From the principal

Events, opportunities and connections

Just a one week back into Term Two and NHS is once again buzzing. This week the highlight is Open Morning (Thursday 27 April). I encourage you to come along; meet future families and students or join a tour and see and hear NHS at work! In this issue we can all confirm that Northcote High is a vibrant school community.  Our young people and teachers never cease to surprise in the effort and energy they commit to ensure active learning is a feature of our classrooms.  In addition the co-curricular program is in full swing: the myriad activities that give life to our students' learning and interests beyond the classroom is brilliant. 

Last week I met with recently returned staff and students from the Music Tour to China, the USA Art and Design Tour, participants in Captains Council, Production cast and crew, Debating team members who defeated Ivanhoe Grammar and an enthusiastic Latin class of students, teachers and parents.   I also spent time with students establishing a coding and electronics club.  We workshopped a location for the club headquarters, start-up equipment, recruitments strategies and more.  Stay posted for a report in an upcoming newsletter.

Events, Conversations and Connections at Northcote High

In this newsletter I draw you to a number of opportunities to be part of  Northcote Events, Conversations and/or Connections. 

WRITING FREEDOM – tickets are selling fast don’t miss out!  

A brilliant line up of writers including Clem Ford, Abdi  Aden, Maxine Beneba Clarke and Jeff Sparrow.  Hosted by Clare Wright (NHS Parent, Historian and social commentator)

Thank you to Clare Wright for once again bringing contemporary conversations to our community –https://www.trybooking.com/269431   

Other opportunities include the SAFEMinds and Resilience Project workshops, the Community Conversation - Learning, Learners and Schools (and The Northcote Model), the Year 10 Maths Pathways Forum and an upcoming opportunity to Have Your Say regarding BYOD and 1:1 Devices. 

Finally, we are committed to partnering with you around learning,  I encourage you to make regular dips into myNorthcoteHigh and Compass, and create opportunities to discuss your child’s GPAs (Learning Behaviours) and Assessment Feedback.  If you need support with this please connect with Josh McDonald mcdonald.josh.t@edumail.vic.gov.au. I also encourage you to read the information in this issue around NAPLAN testing, and to discuss with your child the importance of the NAPLAN to us as a school. The data from the testing provides valuable feedback as to the learning progress of cohorts, and allows us to identify and strategically target areas of potential growth across all subject areas.  We want students to feel confident to do their best and for the NAPLAN to provide an accurate measure of a student’s level so that the data can assist teachers to tailor their teaching.

Building Northcote

The next issue will feature a facilities update with the opening of the refurbished Art and Design Hubs, in the next three weeks (mid May), an update on plans/timeline for the Performance Hub and the beginning of the construction of two new netball courts. We have also been having ongoing discussions with Darebin Council a indoors courts project – The Stadium and continue to work with Darebin Council and the Department of Education to make this a reality.

International News and VCE Offshore

Northcote High has been working for a number of years with the Department of Education and VCAA to deliver the VCE in China in partnership with Chinese schools.  We are delighted to report that the VCAA (Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority) has granted NHS two licences to deliver the VCE Offshore with partner schools in China – Baotou Foreign Language School and Hengshui No. 1 High School.  We are now working with the schools leadership team and teachers along with our teachers to establish English Language and VCE programs that will underpin deeper educational relationships, grounded in teacher professional learning through mentoring and co-curriculum design. This is a significant achievement and I’d like to acknowledge the ongoing work of Nick Murphy flagshipping this innovative work that so strongly represents the outward facing focus of Northcote High School.

In this edition you'll also see a snapshot of the ways in which our students, families and staff are connecting with each other and our local, national and global communities, and opportunities for much more. 

Enjoy, and don't forget to keep an eye on Compass Newsfeed for event reminders and year-level specific information.

Kate Morris

Principal