NGSC Newsletter

ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS’ REPORT

Mr Stan Koullas & Ms Sarah Bridges

Acting Assistant Principals

Mr Bradley Headlam & Mr Paul Dawson 

Assistant Principals

NEW MOBILE PHONE POLICY

I would like to thank students and parents for their support with the new mobile phone policy. The majority of the students have been extremely compliant with these new laws. The feedback we have had from students has mostly been positive with many students commenting on how they did not realise the distraction a mobile phone can have. Students are reminded that first offences result in lunchtime detentions and subsequent offences will result in after school detentions. Please remember to communicate via the Administration or the Sub School Offices. We can also put any support in place should there be a need. Thanks for your ongoing support.

SCHOOL WIDE POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR (SWPBS)

This year the school has begun a positive behaviour strategy. We have begun with a Behaviour Matrix that students will refer to as a reminder of appropriate behaviour. We are also undertaking a positive behaviour feedback program. This is a consistent program throughout the whole school and will result in students going into the running for rewards for positive behaviour. The more positive feedback the greater the chance of earning a reward.

FEEDBACK AND ASSESSMENT

Please note that the following feedback on classwork/assessment will be provided to parents/carers via Compass:

  • Progress Reports: Issued every 4 weeks and includes teacher feedback on your child's/children’s basic work habits.
  • Learning Tasks: These are the major assessments in each subject. There are 4 of these for each subject every semester. These will include a Rubric and details around progress towards the education standards.
  • Semester Reports: This is a report on how a student is progressing when compared with the expected standard and these occur at the end of each semester.

UNIFORM AND CLASSROOM MATERIALS

We are now heading into week three of the year and students should have all items of the uniform and booklist. These should be labelled with your child’s name. Any issues regarding your child and their uniform/classroom materials are to be referred to the Sub-school Managers or Student Wellbeing.

 

Please observe and familiarise yourselves with the diagrams below relating to our expectations with regard to acceptable footwear (non-sport days). Please communicate any issues around this with the appropriate Sub School staff.

 

COMMUNICATION WITH SCHOOL

At NGSC, there are a number of methods to share information and communicate.

 

Attendance: all student absence days need to be accounted for by phone contact with the relevant Sub-School Assistant or a written note (student planner or separate piece of paper). At NGSC, students are expected to have an attendance rate of 95% or more to make the best use of the learning opportunities. Concerns are raised for students whose attendance rates fall below 80%.

 

Student Planner: all students receive a student planner. Students use the planner to record homework, upcoming test dates and assessments, school events and reminders. The planner is also useful for parents and carers to send/receive notes with teachers. It contains information about uniform, iPad/device responsibilities, term dates, bell times, school map, library processes and classroom management strategies.

 

Phone calls: Staff welcome phone calls but often a voice message will need to be left. Contacting the relevant student manager is sometimes a preferred option. Staff will usually try to make phone contact with home to discuss learning concerns, relocations, etc. A follow up email is often used if phone contact could not be made. Sometimes it is easier to have a meeting at school; these will be arranged by a student manager or a member of the student wellbeing team.

 

Emails: Within Compass there is a feature that enables you to email teachers. This is another convenient way to communicate about your child’s education or learning and is very helpful for us to ensure we meet the needs of all of our students.

COMPASS SUPPORT

Should you have any questions or need any support with Compass please do not hesitate to contact Brad Headlam for assistance.

YEAR 7 STUDENTS BEGIN HIGH SCHOOL

We have been thrilled with the way that over 180 Year 7 students have settled into their first week of Secondary School. They have met their teachers for all eight of their subjects and have begun to confidently navigate themselves around the large school grounds.

 

Last Monday provided an opportunity for the Year 7 families to come into the college and meet some of their child’s teachers and collect their new iPads. Student network access details and parent Compass login details were also distributed. Staff thoroughly enjoyed having some great chats with families, both new and familiar to the college.

SCHOOL PHOTOS

School photos will be taken on Wednesday, 26 February, at North Geelong Secondary College. No forms or payments are required before this day. Students will be provided with a unique code that will allow families to register to view photos online. To ensure a sibling photo is taken on photo day, please complete your request online before midday on the day before photo day. For further details see the “Community News” page within this newsletter and further information will be shared to families via Compass shortly.

INFORMATION EVENING FOR 2021 YEAR 7 STUDENTS

Parents and prospective students are invited to our Information Evening on Thursday, 12 March, commencing at 6:00 pm with a presentation in the school Gymnasium , followed by self-guided tours and specialist information sessions regarding:

  • Select Entry Accelerated Learning,
  • Scholarship
  • Excellence in Sports Programs