This term, both Legal Studies classes have explored new, thought-provoking topics and heard from different guest speakers.

 In Legal Studies Foundation 2, we have been learning about Family Law and Employment Law. Most recently, we have been exploring the legal basis of employment conditions and entitlements, as well as rights and responsibilities in the workplace. Students had the opportunity to interview others about their employment experiences and reflect on their results, as well as researching the employment standards relevant to a chosen future career. As part of their learning, we had a visit from WorkSafe where Tim outlined the duty of care employers owe to their employees. He shared many personal stories and suggestions for minimising risk and avoiding injury in the workplace. This was well received by students who didn’t mind the pencils and notepad freebies either!

 Legal Studies 3 students have shifted their focus to dispute resolution methods for criminal and civil matters, including the adversary trial system and Alternative Dispute Resolution processes. Over the last few weeks, we have been looking more closely at the criminal justice system and the safeguards of the accused/ victim in addition to the principles of sentencing. Students have been able to select and explore particular rights and sentencing options in more depth, whilst also considering relevant cases and potential reforms. This has included learning activities allowing students to practice objecting to inadmissible evidence, exploring recent “comments on passing sentence” and determining sentences for offenders using the “You be the Judge” virtual program. On the 31^st of August we tuned into UTAS’ “LawFest” via the virtual event to hear from a panel focused on each of the Topical Legal Issues for this year which included Professor Marcia Langton AO as the keynote speaker on the Voice to Parliament. Whilst we were unfortunately not able to attend in person, students were lucky enough to receive goodie bags from UTAS which included a myriad of Faculty of Law merchandise. On the 20^th of September we also had a visit from the Tasmanian Australian of the Year, John Kamara. Students heard impactful stories about John’s lived experience and how he went from fleeing war-torn Sierra Leone to becoming a strong advocate for migrants, refugees and people from culturally diverse backgrounds, including his involvement on the panel for the governmental Multicultural Framework review. A key focus of the session was diversity in schools and our responsibility as students and staff to acknowledge and educate others about multiculturalism, call out racism and model inclusive language. Students left motivated and keen to make a difference in the school, including the formation of a Diversity Statement for Don College. If you are interested in being involved in this, get in touch with elise.davey@decyp.tas.gov.au

 Special mentions go out to Hannah East for her submission to the My First Speech competition about youth homelessness, and Hayley Carpenter for her piece on rural disadvantage in the areas of mental health and education for the Country to Canberra competition. You are to be commended for the passion, time and effort that goes into forming a submission.

Last weekend, three teams of players and basketball coaches, Joel and Tahanee, with their support crew, Johnny, Max, Billy and a few volunteers, travelled to Hobart for the weekend to participate in the Tas All School Basketball Championships.

With little opportunity to play together except for a few recent Tutorial Time practice sessions, the three teams did extremely well representing Don College.  

The Division B boys went down in their Playoff Decider to Newstead College in an absolute thriller. Newstead were lucky enough to hit both of their foul shots with six seconds on the clock to win by two points.

Sport and Recreation

In our Sports and Recreation course this term, we've placed a strong emphasis on empowering our students to take the lead in their learning experiences. They have had the unique opportunity to lead their peers in student-led lessons centred around sports and games of their choice. Our students were tasked with developing lesson plans, conducting research to identify specific skills and small-sided games, and then guiding their classmates through the entire lesson.

This activity sparked creativity among our students, as they introduced innovative games and concepts that even our teachers hadn't encountered before. The results were impressive, as this endeavour not only encouraged individual confidence but also fostered a sense of camaraderie and social connection within the class. It was a positive learning experience for all involved, and we look forward to continuing to support our students' growth and leadership in the coming term.

Personal Health and Wellbeing

In Term 3, our focus in Personal Health and Wellbeing has kept our students incredibly engaged both inside and outside the classroom. We've delved into three units: Personal Fitness, Personal Care, and Personal Improvement.

One of the highlights of the term was when we welcomed Renae Parker, a skincare specialist, to our classroom. She conducted an informative skincare session and pampered our students with delightful hands and feet treatments. To add an exciting twist to our learning, we ventured out to Splash Aquatic Centre. Personal trainers led our class through high intensity RPM and Body Pump sessions, offering our students a unique fitness experience. We also had the privilege of hosting Well Ways, who introduced their empowering Body Talk program. This initiative emphasises resilience and fosters a positive body image, which we will continue into Term 4. As we wrapped up the term, Youth Family Community Connections joined us to conduct programs focused on the health aspects of social media. Our students gained valuable insights into managing their online presence and its impact on their overall wellbeing.

Term 3 has broadened our students' horizons by exposing them to a diverse range of activities, some of which they may not have had the opportunity to experience before. We look forward to building on this foundation in the upcoming term.

Earlier this term we celebrated Women's Health Week with an event organised by our Community Services students in the Northern Common Room.

The theme for this year is 'Grow your Knowledge'. It's all about supporting women to make informed decisions about their health with information that's easy to understand.

Thank you to those people and organisations who attended, inc. Youth Family and Community Connections Inc., Don Medical Clinic , Face Bar & No 34 Aboriginal Health Service /Rural Health, along with our own Cert 2 in Salon Assistant students.

Five of Don College's talented Food and Hospitality Enterprise students entered the Tasmanian School’s Cooking Challenge. The theme was Japanese Cuisine. Their food tasted as good as it looked! Good luck to Cloe, Brittney, Becky, Mikey and Laura who all competed. Winners will be announced in Term Four so check our Facebook page for updates! 

UTAS Object Design Projects are now displayed at Burnie, Launceston and Hobart UTAS art gallery sites until mid-October. The best statewide selection is at Devonport Art Gallery, Level 2 from 3Oth September.

Congratulations to Don College's Ayla Lake for having their work being selected as part of this collection! 

Picture this...August 26th, 34 pumped-up students, and five fearless staff members ready to rock 'n' roll on the Spirit of Tasmania. The vibes were wild, from sweaty palms, to pure excitement.

Once we checked in, it was all aboard the ship as one big happy gang, not having the foggiest about what awaited us in the next week. Fast forward to Sunday morning alarm blaring at 5:45 AM, signalling our cue to disembark and kickstart the road trip to Hotham. Let me tell you, that drive was something else. Hours passed, we made a few pit stops, and finally, we touched down at the mountain.

Now, here's the kicker: most of us were first-timers when it came to snowboarding or skiing. Gear stashed in the lodge, we hustled over to Hotham Central to gear up. Little did we know, the Central had a curveball in store – scorching heat! Imagine this - we're all dressed up like polar explorers in a sauna. Talk about frustration!

But when the time came to embrace the new environment and learn some fancy new skills, the real adventure kicked off. First mission: to stand up. Believe me, most of us were better at sitting down, and that's exactly where we landed, often. Thommo, our fearless leader, then corralled us onto the chairlift and onto the mountain. Let's just say, some of us struggled mightily. The chairlift exit was like a ninja obstacle course, and that mountain, well, it was no bunny slope. Skis or no skis, it was a wild ride. Some made it down in style, while others took the scenic route on foot.

By Sunday night, we were all feeling a bit worn out and maybe even a tad defeated. But we had Mezz, the culinary wizard, to fill our bellies with a feast that was absolutely legendary.

Over the next few days, we got a taste of everything - good weather, bad weather, and even some ice. Ice was a whole new ball game. Some students chose to conquer it, others thought better of it. Sore knees, aching backs, and sore behinds were the order of the day.

Yet, in the end, it was all worth it. We're talking 360s, jumps, ollies - you name it, we nailed it. Living under one lodge roof turned out to be an adventure of its own. Uno, schoolwork (yes, really), music, stretching, and more games.

When it was time to say goodbye, there were mixed feelings all around. We were just getting the hang of this mountain business when it was time to pack up and go. But hey, we all left with some newfound wisdom, whether it was conquering the slopes or mastering the art of Uno.

A heartfelt thanks to Thommo, Jackie, Bronnie, Johnny and Emily for guiding and enriching this unforgettable experience with laughter and valuable life lessons. Many are already eager to return for another adventure in the near future.

Business and Accounting

Recently we had the pleasure of welcoming back former Don College student Luke Brydon to our Business Studies and Accounting group. He shared his journey so far, studying Business at the University of Tasmania and working at a local Accounting and Advising firm.

We thank him for taking the time out of his busy schedule to visit and present. It was an invaluable experience for all! Luke’s presentation included:

• A bit about himself
• What studying at Uni looks like for him.
• Structure of the Business Degree – major and minor subjects and the difference between the 3 year course and the Accelerated program.
• Employment prospects and a description of the roles and duties in his working day

Worked examples and Collaborative Learning in Business Studies

Students were provided with a case study to discuss.

They drafted their answers using the whiteboards. Next step was to underline the key points in their answer.

Then they read the prepared answer and underlined the key points.

Discuss and compare.

Students celebrated the end of their formal schooling in style ahead of the final exams.

As chief organisers Dayna and Amy observed at the Razz: 

"So many students find their tribe here at Don, often for the first time in their entire education. This was on full display and they fully embraced the ‘nostalgic’ features of the night. We reminded them that regardless of their age, they are never too old to have old-fashioned fun. This is why the Razz is so worth it. The students had a really great time and truly appreciated all of the creativity with the decorations and games. It takes a lot of hard work to make a creative vision a reality."

A special thanks to Dayna and Amy for taking on the tricky job of being creative directors of the event and organising staff and students in the logistics for the evening. 

Thanks to: Ryan (and co) for technical skills in rigging the disco ball light and backdrop, Ryan’s outdoor class for carrying all the tables down and Tahanee and Justin’s classes for carrying them back. In addition to Tahanee’s class, thanks to Renee and her group of student for all of their work preparing the MPC in the morning. Regular contributors included Cathy, Minka, Darren, Meredith, Asha, Sarah, Amy,  and Liz who assisted with set up/pack down and Danielle who set up all the sound. Lisa Garland assisted in setting up photo booth tech. Thanks to Johnny who bagpiped and was MC for the evening, and thanks to Sue and Lisa for being the welcoming brigade at the door. 

Katie and Jackie were amazing as always roping in the hospitality students to work hard to provide an excellent send off for Year 12, 2024.