We welcome all students of 2023 to Don College. We extend a special welcome to our  recently arrived International Exchange students who have travelled thousands of kilometres to join us at Don College. We introduce our exchange students later in this newsletter.

 Don College is an exciting place to be. Daily, 800 students, aged 16 to 19, attend classes to develop their knowledge and skills and create opportunities for their individual futures. We know that the most successful students are the students who attend all lessons and complete all tasks. Successful completion of year 12 increases individual choices and the likelihood of long-term employment throughout life. Completion of apprenticeships also has similar lifelong benefits.

It is important that our students feel welcomed and they “belong” to our school community. By listening to individual students and different interest groups we can better cater for student needs. There is a range of opportunities for students to be heard. This includes student surveys, informal conversations with staff, formal conversations and participation in student leadership groups. Students are invited to visit a trusted staff member and share their ideas for college improvement.

We congratulate our graduates and award winners from 2022. Many students on a pathway to university aspire to achieve an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR). Don College students' median ATAR was close to 85. This means that half of our students who achieved an ATAR were ranked 85 or above. Half of our ATAR-achieving students were ranked in the top 15% of Australian students. Congratulations to our staff and students on this sensational achievement. Some of our high-achieving students from last year are celebrated in the following pages.

We look forward to working with students and their families to improve achievement by all. Our staff are motivated by growth in students and successful outcomes. We wish all students of 2023 a happy and successful school year.

John Thompson