From the Principal's Desk
Happy Mothers’ Day
For years, Australia has observed Mother’s Day as a special occasion which formally recognises and conveys our deep appreciation for and gratitude of the extraordinary women who play significant roles in our lives. Women have considerable influence in society, leading social transformations, nurturing strong family connections, and overcoming obstacles with remarkable resilience and fortitude. To all the women within the Nossal community, your invaluable contribution in guiding and shaping our students is truly appreciated. I trust that you enjoyed a truly memorable Mother’s Day on Sunday.
Thank you to members of our PFA who generously donated their time last week to provide opportunity for Nossal students to purchase a card or gift for someone special in their life.
Education Week 2024: STEM in classrooms
This week, the Department of Education Victoria is celebrating Education Week (Monday 13 May to Friday 17 May). The theme for 2024 is Spotlight on STEM, highlighting the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in both our daily routines and broader contexts, including the classroom.
Throughout this week, students, parents/carers, teachers, and school communities are encouraged to celebrate and share ideas to learn more about the endless possibilities of STEM. Below are some online learning resources that might be useful if this is an area of student interest:
Ecolinc: https://learnonline.ecolinc.vic.edu.au/
Qantum Victoria: https://www.quantumvictoria.vic.edu.au
Radio Astronomy: The Invisible Universe (https://arc.educationapps.vic.gov.au/home)
An online resource giving high-ability students the opportunity to use a real, dedicated radio telescope to probe a region of deep space in search of distant celestial object activity such as stars, supernova and supermassive blackholes.
Mock Interviews:
Last fortnight, Year 11 students participated in Mock Interviews. Volunteer interviewers, including members of Rotary, Mr. Butler, and Mr. Page, commended the students on their preparedness and the impressive quality of their responses. The interviewers observed that students who made a lasting impression were those actively involved in a range of co-curricular activities such as sports, music, production, art, and languages, showcasing their ability to balance and manage these alongside their academic studies. Moreover, students who held employment were able to articulate their duties and responsibilities meaningfully, demonstrating a clear understanding of the working world. This feedback reinforces the message of universities who are seeking well-rounded and adaptable students capable of navigating an ever-changing world and serves as a reminder to engage in a variety of curricular and cocurricular opportunities while studying at Nossal.
Attitude to School Survey:
This week you will receive an email informing you about the upcoming Attitude to School Survey (AtoSS). This is an annual student survey administered by the Department of Education to assist schools to gain an understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school. Students will be asked about their thoughts and feelings in relation to their school, their learning, peer relationships, resilience, bullying, health and wellbeing, physical activity, and life in general.
This year, the AtoSS will be conducted at the school on Wednesday 22 May 2024 during Nossal Time.
Participation in this survey is voluntary. If you do not wish for your student to do the survey, please opt out via email to Ms Fiona Vanstan (Acting Assistant Principal) at Fiona.Vanstan@nossalhs.vic.edu.au Please do so before Monday 20 May 2024 stating that you wish to opt out of your student’s participation, along with their name and year level.
If a Refusal of Consent email from yourself is not received before the survey commencement date mentioned above, it means that you give your consent for your student to participate in the 2024 Attitudes to School Survey.
Congratulations
Once again Nossal High School has been successful in the interschool sporting program. A number of records were broken this season and there were a number of successful placegetters in the recent SMR Swimming with Ethan Khoe placed fourth in the State Championship.
We wish our Intermediate Boys’ Tennis team good luck in the upcoming State Championships. For more detailed information please read the sport page of this Newsletter.
Nossal events coming up:
Morrisby Career Interviews (beginning Friday 10 May)
Morrisby Career Interviews for Year 9 students began on Friday 10 May. These conversations, facilitated by trained careers practitioners, enable students to view their profile, identify strengths and raise self-awareness of predicted areas of interest.
You are invited:
This week marks the celebration of Nossal Week at our school. Introduced last year, Nossal Week serves as a significant platform for our students to showcase their Clubs and Societies to their peers. It also serves to enhance a compassionate and committed school community by raising awareness and support for individuals and families connected to Nossal who may be facing challenges, through the Nossal 4 Nossal fund.
Organised by the Nossal SRC, a lineup of enjoyable and engaging activities has been planned, culminating in a family event on Friday. We warmly invite students and their families to attend and support this inaugural occasion. We look forward to seeing you at the Nossal Family evening on Friday 17 May, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Autumn Concert (Wednesday 15 May)
Come along and listen to the musical talents of our Nossal students featured in a range of ensemble performances. The concert will be held on Wednesday 15 May 2024 at 6:30pm in the Meath Auditorium, Nossal High School.
Book online today at https://www.trybooking.com/CRDXI
Parent Career Information “Careers conversations at home” (Tuesday 21 May)
During Term Two, a range of career-based programs are held during Nossal Time and 9Time classes, along with the Morrisby Career Interviews for Year 9 students and their families. We frequently speak to our students about selecting subjects that they are interested in, enjoy and excel in, but families can sometimes feel ill-equipped to support their student through this selection process.
On Tuesday 21 May, the school is hosting an online workshop for parents of Years 9 and 10 students, from 6.30 – 7.30pm. The workshop aims to support parents to develop a deeper understanding of the importance of career conversations, how to have them, and some of the tools they can use to support their young person further.
Book online today at https://www.trybooking.com/CRRNA
House Athletics (Friday 24 May)
All students are encouraged to participate and maximise their engagement in this compulsory school event and show their support wearing their House colours. In recent years, a vibrant market ambiance has been created featuring mini-stalls, a Rotary-supported BBQ, and a diverse array of activities for student involvement, such as running, jumping, or throwing. Let's keep our fingers crossed for favourable, sunny weather!
Nossal High School Career Expo (Thursday 25 July)
Kindly mark your calendars for the Nossal High School Career Expo on Thursday 25 July (4:00 pm to 8:00 pm). This annual event features insightful presentations by various guest speakers, including NHS Alumni, as well as information booths operated by numerous Australian tertiary providers and universities. Additionally, there will be panel discussions led by universities and alumni, shedding light on diverse career pathways and opportunities.
Bookings are now open for Valedictory Dinner (Class of 2024)
Tickets are now available for sale for the Valedictory Dinner at the end of the year. Graduating Class of 2024 students will need to purchase a ticket too.
Please note that there has been a recent feature change to trybooking and families with a Paypal account can pay for the tickets in four instalments over a small period time.