From the Principal Team
By Mr McLeod
Newsletter- Term 4 Week 8 2024
Newcomb Secondary College Graduation
This week we have the wonderful opportunity to celebrate the achievements and growth of our amazing Graduating class of 2024. We are very much looking forward to the occasion, to be held at the venue 1915 on Thursday 28/11/24. It will be an occasion where we reflect upon 13 years of education, full of highs, occasional lows, challenges, successes, blood, sweat and tears! It will be a night where our families, carers, teachers and support staff join to be recognised and appreciated for the contributions they made in support of our Graduates over the journey. Congratulations class of 2024, you have made us all proud. We hope you too are proud of your achievements and who you have grown up to be today- you certainly should be!
Promotions Program- Year 11
This week also marks the commencement of the college Promotions Program, a program where our Year 11 students are promoted to their Year 12 subjects and courses. So far, the opportunity has been well-received, and students are productively attending to their subject requirements.
Year 11 Food Studies Christmas Lunch
Did we need a reminder that we are fast approaching Christmas? Well, if you hadn’t realised yet, our Year 11 Food Studies students Christmas Feast preparations last week will certainly put you in the mood for what lies ahead. Well done everyone, the food looks amazing!
The Wind Settles- Nobody’s Fool Theatre program performance
Last week our Nobody’s Fool students completed their regional tour of The Wind Settles performance. From all reports, the shows were amazing and received glowing acclaim from each audience they performed in front of. Next week, Geelong has its turn to witness the performance- I encourage you all to get along!
Storyline:
‘The Wind Settles’ Who am I? What am I supposed to be? There are oceans where the moonlight creates a stairway to heaven reflecting every facet of who we can be. But when the light of dawn breaks the fears and shadows that keep us ‘hiding low’ return. A group of 9 teenagers struggle to untangle the shadows that the glare of day brings; homelessness, transience, gender identity, sexual identity, body dysmorphia… just a few of the shadows that keep them on the run from themselves. Interweaving true to life stories with songs, humour and hope, ‘The Wind Settles’ is a journey of connection with others who don’t ‘fit’ and ultimately, with oneself. If we look hard enough and for long enough, we can discover and celebrate all of who we really are… |
Have a great week!
Regards,
Mr Scott McLeod
Principal
Newcomb Secondary College
School Events Calendar
GROUP | EVENT/LOCATION | DATE |
Year 12 | Graduation Evening / Venue: 1915 | Thursday 28th November 2024 |
Year 12 | Promotions Week (Year 11 into 12) | 25th-29th November 2024 |
All staff and students | Professional Learning Day - No scheduled classes | Thursday 28th November 2024 |
Years 8-11 | Promotions Week | 2nd-6th December 2024 |
All Year Levels | Bike Tour - Tour de Bellarine | 9th - 12th December 2024 |
Years 7-9 | Activities Week | 9th-13th December 2024 |
All staff and students | End of Term 4, 2024 | Friday 20th December 2024 |
Graduation Tickets on Sale Now
By Ms Leech
2024 Classes Schedule
Mobile Phone Policy
School Saving Bonus
Parent and carer School Saving Bonus code distribution
The Victorian Government is delivering the School Saving Bonus – a one-off $400 support for government school students from Prep to Year 12 in 2025.
From Tuesday 26 November 2024, you will receive an email from the Department of Education with your unique $400 School Saving Bonus code.
The School Saving Bonus will help families cover the cost of uniforms, textbooks, excursions, activities and more.
If you have multiple children enrolled in Victorian government schools for 2025, you will receive one School Saving Bonus code email per child. These emails might arrive on different days. Please make sure to check your spam/junk email folder.
Parents and carers can use the School Saving Bonus code in store at school-nominated suppliers. Parents and carers can also choose to access the School Saving Bonus online system, where they can allocate part or all the $400 bonus to use at school nominated-online suppliers or for school activities. To learn more about the School Saving Bonus, visit School Saving Bonus | vic.gov.au (www.vic.gov.au). A step-by-step user guide will be available on the webpage on 26 November.
If you have not received your School Saving Bonus code via email by Friday 29 November, please contact the Department of Education by emailing school.saving.bonus@education.vic.gov.au.
Bus Travel Allowance 2024
Attendance Matters!
By Ms Demopoulos
We deeply appreciate the efforts of our parents who consistently support their children in attending school and engaging with their education. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership in helping us create a positive and productive learning environment for all our students, ensuring the best possible outcomes for your children and for our school community. Your commitment makes a significant difference!
If you have any questions regarding attendance or require any support or assistance, please contact the school on 5248 1400.
Thank you!
Hannah
Hannah Demopoulos
Attendance Officer
Newcomb Secondary College
Doctors in Schools Program
By Ms Osborne
Newcomb Secondary College is fortunate enough to have a Doctors in Schools Program running 2 days a week.
We have both a GP, and Mental Health Nurse that attend onsite to run a clinic on a Tuesday and Wednesday. This clinic is for any student in Years 7-12. The appointments are bulk billed, meaning that there is no cost to families.
Appointments can be made by either contacting the schools Wellbeing Team or calling Bellarine Community Health on 5253 0400.
Students may access this service to address any of the following:
- Physical pain or issues
- Health lifestyle (sleep, diet, nutrition, exercise)
- Mental health
- Sexual health and contraception
- Sexuality and gender identity
- Body image
- Scripts
If you would like to know more, please contact Jane Osborne in our Wellbeing Team.
Jane can either be reached by contacting the school office, or via email at jane.osborne@education.vic.gov.au
Jane Osborne
Newcomb Secondary College
Student Wellbeing & Engagement
Ph: 5248 1400 |
E: Jane.Osborne@education.vic.gov.au
School Immunisation
𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐋 𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐔𝐏 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊
If your child has missed out on their school-based vaccinations, it’s not too late to catch up!
Secondary school immunisations are provided free to students in Year 7 and Year 10.
Catch up for secondary school immunisations is free up to 19 years of age.
Barwon Health Immunisation Service will offer a catch-up week at different venues around Geelong from Monday 25th November to Saturday 30th November 2024.
This is open to any Year 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 age students up to 19 years of age, who has missed their immunisations at school.
Booking links for the extra sessions:
Barwon Health North:
Tuesday 26th November 3.30pm-6.30pm and Friday 29th November 3.30pm-6.00pm, Barwon Health North,
https://www.trybooking.com/CWAIM
Bellarine:
Thursday 28th November, BASC (Bellarine Aquatic Sports Centre), 3.30pm-6.30pm
https://www.trybooking.com/CWBZQ
Belmont:
Monday 25th , Wednesday 27th, Friday 29th and Saturday 30th November, Barwon Health Vaccination Centre, Belmont
https://www.trybooking.com/CWCAE
Students can also book in at any of our weekly regular clinics via our webpage:
To see if your child is due for any vaccines, check your child’s immunisation history statement on the Australian Immunisation Register using your MyGov account.
If your child is over 14 years of age, they will need to access their immunisation history statement themselves through their own MyGov account or the Medicare mobile app.
Learn more about school-based vaccinations and why they’re important:
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/immunisation-in-secondary-schools
Whooping Cough Alert
Whooping cough
Whooping cough cases are continuing to increase across Victoria, particularly among school-aged children. Whooping cough is a very contagious infection, mostly spread through coughing or sneezing. Symptoms include:
· blocked or runny nose
· tiredness
· mild fever
· severe bouts of coughing, often followed by a ‘whooping’ sound on breathing.
Whooping cough can lead to life threatening infections in babies.
If your child is unwell, they should not attend school. Please see a doctor if you or your child develops whooping cough symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment will help reduce the spread of the infection.
Students diagnosed with whooping cough must not attend school.
To reduce the spread of infection and to protect others within the school community, students diagnosed with whooping cough are recommended not to attend school for 21 days after their cough was first present, or until they have taken a full course of antibiotics prescribed by a doctor (usually a 5-day course).
If your child is diagnosed with whooping cough, please contact the school to let us know.
I hope we can work together to protect the whole school community by following the recommended advice.
For more information about whooping cough, refer to Whooping cough on the Better Health Channel – see link below.
Vaccination is the best way to reduce the risk of whooping cough. The Department of Health recommends staying up to date with immunisations, including booster doses. A free booster dose of the pertussis vaccine is covered under the national immunisation program for students aged 12 to 13. If you are unsure about your child’s vaccination status for whooping cough, please discuss with an immunisation provider, such as your doctor.
We really appreciate your support in keeping our students safe and well.
For more information, refer to:
- Better Health Channel, for information about whooping cough symptoms, prevention and Victorian eligibility for free booster immunisations
- Increasing pertussis (whooping cough) cases in Victoria
- Local Public Health Units.
Year 11 Food Studies
By Ms Grace Hill and Ms Tania Reed
Year 11 Food Studies: Christmas Lunch
As the end of the year approaches, Year 11 Food Studies students came together to mark the culmination of their year 11 studies in a truly festive and delicious way. On the 18/11, the students celebrated their final class by preparing an elaborate sit-down Christmas lunch, showcasing their culinary skills and creativity.
The sit-down lunch was not only a celebration of food but also a reflection of the teamwork, dedication, and passion for cooking that these students have developed over the course of the year. Under the guidance of their teacher Miss Hill and Ms Tania Reed, the students not only honed their cooking techniques but also learned about the importance of presentation, flavours, and creating a dining experience that brings people together.
The Christmas lunch was a fitting way to mark the end of a wonderful year of learning and the beginning of a holiday season filled with joy, good food, and fond memories.
Congratulations to all the students for their exceptional work and the delicious feast they created! We wish them all the best as they continue their culinary journeys into year 12 next year.
Homework Club
By Mr Curnick
The After School Homework Club is in Room B2 every day except Thursdays. Students are welcome to attend to catch up on classwork, complete homework, receive individual tutoring or to work with classmates on a group project. They may attend for 15 minutes to sort out just one problem or they may attend right up to 5pm to accomplish a greater amount of learning. Those who attend will be awarded a positive learning chronicle (with reward token) and will be offered food and hot chocolates!!
Mr Curnick
Library News
Library Stocktake 2024
Please return all books to the school library by Friday 29th November. After this date books can be read and enjoyed in the library but not borrowed to take home. This enables our stocktake to be completed. If you are a student, please clear your locker, school bag and house of our school library books and bring them back. Excitingly there is a box of Cadbury Favourites for the first class in each year level to have nothing owing. If you are a parent please assist your child/ren to return their books. Non - returns will be billed to your account at school.
Opening Hours and Lunchtime Clubs
The Newcomb Secondary College Library opens at 8.30 a.m. every weekday morning before school and is open every recess and lunchtime (2nd half) throughout the year. There are spaces to read comfortably, complete homework and to take part in library clubs.
We have a wealth of board and card games and a fantastic number of Clubs running weekly - Monday Clubs include Chess Club (Student-Led) and Circle of Friends Book Club. Tuesday Clubs include City of Greater Geelong 'Games, Trivia and Karaoke sessions' with Ms Vanessa Davis and Ms Noor Al-Assafi. Geelong Regional Library Corporation's Newcomb Branch Young Adult Librarians run special workshops fortnightly on Wednesdays throughout the year with themed book and craft sessions (Valentines Day, Halloween and Christmas for example). Ms Laura Farrington and Mr Cameron Wilson share their love of Manga and Anime with a regular group of student attendees at these sessions. Our students in particular enjoy Cameron's origami workshops! Miss Marshall's Library Craft Club runs on both Thursdays and Fridays throughout the year (Term 4: Polymer clay jewellery making and special event crafts such as Halloween lanterns).
Library Opening Hours
Monday to Friday
*Open from 8.30 - 3.30 p.m.
*Open at Recess
*Open 2nd half lunchtimes (reading/board and card games/clubs).
Free home internet
2025 Book Lists
Please find attached the Newcomb Secondary College booklists and 'How to Order' flyer.
These attachments can be found on Compass too. Thank you.
How to Order Flyer Newcomb Secondary College
2025 VCE Booklist Early English
Community Notices
Term 4 Regional Parenting Calendar
Deakin University is celebrating turning 50!
Our unique identity in balanced excellence in education and research has been driving lasting change for a better future since 1974. Join us as we launch our anniversary year with a celebration where the University first began. We welcome our alumni, students, staff and the wider Deakin community to attend. This free, family-friendly community event will be held at Deakin University, Waurn Ponds Campus.
Come and experience:
- Live children's entertainment
- DJ
- Food trucks and bar
- Free kid's activities and face painting
- Market stalls
- Spectacular fireworks display
Bring along your picnic rug to enjoy the outdoor festival.
Visit Eventbrite to secure your FREE tickets!
Please contact deakin50@deakin.edu.au for further information.