Newcomb Secondary College Newsletter

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TUESDAY 2nd February 2015 ISSUE: 1

Coming Events

Wednesday, 11th February

School photos.

Thursday, 12th February

Year 12 Orientation.

Year Level Assemblies, 10.30am.

Friday, 13th February

Year 12 Orientation.

Monday, 16th February

Swimming Sports.

Tuesday, 17th February

School photos catch up.

Thursday, 19th February

Whole College Assembly.

Thursday, 26th February

Year 7 and 10 Immunisations.

Connect Assemblies.

Friday, 27th February

Year 11 Orientation.

Regional Swimming/Diving

Thursday, 5th March

Year Level Assemblies.

Friday, 6th March

Year 8 EASE Geelong Excursion.

Senior Sport: Volleyball/Tennis/Softball/

Baseball/Cricket.

GROW at Gordon.

WELCOME BACK Last Thursday we were able to welcome back our students to the 2015 school year. It was great to see everyone and there was a general excitement as staff

and students commenced their year.

We started with a whole school assembly with some general welcomes and reminders on expectations for how we work together.

We welcomed new students, of course at Year 7 but also at other year levels

and we welcomed back a number of staff from leave – Mrs Kestle, Mrs Brennan, Mr Houlihan and Mr Krause. We also welcomed Mr Elevato who is our new

Assistant Principal and I pointed out that Ms Smith is now Mrs Boyanton.

I focussed in on three aspects of how we operate that will support our educational environment. These were that the point of our being here is to focus

on the learning and that will be most evident when we have collective respect and positive teamwork operating across the College.

We then moved to year level assemblies, where the organisational practicalities of being ‘Ready to Learn’ were supported, before getting straight into our classes

for lesson 2.

ICT DEVELOPMENTS The new school year has seen a number of key ICT initiatives commence that

will enhance communication between teachers, students and parents.

Parents will soon receive personal login details for the college’s internet portal called ‘Xuno’. This portal will allow students and parents to access key

information about subjects including curriculum documents, attendance data and communication from teachers.

Another new and exciting development is the soon to be released NSC smart

phone app. This app can be accessed on iPhones, iPads and Android devices and will include notifications, newsletters, event reminders, photos and important

web links including Xuno and the school website.

Also worth noting is the number of students embracing the opportunity to purchase their own computer device to use in class and at home. Students

benefit greatly from having access to a device to enhance their classroom and homework study habits. Further information about computer options for

students is being mailed out to families this week.

I encourage all members of the NSC community to embrace these exciting new ICT initiatives and the many benefits they offer our students to maximise

learning.

College Council: Student Leaders: Student Leaders: President: Vidas Kymantas Mitchell Allen Toby France

Vice President: Yvette Ramsay Amanda Clydesdale Bailee Jones

Exec. Officer: Phil Honeywell

81-85 Bellarine Highway Newcomb VIC 3219 Phone: 03 5248 1400 Fax: 03 5248 3523

Email: newcomb.sc@edumail.vic.gov.au Website: www.newcombsc.vic.edu.au SMS student absences: 0434 728 159

ATTENDANCE—IT’S NOT OK TO BE AWAY Full school attendance is essential to ensure learning is continuous, that students maintain strong connections with

their peers and feel confident and in control at school.

It is the responsibility of the parent/caregiver to make sure your child: attends school on ALL school days and is on time every day. Please make sure you: provide the school with an explanation if your child is away and arrange doctor

and dentist appointments out of school hours. Do not allow your child to stay at home for minor reasons and contact

the Student Support Leader at your child’s year level if your child is asking to stay at home.

Please phone the office if your child is absent from school. For the wellbeing of your child, Department of Education

Training has an attendance policy and teachers and schools are required to follow up student absences.

LOCKERS AND COMBINATION LOCKS All students have been allocated with a student planner and a locker. All students must have a lock on their locker –

the school cannot take responsibility for the contents of student’s lockers. Year 7 students have been supplied with a MASTER combination lock which will be charged to the family account. If students at other levels wish to buy a

combination lock they can be purchased directly from the General Office.

STUDENTS NOT RETURNING TO NEWCOMB If you know anyone not returning to Newcomb Secondary College this year, could you please ask them to contact the

office on 5248 1400. Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr Shane Elevato, Assistant Principal

Mrs Liz McNamara, Assistant Principal

CONVEYANCE ALLOWANCE 2015 (TRAVEL ALLOWANCE)

To be eligible to receive a Conveyance Allowance, applicants must reside more than 4.8km by the shortest

practicable route from their nearest school. Parents are responsible for the initial payment of the bus pass but will

be reimbursed in July and December in the current year by the College.

To apply for reimbursement students are required to complete two forms and return them to the school office.

1. Public Transport Travel Student Conveyance Allowance Application 2015.

2. 2015 Victorian Public Transport Student Concession Card and Student Pass Application Form

(these forms are not available until early 2015 and can be obtained from the College General

Office or V/Line Stations).

Please note that these forms have to be completed at the start of each school year for continued

funding. Any queries please contact Michelle Sharp at the College on 5248 1400.

STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHS All students will be photographed on Wednesday,

11th February 2015, with a catch up day on Tuesday

17th, February 2016.

There is no charge to be photographed and all students

will receive an Identification Card at no cost. The card

will enable students to borrow books and use the

photocopier. Replacement cards and students receiving

cards later will incur a charge of $5.

Students must be in correct school uniform and comply

with the Uniform Policy to be photographed as each

image will be used to produce class photos.

PLEASE NOTE all money and forms to be handed

in on the day to Arthur Reed Photos.

SWIMMING SPORTS Monday, 16th February will see the Newcomb

Secondary College sporting year kick off with the

House Swimming Sports.

The sports will be held at Kardinia Swimming Pool.

Students are not required to be in school uniform

and should dress up in their respective house

colours to show support for the team.

They should also ensure they have appropriate

protection from the sun. Students can bring their

own lunch or food can be purchased from the pool

canteen.

As the sports are a whole school activity there will

be no classes operating on this day.

COMPUTER AND ICT UPDATES

As we move into a new year it is important to keep

everyone up to date with new works so that you are

all aware of changes and new initiatives that aim to

improve the educational experiences of our students.

We have been working hard to set up a new student

information portal that allows teachers, students and

parents to see important details about individual

students, their classes and achievements over the school year. This Internet portal, called Xuno will be

continually updated to show attendance data, classwork and homework details as well as teacher feedback

regarding school achievements. You will also be able to message your student’s teachers if needed via this

portal.

We are continually developing our computer education programs to keep up with the ever changing needs of

21st century learning. Educational studies have shown that students benefit greatly from having access to their

own computer device that they can use in classes at school when needed as well as taking the device home to

continue study and homework tasks. We have included an information flyer showing different options open to

families in providing a computer device for students for 2015.

We understand that effective communication is very important in our busy lives. We are in the final stages of

releasing a smart phone app that can be used on iPhones, iPads and Android devices to access school

information such as newsletters, notices, photos and important web links like Xuno and the school website.

This app will be available free to download to your phone or iPad. We hope all families will be able to take

advantage of this new service.

A letter is being sent to all families which will include -

Details of how parents can log on to Xuno using your own confidential username and password. (We

will be issuing these to Years 10, 11 and 12 students in the first stage).

Information on Student Computer Provision for 2015.

An introduction to the NSC Phone App to be released soon.

As we endeavour to improve our communication with our families it is also important that we have up to date

contact details for everyone. If you have changed address recently or have a new phone number (especially

mobiles) or have an email address that you can provide us with please contact the school office on 52481400.

We look forward to being able to keep you all better informed and welcome your support in the education of

your students.

2014 NEWCOMB SECONDARY COLLEGE MAGAZINE

As you will be aware we have now moved the production and distribution of our

weekly newsletter to a digital format, making each issue available online or by email

for the many readers who follow our news each week.

This change in our newsletter has allowed us to include more content and to reach

a far wider audience than when it was in a printed format. There has also been a

considerable cost and environmental saving by removing the need for large

quantities of paper. With the success of our digital publishing we have now moved

to a digital format for our annual College Magazine.

The 2014 College Magazine will now be made available free of charge to all college

members and their families in a high quality digital format available for download via

our school secure website. In past years the magazines have cost up to $15 each.

We understand that some people may still prefer a paper copy and we will be able

to arrange for a printed copy to be produced upon request and payment of printing costs.

By eliminating the external print production time we aim to now have the magazine available for release at the

end of the school year. If you have been unable to obtain a copy in the past we hope that this new format will

allow more people to join with us in celebrating all that is great about our college and our achievements for the

2014 school year. A log in link for your own personal copy will be emailed to newsletter subscribers.

Stephen Bath

ICT Leader

MUSIC DEPARTMENT NEWS

SAVE THE DATE – SENIOR CONCERT BAND

This year the Senior Concert Band will be performing at the 100th Anniversary of Anzac Day at Ocean Grove –

Saturday April 25th . It is an honor for our College and the Senior Concert Band to be asked to participate in this

event. We will be departing school at 8.20 am and returning by 11.30 am. A bus has been provided to us free of

charge from Christians Bus lines. All Senior Concert Band Members are asked to please make themselves

available to perform on this day for this very important event in our history.

YEAR 7 MUSIC

Over the next few weeks all Year 7 students will commence their participation in the instrumental music

orientation program, where they will be given an opportunity to try out several brass and woodwind instruments

and pick one that they will be interested in learning.

BAND REHEARSALS

Blues’n Jazz – 1 pm every Tuesday lunchtime commencing at1 pm sharp.

Senior Concert Band – on a rotating timetable from periods 1 to 6 every Thursday.

Year 8 Intermediate Band – on a rotating timetable every Thursday.

Cold Fusion – 1 pm every Friday lunchtime.

BEFORE SCHOOL MUSIC LESSONS EVERY WEEK – WITH MRS STABRYLA

Senior music students are given the opportunity every week to undertake music lessons with Mrs Stabryla on the

following days to avoid missing class.

Tuesday 8.15 am sharp - Senior Concert Band Flutes

Wednesday 8.15 am sharp - Senior Concert Band Saxophones

Friday 8.15 am sharp - Senior Concert Band Clarinets.

SENIOR CONCERT BAND TOUR – Date set is the week commencing 24th August 2015. A number of

students have not yet returned their expression of interest in participating in this band tour. Please get another

form from Mrs Stabryla if you have misplaced it late last year.

Lion King excursion – There are still a few positions available for the Lion King excursion for Senior Concert

Band members. Please see Mrs Stabryla this week if you are interested.

Any enquiries regarding the Music program please contact Mrs Stabryla via email –

stabryla.cheryl.a@edumail.vic.gov.au.

Cheryl Stabryla

Music Co-ordinator

IMMUNISATIONS

Councils are mandated under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 to provide immunisation services to children

living or being educated within their municipal district.

Councils co-ordinate and deliver immunisation services to secondary schools. The current immunisation program

schedule for Victorian schools is outlined in Table 1.

Table 1: National Immunisation

Program – Victorian eligibility for

adolescents Vaccine

Eligibility in the school-based program

Eligibility in community health settings

Human papillomavirus, chickenpox Year 7 12 to 13 years of age

Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis Year 10 15 to 16 years of age

SCHOOL EXCURSIONS AND REMINDERS

Students who don’t attend an excursion are expected to attend school as normal.

Parents are asked to not keep students at home.

Year/Group Excursion Date Cost Permission Slips &

Payment Due

7-12 House Swimming Carnival Monday, 16th February $5 11th February

REMINDER TO PLEASE NAME ALL

ITEMS OF UNIFORM

NEW COLLEGE UNIFORM

With the introduction of the new College uniform in 2013 there was a two year period of grace, during which time

students could wear new, old or combination of uniform items. We have now completed that two year transition

period and it is timely to remind all families that students are expected to be wearing the new College uniform in 2015.

Most of our students are wearing correct College uniform with pride and look terrific – we thank parents for

supporting our uniform policy. Teachers and the Student Support teams provide constant reminders of our

expectation that all students will be in full and correct College uniform.

Students are required to get a uniform pass when they do not have correct items of uniform and parents will be

contacted when students are persistently out of uniform. If your child does not have an item of uniform, please provide

a signed note of explanation - this will enable them to get a uniform pass for the day.

Uniform can be purchased from Beleza store located at 107 Ryrie Street – it is open from 9.00am to

4.30pm Monday to Friday.

Newcomb Secondary College

LAMINATING

SERVICE

$6 per metre trimmed

$4 per metre untrimmed

Lamination up to 800mm wide and

unlimited length

Contact: Jean at Newcomb Secondary

College for more information

5248 1400.

STUDENT ABSENCES Parents and Guardians are required to provide an

explanation for their child’s absences.

This can be done by:

Telephone the College on 5248 1400

Send an SMS text message or reply to our absence

line 0434 728 159. Please put Student Name, Home

Group and Reason for Absence in the text message.

Write a note in the Student Planner or a separate

note to present the next morning to the PASS Booth.

Records can then be amended.

In all instances the College requires the following

information:

Child’s name.

Home Group or Year level.

Date absent.

Reason for absence.

Parent/guardian signature (when written).

PUNCTUALITY AND UNIFORM

Students are to report to the College Office for

PASSOUTS for:

Late Arrival.

Leave Early.

Out of Uniform or Without Diary.

The PASSOUTS Desk is located in the rear foyer of the

Admin Building – enter through quadrangle. This is

available from 8.30am each morning. After 10.00am

students will need to report to College Reception.

LATE ARRIVAL

When a student is going to arrive late to school for any

reason please let the school know by phone or write a

note. Those who arrive to class after 8.45am must

receive a Late Pass. If the student has no note, they will

need to go through the same procedure. Students who

regularly arrive late without an explanation will be

referred to their Team Leader.

LEAVE EARLY

If it is unavoidable that a student needs to leave for an

appointment, the student is required to provide a

signed note of explanation to the College office before

school. The student will in turn be issued with a Leave

Pass from the PASSOUTS Desk. This is to be handed

to their teacher at the arranged time of departure.

Appointments, where possible, should be made outside

school hours or on Wednesday afternoons when

students are dismissed early.

OUT OF UNIFORM

If a student is out of uniform they must provide a signed

note of explanation to the PASSOUTS Desk before

classes to be issued a Uniform Pass. Students who are

regularly out of uniform will be referred to Team

Leaders.

WITHOUT DIARY

If a student has forgotten or lost their diary they will

need to report to the PASSOUTS Desk. Lost diaries

will need to be replaced.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK

Are you wanting to buy or sell second hand

uniforms for your student?

Join the new 'Newcomb Secondary

College Second Hand Uniforms' group on

Facebook.

Newcomb Secondary College

Computer Devices for 2015

Providing a Computer for Your Students.

Educational studies have shown that students benefit greatly from having access to their own computer device that they can use in classes at school when

needed as well as taking the device home to continue study and homework tasks. Computers are not intended to replace a pen and paper but rather be

used as tool to give more opportunities to complete school work in different ways. While it is hoped that all students will eventually have their own

computer we understand that this may not be possible for all families so we encourage you to contact the school if you want more information.

We would like all students to be able to access their own computer device to ensure they are able to take advantage of the many learning opportunities open

to them in today's digital world. To keep up with the latest technology and the best prices for our families we have negotiated a special package price for new student computers.

We are happy to announce that three devices are now available for sale via our online JB Education portal.

Entry Level Laptop: $715.00

Lenovo 11e - this is a rugged student friendly model with a solid state memory and a slim design with great new features.

Everyday Student Model: $825.00

Lenovo 11e Yoga - a touch screen model with a flip screen that becomes a tablet-like device.

High Performance: $1001.00 Lenovo 10" Tablet - Great portability and fast processor speed in a highly portable tablet.

All of these devices will come with the eduStar software image which includes over 48 educational software titles. These models are being made available specially through JB education and will not be available in shops.

The specially priced packages include a 3 year Warranty, a carry bag and have extra options available to suit your needs. Different payment options are also available.

How to Get Started

1. Click on the BYOD Solutions picture above or got to http://www.jbeducation.com.au/byod. 2. Enter our school Code NEWSC2015.

3. Follow each step, completing information as you go. 4. After your order is placed you will receive a confirmation and the device will be delivered to the school to be set

up.

If you are having problems please feel free to contact Mr Stephen Bath at the school.

Other Options for Providing a Computer for Your Students

There are three options open to our students in 2015 – 1. Purchase a new Lenovo device through our JB Education Portal. Once fully paid for there is no more to pay

and you own the device outright. All computers come with the eduStar software package of over 48 titles including Microsoft Office and virus protection, a three year warranty and bag.

2. Bring your own device. (BYOD) If you already have a notebook/netbook computer or tablet that is not more than three years old you can bring it in to check that it will be suitable to use at school. After discussion with our

IT support staff it may be possible to network the computer to access school drives and Internet. Some software may also be available for student use depending on the device.

3. Use school supplied notebooks in classroom trolleys or desktop computers in classrooms. These computers will be limited to classroom use and will not be available to take home. School supplied computers may not be

available in classrooms your student is in and may not be available if booked by another class.

Molly Stephens

Sales Agent

ADVERTISING SPACE AVAILABLE CONTACT THE SCHOOL OFFICE IF YOU

ARE INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING IN OUR

NEWSLETTER.

PHONE 03 5248 1400