PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Nicholas Adamou

Principal

2022 Key Dates

2023 Key Dates

We have made it to the final newsletter issue after what has been another very challenging year! 

For the third year, schools, and in particular our students and their families, have continued to face hurdles and challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic has presented us with. After two years of remote and flexible learning, disruptions, and lockdowns, this year, we have emerged stronger than ever before, determined to put the lockdowns behind us, learn to live with Covid-19 and look forward to the future of normality. 

Our resilient and optimistic students have achieved many wonderful goals and targets and have grown enormously during this year, navigating through many obstacles; Student and staff Covid-19 infections, absences, isolation, and staff shortages. However, returning to face-to-face teaching has enabled us all to continue teaching and learning within our school environment in our pre-Covid vibrant and engaging way 

Reflecting on the events of this year, what I have observed, is a fantastic return to the normal run of school activities and a great enthusiasm for the future. We have grown as a school community, and once again, we have adapted to our new environment, supporting all those around us. 

Words such as ‘Resilience and Achieving Goals seemed to be repeated on a regular basis throughout the year. Words such as strength, toughness, spirit, resistance, attainment, accomplishment, success, triumph, teamwork, relationships are often associated with resilience and achieving goals. It is quite amazing really, to discover the many ways in which the concept of resilience and achieving goals guides a lot that we already do and a lot that we hope to do for our students and the wider school community. If anything, in the last three years, we have experienced firsthand the concepts of resilience and achieving goals and as a school community, we have triumphed.

The success of any forward momentum in a school community, under challenging circumstances, is dependent on the combined efforts of those involved (students, staff and parents). Creating a culture where educators and students work together to create progress is full of challenges and opportunities.  It moves the whole school community up, beyond simply cooperating, to collaborating authentically to strengthen and transform teaching and learning. 

At NGSC, collaborative professionalism and collective efficacy in a supportive school environment have proven to be instrumental in difficult Covid-19 times. Yet it is not easy to create a culture of deep collegiate learning and co-creation, where all educators see themselves as collective change agents, resilient, and ready to tackle any obstacles thrown their way. Learning and improving is what we humans do best. We learn and improve throughout our lives by wondering and exploring, experiencing, and playing. This year’s focus at NGSC was about nurturing our students to a smooth transition back to the school yard, harnessing and cultivating the drive to collaborate, know, understand, engage, and improve their lives. 

Reflecting on the year that passed confirms that, after two years of hiatus, our students returned to many learning activities that increased their collaboration, curiosity, improved their confidence and competence, demonstrating the extraordinary learning growth of all our students. Together we have studied hard, journeyed to fascinating places, won, and lost sporting, debating, public speaking, Mathematics, Science, English, and other competitions, made mistakes, learnt from our mistakes, improved and grew for another year. I am sure 2022 (the year back to a normal school life) academic year holds a special highlight for each one of you. 

This year’s annual school production, “Puttin on the Ritz”, was a cabaret musical with a modern twist. The singing and dancing were pure entertainment for all ages. “Puttin on the Ritz” contained lots of light moments of humour and of course, a bit of a dark side. A cast of over 40 students and just about as many helping behind the scenes including several staff members, brought to life a fantastic show. Congratulations to students and staff for a fabulous 2022 school performance. 

I acknowledge the work and thank, Assistant Principals; Mr Paul Dawson, Mr Brad Headlam, Acting Assistant Principals; Ms Sarah Bridges and Mr Brad Smallman, and the School Leadership Team, who worked closely with me to plan, implement, and evaluate a school curriculum and assessment, navigating through this year’s challenges. 

School Captains, Darcy Szakiel, Martin Salazar, Ae Tablay Htoo, Molly D’Elia, Patrick Sager and Leah Perin-Symons, in their leadership roles, at times, had to work under challenging conditions. They were innovative in organising many successful student activities during the year and I thank them for that. I congratulate them and wish them all the best for the years to come. 

To the many, many students at North Geelong SC who have set their goals this year and after working hard throughout Covid-19 restrictions, at times very unpredictable and challenging times, they achieved as many goals as possible, I offer my congratulations. Their commitment to their learning makes our College an outstanding place to be a part of. Our Logo “Strive to Achieve” heralds what we believe in as a school community, no matter what challenges we are presented with. The school’s values (Respect, Excellence, Achievement and Diversity) and The High Expectations from students, staff, parents and the wider community generated this year’s outstanding achievements and positive results.

I also extend my sincere thank you to all staff, teaching and non–teaching, for their dedication, resilience, innovation, and hard work during this year. The focus and the consistency in teaching and learning in the classroom and beyond, has provided a wealth of opportunities for our students. 

A special thank you to those staff members who are leaving the College, retiring, or taking leave next year. The College staff and students have greatly appreciated their significant contributions. 

To all parents and caregivers, I thank you for your wonderful support of our school during this year. Thank you for entrusting NGSC with the gift of educating your children.

Next year, we look forward to many new challenges and successes. 

Finally, I take this opportunity to extend to all members of our School Community, my very best wishes for a safe and a thoroughly relaxing, refreshing school break. 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

I look forward to a great start to the 2023 academic year. 

2022 VCE Results 

Our VCE students have finally received their VCE results. We are extremely pleased with our results and as the Herald Sun newspaper, quoted me on Tuesday, December 13, I, as Principal, am “over the moon”!

VCE All study means score 29 - an outstanding achievement! 

40+ scores - 4%. 

The Dux of the year Tanveer Singh achieved 97.2 ATAR score. 

• 10% of our students achieved ATAR scores 90 to 100 
• 10% of our students achieved ATAR scores 80 to 89 
• 17% of our students achieved ATAR scores 70 to 79 
• 27% of our students achieved ATAR scores 60 to 69 

Congratulations to all VCE students for their outstanding efforts. Wishing the class of 2022, a very bright future!

Here are our top ten performers:

Dux of the Year

 Tanveer Singh

 ATAR score 97.2

Ivan Cvrljevic                                 Abby D’Andria  

Aimee Wookey

                      Jack Warelow                              Darcy Szakiel

   Martin Salazar                        Duong (John) Tran 

                          Sam Warelow                                 Lauren Walder 

Important Dates to mark on your calendars

2023 Academic Year - Staggered Start

Parents/Guardians and students, please note that the 2023 academic year will commence with a student staggered start as follows.

Friday 27 January  

 Teachers ONLY (Student Free Day) 

This day is a student free day. Teachers will have the opportunity to attend staff, curriculum, and other various meetings. They will also prepare for the arrival of the students including some planning time.

Monday 30 January 

First day for all new Year 7 Students, Year 11 and 12, VCE VM and VPC students

Tuesday 31 January 

All students return back on site

This is to ensure a very smooth transition for our new Year 7 students and a great start for Year 11 and 12 students.

2023 School Captains 

Looking forward to working closely with an outstanding team of young leaders next year.