Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs)

Our second lot of rapid antigen tests (RATs) were handed out to all students yesterday during period 6. 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

School Photos 2022

Annual school photos will be taken at Newcomb Secondary College by Arthur Reed Photos on Wednesday 16th February 2022.

There is no need to return any forms or money to school.

Unique image codes will be issued to all students on/after photo day.  Families can then register online to view images when they become available in the web shop.

Registration is simple.  Follow the 3 simple steps on your child’s personalised flyer once you receive it and remember to add the codes for all your children attending this school.

Even if you registered last year, it’s important that you do again this year using your child’s 2022 image code to link their images for the current year with your contact details.

When images are ready to view and in the web shop, all parents who have registered will be notified by SMS and email.

Once registered, please wait for notification that 2022 images are online to view before making your purchase.

Hi Team! 

Our Newcomb Secondary Athletics and swimming Carnival is now Upon us. For our Swimming we will be heading out to Kardinia Pool on the 17/2/2022; and our Athletics will be taking place on the 24/2/2022. 

We would love to see as many students as possible attend with a very disruptive athletics and swimming in the 2 years. If any student requires a paper permission form they need to see Mr Bell in the PE staffroom.

Additionally for Term 1 we have the following sport available for signup, which will be available on our student google sheet.

Senior Sport Team entries will need to be entered by Friday the 18/2/2022, so if you are interested, please complete the signup as soon as possible!

Go Seahorses!

Mr. Corey Bell

2022 Newsletter Term 1 Week 3

Band Captains 2022

Senior Concert Band
Raine Warren & Jai Pfarrer

Intermediate Concert Band & Junior Concert Band
Zara Stenton-Dozey & Jayden Gillard

Cold Fusion
Grace Thomas & Joseph Fratantaro

Why Teach Music In Schools? - There are lots of reasons why we teach music in schools.  Music is a life skill that we aim to share with as many students possible who attend Newcomb Secondary College.

Music is Mathematical – It has a direct relationship to counting and subdivision of note values. – i.e. numbers

Music is Historical – It often reflects the environment and cultural heritages right across the world from one generation to the next.

Music Is A Foreign Language – 2 ways

• the notation – rest values, music signs and symbols are a unique language within itself.
• all the music signs and terms are written in Italian.

Music is Physical Education – You need to be fairly fit to play a musical instrument. Music requires perfect coordination of fingers, hands, arms, lips, cheeks, eyes, and facial muscles. It also requires control of the diaphragm, back, stomach and chest muscles. In other words – sit up straight and uncross your legs.

Cheryl A Stabryla
cheryl.stabryla@education.vic.gov.au

CONGRATULATIONS LACHLAN

After attending a regular work placement for most of last year Lachie has been offered an apprenticeship with our P-TECH industry partner Backwell IXL.

Thanks to Sean Boswell General Manager for supporting our P-TECH Program and giving Lachie the opportunity to experience working in a field of work that he thought he might be interested in. A very successful “try before you buy” outcome.

Check out Lachie inspecting a casting pattern mould in the workplace

Lachie IXL Metal Castings apprentice team members

College Council

The February meeting of the Newcomb Secondary College Council will take place on Thursday evening, 17th February.

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 22nd February, 2022 at 4.00pm. The list of candidates, nominators and seconders will be displayed at the Newcomb Secondary College General Office by Thursday 24th February 2022.

If an election is necessary, I will distribute the appropriate documentation to parents and the ballots will close on Tuesday 8th March, 2022 at 4.00pm.

The parents whose time on Council are eligible for nomination, or their time on Council has expired are:

• Kerry O’Hara (eligible for nomination)

• Michael Graham (not eligible for nomination)

• Angela Hancocks (eligible for nomination)

The student whose time on Council has expired is:

• Presley Johannesen (eligible for nomination)

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 are eligible for nomination, or their time has expired are:

• Ryan Owens (eligible for nomination)

• Philip Walker (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 17th March meeting will be the first of the new College Council.

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

SC Information for students

SC Information for parents of interested students

SC Information for parents

Phil Honeywell
Principal

Hey everyone, I am very excited to have been able to join the wellbeing team here at Newcomb Secondary College. I have recently finished my studies in Youth Work, and this is the start of my exciting new career.

I was born and raised in Werribee.   However, I have recently moved to the Geelong region. I enjoy spending time with my family, anime, pro wrestling, punk rock music, going to gigs and spending time in nature.

Thank you to all the staff, students and families that have made me feel welcome. I’m looking forward to see what the rest of the year brings

Mr. Torrie Pugliese

COVID-19 third-dose vaccinations are now available to 16-17 year olds who had their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine three or more months ago.

Supporting as many eligible students as we can to be vaccinated will help make our school as safe as possible.

Getting vaccinated is one of the most important steps we can all take to get direct protection against COVID-19.

How to book an appointment

There are many convenient and accessible options to access vaccinations. These include state-wide vaccination clinics, your local GP or pharmacy.

You can book your appointment in a few different ways, including:

* online: coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccine
* by phone: 1800 675 398 (Coronavirus Hotline)
* using the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder - COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder | Australian Government Department of Health
* In person: talk to your local pharmacy, doctor, or attend one of the State Vaccination Centres.https://www.coronavirus.vic.go...

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.