Acting Senior School Principal

Welcome back! We hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable break. I would also like to take this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to all of our new students starting at Norwood this year, we are thrilled to have you join us. As we begin this new school year, we are excited to see the energy and enthusiasm that all students will bring to their studies and activities. To our students, remember that this is your time to shine, explore new opportunities, and create lasting memories. To our parents, thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child's education. Let's continue to work together to make this year one of growth, achievement, and success.

Welcome back, and let's make it a fantastic year!

Senior School Handbook

You will notice that the school released a Senior School Handbook at the start of this year. This comprehensive guide will keep you informed about the day-to-day organisation of our college, our policies and details about the VCE. Whether you're navigating the school year or planning for future academic success, the handbook is your go-to resource. 

We encourage all families to read through it to stay informed and up to date with the latest guidelines. If you are yet to see this resource, you can access it here.

Uniform Matters

At Norwood Secondary College, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and respectful learning environment. To support this, we kindly remind our community of the importance of adhering to our school’s uniform policy. This helps create an atmosphere of mutual respect and allows students to focus on their learning.

To ensure our students uphold our school’s values, we would appreciate your assistance in checking the hemline of your child’s uniform. Your support in maintaining these standards helps us to avoid any uncomfortable conversations with students.

We understand that this might be a delicate matter, and we appreciate your cooperation in addressing it. By working together, we can ensure a positive environment for all our staff and students. Thank you for your continued support. 

Reminder: Update Parent Contact Information

As we start the new term, we kindly ask you to review and update your contact information. Accurate contact details ensure that we can communicate important updates and information effectively.

Please take a moment to verify and, if necessary, update your phone numbers, email addresses, and emergency contact information. You can do this by contacting the General office directly.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our records up to date.

Student Accident Insurance and Ambulance Cover Arrangements

The Department of Education does not provide personal accident insurance or ambulance cover for students. Purchasing insurance from a commercial provider is highly recommended. Parents and carers who do not have accident insurance or ambulance cover are responsible for covering the cost of medical treatments for injured students, including ambulance attendance or transport. 

The College has a duty of care to all students. If in the event a student falls ill, and an ambulance is deemed necessary by NSC staff, one will be called irrespective of the family’s membership status. Ambulance cover can be purchased from Ambulance Victoria:  http://www.ambulance.vic.gov.au

It is also important to note that the Department of Education does not insure private property brought to school by students, staff, or visitors, and does not accept responsibility for any loss or damage. This includes items like mobile phones, calculators, sporting equipment, and cars parked on school premises. Personal insurance is also advised to cover important items.

College Assembly

A highlight of Week 1 was our College Assembly. Whilst it was an opportunity to introduce our Year 7 students to the community, it was also a time to acknowledge our most Senior students who are commencing their final year with us here at Norwood. Our Year 12 badge is a symbol of leadership in our College, and we present them to our Year 12 students each year as they take on the responsibility and commitment as senior students. This year marks a significant milestone in their educational journey, and we are committed to supporting them every step of the way.

VCE Parent Information Evening

Thank you to the parents who attended our VCE Parent information Evening on Tuesday, 4 February. The evening was a chance for families to understand VCAA policies and procedures, details regarding assessment and exams, and how the final ATAR score is calculated. The Senior School Team explained how parents can best support their child throughout the year, shared supporting resources, and were also available to answer questions from families. Thank you to Chris Sheehan, Leisa Beggs, Rod Mitchell, Maddy Sweeney and Annie Hearne for their organisation of this event. We hope that it was helpful in starting conversations with your child during what can sometimes be a very overwhelming and stressful year.

Annual Privacy Reminder for our School Community

Our school collects and uses student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy and the Schools’ Privacy Collection Notice.

Our Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Policy [NSC policies] describes how we collect and use photographs, video and recordings of students. The policy also explains when parent consent is required and how it can be provided and withdrawn. We ask parents to also review the guidance we provide on how we use Microsoft 365/Google Workspace for Education safely at the school and what parents can do to further protect their child’s information.  

If after reviewing the guidance, you have any questions or concerns regarding your child using Microsoft 365/Google Workspace for Education, please contact the school. For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools' Privacy Policy: Information for parents 

This information is also available in ten community languages: Amharic, Arabic, Dari, Gujarati, Mandarin, Somali, Sudanese, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese.

Homework Club

Norwood Secondary College understands that students have different learning strengths, preferences and interests and may approach learning activities and homework differently. If parents/carers are concerned their child may not understand the homework tasks that have been set, or if their child is spending a long period of time completing their homework, we encourage parents/carers to speak to their child’s teacher.

Students who may benefit from support completing their homework tasks are encouraged to attend Homework Club held in the college library on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons between 3.15 and 4.15pm. Homework Club resumed this week and parent/carer permission is required to attend. Please complete the form below and return it to the General Office.

*For information on the school's Homework Policy, visit the Junior and Senior School Handbooks.