PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Nicholas Adamou

Principal

2021 Key Dates

13 DecEnvironment Day
14 DecAwards Day
15 to 17 DecEnvironment Days
31 JanuaryStudents in Years 7, 11 & 12 commence

2022 Key Dates

31 JanuaryStudents in Years 7, 11 & 12 commence
1 FebruaryAll Year levels to attend

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

Reflecting on the 2021 academic year, I can’t help feeling inspired, encouraged, and excited. There were so many wonderful student achievements within the classroom, online and out in the school yard. The students’ resilience, optimism and enormous growth, navigating through this year’s obstacles, is to be commended. For the second year, they had to endure more challenges and unexpected situations; they have been ‘in and out’ of lockdown in a blink of an eye, school closures, remote and flexible versus face-to-face teaching, travelling restrictions, Covid restrictions, vaccination rates, Delta variant, Primary Close Contacts, confirmed positive Covid19 cases, isolation, Covid testing, roadmap out of lockdown and many more uncertainties, just to name a few! 

During our journey of remote learning, we have grown as a school community, we have adapted to our new environment, and supported all those around us. It will be something teachers, educational support staff, families, and students alike will talk about in years to come as a huge challenge that we faced together. 

It is quite amazing really, to discover the many ways in which the concepts of Covid-19 pandemic, resilience, optimism and achievement can be used in the same sentence. Achieving goals during the second year of a pandemic, guided our learning this year, including what we hope to have implemented for our students and our wider school community. 

In ten years’ time, when we look back on this year, what will we remember? Memory is an extraordinary thing. We tend to remember the events that stirred the strongest emotion in us. If feedback from staff, parents and students during this year is part of a view into the soul of our school community, we will remember the pride we all felt about the agility of the school to move smoothly and swiftly into very unfamiliar and challenging territory. Staff, parents and students spoke as one about the explosion of collaboration, learning about online teaching and the willingness to help each other, creating the best possible conditions for our students to continue their learning under lockdown and isolation. 

NGSC Teachers, Support Staff and the Principal Team were driven by the moral purpose of striving to do our best for our children and our school community.

Mary Jean Gallagher, Victorian education’s critical friend from Ontario, summed it up at the ACEL Conference in October last year. 

 

“When the World steps down, we (as educators) step up, because we are the last standing, community based, ubiquitous presence of stability and hope for students, no matter what! 

You have been (Teachers and Principals) and are, literally, the Angels of Hope for your students, and their families and all of our futures.”

 

We recently had our end of year School Council dinner, where I acknowledged the contribution of the members of this very important group of people that govern our school.

The College Council President, Mr Dirk Heitmann, Vice President, Ms Donna Woods, School Council parent members; Ms Catherine McKenzie, Ms Christine Wilson, Ms Angene Smith, Ms Lyndal Jones, Ms Helen Polyzos, Mr John Howlett and Ms Amy Osborne, Student elected members; Abby D’ Andria and Martin Salazar, DE&T elected members; Mr Tim Humphries, Mr Joel McDougall, Ms Kellie Phillips and Ms Sahel Rasouli, Co-opted member; Ms Amanda Bartlett, have freely given their time in providing policy development, monitoring and evaluation. Through their work the College can focus upon providing the best possible teaching and learning programs and environment for all of our students. I take this opportunity to thank the school council members for their great support during a year with a myriad of challenges.

To the many, many students at North Geelong Secondary College who have set their goals this year and after working hard throughout Covid-19 restrictions, remote and flexible learning and at times very unpredictable and challenging times, and through resilience and perseverance, have achieved as many as possible, I offer my congratulations. Their commitment to their learning makes our College an outstanding place to be 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 take this opportunity to publicly thank Assistant Principals; Ms Julie Andrews, Mr Paul Dawson, Mr Brad Headlam, Mr Brad Smallman and Ms Sarah Bridges who worked tirelessly within the Leadership Team to ensure the school continues to enjoy success.

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 online or 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, in particular, during this very unpredictable year with all the added Covid-19 challenges and pressures. Thank you for entrusting NGSC with the gift of educating your children.

Next year, we look forward to many new challenges and successes. Hopefully the pandemic and Covid-19 will be a thing of the past. We are hoping for a successful vaccine that will allow us all to go back to a normal life.

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 2022 academic year. 

Important Dates to mark on your calendars

2022 Academic Year – Staggered Start 

Parents/Guardians and students: Please note that the 2022 academic year will commence with a student staggered start as follows.

Friday January 28

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. 

  • Monday January 31: First day for all new Year 7 students, Year 11 and 12, VCE and VCAL students.
  • Tuesday February 1: First day for all other students. 

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

Awards Presentation 2021 

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2021 Awards Presentation will be held at the school gym, during the day on Tuesday 14 December. 

Unfortunately, due to the restrictions we are unable to invite parents to the presentation, however, we are fully aware of how important it is to celebrate our student achievements with family and friends therefore, the presentation will be livestreamed. 

The awards presentation for all students and staff will occur from 11.00 am – 1.00 pm.

Live streaming details will be provided to all students and families via Compass. 

2022 School Captains 

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