NGSC Newsletter
Issue #11

Senior School News

The Final Stretch!

Year 12 VCE Examinations

Year 12 VCE VM: The Next Chapter

Year 12 Celebration Day: A Day to Remember!

Year 12 Graduation: One Final Celebration

Year 11: Finishing Strongly

Looking Ahead to 2027

Attendance Still Matters

A Final Word

Joel McDougall
Senior Sub School Leader

Senior School News: The Final Stretch!

It's hard to believe that we're already well into Term 4, and what a busy few weeks we've had in the Senior Sub School!

For our Year 12 students, the finish line is finally in sight, while our Year 11 students are preparing for their final assessments and looking ahead to their last year of secondary school. There is certainly plenty happening around the College as we head towards the end of another school year.

Year 12 VCE Examinations

This week marks the beginning of the 2026 VCAA written examinations, with our English and EAL students the first to tackle their exams on Tuesday.

Over the past few weeks, our Year 12 students have been working through practice examinations, attending revision sessions and taking advantage of the Connect Lectures organised by the College.

It's been great to see so many students putting in the effort during these final weeks of preparation.

For those students still completing exams, remember to look after yourselves, get plenty of rest and make the most of the time you have left to prepare. You've spent a long time working towards this point, so back yourselves and give it your best effort!

A big thank you also goes to our teaching staff, who have continued supporting students through revision classes, extra assistance and plenty of last-minute questions.

Year 12 VCE VM: The Next Chapter

For our Year 12 VCE Vocational Major students, the past few weeks have marked the completion of their secondary schooling journey.

Our students have been participating in their final exit interviews, reflecting on their achievements and discussing what comes next, whether that be employment, apprenticeships, further training or other exciting opportunities.

It's always rewarding to hear students speak about their future plans and see how far they have come during their time at NGSC.

We wish all of our departing VM students every success as they take their next steps into life beyond school.

Year 12 Celebration Day: A Day to Remember!

What a fantastic day we had celebrating our Year 12 students as they marked the end of their time at NGSC!

Our Year 12 students arrived at school dressed in an incredible range of costumes, and what a sight to behold! There were plenty of laughs, some very creative outfits and a wonderful atmosphere around the College as students enjoyed one of their final days together.

One of the highlights was the traditional Year 12 Lap of Honour around the school. As our graduating students made their way around the College, students and staff cheered, clapped and congratulated them on reaching this important milestone.

It really was a special moment. For our Year 12 students, it was an opportunity to celebrate with their friends and enjoy the recognition of the entire school community. For our younger students watching on, it was a glimpse of something they can look forward to when their own time comes. It was certainly a moment to remember and cherish.

The celebrations continued with a whole-school assembly in the Gym, where students and staff came together to congratulate our graduating class. There were plenty of laughs, particularly when our Year 12 students presented some rather cheeky awards to their teachers in recognition of the support, encouragement and memorable moments they had shared throughout their journey at NGSC!

It was a wonderful way to acknowledge the relationships built between students and staff over the years and a reminder that school is about much more than just what happens in the classroom.

A fantastic day all round, and one we hope our Year 12 students will look back on with plenty of fond memories.

Year 12 Graduation: One Final Celebration

With Celebration Day now behind us, we have one more special occasion to look forward to as our Year 12 students prepare for their Graduation at the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre.

After all the excitement, laughter and colourful costumes of Celebration Day, Graduation gives us the opportunity to come together in a slightly more formal setting to recognise and celebrate the achievements of our graduating students.

It promises to be a wonderful evening, with students, families and staff gathering to reflect on the journey these young people have taken throughout their secondary schooling.

For many of our students, NGSC has been a significant part of their lives over the past six years. Along the way, there have been challenges, achievements, friendships, plenty of laughter and countless memories made.

We also recognise the important role families have played throughout this journey. The encouragement, patience and support provided at home have been an enormous part of helping our students reach this milestone.

We are really looking forward to celebrating with everyone and giving our Year 12 students the farewell they deserve.

From the fun and excitement of Celebration Day to the pride and emotion of Graduation, it's a wonderful way to bring their time at NGSC to a close and celebrate everything they have achieved.

Congratulations to our Class of 2026!

Year 11: Finishing Strongly

While our Year 12 students have been receiving plenty of attention, our Year 11 students are also approaching an important stage of their year.

Semester 2 examinations are fast approaching, and students should now be making the most of their class time, completing outstanding assessments and preparing for their exams.

It's important to remember that the final few weeks of Year 11 are not a time to switch off. The work students are doing now provides the foundation for a successful Year 12.

We encourage families to have a conversation with their young person about how they are preparing, what assessments they have remaining and whether they need any additional support.

Our teaching staff and Senior Sub School team are always available to help.

Looking Ahead to 2027

Believe it or not, planning for 2027 is already well underway!

Students have been making their subject selections, and we are busy preparing for the upcoming orientation program.

Orientation is a fantastic opportunity for students to meet their new teachers, become familiar with their subjects and get an early understanding of the expectations that come with VCE and VCE VM.

Year 12 Camp: One of the Highlights of the Year!

One of the things we are most excited about for 2027 is our Year 12 Camp in Ballarat!

Without a doubt, this is one of the highlights of the entire Year 12 experience, and something we strongly encourage every student to be part of.

The camp is about much more than simply getting away from school for a couple of days. It's an opportunity for our students to come together as a year level, strengthen friendships, build relationships with their teachers and start their final year of secondary school on a really positive note.

Year 12 can be a challenging year, with plenty of expectations, assessments and important decisions ahead. One of the main purposes of the camp is to help students feel prepared, supported and confident about the journey ahead. There will be a range of activities designed to help students develop the skills they need to be successful in Year 12, whether they are completing VCE or VCE VM.

Of course, it wouldn't be a Year 12 Camp without plenty of fun along the way! Students will have the opportunity to participate in activities, spend time with their friends and enjoy experiences outside the classroom that help bring the entire year level together.

Our previous camp was an absolute highlight, and it was fantastic to see students getting involved, having a laugh, making new friendships and building connections with staff. Some of the best memories from Year 12 are made during these shared experiences, and it's often the little moments, conversations and laughs that students remember long after they have finished school.

We really cannot speak highly enough of the value of this camp. It sets the tone for the year, helps create a sense of belonging and gives students the opportunity to begin their final year feeling part of something special.

We would love to see every Year 12 student attend in 2027. We encourage families to make this a priority, as it really is an experience students won't want to miss!

We are already looking forward to another fantastic camp and all the memories that will come with it!

Attendance Still Matters

As we approach the end of the year, a reminder to all our senior students that attendance remains incredibly important.

Students are expected to maintain at least 80% attendance in each of their subjects, and missing classes can have a significant impact on their ability to successfully complete their VCE or VCE VM units.

Even at this stage of the year, every lesson counts.

We ask families to continue supporting regular attendance and encourage students to speak with their teachers or the Senior Sub School team if they have concerns about outstanding work or their progress.

A Final Word

Term 4 is always a mixture of excitement, nerves, celebrations and, for some students, a little uncertainty about what comes next.

For our Year 12 students, enjoy these final moments of your school journey. Whether you're heading into employment, further study, an apprenticeship or something completely different, we hope you look back on your time at NGSC with pride.

For our Year 11 students, keep working hard. Your turn as the leaders of our Senior School is just around the corner!

As always, thank you to our families and staff for their continued support. It's a busy time of year, but also one of the most rewarding.