NGSC Newsletter

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Key Dates

25 APRIL               ANZAC Day

Mr Nicholas Adamou

Principal

Welcome back to Term 2, I hope you all have had the opportunity to take a break during the Term 1 school holidays. This term is like no other in our living memories. As you are all aware, the Victorian Government has decided to implement remote and flexible learning for this term. This action has been determined to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), based on the advice of the Victorian Chief Health Officer.

 

In order to protect the health and safety of our students, their families, the teachers, the educational support staff and the whole community, it is very important that we all follow the Victorian Government’s direction and keep the children learning from home.

 

On-site school attendance is available, as a last resort, where parents and carers are not able to put in place arrangements to supervise the children at home. Detailed information was provided to parents and carers via Compass.

 

Please see information for parents and carers to support the supervision of children at home learning remotely. Learning from Home information for parents web page, including a fact sheet for parents.

 

I am fully aware that the transition to Remote and Flexible Learning presents challenges, not only to our system, but also to staff, students and their families. We expect a few teething problems, however, I believe the school is in a good position to deal with any issues as they arise.

 

I take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of our families/parents/carers for your support and commitment to a meaningful and engaging education of our children during these very challenging times. 

 

We have now been operating remotely for the last two weeks and I have to admit that the transition from the on-site to remote and flexible learning has been as smooth as possible.

 

I congratulate our students and their families for the successful response to adapting to this kind of learning in such a short period of time. I also want to acknowledge and thank the staff for their great work and planning over the past weeks in preparing for the transition to remote and flexible learning.

 

I am confident that we are ready to tackle this new approach to learning, to deliver the best possible educational experience to our students who are learning from home and, in some instances, those who still need to attend school. It is important to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) so we all can go back to our normal lives as soon as it is permitted.

 

Over the last couple of weeks I have received some very positive and encouraging feedback from quite a few parents, teachers, and students and I thank you all who provided us with that. The feedback is very valuable to the school and it is used to gauge how well the remote and flexible learning is working for our community and also what else we need to do to improve our performance. Please visit the school’s Facebook page to read some of this feedback.  

 

According to the attendance records, the vast majority of our students are engaged in remote and flexible learning, when not long ago, they were all on-site in their classrooms. I think it is a pretty extraordinary achievement.

 

As the Principal of this great school community I can assure you that the NGSC staff will continue working closely with parents/carers to ensure that every student gets the support they need and they successfully continue their learning during these unprecedented times.

 

Remote School Council Meetings

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, school council meetings will be conducted remotely via video conferencing. This will include the AGM and the first meeting of the new school council where the election of office bearers will take place. This meeting will replace the scheduled meeting we missed on 17 March, 2020.

School Council Elections

As reported in a previous newsletter, this year we had 4 parent vacancies for a 2 year appointment (2020 & 2021) and 2 DE&T employee member vacancies for a 2 year appointment (2020 & 2021). We also have had 1 student vacancy for a 2 year appointment (2020 & 2021).

 

At the close of the call for nominations in the Parent Category for School Council there were 4 nominees for the 4 vacancies. The following parents were therefore, elected for a two year term:

  • Ms Christine Wilson
  • Mr Dirk Heitman
  • Ms Angene Smith
  • Ms Lyndal Jones

At the close of the call for nominations in the Department of Education & Training DE&T Category of School Council there were 2 nominees for 2 vacancies. The following DE&T staff members were, therefore, elected for a two year term:

  • Mr Tim Humphries
  • Mr Joel McDougall

At the close of the call for nominations in the Student Category of School Council there was 1 nominee for 1 vacancy. The following student, therefore, was elected for a two year term:

  • Miss Abby D’Andria

Congratulations to the parents, DE&T staff members and student member who have joined our School Council and thank you to all for showing interest in school governance. Working together makes a huge difference in improved student outcomes and in students’ lives.

 

On behalf of the school community, I would like thank the outgoing council members. Their contribution has been paramount to the life of our College Community.  Thank you very much.

 

I am looking forward to our first ever remote school council meeting.

ANZAC Day 2020

On behalf of the Principal Team, I invite you and the wider school community to join in the commemoration of ANZAC day through the “STANDTO” ceremony detailed below.

 

 

We encourage all members of our school community to participate and reflect upon the sacrifices of our soldiers who have served or are currently serving our great country.

 

The Dawn service will be broadcasted on ABC TV and Radio on Saturday morning. Please see details below:

 

Saturday, 25 April will mark ANZAC Day 2020, a significant day as we pause and reflect on the service and sacrifice of all those who have served and are currently serving.

 

ANZAC Day 2020 will not look like the ANZAC Day that so many of us are used to participating in. There will be a Dawn Service, wreaths will be laid, the last post will be played, a minute of silence in memory of the fallen will be observed, but the service community and the public will be asked to stay at home.

 

This does not mean that ANZAC Day is cancelled. It just means that ANZAC Day will be different. In 2020, on April 25, while you can't go to the Shrine of Remembrance or a local Dawn Service, the RSL is asking that instead you #STANDTO.

 

As the Last Post is played during the ANZAC Day Dawn Service walk outside, stand in your yard, driveway, or on your balcony and observe a minute of silence in respect of our veterans. Make sure that you snap a quick picture and share it right here on our Facebook page using the hashtag #STANDTO.

 

Together, let's amplify our commitment to the ANZAC spirit. Lest We Forget.

 

For more information please visit the official RSL Victoria Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/rslvic/