Newcomb Secondary College Newsletter

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TUESDAY 5th May 2015 ISSUE: 12

Coming Events

Thursday, 7th May

Intermediate Boys Football.

Year Level Assembly.

Indonesian Contest (9am-1pm)

Friday, 8th May

GROW at Gordon.

Monday, 11th May

Sovereign Hill Excursion, Year 9 & 10.

Tuesday, 12th May

Deakin Aspire, Year 7 & 8 ECO.

NAPLAN tests.

Wednesday, 13th May

NAPLAN tests.

Thursday, 14th May

NAPLAN tests.

CONNECT.

Friday, 15th May

GROW at Gordon.

Sunday, 17th May

You Yangs Mountain Bike Park (7am to

4.30pm).

Monday, 18th May

PSD Swim Lessons (P5 & 6).

Tuesday, 19th May

Year 8 Sport: Boys Football/Girls

Netball/Badminton.

Year 7 Soccer.

Deakin Aspire, Year 7 & 8 ECO.

NAPLAN As with every year in May, we are part of the National NAPLAN testing at Years 7

and 9. There are three days involved Tuesday 12th, Wednesday 13th and Thursday

14th May. Parents will receive a report on how their young person went later in

the year. If a student is absent on one of the test days, there is a catch up session

held.

2015 Attitudes to School Survey Last Thursday all students in the school completed the 2015 Attitudes to School

Survey. The survey is analysed by the Department of Education and the results sent

to our school. The information will be useful to us in planning programs and

activities for students and to continue to improve our school. In the past we have

made many improvements such as: excursions and activities to make learning

relevant to everyday life; introducing our Connect program; improving yard

supervision and installing security cameras; developing an online maths program so

that every student works at their level and can strive to improve; and having an

ongoing well-being program with guest speakers and activities for the whole school.

We look forward to receiving this year’s survey results.

2015 Family Accounts - How Can You Pay These? Recently your 2015 family account was posted out to you. Please check your

account and make sure that the charges relate to the subjects that your child(ren)

are doing this year. If there is a discrepancy, please contact the College

immediately so that the query can be rectified.

There are numerous ways in which we can assist you with paying your account.

Please consider one of the following options:-

Cash or credit card payment at the general office

Payment over the phone via credit card

Direct deposit into the College account on a regular basis – contact the

College Business Manager for details

BPay – your biller code number is listed on the family account

Regular payments via Centrelink directly into the College account – contact

the College Business Manager for details

A payment plan arranged with the College Business Manager

It would be appreciated if you could pay your account by Friday, 1st May 2015.

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr Shane Elevato, Assistant Principal

Ms Sue Hedley, Acting Assistant Principal

College Council: Student Leaders: Student Leaders: President: Yvette Ramsay Mitchell Allen Toby France

Vice President: Vidas Kymantas 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: 0416 907 351

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Student Computers With the increased number of learning tasks and assessments being linked to Xuno and online resources

it is becoming more important that students have access to their own computer device for use at school

and home. If you have been meaning to organise a computer for your students please check out the JB

Portal at http://www.newcombsc.vic.edu.au/Computers/2014-student-computers.

If you prefer to buy your own computer from another supplier it may be worth checking with our IT

Support staff before you buy. It is important to be sure you are getting a suitable device that will last

throughout secondary school years. Be aware that many cheap offers that advertise things like Microsoft

Office and virus protection may only include a trial version that will need full payment to activate after

the trial period ends.

Forms and flyers are in a rack outside Mr Bath’s office.

Xuno Parent/Student Portal We are continually adding to the content available in our Parent/Student Portal to make sure that you

have up-to-date information and communications. Xuno gives you details about your students’

attendance, reports, timetables, learning tasks and a messaging centre to contact teachers. We also use

Xuno to let you know important school information such as whole school notices and reminders. If you

missed Parent/Teacher interviews you can also contact teachers via the message centre in Xuno.

If you do not have access to Xuno please look for the letter that was sent out to each family with your

password and log on ID. This will allow you to log in via our website. If you can’t find this information

please contact the school to arrange another copy.

Xuno relies on using accurate contacts such as mobile phone and email. Please make sure that we have

your correct details at the school office otherwise we can not contact you when needed.

If you would like to learn more about using the parent portal please contact Mr Stephen Bath and book

in to a training session.

Science Websites to Try If you would like to see the sort of things we are using student computers for in Science classes have a

look at these websites –

https://cdn-jr.brainpop.com/games/science/

http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/frogs/chain_reaction/assets/flash/chain_reaction.swf

http://www.ento.csiro.au/education/key/couplet_03.html Mr Stephen Bath

IT Co-ordinator

IN MY CLASSROOM

As part of the VCAL program at Newcomb Secondary College,

ten students are completing a school based apprenticeship

within the civil construction industry. Every Thursday and Friday

these students travel to Lara to the Safe Training site to

participate in theory and practical lessons.

Last week, as part of their concreting program, in the Cert III in

Civil Construction, the students have been learning how to

interpret a set of plans and set out an area for concreting. This

is for footpaths, driveways and kerbs. They had to measure

angles and distances to scale and place pegs where appropriate.

They measured and set up the formwork structure to hold the

concrete and practised packing down the base, ready for the

concrete. Next week they will lay the concrete.

Maggie Boyanton

Careers Co-ordinator

Newcomb Secondary College

Helping get Leopold PS “On 2 Wheels”

On Monday 27th April, the Year 9/10 On 2 Wheels class rode up the Bellarine Rail Trail to Leopold

Primary School to undertake the big job of servicing the Grade 4’s bikes in readiness for their Bike Ed

Program.

Armed with the skills and knowledge of just over a term of working with bikes, our students worked in 4

groups to service around 100 bikes. We adjusted brakes, serviced gears, cleaned chains, straightened

handlebars and seats, trimmed cables and pumped up plenty of tyres. Each Leopold student walked away with

a service checklist filled in for their bike with any adjustments or repairs noted.

Again I was extremely proud of the manner in which our students introduced themselves to each of the grade

4’s from Leopold then set about the checks and adjustments required. It truly was a credit to the class and

absolutely appreciated by the staff and students of Leopold Primary school.

I look forward to future years of being involved at Leopold and hopefully other local Primary schools and their

Bike Ed programs.

Thanks to Tony Curnick, Phil Honeywell and one of our student teachers, Jasmine, for accompanying the class and enjoying the experience.

Mr Glenn Unmack

On 2 Wheels Co-ordinator

Girls Big Day

Out

On Tuesday, 28th April ten of our Year 9 students were invited to

participate at The Gordon in the Girls Big Day Out run by Karingal

Baclinks and The Gordon.

They were involved in Bricklaying, Engineering, Painting,

Sustainability, Electrical and Plumbing activities.

Below is a couple of comments our students had to say:

Enlightening learning about Consumer Industry and how much

we throw away. (Grace)

Fun learning new things. (Carrie)

We have been able to explore different skills. (Emily)

A new enjoyable, experience. (Emma & Caitlyn)

Its been great. Nobody focusing on you, everyone doing what

they're meant to be doing. (Olive) Julia Western

Student Wellbeing

82 Goalball EXSight

On Wednesday, 29th April Group 82 met aspiring Para-Olympian Daniel Pritchard who is representing Australia in

Goalball. This month, he is going to China and South Korea for international tournaments. Goalball is a version of

horizontal volleyball for the vision impaired which ‘takes no prisoners’. Daniel discovered this at his recent

international event when he had his nose broken twice. Daniel’s athleticism extends to ‘blind cricket’. His Aussie

team beat the New Zealanders 5 – 0 last year. Even though Daniel can see little out of his left eye he still excels

athletically and represents his country. He was accompanied by Rob who is one of the goalball national coaches who

explained the sport to the students. They both remarked on how well behaved the Newcomb students were when

listening and participating. They hope to set up a Goalball competition in Geelong – maybe at Newcomb Secondary

College.

After introductions, 82 put on goggles to experience the various types of vision impairment people have. They were

also told about some of the eye conditions that are affecting at least two of our students. They then found how

difficult it was to do what ‘sighted’ people could easily do.

They played some goalball with blackout goggles (so they were ‘blind’) and we found that Liam, Angel, Eric and

James really could do well in this sport. It required players to listen to the ball to goal or stop a goal being scored –

it was a silent sport and they needed to use hearing and touch to be successful.

So remember that

others who have

disabilities don’t let

it don’t stop them

from doing really

well, going overseas

to represent their

country. Others

need patience and

to offer some help

when someone

‘needs a hand’.

Mr Paul Kellett

EASE teacher

SCHOOL EXCURSIONS AND REMINDERS

Year/Group Excursion Date Cost Permission Slips

& Payment Due

Group 71 & 72 Newcomb Library Thursday, 7th May Nil -

Selected stu-

dents

Sayembara Lisan Indonesian Speak-

ing Comp, Surfcoast SC, Torquay Thursday, 7th May $2 -

Year 9 & 10 History

Sovereign Hill Historical Park, Ballarat Monday, 11th May $25 9th May

Selected stu-

dents Ride4 Kids Charity Ride, You Yangs Sunday, 17th May Nil -

72 Drama Chalk About Performance, Arts Centre

Melbourne Wednesday, 3rd

June Nil 1st June

Yr 9 IMAX and Circus Oz Wednesday, 24th

June $10 21st June

Senior Concert

Band Band Tour, Daylesford Friday, 24th Aug $280

$100 deposit by

25th May

SCHOOL FUNDRAISER

Entertainment BooksEntertainment BooksEntertainment Books The College is selling Entertainment Books as part of fundraising for 2015.

The books sell for $55 and are packed with hundreds of up to 50% off and 2-for-1 offers from many of the

region’s most popular restaurants, attractions, take-away chains, accommodation, and much more! Available as a traditional Entertainment Book OR the new Digital Membership for your Apple or Android

device.

Entertainment Books can be ordered online at www.entertainmentbook.com.au/orderbooks or by contacting the College office on 5248 1400.

REMINDER TO PLEASE NAME ALL

ITEMS OF UNIFORM

ADVERTISING SPACE AVAILABLE

CONTACT THE SCHOOL OFFICE IF

YOU ARE INTERESTED IN

ADVERTISING IN OUR

NEWSLETTER.

PHONE 03 5248 1400

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

College for more information

5248 1400.

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