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.

Whilst there has been lots of constraints on our way of life in general we are still all able to enjoy music in many ways.

Music brings a sense of delight into our lives in whatever way we choose to enjoy it.

If you need something to enhance your day music students could:

• Research the instrument you are learning to play at school and find artists that will demonstrate to you what a lot of hard work can achieve.

• Play your instrument nearly every day at home and notice how quickly you can improve your skills.

• Put on a little concert for your family and don’t forget to invite the dog.

• Contact your teacher if you have any questions or concerns.

Adults could:

• Turn on the radio to a music station,

• Listen to your old CD’s

• Fine some new songs on iTunes, or just listen to your favourite songs,

• Watch some music clips on YouTube

• Drag out that old instrument in the top of the wardrobe to play again. A blast from the past!!!

Human Evolution

We don’t exactly know when we commenced to make music, but today music is the most consumed form of culture in the world.

Mrs Stabryla

Anzac Day

On Friday of last week (24/4) our School Captains, Jordan Quarrell, Bianca Merlino, Kaysha Pitman and Emma Riordon developed a video on the significance of ANZAC Day to share with our school community. 

Previously we have observed this occasion very proudly through a whole school assembly. However, the challenging nature of our current circumstances, meant that we had to approach this year’s school-wide recognition of the event in a completely different fashion. 

In their messages about hope, courage, sacrifice and the devastation of international conflict, the School Captains were mature, compassionate and eloquent. They also extended their personal wishes of support and encouragement to the broader student cohort, and invited any students with concerns, questions or thoughts to make contact with them. 

Thank you, to each of our School Captains, for their responsibility, care and leadership. 

Operations and Systems Updates   

Whilst the language from the Chief Medical Officer, our local Politicians and other leaders in the community is all about ‘flattening the curve’, we here at NSC and those of you at home have seen a significant spike in the ‘learning curve’ of late!

It amazes me how adaptable you all are, how willing you are to learn new software and activate new online programs and what is most impressive is how resilient you are.

Well done to you all. Just remember, we are here to support you in whatever means necessary - just reach out if we can assist in anyway.

Daily Attendance

Just a friendly reminder to all students and their parents/guardians, that in line with the Department of Education’s (DET) requirements, all students must have their attendance recorded each day. To do so, students are to complete the attendance ‘check-in’ with their Home Group teachers each and every day. Please note, that this doesn’t mean that a student is done for the day. Teachers will still be taking attendance in each subject and that students are to engage with their subject teachers and the learning content delivered within them.

Connection to Learning- Reporting

This week, all subject teachers will be completing an Interim report on each student in their classes. The interim report will focus on the following 3 areas-

• Engagement to Learning

• Behaviour (online)

• Completion of Classwork

The data that is collected during this phase of reporting will allow Student Support team leaders, Wellbeing members and Home Group teachers to identify those students who are not engaging in the required learning programs in each subject. The follow-up from this information will be actioned and contact will be made to students ‘at risk’, ‘disengaged’, or in need of support.

Term 1 Mid-Semester Reports

At the start of Term 2, we made the Mid-Semester reports available to students and their parents/guardians on Compass. In a ‘normal’ world, this information would lead to a conversation between teachers, the student and their family. The Parent/Teacher/Student conferences are where these conversations traditionally take place. Unfortunately this year we were unable to conduct the PTS conference evening and as such are encouraging all involved to instigate an alternate method of having the conversation about the student’s progress, and what areas of improvement can be achieved.   

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

New Techniques

Mr Crowther's students have been turning up in great numbers for lessons online so far this term. We have been trying different ways of making music, which has been made a challenge by the dreaded "internet delay" and the quality of different homes internet makes some instruments sound like they are under water at times!

Despite these little challenges, students who are at home having a go are proving how resiliant you all are during this crazy time.

I have also enjoyed the chance to have a little chat as well as the music.  We are all a little bit starved of conversation at the moment.

Keep it up Music People!

Mr Crowther

See Tyler playing flute with his sisters bird sitting on his instrument.

Mrs Stabryla

Teaching and Learning Update

It has been terrific to see so many instances of online teaching and learning across the past week! 

We are continuing to fine tune our processes, as we feel our way through this unusual time, and we are very appreciative of the affirming and constructive feedback from our families. In particular, we really value the patience shown by our parents and guardians, as we consolidate the process of video conferencing.

Moving forward, our Home Group Teachers will be reaching out to their students at the beginning of each school day to check on their connectivity and online attendance. This will be happening through the sharing of a Google Forms survey, with questions about their engagement and progress. 

This information will then be saved in Compass and shared with the Department of Education. Please encourage your young person to respond to this information in an accurate and timely fashion, and don’t hesitate to make contact with us if you have any questions or concerns.

Please note the following key points from previous communications:

• Compass will continue to be our primary channel for communication; please check this often, especially the News Items. For all other programs, students will need to use their school Gmail account.

• Unlike traditional, face-to-face teaching, this term’s instructional model will look differently. There will be three tiers of interaction that your young person will be having with their teachers.

- Tier 1: Video Conferencing with classes using Google Meet (where possible, to be recorded and uploaded).

- Tier 2: Conferencing (using a range of platforms) with individuals and small groups.

- Tier 3: Communicating with students via other media for feedback on learning (emails and messages etc.).

• The Video Conferencing will only occur during school hours, and wherever possible, teachers will enquire about the presence of a parent or guardian.

• When Video Conferencing, students will be required to participate in a respectful and positive way, particularly with the use of all audio and visual content, as would normally be the case at school. 

• Please feel free to contact the school if you have any questions or concerns about video conferencing.

• Teachers will make every attempt to be contactable during the time that would otherwise be assigned to a specific class. How that class time is used by the student will be negotiated with the teacher. 

• If there is a clear work focus, the student may not need to connect with their teacher through a virtual platform at that specific time, as they may already be working independently on a learning task. 

Other key points of advice to remember:

• Encouraging your young person to maintain a healthy sleeping pattern, in order to be awake and ready to commence their online learning at 9.00am.

• Trying as much as possible to follow the timetable that they would have for regular onsite learning. (It might be helpful for a copy of this to be in a highly visible space, such as on the fridge door.)

• 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 messages/News Items 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 stay tuned for regular communication and updates as this situation continues to evolve, and thank you again for your patience, understanding and partnership.

Yours sincerely,

Phil Honeywell

ANZAC Commemorations                                            

While ANZAC Services have been cancelled because of COVID 19 we will recognise ANZAC Day with a short online event on Friday.

Welcome Back

We welcome back Ms Millis and also Mr Cantone who have both been on leave.

Remote Learning Attendance                            

The school Leadership team have been very impressed by the devotion of our staff and ability of our community to react and respond to the obvious challenges of entering into a Remote and Flexible online learning environment for Term 2. With that has come a massive amount of new learning for all within our community, as well as system and practice changes to accommodate our DET requirements and learning needs.

One of those changes has been in the form of our Attendance marking. As a matter of practice, we ask our students to fill in and submit a Google Form Survey each and every day assigned by their Home Group Teacher. We ask that this Survey be completed at the start of each day as a habit, and most definitely before 11am. The information contained in this survey will be forwarded to the Department for Attendance auditing data records.

What students and families must be aware of is that by no means does this information relate to the real importance of engagement with learning in subjects. Subject teachers will also be taking attendance records and reporting on how students are engaging in classes and in learning. It is not satisfactory for a student to complete the Google Form Attendance Survey and then log off for the rest of the day without engaging in the learning outlined and set by subject teachers.

The college Attendance Officers and Support Team Leaders will be reviewing the attendance data and the subject engagement data of students and making the necessary phone calls home to students and families. Subject and Home Group teachers will also be doing the same.

Reports

At the end of Term 1, Newcomb Secondary College teachers completed Mid Semester Progress reports for each of their classes. The information provided in the reports provides a snapshot of a student’s progress and offers students, families and teachers with the opportunity to engage in discussions together. We encourage students and families to review the information contained in the reports located on Compass, and then initiate the necessary discussions and improvements to further enhance the learning outcomes of the particular student(s).

In the absence of Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences at the start of Term 2, we encourage Parents and Guardians to make contact with subject teachers to discuss the report, and in particular the student’s learning progress. 

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

College Council

With the cancellation of the March College Council Meeting we conducted some of our main items via email over a number of days. These included, progressing our facilities planning for new Maths, Music and STEM areas where we are now awaiting the state budget to see if these will be funded. We also conducted our election of office bearers with the following result:

President:                                           Michael Graham

Vice President:                                    Cassie Clift

Treasurer:                                           Scott McLeod

Secretary:                                           Alison Woodard

The 2019 Annual Report was tabled (electronically), which will be discussed further at a later Council Meeting. The report will be posted to the Newcomb Secondary College website.

End of Term

We wish all members of the Newcomb Secondary College Community the very best during this very difficult time.

Unless otherwise advised, Term 2 commences on Wednesday 15 April as Tuesday, 14th April has been designated as a statewide pupil free day.

Information Evening                                                              

As you can appreciate, we were required to cancel this year’s Information Evening scheduled for Monday March 23rd. The evening has always been a great success and offered us the opportunity to showcase all of the great programs and facilities that support Newcomb SC student learning to prospective students and their families. To ensure that we are still able to celebrate and showcase all that is great about Newcomb SC, over the coming days and weeks, we will be offering Virtual experiences and Video highlights of our programs on our college website and various social networks. Further information of these uploads will be made available to our feeder primary schools and our community via compass very shortly.

Mid-Semester Reports 

This year we have migrated all reporting to the Compass platform and Newcomb SC teachers are finalising our interim reports this week. Upon the release of the reports, via Compass, parents and guardians will have the opportunity to receive feedback on their student’s progress thus far and in turn allow for a conversation with your son/daughter with respect to the details of the report. We encourage you to initiate these discussions and support the learning of your son/daughter, after all, a child’s learning involves a team around each student comprising of the child, their family, the teacher(s) and other support people necessary.

The four areas being commented on are: effort; progress; submission of set work and School Wide Positive Behaviours. We will alert you to when these reports are made available on Compass by the end of the week.

Parent, Student, Teacher Conferences                                 

Our Parent/Teacher/Student conferences are scheduled for week one of Term 2. Unfortunately, these conferences will need to be cancelled or postponed. That said however, Newcomb SC is committed to providing our school community with opportunities to communicate with staff to discuss the learning of students. Over the course of this week you will be receiving communication from Home Group teachers about on-line learning and learning from home, as well as having access to your son/daughters Interim reports. As previously mentioned, it is important that you share in conversations with your child during this week at home.

We know that many of you enjoy the opportunity to engage in a conversation with teachers of your child, and in the absence of this face to face opportunity this year, we recommend that you make direct contact with specific subject teachers and ask for a return phone call or alternate means of communication to discuss the progress of your child. To do so, we ask that you email the subject teacher on Compass noting your phone number or alternate contact details and preferred time for contact (during business hours).  

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

Why Teach Music In Schools – Part 3

What we see happen through your child being involved in music and college bands at school is that it is a major contributor to their social development- something that we believe is really important in life. They will make great friends at all year levels by being involved in music. They will be associating with other students who have similar interests, outlooks and behaviour patterns.

Music is something that is taught and something that is learnt. Please don’t believe that your child will not succeed in music because no one in the family is musical. Music is not something you inherit from other family members.  Don’t assume that because your child may not be brilliant in all areas of study that they won’t succeed in music. Sometimes music is the only thing that some children succeed in.

Music is something and sometimes the only thing that makes it a pleasure for your child to come to school.  

I will close with the following statement -

“It shouldn’t matter where you live, your circumstances or the economic means of your family. Every child in this country has no less a right to learn how to play a musical instrument than they do to learn to read, write, count and communicate. Music is for everyone- not just the rich.

So music is all of the above but most of all 

MUSIC IS ART.

Ms Stabryla

On Wednesday 23rd music students, along with Mrs Bourke and Mrs Stabryla attended Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne to see the show ‘Shrek The Musical’. This was an excellent musical full of great music, colour, excellent acting and very vibrant voices. We would all highly recommend you seeing the show if you get the opportunity.

College Council Elections

The elections for the student representative position on the College Council closed today.  We will bring you the outcome in next week’s newsletter.

Year 7 Parent Meet and Greet

On the 10th of March from 4pm-6pm please join with other Year 7 families for a meet and greet and BBQ. This will be a terrific opportunity for parents and students to have a chat, and meet up with their students friends and parents, classmates and teachers.

We will also be enjoying a performance from one of our college bands.

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

Why Teach Music In Schools? 

Music Is Science-

Music is precise and exact, especially when you are playing in a group. Everyone has to be in the same place at the same time. 

This is why we work in groups in lessons and have band rehearsals on a weekly basis – to develop the skills required to perform together as a group.

Music Is Feelings-

Music is a means of self-expression. It can be emotional and help us through difficult times in our lives. It is a leisure activity and a means of communication worldwide that can promote international goodwill. Stories, religion and history can be expressed through music.

For Your Child Music-

Contributes to their perceptual development, particularly in relation to hearing. Physical development, self-discipline, organisation, tolerance, cooperation, motivation and their ability to work in groups/teams or bands with other students & teachers.

Senior Concert Band Tour

All members of the Senior Concert Band will receive letters this week inviting them to participate in the Senior Concert Band Tour. It will be held during term 3 - Monday August 17th to Friday August 21st.

It is very important that the "Return Form" to participate or not participate, along with a deposit is returned to the General Office by Monday April 27th, 2020. CSEF can be used to help pay for this tour.

If you require any further information please contact me via email:

stabryla.cheryl.a@edumail.vic.gov.au

Music Excursion to ‘Shrek The Musical’

Last Wednesday, March 4th, music students, along with Mrs Bourke and Mrs Stabryla attended Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne to see the show ‘Shrek The Musical’. This was an excellent musical full of great music, colour, excellent acting and very vibrant voices. We would all highly recommend you seeing it if you get the opportunity.

Primary School Visits

Last week Mrs Bourke, Mr Crowther and Mrs Stabryla visited Grade 6 students from Moolap and Geelong East Primary Schools to show them our musical instruments and give the students the opportunity to try them out. Both sessions were filled with lots of loud noise and excitement over the sounds they could produce on the brass and woodwind instruments. A big thank you to both schools for allowing us to visit.

Next Monday we will be spending the day at Leopold Primary School with their Grade 6 students.

Open Night - Senior Concert Band

The Senior Concert Band will be performing in the Music Department on Monday March 23rd for our Grade 6 Open Night.  

All band members will be required to have the correct Senior Concert Band uniform. Please contact Mrs Stabryla if you need more information or refer to last week’s Newsletter.

VCE students performing in the Library before the information session will be required to be at school by 5.45 pm. All other Band members are required to be at school by 6.30pm and can be picked up at 8.30pm.

Any concerns please contact – stabryla.cheryl.a@edumail.vic.gov.au 

Potato Shed Easter Party

Leopold Basketball

East Geelong Football and Netball

Holiday Program

Information Night 2020

College Council Elections

Following the nomination process the number of parent nominations are the same as the number of vacancies in this category, I declare that the following parents have been elected to the Newcomb Secondary College Council: Mrs Kerry O'Hara, Mr Michael Graham, Mrs Angela Hancock and Mrs Cassie Clift. 

With the number of student nominations being greater than the one available position, we will proceed to an election in this category.

With the number of DET nominations equal to the number of vacancies in this category, I declare the following DET members elected to the Newcomb Secondary College Council for the next 2 years: Mr Philip Walker and Mr Ryan Owens.

Wellbeing Team Present to the Barwon Area Principals' Forum. 

Last Thursday members from our Student Engagement and Wellbeing team were invited to share at the South Western Victorian Principal forum in Geelong. The team represented by Mr Murphy, Ms Ercoli, Mr Farnham and Principal Mr Honeywell, talked about the great work that happens in the Student Support and Wellbeing space at the college. The team shared a number of items including the whole school learning through our School Wide Positive Behaviour Focus and Respectful Relationships curriculum, to the Doctors in Secondary Schools initiative.

Our college is recognised as leading the way in a range of initiatives in this space and the school has received some positive feedback from a number of people from the Geelong network.

Well done team!

Labour Day Public Holiday 

A reminder that this Monday the 9th of March is a Public Holiday and a Pupil Free Day. Students are not required to attend school on this day.

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal

Why Teach Music In Schools

There are lots of reasons why we teach music in schools – to us music is a life skill that we aim to share with as many students possible who attend Newcomb Secondary College. 

Some things to think about –

Music is Mathematical – it has a direct relationship to counting and subdivision of note values. – i.e. Numbers.

Music is Historical – often reflects the environment and cultural heritages right across the world from one generation to the next.

Music Is A Foreign Language – 2 ways

- the notation – rest values, music signs and symbols is a unique language within itself.

- All the music signs and terms are written in Italian.

Music is Physical education – You need to be fairly fit to play a musical instrument. Music requires perfect coordination of fingers, hands, arms, lips, cheeks, eyes and facial muscles. It also requires control of the diaphragm, back, stomach and chest muscles. In other words – sit up straight and uncross your legs.

Notice to Year 8 - Intermediate Concert Band Members and Parents.

Performance Tuesday March 10th, 2020

The Year 8 Intermediate Concert Band will be performing at school on Tuesday March 10th from 4.00pm to 5.00pm at a BBQ for Year 7 students and their parents. We will be performing in the re-developed quadrangle in the middle of the school under the shade cloth.

The students will stay at school after the bell goes at 3.15pm. We will set up the band equipment, seats and music stands straight after school and then have some afternoon tea to keep away the hunger pains. The band will perform from approximately 4.00pm to 5.00pm. When we are finished performing the students will pack up all of the band equipment and return it to the band room and then offered a BBQ tea if they wish to stay around.

If your child is unable to participate in this band performance could you please let me know asap – via email:  stabryla.cheryl.a@edumail.vic.gov.au 

Senior Concert Band Performance

Monday March 23rd, 2020

The Senior Concert Band will be performing in the Music Department on Monday March 23rd for our Grade 6 Open Night.  

All band members will be required to have the correct Senior Concert Band uniform for this night.  The Band uniform consists of a long sleeve white shirt with a top button, College band tie ($20) purchase from Mrs Stabryla, long black dress pants (trousers), black socks and black school shoes.  Clothing items can be generally purchased cheaply from either Kmart or Target.  If you have any difficulty obtaining the band uniform please contact me because I do have some items of second-hand clothing available.

VCE students performing in the Library before the information session will be required to be at school by 5.45pm.

All other Band members are required to be at school by 6.30pm and can be picked up at: 8.30pm.

Any concerns please contact –stabryla.cheryl.a@edumail.vic.gov.au 

Senior Concert Band Tour

All members of the Senior Concert Band will receive letters this week inviting them to participate in the Senior Concert Band Tour.

It will be held during term 3 – Monday August 17th to Friday August 21st.

We will be travelling across to Portsea and staying in Grantville.  The band will be performing in Bass Valley, San Remo, Newhaven, Leongatha and Wonthaggi.  Cost of the tour is $300.00.  CSEF can be used to help pay for this tour for eligible families.

It is very important that the return form to participate or not participate, along with a deposit is returned to the General Office by Monday April 27th, 2020. 

If you require any further information please contact me via email stabryla.cheryl.a@edumail.vic.gov.au

Mrs Stabryla

Positive Behaviour Focus

The positive behaviour focus for week 6 is "TIMELY".

Students are generally doing well with the new phone policy. We want to reiterate the correct use of all technology including mobile phones. 

The SIR Team also want to encourage parents and carers of year 7 students to keep Tuesday afternoon March 10 open to attend the welcome BBQ. It will be on from 4-6pm. There will be food, music and student work will be on display. If you have a student in our current year 7 cohort you will receive an invitation from them.  We would love to see you there. 

You Are Invited

Country Fair

Saver Plus