From the Principals' Desk 

Term 2

Welcome to Term 2.  I hope all our students and staff have had a relaxing and therefore refreshing break and have returned to school ready to take on the challenges that await us all.

By the time you read this newsletter, we will have completed the first set of Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences for 2017.  It goes without saying, that these conversations are very important and provide the valuable opportunity to clarify any issues, seek clarification or plan the path ahead.  As an AFL fan, I think of the conferences as being similar to coming together with the coach at quarter time.  We have finished the "first quarter" and the PST Conferences are a chance to stop, connect with the coach and reflect on the strengths of our performance to date and re-focus the the direction or game plan for the next quarter.  

From the Conferences, I hope that all students have come away with a good understanding of where they are in their development of skills and abilities while also having a plan for how they can continue to grow and progress in the remainder of the first semester.  

Likewise, parents should also have exited the conferences with an understanding of their student's strengths and how they will best be able to support their continued growth and development over the coming months.

Academic success and personal development in young people reaches its full potential when there is a strong partnership between the student, their teachers and the student's family and strongest supporters.  Nossal has a such a culture and we look forward to it continuing as our students go from strength to strength.

Top Designs 2017

In the last edition of Nossal News, Mr Page reported on the opening of Top Designs 2017, an exhibition of exemplary folios from students studying Unit 3 and 4 subjects last year.  The exhibition is being held at the Melbourne Museum in Carlton and is open until July 16.

During the holidays, I was able to visit the exhibition myself and as a former teacher of both Technology and Visual Communication and Design (VCD),  I am able to say with authority, that the featured work is of an outstanding standard.  Looking at the final solutions, I was reminded of the importance of the design process and this was no less evident in the thorough analysis and evaluation of our own Nossal students who featured in Systems Technology and VCD.  The planning and development work was exceptional and a credit to the students who were taught and coached by Mr Chattrah and Ms Cilia respectively.

On my visit, it was interesting to see the number of students, obviously undertaking studies in these Unit 3 and 4 subjects as well as Textiles, Foods and Furniture Design in 2017, who were present and eagerly scrutinising the techniques demonstrated in the folios. 

Uniform

With Term 2 now underway, students are reminded that they should now switch to their winter uniform and ensure it is being worn appropriately.

A uniform is a statement about a school and a student's place in that school.  It creates a sense of belonging because it makes a statement about school identity.  

Nossal High School has a striking uniform.  It's colours are not necessarily those traditionally associated with schools and therefore are for many a statement of pride.  It was interesting to observe during the Year 10 visits to the universities during the Careers and Pathways Week, how not only did our students stand out in their impressive uniforms, they were identified too by others, especially those who were ex-students of Nossal.  

Like any uniform, there is a prescribed list and it is detailed in the Student Study Planner.  There are specific items designated for girls and boys to wear however some things are common including the wearing of the Nossal tie which should tied neatly, positioned correctly and on a shirt completely buttoned.  For girls, the tie is worn with the Nossal ecru blouse while for boys it should be worn with a long sleeve shirt that is tucked in.

Blazers should also be worn when travelling to and from school regardless of the method of travel.  Jumpers can be worn under the blazer but should never be instead of the blazer.  These can be stored in lockers once students have arrived at school and the jumper be worn as the outer garment.

Uniform is a statement of pride, it is a badge that says "I am proud to be a Nossalonian".  Parents are asked to support the school and their children by ensuring students have the correct school uniform available to them to wear to school.

Kicking Goals!

It's been a while in the planning and the building, but the day is almost here!

At the end of last term we were able to advise that the oval was nearing completion and that we would soon have this new asset available for both class time as well as recesses and lunchtimes.  During the holiday break we took another step closer and had the AFL goalposts installed and the boundary lines marked.  The playing surface was further rolled and we are now looking to holding an official "oval opening day" towards the end of May to coincide with the school's Health and Wellbeing Week.

We are now well within reach of our goal!

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Keith Butler

Assistant Principal