The Road Spring 2020_online

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MY REMOTE LEARNING EXPERIENCE SYMANTHA SAWKA I distinctly recall the first time I had to join a meeting in Microsoft Teams, arriving five minutes early and ensuring I stood outside the range of my camera because I was afraid of my face being displayed in front of classmates. How times have changed! Now I enter classes a bit late (I have lost all sense of time in quarantine) and even put my whole face in view—talk about getting comfortable. Regardless of there being a pandemic, it is difficult to reflect on my schooling in Year 12 because so much of my final year is just that, schoolwork. However, in light of recent events, I don’t find myself viewing that statement as purely negative because remote learning has taught me more about myself as a student than being in a physical classroom ever could. Am I a morning person who can do work before 9 am? No. Do I love sending emails? Yes. My point is, while the origins of remote learning are truly devastating, I can report that I do not feel the same towards online learning. What has surprised me about remote learning is how easy it could be integrated into my student life, as I was gifted with the flexibility to (sometimes) shuffle classes to fit my priorities and because I didn’t need to catch a 30-minute bus ride home, I could squeeze in some relaxation or extended work. I was also pardoned from extensive amounts of group work that would have originally been done in the classroom, which is every introvert’s dream. However, I recognise that this positivity wasn’t always the case, as it certainly was frustrating to deal with Internet problems and to be without frequent access to a good quality printer for certain subjects. As I will continue to emphasise, however, these weren’t deal breakers, as all my teachers were incredibly understanding and it never truly hindered my ability to strive for what I wanted out of my education. While my final school year has certainly not reached the usual perks gained by being a senior student, I do believe that waking up five minutes before TA and then proceeding to double study in the morning is an experience that not many future year 12s will be able to say they indulged in. Year 12 is a period in my life that I will never be able to repeat, but this is why remote learning is special. Others will (hopefully) never have a Year 12 like I have, and while it is easy to focus on the many activities we as a cohort have missed out on, it is also plausible to perceive the uniqueness of what we have accomplished. I do not mean to dismiss the underlying feelings of disappointment that students, myself included, have felt over recent months. I only intend to express my admiration for my fellow classmates’ resilience. For future Year 12 students, I know many people would advise to make the most out of your final year and to enjoy it. But if I am speaking honestly, you need to enjoy every year of your schooling from years 7 to 12, because you may not always have the opportunity to make up for the things in Year 12 that you didn’t do in your younger years. Not only has remote learning taught me how to type faster, it has also enabled me to recognise my privilege in having the same support and kindness that Damascus offers—all from the comfort of my home. Symantha Sawka, Year 12 student 48
2020 Timor Immersion team with Lucy from Ainaro TIMOR 2020 DAMASCUS COLLEGE EVENT The Timor-Leste Immersion Program is a huge part of the identity of Damascus College. 2020 marked the 10th anniversary of the first trip across the Timor Sea to visit our friends in Ainaro. Sadly, due to COVID-19 and and enforced travel restrictions, the trip was unable to go ahead but a number of activities were conducted successfully, including meeting Lucy from Ainaro in Timor Leste and some significant fundraising events. The Immersion team was introduced to the community at Damascus Day Mass in 2019. The annual Cupcake Day with Emmaus Catholic Primary School was a great success. After the first COVID-19 lockdown and the cancellation of the trip, Damascus College welcomed Rob Gray (Ballarat Grammar) and Lucy (from Ainaro in Timor Leste) to the College to acknowledge the mid-part of the immersion journey that had been hijacked by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lucy described the upbringing she had in a subsistence-farming community in the mountains of Timor Leste. Alongside her other education, Lucy chose to attend a pop-up school for learning English language set up by the Ballarat Teachers 4 Timor network, and doors began to open for her. She has had two stints at gapyear projects as a support person in the primary school at Ballarat Grammar. The birth of her first child Topher was in the middle of the trips and he certainly entertained the gathering. Students also heard from Fr Armindo, the Parish Priest of Ainaro, via a WhatsApp phone call and from Sr Mary Anne Dwyer, a Sister of Mercy from Ailue on a video recording, as part of the meeting. Sr Mary Anne received the proceeds of the highly successful pie drive held by the Immersion team. She will use these funds as always to work on development projects among the poorest in Timor Leste. 49
Page 1 and 2: Spring 2020
Page 3 and 4: FROM THE PRINCIPAL MATTHEW BYRNE We
Page 5 and 6: DAMASCUS EVENTS CENTRE DAMASCUS COL
Page 7 and 8: Martin Ryan Learning Area Leader -
Page 9 and 10: Caroline Nolan Learning Area Leader
Page 11 and 12: SRC Bake Sale Year 12 Retreat 2020
Page 13 and 14: 8 7 9 10 11 12 13
Page 15 and 16: 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 15
Page 17 and 18: RAISING FUNDS FOR MND DAMASCUS COLL
Page 19 and 20: Anthony Leonard C1986 Mums favourit
Page 21 and 22: O’Beirne Family keep on top of my
Page 23 and 24: MARY RAPHAEL MITCHELL RSM DAMASCUS
Page 25 and 26: “It’s important to stay in the
Page 27 and 28: 2020 College Captains, William Smit
Page 29 and 30: #IN THIS TOGETHER DAMASCUS COLLEGE
Page 31 and 32: ELLA’S GENEROSITY ELLA YOUNG Year
Page 33 and 34: COFFEE VAN LAUNCH DAMASCUS COLLEGE
Page 35 and 36: SIGNED BY THE WOLVES BENJAMIN CREAN
Page 37 and 38: YEAR 12 FINAL DAY CELEBRATION DAMAS
Page 39 and 40: Benedict O’Beirne, Tyson Cooper,
Page 41 and 42: Val C1975 Val C 1980 While with the
Page 43 and 44: SOPHIE’S SOCIAL IMPACT SOPHIE BUS
Page 45 and 46: Jo with her daughters Elise and Ste
Page 47: MUSIC IS MY SAVIOUR RYAN HOLLOWAY I
Page 51 and 52: ADAPTING TO CHANGE BREANNA GALE Bas
Page 53 and 54: 1960’s 1970’s BLAST FROM THE PA
Page 55 and 56: MEMORIES OF A BOARDER ALUMNI STORY
Page 57 and 58: Barbara Ford nee Meich, Patricia Va
Page 59 and 60: #TogetherWeAreDamascus 59

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