Many of our year 12 leavers are at the crossroads of uncertainty. The future has many choices and we encourage all students to grasp opportunity. If opportunity knocks, take it.

Most opportunities require some inconvenience or sacrifice. If you are looking for direction remember the words of Winnie the Pooh, “You can only get to where you are going when you walk away from where you have been.”

Living in a regional community can seem like a disadvantage sometimes, and we can feel a sense of inferiority, but in reality it is an ideal place to grow and develop skills which you can take out into the world. Don College alumni have gone on and achieved great success, they have made a difference and there is no reason to think that the class of 2018 will be any different.

As Christopher Robin said, ”You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.” Remember though to carry your humility wherever you go.

We will miss the class of 2018, but we also anticipate the things you will achieve. You will make a difference, and through you we all make a difference.

John Thompson

Principal

Timetabled classes finished on Friday 9th November as the college shifted into exam mode. As usual we made this a celebration, as for year 12 students it is the culmination of 13 years of classes.

The students enjoyed a breakfast and some fun activities before short farewell classes for each of ther subjects.

At 11:45 a farewell assembly was held for the leaving class of 2018.

Through the exam period teachers will be holding tutorials and supporting students with exam preparation, as well as assisting students without exams to complete final assessment tasks.

On Thursday 8^th November at 6:00pm, Don College opened their end of year exhibition ‘Spectrum'. This exhibition will showcase and celebrate the work of all 2018 art students.

The title ‘Spectrum’ was chosen after students submitted various suggestions. Spectrum was seen as a fitting name for an exhibition that showcases the works of students who have extended their art practice and developed in to mature and capable artists throughout the year. 

The exhibition will showcase the usual talent in drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, and graphic design alongside exciting contemporary creations using mixed-media, projections, video and sculpture.

Don College art teacher Luke Conroy said, “In this exhibition there is an impressive variety of works that are not only visually exciting but also explore some really mature and insightful themes and ideas”.

“Visual art plays a very influential role in these young adult’s lives, allowing them to communicate some very personal emotions and stories which might otherwise go untold”.

“In this exhibition you can see student works that are not only individually empowering, but also highly relatable for their peers”

Our first day in Vanuatu started at 2:00am when we departed for our  planned destination, Deproma Village, on the island of Espiritu Santos. Arriving in the village at about 7:00am it was all hands on deck to pour the slab for the water tank to be constructed by 16 Don College students, 3 staff and Dr. Jane Cooper.

Deproma villagers welcomed us with ceremony and friendship. Each day they  provided us with wood fired bread, canned tuna, some fresh fish, grapefruit, lap lap and some local delicacies (potatoes). Daily routines of carrying sand, sifting sand, mixing concrete, making bricks, rendering and painting allowed us to complete a vessel that captured and stored 5000 litres of water for the community.

Working with the Deproma villagers we learnt new skills, gained knowledge of the natural resources in the Vanuatu bush and talked a lot about life. One of the villagers commented, “Best volunteer group we have ever had!” With lots of fun and a few upset tummies on the way (Thank you Dr. Jane for looking after us) the tank was completed and we had time to paint the school and repair some of the other water resources in the village. Some time was spent enjoying snorkelling on local reefs, visiting RiRi Blue Hole and visiting a village where Don College students have previously constructed two water tanks.

We are very proud of the students who participated in this journey. We congratulate them on their efforts with fundraising, positivity in adverse living conditions and general work ethic. Well done team. Deproma residents are very appreciative of your contributions to their lives.

Thursday the 25^th of October saw our annual fundraiser ‘Do it in a Dress’. Health studies students encouraged the staff and students to wear a dress to school for the day to create awareness and raise money for the Melbourne based charity One Girl.

We managed to raise just shy of $650 which is enough to send two girls to school in Sierra Leone and Uganda, where 44% of girls are forced into marriage before they turn 18.

Earlier this term Don College Fashion Design students;  Emily Ryan (model-Kassidy Baldock) Claire Corker and Lani Allen, went to Melbourne to Catwalk their designs at the National Apex Teenage Fashion Awards.  The experience was unforgettable!!  No prizes went our way but the experience was priceless. The variety and quality of work that was cat-walked, was incredible. Expenses were mostly covered by Apex as part of their State Fashion Award prize. Don College would like to publically thank Apex Clubs of Tamar and Latrobe for their continuous support.  The catwalk was at LCI, a new design school in Melbourne. It is an exciting warehouse conversion based in Collingwood. WOW!!  Students are already designing for next year.

On Wednesday the 31^st of October the Certificate III in Hospitality class took over Bistro Camille at the Sunrise Motel in Devonport as part of the Devonport Food and Wine Festival. Hospitality student Troy Mainwaring was given the job of organising a lunch menu, he came up with the concept to use local produce, in a 3 course extravaganza, which was enjoyed by 40 paying customers. Some of the highlights of the menu were the: Gin and Blackberry cured salmon, Asian fusion marinated chicken breasts and a colourful dessert tasting plate. Thank you to Sunrise Manager Paul Fielding for giving the students the opportunity to take over a commercial restaurant for the day. Thank you also to the Devonport City Council for giving us the opportunities during the Food and Wine Festival.

Late October, students from engineering and automotive had the great opportunity to visit some of Tasmania’s finest success stories in manufacturing and Automotive Development.

The students visited White Hot Motorsport to experience the ins and outs of motorsport, Direct Edge Technologies in South Burnie who are worldwide distributors of laser cut sheet metal and fabricated components along with a tour through William Adams Mining and Heavy industry Mechanical Services and Elphinstone based in Somerset and Wynyard, who are currently building Metro Busses for our local market along with specially designed mine service vehicles.

A great day was had by all with a great insight for the students to see these major industries in action.

Current student Tom Rockliff and past student Carla Johnson have been selected as Student Ambassadors of Public Education for the Department’s 150 years of public education celebration. This campaign will see Tom and Carla, become the faces and voices of public education in our state over the year-long celebration and presents an excellent opportunity for Ambassadors to share inspiring stories of courage, growth, respect and aspiration with the wider Tasmanian community. 

Tom has been an outstanding student over the last two years and we congratulate him and Carla as they take on this role.

Combining study with a large training load is always a challenge but we congratulate Darcy on her commitment and achievements in athletics and at school.

29th January – 1st February 2019 at the University of Tasmania’s  Sandy Bay Campus

The University of Tasmania in partnership with the Department of Education will be offering a four-day senior secondary residential summer program, University Summer College, for Year 11 students moving into Year 12 in 2019. This will be held from 29th January – 1st February 2019 at the University of Tasmania’s Sandy Bay campus in Hobart.

The University Summer College is designed to provide in-depth experience of University study, to enable students to explore subject areas and university life and to support success in Year 12 study. Students will live on campus and experience study and life at the University of Tasmania through mini-lectures, hands-on practical activities, tutorial sessions, and online learning. Taking place immediately prior to the start of the 2019 academic year, students will be supported throughout the program by University student mentors.

The University Summer College is a residential program and will comprise four days and three nights of activities with accommodation ( single rooms on campus) and all meals provided. For northern-based students, transport from Launceston to Hobart is also included . Students attending State schools are asked to make a contribution of $120 to participate in the program. A small number of bursaries may be available from UTAS to support cases of financial hardship,  or alternatively schools or school-related organisations  may like to support their students to attend.

The University Summer College is for  those students who are considering university study but who may be first in family to attend university and/or students who wish to explore particular subject areas to inform their choice of higher education pathway. Applications  are currently open  and more  information can be found at  http://www.utas.edu.au/schools-engagement/projects-and-initiatives/summer-college

For further enquiries please contact  Jeannie Marie LeRoi, Schools Engagement Project Officer and Summer College Co-ordinator: JeannieMarie.LeRoi@utas.edu.au

At this stage of they year we always find ourselves farewelling some staff members. This year we farewell several staff that have been integral to the college community for a long time.

Jackson Matthews has worked this year as a trainee in our IT support area. Next year he hopes to gain an appreticeship as an Automotive Mechanic.

Alex Stokes has been our Outdoor Education trainee and next year he plans to study Natural Resources and Environmental Studies at UTAS.

Both these trainees are past students of Don College, they have been valuable staff members throughout the year. We wish them well in the future.

Also moving on are Luke Conroy and Justin (Joey) Cotton. Luke will be travelling and Joey has a transfer to Hobart. We wish them well.

                                       

Finally three long standing staff members are retiring this year.

Jill Colgrave began her career teaching piano and flute in Melbourne, (Mt Scopus,Burwood and St Aloysius in North Melbourne). She then moved back to Tasmania to teach piano and flute at St Brendans-Shaw before moving to Latrobe High to teach Music for 10 years. At Don College Jill has been a key member of the Music staff and the music director for the College productions. Jill is one of those rare people that can make music with the same apparent ease as breathing. She will be missed.

Kevin Stocks has had a varied career before commencing at Don College in 1987. He has taught (amongst other things) Economics and Accounting courses. He has also been responsible for managing our flexible learning program.

'Big Kev' is an excellent teacher, much loved by staff and especially his students, who respect his expertise and appreciate his dry sense of humour. We will miss the wisdom and experience he brings to the college.

Robert Hopwood started teaching in 1977 at Hellyer College and stayed there for 17 years. He then had a short time on King Island and at Leighlands. 'Hoppy' moved to Don College in 1996 and has been here since then. Through his career Robert has taught Biology and other Sciences, Maths and Computing. In the last 10 years he has been very involved in timetabling and student data management.

Currently studying a Diploma of Chaplaincy, Robert is looking forward to volunteering more with Launceston City Mission in the drug and alcohol area and with Devonport Chaplaincy, plus spending more leisure time fly fishing, bushwalking, kayaking and photography.

Robert says he counts it a real privilege to have worked at Don, with so many wonderful staff and students over the years, he can’t think of a better place to teach! He extends his thanks to all who have shared in the rewarding journey.

Neuroscience Educator Nathan Wallace will visit Don College on Monday Dec 3 to lead Professional Learning with staff. Nathan is an expert on brain development and he will be providing staff with the latest research on how the adolescent brain develops and the impact that has on teaching and learning.

With students beginning exams on 12th November there will be some stessed teenagers around. Remember stress is not bad, in fact the right amount of stress can help you do your best. The thing we need to do is manage stress at the right level. This article contains some tips on managing stress through the exams.

https://www.vu.edu.au/about-vu/news-events/study-space/simple-techniques-to-combat-exam-stress