Other School News
Katina Astles
Transition Coordnator
Information Evening
On Wednesday, 20 March, we held our annual Information Evening. This year, our theme was Discover NGSC. The evening began with brief presentations in the Gym from the Principal, Mr Adamou, Year 7 Leaders, Elsie Erjavec and James Hose, former NGSC Arts Captain, Thomas Grantham, and current Year 7 parent, Michelle Reed.
Visitors then participated in self-guided tours of our new and refurbished facilities. Each Key Learning Area had interactive activities to replicate the innovative teaching and learning that happens here at the College every day. Highlights of the tour included:
- Tai Chi with our Naobot, Winston
- Experiments in our newly refurbished science labs
- Musical performances
- Skills sessions with our Excellence in Sports students
- An art installation, origami and biscuit decorating
- A VCAL Harmony Day lantern display, where visitors added their own messages of peace
- A supersized sensory room from Student Wellbeing.
The SRC, iLeaders and VCAL students were fantastic ambassadors for the College and spoke formally and informally about all the opportunities on offer to them here at NGSC.
To discover more about NGSC for yourself, book a personalised school tour by contacting the office on 5240 5800.
Vera Dudas
Multicultural Community Liaison Officer
Multicultural Committee News and more about Pako Festa
The annual vibrant and multicultural Pako Festa was celebrated in style on Saturday, 23 February.
The Multicultural Committee took part in the parade and proudly showcased NGSC’s diverse multicultural community and the enriched connections of culture. The theme for 2019 was ‘Generations’ and we truly lived up to that expectation as we had mother and daughter Ms June Bashiruddin and Miss Elisabeth Fagan join us, along with several generations of teachers and pupils, including Mrs Barbara Peek as my former teacher (Mrs Vera Dudas) and Mrs Suzana Verescuk my former student. This year’s Pako Festa was as spectacular as always with lots of colour and cheer and perfect sunny weather. The atmosphere was just electric, as described by festival director Luisa Lafornara.
This term we have recommenced the program for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women at NGSC. The program was initiated in 2018 by Catholic Care and coordinated by Nestor Estampa in conjunction with NGSC. Topics being covered this term include: Multicultural Events, Compass: ’what is it all about?’, International Women’s Day Celebrations, Wellbeing, education assistance, finance and Centrelink information. The first meeting was held on Thursday, 21 February, with thirty women in attendance
Mr Paul Dawson welcomed the group and Mrs Vera Dudas delivered information on all of NGSC’s significant dates and events, which were well received. The second CALD meeting on Thursday, 28 February, covered the Compass program at NGSC and was presented by Assistant Principal, Mrs Julie Andrews, in conjunction with IT savvy staff, via interpreters and support staff. It was very informative with lots of relevant and necessary skills and tools provided to parents in order to be able to keep up to date with their children and daily happenings at NGSC. Well done to Mrs Andrews and the IT team on all your efforts and presentation of such a valuable and informative session. As well as a huge congratulations and thank you to Nestor for facilitating these CALD group sessions which we trust will continue to be successful.
Multicultural Committee News/International Women's Day
As part of the culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women's program, we celebrated International Women’s Day on Thursday, 7 March, along with EAL students who delivered a speech and presented gifts to each of the participants. The session concluded with a workshop on creating halo making with rosemary as a symbol of remembrance. Great fun was had by all. Thanks must go to Sefidah for organising the program for International Women’s Day with gifts and a morning tea for all of the group to enjoy. Also our gratitude goes to the program coordinator Nestor Estampa from Catholic Care who is behind every session.
The Multicultural Committee had its second and final meeting for this term on Monday, 18 March, with a productive and informative session of events and programs for Harmony Day celebrations (Thursday, 21 March) as well as updates of events happening out in the school community.
June Bashiruddin
Arts Manager
Harmony Circles and Alphabet Flags
Past student Mutheinchri Ra was featured in an article in Geelong Indy on Friday. She, along with several current NGSC students, are displaying their artworks at the Geelong Renew Concept Space just behind the bus stops in Moorabool Street, starting on Friday, 22 March to 17 April. Liz McGrath, from the Bluebird Foundation, has been working with our students in creating Harmony Circles at lunchtime since mid 2018. Some of these will be displayed in the Moorabool Street Space as well as at school.
Liz has also been inspiring students from Ms Bashiruddin’s VCAL class during this term to design and create Alphabet Flags. These will be used on Harmony Day as part of our celebrations and then again at the Launch of the Drawn Together project. Come along and see these amazing creations.
Brent Nixon
LOTE Manager
Journey to Germany
The LOTE department would like to wish Lachlan Munn a safe and happy journey to Germany and back on the school exchange. He will be there for 5 weeks from Saturday, 30 March. We look forward to hearing all about it after his return on Saturday, 4 May.
Julie Elkin
VCAL Teacher
International Women's Day Breakfast
College captains Bailey, Sarah, Jasper, Beth, Brianna and Jeremy, along with Soroptimist bursary holders, Bae Meh and Nazanin, attended a breakfast to celebrate International Womens’ Day on Friday, 8 March. They were accompanied by Ms Eales, Ms Elkin and Mrs Andrews. They were treated to an entertaining talk by Elida Brereton (Principal, Margaret Murray, of Summer Heights High fame). In real life, Elida was a principal of Camberwell High School, after a teaching stint at what was then Bell Park High School, where she actually taught Ms Elkin! She was full of stories from her travels and her teaching times, as well as fun things from the set of Summer Heights High.
Tonia Tigani
International Student Coordinator Assistant
International Student Program
The students within our International Student Program at North Geelong Secondary College attended an evening at the Geelong Yacht Club. The evening was a “Welcome Event for International Students” and so much fun was had by all, ranging from showing their skills at football to being brave and handling Australian wildlife animals. The smiles and responses from the students was something to be remembered and their experiences will be long lasting memories for them all.
John Petrie
iLeader Program
We are trying to improve the iLeader program in 2019. As a result we have now included positive chronicle entries for our iLeaders on Compass.
This is to acknowledge all of their efforts in assisting teachers and students with ICT issues in the classroom. The iLeaders rewards program has been a huge success so far with iLeaders improving their ability to help others around the school.
The top 5 iLeaders so far in 2019 are:
1. Vincent Weatherly – 1500 points
2. Nick Muli – 1000 points
3. Brodie Orrock – 700 points
4. Logan Scott – 700 points
5. Will Connor – 700 points
Well done to these dedicated students and all of our iLeaders this year.
Linda Castle
LOTE Teacher
World's Greatest Shave
Ms Castle is taking part in the World's Greatest Shave for the Leukaemia Foundation! The Big Shave is going to happen at Lunch in the Piazza on Thursday, 28 March.
Please sponsor her to give families facing blood cancer the emotional and practical support they need. You'll also fund vital research to help more people survive blood cancers while improving their quality of life. Ms Castle has selected the three months of lab costs as her fundraising target.
Every day another 35 Australians are diagnosed with blood cancer. That's one Aussie every 41 minutes. Although research is improving survival, sadly an Australian loses their life to blood cancer every two hours.
Ms Castle is donating the cut hair to the Variety Club to contribute to them making wigs for kids more accessible.
Will you help by sponsoring Ms Castle?
To sponsor Ms Castle either go to World'S Greatest Shave and search for 'Linda Castle' or put something in the donation box at school.