The Challenge Update

Welcome

Our Northern Bay Challenge Newsletter aims to keep members of our wider NBC Challenge community updated with work that is happening at our college and through the programs that are directly funded by The Challenge.

Just recently we learnt of the outcomes for our Graduating Class who again this year had a most successful year across all areas of study. Of particular note this year was continued excellence with our Vocational Major and VPC program where students completed units of work that far exceeded our set AIP targets. The continued success of the educational programs at our school should be a great sense of pride to all.

GROWTH - Sporting Success

The college regularly returns some outstanding results in sporting competitions across district and regional level. This week students delivered some outstanding results in Year 7 sports Baseball, softball and table tennis and in the Primary Regional Aths event. 

However special mention  goes to our first athletics state champion. At the start of term 4, Jay Blackney was crowned state under 16 Javelin champion with a PB throw of 43.3m. This is an outstanding achievement made all the more amazing when you consider he has been casually training for this event for only 12 months. A great reminder of the wonderful sports programs we have across the college ably supported by excellent coaches, instructors and leading staff.

GROWTH - Stepping Stones Transition Program

At the start of December, students across our Year 8 Campuses participated in their second ‘Stepping Stones’ transition session. This program is aimed at making the transition to Goldsworthy as smooth as possible. Led by our Wellbeing Team, students were involved in sessions that aim to support the development of resilience and holistic wellbeing to ensure this next step in their learning is as successful as possible. Students were involved in a range of exciting activities and it was great to see them getting to know their new Campus.

COLLABORATION - Vocational Major WRS Employers BBQ

In November, staff and VM students joined the vital group of local employers who support our students in their VM Work Related Skills (WRS) unit through 2023. This component of the students course requires them to learn and importantly to experience life at work and at NBC we are lucky that our students are able to connected their formal Vocational learning with their work placement - and in many cases our students are abv to engage in School Based or Full time apprenticeships with the same employers. Providing a work placement for a 16 and 17 year old student requires a caring and supportive employer and the group who support our students certainly fit this bill. We are so grateful for this important link to the work of work for our students.

COLLABORATION - Arts Design and Technology Showcase 

What a spectacular display of student creativity and skill our annual Arts Design and Technology Showcase has been this year. As was reinforced by the Geelong Advertiser article the standard and quality of work on display provided an amazing glimpse into the creativity of our students but also gave us a deeper understanding of the social, local and worldwide issues that are at the front of mind for our students. As is the case each year, what is evident in the showcase is the capacity our amazing Arts, Design and Technology teachers have to inspire students and to allow them to explore and integrate their own interests into their work. An excellent example of Student Voice being alive and well in the learning and teaching program across these subjects.

A huge congratulations and thanks go to the hugely dedicated team of staff who pulled the event together and for the generosity in allowing our community to continue to visit the works over this weekend.

PERSISTENCE - Top Arts Shortlisting

This term we were delighted to learn that Heidi Tillson was shortlisted for her work that was submitted to the Top Arts exhibition. Heidi is the first ever NBC student to achieve this outstanding outcome. Top Arts is the highest accolade a student can receive for their VCE Art work and will see students have their work professionally displayed at the National Gallery of Victoria through the DofE’s Season of Excellence. It cannot be underestimated what a significant achievement this is for Heidi and I am sure she would agree that support from the college Arts and Technology tema has been significant in the achievement of this recognition. A huge congratulations to Heidi and the entire NBC Arts, technology and Design team.

GROWTH - Year 8 Graduation

It was such a positive and joyful night as we celebrated all Year 8’s on their Graduation to our Senior School. We moved to a one College Graduation ceremony this year which was held at the Croatian Club and this ensured that we had a very full night of awards and celebration. 

Amongst the features of the program were the MC duties that were so wonderfully completed by Campus Leaders from each Campus along with the reflection speeches made by selected students from each Campus. In each instance all in attendance would agree that these young people demonstrated superbly the values of our school and a true understanding of what it means to be a kind and supportive classmate. 

A very special mention to all members of the Year 7-8 Learning Community who pulled the night together with special thanks to Jana Mcelhinney for what was a very memorable evening.

PERSISTENCE - Essendon Gift

A group of NBC students traveled to the famed Aberfeldie Field in Essendon to take part in three feature Northern Bay College events. These events were a part of the overall professional racing meet at Essendon and saw our students compete in events from 100m to 300m. The students were cheered and supported by the large crowd as they ran and were then presented to the crowd as they received their place getter sashes. 

This is a very unique and really amazing partnership with Pro-running Victoria and our students are so fortunate to have such an opportunity. A huge thanks to our staff - Erin Prendergast and Stoofa - who gave up their Saturday to support the students in this event.

GROWTH - A Wonderful Achievement

We were very proud to learn at the beginning of December that our College Captain, Jevic Mwanza, was successful in being awarded a position at the 2023 Australian Olympic Change-Maker National Summit. Jevic travelled to Canberra for the week-long event in December where he participated in roundtable sessions to help shape the future of the Olympic movement in Australia. The Summit aims to provide a platform for ‘Change-Makers’ to share their unique backgrounds, experiences and present ideas to the AOC on how to best "Power the Change." This is a truly remarkable achievement and one we know is so well deserved by Jevic.

COLLABORATION - Cadel Evans Visit

It was a very exciting morning at Goldsworthy Campus early in November as we welcomed some very special guests to our school for the official launch of the Cadel Evans Great ocean Road Race. This world ranked event is now in its tenth year and our students were lucky enough to be included in the official launch festivities. On the day Cadel Evans, the Minister for Sport Mr Steve Dimopoulos and our local MP Ms Ella George were part of the launch ceremony where they spoke to our Year 7-8 and Goldsworthy students at an assembly. Cadel was very generous in his speech to the students where he was able to share with our students some of the secrets to his success. A huge thank you to the staff at our college led by SEEd director Stoofa who pulled this altogether for the benefit of our students. A once in a lifetime opportunity.

COLLABORATION - CatholicCare Victoria Homework Program

On Monday a celebration was held to officially crown our EAL Homework program the number one program of its kind across the state. Supporting EAL students have worked under the guidance of our own MEA support staff, Nestor Estrampa from CatholicCare Victoria and an army of highly competent and enthusiastic volunteers. The celebration afternoon was attended and catered by families of students and was so beautifully MC’ed by Freddy and Julia. The musical performance by students was a particular highlight. Aafi we thank CCv for this ongoing support of our school community.

GROWTH - Campus Events

It was lovely to come together for a number of events with the community through the last two weeks of this year. Through our Prep - Year 8 Campuses the ‘Day on the Green Events’ served as a wonderful way to say thanks and farewell to another school year. Music and fun abound as the year was celebrated with families, students and staff underlining again the wonderful connection our school has with the community.

At the Goldsworthy Campus the end of year awards and Year 12 Graduation Ceremony was held at the Croatian Club to celebrate the outstanding achievements of so many students. This is such a special way to finish the year and in the case of our Year 12s farewell them from the halls of NBC as they make their way into the big wide world. As always we thank the organizers of this event and the wonderful supporters we have at our school for the community who recognise the achievement of our students through some wonderful awards and bursaries.

COLLABORATION- Catholic Care Youth Forum

Through the holidays a group of students from NBC and two other Geelong schools worked on a project with the Catholic Care Multicultural Youth team, led by the wonderful Nestor Estampa, aimed at creating positive change in their immediate community. Students were challenged to identify major societal issues that they would present to local governments appealing for affirmative action. The students tackled some major issues such as consent, racism and substance abuse and made compelling arguments to why change was needed. The presentations were made on Thursday to the Geelong Youth Council. The students all presented wonderfully and made their arguments with such great enthusiasm and optimism. What was so apparent and affirming for all members of the Northern Bay College community is the overwhelming sense of kindness and community mindedness that continually presents itself in the work of our students. Something every positive for us all. Congratulations to these students and to Nestor.

To be involved, the Challenge Committee is offering 'Supporter Shares' @ $1,000 per share. To become involved please contact the college directly or The Challenge via the 'How Can You help?' page at the end of this Newsletter.

Yours sincerely,

 Ken Harrison and Scott Diamond

The Challenge Chair & College Principal

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