Newsletter- Week 1 2024

Welcome to 2024

I wish to take this opportunity to welcome all Newcomb SC community members to the 2024 Academic Year. I do hope that everyone had a safe and enjoyable summer break and for our students who returned to school today, I trust you did so with a renewed level of enthusiasm, optimism, and determination for a successful year. It can be said that a new year offers ‘new opportunities’ and a ‘clean slate’. This is very true at Newcomb SC so we encourage students to take advantage of the opportunity, this clean slate, and make positive choices that will lead to positive growth and positive outcomes.

Today I had the privilege of welcoming new staff and students to the Newcomb SC college community. Joining the staff in 2024 includes- Ms Megan Jolly (Leading Teacher- Learning & Engagement 10-12), Mr Jake Smith, Mr Lachlan Watts and Ms Alex Saxton (English & Humanities), Mr Paul Elias (Maths & Science), Ms Greta Mawbey (Learning Mentor), Ms Laura Baker-Goldsmith (Music) and continuing in roles from 2023 are Mr Jarrod Stafford (Maths & PE), Ms Miriam Ramsay (Languages), Ms Millie Holland (Learning Mentor) and Ms Karen Campos (Lab Technician). In coming additions of the Newsletter, we will feature a ‘Getting to know’ profile feature on each of our new staff. One thing I can say for sure, we are blessed to have so many fine educators for our students! Whilst I am on the topic of staffing, today I also shared news of the departure of Mr Torrie Pugliese who has been appointed at Western Heights SC. We wish Torrie all the best and thank him for the support he offered to many students and to our community.

It was a special moment at our ‘Welcome Back’ assembly today for those students new to Newcomb Secondary College. In particular our new Year 7 students who are embarking on their Secondary schooling journey with us. Upon completing their Year 12 studies and graduating from Newcomb SC, these students will be known as the class of 2029 (scary thought hey)! It was certainly great to see all their smiling faces and in conversations with many of them, it was clear that they felt welcomed, supported, and were having a great day.

To students who have joined us at different year levels across the college for the first time today, we to very much welcome you to the college, our wonderful community and the NSC family!

I couldn’t let this moment pass without recognising our wonderful 2024 Year 12 students. This is their final year of secondary schooling, and I can say with a fair degree of certainty, it will be a challenging year but one that will feature many supports to ensure it is a successful experience for all.

‘High Expectations’ Focus 2024

We can all be quite proud of Newcomb Secondary College’s dedication towards and success in Creating Positive Outcomes for all students. Our Positive Futures Framework offers guidance for the skills and attributes necessary for success in any chosen career pathway, we have a system wide recognised Wellbeing program utilising Berry St resources and professional learning to guide and feature highly on all student growth tables for Literacy and Numeracy. Student Voice and Agency is celebrated, and our commitment to School Wide Positive Behaviour allows Newcomb SC to have a safe and orderly environment for learning together.

To compliment these areas of success, and in support our work in Berry St, in 2024 staff will continue to focus on supporting students with ‘High Expectation’ and ‘Good Oder’ practices. Research tells us that students who display consistent behaviours, have high expectations and predictable routines are more organised, maximise learning opportunities and achieve the greatest success. Aligned with our college values of ‘Learning, Respect & Working together’ as assessed in our positive learning qualities report cycle every five-weeks, ’Good Order’ practices will enable our classroom learning environments to be spaces that are calm and orderly, where positive learning interactions are a feature and remain the focus.

The ‘Good Order’ Focus areas that are expected and reinforced with students our assembly today are-

1. Students will line up outside the classroom before each class with all learning materials.
2. Students will enter the room in an orderly manner, sit & remain seated, and keep devices shut until instructed to open by the teacher.
3. Students will respect the learning equipment- and leave the room in a neat, tidy state.
4. There will be opportunities in class for structured movement directed only by the teacher- at all other times, students will remain seated for learning.
5. Only one student will be granted permission by the teacher to leave the classroom at any time using the ‘Pass-out’ card.

As you can appreciate, these ‘Good Order’ expectations, under our ‘High Expectations’ theme are quite simple and not hard for students to adhere to but will allow each and every class to begin in a positive fashion and remain conducive to best practice learning outcomes. We encourage you to take the time to speak about these measures with your student at home and set about determining what High Expectation outcomes look like with your student and in your family. We appreciate your support of our endeavour to provide organisational guidance, predictability, and high expectations to our student community in 2024. Today is our starting platform- our base level expectations so to speak. Please do keep an eye out for further ‘Good Order’ & ‘High Expectations’ foci over the coming weeks.

Student Uniform & Presentation

It was great to see the efforts made by most students regarding presentation within our Newcomb Secondary College community. Each student is a role model for the college, and we ask that they always represent the college well, as well as representing themselves and their families also.

Leadership, Student Support and Home Group teachers will be making a concerted effort to ensure all students are dressed in correct uniform in 2024. We too ask for your unwavering support with this focus also. Starting this week, students who present in the incorrect uniform will be asked to provide a reason and a plan to address the situation with their Home Group teachers and Student Support coordinators. Should a positive outcome not be possible, Leadership will contact respective guardians to discuss the matter and determine an outcome.

The Newcomb Secondary College uniform provider is PSW and if support is needed with uniforms don’t hesitate to contact our Wellbeing team.

Positive School Attendance Rates

You may have noticed in recent media articles that data suggests improved attendance in schools in 2023. This is a very positive sign and recognition of the determined efforts schools, carers and support teams have put into value learning, value being at school and thus getting students to improve attendance rates accordingly. With connection to school and engagement in learning being considered the greatest influences on academic and social outcomes, it is imperative that together we work closely to support students attending school each day. A quote from an article that appeared in the Age last week read-

Victoria recorded an overall student attendance rate of 89.3 per cent for 2023, with government schools sitting at 88.6 per cent, Catholic schools at 90.1 per cent and independent schools at 91.5 per cent.

The “attendance rate” is defined as the number of days of school attended by students in years 1 to 10, as a percentage of the total number of possible school days that they could have attended.

Victoria’s overall attendance figure was the highest of any state or territory. New South Wales came in second with 89.2 per cent across all school sectors, followed by the ACT with 88.8 per cent.

A Department of Education spokesperson said the numbers were a result of the “exceptional efforts of principals, teachers and school support staff” to focus on student engagement.

If we can assist you with attendance resources and supports, please be in contact with the NSC Attendance Officer- Ms Hannah Demopoulos, our Student Support team, our Wellbeing team and/or your students Home Group teacher.

There is further information on attendance from Hannah contained within this edition of the Newsletter.

Home Group 2024

It is important that students attend school ready to learn. To support students with being organised and prepared each day for classes, we have moved our Home Group sessions to the start of the day- commencing on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9 a.m. Home Group is a vital part of the school day in which messages can be shared, equipment and learning resources checked, wellbeing supports triaged, Compass Chronicle notes can be referred to and discussed, and may positive conversations and activities can take place. Home Group will provide an opportunity for Student Voice, Leadership, Respectful Relationships and much more. It is expected that from the conclusion of the Home Group session, students can move off to their subjects best prepared, in a cantered state for learning and thus able to achieve the best possible learning outcomes for the day.

Department Policy- Mobile Phone

I wish to take this opportunity to direct our community to a couple of key policies that schools are expected to action. Mobile phones continue to be a challenge in schools and can cause harm to students and learning when used during the school day. Students are expected to have their phone securely placed off and away during the school day. We provide secure lockers for students to keep their devices and each classroom also has secured lockers should a teacher ask a student to place it in one because the student had their phone out during class, rather than off and away in their locker as is expected and required.

Can we also ask that parents and carers refrain from contacting students during the school day on their Mobile Phones. IF important messages are needed to be delivered to a student, don’t hesitate to contact the Administration office and we will relay the message to your student.

For further information on the Department of Education’s Mobile Phone policy, please refer to this link- Mobile Phones – Student Use: Policy | education.vic.gov.au

Department Policy- Building a Positive Community Relationship

To help make sure that your child feels supported at school you must work with the school to create a supportive environment. This will also help meet your child's learning and wellbeing needs. Here at Newcomb Secondary College we are proud of the relationships we foster with our community and look to work closely and collaboratively as a team together in the best interests of all students.

The Respectful Behaviours in the School Community Policy defines standards of behaviour for all adult members of the school community. It also defines unacceptable behaviours and consequences for such behaviours. This helps to ensure schools are safe, supportive and respectful places for work and learning for all students, staff and other adults. In line with our High Expectations agenda in 2024, please take a moment to review the Department’s policies and resources on this important part of our partnerships together- Building a positive relationship with your child's school | vic.gov.au (www.vic.gov.au)

Mr James Murphy

Finally (last but certainly not least), today I informed the student community that at weeks end, Mr James Murphy will be leaving Newcomb Secondary College to take up a new position centrally within the Department of Education. We appreciate that this news will come as a shock for many- it certainly did with our student cohort when informed today! For me, this reaction is a sign, and confirmation of the vast impact that James has had on so many within our community. James has forged so many positive relationships with members of this community and has made it a mission of his to ensure that each person within our community is heard, supported, and cared for. James has unequivocally devoted his time and energy to supporting people and does so in such an eloquent, non-judgemental, considered and kind manner. James will be greatly missed as a member of the Newcomb Secondary College team and community, but he will remain in touch with the school and connected to us all moving forward. James will always be a valued part of the Newcomb Secondary College family. If you have a chance this week, I encourage you to reach out to James and show your appreciation of the leader and person he is, wish him well and thank him for the support he has offered to you and your student over the journey.

Have a great week!

Regards,

Mr McLeod

Principal