Student Attendance 

You may have heard in the media of late that absenteeism in schools is becoming increasingly evident. Yet we all know the impact absenteeism has on learning outcomes. Research has been highlighting for years the affect one or more days absence has on learning. For every day, the impact grows increasingly significant. Whilst the research is there for all to delve into, you do not have to become entrenched in it to realise the issues associated with your student missing days of school. 

Whilst we support students remaining home when unwell, it is imperative that students attend school and attend to their learning for each and every day during their formative years. Education provides students with whole-rounded skills and attributes in a range of curriculum areas. More so, being at school enables students to learn how to learn, a skill we do not often identify as being crucial in life. Knowing where to turn to when challenged, and how to identify and determine a suitable outcome is a skill necessary for all people in life. We access this need each and every day no matter what we do. 

Add to that the social learnings that occur within a school setting, that being the ability to positively co-exist within a broad and diverse community is also another underestimated skill and outcome of schooling. What is glaringly obvious to us all in education is the need for students to have learning role mode, both at school and in their family/care team setting. It is a vital cog in providing the encouragement and reassurance that all students should value the worth of school and thus aim to attend every day. 

Without education champions in the lives of students, they can lack the guidance necessary and begin to establish patterns of absence that only lead to further challenge in their adult lives, something no-one wishes upon their young person. I encourage you to become an education champion for your student. A person who will guide them in the right direction when they seem to need realignment. A person who can express the holistic value of education in the formative years at school and outline the importance it has on the outcomes for all people in all areas of their chosen future life. 

With that in mind, it is then about modelling and supporting positive choices and health habits that accompany the ‘ready to learn’ principles of schooling (sleep patterns, diet, access to learning materials etc.). You will find some of these support suggestions and habits below. It would be a good exercise to sit with your students to reflect on them together. 

We will continue to support your student and your family/care team with these positive and wholesome endeavours. It is something we are passionate about and dedicated towards. The future success of all Newcomb Secondary College students is something we are committed to delivering, and together we can, and will, achieve great outcomes for all students. We certainly appreciate your support!

Have a great week!

Mr McLeod

Principal 

“You and your child are an important part of your school’s community. Every day of attending school counts. Being at school supports your child’s learning, social and mental wellbeing.” (DET, 2022).

We can provide the best supports for children and families when absences are explained. Protecting the safety and well-being of children through the reporting and monitoring of absenteeism is the responsibility of both Parents/Carers and Newcomb Secondary College.

Parents/Carers have an obligation to notify the college of their child’s absence and schools are required to notify Parents/Carers on the day of an unexplained student absence. This responsibility needs to be supported by shared understandings and expectations about the procedures for the promotion, monitoring and follow-up of student attendance as outlined in Newcomb Secondary College’s Attendance Policy 2022.

Please notify the school when your student is late or when they need to leave early, or for full day absences, providing a reason for this absence. Please access the Compass portal to view and enter reasons for any unexplained absences for your child.

We are committed as a school to work together in partnership to support you and your student, and to ensure we achieve the best outcomes for all students. If you have any questions regarding attendance or require any support or assistance, please contact the school on 5248 1400.

A 95% attendance rate is the equivalent of missing 10 days per year.

90% = 1 day per fortnight or 20 days per year.

85% = 30 days per year.

80% = one day per week or 40 days per year.

At Newcomb Secondary College we strive for high attendance to maximise student learning, and behavioural, cognitive and emotional engagement for all students, and we endeavour to work with and support all families in our community.

Ms Demopoulos

Our time at Gnurad Gundidj has been amazing so far.

We have learnt a lot about being a team and meeting new people. On the first day, after the parents left, we pretty much had to make new friends because we didn’t have anyone to really go to. It was good though, as now we all have new and amazing friends.

With living and learning all in the same place with everyone all the time, it changes how you view and see things. It is a very different way of doing things, but we have all gotten used to it and I think most people actually enjoy it.

The first campus activity we had was surfing. It was nice to finally get off campus after being here for a few days and not seeing anyone else. Surfing was heaps of fun, even though it was freezing and some of us couldn’t feel our hands or feet. I think being in the cold added to the experience.

On the 22nd July, which was recharge day, there was a group of students that went out to the Redwoods and to Hopetoun Falls. It was an amazing place, and we are really glad we got the chance to go. The 29th of July was another recharge day, and we went to the 12 Apostles and the London Bridge. It was really nice because after being at the campus it is good to get out. It was good to meet and spend time with new people.

We also had a day where we went out and had to build a bridge for the whole expo group to stand/sit on. It was a good team bonding activity as it was one of the first expo group activities. Some of the more recent off-site activities would have been when we hiked around Mount Noorat, which is a dormant volcano.

This hike was to prepare us for our first expo. We had our first expo earlier this week on Monday and Tuesday. It was a 2-day hike along part of the Great Ocean Road Walk. We started at the 12 Apostles and walked to Wreck beach. It was really good, and I feel like as our expo group, we really bonded, as we all had some hard times while walking. It made us closer and really think and talk to everyone. Even though it was quite tough, everyone managed to get through and finish.

At the end, we were walking, and we didn’t know exactly where we finished but we all found the orange buses which motivated us so much more because we knew we were so close to the end. Some of the other activities that we have coming up are: canoeing, MTB riding, we have our second expo and at the end we have a treetops adventure.

Liam - My favourite experience at Gnurad Gundidj would be the hike because I learnt that teamwork and communication is important when working as a team.

Kady - My favourite experience at Gnurad Gundidj so far would have to be surfing or the 12 Apostles. Surfing because even though it was freezing, and I couldn't feel my hands or feet, it was my first time, and it was nice to try something new. The 12 Apostles also because I met new people, and it is nice to have more friends here and it was also good to get outside into the public.

Talisha - My favourite part of being here has been the friendships I have made and the people I have met. I have also enjoyed all the activities we have done. Some of my favourites have been the hike up Mount Sturgeon, going surfing, the redwoods which we did on recharge day and then expo 1 which was a 2-day hike along part of the Great Ocean Road Walk. Another activity that I have also enjoyed doing is going back to Mount Noorat for some community service. We put down tree guards. We did this to help with the 5-10-year plan to bring more trees back to there. We worked for about 4 hours doing this. We made and put down around 200 guards. It was heaps of fun though. We did it to help because on the 3rd of September they have a community planting day.

The Junior Music camp was a great success with students not only further developing their musical abilities but also making lots of new friendships.

We are very lucky to have such a dedicated and hard-working music department who provide our students with such wonderful experiences.

Ms Stabryla

This semester in Year 8 Wood Technology Jamie produced a Serving Platter.

Jamie modified the design to his own liking. Students in Year 8 were then given the opportunity to further enhance their digital manufacturing skills by researching the correct type of image and sizing and then bringing the image to life by etching the image onto the Serving Platter with the Lazer in Newcomb Secondary College's new Digital Manufacturing space.

Nice work Jamie!

Mr Monahan

The Food Tech kitchen has been getting a workout lately with students in years 7-12 producing mouthwatering dishes.

There are plenty of opportunities in Term 4 for Junior and Middle School students. Opportunities include Basketball, Cricket, Tennis and Softball. If you are interested, please sign up via our Google Sign Up sheet on Compass, or check in with your House Leaders or Mr Bell.

As Always

Go Seahorses!

Year 7 Boys Basketball

Game 1

NSC against Bannockburn. The Seahorses were pumped coming into their first game of the day. They had all trained hard ready to play there hardest. The starters took the floor for both teams and NSC started off strong gaining on their hefty lead that was just building and building. It was the same in the second half. The whole team was in the rotation and there was a lot of good teamwork.

The seahorses had a good first win by 40 points.

Game 2

NSC against Northern Bay. The boys were ready for a hard-fought game. They were a good fundamental team, but the Seahorses fought till the end. There was a lot of good play and good passing, leading to an easy basket. Newcomb Secondary College went into the second half with a five-point lead, but Northern Bay came back out with more attack and nibbled back at the lead to tie it up but with a few good picks and rolls and boxing out the boys got the lead back and stole the win to advance to the semi-finals.

Semi-finals NSC against Belmont. Everyone was ready to lose but coach Corey Bell, Tory and Maddux Clarke pumped up the team and told us to give it our all no matter what. The team had already had a great achievement that we made the semi-finals. It was very back and forth, and the Seahorses had quite a few threes to gain the lead a few times but when the buzzer went for half time, everyone was exhausted and covered in sweat. No one gave up and went back out to give it what ended up being one last go. They extended the lead, and we had a disappointing loss but a good day full of fun teamwork. We all huddled up for one last time, Seahorses on 3, 1 2 3 Seahorses!

By Lachlan Neoh

I think the inter-school Year 7 boys basketball tournament was enjoyable for everyone, especially for me because it was my first time playing for Newcomb Secondary College. I loved that we made it to the semi-finals and that my team helped me get two buckets in both of the games we won. So, thank you Mr Bell and everyone who helped us make it to the semifinals, go Seahorses!

by Sheain Carroll

7 Girls Basketball

We started off by getting to the Geelong United Stadium in the Newcomb Secondary College buses. Our first game, we played against North Geelong. North Geelong was an exceptional team. We may have lost that game, but it was definitely fun to play against them. The scores were 6 - 37, I think. After that, our pool didn't have anyone to play against until the next game. It was a nice time for our team to take a short break. Then we played against Bellarine. They also won that game and Hannah injured her finger. We decided that that’s all we would play, so we went to watch the boys play their last two games. We got back around 2 o’clock.

Lilly O’Hagan

Year 8 Boys Basketball

Year 8 Boys Basketball headed out to Geelong Sports Hub on Monday, 7^th August. First Round match ups had us play Bellarine Secondary College and Bannockburn Secondary College. Newcomb Secondary College was able to defeat both schools comfortably through great team play. This put us in the Preliminary Final against Belmont. Unfortunately, Belmont were too strong for us.

There was fantastic play by Hamish Andrews, Tallon Clarke and Harry Wells. We would like to thank Tracey, Bailey Thomas, Maddux & Sarah Clarke for their support on the day!

Go Seahorses

Mr Bell

2023 Parent / Carer Opinion Survey

The school is conducting a survey to find out what parents and carers think of our school. The Parent and Carer Opinion Survey is an annual survey offered by the Department of Education that is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of families’ perceptions of school climate, student behaviour, and student engagement.

We encourage all selected families to participate. Our school will use the survey results to help inform and direct future school planning and improvement strategies.

A random sample of approximately 30 per cent of parents and carers have been selected to participate in this year’s survey.

The Parent/Carer/Guardian Opinion Survey will be open from Friday 11 August to Friday 8 September 2023.

The survey will be conducted online, only taking 20 minutes to complete, and can be accessed at any convenient time within the survey period on desktop computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones. The online survey will be available in English and 10 other languages.

We thank our families for participating in the Parent/Carer Opinion Survey.

The dental van will be visiting Newcomb Secondary College during the week beginning Monday 9^th October. Interested families will be notified of date and time closer to the event.

Forms were distributed to Home Groups last week. If you are interested, please return your completed form to the Office by Friday 25 August. If you haven’t received a form, you may collect one from the Newcomb Secondary College Office.

Please click to view PDFs

2023 Term 3 Regional Parenting Calendar