PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Mr Nicholas Adamou

Principal

Key Dates

2021 School Leaders

At a special morning tea held on Thursday, 5 November, the Principal Team had the pleasure to officially congratulate and welcome the 2021 School Captains to the NGSC Leadership Team. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 we will not be able to have a whole school assembly, as we have done every other year, to present the Captians to the whole school community. I am hoping that students, staff and parents congratulate these young leaders via email or on a personal level when they see them out in the yard. During the morning tea, the new School Captains presented their views and their plans for next year. It was very refreshing to hear their views about schooling in a Covid-19 safe environment. 

School Captains and other students in leadership positions play a vital role in the operation and life of the College. They act as role models for the student body and provide leadership across a wide range of activities within the school community, including sports, the creative arts, technology and in the general life of our school.

To be selected as a Student Leader at NGSC, students must have demonstrated a commitment to the values of the school, have a record of involvement in all aspects of school life and have shown a willingness to serve the needs of others.  Although not all Year 12 students are School Captains, all are leaders. 

Once again, congratulations to our 2021 School Leaders! I am looking forward to working with them to continue carving a successful path for the school, achieving great outcomes for all.

North Geelong Secondary College SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 

 “Providing opportunities for excellence”

2021 Year 9 and 10 Scholarship Recipients  

Every year, the College allocates four scholarships to the value of $4500.00 for NGSC Year 8 students going into Years 9 and 10. The students are selected based on their written application, multiple references and their ability to articulate their vision on how they could lead the student body and contribute to the life of the school. 

Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year we will not be able to present these students with their scholarships at a whole school assembly. However, Mr Koullas, Transitions and Pathways Leader, and I presented each student with their scholarship and congratulated them on their great achievement during a private meeting on Tuesday, 10 November.

Once again, congratulations to the following students:

• Jana Badr, 8C
• Brodie Orrock, 8D
• Rakshiga Jeyarasa, 8H
• Henry Reed, 8C

Student Parties

Keeping in mind that there are still Covid-19 restrictions in relation to public gatherings, I think it is timely to clarify with parents and students the school’s position about student parties.

Frequently we hear stories from around the state of students organising large “parties” or “formals” in a school’s name, but where the function is not sanctioned or supported by the school. Invariably, a parent takes the responsibility for booking a venue. 

Such functions are open to significant abuse, especially in relation to drugs, violence and alcohol, and if this is the case, those involved leave themselves open to legal action. I wish to make it clear to all that the only College sanctioned activity, currently planned by the school, in a Covid-19 safe environment, is the Year 12 Graduation Evening on Tuesday, 1 December, at the Pier. Currently, under Covid-19 guidelines, it is only for all Year 12 students and five staff.

The Graduation Ceremony will be live streamed for family and friends. All details will be provided to students and parents shortly.

Graduation details will be provided soon to all Year 12 students and their families. At this stage the traditional Awards Presentation Evening on Monday, 14 December, will be modified, according to the DET operational guidelines to meet a Covid-19 safety guidelines. More information will be provided to the school community in the near future. 

As parents or Guardians, if you are faced with the dilemma of whether a function is a school function, please ensure you ring the College for clarification. Whether or not you allow your child to attend any such party or event is a matter for decision between you and your child. However, when discussing this, we suggest that you consider: 

• Covid-19 safety guidelines and state restrictions
• Transport arrangements to and from any “function, event, party or after party”. We are all aware of the potential risks associated with young people travelling with young drivers, particularly after celebrating; and
• What level of security is being provided at the venue? There have been numerous stories over the years of such events resulting in alcohol and drug use and in violence.

If at any time you become aware of any event purportedly being held in the school’s name, please contact the school immediately so that we can clarify the issue with parents and guardians.

NGSC COVIDSafe Principles

The principles for maintaining a COVIDSafe School apply to all Victorian schools: specialist and mainstream, Government, Independent and Catholic. They are aligned with Victoria’s COVIDSafe Principles for Business and acknowledge the unique school setting as both a place of work for staff and a learning environment for children and young people, drawing on local and international literature. 

A combination of strategies is required to minimise transmission risk. No single strategy completely reduces risk and not every measure will always be feasible and applicable to all educational settings. Where some controls are not feasible, others should be enhanced. Strategies will be adjusted over time in line with changing risk of transmission in the community. 

Reinforce COVIDSafe Behaviours

• Stay home when unwell
• Practice good hygiene
• Ensure physical distancing (1.5m) where possible
• Wear a face mask
• Avoid interactions in enclosed spaces where possible
• Create COVIDSafe spaces
• Promote COVIDSafe activities
• Respond to coronavirus (COVID-19) risk
• Make hand hygiene easy (hygiene products easily accessible across the school)
• Keep surfaces clean and implement enhanced environmental cleaning and disinfection (Day cleaning/disinfecting of high traffic surfaces)
• Promote outdoor air ventilation and do not have air conditioners on recirculate
• Limit school access to outside visitors where possible
• Reduce mixing between groups/Year Levels
• Create workforce bubbles within staff rooms
• Adapt, modify or defer higher-risk activities
• Move activities outdoors where possible, weather permitting
• Keep records and act quickly if someone (student or staff) becomes unwell
• Use personal protective equipment when dealing with unwell students or staff
• Clean and disinfect appropriately if a staff member or student has been unwell at school
• Manage individual risk

NGSC is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. Our school community recognises the importance of, and a responsibility for, ensuring our school is a safe, supportive and enriching environment which respects and fosters the dignity and self-esteem of children and young people, and enables them to thrive in their learning and development. 

This Code of Conduct aims to protect children and reduce any opportunities for child abuse or harm to occur. It also assists in understanding how to avoid or better manage risky behaviours and situations. It is intended to complement child protection legislation, Department policy, school policies and procedures and professional standards, codes or ethics, as these apply to staff and other personnel.

The Principal and School Leaders of NGSC support the implementation and monitoring of the Code of Conduct, and will plan, implement and monitor arrangements to provide inclusive, safe and orderly schools and other learning environments. The Principal and School Leaders will also provide information and support to enable the Code of Conduct to operate effectively. 

All staff, contractors, volunteers and any other member of the school community involved in child-related work, are required to comply with the Code of Conduct by observing expectations for appropriate behaviour below. The Code of Conduct applies in all school situations, including school camps and in the use of digital technology and social media.

Acceptable behaviours

As staff, volunteers, contractors, and any other member of the school community involved in child-related work individually, we are responsible for supporting and promoting the safety of children by:

• upholding the school’s Statement of Commitment to child safety at all times
• treating students and families in the school community with respect, both within the school environment and outside the school environment, as part of normal social and community activities.
• listening and responding to the views and concerns of students, particularly if they are telling you that they or another child has been abused or that they are worried about their safety/the safety of another child
• promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
• promoting the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of students with culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds
• promoting the safety, participation and empowerment of students with a disability
• reporting any allegations of child abuse or other child safety concerns to the school’s leadership
• understanding and complying with all reporting or disclosure obligations (including mandatory reporting) as they relate to protecting children from harm or abuse.
• if child abuse is suspected, ensuring as quickly as possible that the student(s) are safe and protected from harm.

Unacceptable behaviours

As staff, volunteers, contractors, and any other member of the school community involved in child-related work, we must not:

• ignore or disregard any concerns, suspicions or disclosures of child abuse
• develop a relationship with any student that could be seen as favouritism or amount to ‘grooming’ behaviour (for example, offering gifts)
• exhibit behaviours or engage in activities with students which may be interpreted  as abusive and not justified by the educational, therapeutic, or service delivery context
• ignore behaviours by other adults towards students when they appear to be overly familiar or inappropriate
• discuss content of an intimate nature or use sexual innuendo with students, except where it occurs relevantly in the context of parental guidance, delivering the education curriculum or a therapeutic setting
• treat a child unfavourably because of their disability, age, gender, race, culture, vulnerability, sexuality or ethnicity
• communicate directly with a student through personal or private contact channels (including by social media, email, instant messaging, texting, etc) except where that communication is reasonable in all the circumstances, related to school work or extra-curricular activities or where there is a safety concern or other urgent matter
• photograph or video a child in a school environment except in accordance with school policy or where required for duty of care purposes
• in the school environment or at other school events where students are present, consume alcohol contrary to school policy  or take illicit drugs under any circumstances.