Newsletter- Term 4 Week 7 2024

I trust you are all starting to focus on the next few weeks and in particular the upcoming festive season and holiday period. It is a time to consider others, reflect, celebrate, and enjoy those favourite or new experiences. At school, we too are preparing for the times ahead but equally ensuring that we remain committed to closing out the 2024 year appropriately. For our students this looks like completing set tasks to the best of their ability and working closely with teachers and support staff with feedback and opportunities to improve. It is also an important time to remain a positive member of the school community- something that can at this time of year be more of a challenge as energy levels wane a little and we seemingly experience and thus absorb more pressure. First impressions are often valued highly (and rightly so), but we also believe in how you see out a situation or experience can also be as telling or as important.

Our VCE students are finalising their programs and assessments- at present, our Year 12 students are almost through their exams, whilst our Year 11’s are about to commence theirs followed by our Year 10 students. Upon the conclusion of exams, students will embark on their 2025 studies and programs, what we call the Promotions Program. This is an exciting time for students as they get to sample their new courses and be inspired for what lies ahead in 2025. It is also a great opportunity to iron out any program challenges encountered to ensure a smooth transition and positive start to the new school year.

The Wind Settles- Nobody’s Fool Theatre program performance

One of the highlights of the end to each school year is our Nobody’s Fool Theatre Program performance. As I write this article for the newsletter, our Nobody’s Fool students are touring regional Victoria with the show- ‘The Wind Settles’. Following the tour, students will perform in Geelong for our school and the local community. I encourage you to book a ticket and attend- it will be a fantastic show! The details of the show are listed below.

Storyline: 

Have a great week!

Regards,

Mr Scott McLeod

Principal

Newcomb Secondary College

Parent and carer School Saving Bonus code distribution 

The Victorian Government is delivering the School Saving Bonus – a one-off $400 support for government school students from Prep to Year 12 in 2025.

From Tuesday 26 November 2024, you will receive an email from the Department of Education with your unique $400 School Saving Bonus code.

The School Saving Bonus will help families cover the cost of uniforms, textbooks, excursions, activities and more.

If you have multiple children enrolled in Victorian government schools for 2025, you will receive one School Saving Bonus code email per child. These emails might arrive on different days. Please make sure to check your spam/junk email folder.

Parents and carers can use the School Saving Bonus code in store at school-nominated suppliers. Parents and carers can also choose to access the School Saving Bonus online system, where they can allocate part or all the $400 bonus to use at school nominated-online suppliers or for school activities.  To learn more about the School Saving Bonus, visit School Saving Bonus | vic.gov.au (www.vic.gov.au). A step-by-step user guide will be available on the webpage on 26 November.  

If you have not received your School Saving Bonus code via email by Friday 29 November, please contact the Department of Education by emailing school.saving.bonus@education.vic.gov.au.

We deeply appreciate the efforts of our parents who consistently support their children in attending school and engaging with their education. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership in helping us create a positive and productive learning environment for all our students, ensuring the best possible outcomes for your children and for our school community. Your commitment makes a significant difference!

If you have any questions regarding attendance or require any support or assistance, please contact the school on 5248 1400.

Thank you!

Hannah

Hannah Demopoulos

Attendance Officer

Newcomb Secondary College

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.

Jane can either be reached by contacting the school office, or via email at jane.osborne@education.vic.gov.au

Jane Osborne

Newcomb Secondary College

Student Wellbeing & Engagement

Ph: 5248 1400 | 

E: Jane.Osborne@education.vic.gov.au

𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐋 𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐔𝐏 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊

If your child has missed out on their school-based vaccinations, it’s not too late to catch up!

Secondary school immunisations are provided free to students in Year 7 and Year 10.

Catch up for secondary school immunisations is free up to 19 years of age.

Barwon Health Immunisation Service will offer a catch-up week at different venues around Geelong from Monday 25^th November to Saturday 30^th November 2024.

This is open to any Year 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 age students up to 19 years of age, who has missed their immunisations at school.

Booking links for the extra sessions:

Barwon Health North:

Tuesday 26^th November 3.30pm-6.30pm and Friday 29^th November 3.30pm-6.00pm, Barwon Health North,

https://www.trybooking.com/CWAIM

Bellarine:

Thursday 28^th November, BASC (Bellarine Aquatic Sports Centre), 3.30pm-6.30pm

https://www.trybooking.com/CWBZQ

Belmont:

Monday 25^th , Wednesday 27^th, Friday 29^th and Saturday 30^th November, Barwon Health Vaccination Centre, Belmont

https://www.trybooking.com/CWCAE

Students can also book in at any of our weekly regular clinics via our webpage:

https://bit.ly/BHImmunisation

To see if your child is due for any vaccines, check your child’s immunisation history statement on the Australian Immunisation Register using your MyGov account.

If your child is over 14 years of age, they will need to access their immunisation history statement themselves through their own MyGov account or the Medicare mobile app.

Learn more about school-based vaccinations and why they’re important:

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/immunisation-in-secondary-schools

Dental Week is just around the corner!

No more juggling appointments or taking time off work. Smile Patrol is visiting Newcomb Secondary College to provide onsite dental care in our mobile dental van —super convenient!

Smile Patrol offers free dental health education for all children. If your child qualifies under the Childcare Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS), they may receive free treatments based on remaining benefits. If they aren't eligible, we'll reach out with options for a private checkup.

To sign up hop online https://smilepatrol.com.au/consent-form/ and complete the consent form by the deadline 22^nd November. DON'T MISS OUT!

Contact information:

For more information, please feel free to contact us.

Email: info@smilepatrol.com.au

Whooping cough

Whooping cough cases are continuing to increase across Victoria, particularly among school-aged children. Whooping cough is a very contagious infection, mostly spread through coughing or sneezing. Symptoms include:

· blocked or runny nose

· tiredness

· mild fever

· severe bouts of coughing, often followed by a ‘whooping’ sound on breathing.

Whooping cough can lead to life threatening infections in babies.

If your child is unwell, they should not attend school. Please see a doctor if you or your child develops whooping cough symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment will help reduce the spread of the infection.

Students diagnosed with whooping cough must not attend school.

To reduce the spread of infection and to protect others within the school community, students diagnosed with whooping cough are recommended not to attend school for 21 days after their cough was first present, or until they have taken a full course of antibiotics prescribed by a doctor (usually a 5-day course).

If your child is diagnosed with whooping cough, please contact the school to let us know.

I hope we can work together to protect the whole school community by following the recommended advice.

For more information about whooping cough, refer to Whooping cough on the Better Health Channel – see link below.

Vaccination is the best way to reduce the risk of whooping cough. The Department of Health recommends staying up to date with immunisations, including booster doses. A free booster dose of the pertussis vaccine is covered under the national immunisation program for students aged 12 to 13. If you are unsure about your child’s vaccination status for whooping cough, please discuss with an immunisation provider, such as your doctor.

We really appreciate your support in keeping our students safe and well.

For more information, refer to:

• Better Health Channel, for information about whooping cough symptoms, prevention and Victorian eligibility for free booster immunisations
• Increasing pertussis (whooping cough) cases in Victoria
• Local Public Health Units.

On Thursday 31st October some of our Newcomb Secondary College Year 9 / 10 students took part in Barista Bus Training. We all came out of it with our Barista Certificates as well as our Food Handlers' Certificates. We all enjoyed learning new techniques and making new coffees. It was great to see everyone having so much fun and a massive thank you to Tania, Ms Hill and Mr Amer for organising this opportunity. 

This experience would not have been possible without our Newcomb Secondary College Kopi Shop as this funds our Barista Bus training. Our students will now spend time in the Newcomb Secondary College Kopi Shop to progress their new skills!

The year 7-10 ceramic classes this year enjoyed making 'face' plant pots, pinch pots and coil pots. They used earthenware clay and different moulding techniques to develop their piece before bisque firing in the kiln. Some items were then glaze fired with spectacular results. The students have had the benefit of the fantastic kiln resource and produced some wonderful work over the year.

A Big Thank You for Making Our Salvation Army BBQ fundraiser a Huge Success!

Dear Parents, Staff, and Students,

We are thrilled to share the fantastic news that our recent Salvation Army BBQ was a tremendous success, and we couldn't have done it without your support!

Thanks to your generous donations, hard work, and enthusiasm, we raised over $175 for this important cause. Every sausage purchased, every drink served, and every donation made a real difference in the lives of those who rely on the services of the Salvation Army.

It was a wonderful day of community spirit, delicious food, and making a positive impact together. A special thank you goes out to our volunteers, staff, and everyone who contributed in any way. Your efforts are deeply appreciated, and it's because of your involvement that we were able to exceed our fundraising goal.

We are proud to be part of such a caring and giving community, and we look forward to seeing the lasting impact of your generosity. Once again, thank you for helping make this event a success!

Warm regards,
Cooper, Allan and Ryder.

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!! 

Mr Curnick

Library Stocktake 2024

Please return all books to the school library by Friday 29th November. After this date books can be read and enjoyed in the library but not borrowed to take home. This enables our stocktake to be completed.  If you are a student, please clear your locker, school bag and house of our school library books and bring them back. Excitingly there is a box of Cadbury Favourites for the first class in each year level to have nothing owing. If you are a parent please assist your child/ren to return their books.

Opening Hours and Lunchtime Clubs

The Newcomb Secondary College Library opens at 8.30 a.m. every weekday morning before school and is open every recess and lunchtime (2nd half) throughout the year. There are spaces to read comfortably, complete homework and to take part in library clubs.

We have a wealth of board and card games and a fantastic number of Clubs running weekly - Monday Clubs include Chess Club (Student-Led) and Circle of Friends Book Club. Tuesday Clubs include City of Greater Geelong 'Games, Trivia and Karaoke sessions' with Ms Vanessa Davis and Ms Noor Al-Assafi. Geelong Regional Library Corporation's Newcomb Branch Young Adult Librarians run special workshops fortnightly on Wednesdays throughout the year with themed book and craft sessions (Valentines Day, Halloween and Christmas for example). Ms Laura Farrington and Mr Cameron Wilson share their love of Manga and Anime with a regular group of student attendees at these sessions. Our students in particular enjoy Cameron's origami workshops! Miss Marshall's Library Craft Club runs on both Thursdays and Fridays throughout the year (Term 4: Polymer clay jewellery making and special event crafts such as Halloween lanterns).

Library Opening Hours

Monday to Friday

*Open from 8.30 - 3.30 p.m.

*Open at Recess

*Open 2nd half lunchtimes (reading/board and card games/clubs).

Last week marked the conclusion of the 2024 Geelong Manufacturing Council (GMC) school-based programs, with the graduation ceremony held on Wednesday.

This year’s programs included:

• GLAM (Girls Leading Advanced Manufacturing)
• GFLOI (Geelong Future Leaders of Industry)
• WoW – Clean Economy (World of Work)
• Seed 2 Stem GLAM

Here’s a snapshot of the year’s achievements:

• 51 students participated
• 15 schools were involved
• 46 Geelong manufacturing companies were visited
• 41 pairs of steel-capped boots were purchased for students by GMC
• 17 tour days were conducted

It’s been an incredibly busy and rewarding year!

Newcomb Secondary College was proud to support fourteen participants from years 10-11 in these programs. The students built greater understanding of local industry and opportunity in our region and made connections with like-minded peers from other schools.

Congratulations to all students who participated and made the most of this opportunity. All are to be commended for going through the application process and for committing to the events hosted. An extra shout-out to Ewan, who was the recipient of one of the four Deakin Awards (showing leadership skills, commitment and growth).

We at Newcomb Secondary College greatly appreciate our community partners – a big thank-you to Nicole Rosbergen for all her efforts in co-ordinating these experiences for students in Geelong, and to the GMC and partners for investing time and effort in allowing students exposure into industry and inspiring them towards their future pathways.

The Geelong Manufacturing Council will be running GLAM, GFLOI and WOW again in 2025 – stay tuned for upcoming dates and be ready to submit your applications!

Ewan also won one of the four Deakin awards, for showing leadership skills, commitment and growth, and was awarded a monetary prize, thanks to Deakin University.

Ms Megan Fell

Senior Pathways

Newcomb Secondary College

Please find attached the Newcomb Secondary College booklists and 'How to Order' flyer. 
These attachments can be found on Compass too. Thank you.

How to Order Flyer Newcomb Secondary College

2025 Year 7 Booklist

2025 Year 8 Booklist

2025 Year 9 Booklist

2025 Year 10 Booklist

2025 VCE Booklist

2025 VCE Booklist Early English

Term 4 Regional Parenting Calendar

Deakin University is celebrating turning 50!

Our unique identity in balanced excellence in education and research has been driving lasting change for a better future since 1974. Join us as we launch our anniversary year with a celebration where the University first began. We welcome our alumni, students, staff and the wider Deakin community to attend. This free, family-friendly community event will be held at Deakin University, Waurn Ponds Campus.

Come and experience:

• Live children's entertainment
• DJ
• Food trucks and bar
• Free kid's activities and face painting
• Market stalls
• Spectacular fireworks display

Bring along your picnic rug to enjoy the outdoor festival.

Visit Eventbrite to secure your FREE tickets!

deakin.au/festival

Please contact deakin50@deakin.edu.au for further information.