Welcome Back On Site

The school came alive this week with all students returning onsite. And wasn’t it great to see and be part of. Whilst perhaps we can’t be definitive in saying it was great to see all those happy faces on the return (as they were hidden by masks!) we all certainly could feel the high level of student excitement and enthusiasm that was present in classrooms and around the college grounds. Classrooms were noisy. Productive noise. Busy noise. Excited noise. Happy noise. Learning in the physical classroom, face to face with teachers is most definitely back and aren’t we all so pleased that it is! 

What was equally as impressive to see was the way in which all students respected the need for being COVIDsafe- wearing masks, physical distancing and vigilant hygiene practices. It is a team effort and something that directly impacts on all students, staff, and our community. Students were considerate of the spaces of congestion in and around our corridors, passage ways and locker spaces, in particular those students relocated to the cubbies end of the school. Students demonstrated patience and respect when moving to and from their lockers which was great to see. The line-up at the canteen was spaced and orderly, and those waiting for the buses used hand sanitiser and distanced themselves before boarding on their bus to go home from school. Thankyou.

As was a highlight of the college, and most definitely a focus of our attention during Remote Learning was to support students in accessing their learning. Student support, Wellbeing, ICT, Home Group and staff teams all worked closely with students to ensure success during online learning. The transition back into the school setting and the physical classroom face to face with teachers also requires our attention and support for students to successfully adjust. This is a focus of the college and we ask that if there is anything students or families need from us to ensure this transition is as successful as it can be please let us know.

Department of Education Surveys

The series of annual surveys from the Department of Education and Training are scheduled for completion this Term. Shortly you will receive information about the Attitude to School Survey (for students) and Parent Opinion Survey (for parents). Both surveys are designed to allow for student voice and agency and parent voice with respect to all facets of school and student learning. The data collected on the surveys provides the Department of Education and individual schools with information that shapes future school support funding, school student programs, intervention supports and guide other system wide and school specific strategic planning. We welcome and value the input of both our students and parent community.            

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

2020 Victorian Parent Conference

Parents/carers and school representatives are invited to attend this year’s 2020 Parents Victoria Online Conference.

The theme of the forum is a Brave New World: Changes, challenges and opportunities for families and schools. 

This year’s conference program includes presentations from expert speakers and groups on mental health support for students and parents, connecting school communities and engaging families.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education James Merlino will open the conference and answer questions submitted by schools and families.

To submit a question email office@parentsvictoria.asn.au by Sunday 11th October.

Details on the conference and how to register are provided below.

Date: Monday 19 October 2020

Time: 10am to 1.15pm

Cost: The conference is free but registration is essential.

Registration: The conference will take place on Zoom. Participants will be emailed a Zoom link on 18 October.

For more information visit the Parents Victoria website.

Term 4 Update, Information and Potential Questions

Firstly, we hope you are all well and have enjoyed a great holiday break! We certainly look forward to hearing all of the stories and highlights.

As you well know, the landscape is constantly changing regarding COVID-19. Pleasingly however, the changes that are currently happening are of a positive nature offering us all the opportunity to return closer to a life that we would deem to be more ‘normal’ than that of recent times. Information is coming to hand almost each day regarding how schools must operate. We will provide you with as much information as possible as it comes to hand. 

For now, the following table of information may help in answering some of your Term 4 questions-

NOTE- Please note however, that all items listed above are correct as at the time of publishing this newsletter, however are subject to change at any time.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Administration office.

College Council

The September meeting of the Newcomb Secondary College Council took place remotely on the last Thursday of term 3.  Among the items discussed were the return to school in week 2, the new building works which are about to commence, as well as uniform suppliers.

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

Please click on the PDF below to access links:

Planning for Term 4

Term 4 will commence on Monday 5th October.  For the first week learning will continue remotely (as it has for the majority of Term 3) with some VCE SACs and the General Achievement Test (GAT) being conducted on site. We expect that all students will return to on-site learning from Monday 12th October (Week 2).  More information on this return to school will be communicated as soon as possible.                                            

College Council

The September meeting of the Newcomb Secondary College Council will take place remotely this Thursday evening, commencing at 7.00pm.

End of Term 3 Interim Reports

Mid-semester reports will be published on Compass on September 18th, 2020. These reports will cover each student’s performance in relation to each of four areas:

Effort
Progress
School-wide Positive Behaviours
Submission of Set Work

We encourage you to use this information to engage in a discussion with your child about their learning, set or review goals and look to enjoy a positive end to the school year. As always, should you require further information or detail regarding the report feedback, don’t hesitate to contact your child’s subject teacher.                                                                                                                          

End of Term 3

As part of the agreed time in lieu for Parent Teacher Student Interviews that have taken place earlier this term, the College term will finish at 12.30pm on Friday, 18th September.  Term 4 will commence at 9.00am on Monday 5 October, with the first week of term remaining as remote learning.

End of Term Message

Congratulations on having made it through a truly difficult term. Thank you for the patience, perseverance and understanding that you have so consistently shown along the way. 

We are very proud of the students who have made the best of their remote learning opportunities over recent months – your resilience and positivity has been remarkable! We cannot wait to reconnect with you again in Week 2 of Term 4. However, please know that we are no less excited about reconnecting with those students, whose online learning participation may not have been quite so evident over recent weeks.

Term 4 will present an opportunity for us to reconnect as a school community in a very meaningful way, after several highly unusual and disjointed months. No doubt this too will present some complexities, as we all transition back into a busy routine of onsite teaching and learning. But if we all remember the enduring significance of our values; Respect, Learning and Working Together, we should feel confident that this will be a successful and rewarding experience for all.

The sun is shining after what has seemed a long winter, and COVID-19 transmission cases are dropping – hopefully things are looking up. Thank you again for your support across this term. Please keep safe, stay well-informed, and have a truly terrific and well-earned break!

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal
Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal
Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

Alumni Program News 

Darren Dickson – the Design Process

Earlier in Term 3, we were lucky enough to welcome Darren Dickson (Newcomb HS alum 1977-1980) as a virtual guest speaker for students in five classes across two sessions. 

Darren left school after Year 10 and completed an apprenticeship in graphics reproduction, before deciding to pursue a career in surfboard shaping. 30+ years later, Dicko Surfboards has become a success and allows him to indulge his passion for surfing every day.

The Alumni Q&A took place just before schools went back into remote learning. Darren answered questions about his career pathway, following his dreams, achieving work-life balance, starting a business, working with clients, the skills needed to become a surfboard shaper, and much more. He stressed the importance of choosing a career that you will enjoy.

You can watch highlights from our Q&A with Darren on our YouTube page here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETnzNhWT7kw

The video is also available on Clickview (student log-in required): https://online.clickview.com.au/libraries/videos/34176928/product-design-career-webinar-2020-with-darren-dickson-nsc-1982?customerId=739142cb-ca04-5ba3-9a72-09658dc443c1&ssoRedirect=true

Darren’s virtual visit is the first of what we hope will be a longstanding tradition of past students returning to Newcomb Secondary College to advise and motivate current students, through the Ourschool not-for-profit alumni service.

If you're a Newcomb ex-student and haven't reached out to our Alumni Coordinator yet, please contact Jennifer at alumni@newcombsc.vic.edu.au

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre – careers Q&A

Newcomb students interested in careers in health, allied health and medicine were among more than 500 Victorian students who tuned into a live-stream careers Q&A with staff at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre last Friday.

The students from Ourschool's 18 partner schools heard from an amazing panel of six Peter Mac staff, also alumni of the public high schools involved in the Ourschool program. The careers covered included: radiation therapist, medical physicist, cancer surgery personal assistant, nurse unit manager and research assistant.

It was an inspirational session for students currently making course selections. Students and parents can watch a recording of the session here: https://vimeo.com/455366528. When prompted, use the password “OurschoolSess1”.

Upcoming Ourschool Q&A Industry Insights Session

The next Ourschool Q&A livestream Industry Insights session will be held on Friday 9th October focusing on pathways to accounting, business management and professional services. It will feature alumni working at KPMG, one of the “top four” professional services firms.

Please contact our Alumni Program Coordinator Jennifer Chiu at alumni@newcombsc.vic.edu.au to RSVP. Students who RSVP will receive a link and password to take part in the Q&A in the first week of next term.

See below to find out more about the speakers.

Headstart Work Placement

“With Term 3 coming to an end this week, I would encourage students to look towards Term 4 as the term for creating opportunity” said Newcomb SC’s own HeadStart Apprenticeships Co-ordinator Glenn Robertson.

“With Stage 3 lockdown nearing an end, now is the time to contact employers for work experience or structured workplace learning. Businesses can see the road ahead and are optimistic about the future, and that future should include you!”

Start by compiling a list of employers that do the type of work that interests you…stalk their Facebook and Instagram pages…read the “About us” pages on their website…scour the trades section of your local newspaper.

Glenn further explained “Employers want to hear from students, so the next big step is to call them…don’t get your parents to do it for you, or take the easy way out and email or text. Own it…create your own success!

Yes, you will be nervous. Yes, you will stuff it up a bit, but that’s okay…the important thing is that you try.”

Tips from Glenn for finding placement:

1. Do your research on the businesses you want to call.

2. Write down and practice what you are going to say to them.

3. Have a pen and paper next to you.

4. Be prepared to leave a voice message.

5. Be polite and understanding if an employer’s answer is no.

6. Remember to write down everything the employer says if they say yes…students often hear yes and completely forget everything after that!

7. Do not go on work experience or structured workplace learning without the necessary paperwork in place!

Remember, if you’re a student looking for a pathway into employment, a parent looking for a secure future for your child, or an employer looking for your next apprentice, contact the Careers & Pathways Team about the HeadStart Program at Newcomb Secondary College!

Mr Glenn Robertson
Head Start Co-ordinator – Barwon Area

Professional Learning Day

Last Thursday, staff had a very productive professional learning day. Our staff have a greater general understanding of the Victorian Curriculum Capabilities and how they may incorporate them in their learning area tasks. This understanding fits into the 21st Century (and Covid) realities of future learning and employment, and assist us in pursuing our ‘Creating Positive Futures’ agenda. We will communicate more on this in the coming weeks and months.

Remote Learning Update

This seems an ideal time to express our appreciation for all of the students who have demonstrated such high levels of resilience and a personal commitment to excellence, despite the many challenges presented by the online learning process. 

Our experience of providing an online educational program has certainly reiterated that there is no substitute for positive and familiar face-to-face interactions. However, despite these less than perfect circumstances, we have felt genuinely heartened and buoyed by the preparedness of so many students to just get on with things. It continues to be a trying experience for all concerned – staff and students alike. But it is terrific to see so many students working closely with their teachers to continue making the best of it all.  

As we near the end of what has felt a long term, we must make every effort to retain our determination and focus. The next couple of weeks need to be seen (and utilised) as a chance for us to consolidate the learning progress made across this term. It is an opportunity for students to proactively seek feedback and guidance from their teachers regarding individual learning successes, and to identify personal learning priorities for Term 4.

We will continue to provide updates to our school community regarding changes to the current situation, and as soon as we are able to do so, will share specific information regarding our transition back into an onsite program in Term 4. Please stay tuned for further correspondence on this, and continue to reach out to us wherever support or guidance is needed in the meantime.

Mid-Semester Reports

Mid-semester reports will be published on Compass on September 18th, 2020. These reports will cover each student’s performance in relation to each of four areas:

Effort

Progress

School-wide Positive Behaviours

Submission of Set Work

We encourage you to use this information to engage in a discussion with your child about their learning, set or review goals and look to enjoy a positive end to the school year. As always, should you require further information or detail regarding the report feedback, don’t hesitate to contact your child’s subject teacher.

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

Professional Learning Day

At the last College Council Meeting the 2nd Professional Learning Day for the year was approved for this Thursday 3rd September.

Staff will work on the Victorian Curriculum Capabilities, recognising that these broad skills are hugely relevant for the 21st Century world of work and learning.  It is also true that the Covid-19 pandemic has only made this work more important. 

Parents and carers should note that on this day staff will not be connecting with their classes remotely and students will not be able to attend at school.  Students can, of course, continue with ongoing activities in any or all of their classes.

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

Years 7-11 Parent/Student/Teacher Conference Phone Calls 

Thank you to those who made a booking on Compass requesting subject teachers to phone you with an update on your child’s progress. This phone call conference opportunity has been implemented this year as a replacement of the traditional Parent/Teacher/Student conference.

Commencing from the end of last week, through to the end of this week, subject teachers will phone you to have a conversation about the progress of and areas for improvement possible for your child. If you require a particular time for which to receive this phone call, please let the subject teacher know via email on Compass or contact the Administration office. 

Term 3 Remote Learning Interim Reports

In support of this, all teachers are currently completing a Term 3 Remote Learning Interim Report that will be shared with you at the start of next week. This interim report will focus on the following areas- Behaviour, Completion of Work, and Engagement with Remote Learning. You will also receive the traditional End of Term 3 Progress Report on the last day of this term. 

Professional Learning Day- September 3 (Student Free Day)

On September 3, all Newcomb Secondary College staff will be involved in a Professional Learning day. As such, the College Council has approved that this day will be a Student Free Day. The focus of the day for staff at the College will be around our ongoing focus in preparing our students to be best served when embarking on the new age World of Work. As part of this work, staff will focus on further development of our Science, Maths, Engineering and Technology (STEM) curriculum, Careers Education and our innovative Getting Ready for the Outside World (GROW) program. As part of this, staff will also be ensuring that our programs, curriculum, resources and practices are best equipped in preparation for the immanent facilities upgrade project and its exciting opening in the next 12 months.  

College Council

The August meeting of the Newcomb Secondary College Council took place online last Thursday evening.  Among the items discussed were the processes around Covid-19 closures, how remote learning is progressing and Council agreed to the September 3rd  Professional Learning Day.  We are also looking at expanding and/or changing our uniform suppliers to try to get greater consistency and availability in our College uniform supplies.

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

Remote Learning Update

It has been encouraging to see so many great examples of teaching and learning across our school, despite the challenges presented by the move to an online platform. One such example involved our students participating in an Aspire session on Tuesday of last week (11/8). These students, in groups 74 and 84, were joined by Mr Curnick and Mrs Adams, and treated to an inspiring scientific presentation hosted by several Deakin University Pre-Service Teachers and Dr Gavin Mudd.

Dr Mudd is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Engineering at RMIT University, and is also the proud father of our very own Liam and Rhys Anstey. Dr Mudd shared his passions and expertise with the students on a broad array of scientific topics. These topics varied from geological formations and sustainable mining, to global production trends and the implications of these for the future of our planet.

Hearing Dr Mudd’s presentation was a powerful reminder of why we are so committed to the STEM curriculum, and to supporting our students in mastering the soft skills required for professional adaptation to an ever-changing global workplace. It was terrific to have Dr Mudd present to our students, who it should be noted, responded with great respect, curiosity and intrigue. Thank you to all involved with this fantastic experience, including Mr Curnick for his organisation behind the scenes.

Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences

Each year at this stage of Term 3, we conduct our highly valuable Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences here at Newcomb Secondary College. For Covid-19 reasons, this year’s event could not take place in its traditional form. As a result, you may have noticed on Compass that you have the opportunity to request a phone conference conversation with your child’s subject teachers. Later this week, and throughout next week, subject teachers will make contact with those of you who requested a call and engage in a 10 minute discussion on the progress of your child in that subject. 

Facilities Developments

We have commenced our preparations for the exciting facilities upgrade capital works. At present, we are in a phase of ‘decanting’. This essentially involves relocating the items and resources within the areas earmarked for construction to other sites within the college. Involved in the decanting is classroom materials, staff office spaces, archives and student lockers. The Student Support team will make contact with students for whom their lockers have, or will be, relocated very shortly.

Also, when students return to school, many will notice that the rooms on their timetables have changed to facilitate the closure of most of M-Block, the end of C-Block and the relocation of Music. If you have any questions on this process or the capital works, please contact the office.                                                                                                                           

College Council

The August meeting of the Newcomb Secondary College Council will take place online on Thursday evening.

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

Letter for Parents and Carers 

Dear parents, carers and students,

Our school has been advised of another reported case of coronavirus (COVID-19).  

This case has been reported to the Department of Education and Training (DET), and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is currently undertaking further investigation.

As a precautionary measure, Newcomb Secondary College will be closed once again for 24 hours initially, or until we receive advice it can re-open. The school will be closed to all students, staff and members of the community. The remote learning program will continue.

During the initial closure period, all students and staff must remain at home while DHHS undertakes contact tracing. This includes limiting movements to home-based activities and not attending public places.

We will provide further information following confirmation of advice from DHHS.

To slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), Stage 3 restrictions now apply for regional and rural Victoria and Stage 4 restrictions now apply for metropolitan Melbourne.

All schools across Victoria have returned to remote and flexible learning, for all year levels, except for specialist school students in rural and regional Victoria, for the rest of Term 3.

Face coverings are compulsory for all Victorians over the age of 12. The exception to this is students over the age of 12 attending primary school, who are not required to wear a face covering while at school. Further information on the use of face coverings in schools can be found on the DHHS website.

More information

I am very aware that this is a time of heightened anxiety for us all. The people best placed to answer your questions are the DET (Department of Education and Training) staff who are supporting us. You can contact them on the coronavirus (COVID-19) hotline on 1800 338 663, 8am to 6pm, seven days a week.

For school information in your language, call TIS National on 131 450. Please ask them to call the DET coronavirus (COVID-19) hotline on 1800 338 663 and they will help interpret.

For health advice in other languages visit www.dhhs.vic.gov.au.

A number of resources can also be found on DET’s coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for parents, carers and guardians page. 

Thank you for your support, and I will provide further information as soon as I receive any updates.

Mr Honeywell

Principal

Remote Learning Guidelines for Thursdays

Dear Parent/Carer

Following feedback from our community after the previous experience with online teaching, and after consulting with our teachers, we have made a conscious decision to streamline our programs across Term 3.

To assist with this, we are also giving most students a chance to use Thursdays as a day to complete work independently, and to catch up on any ongoing learning priorities. Teachers will still be contactable by students and parents/guardians on Thursdays. But unless they communicate otherwise with their students (particularly for Years 11 and 12), teachers will not be running virtual classes on this day.

We will still be running Home Group, Year Level and Whole School Assemblies on Thursdays (10:20am-10:45am) and student participation in these is expected. Teachers will continue to set work on Compass and/or Google Classroom, but unless otherwise stated, online video conferences will not be running.

Adjusting the program in this way will enable teachers to make individual contact with students for support and guidance around their learning progress. It will also enable students to catch up on anything they may have missed during the week, and to focus on using key online resources, including Maths Pathways, Skillsbuilder, Word Flyers, Edrolo and Stile.

Students will be notified by their teachers where this does not apply to a specific class. However, in most cases, Thursdays will present students with a valuable opportunity to work at an individual point of need, on any learning or personal activity requiring completion and consolidation.  

Key points of advice to consider in promoting engagement with online learning:

• Encouraging your young person to maintain a healthy sleeping pattern.

• Trying as much as possible to follow the timetable that they would have for regular onsite learning.

• Having a designated study/work space, including a desk or table, where some learning materials can be permanently kept. (Preferably in an open space to permit a level of supervision.)

• Reminding your young person to log into Compass and check their school Gmail every morning.

• Ensuring that your young person’s laptop is plugged in and charging at the end of every day.

• Supporting your young person to proactively contact their Home Group teacher, subject teachers and year level support team leaders if they have any enquiries or concerns.

• Managing your young person’s screen time regarding gaming and social media interactions.

More information on how to support your young person from home can be accessed on the Department of Education and Training website:  https://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/learning/Pages/home-learning.aspx

Please feel free to make contact with either Mr McLeod or Mr Murphy for more information about this program adjustment, or any other matter.

Facilities Developments 

In the last week or so, we were preparing the college and our staff for the imminent commencement of the facilities building works largely focussed on M-Block and the end of C-Block & Locker bays. Despite the fact that we are now back involved in Remote Learning and no longer on-site, these works will continue as planned however the impact on staff and students will be different to first thought. If all continues as scheduled, upon students returning to the college it is anticipated that fence lines may be up in the building zones and timetabled classes will be changed to accommodate the room closures and hence the upgrade works.

Whilst we know that it will be a period of disruption to our facilities and movements around the school, we are excited in the knowledge that the eventual outcome of the works will see the addition of amazing new facilities for the college aimed at further enhancing the learning growth and outcomes of all NSC students!

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

Extended School Closure

As you are aware, Newcomb Secondary College was advised of two reported cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) and was closed for 24 hours from Monday 3 August as a precautionary measure.

This case has been reported to the Department of Education and Training (DET), and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is currently undertaking further investigation.

The school will now remain closed until advised otherwise.

While DHHS conducts further investigation, all staff and students are asked to stay at home until further advice is provided.

At this stage staff and students do not need to seek testing unless they develop symptoms.

On the advice of the Victorian Chief Health Officer, regional and rural Victoria will move to Stage 3 restrictions and metropolitan Melbourne will move to Stage 4 restrictions to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Tuesday was a pupil-free day for all schools. From Wednesday 5 August until the end of Term 3, all schools across Victoria will return to remote and flexible learning, for all year levels.

On-site supervision will not be available at Newcomb Secondary College for students whose parents/guardians are permitted workers, vulnerable students who cannot learn from home and children with disability  as all staff and students are asked to stay at home until further notice.

On-site supervision would normally be available for students whose parents/guardians are permitted workers, vulnerable students who cannot learn from home and children with disability at specialist schools who need to attend on site. We will advise on the return to onsite supervision which should become available once school deep cleaning and contact tracing has been completed. DHHS will advise us accordingly.  

Face coverings will continue to be compulsory for all Victorians over the age of 12.

We will advise you when you may return to the school site to collect personal belongings after appropriate cleaning has taken place. This will be done through a Compass notification.  As with the previous period of working from home, if students need assistance with a device or internet access please contact us. The easiest way is through email until we are back onsite.

More Information

I am very aware that this is a time of heightened anxiety for us all. The people best placed to answer your questions are the DET staff who are supporting us.

You can contact DET staff on the coronavirus (COVID-19) hotline on 1800 338 663, Monday to Friday and weekends 8am-6pm, with any other questions you may have. If you call them, please be clear that you are calling in relation to Newcomb Secondary College, and they will provide as much information as they can.

For school information in your language, call TIS National on 131 450. Please ask them to call the DET coronavirus (COVID-19) hotline on 1800 338 663 and they will help interpret.

For health advice in other languages visit https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/

There are also resources and supports available on DET’s https://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/Pages/coronavirus-advice-parents.aspx

Thank you for your support, and we will provide further information as soon as we receive any updates.

Dear Parents and Carers,

We hope this finds you happy and well, amid what continues to be a very challenging and unpredictable year.

On Tuesday (4-8-2020) our teachers and support staff were busily preparing for the return to online teaching and learning.

This is a particularly challenging time for us, not least of all because we are currently unable to access our school site, due to it being the focus of a precautionary deep clean. As soon as we are able to be onsite again, and therefore able to collect any items needed for teaching and learning, we will share a communication with you all through Compass.

In the meantime, our teachers will still make every effort to provide a viable, engaging and well-resourced program for all students, and are prepared to support with the resolution of any personal or educational concerns as they arise.

Teachers will be communicating with students through Compass and (in some cases) Google Classroom as of 9am on Wednesday morning, regarding learning goals and objectives for the coming weeks. Please encourage your young person to use their laptop or mobile phone to access Compass for these purposes.

We will continue to respond to all challenges as they present to us, and will maintain regular communication with our school community regarding any unforeseen changes. We will work with agility and open-mindedness to support all students – at their unique learning and personal point of need – over the coming weeks and months.

With a positive mindset, and a shared commitment to learning, we will continue to work through these challenging times. Thank you for your support, patience, perseverance and partnership. 

Please feel free to contact us (or any of your young person’s teachers) if you have further questions or concerns.

Sincerely,
The Principal Leadership Team

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

COVID 19 Update

Dear parents and carers,

I want to keep the process of regular updates to you,  in what I know is a concerning time.

The Victorian Chief Health Officer’s advice is that schools continue to be safe places to learn and work and that schools across rural and regional Victoria – including ours – are able to continue operating as normal. 

It is worth noting that schools in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire have moved to remote learning for years Prep-10 to avoid more than 700,000 students and their families moving around that area, rather than because schools are unsafe. 

As you may be aware, some schools in our region have been closed due to confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19). However, the health advice is that unless otherwise directed, schools can continue to operate while observing health measures recommended by the Victorian Chief Health Officer. 

This includes implementing a range of measures to reduce the risk of transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) in school settings, including social distancing for adults and increased cleaning. The wearing of masks for children over the age of 12 is not compulsory in regional and rural areas.  However, as I mentioned in last week’s newsletter, students who wish to wear face masks in school and in going to and from school may do so.

The Department of Education and Training and the Department of Health and Human Services have introduced comprehensive procedures to manage suspected or confirmed cases in schools. Where there is any risk to the health of students or staff they act quickly to manage it, including closing the school to allow for contract tracing or cleaning if required. 

I’m pleased to see students back at school after the holidays and continuing face-to-face learning will help to ensure that, as much as possible, we minimise disruption for students in what has already been a difficult year. 

I understand this is a time of heightened anxiety, but please be assured our school is taking all necessary precautions to ensure a safe learning and working environment for our students and staff.

As advised previously, if you, your child, or a family member develops symptoms of a fever, chills or sweats, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, loss of smell or taste, you should get tested at a coronavirus (COVID-19) testing facility and stay home.

If you would like health information from the Department of Health and Human Services, you can visit dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the office on 5248 1400.

Thank you again for your continuing support. 

Year 12 Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences                

Last week our Year 12 teachers participated in the Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences. The conferences are always a valuable experience for all involved with respect to the young person for whom the conference is about. We all know that learning is a team effort and requires the support of key people in the young person’s life. This has never been more important than in the current year! We hope that all who participated in the conferences appreciated the value of the conference and are now well informed about the progress of their son/daughter. Remember, that you are always more than welcome to contact teachers at any time throughout the year and we  encourage you to do so. 

Facilities Developments                                                

We are on the eve of some very exciting facility upgrades. As you will be aware, Newcomb SC received a State Government promise of $6 million dollars for a facility upgrade project. The project will enable the college to bring some of the last remaining facilities (not involved in recent redevelopments) up to the new college standard. The focus of this project is on the refurbishment of M-Block (Music & Maths areas) and the redevelopment of the end of C-Block (On 2 wheels & Technology). These new spaces will feature many highlights. Of particular note will be the construction of a High Tech/Low Tech STEM space that will also include an approximately 150 seat auditorium for guest presentations, lectures, student celebrations, assemblies and more. 

The project is at the tender phase as this newsletter is published and should all things go as planned, fence lines will start to be put up in the coming weeks and construction will commence prior to the September holidays. This will cause some disruption to available learning spaces, student movement around the school, parking, and will have a minor impact on some of our college programs however this short term inconvenience will result in a number of fantastic new additions to the college for our students and for our community. We can’t wait!   

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

COVID 19 Update

Dear parents and carers,

As you would be aware, the Victorian Government has introduced new measures to reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire.

At this stage, these measures do not apply to schools in regional and rural Victoria, including ours. Our school has, therefore, continued to operate as normal from the start of Term 3 on Monday 13 July.

The health advice is that schools can continue to operate while observing health measures recommended by the Victorian Chief Health Officer.

The Victorian Chief Health Officer has confirmed that the use of face masks or coverings by adults or children is not recommended in schools at this time. As has always been the case, students who wish to wear face masks in school and in going to and from school may do so.

If you, your child, or a family member develops symptoms of a fever, chills or sweats, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, loss of smell or taste, you should get tested at a coronavirus (COVID-19) testing facility and stay home.

If you would like health information from the Department of Health and Human Services, you can visit: dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus

These continue to be challenging times and I will keep you updated on further information as soon as it is available. 

Stay well and keep safe.

End of Semester 1 Reports                          

During the last week of Term 2 student End of Semester Reports were published on Compass. These reports offer students and families feedback on the student’s academic achievements and work habits during the entirety of Semester 1 inclusive of Term 1, the Remote Online Learning phase (1st 6 weeks) of Term 2, and the return to school phase (last 4 weeks) of Term 2. This feedback is an opportunity for students and families to reflect on their learning throughout Semester 1 and, along with teachers, identify areas for improvements that could be framed as future short and long term goals.

What is evident is that student learning achievement is best attained when a positive support structure surrounds each child. This support structure comprises of the school, teachers, parents and guardians, extended family members, wellbeing and more. Newcomb SC is honoured and proud to be able to act in support of each young person who enters the college. We are also proud to be in the privileged position to do so in collaboration of you and your family support networks. Please take the time to discuss the learning successes, needs and improvement areas with your son/daughter on a regular basis and continue to stay in regular contact with the school and our teachers to maximise the learning potential of your son/daughter. 
 

Year 12 Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences   

On Thursday, July 23, between 4-7pm, we will be conducting the Year 12 Parent/Student/Teacher conferences. This year’s conferences will however look different to what we are used to (for obvious reasons!). We encourage all Year 12 students in both VCE and VCAL to take advantage of this opportunity to speak with their Year 12 teachers at this time. In what is a vitally important year in a young person’s life, regular and accurate feedback on the student’s achievement thus far in their final year of studies is crucial to achieving a positive outcome come years end. The P/T/S format for 2020 is-

• Parents/Guardians can make a booking on Compass

• Bookings should be made with all teachers

• Parents/Guardians should make a booking at a nominal time for which they will be available to receive a phone call from their teacher (between 4-7pm on July 23)

• Teachers may also opt to request a conference with a particular student and their Parent/Guardian

• Conferences will be in the form of a phone conversation

• Each conference will be no longer than 10 minutes in duration

• Teachers phone calls will appear on parents phones as a ‘private setting’

If you are encountering difficulty in making a booking, or should you require any other support or consideration relative to the P/T/S conferences, please contact the Administration office.

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

The past week has been a very challenging week for the College and our broader community with the death by suicide of Brady Albert.

The College community extends its condolences to the Albert family, and his friends and to the many who have been touched by his death. 

It is terribly sad as we reflect on Brady’s life and his time at our College. Brady was completing Year 10 at Newcomb Secondary College. Brady was gentle, cheeky and well-liked by his peers. He dreamed of becoming a carpenter, and even took it upon himself to negotiate his acceptance into a Gordon-based VET course, after first being told the program was at capacity – thus highlighting his personal focus and determination.

Brady was a bright-eyed, big smiling and footy-obsessed young man, who was widely admired by his teachers. Naturally athletic, affable, loyal to his friends and partial to just one or two occasional hours of online gaming with mates. We will always remember Brady for his kind-hearted and caring nature. He is no longer with us, but will never be forgotten.

Brady’s death is a tragedy felt by so many. 

It is important that we take pause to ensure that we find the opportunity to actively support each other at this time. It is important that we talk about our challenges and worries now and with the passing of time. It is important to remember that support is here, and all around us.

It is important that we are here for each other.

Talking about death and suicide is challenging and can be very traumatic. It is nevertheless, important for us to talk about it.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or know of someone who seems to be struggling please talk to others who may be able to support.

The following links provide support as we each look to deal with the emotions of loss and grief or depression. I encourage you to visit them if you feel the need at this challenging time.

Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support

Telephone:   1300 22 4636

Lifeline: https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Telephone:   13 11 14

Hope Bereavement Care:  https://www.bereavement.org.au/grief-support

Telephone:   4215 3358

Headspace:  https://headspace.org.au/headspace-centres/geelong/

Telephone:   5222 6690

Suicide Call Back Service: https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/

Telephone:   1300 659 467

College Council

The June Meeting of the Newcomb Secondary College Council will take place this Thursday evening in C2.

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

From the Music Team

Remote Learning – Instrumental Music Program

Mrs Stabryla and Mr Crowther would like to congratulate all of our wonderful instrumental music students who were devoted to attending their instrumental music lessons online during remote learning. Many students had a 100% attendance rate and were totally organised at home to commence their lessons on time. 

The internet and quality of sound was frequently a problem but it did not prevent most students from making very valuable progress in furthering developing their performance skills on their instrument. 

Online learning for many instrumental music students has further developed their sound reproduction and given them lots of confidence to play their instrument by themselves. 

A big thank you must also go to parents who supported their child through this process, not only in music but throughout all areas of their studies.

Now that the whole school community has returned onsite we are looking forward to commencing our big bands at the beginning of Term 3 – Week 1.

Term 3 Band Rehearsals 

• Senior Concert Band – Tuesday morning 8.20am to 8.50am & one period each Thursday on a rotating timetable.

• Intermediate Concert Band – during class time – one period per week on a rotating timetable.

• 74 Band – one period per week during classroom music time.

• 71, 72 & 73 Band – fortnightly on a rotating timetable.

• Blues’n Jazz – Tuesday lunchtimes

• Cold Fusion – Friday lunchtimes.

Remote Learning – Classroom Music Program

Junior music classes completed 3 different types of tasks during their online learning.  They completed an investigation, practical work and creative challenges. They researched different aspects of Indigenous music, learned how to compose a piece of music using the Ableton Live program on the computer and attempted different tasks as part of our Musical Olympics. 

Year 9/10 students did a great job of continuing with our aural lessons online and all worked on composing 2 pieces of music using their instruments or a virtual keyboard.

VCE classes continued as normal via Goggle Meet.

Senior Band Tour and Junior Music Camp

Postponed this year and have been moved forward to 2021 due to Covid-19.

Hopefully later in the year we will be able to take the bands out performing in the local community and primary schools, but at the moment this is not able to happen.

Headstart

The HeadStart Apprenticeship and Traineeship Program is excited to welcome all students back to school!

Employers in the Building and Construction industries such as electrical, bricklaying, plumbing and painting continue to employ young people in to school based apprenticeships while adhering to safe distancing guidelines.

The employed students pictured will be back to school while also attending their paid employment two or three days a week.  This gives the students the capabilities and skills the employers need to grow their businesses in the future.

If you are a parent, employer or a student wanting information about school based apprenticeship opportunities with the HeadStart Program at Newcomb Secondary College, please get in touch with the Careers and Pathways Team.

Regards, 

Mr Robertson, Head Start Co-ordinator – Barwon Area

Return To School

The atmosphere in our school yard on Tuesday morning was one of tremendous excitement, as we welcomed back our 7-10 cohort. It was terrific to see our students running up to one another to gleefully say hello in person, after several months of interactions limited to virtual connections and phone calls. It was also very heart-warming to see so many students racing over to their teachers to reconnect in person for the first time this term, and bemusing to witness teacher restraint against the impulse for handshakes and high-fives – a reminder of the strange times that we have all endured.

As the excitement at returning to onsite teaching and learning begins to settle, we are likely to see the emergence of immensely varied human emotions – everything from stress and fatigue, to a sense of feeling greatly overwhelmed. This is perfectly understandable. For any students feeling this way, we would encourage you to have no hesitation in reaching out for support. Our teachers, student support team members and education support staff are more than ready to assist any student in managing their return to school, following what has been a challenging and highly unusual time. 

Furthermore, for any student wanting to put their thoughts into words with peers, perhaps with a view towards bringing in new ideas and initiatives across the school, we would encourage you to join the SRC for their fortnightly meetings. This is a great opportunity for peer-to-peer connections and the nurturing of student voice – the most important voice in the school. Our School Captains, or any member of the Wellbeing Team, will be able to assist students who might be seeking more information about the SRC.

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

Return to School - Year 11 and 12 students

It was terrific to see the successful return of our students in Years 11 and 12 last week! Furthermore, it was very reassuring to see these students transition so seamlessly back into a routine of onsite classroom participation. Our senior cohort should be commended for the positivity, perseverance and open-mindedness with which this transition has occurred.

VCE and VCAL students have had a full week back at on site learning and so far it has been exceptionally positive in classes, the yard and the Language Centre. Almost all students have returned to on site learning and immediately re-engaged in their classwork. The Year 11s and 12s were obviously glad to be back at school, although many admitted they enjoyed some aspects of remote learning as well. Something that they also demonstrated excellence at, as the 70+ individual nominations for Remote Learning Excellence awards demonstrate. 

Needless to say, the staff were as excited as the students to return to (almost) normal and showed their pleasure at being back at school with students with many small acts. Music over the loud speakers on the first morning, smiling yard duty teachers sharing isolation stories with students and teachers playing a few games in the first class back are but a few examples of the myriad of ways our teachers have demonstrated how glad they are to have students back on site.

Well done Year 11s and 12s, on a great start back.

Remote Learning Update

With just under a week now until our students in Years 7-10 resume their onsite programs, it is important for everybody to take stock of what will be needed to ensure that one is indeed ‘ready to learn’. This not only relates to the preparation of learning materials, and ensuring that all texts, devices and general stationery are accounted for; it also relates to appropriately preparing one’s mindset.

Coming back to school for the resumption of onsite learning will entail a very significant change in routine for our students. Though it is incredibly exciting, in the short term, this could also be the cause of some personal disorientation and perhaps even anxiety. If this is the case, we would encourage any student who might be feeling a sense of being overwhelmed to seek out a member of the Student Support or Wellbeing Teams.

It has certainly been a difficult and unsettling term to date and we are very grateful for the perseverance and positivity that has been shown by so many of our students. As a team of staff, we are buoyed by the idea of everybody being back onsite. We will provide additional support, wherever it is needed, to ensure a successful transition for all students.

Parent Survey

Over the last two weeks, our parent community have had the opportunity to complete a survey on experiences had as part of the Remote & Flexible Online Learning phase undertaken during Term 2.

Thank you for those of you who took the time to provide your feedback. We certainly value the input of all stakeholders within our community and appreciate the connection we have with all members of the Newcomb Secondary College family.

The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive and has been shared among our College Leadership teams and most importantly shared with our hard-working staff members.

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal 

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

Return to School – Year 11 and 12 Students  

Today we welcomed our Year 11 and 12 students back onto the school grounds and commenced their reconnection to their school, their staff and their peers. It was great to see them. We look forward to seeing our Year 7 - 10 students in a fortnight.

Pupil Free Day          

Looking forward to students starting to return. Staff planning program adjustments and how social distancing will work for adults on site.

Remote Learning Update                                             

As our students in Years 11 and 12 (and Year 10 students accelerating into a VCE subject) transition back into an onsite learning program, it is important for students in all other year levels to stay connected with their participation in the online programs. The knowledge that we are scheduled for a whole-school resumption of onsite participation in Week 9 (Tuesday, June 9th), should not detract from individual student engagement and effort between now and then. 

At our most recent year level assemblies, we stated how proud we are of the many students who have been so studious and positive with their application to online learning – these students should also feel very proud of their efforts here! However, we also expressed our belief that all students should return to school with optimism and excitement, regardless of their individual experience over the course of recent weeks. The fact is, our teachers will be excited to reconnect in person with all of their students, irrespective of how they have fared with their online learning in the term to date.

College Council

The May meeting of the Newcomb Secondary College Council took place on Thursday evening via a virtual video link.  Among the items discussed were the schedule for the new $5.4 million building works, the progress of remote learning and the plans for returning to school.

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

Senior Concert Band Tour and Year 7 & 8 Junior Music Camp

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the Senior Concert Band Tour and the Year 7 & 8 Junior Music Camp have both been postponed until 2021. 

This is due to the current restrictions in place by the State Government that include school excursions and large gatherings; and this also includes the Concert Bands rehearsals and performances.

Funding Announcement

The Victorian Government announced funding for building works across the state. This includes the redevelopment of the Eastern end of C Block, the Eastern locker bay, as well as the Maths and Music spaces in M Block. Our planning (funded at $600,000) is moving towards tender documentation and this announcement ($5.4 million) will complete the $6 million 2018 election promise.

If we proceed on our planning path (as I expect) we could be looking to commence the works in either term 4, 2020 or term 1, 2021.

The artist impressions for these areas are available to view by clicking on the link below.

I’ll keep you updated as this progresses.

Remote Learning Update    

As we approach the middle of the term, it is a timely opportunity for us to reflect on the positivity, commitment and resilience that has been so evident across the school community since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. More excitingly, however, it is also an opportunity for us to set our sights on a return to school for the resumption of our onsite programs. With this though, will come a period of readjustment, and this is something that we will need to be putting some thought into. 

Moving back into a shared onsite learning space will mean that we need to reacquaint ourselves with our School Wide Positive Behaviour expectations, and ensure that we have everything we need to be Ready To Learn, including the correct mindset. For students in Years 11 and 12, onsite classes will commence on Tuesday the 26th of May. This also includes students who are in Year 10 but completing a Year 11 subject, who may wish to use the school facilities for the completion of their online learning for other subjects. 

To support their transition back to an onsite learning program, it will be important for students to ensure that all of their key learning materials are accounted for and ready to bring back into school. Senior students should know key dates and deadlines for assessments and work submission, and should notify the school regarding any needed supports to access school uniform. Additionally, even though we are moving back into a more traditional classroom setup, it will still be essential for you to bring your devices to school with you. 

Thank you again to all of the students who have so positively made the transition to remote learning – it is with great excitement that we plan for your return to the school for the resumption of onsite participation. Please stay tuned for further student learning updates to assist with these transitions over coming weeks.

Staged Return to School Timelines

You are already well aware that we are about to transition to a Staged Return to School. This will be an exciting time for many of our staff and students in our community! We are certainly looking forward to a return to normality and furthermore seeing all our community members again.

We are currently planning for our Pupil Free day on May 25. This will be a day for which staff will be adjusting the teaching and learning programs from that of a remote and flexible program to a mixture of face to face and online. Students on this day can continue assigned work if they wish however, it is not a day for which teachers will be interacting with students. The return of students in Year 11 & 12 will be on Tuesday May 26. We know that our Senior students have been extremely resilient and adaptable during this time and will welcome returning to the classroom. The Senior Team is already planning for this transition with respect to the revised VCAA Study Guidelines and COVID-19 implications to classroom and school operations/practices.

Following the Queen’s birthday public holiday, we welcome the remaining students to the college, that being students in Years 7-10.

So in summary-

May 25-                Pupil Free Day & Staff Return to Working on Site

May 26-                Year 11 & 12 Return to School (Stage 1)

                            Years 7-10 Continue Online Learning

June 8-                 Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday 

June 9-                 Years 7-10 Return to School (Stage 2)                                  

Teaching & Learning Resources- How far we have come!

During the Remote & Flexible online learning environment this term, many new and effective teaching & learning practices have been utilised with great success. We have come so far! With this in mind, and as we transition back to the more traditional face to face teaching and learning in the classrooms here at school, we will be continuing to utilise many of the new approaches that were successful recently and blend them with those known effective face to face approaches that students have been denied throughout the online learning environment phase. This is an exciting opportunity for our teachers and in particular for our students! Compass will continue to grow as our start point for all student learning information, resources and assessments, Google Classroom will continue to offer opportunities to collaborate together on tasks and share resources in an online environment and the NSC gmail will provide a platform to communicate amongst each other within our college community and to share. This is just the tip of the iceberg however as teachers and students have applied many exciting and effective online activities and programs that have been engaging to students and of benefit to their learning. This activities and programs will continue to be a major part of the NSC classroom for the remainder of Term 2 and beyond.

We would like to thank you for your efforts and patience over the course of Term 2 thus far. It amazes us all as to how far we have grown as a community together. Please continue to stay connected to the college via the Compass App, Website, You Tube Channel, Facebook and other online platforms. Most of all, continue to stay connected with our brilliant and devoted teachers who care deeply about your child’s wellbeing and learning. Together we will make a successful transition back to school and will have a great end to what has been a very unique year!       

College Council

The May meeting of the Newcomb Secondary College Council will take place on Thursday evening via a virtual video link.

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

Students Return To School

We are aware of the announcement made by the Premier, Daniel Andrews this morning in regard to students returning to school. View the press release in the PDF below. 

Please note the following dates:

Monday 25th May - Pupil Free Day (no students onsite)

Tuesday 26th May – Year 11 and 12 students only return

Monday 8th June – Public Holiday (school closed)

Tuesday 9th June – all students return

We will provide further information when we receive it from the Department of Education and Training.  In line with current arrangements, vulnerable students in years 3 to 10, and children in those years whose parents or carers cannot work from home, can continue to attend school on-site as needed during this period.  Please contact the office if you need further clarification or have any queries.

Remote Learning Update

Well done to all of the students who are continuing to positively persevere with their learning opportunities, despite the frustrations, complexity and uncertainty of the term to date. 

If ever you have concerns or enquiries about your young person’s engagement and progress, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us. Thank you again for your persistence and positivity, and please stay well.

Feedback Week

This week is our college feedback week. The purpose of the week is to allow teachers the opportunity to dedicate their time to informing students and families about the learning progress of each student. Teachers may provide this feedback in many various forms ranging from work task assessment feedback, work habit feedback, positive learning feedback comments, phone conversations, emails and more. Such feedback can be located on Compass as a Learning Task assessment feedback or as a Compass Chronical entry.

We encourage you to use this opportunity as a chance to engage  in a conversation about the feedback, your child’s learning progress and follow-up any questions you may have, or support you may need with their subject teacher. After all, the learning of a child is best attained when working as a ‘team’.

Parent Survey

We know that you, each and every parent in our community, are doing a fantastic job at supporting your child during this Remote and Flexible Online Learning environment phase we found ourselves in since the start of Term 2. We congratulate and thank you. As we enter the half way point of the Term, we are keen to hear from you. This week you will, or may have received a Compass notification alerting you to a short survey that you can fill out. This will provide us with valuable feedback about your experiences, highlights and the challenges that you have faced and have overcome during the start of Term 2. Your comments will assist us in supporting you, and your children further, both in a remote learning environment, and in a staged return to school. Please do fill it out, it will not take you long. We look forward to your responses and continuing to work closely with you to achieve the best possible outcomes for each and every child in the Newcomb SC community!

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

Remote Learning Update

Thank you to all of our students for their continued positivity and diligence with the move to online learning. Our teachers are reporting that students have generally transitioned well into this approach, and participating in online lessons in a constructive and courteous manner.

It is important to remember that our school wide positive behaviour expectations still apply to the virtual programs, in the same way that they have always applied to regular onsite school attendance. 

Similarly, our teachers are still committed to taking the most important aspects of our own instructional practice, and applying them to the virtual teaching process. This means that students should always be aware of the specific learning intention for their lessons, should be receiving helpful and timely feedback on their learning progress, and should always be keeping an ear out for unfamiliar vocabulary and key language as their teachers work to promote increased literacy outcomes. 

To support the learning process, it is recommended that students continue to have access to their workbooks when participating in an online lesson. This will enable them to write down any references, terms or words that they would like their teacher to explicitly unpack during the lesson. Having ease of access to a pen and paper will also enable students to quickly write down any general questions or concerns that they wish to ask at an appropriate time. Finally, students should always remember that if there is a question that they need to ask the teacher, there is every chance that somebody else in the class will also be needing that same information – so please don’t hesitate.

Once again, thank you to all of the students who have made the switch to an online program in such an open-minded and enthusiastic fashion – keep up the great work!

This week marks the commencement of the fourth week of our Remote & Online Learning program. And wow, haven’t we all come so far! You should all be proud of what you have been able to achieve.

The challenge in the coming weeks is to continue to work closely with subject teachers to maintain the momentum and the best way to do so is to continue with these established systems that are in place at home. Students are reminded that teachers will use Compass as our landing page for lesson instructions, work submission, class news items and feedback. Log on here initially for instructions each class. Teachers are also using Google Apps for Education to compliment and facilitate classroom learning. One of the main tools used by teachers effectively has been Google Classroom. This learning platform enables teachers and students to collaborate, share resources, undertake learning, complete work tasks and receive feedback.

Progress Report Feedback

Over the course of the last week, teachers have undertaken a Progress Report on each student in their subject classes. This information, as outlined in the previous newsletter, was looking at information on a student’s:

• Level of Engagement

• Behaviour (online)

• Completion of classwork

This Report information is already compiled and is in the hands of our various Student Support and Wellbeing teams. Students who are progressing well will be recognised, and those who teachers have identified as of concern will be contacted and provided support or intervention, as recommended and determined by the respective Support and Wellbeing teams.

Technical Support

Newcomb SC has been determined to act swiftly on providing technical support and resources to our community to ensure that all students can learn during this time. Remember, should you experience any difficulties with learning whilst at home, please reach out to your child’s Home Group teacher, or just contact Administration at the College and we will be there to support you.

Daily Attendance

Finally, we have been consistently reminding students and families to complete the Remote Learning Attendance check-in each day. This process is vital for student attendance, as reported to the Department of Education, each day. Students must not forget.

To avoid this, we encourage students to make this their "first action for the day."  That is, they should complete their daily attendance check-in to their Home Group teacher via the method outlined each day. Please note, that the daily attendance collection is simply a DET compliance provision.

Students must also be in ‘attendance’ with their subject teachers throughout the day as per their Compass schedules. 

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

Remote Music

Photos include Year 11 student Elliott and friend and Year 7 music students - Linc W, Isabella L and Remy O. 

Why teach and play music during this time of remote learning and crisis around the world?

There is no doubt that communities all around the world have turned to music to help bring joy and happiness during this pandemic.