From the Principals Desk

Welcome to Term 3!

Term 3 has already been full of momentum and achievement across Northern Bay College. Our secondary students have been deeply engaged in the numerous 2026 course counselling sessions, carefully mapping out their pathways for the years ahead. We’ve also celebrated a range of sporting successes across Years 7–12, reflecting both talent and teamwork. Our IMPACT students have enjoyed the opportunity to experience a dazzling array of professional musicals, while Student Learning Conferences provided another chance for meaningful conversations about progress and goals. Through it all, our students have continued to show a positive mindset and commitment to their learning. We had a wonderful college-wide Professional Learning Day on Thursday the 28th August and thank our families for their support in making these opportunities possible.

Please enjoy reading this edition of our Newsletter.

Scott Diamond

College Principal

Racism Policy

At Northern Bay College we value the diversity of culture, ethnicity, and faith of all our students. We are proud of our diversity, and everyone is welcome at our school.

Celebrating the diversity of our community makes us stronger, kinder and more innovative. We are committed to making sure that students from all backgrounds feel accepted, supported and able to learn.

We teach all students according to our school values and teach the respectful relationships framework. This includes education around diversity and inclusion.

To achieve our values and aims, everyone at Northern Bay College plays an important role.

This week, we have reminded students of our values of Northern Bay College and the importance of using these in everything we do. 

To help us make Northern Bay College a place where everyone feels welcome, respected and supported, we encourage you to also speak to your child about these values, as well as the importance of:

• understanding that we celebrate diversity and multicultural inclusion

• understanding the importance of everyone at school being treated with respect.

   

For more information, please see Racism: talking with children and teens, Raising Children Network.

We expect families to also display our school values when dealing with other members of our school community.

Growth

Book Fair

Thank you to our NBC Families for supporting our Book Fair last week! 

Your purchases directly benefit our students, with a percentage of all sales funding new books for our libraries. 

Book Fair sales across all P-8 campuses totalled $11,982.00, with $1797.00 now available to spend on new books for students to inspire lifelong reading.

YACVic Pitch Your Pollie Program                     

It was wonderful on Wednesday to have a group of Year 9 and 10 EAL students present their final Social Issues speeches and program to Ella George, The Geelong Youth Council and group of Year 7 and 8 leaders. The students spoke with such confidence on issues including Substance Abuse and the dangers of social media as they delivered elevator pitches to these special guests. 

Our local MP Ella George spoke glowingly of the student’s ability to not only outline an issue and develop a persuasive argument for change but to also provide a solution to these issues. The older students then led an interactive session with the year 7-8 leaders to motivate their own thinking on important social issues. 

The session was such a positive example again of the proactive and socially conscious leadership students across our five Campuses continue to exhibit and model. Congrats to Nestor and Catholic Care for his leadership of the event with a special mention to Kat Essex for her support of the program.

Year 7-8 Sport     

We are incredibly proud of our Year 7 and 8 badminton teams who competed in the Western Metro Region Finals last month in Altona, following their success at the Division level in Geelong. The competition was fierce, but our students showed grit, skill and excellent sportsmanship both on and off the court. Our Year 8 boys and girls narrowly missed the semi-finals by just a few points, while our Year 7 boys battled through a tough draw, winning some hard-fought singles and doubles matches. Their determination and respectful behaviour stood out throughout the day. Badminton, alongside a growing number of sports, is an area where NBC students are thriving, building pride in themselves and their school. Many are now eager to improve their game even further through free training at our local centre with high-level coaches. Congratulations to the fantastic team of staff who supported students on this journey. 

Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize

We’re incredibly proud to celebrate the recent achievements of two exceptional students— Mohammad and College Captain Farzan —featured in the Geelong Advertiser.

Farzana recently returned from an unforgettable experience at Space Camp USA, where she trained in astronaut simulations, explored NASA facilities, and collaborated with young science leaders from around the world. Her passion for STEM and commitment to learning continue to inspire students across NBC. 

Mohammad has been awarded a prestigious ANZAC Award and will travel to Türkiye during the September school holidays to commemorate the ANZACs and pay tribute to those who served and fell at Gallipoli during World War 1. 

These remarkable achievements reflect the strength, talent, and spirit of our student leaders.

Pathway Information Evening

On Thursday afternoon, the Goldsworthy Campus hosted our Pathways Information Night, an event designed to support students and families in navigating the important pathway options available throughout our secondary programs. The evening was a wonderful success, with staff providing clear information and guidance to help students make confident decisions at key transition points in their schooling journey. 

A real highlight was the open and welcoming atmosphere, staff from P-8 Campuses supporting the transition of our Year 8 students, which created a sense of ease and belonging for all who attended. Smiles, conversations, and positive feedback from families reflected the value of the evening and the strength of our shared commitment to student futures.

Persistence 

Education Research Projects

The work completed through the Year 3-6 team in Term 2, through the ERPs have once again showcased the outstanding creativity, curiosity, and collaboration of our students. These projects are a vital part of how we activate student voice in learning—giving students real ownership over what they explore and how they demonstrate their understanding. Across a wide range of topics, students showed deep engagement, producing artefacts that reflected not only their learning but their passions and interests. 

The excitement and pride on display as students presented their work was inspiring, with many confidently sharing their research, problem-solving, and creative processes. Equally impressive was the way students supported and encouraged one another, fostering an environment of shared learning and growth. We know that inquiry learning is rarely a straight line—it’s open-ended, sometimes messy, but always rich with opportunity. These learning environments, where students are trusted to explore, question, and create, are where some of the most powerful learning takes place and certainly take courage and in many ways.

Wellbeing Team Programs and Activities

This term the College Wellbeing Team will be continuing to develop and deliver positively focussed wellbeing groups, programs, and activities. Breakfast club, skateboarding, and Dungeons + Dragons are just a few of the 150+ health and wellbeing activities running every week across the campuses. This proactive work supports student wellbeing, builds strong relationships, and creates a more inclusive, connected school environment. A huge thank you to the team for going above and beyond to ensure every student feels supported and ready to thrive.

Outdoor Ed Snow Camp

As part of their Outdoor Education program, our Year 11 and 12 students have just completed an incredible Snow Camp experience. Led by Heath, Tyler, and Jessie, with the technical and logistical expertise of Sarah Pap, this camp was the result of many months of planning to ensure it met the outcomes and experiences essential to our senior school curriculum.

The adventure included skiing, opportunities for connection, and culminated in an overnight camping experience right out in the elements. In challenging conditions, our students demonstrated remarkable resilience and persistence, overcoming obstacles, adapting to their environment, and working together in a unique alpine climate.I want to sincerely acknowledge the teamwork, expertise, and dedication of our staff in making this camp possible. From the detailed planning to the on-the-ground leadership, this was a true team effort, and the result was an unforgettable experience for our students. These are the moments that shape young people and stay with them long after they leave school, and we are grateful to have such committed staff making them happen.

Collaboration

Australian Ballet at NBC

In Term 2 our Year 3 /4 students travelled to Goldsworthy Campus, to watch a performance by The Australian Ballet titled Wonderland. Wonderland is a modern ballet adaptation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, where students will join Alice on her journey, for a game of croquet, plenty of dancing and a tea party for two!

These students will be taking part in a workshop with The Australian Ballet Education Program this term. These workshops will take part at P-8 campuses, where they will learn dance and choreographic skills around a chosen theme. 

Blue Connect 

As you may already know, on the last week of term 2, the Blue Connect had some extra special guests with Assistant Commissioner of Police Michael Grainger and the Tactical Response Unit coming on site to give a demonstration of their tools of the trade. The Asst Commissioner spent some time being interviewed by students sharing with students the challenges of policing, the rewards of the job but also giving the students a chance to recognise the person behind the job. The whole morning was a wonderful success that wouldn't be possible without the support of our local Corio Police and the Corio Village Shopping Centre who sponsor the morning programs. Congrats to all of our students who braved the cold morning to get involved. We are still celebrating this amazing event!

Year 7/8 Wellbeing Day

In Week 9 or Term 2 all four campuses came together at Peacock for an inspiring and high-energy Year 7–8 Health and Wellbeing Day. A huge thank you to our incredible Wellbeing Leaders and Coordinators for making it all happen—especially Julia (Peacock) and Cam (Hendy), whose planning and leadership ensured the day ran like clockwork. Students participated enthusiastically and respectfully in a wide range of workshops focused on physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. These were delivered by fantastic community presenters including Ocean Mind, Headspace, Barwon Community Legal, Geelong Boxing Club, Cultura, Wonder Yoga, Victoria Police, and COGG Youth Development.

It was a brilliant example of collaboration, with students engaging in new experiences, learning practical strategies for wellbeing, and connecting with their peers.

2025 Book Week

This week, our P–8 campuses were buzzing with excitement as we celebrated Book Week with a flurry of fun-filled activities honouring the magic of stories. Highlights were campus dress up parades and a virtual visit with the legendary Andy Griffiths!

On Tuesday, our Year 3–6 students had the amazing opportunity to join a live Zoom session with Andy himself for the official launch of his brand-new book, You & Me and the Peanut Butter Beast. Andy shared hilarious insights into how he got started as a writer (spoiler: it involves a lot of imagination and a dash of mischief!). Students also met his new illustrator, Bill Hope, who gave us a behind-the-scenes look at how he brings stories to life with just a pencil and a brilliant idea. He showed us how even the smallest doodle can turn into something epic. It was an inspiring and laughter-filled session that left students eager to pick up their pens—or books—and dive headfirst into the wonderful world of storytelling.

Kindness

Refugee Week Exhibition

During Refugee Week, the College Gallery and Theatre played host to an extraordinary exhibition, showcasing the powerful voices, talents, and perspectives of our students. Aligned with the 2025 Refugee Week theme "Finding Freedom: Family," the exhibition was a celebration of identity and resilience – provoking thought, honouring culture, and even inviting us to laugh at the everyday quirks of Australian life through the lens of the refugee experience.

Students shared their stories with remarkable honesty, humour, and pride. Whether through visual art, spoken word or film (LINK) their work was a testament to the strength of character and deep sense of belonging they carry into our college community. It is truly a privilege to learn alongside these young people and to witness their determination, persistence and the optimism they bring to their learning and lives.

A special thanks to ES Brandon Dellow for his incredible support in helping students bring their stories to life. The exhibition’s impact extended far beyond our school – drawing visitors from across Victoria and being featured on the official Department of Education social media accounts, a sign of just how widely these stories resonate.

This event was more than an exhibition – it was an invitation to walk in the shoes of others, to celebrate diversity, and to grow as a community. We are so fortunate to work in a place where such stories are not only shared but deeply valued.

VPC ‘Taste of Culture’

Our VPC classroom has been alive with colour, flavour and connection as part of the "Taste of Culture" event. This initiative, led by staff in our specialist program supporting EAL learners at the senior end of their schooling, provided students with the opportunity to celebrate their culture by hosting a traditional dining experience for staff. The generosity, pride and hospitality on display were incredible—the abundance of delicious food, thoughtful menus, and warm welcome left a lasting impression. We commend the students for creating such an amazing dining experience and thank them for sharing a piece of their heritage with us all.

VSSS - State-wide Rehearsals

A huge congratulations to our incredible Victorian State School Spectacular (VSSS) cohort, representing all five campuses of Northern Bay College! Today, our students travelled to the state-wide rehearsals in preparation for the big event, which will take place on September 13 at Rod Laver Arena. As always, our students stood out for all the right reasons — they participated with energy, enthusiasm, and displayed genuine kindness and support for the students from the 40 other schools in attendance. Their positive attitude and collaborative spirit were a credit to themselves and to our college. We can’t wait to see the finished product on stage next month — and we are so proud to see NBC talent showcased at such a prestigious event!