Start of the School Year

After a positive, if slightly chaotic return to school last week, it has been wonderful to see students starting to get back into a productive learning routine in Week 2. We have already seen a steady stream of positive acknowledgements on Compass, for students who have shown a dedication to learning, being respectful and working together. This is certainly consistent with the impression that we are getting of our classrooms and learning spaces, when passing through classes throughout the course of each day.

We no doubt have a busy year ahead of us, and our experiences over the past two years leave us knowing that there is no real means of predicting how this might play out. However, with the right attitudes, values and a growth mindset, we will be able to meet whatever challenges might come our way with positivity, purpose and optimism. Stay well, and keep up the good work everybody!

Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs)

Our rapid antigen tests (RATs) were handed out to all students last week. The tests come in packets of five and should last each student for two weeks. Instructions on how to use the RATs are contained in the box. We recommended that each student do two tests per week on a Sunday and Wednesday night in readiness for the next school day.

If you get a positive result for Covid 19. You need to:

• Step 1: Focus on your health and get help if you need it
• Step 2: Report your result and immediately isolate for 7 days

If students receive a positive test result at any time, they must report this through the Department of Health system Rapid antigen test-Coronavirus Victoria or via the coronavirus hotline at 1800 675 398.

Students (or their parents) must also report a positive result to their school, by phone or written notification; this is so the school can support them, record that they will be absent while in 7-day isolation, and let the rest of the school community know there has been a positive case onsite and that they should monitor for symptoms.

• Step 3: Tell your household contacts - they must isolate for 7 days
• Step 4: Tell your ‘social contacts’ to get tested if they have symptoms
• Step 5: Tell your workplace and/or education facility

If you do not have symptoms and you are not a contact, and you test positive on a rapid antigen test, we recommend you get a PCR test to confirm that result. We do not recommend this if you have symptoms or you are a contact.
If your symptoms worsen, call your doctor. If you need emergency care, call Triple Zero 000.

General health messages and responses in relation to Covid.

The general health messages in relation to Covid 19 remain the same. Please stay home when unwell. Covid symptoms include: fever, chills or sweats, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, loss or change in sense of smell or taste. Some people may also experience headache, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
If you have any of these symptoms, however mild, you should seek advice and get tested. To get further advice, call the 24-hour Coronavirus Hotline 1800 675 398 or your doctor.
Social distancing remains important and receiving your vaccinations is encouraged.

Phil Honeywell, Principal
Scott McLeod, Assistant Principal
James Murphy, Assistant Principal

Year 7's First Week 

On Monday the 31^st of January, we were greeted by our new Year 7 students for 2022. Under incredibly complex and challenging times, students were excited, well prepared and understandably, sharing some feelings of nervousness, as they walked through the doors together at Newcomb Secondary College.

All students attended the morning session with their Home Group teacher, who will be with them for the entirety of the year. Mrs. Wray, Mr. Klingberg and Mr. Curnick spent this time, getting to know each and every one of their students. They were then addressed virtually as a whole school and welcomed, by our Principal, Mr. Honeywell. Students were then provided with their new lockers, diaries and timetables.

Throughout the remainder of the day, students attended their morning and afternoon classes. 

Students met all of their teachers throughout the week and introduced to their classes. The specific subjects each student will experience this year are: English, Humanities, Mathematics, Science, GROW, Visual Arts, Food, Design & Technology, Music, Indonesian, Health and Physical Education.

We look forward to the remainder of 2022.

2022 Newsletter Term 1 Week 2

Welcome back to school 2022 from the Music Staff.

We are looking forward to a really great year ahead in the music/banding program. The Senior Concert Band, Intermediate Concert Band and Cold Fusion have already commenced rehearsing for 2022. Year 7 Concert Band will commence Week 9 of Term 1.

Senior Concert Band

We would like to welcome all instrumental music students in Year 9 to the Senior Concert Band.

During 2022 the Senior Concert Band will continue to rehearse every Thursday during class time on a rotating timetable except for the Swimming and Athletics sports days.

The Senior Concert Band Tour is scheduled for Term 3 to visit Phillip Island and surrounding areas from Monday August 22^nd to Friday 26^th.

Cold Fusion

This year Cold Fusion will rehearse every Tuesday at lunchtime.

Year 8 Intermediate Concert Band

The Year 8 Intermediate Concert Band will rehearse once a week on a rotating timetable.

All band rehearsals have been listed on Compass.

Junior Music

The Junior Music Camp for Year 7 and 8 instrumental music students will be held at Airey’s Inlet for three days from Monday August 8^th to Wednesday August 10^th.

Year 7 Instrumental Music Program

The music staff would like to welcome our new Year 7 students to Newcomb Secondary College. All Year 7 students are given the opportunity to learn a musical instrument. They will have a trial period on a brass, woodwind or percussion instrument during Term 1 to help them decide what instrument they would like to learn. All students in 73 (ECO) will undertake instrumental music as a compulsory part of their music studies. More information will be given to students in the coming weeks.

If you have any concerns or queries regarding the music program, please contact me via email.

cheryl.stabryla@education.vic.gov.au

Cheryl A Stabryla

Hi all, I am very excited to begin my teaching career here at Newcomb Secondary College, after recently graduating from Deakin University Geelong in 2021.

I was born and raised in Horsham, however moved to Geelong 5 years ago to commence my studies in a Bachelor of Health and Physical Education. 

Since moving here I have never looked back as in my spare time I love to get down to the beach with mates and/or my dog. Another one of my main hobbies that I am passionate about is playing football, as well as holding interest in just about every other sport.

The start to this year of teaching has been phenomenal and I would like to thank the Staff, Students and Families for allowing me to feel welcomed and supported. I look forward to continuing working with all of you throughout this year.

It’s been really fantastic to see such excitement around the return to school and we want to keep it that way. A crucial part of that is getting as many students vaccinated as possible.

Alongside ventilation and other vital COVIDSafe steps such as regular rapid antigen testing, supporting as many students as possible to be vaccinated will help make our school as safe as possible.

Bookings for children aged 5 to 11 to receive the paediatric Pfizer vaccine are open and we encourage parents and carers to get your child vaccinated, if you haven’t already done so.

The Pfizer vaccine is safe and recommended for children. The vaccine will help protect your child from getting sick from COVID-19, help to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and help ensure kids can have more time at school and playing with their friends.

Vaccinations for children aged 5-11 years old are delivered at 2 appointments, 8 weeks apart. Children with specific medical vulnerabilities can access their second dose 3 weeks after their first dose.

If you’d like more information about this, you can read a recent statement from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI): https://www.health.gov.au/news/atagi-update-following-weekly-covid-19-meeting-19-january-2022

To book an appointment

You can book at your local GP or pharmacy: https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/booking

You can also book at a family-friendly vaccination centre by calling the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398.

You can also make vaccination centre bookings for your children online, though you will need to use an email address that has not been used in the system before: https://portal.cvms.vic.gov.au/

Helping children to get their vaccination

Vaccination centres understand that children may feel anxious about vaccination or have other support needs. A range of options are available to help children get vaccinated. Please discuss your child’s needs with the vaccination centre when you book an appointment.

Appointments are also available at Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisations.

👉 Find out more about vaccination for kids: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccination-information-children-and-teenagers

New Technology Equipment

Now that we have our fantastic new technology buildings completed, we are busy putting the final things in place to make these new rooms into the state-of-the-art facilities we have been looking forward to.

In our new Design and Production space we are setting up to teach Product Design and Technology and Systems Technology along with some of our GROW classes. These rooms will have access to open seating design spaces with some new computers arriving soon to enhance our design activities. 

We have also set up two exciting pieces of digital manufacturing equipment; a Wazer high pressure water jet cutter, which cuts through metals, ceramics and glass; and a CNC Router which can cut precision designs in wood and porous materials to produce 2D or 3D designs. Both machines are leading technologies which should give our students experience with new techniques being developed in industry.

We are looking forward to showing you some of the results in the coming months.

WAZER can cut designs developed on a computer graphics program and produce amazing results in many different materials.

Our new CNC machine will help students to learn about digital design and manufacturing.

Mr Stephen Bath

Technology Teacher

CSEF Eligibility

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) provides payments for eligible students to attend activities like:

• school camps or trips
• swimming and school-organised sport programs
• outdoor education programs
• excursions and incursions.
  

Who can apply

Families holding a valid means-tested concession card or temporary foster parents are eligible to apply. A Special Consideration category also exists. Schools can receive applications from families over term one and two.

Families can list more than one student in the one application form if they are attending the same school.

Eligible means tested cards

Means-tested concession cards must now be valid on either:

• the first day of Term 1 (Monday 31 January 2022)
• the first day of Term 2 (Tuesday 26 April 2022)
  
  

See link below to CSEF application

https://www.education.vic.gov....

SCHOOLS TURN MOBILE PHONES OFF

TO TURN LEARNING ON

Mobile Phone Policy 2022

– A brief summary

“In June 2019, Education Minister James Merlino announced that as of the 2020 school year, mobile phones would not be allowed to be accessed by students during school hours.

Newcomb Secondary College, like all state schools, will be following this policy and implementing it within our own student management structures.

Students are advised not to bring mobile phones to school. If a student brings a phone to school they must lock it safely away within the school provided secure storage before school and may then retrieve it at the end of the day. “

In order to best access student software and Internet resources in 2022 students are asked to provide their own Chromebook or Laptop device for use in classes and at home.

Newcomb Secondary College students will have access to a free of charge software suite of educational titles including MS Office, Virus Protection and a variety of other subject related apps and software. This software will be installed free of charge and will be updated via our school network when logged on as a student.

While at school student devices will access the school network via a wireless connection, requiring a security certificate to be installed by the school. Home network and Internet access is the responsibility of the student and their family.

There are a couple of options for families – you can purchase your own device from a retailer making sure it meets the specifications listed below; or use the Learning with Technologies portal (link below).

Minimum Windows Laptop Specifications

• Recommended minimum Processor Celeron (preferably under 4 years old)
• Recommended minimum 4GB of RAM or higher
• Recommended minimum of 120GB SSD (hard drive) or higher

Some cheaper devices have a Hard Drive of less than 70GB and are intended for use with Cloud-based storage so are unsuitable as they unable to have school software installed.

CHROME BOOKS are also accepted devices. There are no minimum specifications for Chrome Books.

Learning with Technologies Portal There are several options of Windows devices or Chromebooks to choose from, just follow the link below

https://newcombsc.orderportal....

NILS (No interest Loan Scheme) Good Shepherd offer a No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) a community focused initiative of Good Shepherd.
To apply for a (NILS) No Interest Loan go to: https://nils.com.au/ for more details.