Welcome to Term 4!

It’s with pleasure that I welcome back all members of the NSC community to Term 4. I really hope that everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing break with family and friends.

Term 4 is a busy term filled with events, growth, feedback, success, and achievement. At the start of the term assembly on Monday, I reflected on my observations of our students within the community. In particular, those who achieved great team and individual success in their sporting finals and grand finals as well as those who conducted themselves so admirably in the community by working in café’s, restaurants, supermarkets and retail stores. My speech to students was to acknowledge the transfer of skills and attributes demonstrated and taught in the school setting, on the sporting field and in the workplace. Such skills and attributes develop the whole student and thus ensure that our students can have success in their future aspirations. I noted the supports that students have in these fields and recognised the hard work that students put in to realise the success that is attained. Of special consideration was our Year 12 students who are about to enter their final stages of their secondary schooling lives. My assembly speech was as follows:

Welcome back from your holiday break. It is so great to see you all back safe and well, ready and prepared for a positive Term of learning, growth and  achievement. Over your break I trust you had a great time with family and friends. I certainly look forward to hearing all about your holiday adventures over the coming days and weeks.

This time of year often features many highlights, celebrations and achievements. Over the course of the last month or so, I have been proud to see so many of you achieving great things not only at school but also in the community.

I have been privileged to see many of you achieve great team and individual results in the local soccer, football, netball and basketball finals and grand finals - some of you winning individual awards at club and league level- congratulations! We have even had student success in Lawn Bowls!

I have also bumped into many of you working in the community- cafes, supermarkets, restaurants, and retail stores. It is great to see how capable and competent you are in the workplace- earning lots of pocket money!

Then there are those of you who come to school today on a high following Collingwood’s great victory in the AFL grand final- and yes, I accept for the next 12 months we will have to acknowledge that you are the best team in the country... but that’s enough of Collingwood for now….

This success and achievement resonated with me as we embark on the last phase of the schooling year- Term 4.

Growth that translates to achievement and success is made possible from skills and attributes that align closely with those developed at school, on the sporting field and in your workplaces- teamwork, discipline, dedication, determination, collaboration, resilience, feedback and effective communication.

Success and achievement is not possible without hard work- and as we all know at times hard work can feel overwhelming. But hard work is made easier when supported by those around you. In 'sport' those supports are your coaches, assistants, trainers and other club people. In the 'workplace' they are your managers and fellow staff. At 'home' they are your family and friends. At school, here at NSC, those supports are your teachers, learning mentors, wellbeing staff and all other staff members.

The reward of this support and mentorship, coupled with the all that hard work you put in, results in a positive outcome- one that you can be content with and proud of.

Let's now focus on your 2023 outcomes. How can you ensure they result in a positive outcome given the supports provided to you? What will see you be content and proud of your achievements by the end of 2023?

Let's acknowledge the hard work already put in by our VCE & VCE Vocational Major student’s. Our wonderful Year 12, the class of 2023, you are nearing the end of your secondary school journey. The next couple of months will challenge you but remember that you are well-prepared, well-supported and well-equipped to be successful. Embrace the next month of your lives in a positive manner and in amongst the challenges enjoy the experience- it is a time in your life that you will remember for ever!

For students in Years 7-11, Term 4 is an important time to finish the year well. This means ensuring that you focus on maximising the learning opportunities that come your way, complete all set tasks in a determined manner and contribute positively to the learning environment in the classroom. In addition to that, it is important that you continue to contribute positively towards the school climate whilst out in the yard, and that you carry yourself in a respectful manner within the broader community.

To do this, I have some reminders for you of the:

• Positive Futures Framework- Use this framework to guide your holistic growth & development

• Good Order focus- A non-negotiable. Good order offers us predictability and routine. It provides a stable and consistent learning environment for each and every one of you.

• Uniform & Presentation- Another non-negotiable. For most of you, I look around and note that your uniform and presentation is great- however for those who simply push boundaries and ignore your expectations- there are no excuses.

• Positive & Healthy Relationships- We are a school community. This is a workplace. Ensure you play your role in forming respectful, positive and healthy relationships at all times with each other and with staff. We strive to ensure that at the end of each day we all head home having had an enjoyable and positive experience at school together.

• Responsible problem solving. Employ responsible strategies to manage challenges. Make positive choices. Consider all outcomes of your actions. Never resort to harmful means for problem solving. Put simply, it is not accepted in society to sort issues out by causing harm to others and it is definitely not accepted at NSC. We can assist you to make positive choices- the rest is up to you.

• Kindness- Quotes state that ‘Kindness costs nothing but means everything’ and ‘no act of kindness, no matter how small will ever go wasted.' Offering an act of kindness can make a person’s day- be kind to one another.

With that in mind, and starting from now, let's have a great Term 4, a great end to the school year, and most importantly a great day today!

Annual State Conference- Parents Victoria

State education is evolving and moving at a rapid rate – we invite you to contribute to the conversation. Here’s your opportunity to hear from key people in education, to share your thoughts with them and other parents, in order to provide a collective voice on hot education topics to address the needs and aspirations of Victorian government school children.

For more information- https://www.parentsvictoria.asn.au/get-involved/annual-conference/

Mayor of CoGG- Trent Sullivan Visit

Late in Term 3 we were privileged to have Trent Sullivan, Mayor of the City of Greater Geelong (CoGG) visit Newcomb Secondary College. Trent addressed our Year 9, 10 and SLAM students encouraging them to be involved in the matters throughout the Greater Geelong Community as part of the CoGG Youth Leadership program. This exciting opportunity provides youth voice to the council ensuring that this large demographic of our community can be heard. It also serves as a great opportunity for our young people to build their capacity, further develop their leadership skills and you never know, perhaps one day become leaders within our community at a council level, at a state level or even at a federal level.

Have a great week!

Regards,

Mr McLeod

Principal