It is a privilege to work with our local 16- to 19-year-olds at Don College. We are fortunate to be able to share their aspirations, hopes and dreams and see students step closer to their realisation of their goals. We work with a dedicated, respectful, and highly capable group of young people.

One of many benefits of learning at college level, is student directed learning through choice of subjects that appeal to the individual. As such, our subject specialist teachers establish expectations for quality learning in the classroom including focused learning time. Sustained periods of time away from screens is necessary for you to flourish.

We strongly encourage students to compartmentalise or “box” their time. Class time is time to be present, physically and mentally in class.  Study time is time to study. Set a goal such as,  “30 minutes uninterrupted study”, and when you have remained focussed for that period, reward yourself with a minute or two of scrolling, a chat with a friend, a few shots of the basketball, a creative sketch, a walk outside, a healthy snack or other activity that is a quick break from the learning. The times that students can sustain will vary. Keep the break relatively short and disciplined.

As humans we have limited ability to pay attention to multiple inputs. As the very busy end of year season approaches, we encourage students to redirect their attention to their learning to complete tasks, master content and prepare for assessments. Just like fitness activities it can help if you share your goals with a supportive person, help each other and focus on growth. Parents and carers have a role to play in supporting our students to spend focussed time on learning and modelling disciplined phone use.

We wish all of our students a successful Term 3 and encourage all to be conscious of connecting in a direct, technology free mode.

John Thompson

Library 

Children's Book Week is The Children's Book Council of Australia's national event, which runs from Saturday 16 to Saturday 23 August this year.

The 2025 theme is 'Book an Adventure', and this year celebrates 80 years of Children’s Book Week! The library will be hosting events throughout the week for students, including a Dress Up Day, competitions, scavenger hunts, a Dungeons and Dragons experience, and a special meeting of the Don Library's Readers' Club.

Over 500 prospective students visited the college last night to discuss subject options for the start of Grade 11 during our 2026 Enrolment Information Evening. 

It was fantastic to see so many parents and carers of future students actively engaging in this exciting next step in their education! 

Thank you to all who attended. Don College teaching staff really enjoyed meeting next years' students. It was great to see so many students engaging in the process. We were left with a resounding feeling of enthusiasm and excited anticipation about coming to Don College. 

This event will followed by Don Live, where Grade 10 students will be able to visit the campus at Don College to familiarise themselves. This will take place August 25- 29 and are organised through students' high schools.

Students will have the opportunity to meet subject area teachers, visit classrooms in varied learning areas across the college, and to chat to current student about their Don College experience. 

Well done to Don College Design and Production Textiles students who have been working hard to put together their Chocolate Wonders of Wearable Art entries for this year’s Chocolate Winterfest. Their works are now on display in various shop front windows in Latrobe.

Online voting is open from August 8-25, with your chance to be drawn as the winner of a chocolate hamper. Vote online at https://chocolatewinterfest.com.au/vote//  

In the Design and Production space, new utility boxes have been fitted out in the workshop to help students to quickly identify the equipment they need for a project.

Teachers Matt Potter and Brett Boxhall are working on QR codes for each tool that can be scanned to take students to a video link which they can use to refresh their memory on each tools' usage and features. 

Student-led projects include a pizza oven, and a mozaic-top table unit, complete with wooden seats. These projects have been created by students from the design phase, right through to completion, providing students with hands-on experience to use in their future work place.

Each July, Donate Life Week shines a light on the importance of organ and tissue donation across Australia. This year, Nurse Ceinwen and the Certificate II Community Services students hosted an information stall during lunch to encourage students to consider becoming organ and tissue donors and to start a conversation with their families about their wishes. 

With around 1,400 Australians currently waiting for a life-saving transplant and over 11,000 people on dialysis, registering as a donor is a powerful act of generosity. It takes less than a minute to sign up, but it could one day give someone else the chance to live.  

Join the register | DonateLife 

A friendly reminder to all families: Levies and Subject Fees for the year are now due.

To help ease the burden of this expense, Don College offers a variety of payment options. If you have any questions or need assistance with payment arrangements, please don’t hesitate to contact our administration team:

Email: don.college@decyp.tas.gov.au

Phone: 6424 0200

Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your continued support.