JUNIOR SCHOOL NEWS

Jacob Storer

Year 7 Coordinator

What a start!

Hello all and welcome to Year 7 for 2019. It has been incredibly exciting meeting all the fresh faces to the NGSC family. All of us here in the Year 7 Team have been very impressed with the start to Secondary School Life that many have made. A clear majority of the new Year 7s have exemplified the College’s values of RESPECT, EXCELLENCE, ACHIEVEMENT and DIVERSITY. With many more exciting opportunities coming up in the next few weeks, it is important that, as we get more comfortable, our standards remain high. 

Forms to be returned

Recently, it may feel like you have been inundated with forms from your students. The start of the year can be a hectic time and often an information overload. I ask that all students ensure that all forms make their way to their parents to ensure all information is passed on effectively. It is also important that forms are returned as quickly as possible so that the organisation of events, etc, can run as smoothly as possible. Currently, Year 7s have the following forms to return:

Immunisation forms - should be returned by now

Camp forms - permission/payment and medical forms to be returned as soon as you can

Photo forms - were handed out this week

If you have not received these forms or have any questions, please feel free to contact a member of the Year 7 Team.

The importance of communication

As I mentioned in the email I sent out at the beginning of the year, my aim for the Year 7s this year is to ensure clear and open communication. This is a new and exciting time for our new students, but also one that can bring new stresses and discomfort as they try to find where they stand in a new environment. Whilst we will be trying our utmost to communicate with you, information about your child here at school, I would also ask that the favour is returned, especially in regards to any issues that may arise during class or in the yard.

 

Our role as a coordination team is to support our students with any issues and to help them navigate their way positively through school. Unfortunately, with 179 Year 7s across 8 classes, it can be difficult being aware of all that is going on within the year level. That is why we remind students that the best course of action is to alert their classroom teachers or the Year 7 Team. This can be done discreetly, such as an email directly to me. Emails can be accessed via Compass or by typing a teacher's last name into the ‘To’ section of the email; this should automatically fill in their email address. If we are alerted immediately, we are able to take action and support your student straight away. However, as is the case sometimes, a student’s first port of call is to their parents and often the first we hear of an issue is from a concerned parent wondering why no action has been taken.

 

I know it can be an intimidating experience to approach an office full of Coordinators, so I would suggest an email or even to approach a trusted teacher who can then liaise with us.

 

I look forward to a positive year with the expanded NGSC community. Welcome to the team!