COVID 19 – latest lockdown

We have no further information regarding the current lockdown. We will update families and students via Compass if there are any further updates. See below for the information distributed on Sunday evening:
Following on from recent communications, as we transition into online learning to prevent the spread of COVID-19, please be reassured that you are not expected to be teaching your young person in isolation during this short lockdown – that will remain the priority of our classroom teachers. Rather, we are just hoping that you will work with us to promote the highest possible engagement with our online learning programs, and to support the creation of healthy educational routines and habits for all of our learners.

Key points of advice to consider:

• Encouraging your young person to maintain a healthy sleeping pattern, in order to be awake and ready to commence their online learning at 9am.
• Trying as much as possible to follow the timetable that they would have for regular onsite learning. (It might be helpful for a copy of this to be in a highly visible space, such as on the fridge door.)
• Having a designated study/work space, including a desk or table, where some learning materials can be permanently kept. (Preferably in an open space to permit a level of supervision).
• Reminding your young person to log into Compass and check their messages every morning.
• Ensuring that your young person’s laptop is plugged in and charging at the end of every day.
• Supporting your young person to proactively contact their home group teacher, subject teachers and year level support team leaders if they have any enquiries or concerns.
• Managing your young person’s screen time regarding gaming and social media interactions.

More information on how to support your young person from home can be accessed on the Department of Education and Training website: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/learning/Pages/home-learning.aspx
Applying for Onsite School Attendance
As was the case in the 2020 lockdowns, we will provide on-site supervision for students in the following categories:

• Children whose parents are considered essential workers as listed, cannot work from home and where no other supervision arrangements can be made
• Vulnerable children, including children in out-of-home care, children deemed by Child Protection and/or Family Services to be at risk of harm and children identified by the school as vulnerable (including via referral from a family violence agency, homelessness or youth justice service or mental health or other health service).
• It is important to note that students attending school will not be supervised by their regular teachers, but will be assisted to participate in the online learning process. Strict social distancing expectations will apply to all individuals onsite, for both teaching and non-teaching time (including recess and lunch breaks). Therefore, students at school will be participating in their learning, in the same way as if they were at home. Please see the Onsite Attendance Application form for more information on this.

Completed forms can be returned to our main office (8.30am – 4:30pm), or submitted electronically using our email address: newcomb.sc@education.vic.gov.au. To account for constantly changing circumstances, and to enable the school to organise its staffing by Thursday of each week, applications will need to be updated on a weekly basis. Once received, a member of our team will be in contact with you regarding your application.
Please do not hesitate to make contact with us in the event of more information about this being needed.

College Council
The February meeting of the Newcomb Secondary College Council will take place on Thursday evening. We will communicate with Councillors on whether this will take place online or in person – if the restrictions have been lifted.

College Council Elections
The process for the election of the new College Council has now commenced. Nominations for the three parent, one student and the two staff representative positions are now open and called for.

Nominations will close on Tuesday 23rd February at 4.00pm. The list of candidates, nominators and seconders will be displayed at the Newcomb Secondary College General Office by Thursday 25th February 2021.

If an election is necessary, I will distribute the appropriate documentation to parents and the ballots will close on Tuesday 9th March, 2021 at 4.00pm.

The parents whose time on Council has expired are:

• Cassie Clift (eligible for nomination)

• Maryanne Cleasby (eligible for nomination)

• Alison Woodard (eligible for nomination)

The student whose time on Council has expired is:

• Presley Johannesen (eligible for nomination)

Also Tahlia Hannah-Rogers is no longer eligible to be a member of the Newcomb Secondary College Council so this creates an extra student vacancy for 1 year which can be filled by co-opting an interested student.

Of course, nominations are able to be received from any parents and students and we would encourage parents and students to consider being part of the College Council.

The Department of Education and Training members whose time on Council has expired are:

• Scott McLeod (eligible for nomination)

• James Murphy (eligible for nomination)

The Newcomb Secondary College Council can also co-opt four people into the Community Members category of Council with the College Student Leaders traditionally filling some of these positions.

Other information concerning the College Council elections can be found in this newsletter. Nomination forms can be obtained from the General Office, or ring the office and a form can be sent home.

Therefore the February meeting of the College Council (this week) will be the last of the present Council and the Thursday 18th March meeting will be the first of the new College Council.

We would like to thank our retiring members for their contribution to Council

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Mr Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal