NGSC Newsletter

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

OUR KEY DATES!

Mar 21          Harmony Day

Mar 23         Year 7, 2017 Information Evening

Mar 24         Last Day Term 1,  1.30pm finish

Apr 14          Parent/Teacher Interviews

                       12-7pm

May 2           SEAL (Select Entry Accelerated                              Learning) Information Evening

May 7           NGSC 50th Birthday Celebrations

May 12         SEAL Registration Closes

May 14         SEAL Entrance Exam

Aug 26          Fifty & Fabulous,

                        Gala Event at Costa Hall

Oct 21           NGSC Multicultural Festival

Dec 9             Awards Presentation Evening

                        Costa Hall

Nicholas Adamou

School Council Elections

At the close of the call for nominations in the Parent Category for School Council there were 4 nominees for the 5 vacancies. The following parents were therefore, elected for a two year term.

  • Diane Lang
  • Jan Faulkner
  • Darren Carr
  • Lawrence Lord

We are still looking for another interested parent to join our school council. Anyone interested please contact Dina Markov at the general office

 

At the close of the call for nominations in the Department of Education & Early Childhood Development DE&T Category of School Council there was 1 nominee for 1 vacancy. The following DE&T staff member was, therefore, elected for a two year term.

  • Adam Bond

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

 

I take this opportunity, on behalf of the school community, to thank the outgoing council members (parents & staff). Their contribution has been paramount to the life of our College Community.  Thank you very much.

Annual Report 2015

Annual reporting is an important tool for effective governance within schools and across the government school system. Reporting to the school community adds value in a number of ways:

Keeping the school community informed: The annual report provides a means for the school council to inform the community of what has been achieved and how the school is performing. Providing information about schools helps the community hold schools, the system and government accountable for improving student outcomes.

Contributing to system accountability and meeting legislative requirements:  Public accountability for improving student outcomes and for the use of public money is mandated in the Education and Training Reform Act (2006), where school councils are required to prepare and publish an annual report.

Relationship between the planning and annual reporting processes: The development of the annual report is an opportunity to reflect on the school’s achievements and use this as a basis for future planning.

The Annual Report is prepared by the school Principal and presented to parents and the wider community to inform them of the school's activities and achievements throughout the previous year. The report also provides an opportunity to communicate and publicise the longer term directions for the school.

105th Anniversary of International Women’s Day – March 8, 2016

IWD 2016 campaign theme #PledgeForParity

Worldwide, women continue to contribute to social, economic, cultural and political achievement.

 

And we have much to celebrate today. But progress towards gender parity has slowed in many places.

 

The World Economic Forum predicted in 2014 that it would take until 2095 to achieve global gender parity. Then one year later in 2015, they estimated that a slowdown in the already glacial pace of progress meant the gender gap wouldn't close entirely until 2133.

 As you may be aware, March 8, marked 105 years Anniversary of International Women’s Day (IWD). A day that recognises the many achievements of women around the world and acknowledges the continuing challenges that women face.  This year the international women’s day was celebrated at North Geelong SC with a morning tea for some Year 12 female students and all female staff on Tuesday 8 March.  Central to the celebration was the engagement of young females in issues relating to gender equality, empowerment and leadership. Mary Salazar, our Year 12 female captain delivered a speech on the importance of the day.

Personal Property brough to school

Personal property is often brought to school by students and visitors.  This can include mobile phones, electronic games, calculators, toys, sporting equipment and cars parked on school premises.  I wish to remind you that, the Department does not hold insurance (excluding the school’s iPad program) for personal property brought to schools and it has no capacity to pay for any loss or damage to such property.  I wish to discourage students and visitors from bringing any personal property in particular valuable items to school and if you choose to do so it is entirely at your own risk. 

Geelong Community Foundation FRRR Back to School Program

Executive Officer Andrew Lawson met with me last week for the FRRR/Sidney Myer Back to School Program for 2016. This year our school received $5500.00 worth of $50.00 vouchers.

 

North Geelong Secondary College is extremely grateful for the support received over the years from the Geelong Community Foundation through the FRRR/Sidney Myer Back to School Program. This support for students in need, enables them to start the year on the right foot for a successful year.

 

The $50 Target vouchers make a huge difference to our school community especially as we have a large number of disadvantaged and refugee students. Thank you very much to Andrew Lawson and the Geelong Community Foundation.

Grade 6 Parent Information Evening, 23 March 2015, 6.00pm

The Parent/Guardian/Student information evening for our 2017 Year 7 intake will be held on Tuesday 23 March 2016.

 

The information evening provides prospective parents/guardians the opportunity to visit our school, talk to teachers, students and current parents about the NGSC community and what it has to offer to their children in relation to curricular, extra-curricular, individualised and specialised programs.

 

Highlights of the evening will be:

  • Select Entry Academic Achievers Program
  • Scholarship Program
  • STAR Literacy & Numeracy Program
  • ACE Literacy & Numeracy Program
  • iPad Program
  • Significant Teacher Program
  • Excellence in Sports Program
  • Performing Arts Program
  • International student and EAL Programs

 

Since the beginning of this term, Mr Zahra & Ms Astles – Transition/Pathways Leaders and their team have conducted many personalised tours and information sessions for prospective students and their families. There is much interest in these visits and if parents of current students with a sibling attending next year are interested, or if you know of others potentially new to North Geelong SC and would like to take this opportunity, I encourage you and others to contact the school and book a visit with Mr Zahra or Ms Astles.

 

I am looking forward to seeing as many new and also current families as possible on this evening.

Student Appearance

All students at North Geelong SC are expected to take pride in their personal appearance. Jewellery, make-up, hair colour and style must be discreet as per the school expectations and policies. Earrings must consist only of sleepers or studs in the ears.

 

It is the school’s preferred position that students do not have facial piercing i.e. any facial piercing other than the ears. However, for students who already have facial piercing they have the following options: (i) the facial piercings are removed during the school day, to and from school. (ii) the facial piercing is discreet and clear plastic and (iii) a band aide is applied on the piercing during the school day, including to and from school.

 

Under no circumstances will metal facial piercings be accepted.

Therefore, new facial piercings cannot be obtained during the year due to the healing time which requires the piercing to be metal.

Last Day of Term 1, Thursday 24 March

The last day of Term 1, is on Thursday 24 March. Just a reminder to  parents/guardians that students will finish school at 1.24pm as per End of Term arrangements previously published.

I wish to remind parents that students must attend school on the last day of the term and if for some legitimate reason they are going to be away, parents/guardians are required to notify the school as per our school attendance policy.

Term 2 begins on 11 April 2016.