Can I start by congratulating our School Captains, House Captains, and Student Leadership Action Meeting (SLAM) members for their wonderful organisation of the Newcomb Secondary College House Olympics. Can I also add a shout out to the staff and students who have actively engaged in the events. The spirit of healthy competition within each House during each event has been excellent. Students have engaged in the activities such as the Paper Jevelin Throw, Basketball Tournament, Athletics Relay, Bobsled obstacle event and much more. As I write this Newsletter article, the House Olympics is coming to a close- we can’t wait to see what the winning House will be!
The House Olympics concept is one to celebrate. It is another example of how Newcomb Secondary College supports and encourages our students to show leadership, and to provide students with the opportunity for Voice and Agency. I know that our students have also been contributing towards the RUOK day planning- again it is sure to be a great celebration of student engagement, leadership, voice, and agency.
VCE-VM Presentations- Animals, Empathy and Ethics Inquiry Project Presentations
Last week I was privileged to be witness to our students in the VCE- Vocational Major complete their Inquiry project findings in the Auditorium. It was great to see the students demonstrating their learnings and understandings from the Animals, Empathy and Ethics Inquiry Project, and do so with amazing poise and confidence. I know I leant much from listening to the comprehensive presentations and have no doubt that all students involved equally learnt just as much, if not more, about these very important environmental and humanitarian topic areas.
Lockers
Over the course of this week, we will be handing over the new lockers to students. Our students are very excited and fortunate to have such a wonderful and innovative new locker system. We aim to provide the best of facilities to our students- it is what they deserve. We hope and expect that students will appreciate the new lockers and take extra good care of them.
Newcomb Secondary College is fortunate enough to have a Doctors in Schools Program running 2 days a week.
We have both a GP, and Mental Health Nurse that attend onsite to run a clinic on a Tuesday and Wednesday. This clinic is for any student in Years 7-12. The appointments are bulk billed, meaning that there is no cost to families.
Appointments can be made by either contacting the schools Wellbeing Team or calling Bellarine Community Health on 5253 0400.
Students may access this service to address any of the following:
Physical pain or issues
Health lifestyle (sleep, diet, nutrition, exercise)
Mental health
Sexual health and contraception
Sexuality and gender identity
Body image
Scripts
If you would like to know more, please contact Jane Osborne in our Wellbeing Team.
This health content is brought to you by Doctors in Secondary School.
Please find the selected resources from your healthcare team below. These resources offer a trusted source of relevant health information. We hope you find them helpful and informative.
This week's focus is about 'Alcohol'. A lot of people don’t think about alcohol as a drug – but it’s the most widely used drug in Australia and is really easy to get. One of the major reasons people drink alcohol is to change their mood. This is why people think drinking alcohol is so much fun.
On Wednesday the 31st of July 9/10 Outdoor Ed made their way to Melbourne Aquarium to explore and learn about underwater sea life. The students were able to gain an insight into a variety of marine life, the ecosystems in which they live and the conservation taking place to protect them. The students had a great visit followed by a quick launch on the Yarra River. Thanks to Mr Bell and our two Pre-service teachers Laura and Elyse who assisted with the day.
During week three of this Term, we will be conducting the Newcomb Secondary College Olympics- an event like no other! This initiative was the brainchild of our college school captains and has come to life with the guidance and support of the SLAM team. We encourage all students to take part in the events and activities, accumulating points for the House competition that will define the overall college winner. We are looking forward to the Newcomb Secondary College Olympics- Good Luck to all involved!
The events include-
Monday July 29
Bobsled simulation
Students have a team of 6, one student from each year level, and they have to push their bob sled (trolley) through the obstacle course- this is a time trial and the house with the fastest time will accumulate points for their house
Tuesday July 30
Frisbee throwing competition
Students will throw a frisbee, have a representative from each year level for each house. Whichever house throws the furthest distance or closest to the pin wins points for their house.
The distance, and closest to the pin can run as 2 separate activities and accumulate 2 sets of points
Wednesday July 31
Javelin
(Paper airplane) throwing competition, like javelin
In the homegroup students make paper airplanes, they have a competition and pick winners 1 from each house who will go into the final. So, there will be 1 person from each house, from each homegroup that come to the final at lunch time.
Whichever house throws the largest distance will receive corresponding points- e.g., Drysdale throws 34.5 meters all together, they receive 3450 points, Harrison gets 52 meters, 5200 points etc.
Monday August 5
House relay
Students will have as many participants as they want, a square will be set up and students will have 20 minutes to run as many laps around the square as possible. You can run for as long as you like and swap over with someone whenever you get too puffed out. The house with the most laps will receive the most points.
Tuesday August 6
BASKETBALL FINALE
Running simultaneously with the other activities, there will be a basketball competition between the houses, run like a round robin. There will be a fixture created by Mr. Bell and the top 2 houses will compete in the Grand finale to accumulate points. Winners will get 5000 points, runners up will get 3000, 3rd place will get 2000 and last will get 1000.
Friday August 9
Celebration for the winning house
The winning house will be treated to a house party with hot food and drinks to celebrate the win. Remember this is being funded by collecting your 10c cans and bottles so don’t forget to donate to Newcomb Secondary College when collecting them at the deposit points or pop them in the box in the canteen.
Supporting Future Careers with the Head Start Program.
Pictured left to right: Gary Reyment (APM), Jayden (Year 12 VCEVM, Newcomb Secondary College), Allan (Year 11 VCEVM, Newcomb Secondary College), and Shane McDonald (Service Manager, Smiths of Geelong and ex-Newcomb Secondary College student).
Service Manager Shane McDonald at Smiths of Geelong, part of Blood Auto Group, proudly supports Newcomb Secondary students and promotes positive career pathways through the Victorian Government's Head Start Program.
What is Head Start?
Head Start is a program that helps students in Years 10-12 participate in school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBAT). This initiative develops the skills, capabilities, and confidence needed by employers in growth industries. Students gain paid on-the-job training that also counts towards their secondary school qualifications.
Success Stories:
Jayden - Over the past 12 months, Jayden has been a Head Start school-based Light Auto apprentice. He is now transitioning into a full-time apprenticeship.
Allan - After a successful work trial, Allan has been offered a Head Start school-based Light Auto apprenticeship with Smiths of Geelong. He will work at Smiths on Wednesdays and Thursdays and attend Newcomb Secondary on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. Kangan Institute will provide his training in Certificate 3 in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology.
Expert Support.
Gary Reyment, with 20 years of experience supporting apprentices, recently joined APM Employment Services. APM is a new provider of the Australian Government’s revamped Australian Apprenticeship Support Services for apprentices in Victoria.
Get Involved!
Students at Victorian Government secondary schools can join the Head Start Program by speaking with their school’s career practitioner, who will connect them with their Head Start Coordinator.
2025 Geelong Youth Council - Nominations Open NOW!
Are you aged between 12-17 and interested in having a say, making a difference, and learning more about local government decision-making?
The City of Greater Geelong is looking for 11 passionate new members from the Geelong region to join the 2025 Youth Council Advisory Committee.
Youth Council is an opportunity to share your ideas, discuss issues affecting young people, provide advice to Council, develop an understanding of local government, build your leadership skills, and make heaps of new friends!
If you are interested in this amazing opportunity, make sure you submit an application for the 2025 Youth Council program.
Nominations are open from 12 August - 13 September so head over to our socials @GeelongYouthCouncil or head to the Geelong Webpage
If you have any questions or require more information jump on to the Youth Council Instagram page- @GeelongYouthCouncil and DM us, or email Youthcouncil@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
The After School Homework Club is in Room B2 every day except Thursdays. Students are welcome to attend to catch up on classwork, complete homework, receive individual tutoring or to work with classmates on a group project. They may attend for 15 minutes to sort out just one problem or they may attend right up to 5pm to accomplish a greater amount of learning. Those who attend will be awarded a positive learning chronicle (with reward token) and will be offered food and hot chocolates!!
* Tuesdays (Weekly): CBCA Shadow Judging Book Club with Miss Marshall - members only at this stage as we prepare to vote for our favourite Older Readers Fiction books.
* Tuesdays (Weekly): Games Club - Board games, movies, karaoke and popcorn!
Ms Noor Al-Assafi and Vanessa (COGG)
Joining in and having fun is central to the success of Games Club. Run by Vanessa (City of Greater Geelong) and Ms Noor Al-Assafi (our Newcomb Secondary College Social Worker), we have an outstanding turnout of students enjoying the warmth, friendship and fun in the school library every Tuesday lunchtime.
* Wednesdays (Fortnightly): Geelong Regional Library with Ms Laura Farrington
Manga, mysteries, magic, trivia games and craft are on the table when Laura is visiting from Geelong Regional Library Corporation. Newcomb Secondary students particularly enjoy using their badge maker machine and special activities like Easter, Halloween, Christmas and Idahobit Day crafts. We are very fortunate to be right next door to Newcomb Library where Miss Laura Farrington is the Children's and Youth Services Librarian.
Our Term 3 2024 schedule of visits are as follows:
Theme: Magic & Monsters
Wed 24 July – Monster Rock painting (With Sharpies, not paint) “Let’s talk about your favourite Book/Movie villain”
Wed 7 Aug – DIY Magic Wand “Favourite Fantasy Novel & How Magic Works in books vs Tv”
Wed 21 Aug – Book Week Kahoot Harry Potter HOUSE CUP competition (with Miss Marshall) & additional craft activity Magic Bookmarks for colouring and sewing
Wed 4 Sept – Glow in the Dark Silhouette “Haunted house movies and Scary Books”
Wed 18 Sept – Trivia
* Thursdays (Weekly): Craft Club with Miss Marshall: Knitting/Sewing/Polymer Clay Jewellery/Pet Rocks
* Fridays (Weekly): Crochet Club with Mrs MacArthur
We’re excited to let you know that entries for the 2024 Insight Creative Writing Competition
are OPEN. If we have any budding writers from Years 7–12 at our school, please enter! We’d love to see your work.
Here is a quick reminder of the guidelines Insight have made to help students get even more creative with their entries.
All year levels have an upper limit of 1400 words. There is no minimum word limit.
We accept other creative writing forms in addition to short stories, including poems, scripts and more.
This year’s theme (Beauty in the unknown) is optional, giving entrants the freedom to write about anything that inspires them.
To download the submission form and view all conditions of entry, please click below.
