From the Principal
Welcome back to the new school year. It has been such a joy to progressively welcome everyone back, and to have the whole school back together again.
We know that the holidays were somewhat uncertain for many, but the consistent theme has been that most people had low key and relaxing breaks. I hope everyone is feeling refreshed and rejuvenated to start the year well.
2021 School Priorities
With all that transpired last year, and the continued vigilance required by all of us this year, our priorities for the year are as follows:
Building on our sense of community and connection, with a foci on a positive culture and enhancing everyone’s wellbeing.
Differentiating the learning to ensure all students are adequately challenged and stretched. This will include providing support to those who have fallen behind over 2020 and need some additional assistance and extending those who require it.
Enhancing student agency through the introduction and gradual implementation of Microsoft Office 365 and Teams and enhancing student metacognition. This will mean the gradual phasing out of myNorthcoteHigh over the year.
Staff Professional Learning
The first two days of the year were spent learning together, focusing on how we can best support the priorities outlined above. We were delighted to welcome back Dr Lea Waters, to work with us on using a strengths-based approach with our students (and each other). We commenced work with Lea as we returned from remote learning last year, ensuring that we were well equipped to support students transition positively back to school; that was such a positive experience, with practical strategies we could immediately implement to enhance wellbeing and connection, we decided we should continue to learn with and from her. Dr Waters is a world leading expert on strengths and Visible Wellbeing. She has written an excellent book for parents called The Strengths Switch. I can highly recommend it.
Looking back on 2020
Given the 2020 Senior Years results were released on 30 December 2020, we thought it worthwhile celebrating them again. We thought it important to remind everyone of the outstanding success of our 2020 graduates. We are incredibly proud of our students’ achievements, and the pathways they have gained entry into. There is a snapshot of results and an insight into our Dux, Alice Brown, within the rest of this Newsletter.
Parent Evenings
We welcome the opportunity to run parent evenings again, over the first few weeks of school. We will be implementing COVIDSafe requirements, including sign in and density limits. This may mean that we have to have a limit on numbers. Please see further details of the upcoming evenings planned to ensure that we partner with families effectively.
School Council and Sub-Committees – call for interested parents
During February, we will once again be seeking nominations for School Council and its various Sub-Committees. You do not need to be a member of Council to join a sub-commmittee.
They are all enjoyable and positive experiences:
School Council - meets 8 times per year during the evenings on Thursdays from 6:00 – 8:00 pm.
Governance Committee – consults on policy and ensures compliance with all School Camps, Adventure Activities and Tours. Meets on a Monday in the week prior to Council from 6:00 – 7:00 pm.
Finance Committee – examines and ensures compliance with all matters financial. Meets from 8:00 – 9:00 am on a Monday morning in the week of School Council.
Friends of Northcote – assists with community events and fundraising, including performing arts events. Organises our annual Comedy Fundraiser, the Performing Arts Trivia night and other creative endeavours. Is fun and not arduous. Meets as required and a lot of work is done without needing to meet.
Thrive Fund Committee of Management – This group ensure the four funds associated with Thrive (Building, Library, Empower and Innovate) are administered according to their mandates. Meets once per term 6:00 – 7:00 pm.
If you are interested in any of the groups listed here, please send Kate Challis an email, telling us a little about yourself and a member of Council or the School Leadership team will be in touch in the coming weeks. info@nhs.vic.edu.au
Making noise to rebuild our school
A major part of Council and parent community involvement this year will be to advocate for funding to advance the Masterplan. We know that a great school does not rely on its facilities, but great facilities certainly enhance the learning opportunities and collaboration between students and between staff, and they also inspire us. Our school grounds are inundated, with all available space taken up by portable classrooms, many of our permanent buildings are dated and not adequate for our ever-growing school.
Very early on, we will need our community to come together to demonstrate the need for funding to construct multi-story buildings in the centre of the school so that we can reclaim some of the valuable outdoor space on our site. It will be important for both parents and students to represent our needs.
We have strong support from our local member, Kat Theophanous, MP. Liza Grage-Perry (our wonderful School Council President) and I are meeting with Kat next week to discuss our needs.
Communication Guidelines
Each year we publish our guidelines for parent communication with staff at the school, and now that we begin a new year, I thought it timely to remind you of those. You will find them at on our website here.
These guidelines were developed with the aim of articulating the most effective means of communication with the school, taking in to account the parameters of teacher work.
Whole School Assembly
We are again planning for a whole school assembly. Given our ever-increasing size, and the shortage of large spaces, it is practically an impossibility to have a whole school assembly, where the approximately 2000 members of our community can be together and share some of the important symbolic and cultural messages as one.
On Friday 12 February (back up day Tuesday 16 February) we will come together on Merri Park during Period 3. Students have been asked to bring a towel to sit on, a hat, water bottle and sunscreen. They may also bring a cushion to sit on. Please make sure your child is equipped.