Newcomb Secondary College Newsletter

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TUESDAY 9th February 2016 ISSUE: 2

Coming Events

Wednesday 10th February

School Photos

Thursday 11th February Yr 11 Orientation—Deakin Waurn

Ponds

Monday 15th February

College Swimming Sports

School Council Nominations Open

Thursday 18th February

CONNECT Assembly

School Photos Catchup day

Friday 26th February

Barwon Regional Swim & Dive Comp

Thursday 17th March

College House Sports

Monday 21st March Grade 6 information night from

6.30pm

Tuesday 22nd March

Yr 7 Immunisations

Thursday 24th March

Final Day of Term 1—

Monday 11th April

First day Term 2

Hoax Phone Calls to Australian Schools

I am writing to reassure you in light of the recent hoax threatening phone calls to Victorian schools in the last few days. Those schools which did receive a threatening call enacted their emergency management plans and they worked well.

As I write, our school has not received such a call but I wanted to inform you that we have an emergency management plan in place for situations like this. We have to take any situations like this seriously but will endeavour to do so in a timely and calm manner.

We do practice our emergency responses and will be doing so again soon - whether or not we receive one of these hoax calls. In these circumstances we will communicate the facts of our responses to our parents and carers as soon as possible. The safety and wellbeing of our students is always our top priority.

Of course it is important to keep the college up to date with your landline, mobile and emergency contact details. If any of your contact details have changed, please notify the office.

PTech Launch

Last Thursday we welcomed representatives from our employer partners, the Federal and State Governments, the Gordon TAFE and Skilling Australia to launch our next steps in the Pathways in Technology (PTech) initiative. With our Year 9s, we launched an introductory video featuring all of our employer partners (Barwon Health, GMHBA, Opteon Property Group, Tribal Campus and Bendigo Bank) before all of the students were presented with a USB with a copy of the video and a copy of Mr Nick Wyman’s (the CEO of Skilling Australia) book Job U in which he outlines some of the employment realities facing countries like Australia in a changing world. Students were asked to take these home and show them (with discussion) to their parents. A copy of the video can also be seen on the Newcomb Secondary College Facebook page.

We will be working now to develop a series of opportunities for our Year 9 students to become more familiar with the work of our employer partners as, at the same time, we design and develop a mentoring support program.

College Council: Student Leaders: Student Leaders: President: Yvette Ramsay Hannah Harrison Ebony Chalmers

Vice President: Vidas Kymantas Alex Jones Nicholas Watson

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

STUDENT SUPPORT LEADERS 2016 To better assist the students in their learning, organisation and wellbeing, we have developed a staffing structure to assist student

development at each year level.

In the first instance parents will be referred to the Student Support Person. Each year level has a Student Support Person, a Team Leader, Student Wellbeing team and Assistant Principal as outlined below:

Year

Level

Student Support

Person

Team Leader Student Wellbeing Team Assistant Principal

7 Mr Matt Amer Mr Rowan Klingberg Chiara Ercoli & Julia Western Shane Elevato

8 Mr Glenn Unmack Mr Rowan Klingberg Chiara Ercoli & Julia Western Shane Elevato

9 Mr Andrew McCurry Ms Rowena Goldsmith Chiara Ercoli & Julia Western Liz McNamara

10 Mr Peter Currie Ms Rowena Goldsmith Chiara Ercoli & Julia Western Liz McNamara

11 Mr Jeremy Sinclair Mr James Murphy Amanda Davis Liz McNamara

12 Mr Jeremy Sinclair Mr James Murphy Amanda Davis Liz McNamara

Mr Phil Honeywell, Principal

Mr Shane Elevato, Assistant Principal

Mrs Liz McNamara, Assistant Principal

STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHS All students will be photographed on Wednesday, 10th

February 2016, with a catch up day on Thursday 18th,

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, 15th 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.

Yr 7 and 8 students working well and settling straight into the New Year.

Yr 8 students in

art drawing their

own selfie.

Jake Baker in

metal work

making a dog

tag

Denver Terrill participating

in Indonesian Danielle Tascas

and her pita

bread pizza

STUDENT INSURANCE

School Injuries and Insurance Parents and guardians are generally responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including any

transport costs. Most medical costs will be refundable by Medicare. If you are a member of an ambulance or health insurance

fund, you may also be able to claim transport or other expenses from the fund.

Personal property is often brought to school by students, staff and visitors. This can include mobile phones, calculators, toys,

sporting equipment and cars parked on school premises. The Department of Education and Training does not hold insurance

for personal property brought to school, does not hold accident insurance for school students and it has no capacity to pay for

any loss or damage to such property.

Is other insurance cover available? Yes.

The Department is aware of two insurers, JUA Underwriting Agency Pty Ltd and Willis Australia Ltd, that provide accident

insurance policies for students. These policies provide specific benefits for students who are injured in accidents for a

reasonably low cost. Other insurers may also provide a similar policy.

Help your kids manage their asthma Checklist for Parents

Does your child have an up to date Asthma Action Plan (Asthma Care Plan)? The Asthma Care/Action Plan tells the school how to manage your child’s asthma and what to do if their asthma gets worse. This should be updated & signed by the doctor on an annual basis.

Does your child carry their reliever puffer and spacer with them at all times? Or is it readily available to their Carers? Medication needs to be available wherever your child may be (school, child care, sporting field, home)

Are you and your child aware of their asthma trig-gers? Do you take steps to avoid these triggers? Are the Teachers aware of these triggers?

Do you listen to what your child says? They will be aware of their asthma symptoms and should be able to tell you when they need their medication.

Does your child take their asthma medication correct-ly? Good technique allows more medication to get into the lungs where it is needed. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like to check your device technique.

IN MY CLASSES Year 7 Instrumental Music Tryouts

Cheryl Stabryla

Music Co-ordinator

MESSAGE FROM CITY OF GREATER GEELONG

PICKING UP & DROPPING OFF CHILDREN AROUND SCHOOLS

For the safety of children, parents are reminded to take care and obey parking signs when picking up or dropping off children around schools.

Council’s Parking and Information Officers regularly patrol school areas during start and finish times and motorists detected breaching

parking regulations risk being issued with a Penalty Infringement Notice.

Remember, as soon as you stop to let your children in or out of the car, you are deemed to be parked. You do not have

to leave your car or turn the engine off to be fined so please ensure you are parked in a legal parking area.

At children’s crossings, you must remain stationary at the stop line while any person (including an adult or the supervisor) is on the crossing or

the stop sign is displayed. Do not let your child alright at this time, ensure that they wait until you are safely and legally parked.

If you breach a parking regulation the Parking and Information Officer assigned to monitor the crossing will usually record your registration

number and details, and the Penalty Infringement Notice will be posted to you within the next three days.

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.

CONVEYANCE ALLOWANCE 2016 (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 2016.

2. 2016 Victorian Public Transport Student Concession Card and Student Pass Application Form

(these forms are not available until early 2016 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 the College on 5248 1400.

CAMPS, SPORT, EXCURSION FUND (CSEF) 2016 Eligible parents or guardians receive $225 to be used against camps, sports and excursions for each child. To be eligible for the fund, a parent or legal guardian of a student attending a registered Government or non-government Victorian primary or secondary school must on the first day of Term one OR on the first day of Term

two;

a) Be an eligible beneficiary within the meaning of the State Concessions Act 2004, that is, be the holder of a Veterans Affairs Gold Card or be an eligible Centrelink Health Care Card (HCC) or Pensioner Concession Card (PCC) holder, OR

b) Be a temporary foster parent, and

c) Submit an application to the school by the due date: Monday 29th February

Parents who receive a Carer Allowance on behalf of a child, or any other benefit or allowance not income tested by Centrelink, are not eligible for the CSEF unless they also comply with one of (a) or (b) above.

STATE SCHOOLS’ RELIEF YEAR 7 UNIFORM PACKAGE

INITIATIVE

Every Year 7 in 2016 who receives the CSEF automatically qualifies for a free uniform pack. If you have not applied for

this initiative please come to the office to fill in an application form.

START OF SCHOOL REMINDERS Contact details - Please inform the office if any contact details have changed over the holidays.

Padlocks - For the security of belongings please make sure a padlock is supplied.

Naming and covering of books/supplies - Naming books/supplies and items of clothing will help with their return when lost so please attend to this as well as soon as possible.

Year/Group Excursion Date Cost

Permission Slips & Payment

Due

7-12 House Swimming Carnival Monday 15th February $5.00

10th Feb 16

7-12 House Athletics Competition Thursday 17th March $5.00 11th Mar 16

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 Organiser 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

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.

CENTREPAY

If you are in receipt of Centrelink

payments, Newcomb Secondary

College has the facility to accept

Centrepay payments.

This may assist you to pay your

family account.

Please contact the Administration

Office on 5248 1400 for more

information.

St Albans Football &

Netball Club

“The Place to Be”

2016 Junior Registration Day

Sunday 14

th

Feb @ 10am-12

Auskick, Junior Football U9’s to U16’s

Junior & Youth Girls and Colts U18’s

Junior Netball U11’s, 13’s, 15’s, U17’s &

19’s

Football Contact - Jeff Whatnall: 0408 651418

Netball Contact - Megan Dean: 0439 955966

Venue: St Albans Recreation Reserve

Boundary Road, East Geelong

Netball Rooms

ADVERTISING SPACE AVAILABLE

CONTACT THE SCHOOL OFFICE IF

YOU ARE INTERESTED IN

ADVERTISING IN OUR

NEWSLETTER.

PHONE 03 5248 1400

TERM DATES

Term 1 27th January (Teachers Start) to 24th March

Term 2 11th April to 24th Jun

Term 3 11th July to 16th September

Term 4 3rd October to 20th December