Later this week we look forward to welcoming many of you to Newcomb Secondary College for our Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences. To make your bookings, please log onto Compass and follow the prompts to meet with your students teachers on Thursday evening (August 25) from 4-7pm. The conferences are always a great opportunity to celebrate the growth made recently and identify areas and opportunities for further improvement. We encourage you to attend with your student.

Newcomb Secondary College continues to be a very busy place to be a part of. In the last week, we have seen the continuation of the Blue Edge program, our Year 10 student boys taking part in ‘The Man Cave’ presentation and workshop, students from Year 7 attended the Geelong Tech School, and Year 9 & 10 students took part in the Deakin University Outreach program offered by the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment (SEBE). The SEBE Outreach program challenged students against other schools in the region in design and construction, and pleasingly we can share with you all that our students did an amazing job. In fact, we had a number of our student teams place 1^st or 2^nd in their challenges which was great to see!

This week our Senior Concert Band have departed Newcomb SC for their tour. This tour has been a long time coming and we wish for all to have a great experience!

Finally, in the coming newsletters, we will be sharing details with our community regarding the new Child Safe Standards and Principal Orders that have recently been released for action in schools by the Department of Education. Both the standards and orders are in place to ensure that all members of the college community, students and staff can remain safe.

Have a great week!

Scott McLeod, Acting Principal
James Murphy, Assistant Principal
Jeremy Sinclair, Acting Assistant Principal

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Dates to remember

25/8/22 – Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences – Book appointments with your child’s teachers. This is a great opportunity for the most important people in your child’s education to get together to reflect and plan.

8/9/22 – Whole Staff Professional Practice Day – No classes will run on this day. Staff will use the day to pursue the development of their teaching, plan stimulating learning, upload feedback, etc.

16/9/22 – Last day of term, 12:30 finish.

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School Wide Positive Behaviour

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NSC PATHWAYS FOR 2023 - THE PROCESS

Year 8 - Course Selection in GROW Class 23rd August

Year 11 - Year 11 into 12 Course Counselling - 26th August (during regular class time)

If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to contact Mr. Horsted through Compass or by phone.

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Yarning Circle News.

Last week we were really fortunate to have a former NSC student Mikali Harrison, who currently works in a community engagement role at Wathaurong Co-op, come and meet up with some of our Indigenous students, their mates, staff and a few visitors from the Department of Education.

Mikali spoke briefly about his time as a student at NSC. His memories of this school were positive and powerful and it is where he 'found his people'. Mikali felt empowered by a few staff members like Mr Sinclair and a retired English teacher Sue Hedley who spent a lot of time nurturing Mikali.

Mikali is still connected with NSC through long lasting friendships with staff members such as Ms Demopolous and Mr Bell.

What a legend!

Mikali is an inspiration to our indigenous students and his cousins Matty Harrison and Lillie Butcher.

Morning tea is always a bit of a hit too!

Seeing so many students attend our 'Yarning Circle' gatherings helps us to get to know one another, build strength, resilience, have a voice and connection to one another.

Keep reaching for the stars and have a great week.

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The Cafe skills students were busy in the kitchen last week,  preparing some mouth watering club sandwiches with chips! 

Delicious!

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Year 84 

During Science week, students from Year 84 have made miniature tiles of their own design using glass mosaics.

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Ceramics

Ms Honeywell’s ceramic students have been creating some amazing sculptures. The central inspiration for the work being their pets or a favourite animal.

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Year 9 Core Science

Comparing electrical circuits in series compared to parallel.

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73 GTECH Excursion

73 were at GTECH last week for 2 days designing and constructing robots that will clear a blockage from the sewer system.

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Indonesian

Selamat hari kemerdekaan! 

Last week year 8, 9 and 10 students celebrated Indonesian independence day by making tasty avocado shakes (don't knock it till you've tried it). 

Year 7 will get to celebrate this week, once they've done their tests!

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Happy Science Week! 

An engaging eye dissection in Blood, Guts and Brains.

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9/10 Outdoor Ed Werribee Zoo Visit.

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Transition Program Visits.

Over the past week, Newcomb Secondary College has welcomed around 140 grade five students from Leopold Primary and Geelong East Primary School's through our gates as a part of our transitions program. 

Some students were lucky enough to participate in woodwork, creating a wooden door plaque etched with a personalised design. While others were busy in our food technology room preparing delicious rainbow wraps. We look forward to welcoming many more students over the coming weeks.

A huge thank you to Mr Amer, Mrs Reed, Mr Monahan, Mr Hill, Mr Relouw, Mr Goward, Mr Unmack, Mrs Angelevski, Mr Bamford and Miss Hill for their involvement in the running of the taster sessions, it wouldn’t be possible without you.

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The Man Cave Incursion

On Wednesday 17th August, our Year 10 boys participated in The Man Cave incursion. 

The Man Cave is a mental health and emotion intelligence program that helps empower boys to become great men. 

The vison of The Man Cave is to create a world in which every young man has healthy relationships, reaches his full potential and contributes to his community.”

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Senior Concert Band Tour

Week 7 – This week the Senior Concert Band Tour have travelled to Phillip Island for 5 days. We will be staying in Grantville and performing in San Remo, Newhaven, Leongatha and Wonthaggi.

We will be travelling across the bay on the Searoad Ferry to Portsea and driving the rest of the way around to Grantville Lodge. Whilst away on tour we will also get the opportunity to go Ten Pin Bowling and visit the Penguins.

Musical - Hairspray

Week 10 – A group of Senior Concert Band members will be travelling to Melbourne to see the show – Hairspray the Musical, at the Regent Theatre on Wednesday September 14^th.

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In more recent development in the lunchtime activities space,  we are pleased to announce the exciting upcoming 'House Quizathon'. This is being organised by none other than Ms McArthur, while being supported by numerous staff members. 

This will be taking place in the library across numerous weeks, eventually winding down to a champion house.

The dates for this are as follows:

Curlewis - Tuesday 9th August

Drysdale - Thursday 11th August

Harrison - Tuesday 16th August

Wills - Thursday 18th August

The Final will be held Friday September 2nd.

Please note, we are still running all other lunchtime activities.

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This term we have some lunch time clubs/activities going ahead.

- Monday & Friday - Dance Club in the Flag Quadrangle (Auditorium on wet days)

- Tuesday - Chocolates & Chess in the Library

- Wednesday - Movies/TV shows in the Auditorium

- Wednesday - Environmental Group with Ms Roberts

- Wednesday (Fortnightly) - Mystery & Crime Book Club in the library with Laura from the Newcomb Library 

- Thursday - Art Activities with Mrs Honeywell

- Friday - Wood/Tech with Mr Monahan

FACE MASKS

The Victorian Department of Health strongly recommends that face masks are worn in indoor settings.

As a result, we are asking all students aged 8 and over and all staff in all schools across Victoria to wear masks when in class (except where removing a mask is necessary for clear communication) from now to the end of winter.

Students will not be required or expected to wear masks when outdoors, and this expectation will not stop student participation in the full range of school activities, including music, sport and performances.

We are asking for your support in explaining to your child or children the importance of this simple step that will help keep our schools as safe as possible.

We also ask that you make sure your child (or children) takes a mask to school (and wears it if they are travelling on public transport) or collects a mask when they arrive at school.

We all appreciate how important it is for students to be back at school. This action will help make sure as many students and staff as possible are protected from COVID and other winter illness.

Thank for your help with this collective effort to keep our communities safe and healthy.

Wearing masks is a simple step we can all take this winter to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases and ensure our schools are as safe as possible.

EXEMPTIONS FOR TESTING AND ISOLATION

The period of time when someone is considered a recently confirmed case and therefore exempt from testing and isolation requirements has been reduced from the previous 12 weeks to 4 weeks.

This means that staff and children who are household contacts of people with COVID-19 are now required to undertake the testing and isolation requirements from 4 weeks after completing isolation with COVID-19. Previously, this exemption period was 12 weeks.

After the 4-week exemption period, students and staff members who are a household contact of a new COVID-19 case, must follow the rules for household contacts, including reporting this to their school.

As part of this they must take 5 rapid antigen tests (RATs) over 7 days and receive negative test results and wear a face mask (if over 8 years old) in indoor spaces.

Families and staff will also have to report being a household contact to their school after this 4-week period.

COVID UPDATE

New household contact information:

• You are a household contact if you have spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID-19 inside a house, accommodation or care facility.
• Your household contact period is 7 days.
• You don’t have to quarantine during this 7-day period if you:
• test negative using a rapid antigen test on 5 days of the 7-day period (with tests spaced at least 24 hours apart)
• wear a mask indoors when outside your home
• do not visit hospitals or care facilities
• notify your employer or education facility
• If you do not follow these steps, you must quarantine for the 7-day period – and you are required to get tested on Day 1 and Day 6.
• If you test positive on a rapid antigen test, you must report your result and isolate for 7 days. Visit Reporting your result page for more information.
• Household contacts are also referred to as close contacts.

Rapid Antigen Testing

Testing change:

• from Monday 23 May 2022, it is recommended RATs are used by students and staff when symptomatic.
• It will no longer be recommended that non-symptomatic students or staff conduct RATs twice a week.
• RATs are also required to be used for 5 days if a student or staff member is a close contact of a confirmed case and they are attending or working at a school.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• If your child is not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, they can continue to attend school, but you should monitor for symptoms.
• Students who show symptoms of COVID-19 cannot attend school and should get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result.
• Students who have recovered from COVID-19 do not need to participate in surveillance testing for 60 days after their isolation period has ended.
• For information on symptoms visit: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/symptoms-and-risks.
• For more information on how to get tested visit: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/taking-test-covid-19.

If your child returns a positive result, your child has COVID-19. You must:

• quarantine your child for seven days
• advise the school about the positive result
• Your child must stay home until their symptoms have resolved and they are well

Reporting your child’s positive test

If your child was at school when they were infectious you need to report the positive case through the Student COVID-19 Test Portal or you can notify the school in writing or by phone.

You must also report your child’s positive test to the Department of Health via the COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form or call centre on 1800 675 398.

Further information for languages other than English

If you or someone you know needs assistance with translating this information, please contact the school office for details of interpreter options.

Financial support available to people affected by COVID-19:

For more information, visit:

Financial and other support for COVID-19 | Coronavirus Victoria

If you need a payment during coronavirus (COVID-19) - Getting help during coronavirus (COVID-19) - Services Australia

General advice and support

For general advice and support please call the Department of Education and Training COVID-19 hotline on 1800 338 663.

You can also contact the school:

Phone: 5248 1400

Email: Newcomb.sc@education.vic.gov.au

Advice and further resources about what to do if you test positive to COVID-19, or you have been told you are a contact, are at: Your COVID Checklist | Coronavirus Victoria, or call the 24/7 Coronavirus hotline on: 1800 675 398