Newsletter- Term 3 Week 9 2024

RUOK?

This week we pause our regular learning program on Thursday (September 12) for a full day learning on our individual and collective Wellbeing. The RUOK day, known at Newcomb Secondary College as Wellbeing Day will be full of learning and activities focussed on providing students and staff with the opportunity to check-in on each other, learn and share collaboratively and build the capacity of ones Wellbeing. The day has been thoroughly planned and prepared by our school captains and SLAM team members in conjunction with Ms McInnes and Newcomb Secondary College staff. The day features connections from and with local community groups, will be inclusive, involve a number of activities for students to be part of and finish with a Colour Run on the Eastern Oval. We are looking forward to a great day full of staff and student participation and fun.

Right to disconnect

Whilst on the topic of Wellbeing, you will have also noted the recent announcements about work-life balance for employees. The ‘Right to disconnect’ legislation is designed to provide space for employees to focus on their health, wellbeing, friends, and families outside of regular work hours. At Newcomb Secondary College, we have consistently, for many years now, educated, and supported staff with work hours and a healthy work-life balance. It is not as simple as just saying to employees to ‘switch-off’ when you leave work, for some it comes naturally, others need to work hard to disconnect. We are a school who make ourselves available for our community, but we do ask that our community not only understand but support the need for staff to disconnect. Community support can be as simple as ensuring that any contact is made during work hours- a simple action is to draft an email outside of hours to send the next day or use the ‘delay send’ feature on your emails. Equally, it is important to note that staff will respond to email correspondence during work hours, and not outside of hours. We thank you for your consideration and support.

Professional Learning Day

Last week staff participated in our Term three Professional Learning Day. The PL day focussed on Teaching and learning, Assessment and Reporting and Curriculum Development. These protected days (once a term) are very important for us as a school, for our staff, and thus impact the learning experience and outcomes of our students.

Term 3 is quickly coming to a close

We only have little over one week to go for the Term- it certainly has yet again flown by. For our Year 12 students, they are down to a number of days before for some exams commence, and for others they will have completed their VCE-VM outcomes. I encourage all students to finish the Term in a really positive manner- we thank you for your conversations and support at home.

Have a great week!

Regards,

Scott McLeod

Principal

Newcomb Secondary College

81-85 Bellarine Highway | Newcomb 3219

T: (03) 5248 1400 | F: (03) 52483532

Creating Positive Futures