The Road April 2018

FROM THE
PRINCIPAL
MATTHEW BYRNE
Welcome to the Autumn edition of The Road for the 2018 school year.
Each new-year heralds a new phase for Damascus College. This year
the College has welcomed 204 Year 7 students to make up our largest
student cohort of 1074 students in the College’s 23 year history. 132
Year 12 students are commencing their final year with 119 students
undertaking the VCE and 13 students completing VCAL.
Each year Damascus College chooses a theme to frame our prayer,
reflections and liturgies. This year we have chosen our theme from
St Paul’s letter to the people of Thessalonica. It is a letter of both
encouragement and challenge – both elements are critical in the educative
process. Our theme is;
“Never become tired of doing good”
This year we are going to work with the young people of the College
to challenge and encourage them to not tire in their efforts to do good;
academically, spiritually and socially.
I have enjoyed reading and listening to an educational psychologist over
the summer by the name of Angela Duckworth. Angela emphasises the
importance of grit or persistence and resilience in education. Learning
new things is challenging. The Greek philosopher Aristotle said that the
roots of education are bitter, but the fruits are sweet. I hope that the roots
of a Damascus education are not bitter at all, but I do hope that from
time to time they will test and unsettle in order to inspire and challenge
students to reach their potential.
On the staff front we farewelled Sr Marie Davey at the conclusion of 2017.
Since then Sr Marie has celebrated 50 Years of Profession as a Sister of
Mercy and we congratulate Marie on this milestone.
We have welcomed Chris Grant to the role of Deputy Principal from the
commencement of 2018. Chris, Rhiannon and their growing family have
already immersed themselves in the Damascus community. Chris grew
up in Skipton and Ballarat, so he knows greater Ballarat intimately. For the
past six years he has been Deputy Principal of Mercy Regional College
in Camperdown and Noorat, so he is well imbued in the spirit of Mercy. I
look forward to introducing Chris at the various school events across
the year.
I congratulate Annette Hallam and Jan Bibby both whom recently retired
from their duties as learning support officers at Damascus. Annette and
Jan have both been wonderful servants of the College assisting countless
students with specific needs. We wish them both well for their exciting
respective futures.
And while Annette and Jan conclude their time with us, we have
welcomed several other staff;
• Ross McQuinn is a former student of the College (Class of 2007)
who has returned to join the Mathematics team following 5 years at
Templestowe College,
• Tim O’Sullivan joins the Mathematics and Science teams this year,
Tim is an early career teacher and completed his final teaching
rounds with us in 2017.
• Karen Hocking has joined the Mathematics, Science and RE teams
from St Mary MacKillop College in Swan Hill and formerly of the
Academy of Mary Immaculate in Fitzroy.
• Rebekah Chadwick joined the English team after 16 years at
Phoenix College.
• Alan Archbold has joined us as Technology Learning Area Leader
and Food Technology Teacher, Alan has had many years’ experience
as a teacher and school leader at Mt Clear Secondary College.
• Lynda Calistro joined us in a new role as Human Resources
Manager, having a lifelong career in this space having worked the
last 4 years at Catholic Education in Melbourne
• Daniel Cook has joined us as Office Manager, with his considerable
management experience in various sectors including education,
emergency services and more recently residential aged care.
• and finally, Nicole Hexter joins us as the Sports Coordinator, and as
a member of the Health and PE team after a career of 16 years at St
Patricks College with various leadership responsibilities.
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