PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Nicholas Adamou

Principal

2022 Key Dates

28 Nov to 2 Dec

Year 7 & 8 Swimming Program

Year 8 Stem Week

Year 10 to 11 Orientation

5 Dec Last Day of Classes - Year 7 to 9
6 to 8 DecEnd of Year Activities - Year 7 to 9
9 DecBeach Day - Year 7 to 9
12 DecGrade 6 Parent Info Evening
14 DecCollege Awards Evening
12 Dec to 20 DecEnviro Days
20 DecOfficial Last Day of School

2023 School Leaders 

It is with great pleasure that I present the 2023 NGSC Leadership Team (Principal Team and School Captains) to our school community. 

 

 

The Principal Team together with our School Captains and other students in leadership positions such as Student Representative Council members play a vital role in the operations and life of the College. They work extremely well together evaluating, planning, and implementing programs to provide as many learning opportunities as possible to our students. The student leaders also act as role models for the student body and provide leadership across a wide range of activities within the school community, including academia, sports, the creative arts, culture, technology, and general life of our school life.

To be selected as a student leader at NGSC, students must have demonstrated a commitment to the values of the school, have a record of involvement in all aspects of the school life and have shown a willingness to serve the needs of others.  Although not all Year 12 students are School Captains, all are leaders. 

Once again, Congratulations to our 2023 School Leaders! My Principal Team and I are looking forward to working with them to continue carving a successful path of our school, achieving great outcomes for all.

Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholar

I am delighted to present to you our newest Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholar for the class of 2024.

Congratulations to Cenk (Jenk) Dizdarevic who has been successful with his application to the University of Melbourne Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program, Class of 2024.

Jenk will become part of a supportive university community and peer network through a tailored program of events and activities. The University of Melbourne looks forward to working with Jenk over the next two years to help this future leader reach his full potential.

Once again, congratulations Jenk!

Human Powered Vehicle (HPV) 2022

 

This year the NGSC Human Power Vehicle (HPV) Team was very excited to once again, participate in the annual RACV HPV Energy Breakthrough racing in Maryborough, from Thursday 17 to Sunday 20 November. 

Back for its 30th year, after two years of hiatus due to COVID, it was a huge celebration with an HPV program that was powered by imagination.

Our two teams; Storm and Avalanche participated in display and presentation, design and construction/scrutineering, obstacle course, time trial and an 8-hour endurance race and a 24-hour endurance race).

The Energy Breakthrough is a joint initiative of the Country Education Partnership (CEP) and the Central Goldfields Shire Council (CGSC). Since 1991, the Energy Breakthrough has provided opportunities for many students, teachers, parents, and local industry to work together to design and construct a vehicle, a machine or innovation in technology that will represent an 'energy breakthrough'. The program is unique in that all teams must compete across three areas of assessment: Design and Construction, Display and Presentation and Trials.

The Energy Breakthrough isn't just a once-a-year event. Our teams work throughout the year to design, build and test machines within detailed specifications. The program encourages our students to examine and use the latest technology whilst considering its impact on the environment and the way people live locally and globally. It requires a team effort and an across-the-curriculum approach. The NGSC HPV team then brings our vehicles and machines to Maryborough for a huge celebration to display and trial them in action.

Of course, this event would not be possible without the outstanding leadership and hard work of Ms Sherryn Martin – HPV Leader and the support of the following dedicated teachers who attended the camp; Mr Luke Scott, Ms Darcy Cropp, Ms Isobel Peter and Mr Callum Good. I take this opportunity to thank them all for their support of this year’s HPV camp.

Also, I wish to recognise the amazing group of HPV students who have shown leadership, teamwork, organisation skills and endurance during this year’s presentations and races.  They all memorised speeches, along with the technical components of their trikes and the race.  They set up and packed up camp multiple times due to the unpredictable weather, walked through ankle deep mud, rode their hearts out and always representing our school with the utmost respect and pride. 

Congratulations to the following outstanding students who were part of our HPV camps this year; Isha Arumuganathan, Jack Ashely, Luke Cazaly, Liam Deller, Emily Heitmann, Heidi Issell, William Issell, Mackenzie Martin, Zaylen Mercer, Tanishka Negi, Anna Pagtolon An, Maria Pagtolon An, Thomas Pagtolon An, Jett Peart, Logan Scott, Adam Synot, Anthony Traficante, Joesph Traficante, and Aiden Veale

Awards Presentation Evening 2022 

The 2022 Awards Presentation evening is on Wednesday 14 December, at Costa Hall, Deakin Waterfront, commencing at 7:00 pm.

On this day students will not be required at school during the day, however, they are all required to attend the Awards Presentation Evening with their family and friends. It is an evening where the whole College community comes together to celebrate this year’s achievements. 

The school magazine will also be available on this evening. 

All students participating in performances and presentations will be required to attend the rehearsals, during the day at the venue. Detailed information has been distributed to students and parents.

After two years of hiatus, due to COVID, I am looking forward to seeing you all at our Awards Presentation Evening to celebrate together this year’s outstanding achievements.

Child Safety Code of Conduct

NGSC is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. Our school community recognises the importance of, and a responsibility for, ensuring our school is a safe, supportive and enriching environment which respects and fosters the dignity and self-esteem of children and young people, and enables them to thrive in their learning and development. 

This Code of Conduct aims to protect children and reduce any opportunities for child abuse or harm to occur. It also assists in understanding how to avoid or better manage risky behaviours and situations. It is intended to complement child protection legislation, Department policy, school policies and procedures and professional standards, codes or ethics as these apply to staff and other personnel.

The Principal and school leaders of NGSC support the implementation and monitoring of the Code of Conduct, and will plan, implement and monitor arrangements to provide inclusive, safe and orderly schools and other learning environments. The Principal and school leaders will also provide information and support to enable the Code of Conduct to operate effectively. 

All staff, contractors, volunteers, and any other member of the school community involved in child-related work are required to comply with the Code of Conduct by observing expectations for appropriate behaviour below. The Code of Conduct applies in all school situations, including school camps and in the use of digital technology and social media.

Acceptable behaviours

As staff, volunteers, contractors, and any other member of the school community involved in child-related work individually, we are responsible for supporting and promoting the safety of children by:

  • upholding the school’s statement of commitment to child safety at all times
  • treating students and families in the school community with respect both within the school environment and outside the school environment as part of normal social and community activities.
  • listening and responding to the views and concerns of students, particularly if they are telling you that they or another child has been abused or that they are worried about their safety/the safety of another child
  • promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students 
  • promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of students with culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds 
  • promoting the safety, participation and empowerment of students with a disability
  • reporting any allegations of child abuse or other child safety concerns to the school’s leadership 
  • understanding and complying with all reporting or disclosure obligations (including mandatory reporting) as they relate to protecting children from harm or abuse.
  • if child abuse is suspected, ensuring as quickly as possible that the student(s) are safe and protected from harm.

Unacceptable behaviours

As staff, volunteers, contractors, and any other member of the school community involved in child-related work we must not:

  • ignore or disregard any concerns, suspicions or disclosures of child abuse
  • develop a relationship with any student that could be seen as favouritism or amount to ‘grooming’ behaviour (for example, offering gifts)
  • exhibit behaviours or engage in activities with students which may be interpreted as abusive and not justified by the educational, therapeutic, or service delivery context 
  • ignore behaviours by other adults towards students when they appear to be overly familiar or inappropriate
  • discuss content of an intimate nature or use sexual innuendo with students, except where it occurs relevantly in the context of parental guidance, delivering the education curriculum or a therapeutic setting 
  • treat a child unfavourably because of their disability, age, gender, race, culture, vulnerability, sexuality or ethnicity. 
  • communicate directly with a student through personal or private contact channels (including by social media, email, instant messaging, texting etc) except where that communication is reasonable in all the circumstances, related to schoolwork or extra-curricular activities or where there is a safety concern or other urgent matter
  • photograph or video a child in a school environment except in accordance with school policy or where required for duty of care purposes
  • in the school environment or at other school events where students are present, consume alcohol contrary to school policy or take illicit drugs under any circumstances.    

Student Parties

It is that time of the year and I think it is timely to clarify with parents and students the school’s position about student parties.

Frequently we hear stories from around the state of students organising large “parties” or “formals” in a school’s name but where the function is not sanctioned or supported by the school. Invariably, a parent takes the responsibility for booking a venue. 

Such functions are open to significant abuse especially in relation to drugs, violence, and alcohol and, if this is the case, those involved leave themselves open to legal action. I wish to make it very clear to all that the only College sanctioned activity, planned by the school, are the Year 12 Graduation Evening which took place on Tuesday 22 November at GMHBA Stadium, and the Awards Presentation Evening which will take place on 14 December at Costa Hall, Deakin Waterfront.