From the Principal Team
By Mr McLeod

Newsletter- Week 6 2025
Feedback Week
Can you believe that we have passed the mid-way mark of Term 1? Where did that time go? Yes, last week was week five and it signified our college Feedback week. On Friday, we shared with you your student's Personal Learning Quality Feedback (PLQ’s) via Compass highlighting your student's outcomes and growth against our college values of Learning, Respect and Working Together. The PLQ feedback is presented in an easy-to-read graphical representation and will be repeated on four occasions across Semester 1 allowing you to observe and identify any trends in your students’ outcomes. In addition to the PLQ feedback, remember to keep up-to-date and informed of your students’ achievements via their Learning Task results on Compass. Newcomb Secondary College staff also share observations and achievements against our Positive Futures Framework (PFF) via our Positive Acknowledgements on Compass- these can occur at any time when observed so it is important that you continue to stay connected to Compass. We encourage you to have frequent discussions about with your student about their progress at school and encourage you to reach out to our awesome staff (wellbeing, learning mentors, teachers) should we be able to further inform and support you and your student.
School Council Elections 2025
The process for the election of the new College Council is about to commence. Soon, nominations for the four parent, one student, one staff employee and four community representative positions will be open and called for via Compass.
Of course, nominations can be received from any parents and students, and we would encourage parents and students to consider being part of our wonderful and supportive College Council.
The Newcomb Secondary College Council can also co-opt four people into the Community Members category of Council with the College Student Leaders or additional Parents traditionally filling some of these positions.
We would like to thank our 2024 college council members for their contributions to Newcomb Secondary College and look forward to establishing the new 2025 council later this month.
Community Partnerships, Feeder Schools & Information Evening
This week, I have had the privilege of visiting our local feeder schools. For those of you who are wondering, we have six feeder schools that directly align with enrolments to Newcomb Secondary College, those being Leopold Primary School, Moolap Primary School, Whittington Primary School, Newcomb Primary School, Geelong East Primary School and Tate St Primary School. Each of these school settings have a great relationship with Newcomb Secondary College. Our partnerships are built on mutual respect, support, and collaboration. As many of our students would know, Newcomb Secondary College runs several Primary school programs such as-
- · Primary school experience visits (food, technology, STEM, Art etc.)
- · The NSC Numeracy Cup Challenge Day
- · Primary & Secondary teacher collaboration events
- · Extended transition Programs
- · Primary School Sport Carnival supports.
- · Resource sharing (STEM equipment)
- · Hire of facilities (Hall, Auditorium etc.)
- · Professional Learning opportunities
In 2025, we will be offering further opportunities to collaborate with our feeder schools, given our desire to build the capacity of all within our great community and ensure our connections as a community are strong and supportive. We encourage Newcomb Secondary College students, and those in our feeder schools to keep an eye out for the following events and opportunities planned for this year-
- · Leadership Day
- · Koorie Connection events
- · Literacy Program activities
- · Sport events & supports.
A further opportunity that we are very excited about is our college Information Evening and Parent Tours. Newcomb Secondary College values our community relationships and look for many opportunities to welcome our community into the college to participate in our events and our programs. We encourage those who have yet to visit Newcomb Secondary College to hear, see and experience our wonderful college to ‘come and see for yourself’. Our college Information Evening is a great starting point- this year it is held on Monday March 24th. Further to this, we will conduct two School Day Tours in weeks 8- 10 of this term. Details on how you can reserve a spot will be circulated shortly. Finally, we are more than happy to schedule a personal tour- to arrange one, please contact the Administration office.

Vehicle Access and Safety at Newcomb Secondary College
Can I ask that all members of our community exercise care when moving around the college site. Schools are vibrant and busy environments, and thus the safety of all who co-exist in, or visit our school setting must be paramount. Safety on the school site is the responsibility of all Newcomb Secondary College community members- staff, students, parents/ carers, and all other key stakeholders. It is important, for the safety of all, to ensure that-
- · When entering the school grounds, students must walk with their choice of transport (bicycle etc.)
- · Students are expected to wear all protective equipment when travelling to and from school (helmets etc.)
- · All community members should exercise care at school vehicle entries, the bus pick-up and drop-off, when moving through the Woolworths carpark or passing by its entrances, and when crossing or walking along the Bellarine Hwy.
- · Vehicles drop-off and pick-up students outside of the school boundaries
- · Those visiting the college should park in the designated parking bays outside, or alongside the Administration office.
- · Visitors to the college should not pass through the school grounds in their vehicle- that is visitors must not pass from the front to the back of the college grounds in their vehicle.
All these measures are for the safety of our community- something we all care about. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.
Have a great week!
Regards,
Mr Scott McLeod
Principal
Newcomb Secondary College