We welcome students to Don College in 2019. Students have quickly engaged in their program of classes and it is exciting to see their work and progress already.
Students at Don College can be confident that they are provided with the opportunity to excel. In 2018, 341 students completed full Vocational Education and Training qualifications. 75% of our Year 12 students achieved their Tasmanian Certificate of Education and 5 students achieved an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) that ranked them in the top 100 students across Tasmania. We congratulate all students of 2018.
Attendance is a key focus for Don College in 2019. We have clear evidence demonstrating that students who attend and participate in all lessons achieve better educational outcomes. Every lesson counts. With this theme in mind we look forward to working with students and their families to enable full attendance and participation. We look forward to celebrating the resultant achievement.
Parents and Carers also play a key role in the success of our students. We encourage you to make contact with the school should you have any queries, concerns or suggestions.
On Thursday 31st of January we held our annual Evening of Excellence. This is a time to celebrate the student achievements of 2018.
Principal's Message
On behalf of the Don College staff I congratulate 2018 students on their achievements. We celebrate your hard work, attention to detail and commitment to your growth.
Success at this level requires the support of those around you. This includes parents, carers, teachers, mentors and members of the broader community. It is important that we acknowledge this support that enables excellence.
All staff at Don College are privileged to work with young people and assist them in building skills, efficacy and aspirations. We work in an environment of mutual respect and see tremendous growth in individuals.
Highlights of Don College 2018 include:
340 students completed nationally recognised Vocational Education and Training qualifications
75% of year 12 students met the requirements for the Tasmanian Certificate of Education
The median Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) for Don College students in 2018 was over 83.4
2 students were finalists in the VET in Schools Tasmanian State Training Awards
28 students achieved High Distinctions in University of Tasmania courses delivered by Don College teachers
5 students achieved ATARs ranked in Tasmania’s Top 100
Over $9500 was raised and donated to local and international charities.
In addition to the measurable indicators above we acknowledge and celebrate the personal growth of students and their contributions to the broader community. Students have facilitated awareness activities in respect to Mental Health and Wellbeing, Domestic Violence, Environmental Issues, Car Parking, Politics and more. Students of Don College can rest assured they have experienced quality teaching and learning. With pride and confidence students can all say, “I attended Don College on the North West Coast of Tasmania.”
We encourage all students to be bold, travel the world and return with newfound skills and knowledge to create opportunities for others here on the NW Coast. We need industry and opportunity here to further develop our community. Congratulations to students of Don College 2018.
Hamish is a past Don student who has since completed his education as a qualified paedatrician. He has worked overseas with MSCF and is now a consultant Paediatrician and Research Fellow at the Royal Children’s Hospital and Centre for International Child Health (University of Melbourne).
Hamish spoke about the importance of setting goals while still being prepared to take advantage of opportunities. He illustrated this with examples from his personal experience.
This clip outlines some of the work Hamish is currently engaged in.
Each year, the TASC Outstanding Achievement Awards celebrate the academic and vocational education and training results of young Tasmanians.
Recipients of the TASC Outstanding Academic Achievement Award are students who achieve the top Australian Tertiary Admission Ranking (ATAR) in Tasmania with rankings of 99.5 and above in their Year 12 results.
Recipients of the TASC Outstanding Achievement in VET Award are selected by a TASC appointed panel of experts in the vocational education and training sector.
The Awards were presented by Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Kate Warner AC and Mr Richard Warner on Monday, 4 February 2019, at Government House in Hobart. We congratulate Don College students Maya Koizumi-Smith and Jesse Spratt for receiving Outstanding Achievement Awards. Congratulations also to Troy Mainwaring who achieved a TASC Outstanding Achievement in VET Award.
John Thompson (left), Troy Mainwaring, Jesse Spratt and Maya Koizumi-Smith at Government House.
In each newsletter we will feature an area of the College. This month we are looking at Fashion Design.
For over 12 years Fashion Design at Don College has had a wonderful reputation. Proudly it has incorporated design aimed at all levels of interest. TCE Design Production (textiles), UTAS Object Design (textiles) and VET Applied Fashion Design and Technology have enabled students to work with materials in a practical and creative manner. Be it for a hobby or for a serious career path the options are endless in the field of Textiles Design. Students have opportunities to enter state and national design competitions, making their learning fun but also very rewarding.
Visiting speaker inspires fashion students
Fashion Design Classes were lucky enough to have Abbey Beaumont from Retro Rhino talk about her incredible career. Abbey is only 25 years old, but has studied Fashion Design in Burnie and Melbourne. Abbey has gone on to design and buy for Kmart and now Retro Rhino, a new Retro clothing and accessory brand starting in Devonport. Her biggest recommendation to everyone is “Volunteer to do work experience whenever you can and work hard.” You can make it on the North West Coast of Tasmania!
Team Design Challenge
First week in, and Fashion Design students are showing their talent. Groups were set the task of creating a design from resources provided. ThisAll Things Bluedesign was made in just 1 ½ hours by Holli De Angelis, Alex Mitchell, Zara Turner and Lauren Hatton.
This free app supports all your communication with the college. It also provides a way for us to push notifications out to our community, should they be necessary.
Download the SZapp app from your app store.
Click here for installation and configuration instructions.
On Sunday 17th of February, Abbey competed in the Launceston Henley Royal Regatta representing Don College. She competed in the schoolgirls single scull and finished second. Then combined with Launceston College rower, Rebecca Bye, to win the Schoolgirls Double Scull. Thepair were awarded a shield and certificate at the end of day presentations. Abbey will be representing Don College at the North-West Schools Regatta (2-3 March) and the Tasmanian All School Championships (16-17 March).
Students sitting pre-tertiary exams at the end of the year who have a significant impairment or disability may apply for special disability exam provisions with TASC. For example, a student with a learning disability may be granted some extra time in their exam as a result of a psychological assessment which states they require it. Another example may be a student with diabetes who may need to take lollies into the exam to prevent low blood sugar levels.
Please ensure to initially inform the students’ classroom teachers of any disability and/or impairment. This will both enable teachers to tailor learning programs to suit individual needs and allow us to potentially apply for these special exam provisions.
Each application is considered on evidence provided to TASC.
TASC does not provide special provisions for students for:
lack of familiarity with the English language
normal exam stress
Students do not need to apply for special provisions to take an asthma inhaler into an exam. Students need to place the inhaler in a clear zip-lock bag labelled with their name and TASC ID number and hand it to the Supervisor Coordinator before the exam commences.
Skills Tasmania is conducting the third and final round of the 2018 survey of government funded students between Sunday the 17th of February and Sunday March 17th, 2019. The survey will cover two groups of students:
VET students who completed a qualification or skill set in the December 2018 quarter.
People who enrolled in VET training and then withdrew from that training during the 2018 calendar year.
For students who completed their training in the 2018 December quarter, the survey collects information on the reasons for training and whether the training helped them to achieve their goals. For students who did not complete their training, the survey collects information on the reasons for non-completion.
The survey results will help Skills Tasmania with development of VET related policies, program design and resource allocation for future training programs. Consequently, the survey will benefit both future students and businesses providing training and assessment services.
Aggregated survey results will be published on the Skills Tasmania website. Personal responses will be kept strictly confidential by Skills Tasmania in accordance with the Personal Information Protection Act 2004 (Tasmania) and the Student Identifiers Act 2014 (Commonwealth).
Skills Tasmania would appreciate RTOs’ assistance in promoting the survey to students who completed their training in the last quarter of 2018 or who withdrew from their training in the 2018 calendar year, to encourage more people to complete the survey. Respondents who complete the survey have a chance to enter a prize draw (for details see https://www.emrs.com.au/SkillsSurveyTerms/)
