From the Senior School

Celebrations, support and plenty of hard work

Congratulations and Thanks!

For Year 11 and 12 students, we are over half way through either the last, or second last year of senior schooling. I was walking with some Year 11 students in the city the other day while on an excursion and they were remarking how quickly the year has gone and how they couldn’t believe that they were in Year 12 next year!  As a sub school, we always expect but can never quite believe how quickly it goes. Our first semester has been full of wonderful achievements of both students and teachers. The overwhelming feeling is that we are working well together and developing partnerships and relationships that will give us the best chance of achieving success which will sustain the students well beyond their last years of schooling.

Assessment and Reports

Students and families, it's important that you engage with all types of feedback offered by both teachers and peers. Your semester reports will be coming out soon and we encourage you to use these, in partnership with your ongoing feedback through myNorthcoteHigh, to identify areas of which you can focus next semester. Use these to have a conversation with your teacher on how best to improve your results.

Exams and GAT

We were so pleased with how both Year 11 and Year 12 students carried themselves during the Year 11 exams and the VCAA General Achievment Test. These are so important in preparing students for the second semester and beyond. We have been please with the collegiality shown in helping peers best prepare for their SACs and exams.

RMIT University Experience Day

Last week, Year 11 students were lucky enough to be able to enjoy the day at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). The day was designed to allow students to have the experience of attending university for the day. Many Northcote High School students nominate RMIT as their preferred destination for post-secondary studies. Students heard from NHS alumni, including our keynote speaker, Rebecca Loveridge, toured the trade areas, learnt how to strengthen wellbeing and tips on entering the workforce. Students also had participated in a session based on the ‘tutorial’ class concept and delivered through Elevate Education. We thank all those who participated and presented, making it a fantastic day.

Philanthropic Projects

We are so proud of the efforts of both Year 11 and Year 12 to help support some wonderful causes through our Philanthropic Projects. Year 11 supported the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Foodbank by donating a ute-load of much needed supplies. Year 11 captains Eva and Finn were so happy to hand over the supplies and inturn learn so much about what the ASRC does. Did you know that the ASRC has over fifty people use the foodbank each day, some shopping for whole families? Over 70% of food is donated by the community, so they were so happy with the efforts of our Year 11s. Our Year 12s have been working with not for profit group ‘Homie’ who help people impacted by homelessness. Their project will finish up with selling beanies supporting ‘Homie’ and the good work they do.  

Coming up

Winter Solstice

Our second annual ‘Winter Solstice Festival’ will be taking place on the last Thursday of the term (29th June). Students of Year 11 and 12 and teachers are looking forward to getting together in a relaxed atmosphere to hear their classmates play in bands, share some food from the food trucks on site and celebrate the end of the first semester together. It was a great success last year and momentum is building to again make this one of the highlights of the year. 

Rest and recharge!

The upcoming holidays are so important for students to recharge their batteries ready for a new semester. A good balance of undertaking holiday homework tasks, preparing for the new semester and relaxing is highly recommended. Have a chat to your teachers on the best way to approach the break. In the Senior Years Centre, there is plenty of information on upcoming holiday study events through different private providers. Pop in and visit to find out more!

Shane Gemmola

Head of Senior School