From the Principals' Desk

'Hello, Goodbye'

I guess I am showing my age when I say that in 1967, The Beatles released a song called 'Hello, Goodbye'. It was a song written by Paul McCartney when a friend visited his home. The friend asked Paul how he wrote his many songs, and how he came up with his ideas. As an experiment, Paul asked him to shout out the opposite of whatever he sang, such as black and white, yes and no, hello and goodbye, etc. From this, the song was born.

Last week the events at Nossal reminded me of that song as we said 'Hello' to our returning Years 9 and 10 students and 'Goodbye' to our Year 12s.

On Monday morning the school was abuzz, as the student population doubled compared to the earlier weeks of this term. There were lots of excited faces and eager students, keen to see their friends, catch up with their teachers and resume their face-to-face learning. Walking through the school the increased noise level was noticeable as excited young people resumed acquaintanships, while all the time remembering the need to be physically distant.

As the Year 9s and 10s were picking up where they left off, for the Year 12s it was the beginning of their last week of school. Final classes meant an important chance to seek that last collective advice in a class or that final piece of learning to ensure the very best preparation prior to the upcoming VCE Examinations.

For some, the examination program has in fact already commenced with the oral component of Japanese and French having taken place in the past couple of weeks. Prior to that, the practical component of Theatre Studies was also assessed.

In 2020, the COVID restrictions have meant that the usual celebrations we hold at Nossal have had to be varied. The traditional and much anticipated Year 12 Final Assembly, filled with speeches, dance and other performances and culminating in the students' departure through an 'avenue of honour' provided by the staff, could not take place. That did not stop the staff from honouring the efforts of the 2020 cohort, though. They were, in fact, delighted to be able to come together (outdoors and appropriately distanced) to do so in the previous week. The cohort was acknowledged with applause from the staff and ended with Mr Page giving each a 'COVID handshake' with his elbow.

Then, last Thursday we held the traditional tutorial parties when members of each tute group are able to acknowledge and celebrate their departing Year 12 friends and the contribution they had made to their House group. Annually, it is a special occasion as the graduating students farewell those they have come to know well and grown through the school with. Each member of the Graduating Class of 2020 was presented with a small gift bag containing a glass with the Nossal butterfly engraved on it, and a bucket hat and scarf containing the inscription '2020 Class of Iso'.

Thank you to the School Captains Team who took the initiative and arranged for the recognition bag of goodies. The celebrations ended with a live assembly lead by the Year 12 student leaders and streamed throughout the school. Those Year 12s not presenting the event gathered together with their peers in their House areas and enjoyed their last Nossal assembly. For many, saying that last goodbye to friends and the school proved a little hard; their level of connectedness to peers and to Nossal has remained strong despite the distance imposed on them this year. Students lingered longer than usual at the end of the day with some gathering into the early evening, singing together and reminiscing in small groups on the oval.

The Year 12s are now in their Swot Vac period, working independently to prepare for their exams. During this time, their dedicated teachers remain ready to assist them, and to clarify anything they need to further understand before the exam period commences at Nossal next Tuesday morning. The students also have full access to the school and may choose to study on campus while also being able to utilise staff such as Wellbeing Team members and Clarissa, our Careers Advisor.

We wish our graduating students well during their final assessments. We are very confident they will do themselves, their families and the school proud. The cohort has demonstrated themselves to be resilient and have the ability to apply themselves to their studies despite the year that it has been. At Nossal we continually make the point that the ATAR students receive is not the 'be all and end all' of who a student is and who they will become. In 2020, we are certain Nossal students will again do well and this will be reflected in the results they achieve and the directions their life journeys take them in the future, but it is the dedication with which they have applied themselves during a complex and challenging final year which makes us proudest.

So as I reached the end of the week, having witnessed the excitement of having the school reunited on Monday morning and then seeing the Year 12s depart on Thursday afternoon, the Beatles song 'Hello, Goodbye' seemed an appropriate anthem for the week that was!

Canteen update

As previously advised, the canteen is not operating at Nossal during Term 4 while the school assesses the best option for operation in 2021. Various ideas are being considered, but in the meantime we have arranged for a mobile canteen to arrive at the school everyday. Kate, our driver, will be in attendance every lunchtime, and her truck will be parked in the carpark at the front of the school. The truck arrives each day at approximately 1:10pm ready for the normal lunch or dismissal time Tuesday - Friday and mid way through lunchtime on Mondays.

2020 Speech Night

Due to COVID restrictions, Speech Night 2020, will be an online event streamed on Wednesday 16 December, commencing at 7:30pm. Over the coming weeks, students who will be involved in the program or who are to receive awards will be required to pre-record their sections of the production. Students are asked to watch for announcements concerning the times and locations of these recordings. When they attend, they will want to look their best by ensuring that they are in full school uniform for this official school event.

Clyde Road Upgrade

The Rail Crossing Removal Authority have advised us that during November the rate of works and therefore potential delays associated with the Clyde Road project will increase. Specifically they have said:

Clyde Road will be reduced to one lane each way north of the railway until mid February 2021
the south bound U-turn lane at Reserve Street will be closed intermittently
Jane Street, (north of the railway) will be closed to traffic for periods of time. Detours will be in place.
a new U-turn lane and signalised pedestrian crossing will be constructed at the corner of Gibb Street and Clyde Road
underground services along both sides of Clyde Road will be relocated
drainage work will be carried out on the eastern side of Clyde Road near the Berwick Station

Parents, students and staff are advised to exercise care in the area and where ever possible, seek alternatives routes.

Keith Butler

Assistant Principal