Issue 4
02 May 2025

Welcome back to Term 2

On behalf of the Leadership Team and staff, I would like to welcome back all members of the NGSC school community. I hope you have all had the opportunity to have a holiday over the Easter break and spend time with your families. We are looking forward to a productive Term as students prepare for major assessment tasks and the end-of-semester exams.

Term 2 Key Dates

Anzac Day

Last Thursday, the College commemorated Anzac Day with a moving ceremony led by the students at North Geelong Secondary College. School Captains, along with students Dayna Maring (also a School Captain), Shesh Rajasingham, Jack Ristevski, and Gabriel Brown, all members of various armed forces, took part, proudly wearing their service uniforms, which added to the solemnity of the occasion. The “Mounting of the Guard” was a particularly moving moment, with Dayna Maring marching the wreath to Jack Ristevski, who laid it beneath the flags as a powerful symbol of remembrance and respect. A highlight was Shesh Rajasingham's inspiring performance on the bagpipes, captivating everyone present. During the recitation of the “Ode of Remembrance,” the playing of the “Last Post,” the Minute of Silence, and the “Reveille,” you could hear a pin drop. I was enormously proud of the staff and students for their reverence and respect in honouring our soldiers.

Exemplary Student Behaviour

I am delighted to share two wonderful pieces of feedback we recently received, which recognised the exceptional behaviour of our students.

This week, I received a beautiful email about the 48 Year 11 and 12 Media students who travelled to Melbourne for a morning excursion. Their respectful, responsible and considerate behaviour left a lasting impression. In addition, at the end of last Term, a member of the public took the time to write a letter praising the conduct of some of our students in the broader community.

These messages are a credit to the students themselves, the teachers who guided them during these experiences, and everyone in our school community, who contributes daily to shaping young people of character and integrity.

While we know that part of learning and growing sometimes involves offering guidance and support, moments like these remind us of the positive impact we are making together.

Below is an email I received from a member of the public yesterday while travelling on the V/Line service at Tarneit and a handwritten letter that I received from a local resident, which has been typed up by the school at the end of last Term.

Dear NGSC Community,

While commuting on the V/Line train this morning, I witnessed something genuinely uplifting: a group of NGSC students disembarking at Footscray, guided by their dedicated teacher. In a world that often feels rushed and disconnected, the students’ impeccable behaviour, quiet confidence, and respectful demeanour stood out as a glimmer of hope. They were not just well-behaved—they embodied the values of kindness, discipline, and unity that form the foundation of great citizens.

To the students: Your actions speak volumes about your character. In a quiet way, you supported one another, followed instructions, and carried yourselves with grace. You showed the world what it means to be thoughtful, responsible young adults. You are not just the future of this country—you are its present, and you make it brighter already.

To the teacher: Your influence is immeasurable. The respect and attentiveness your students showed you—and one another—are a testament to your patience, compassion, and commitment. Educators like you don’t just teach lessons; you shape hearts and minds, leaving a lasting impact that ripples far beyond the classroom. Thank you for nurturing these young souls with such care.

You reminded me of the power of education, community, and human decency in a single morning commute. God bless each and every one of you, and may your future be as bright as the example you set today. Keep shining, NGSC!

With deepest gratitude and admiration

"The best way to predict the future is to create it.” You’re doing precisely that. 🌟

(Name redacted)

Dear Sir/Madam,

Firstly, thank you for taking the time to read my letter as I can appreciate how busy you folk are, (I certainly remember how busy my Principal was all those years ago. He was busy meeting with my parents or busy suspending me, but anyway I digress). Secondly, I apologise for any bad grammar or spelling that may follow, I write that with attempted humour, but I am honestly concerned where I put my commas and full stops.

I just wanted to bring to your attention about a few strapping - big fellas that regularly walk along Separation Street from your school. These guys have seen me walking along this street before and have always been pleasant with a “Gidday, how are ya’. But they went a little further than this the other day – I should remember what day it was, but going to NQR is a regular occurrence for me. It was in the last week – guessing it was the 6^th April, as my memory is not as good as it once was.

Anyway, they noticed that I had stopped for a rest from carrying several heavy bags and they offered to carry them for me. If I hadn’t met them on other occasions, a firm loud “No” would have been my reply. Instead, “Yeah, thanks guys” came out between my huffing and puffing. They walked with me carrying their own luggage and my shopping bags along Seppo then Thomson Rd, until the Bus Stop, offering to walk further but “Nah, but thanks heaps guys” I replied. They did go different ways with one staying at the Bus stop.

Once again, I just wanted you to know and maybe you let other students know this because it meant so much to me.

Quite simply students…. “A kind deed does get noticed”.

Hoping the rest of the school year is good to you, your staff and students and once again…. Thank you for sparing your time to read this.

(Name and address redacted)

These are just two great examples of the terrific behaviour we see from our students every day and a reminder of the powerful effect that simply being kind and considerate can have on others.

Morrisby Testing

This week, Year 9 students have partaken in Morrisby Profile Interviews. This is the second stage in this process. The first part was a survey to uncover their hidden talents. In these interviews experts come in and explain the results of their survey and start to put together suggested avenues to future employment based on the students' passions, skills, interests and capabilities. The students have engaged positively with these and the feedback from the facilitators has been excellent.

Semester Reports

Parents and students will receive their last Progress Reports for Semester 1 on 7th May. These will be an indicator of progress being made towards the basic work habits of the classroom. At the same time, teachers will be assessing Learning Tasks. These are the assessment tasks that are set to measure student learning, and these are available on Compass for parents to observe. Learning Tasks will also appear on the Semester Reports which will be published to parents later in the Term.

Semester arrangements

• Please note that Semester 2 starts in week 9 of this term.
• Year 8-10 exams start in week 7
• Year 7 and 11 exams are being conducted during week 8
• Curriculum Day 15th May
• Assessment and Reporting Day 13th June

Every day counts

HOW CAN I GET MY CHILD/TEEN TO SCHOOL

No matter how hard parents try, some students may be reluctant to go to school.

Here are some ideas which may assist you to support a child or teen who is reluctant to go to school and may even be school refusing.

Addressing attendance issues promptly and setting up good attendance patterns can lead to future success and can help students feel more engaged and connected at school.

Did you know?

• Patterns of late arrival at school or missing classes are early warning signs of disengagement from school
• Missing one day of school each week adds up to two months missed over a year
• Each day of absence has an impact on skill development and social connections
• Poor attendance may be associated with future unemployment, criminal activity, substance abuse, and poorer health and life expectancy.

Some causes of school problems

Some of the more common causes of school problems are underlying learning difficulties or learning disabilities or behavioural or emotional issues.

But there are many other reasons why a child or teen might not be engaging fully in their education.

School factors might include:

• Bullying or cyberbullying
• Feeling isolated at school
• Disliking, or not feeling connected to, the school culture or environment
• Falling behind on schoolwork or feeling overwhelmed about keeping up
• Disliking school subjects, not liking the choice of subjects, or not feeling challenged by the work
• Poor school or academic support, especially in relation to heavy workloads
• Not getting along with teachers or other students at school
• Competing demands on time, such as extracurricular activities
• Not feeling understood and fully accepted by peers or teachers
• Cultural acknowledgement and understanding

Personal factors might include:

• Chronic illness
• Intellectual or cognitive disability
• Behavioural or developmental difficulties or disorders
• Mental health issues such as depression or anxiety
• History of abuse and neglect
• Poor self-concept or self-esteem
• Poor communication skills
• Poor social skills
• Poor sleep habits
• Difficulty with listening, concentrating or sitting still
• Generational trauma

Family factors might include:

• Parents who aren’t involved in their child’s education
• A home environment that doesn’t or can’t adequately support a young person’s learning
• Family problems such as relationship breakdowns
• Competing family or social responsibilities, such as caring for family members, or working outside school hours
• Cultural differences with the school culture and environment

What you can do

Generally:

• Act early if you are concerned
• Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day, make that the expectation.
• Regular attendance at school sets up good behaviours for regular attendance at future workplaces and other life commitments
• Don’t let your child stay home unless genuinely sick. Complaints of headaches or stomach aches may be signs of anxiety
• Reward appropriate behaviour and don’t unintentionally reward unwanted behaviour by letting children who stay home have access to their devices and the internet
• Be sure to set a good example – how you meet your commitments impacts on how they will meet theirs

Daily Routines & Sleep

• Help your child maintain daily routines such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.
• Primary school aged children need about 10 to 11 hours sleep. Teenagers need an average of 8-9 hours of sleep to be healthy and alert.
• You may also need to monitor your child’s use of the Internet, mobile phone and TV at night to ensure they are not staying up too late or being disturbed while sleeping
• Consider how your child is sleeping – is their room cool and dark and have all devices, including TVs and mobile phones, been removed?

Talk about school

Talk to your child. What are their feelings about school? What interests them at school? Are there any difficult situations?

For teens, it helps if you open these discussions in a relaxed way so that your teenager knows you are demonstrating concern, not authority. It’s often a good idea to have these conversations while doing something else together such as driving, preparing dinner or going for a walk. If your teen doesn’t want to talk right then, let them know you’re ready to listen whenever they’re ready to talk

For younger children, talking about the school day shows your interest. Ask simple, positive and specific questions about parts of the day e.g. What was fun? Who did you play with today? Did you help anyone today?

Extracurricular activities, social connections & part-time work

Encourage meaningful extracurricular activities that your child enjoys, such as sports and clubs, to develop positive relationships and experience success outside of a classroom setting. These activities can help your child feel part of the group, important to the school, and more motivated

For teens, try to be aware of your child’s social contacts. Peer influence can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated

Set clear parameters around part-time work. Make sure that the hours your teenager is working do not impact on their ability to go to school the next day or interfere with school assessment expectations or exam preparation. Most schools recommend no more than 10 hours per week.

Family holidays & appointments

Try not to schedule hair, dental or medical appointments during school hours. Arrange family holidays during scheduled school holidays so that students don’t miss out on classes and feel left behind.

If it is necessary to be absent from school for an extended period, arrange with your school for a Student Absence Learning Plan.

School policies & monitoring attendance

Familiarise yourself with the school’s Attendance Policy. This can help when trying to reason with a child or teenager who is resisting going to school

Monitor your child’s attendance and school performance. Periodically check with their teachers to find out how things are going. If you find it difficult to contact several different teachers by phone, try email. Alternatively, the Year Level Coordinator may be a helpful point of contact in relation to specific issues.

Homework & assignments

If your child wants to stay home to finish an assignment, rather than letting them stay home, expect them to go to school. Make attendance the number one priority. Later, you can discuss with them how they can improve their study habits or adjust their schedule

If your school has an assessment calendar on its website, use this to help your child plan their study so that they avoid working late the night before an assignment is due

School Refusal

School refusing children experience significant emotional distress not only when going to school but also at the thought of going to school; they may be absent from school for weeks or even months at a time. School refusal differs from truancy as children generally stay home with the knowledge of the parents and despite their best efforts to encourage their child to go to school.

School refusal can be very distressing for parents who can find it very difficult to manage and address; it can cause conflict in the home and disrupt routines.

Identifying the cause of school refusal can be difficult; there may be a number of complex causes. Early intervention is essential as prolonged absences from school can greatly affect a child’s social and emotional development, academic achievement and vocational opportunities.

Further assistance

Sometimes you may need assistance from professionals who can help anxious children. Discuss your concerns with relevant teachers or wellbeing staff at your child’s school. They can help address any school-based issues, refer your child to school counselling services and make recommendations about professional support.

Alternatively, you could seek support from your GP who can assist with a referral to mental health professional such as a psychologist, psychiatrist or therapist. They can help your child overcome their anxiety using mindfulness, improving self-confidence and self-esteem and helping children change the way they think about difficult situations.

Remember:

You can talk with school staff (such as a teacher, Year Level Coordinator, wellbeing staff, careers staff, Assistant Principal or Principal) to find out what support they can provide to keep your child/teen attending and engaged.

Top attendance tips for parents

Schools want to work in partnership with parents – act early if you have any concerns by contacting your child’s school and asking for advice and support

Remember that every day counts

There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind, and can affect their educational outcomes and their social connectedness

Talk positively about school and the importance of attending every day

Open and prompt communication with your child’s school about all absences is a good idea

Avoid making routine medical and dental appointments during the school day or planning family holidays during the Term

Seek help from your school if you are concerned about your child’s attendance and wellbeing. Schools want to work in partnership with parents to support student attendance and wellbeing

Useful websites/contacts

Department of Education and Training - https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/studentmanagement/attendance/Pages/default.aspx

Kids Matter - www.kidsmatter.edu.au

Youth Beyond Blue - www.youthbeyondblue.com.au

Headspace - www.headspace.org.au

Reach Out – www.reachout.com

Raising Children Network - www.raisingchildren.net.au

Kids helpline - 1800 55 1800 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or web counselling

Parentline – 1300 30 1300 (8am to 10pm seven days a week) & web counselling Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11am and 2pm

Welcome back to all of the Year 7 and 8 students starting off Term 2. We are looking forward to a very successful and enjoyable Term. A few reminders and announcements from the Junior Sub School are as follows:

Year 7 Junior Sub School Camp

The Year 7 students will be attending camp in a few weeks at Alexandra Resort. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to get out of their comfort zone and try new things. This camp focuses on teamwork and confidence-building, as well as making new friends in the process. Students will be mixed up from their classes, so that they get to know each other and find common interests.

Consent and payment are required. This can be done through Compass. Please note that the consent and payment cut-off date is Monday, 5th May (Week 3). Consent will not be accepted after this date.  Also, GP (Doctor) written Asthma and ASCIA Allergic Reaction Plans are required, for all students with the condition, or a letter from a doctor stating your child no longer has the medical condition.  We would hate for the students to miss out on such an amazing opportunity.

SRC

There is still an opportunity to join the Student Representative Council (SRC). This is a great way to have your say and contribute to the school community in a positive way. You will also have an opportunity to represent the College and create engaging events for your peers. Please see Mr Moore or Mr Fairchild if you are interested.

Online Issues

We have noticed in the Junior Sub School that there have been some issues, mainly with group chats on Snapchat. These group chats can be extremely damaging for the students. Reports and screenshots that we have received are full of bullying and derogatory comments. We are asking that parents have a conversation with their child about appropriate and respectful behaviour online, and encourage students to report, block/delete anyone who is behaving inappropriately.

Uniform

We are aware that towards the end of Term 1, students were starting to come to school in the incorrect uniform. Please refer to the Uniform Policy to ensure that your child is in the correct uniform when they come to school. If there is a legitimate reason why your child is out of uniform, a note from home in the school diary, or a call to the school outlining why the student is out of uniform is required. If the students are not in correct uniform with a legitimate reason, a lunchtime detention will be issued.

If you need assistance with purchasing the school uniform, please contact a member of the Year Level Team, or the Wellbeing Team to assist you.

Class Equipment and Lockers

It is expected that all students are taking the correct equipment to class and not returning to their lockers during class time, or between classes. Students must take the following equipment to every class: a pencil case with various pens and pencils, their student diary, an exercise book, and their charged device. If the students have any issues with their equipment, please contact the Junior Sub School.

Students are also expected to lock their lockers at all times during the day. All students have been given a lock to place on their lockers. This ensures that students' equipment is not exposed to the elements and that their belongings are secure. Please encourage your child to lock their lockers and not tell anyone their code.

School for Student Leadership Program

We are thrilled to announce that three of our outstanding students have been selected to attend the prestigious School for Student Leadership Program:

• Mia North
• Wesley Altman
• Ehsan Faqiri

This program is based on experiential learning, which means our students will learn from a wide range of experiences both inside and outside the classroom. The benefits of this program include:

• Increased connectedness to the environment and community
• Development of self-worth and self-belief
• Stronger relationships with peers, families, and staff

The program will run for the duration of Term 3. We wish Mia, Wesley, and Ehsan all the best on their exciting adventure!

Year 9 Morrisby Interviews

Starting next Tuesday, our Year 9 students will be participating in Morrisby Interviews. Here's what you need to know:

• Interviews will last approximately 15 minutes
• Students will be collected from their classes by student helpers
• These interviews are an important part of our Career Guidance Program

We encourage parents to discuss the interviews with their children and support them through this process.

Dear Senior School Families,

Welcome back to Term 2! We hope the holidays provided a chance to rest, recharge, and maybe even get a few jobs ticked off the "I'll do it later" list. April has kicked off at full speed, and there’s lots to update you on!

Term 2 - Full Steam Ahead!

Term 2 may be short, but it’s packed full of important moments: SACs, study, camps, and key assessments. It is vital that students are organised, balancing their academic workload with wellbeing, social time, and a healthy amount of sleep (not just Netflix marathons!).  Good habits now will mean smoother sailing later.

Practice GAT - Get GAT-Ready!

Wednesday, 15th May is our official Practice GAT, held on our Curriculum Day.  All students required to sit the real GAT in June have been listed on Compass under the event "Practice GAT" — please check your Compass notifications carefully. This session will mirror the real GAT, including full timing, supervision, and exam conditions. Importantly, the Practice GAT will be marked by independent markers, and students will receive valuable feedback to help sharpen their performance before the real event.

Why is the GAT so important?

• It can directly influence your ATAR. If exam scores are unusual or disrupted, a strong GAT score can help moderate results.
• It protects your subject grades. In cases where Special Provision is needed, the GAT is used as evidence to support your final scores.
• It assesses essential skills. Literacy, numeracy, critical thinking — the GAT measures what’s at the heart of success in all subjects.

In short: Doing your best in the GAT can only help you. Think of it as academic insurance — a strong GAT result is always a good thing.

Key Dates:

• Practice GAT – Wednesday, 15th May (Curriculum Day)
• Real GAT – Monday, 17th June

Tip: Treat the Practice GAT seriously. A strong effort now sets you up for success later — and yes, celebrating afterwards with a donut is absolutely appropriate.

Thinking of Going Non-ATAR?

Some Year 12 students may now be considering a Non-ATAR pathway.  A few key tips if you are:

• Speak with your Year Level Coordinator and the Careers Team early.
• Make informed decisions—some future courses still require completed VCE, even without an ATAR.
• Stay engaged! You still need to meet all coursework requirements to successfully complete VCE or VM.
• Own your journey. Non-ATAR pathways lead to incredible futures too. Pride in your choice is what matters most!

(And no, unfortunately, it doesn’t mean "no more schoolwork"—we’re still finishing strong together!)

SAC Season - Stay Ahead of the Game!

Believe it or not, we are already more than halfway through Semester 1. Soon, students will enter a particularly busy period where end-of-semester SACs pile up quickly across multiple subjects.  Now is the time to stay organised and disciplined!

• Stay on top of classwork — don’t let tasks build up.
• Plan ahead — know when your SACs are scheduled and work backwards.
• Seek help early — if you’re feeling overwhelmed or falling behind, please speak to your Year Level Coordinators (YLCs) or teachers.
• Use support sessions like after-school catch-ups to stay in control.

Remember: SACs are not surprise parties — they’re predictable if you prepare!

Senior School Catch-Up Sessions

Each Tuesday afternoon from 3:20pm–4:30pm, catch-up classes run for students who:

• Missed SACs
• Need to complete a redemption
• Are behind in key coursework

Your Year Level Coordinator will let you know if attendance is required. It is a chance to get ahead before deadlines catch you!

Progress Reports and Attendance Reminders

Progress reports will be released soon. This is a great chance for families to review learning habits, progress, and goals for the rest of the semester.  A reminder:

• Senior students must maintain at least 80% attendance in each subject.
• Being present in class is crucial for learning outcomes, SAC preparation, and academic success.

Netflix will still be there after school. Your future opportunities are being built now.

ANZAC Day - Honouring Sacrifice

This month, our Senior School students proudly participated in our school’s ANZAC Day commemorations.  Their respectful and thoughtful involvement during the service set a wonderful example to our junior students about leadership, gratitude, and community pride. It was a powerful reminder of the strength and character we aim to build in all our students.  Lest we forget.

Uniform Expectations

With cooler weather sneaking in, a quick reminder:

• Hoodies and non-uniform tops are not permitted.
• Proper black school shoes (not runners) must be worn.
• Students must be clean-shaven and wear their uniform with pride.

As senior students, setting the tone for the whole school matters. Thank you for leading by example!

Final Words

It is a busy, challenging, and exciting term ahead and we are already proud of the determination and spirit our senior students have shown.  Keep showing up, working hard, and reaching for your goals. We’ll be with you every step of the way!

Term 1 was an incredibly successful Term that included numerous events and fundraisers but also positioned SRC members to be successful throughout the rest of the year.

Term 1 had events such as the Valentine's Day stall. The stall contained flowers and chocolates that were able to be purchased, with all proceeds going to the Red Cross. There was also a variety of live music performances which were huge crowd pleasers.

There was also Harmony Week which celebrated the diversity that surrounds us in our country and school. There were lunchtime activities throughout the week such as Trivia, Student vs Teachers sports, and a handprint Mural. There was also a stall which sold cupcakes with profits going towards Dolly’s Dream. Each activity was a massive hit and really embodied the positive and diverse attitudes at our school as well as the spirit of Harmony Day.

We also had our annual SRC Planning Day which involved having leadership presentations from yLead as well as a range of activities based around leadership and teamwork. The yLead presentations and activities were enriching experiences that helped establish the behaviours and goals that we have as an SRC. It encouraged all students to go outside of their comfort zones and to put effort into everything they do and provided us with key skills that will help us in achieving our leadership goals this year. After the yLead sessions the SRC split off into area groups to begin planning for this year. This was an opportunity to prepare for all the great events that the SRC will run. There were so many unique ideas raised amongst all SRC areas and highlighted the immense creativity and passion that the SRC has.

Thank you to the SRC members for 2025. NGSC is looking forward to working with every one of you. The SRC 2025 members are Elliott Arklay, Jessica Barrow, Gabriel Brown, Robert Cathro, Ashley Clingan, Logan Cook, Slayde Costello, Zachary Darling, Hannah Day, William Devlin, Sadie Dorais, Chase Elek, Ehsan Faqiri, Chanel Fiorenza, Jack Francis, Rushneet Gill, Cassandra Gorniakowski Smith, Makayla Guidotti, Lucy Heitmann, Charlee-K Hide, Sarah Ivey, Thoma Kacprzak, Mayla Ladduhetti, Dayna Maring, Asher Mitchell, Heidi Mitsakis, Oliver Mitu, Ashton Muller, Tanishka Negi, Ngoc Pham, Jackson Phillips, Mya Picol, Prisha Prisha, Mursal Qasemi, Sheshanth Rajasingham, Jayden Randall, Faraz Shabestanimonfared, Ayush Singh, Dean Smilevski, Jacob Obrien-Carter, Jayson Stannard, Caleb Stephenson, Marley Thomas, Madison Vasovski, Sandhra Vijay, Patrick Washington and Sayde Woolley

Academic

The academic area is very broad as it can include a lot of different subjects like Maths, English, and Science. Out of the events that we have done, we have always tried to have some sort of learning focus, whether it be testing your skills at spelling or seeing how much you know about the world with trivia. There is also the possibility of getting authors to speak at the library.

We partner with other SRC groups to run activities on the important days like RUOK Day and Harmony Day/Week. This Term the plan is to run more activities that will be enjoyed by everyone.

Sport

There have been many sporting activities going throughout Term 1, including some teachers vs student sports, the Athletics Day Carnival and the Inter School Sports, it was amazing seeing so many people contributing to these sports and activities for the past 10 weeks.

During Term 2, there will be a continuation of the teachers vs student sports with a variety of different sports anyone can participate in. a new topic has arrived in social media named the “UCS Ice Bucket Challenge” where people tip a freezing cold bucket of water over their head, the point is to raise awareness to mental health. We thought it would be an amazing idea to contribute to this cause as some teachers throughout the school will be participating in this event. We still plan to create and run many more programs for all to enjoy, participate and have fun in.

Cultural

Throughout Term 1, the cultural area focused on celebrating the diversity of the College, especially Harmony Week with everyone coming together and joining in with all the activities. 

On our planning day with yLead, all of the SRC members got together to discuss what it means to be a leader at the College.

This Term for the Cultural area, we will be focusing on Reconciliation Week which is on the 27th of May to the 3rd of June. This year's theme for Reconciliation Week is ‘Bridging Now to Next’ which emphasises the importance of connecting the past, present and future in reconciliation.

Arts

Throughout Term 1, in the Arts area, there was a large focus on unity, especially throughout Harmony Week. We had the pleasure of running the Valentines Day stall, which saw many students coming along to sing their hearts out to their favourite songs, create cards for their friends, and much more. We also had the opportunity to create a banner for Harmony Day, an awesome display of unity for all the College students.

For the coming Term, a huge focus is our annual Winter Concert, with the theme being Songs Throughout the Ages. Going forward with our current progress on making the school a far more unified, and positive environment, we plan to run more fun and creative events to be enjoyed by all.

Senior Boys Volleyball

The North Geelong Secondary College Senior Boys Volleyball Team has taken out the Barwon and Bellarine Division championship and will progress to the Western Metro Championships on Monday 12^th May. The boys played with fantastic team spirit and linked up like a well-oiled machine throughout all games. They beat Geelong HS, Bellarine SC and Lara SC with ease during the pool games, and played off against Surf Coast SC in the final. A hard-fought match was played out and our team left victorious, winning both sets thanks to some heroic rallies. The boys were ecstatic, deserved all the praise and should be very proud of themselves. Best of luck in the next round of competition.

The Koori Way Vaping Prevention and Education Program

During Term 1, North Geelong Secondary College partnered with Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative to implement a five-week educational program for First Nations students in Years 7 and 8. Ben from Wathaurong led the program, which was supported by NGSC’s Koorie Coordinator, the Secondary School Nurse, and the KESO Team. The Koori Way Program at NGSC focused on educating students about the dangers of smoking and vaping, as well as the benefits of avoiding these activities.

The program covered:

• Nicotine
• Vaping
• Tobacco
• The Impacts
• Recap of all sessions and Virtual Reality (VR) experience

Students who participated in the Koori Ways Program received a polo top on the last day of the program, which they wore proudly on the day.

On Thursday 24th April, Ms Darling's Year 11 Biology class were pleased to have Maryam Sherzad (2018) visit to speak about her journey in the healthcare field.

After completing a Diploma in Health Science at Deakin Uni in 2020, Maryam gained entry into a double degree of Nursing and Midwifery at Victoria Uni. At this time, of course it was the COVID-19 pandemic, so much of her study was online. Maryam took advantage of opportunities to help her succeed, such as study groups and mentoring sessions. Unable to complete all her placements for midwifery, her clinical coordinator suggested she concentrate on gaining her Nursing certification, which she did in 2023. Maryam subsequently completed a graduate year at Barwon Health, specialising in medical/surgical wards. She is currently working as a recovery nurse in the post-operative ward. 

Maryam delivered some great messages around goal setting, seeking opportunities to succeed and staying focussed. 

As a refugee, arriving in Australia with limited English, and spending time in the Geelong English Language Centre based at NGSC, Maryam realised she was behind the other students. She knew she wanted to complete a VCE program and also knew that this meant she had to work tirelessly to catch up to, and stay with, the rest of the class. Maryam demonstrated her determination and ambition to succeed by seeking out help from teachers, study groups, utilising the local Library and joining mentorship programs.

Maryam explained that the ATAR score was important, but it was not the be all and end all. She first completed a Diploma as she did not gain the ATAR she had expected. She also explained that if you did other things after leaving Secondary School then, in a few years, the ATAR is not taken into account, and it is still possible to gain entry into a University. 

Maryam has shown resilience throughout her studies, mainly driven by the pandemic, but also her drive and ambition. She has expressed interest in working overseas, which will be another challenge - one which I'm sure she's up for!

Thank you for giving up your time to return to NGSC - it was much appreciated!

If you're a past student and would like to be a part of the growing alumni community at NGSC, please contact alumni@ngsc.com.au

You can also follow the socials at 

https://www.facebook.com/north...

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ng...

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North Geelong Centre

Located at

North Geelong Secondary College

Just a quick update on the situation with VSL / LOTE learning. Many of our students attend school on a Saturday morning to learn a language. The VSL is running all classes through on-line learning, as are day-schools; the lessons are running at the usual time on a Saturday. The VSL teachers contacted each class member prior to the commencement of this term in regard to the electronic platform being used and instructions to access those. If any of our students or their parents/guardians have questions about this, please contact the class teacher first (if possible) and then make all enquiries through the VSL head-office.

The Victorian School of Languages is a specialist Government school offering complementary language instruction outside of regular school hours. It enrols students in Years 1 to 12, who are unable to study their language of choice in their mainstream school. Students from all educational sectors (Government, Independent and Catholic) are eligible to enrol.

The Victorian School of Languages offers quality courses aligned with Government curriculum standards, based on communication skills, that include speaking, reading, writing and listening. Its VCE Program is fully accredited and can advantage students in the calculation of their University entrance score.

The school`s Language Program is delivered through online teaching in over 40 Language Centres situated in government Secondary Schools across the state, and through Distance Education mode.

In North Geelong, classes are held on Saturday mornings between 9:00 am and 12:15 pm online.

Languages offered:

Croatian, Karen, Vietnamese, Dari, Persian, Polish, Macedonian, Bosnian, Turkish and Russian

*New languages may be offered subject to demand*

For enquiries Telephone: 5277 9833

Further details and enrolment are available online at our website: www.vsl.vic.edu.au

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