, their peers and teachers. From early morning breakfast duties, daily activities, walks on the beach at sunset, evening trivia, and settling in to rest in their cabins and tents at bedtime, the camp allowed everyone to appreciate the simple joys of nature and develop a deeper respect for the world and those around them. We encourage students to continue these real-life connections in their own time and actively disconnect from their devices, because from what we saw on camp, this is when they truly thrive!

We are extremely proud of the resilience, teamwork, and enthusiasm our students showed throughout the camp, and we look forward to seeing how these experiences shape the rest of their year at EDSC.

Year 8

We are pleased to inform you that as part of our Term 1 Year 8 program, we are offering students the opportunity to attend an excursion to Enchanted Adventure Garden in Arthurs Seat, Victoria. Aimed at promoting curiosity, physical activity, and environmental appreciation, this excursion will provide a fun and educational experience, allowing students to engage with nature, team-building activities, and outdoor adventures in a beautiful environment.

Details regarding this excursion have been posted on the Compass newsfeed and emailed around three weeks ago. Please provide consent and payment via Compass by Monday, 23^rd March 2025.

The year level will be separated into two groups, and each group will attend the excursion on their designated day.

Group 1 – 8K-8T. Date of Excursion: Monday 30^th March

Group 2 – 8A-8J. Date of Excursion: Wednesday 1^st April

To support families’ financial planning of these events, please note that the Victorian School Saving Bonus can be allocated to this excursion. Using the bonus is a fantastic way for students to have the opportunity to experience educational trips. The bonus can also be applied to other events or school-related experiences throughout the year should you wish to use it at an alternative time.

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 are as follows:

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.

Communicating with Staff and Visiting the College

Keeping the lines of communication open between home and school helps to support our students. We know that when we work together, our young people thrive, and we value our relationships with parents and carers to make this happen. At times, matters may arise that families would like to communicate to staff and we encourage them to do so. In return, we hope families appreciate that staff will respond in a timely manner.

Our 2025-2026 Policy Handbook outlines the best ways to Communicate with School Staff depending on the query you may have. We always do our best to respond to queries as soon as possible and we ask that you allow us 2 – 3 working days to provide you with a detailed response. We will endeavour to respond to urgent matters within 24 hours where possible.

When communicating in person, it is important to consider that East Doncaster Secondary College is not a public place. As a school, our priority is child safety, and it is our duty to provide a safe and secure learning and teaching environment for students and staff. One way we provide this safety is through our established processes to monitor and manage visitors to the college. It is therefore essential that all visitors to East Doncaster Secondary College report to Reception upon arrival.

As stipulated in our Visitors Policy, we understand that there may occasionally be a reason why a parent or carer may want to speak to or see their child at school, during school hours. If there is a particularly pressing or unavoidable issue that cannot wait until the end of the school day, we ask that parents or carers call the school office to make the request to speak to or see their child during school hours.

We also ask that parents avoid arranging to visit their children at school wherever possible, as this can cause inappropriate disruptions to the school day. All parents or carers who visit our school during school hours are required to sign in as a visitor at the school office. The office staff will be able to assist you with your enquiry or request.

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.

English Language Centre – Healesville excursion

On 25 February the ELC group visited Healesville sanctuary, developing our knowledge of Australian First Peoples’ cultures, Australian history, Australian wildlife, and more.

Student Reflections:

Pouch Perfect Day!

Our highlight from the Healesville excursion was learning about kangaroos. It was exciting to see them up close and watch how they move and rest. We learned that kangaroos are marsupials that carry their babies in a pouch and use their strong back legs to hop long distances. Overall, it was a fun and educational experience.

Theo and Leo
ELC Students

Korean Translation: 완벽한 하루!

힐즈빌 견학에서 우리의 하이라이트는 캥거루에 대해 배우는 것이었습니다. 캥거루를 가까이에서 보고 어떻게 움직이고 쉬는지 관찰하는 것이 매우 흥미로웠습니다. 우리는 캥거루가 새끼를 주머니에 넣어 키우는 유대류이며, 강한 뒷다리를 사용해 멀리까지 뛰어다닌다는 것을 배웠습니다. 전반적으로 재미있고 교육적인 경험이었습니다.

Vietnamese Translation: Ngày hoàn hảo cùng túi

Điểm nổi bật của chuyến tham quan Healesville của chúng em là được tìm hiểu về kangaroo. Thật thú vị khi được nhìn chúng ở khoảng cách gần và quan sát cách chúng di chuyển và nghỉ ngơi. Chúng em đã học được rằng kangaroo là loài thú có túi, mang con trong túi và sử dụng đôi chân sau khỏe mạnh để nhảy đi xa. Nhìn chung, đó là một trải nghiệm vừa vui vừa mang tính giáo dục.

Fascinating World of Emus

The first animal we saw at the zoo was the emu, and we were deeply impressed by it. Their notable feature is that their eyes change colour when they are eating. It is the second-largest bird, unique to Australia, and belongs to the flightless ratite birds. They are characterized by their huge size (about 1.5-2 meters tall), greyish-brown feathers, and being good at running (they can reach a speed of 50 kilometres per hour), and having three toes on each foot. Their feathers are soft inside and gradually become harder and less dense while also becoming waterproof. We were amazed to see emus in real life—they looked so tall and fascinating also fluffy. We saw animals that we had never seen before in China. It was such an exciting experience to watch them move around calmly in their habitat.

Eva and Jasmine
ELC Students

Chinese Translation: 令人着迷的鸸鹋世界 我们在动物园看到的第一种动物是鸸鹋，它给我们留下了深刻的印象。 它们的显著特征是进食时眼睛会变色。鸸鹋是第二大鸟类，是澳大利亚特有的物种，属于不会飞的平胸鸟类。它们的特点是体型庞大（约1.5-2米高）、羽毛呈灰褐色、擅长奔跑（速度可达每小时50公里），且每只脚有三个脚趾。它们的羽毛内侧柔软，外侧逐渐变硬、密度降低，同时还具有防水性。 在现实生活中见到鸸鹋时，我们感到十分惊奇——它们看起来又高又迷人，还毛茸茸的。我们看到了在中国从未见过的动物。看着它们在栖息地从容活动，真是一次令人兴奋的经历。

Rugged Reptiles

Last week we went on an excursion to Healesville Sanctuary. What excited us most was the reptile house. When we went inside, it was dark, quiet, and mysterious. At first, we were a little scared of the snakes, but they were just lying there, not moving much. One of them was curled up on a branch and didn’t move at all. Our favourite animal was the lizard. It moved really slowly and looked a bit funny, but in a good way. Before this excursion, we thought reptiles were just creepy. But after seeing them up close, we think they’re really interesting and kind of cool. They’re quiet, calm, and powerful in their own way.

Overall, the reptile part made the whole Healesville trip worth it for me.

Lucas, Milton and Grady
ELC Students

Mandarin translation:上周我们去了希尔斯维尔野生动物保护区。最让我兴奋的是爬行动物馆 进去之后，里面一片漆黑，静悄悄的，神秘又有点恐怖，我们有些害怕蛇，但它们只是静静地躺在那里，一动不动。其中一条蜷缩在树枝上，一动不动。 我们最喜欢的动物是蜥蜴。它行动缓慢，看起来有点滑稽，但又很可爱。在这次旅行之前，我们一直觉得爬行动物很可怕。但近距离观察之后，觉得它们其实很有趣，甚至有点酷。它们安静、沉稳，却又以强大的生命力适应着大自然 总而言之，爬行动物馆我们让觉得这次希尔斯维尔之旅不虚此行。

Spirits of the Sky

On Wednesday 25 February, ELC students visited Healesville Sanctuary. We went to the bird show at 12 pm. When we arrived, many birds were showing their skills in nature.

The Spirits of the Sky show demonstrated the natural flying abilities of Australian birds, including the Wedge-tailed Eagle, the Black-breasted Buzzard, the Barking Owl, the magnificent parrots, and more. We found this experience very interesting to listen to the presentation about each bird’s habits and natural habitat. The birds even flew past our heads, and the way they spread their wings was quite fascinating. It was our first time being so close to wild animals that now live in captivity for the better.

Jessica, Hara and Cynthia
ELC students

Korean Translation: 하늘의 정령 (Spirits of the Sky)

2월 25일 수요일, ELC 학생들이 Healesville Sanctuary를 방문했습니다. 저희는 오후 12시에 버드쇼를 보러 갔습니다. 도착하자마자 많은 새들이 자연 속에서 자신의 기량을 선보이고 있습니다.

하늘의 정령 쇼는 쐐기꼬리수리, 검은가슴수리, 부엉부엉하는 올빼미, 아름답고 화려한 앵무새 등 호주 새들의 자연스러운 비행 능력들을 뽐냈습니다. 저희는 이 경험을 통해 각 새들의 습성과 자연 서식지에 대한 설명들을 들었는데 정말 흥미로웠습니다. 새들은 심지어 저희의 머리 위를 날아다니기도 했는데, 날개를 펼치는 방식도 정말 신기했습니다. 지금은 사육장에서 살아가는 야생 동물과 이렇게 가까이 있는 경험도 처음이었습니다.

Khmer Translation: វិញ្ញាណនៃ អាកាស

នៅថ្ងៃពុធទី២៥ ខែកុម្ភៈសិស្ស ELC បានទៅទីស្នាក់នៅសុវត្ថិភាពHealesville។

យើងបានទៅមើលបទបង្ហាញរបស់បក្សីនៅម៉ោង 12 ព្រឹក។ នៅពេលយើងដល់ មានបក្សីជាច្រើនបង្ហាញជំនាញរបស់ដូចពេលវានៅក្នុងធម្មជាតិ។

ការសម្តែងវិញ្ញាណនៃ អាកាសបានបង្ហាញពីសមត្ថភាពហោះនៃបក្សីអូស្ត្រាលី មានដូចជា ឥន្ទ្រី Wedge-tailed សត្វត្មាត Black-breasted ឥន្ទ្រី នឹងសត្វទីទុយBarking ហាយមានបក្សីផ្សេងៗទៀត។

យើងគិតថាបទពិសោធន៍នេះគួរឱ្យចាប់អារម្មណ៍ខ្លាំងក្នុងការស្តាប់បទបង្ហាញអំពីទម្លាប់និងជម្រកធម្មជាតិនៃបក្សីនីមួយៗ។ បក្សីមួយចំនួនក៏ហោះលើក្បាលយើងផងដែរ ហើយពេលវាបង្ហាញស្លាបរបស់ពួកយើងបានចាប់អារម្មណ៍យ៉ាងខ្លាំង។ នេះជាលើកដំបូងដែលយើងបាននៅជិតសត្វព្រៃដែលឥឡូវរស់នៅក្នុងទីសក្ការៈ ។

Trees are back in fashion

Many thanks to the generosity of Angela Dallinger, a staff member who has donated two large maple trees for the Environment Club to plant. We look forward to putting them in the ground and enjoying the shade of their leaves.

If any members of the school community would like to donate plants or other resources please contact Nicola Ritchie (Nicola.ritchie@education.vic.gov.au)

Our eco tip of the fortnight is a reminder of the rules around FOGO in the shire of Manningham, where our school families reside. If you can eat it or it grew in the ground, it can go into your green-lid bin to be turned into compost. Diverting this waste from landfill limits carbon emissions.

For more information check the guide here!

Nicola Ritchie
Environment and Sustainability Club

Please label all uniforms and personal belongings!

The Lost Property room at EDSC is overflowing with personal belongings that are unnamed and not labelled. ☹

Labelling a student’s belongings for school is a simple but highly effective way to prevent unnecessary loss and expense. When items such as jackets, lunchboxes, water bottles, and stationery are clearly marked with a student’s name, teachers and classmates can quickly identify the owner and return misplaced property. In a busy school like EDSC, where many students may have similar uniforms and supplies, unlabelled items are far more likely to end up in lost property or be mistakenly taken home by someone else. Clear labelling significantly increases the chances that belongings will be returned, reducing disruption and stress for both students and parents. Most importantly, it helps families avoid the ongoing cost of replacing lost items, which can add up over the school year, making labelling a practical and economical habit.

Suggested websites such as Oz Labels and Stuck On You create iron-on and vinyl stick-on labels than can be purchased online.

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

Humanities – Year 8 Coastal Fieldwork Expedition

Our Year 8s are looking forward to their coastal fieldwork expedition, where over 5 days all 400+ of our students will visit the sights of Half-Moon Bay, Patterson River, Sandringham Beach and more! This is a popular excursion, and we would like to remind parents and guardians to make sure their children/wards head off with a water bottle, snacks, something to write on and something to write with, as well as a hat, jacket and sunscreen. Melbourne weather isn’t predictable!

“The year 8 coastal excursion was a highlight of junior hums. I learned a lot about coasts and landforms like cliffs and I always think about it when I go to the beach. Lunch was cool too.” – an anonymous year 12 looking back on their time at EDSC.

Nicola Ritchie
Humanities Teacher

International Summer Excursion – URBNSURF

On Thursday 19 February the international students visited URBNSURF in Tullamarine for the day. It was a very well attended and rewarding excursion with many students not only learning to surf but actually standing up by the end of the day! Lunch was also a highlight with spicy noodles and chicken schnitzel wraps on the menu. This excursion helped build community and contribute to our theme for this year “We Belong Here”. Thanks to the staff who came along and helped out 😊

Simon Veerhuis
International Student Coordinator

Italian Education Awards 2026 – an opportunity for secondary students of Italian

“Il Gruppo dell’Amicizia in memoria di Enrica Inglese” is proud to present the SEVENTH NATIONAL EDITION of the Italian Education Awards 2026. 

Thanks to the sponsors of each category, the Italian Education Awards will be offered throughout Australia under the patronage of the Italian Media Corporation (Il Globo, La Fiamma, Rete Italia. Il Globo TV)

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ITALIAN STUDENTS OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Topic: “My Italian Dream” / “Il Mio Sogno Italiano”

Italy is a country rich in history and culture. What are some things about Italy that you dream about? Some ideas are:

• places in Italy you would like to visit
• Italian festivals, celebrations or activities you would like to experience
• Italian foods you would love to eat
• an Italian football team you dream of playing for, or a player you would love to meet
• an Italian fashion house you dream of working or modelling for
• Italian art, music or cultural experiences you would like to enjoy
• an Italian car you dream of owning or driving

The possibilities are endless. You can include one idea, or several.

Tell us about your Italian dream and explain why it is special to you. Be creative!

Secondary School students are to create a video in Italian on the above topic.

Category Years 7-9: 2-3 minutes

Category Years 10-12: 2-3 minutes

Entries must be individual entries, and each participant must submit only one work.

Three prizes will be awarded for each category worth:

$500 (first prize), $300 (second prize) and $200 (third prize)

A qualified jury will choose the winners.

For further information please see link below.

https://italianawards.com.au/338-2/

Enquiries: gaitalianawards@gmail.com

Joyce Conidoni
Italian Domain Leader

New lunchtime activities in the library

Students looking for calm, mindful activities during lunchtime can now enjoy colouring and puzzles in the library.

Library staff have added some colouring sheets and puzzles to the Brain Break Zone, alongside the board games that students can enjoy at lunchtime.

Both have been popular so far. Well done to the students from all year levels who worked together to complete the first puzzle this year.

EDSC students also have the options of doing revision or research in the Quiet Study Zone during recess and lunch, or reading from the library’s wide range of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and drama in the Quiet Reading Zone.

The library is a safe, inclusive space where everyone is welcome. It is also a device-free space at recess and lunchtime to ensure students take a break from screens between classes.

Emily Andersen
Acting Library Coordinator

Year 11 and 12 Chinese Second Language New Year Celebration

To celebrate the Chinese Year of the Horse, we brought traditional culture into the classroom. Students tried on Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) and held traditional fans, created paper-cut artworks with their teacher, and even experienced the centuries-old intangible cultural heritage of Sibao woodblock printing. By combining the characters for “Horse” and “Fortune,” students printed the auspicious blessing “May good fortune arrive immediately (马上来福)” on coloured paper to take home. Students were highly engaged and thoroughly enjoyed these activities. We wish all students and their families a prosperous Year of the Horse!

Ms Lin and Ms Jiang
Chinese Language Teachers

The Year 11 and 12 second language Chinese classes recently came together to celebrate Chinese New Year with a vibrant and hands-on cultural experience. The classroom was filled with joyful energy as students immersed themselves in traditional activities such as cutting out different flower designs and creating our own “福” (good fortune) prints. Using ink and coloured paper, as pressed their designs to produce unique artworks symbolising luck and prosperity for the new year. One highlight of the celebration was also dressing up in beautiful Hanfu. Students had the opportunity to wear traditional Chinese clothing, experiencing the elegance and history behind these garments. It was a special moment to step into the past and appreciate the beauty of Chinese culture firsthand.

Janice – 12J and Charley – 12H

2026年2月18日  星期二  晴

今天我们中文班举办了庆祝中国新年的活动。我怀着激动的心情参加了这次充满文化气息的庆祝会。 首先，老师教了我们怎么做印刷–用墨水和板刷涂马粘福字印在纸上。虽然过程需要耐心和细心，但当我看到清晰的福马图案时，心里充满了成就感。 接着，我和我的朋友穿上了粉色的汉服。那是我第一次穿汉服，宽大的袖子和精致的花纹让我感受到传统服饰的优雅与美丽。手拿扇子拍了照片，我仿佛走进了古代时空。通过亲身体验，我对中国人过年的传统文化有了更深刻的认识。 最后，通过这次活动，我不仅学到了庆祝春节的文化知识更收获了纯粹的快乐。我发现过年代表的不只是传统更是一种让人感到温暖和幸福的时刻。 总之这次的经历让我十分快乐，也让我更加期待下一次这样的活动.

Charley – 12H

Instrument Tuition Places Still Available

In excess of 100 students have started learning a new musical instrument over the past two weeks, and many more students who already play instruments have joined our bands, orchestras and choirs. We still have a very limited number of places available on Clarinet. Any students who would like to try out the clarinet can speak to the Music staff in the Performing Arts Centre, or your Classroom Music teacher.

First Beginner Band and Orchestra Rehearsals

Beginner instrumental music students will have their first large ensemble rehearsals over the coming weeks. All beginner violin, viola, cello and double bass students will attend their first ‘Da Capo Strings’ rehearsal at 3:30pm on Monday 23 March in the Performing Arts Centre. All beginner brass, woodwind and percussion students will have their first ‘Etude Band’ rehearsal at 7:30am on Thursday 26 March in the Performing Arts Centre. Beginner guitar students should attend Guitar Ensemble rehearsals from Term 2. Further information will be communicated closer to the joining date. Students should see these rehearsals appearing in their Compass schedules, and please note these in your diary too. A reminder to all students participating that they need to have the black Performing Arts uniform, available through PSW, by our first performances in June. Don’t leave ordering too late in case your size is not in stock when you need it.

Carl Williams
Instrumental Music Coordinator

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 JLC.

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.

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

8/3 International Women’s Day
15/3 International Day to combat Islamophobia
16 – 22/3 Harmony Week

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

International Women’s Day

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”
– Helen Keller – 

International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated annually on March 8, is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for advancing gender equality.

IWD has been around for well over a century, with the first IWD marked in 1911.

In 2026, IWD marks an extraordinary milestone: 115 years of collective action, advocacy, and progress toward gender equality. For more than a century, IWD has helped drive transformative change. Each generation has built on the courage of those before it, pushing boundaries and redefining what is possible.

IWD can mean different things to various groups, yet the overarching aims of IWD are to:

• Celebrate women’s achievements through recognizing and appreciating the contributions of women in various fields, highlighting their influence and successes throughout history and in the present day.
• Raise awareness of gender inequality through shining a light on persistent issues like the gender pay gap, lack of representation in leadership roles, gender-based violence, and unequal access to education and opportunities.

Mobilize action for equality through encouraging individuals, communities, and organizations to take steps toward creating a more inclusive and equitable world for

• Donate and fundraise for women-focused charities and elevate the visibility of their work.
• Foster solidarity among people of all genders in support of women’s rights and gender parity worldwide.

Ramadan

Many members of our school community are undertaking Ramadan. Wonder what Ramadan is about? Here is some information about this Holy month.

Source: https://ing.org/resources/for-all-groups/calendar-of-important-islamic-dates/ramadan-information-sheet/

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is considered one of the holiest months of the year for Muslims. In Ramadan, Muslims commemorate the revelation of the Qur’an, and fast from food and drink during the sunlit hours as a means of drawing closer to God and cultivating self-control, gratitude, and compassion for those less fortunate. Ramadan is a month of intense spiritual rejuvenation with a heightened focus on devotion, during which Muslims spend extra time reading the Qur’an and performing special prayers.

When does Ramadan take place

Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, which is based on a 12-month lunar year of approximately 354 days. Because the lunar year is 11 days shorter than the solar year, each lunar month moves 11 days earlier each year. It takes 33 solar years for the lunar months to complete a full cycle and return to the same season. The month traditionally begins and ends based on the sighting of the new moon. In recent years, however, many Muslims follow a pre-determined date based on astronomical calculations.

The Length and Purpose of Fasting

Muslims fast from pre-dawn to sunset, a fast of between 11-16 hours depending on the time of year for a period of 29-30 days. Ramadan entails forgoing food and drink, and if married, abstaining from sex during sunlit hours. For Muslims, Ramadan is a time to train themselves both physically and spiritually by avoiding any negative acts such as gossiping, backbiting, lying, or arguing. Muslims welcome Ramadan as an opportunity for self-reflection and spiritual improvement, and as a means to grow in moral excellence. Ramadan is also a highly social time as Muslims invite each other to breakfast together and meet for prayers at the mosque.
The ultimate goal of fasting is gaining greater God-consciousness, known in Arabic as taqwa, signifying a state of constant awareness of God. From this awareness, a person should gain discipline, self-restraint, and a greater incentive to do good and avoid wrong. In commemoration of the revelation the Qur’an, which began in the month of Ramadan, Muslims attempt to read the entire book during Ramadan. The entire Qur’an is also recited during special nightly prayers.

Special Activities
Many mosques host daily community dinners where Muslims can break their fast together. This is a great service for students, the poor, and anyone who desires a break from cooking. Many mosques also host a community dinner on the weekends.

Special Ramadan prayers called Taraweeh are held in most mosques after the night prayer. During Taraweeh, the prayer leader recites at least one thirtieth of the Qur’an so that by the end of the month the entire Qur’an will have been recited.

Since Ramadan is a time for Muslims to be especially charitable and fasting helps Muslims feel compassion for the hungry and less fortunate, many mosques hold food drives or fundraisers for charity during Ramadan. Many mosques also host open houses for their friends and neighbours of other faiths to join them for their fast-breaking dinner or iftar at the end of the fasting day.
The Night of Power known as Lailat al-Qadr, is believed to fall on one of the odd nights during the last ten days of Ramadan but is most widely observed on the 27th night of Ramadan. It is considered the most blessed night in Ramadan because it is believed to be the night in which the Qu’ran was first revealed. Mosques are open all night as Muslims hold vigils in prayer, Qur’anic recitation, and contemplation.

Here is an article with more information for non-Muslims who are keen to know more.
Ramadan-guide-for-non-muslims

Manningham Youth Events

Manningham Events

Warrandyte Festival

Come and be part of the Warrandyte Festival at Stiggants Reserve by the Yarra River on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 March.

For nearly 50 years, this free family-friendly celebration has united our community with homemade treats, craft stalls, live music, a billycart derby, wacky races and a street parade. Don’t miss it!

Every step counts for CareNet

Join the My Manningham Fun Run Walk at Westerfolds Park on Sunday 15 March! Every step you take supports CareNet’s food relief efforts in Manningham.

Brought to you by Active Manningham, this family-friendly event offers a range of course options to suit all ages and abilities within the beautiful surroundings of Westerfolds Park.

Registrations are essential and close on Saturday 14 March.

Active Manningham Fun Run

RR YA Poetry of the week

‘Milk and honey’ is a collection of poetry and prose about survival. About the experience of violence, abuse, love, loss and femininity.

The book is divided into four chapters, and each chapter serves a different purpose; deals with a different pain; heals a different heartache. milk and honey takes readers through a journey of the most bitter moments in life and finds sweetness in them because there is sweetness everywhere if you are just willing to look.

Rebecca James

(Pronouns: she/her)

Respectful Relationships Coordinator

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

EDSC win 2026 Whitehorse Division Swimming Carnival!

Held on Monday 2 March at Aquarena (in Templestowe Lower), our swim team (comprising of 35 students) took out the 2026 championship:

Overall Team Scores:

970 – East Doncaster SC

608 – Box Hill HS

586 – Blackburn HS

379 – Koonung SC

26 – SEDA College

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded age champions:

Girls 12-13 – Alyssa – 7J

Boys 12-13 – Ethan -7C

Girls 14 – Annabella – 8H

Boys 14 – Sean – 9F

Boys 15 – Ishaaq – 10L

Boys 18-20 – Anson – 11M

Ishaaq broke five records on the day; Annabella broke one and we also broke three relay records!

Our next stop is the EMR Swimming Carnival on March 30, where we will have a number of individual swimmers and ten relay teams participating!

Michael James
House Activities and Carnivals Coordinator

Intermediate Cricket Boys Whitehorse Division Results

Qualifying final

East Doncaster SC 4 for 121 defeated Koonung SC 5 for 105

Batting

Ammaar 32 retired

Ayan 30 not out

Lincoln 23

Bowling

Hasan 1 for 10

Aryan 1 for 13

Josh 1 for 13

Mustafeed 1 for 14

Asher 1 for 16

Grand Final

East Doncaster SC 4 for 105 lost to Box Hill HS 3 for 109

Batting

Ammaar 33 retired

Mustafa 30 retired

Lincoln 19

Bowling

Lincoln 1 for 17

Aryan 1 for 24

Adam Palma
Interschool Sport Co-ordinator

Product Design & Technologies Year 12 Incursion

On 19 February a small trailer was parked in the courtyard of D block. Once this small trailer named RUSTIE was unveiled, it revealed an incredible micro-recycling facility. Our presenters of the incursion were Rethink Recycling run by Kym and Mat, passionate educators about plastic recycling. Students of the year 12 Product Design & Technologies subject were able to learn about the effect of plastic packaging in the environment, how to identify different types of plastic, how plastics can be recycled and the machinery that can be used to recycle PET plastic bottle caps into new products.

Students got to experience firsthand how to safely make the new plastic products like pens, carabiners and Slinkys. Students learnt about the processes of shredding, extrusion and injection moulding which helps them to gain greater understanding about how plastic products are made in industry in small and large scales, and also aligns with their first outcome, to critique examples of ethical product design and innovation within an industrial setting. Students had a great time learning about plastic recycling and making their own recycled plastic products to take home, or in the case of the pen, it could be used to write their end of year exam.

Ebony Pham
Learning Domain Leader Technologies

Year 8 Big Question Project

Year 8 students have been undertaking their Big Question Project this term, selecting a question to investigate in small groups. Students learn to form investigable questions, reasoned predictions and hypotheses. After conducting their experiments, they learn to identify patterns, test relationships and analyse and evaluate scientific models.

Examples include:

• What is the most effective recipe for soap bubbles?
• How many drops of acid does it take to neutralise a base?
• Which type of fuel burns the longest?

Their final project was to create a poster, where they organised their results into tables and graphs, and wrote their discussion and conclusion to identify assumptions, possible sources of error, conflicting evidence and unanswered questions.

Evelyn Xu
Learning Specialist – STEM

VCE Physics Luna Park Day

On Tuesday 3 March our 83 Year 12 Physics students put theory into action at the annual VCE Physics Day at Luna Park experiencing circular motion and free fall combined with the stunning views of Port Phillip Bay. We were also lucky enough to have a performance by a RAAF roulette aerobatic team member demonstrating many loop de loops and twists and turns high above St Kilda beach. A great time was had by all.

Emalyn Wicking
STEM Coordinator

A Welcome Back Message from Kobe 🐾

Hi everyone!

It’s Kobe here, one of your Wellbeing Dogs at East Doncaster Secondary College, and I’m so excited to welcome you all back for the new school year!

I had a wonderful break over the holidays. I did lots of swimming (splashing is my specialty!), went on long walks, and absolutely loved having the whole family home with me. There were plenty of extra pats, cuddles, and relaxing naps in the sunshine.

But now it’s time to swap holiday mode for study mode! I know coming back to routines, classes, homework and goals can feel like a big shift. Remember to be kind to yourselves as you settle back in. A new year means new opportunities, fresh starts, and lots of chances to learn and grow.

I’ll be at school every Thursday, ready for gentle pats, calm company, and plenty of tail wags. I can’t wait to see familiar faces again and look forward to meeting some new students too.  I’m normally out before school on a Thursday in the Middle Courtyard having a run around and “Getting my sillies out” as my mum says!

Wishing you all a fantastic year ahead, work hard, support each other, and don’t forget to take care of yourselves and your wellbeing.

See you on Thursday!

🐶

Kobe

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

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.