Northcote High School Newsletter

International Student Program

 Lunar New Year Celebration 

On February 12th, the International Student community came together to celebrate the Lunar New Year – The Year of the Snake. We gathered for a festive dinner, with our Principal Mr. Jones, Assistant Principal Ms. Lange, Senior Year’s YLPL Mr. Sullivan, Middle Year’s YLPL Mr. Hoo, Career Coordinator Ms. Burgess, and Ms. Harrison from the Well-being team. 

Thank you to everyone who joined us in this special occasion. It was a wonderful event that allowed our newly joined students to get to know the IS community, while providing an opportunity for our current students to connect with their teachers. We were also excited to have former student Khoi join us for the dinner. The Lunar New Year celebration truly marked a great beginning to the year for the IS community. 

 

 

Meet The IS Leadership Team

 

Our leadership team is dedicated to creating a positive environment for both students and they are excited to share their vision with you. Take a moment to learn more about them:  

 

 

 

  • Penelope PHAM: 

My name is Penelope, but you can call me Penny because it's too long to say. I enjoy reading, writing, and drawing in my free time. I love manga and anime so much that I wanted to learn Japanese.   

I had several leadership roles in my previous school, such as student council, class, and teams, and I am looking for my role as captain this year. 

I only transferred here last year, so I don't have much experience participating in all of the school's many activities, but I will do my best to make this year more exciting and fun. 

If you have any ideas regarding the school or the way the international captains work, reach out to us. We are happy to listen to your ideas as an opportunity to improve ourselves, and make your experience at NHS a great and memorable one, so please do not be shy. 

 

  • Beatrix LE: 

Hey everyone! I’m Beatrix, one of the Captains of the International Students this year, and I’m super excited to be in this role. A little bit about me—I love reading, writing, playing video games, and just observing the world (which sounds deep, but really, I’m just nosy in a philosophical way). I’ve always enjoyed connecting with people, even though I find public speaking in front of a thousand or even million people way easier than starting a casual conversation with one. I’m hoping this opportunity of leadership will help me overcome this.  

Before coming to Northcote, I was heavily involved in leading school projects, which gave me the chance to meet incredible people, gain new experiences, and build skills that I never thought I’d have. As Captain, I want to shake things up a little—make events and activities more exciting, create stronger connections between international and local students, and encourage everyone to reach their academic potential. Whether it’s organizing fun events, supporting students, or just being there when someone needs help, I’m here for it.  

So, if you ever need anything—advice, help with school, or just someone to chat with—feel free to reach out. Let’s make this year unforgettable! 

 

  • Julia DO: 

Hello, my name is Julia Do, and I'm one of the International Captains at Northcote High. I am mainly responsible for organizing events, and I’m excited to take on this role. I love reading, playing the piano, and spending time alone, but I also enjoy meeting new people and making new friends. While I haven’t been a captain before, I have experience leading community projects at my previous school. As a captain, I look forward to learning, growing, and making a positive impact. I hope to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where all students, especially international students, feel supported and connected. 

 

  • Nina TONG: 

Hi everyone, I’m Nina, and I’m excited to be one of this year’s school captains. I enjoy drawing, painting, and anything art-related, as well as keeping up with sports. I’m still getting started in this role, but I’m looking forward to getting involved in school activities. My goal is to help improve our school community and make it a more engaging place for everyone. 

 

  • Natalie TRUONG: 

Heyy! I’m Natalie Truong, a student from Vietnam and your international Year 11 academic captain. If you ever need help with anything, don’t hesitate to reach out, I’m always happy to assist however I can. Just so you know, I love to watch movies and play chess in my free time. I've also got two bearded dragons 🦎. Looking forward to connecting with you all and making this year great together! 

 

 

  • Orlena NGUYEN 

Hi everyone! My name is Thi Xuan Oanh (Orlena) Nguyen, and I’m from Vietnam. I’m currently in class 11N and honoured to be one of the Vice IPS Captains 2025. My role for this year is Sports & Events Captain, working alongside Julia. I have a strong passion for sports, especially swimming and karate, and I also enjoy solving problems—whether it’s tackling tricky math homework or figuring out creative solutions in daily life. Before this role, I was involved in the student council at my previous school and also served as a vice class monitor, which helped me develop leadership and teamwork skills. As Vice IPS Captain, my goal is to create meaningful events that support international students—not just in their studies but also in celebrating their cultural traditions, so they never feel alone while being away from home. 

A fun fact about me? People often find it unclear whether I’m an introvert or an extrovert—I can be quiet in some situations but talkative when I’m with my friends. Also, I have a pretty bad sense of direction—I’m "all over the place" sometimes!