NGSC Newsletter
Issue 2

Senior School News

Structured Workplace Learning Underway

Year 11 VCE - A Strong Start to Senior Studies

Year 12 VCE VM - Building Skills for Life Beyond School

Year 12 VCE - Maintaining Momentum

Year 12 Road Safety Education Program

Free Driving Lessons – myLearners

Progress Reports Available

School Photo Day

Some Admin to Remember

Joel McDougall
Senior Sub School Leader

Structured Workplace Learning Underway

Our VCE Vocational Major students in both Year 11 and Year 12 have now commenced Structured Workplace Learning, an important and compulsory component of the VCE VM program. It has been fantastic to see students engaging positively in their placements and receiving encouraging feedback from employers.

Structured Workplace Learning provides students with the opportunity to apply their classroom learning in real workplace settings, develop employability skills, and gain firsthand insight into industry expectations. Through these placements, students build confidence, independence and a clearer understanding of future career pathways.

We are pleased with how well our students have embraced this experience so far and look forward to seeing them continue to grow through this valuable learning opportunity. If you or someone you know is interested in hosting a student for Structured Workplace Learning, please contact the school — partnerships with local employers play a vital role in supporting our VM students.

Year 11 VCE - A Strong Start to Senior Studies

Our Year 11 VCE students have officially begun their senior secondary journey, with the first round of SACs marking a busy but exciting start to the year. Learning to balance study commitments with wellbeing is key at this stage, and developing consistent routines early will set students up for success.

We encourage families to continue supporting positive study habits, organisation and time management at home. Teachers are closely monitoring progress and are always available to provide guidance if students need support. With steady effort and the right balance, Year 11 is an excellent foundation for the senior years ahead.

Year 12 VCE VM - Building Skills for Life Beyond School

Our Year 12 VCE VM students are making strong progress in their literacy, numeracy and project-based learning. These tasks allow students to demonstrate practical skills while connecting learning to real world contexts.

Alongside their classroom programs, students continue to refine essential workplace skills such as communication, teamwork and problem solving. Their commitment to both their studies and Structured Workplace Learning placements is commendable, and we are proud of the maturity they are demonstrating as they prepare for pathways beyond school.

Year 12 VCE - Maintaining Momentum

As the Year 12 VCE SAC schedule continues to build, students are encouraged to maintain a study routine that works best for them. Establishing regular revision, seeking feedback and allowing time for rest are all essential in managing workload and stress.

Staff are working closely with students to support them through this busy period. Open communication between students, teachers and families remains crucial as our Year 12 cohort progresses through their final year of schooling.

Year 12 Road Safety Education Program

Earlier this term, our Year 12 students attended the RYDA Road Safety Education Program, a highly engaging and impactful experience focused on safe decision making on the road.

Through interactive workshops and practical demonstrations, students explored the real consequences of speed, distraction and driver behaviour. Seeing first-hand how speed affects stopping distances and how momentary lapses in attention can lead to serious outcomes made the message particularly powerful. The program reinforced the importance of responsibility, awareness and informed choices as students move closer to independent driving.

Free Driving Lessons – myLearners

Following on from the road safety program, families may be interested in myLearners, a Victorian Government initiative offering free professional driving lessons for eligible learner drivers.

The program provides a 60-minute lesson with an accredited driving instructor in the Geelong area. To be eligible, students must:

  • Hold a Victorian learner permit
  • Be aged 16 to 19
  • Have completed between 10 and 30 hours of driving practice
  • Have a fully licensed supervising driver who can attend

If this applies to your child, please visit mylearnersdrive.com.au to register.

Progress Reports Available

Progress Reports have now been released and provide families with a valuable snapshot of student learning behaviours and engagement. These reports focus on key areas including attendance, participation, preparation, progress in learning and respect for learning.

Families are encouraged to review these reports with their child, celebrate strengths and identify areas for improvement. Progress Reports help students develop reflection skills and take ownership of their learning, and they also allow the school to identify students who may require additional support. If you have any concerns after reviewing your child’s report, please contact the school to discuss next steps.

School Photo Day

School photos will take place on Tuesday 10 March 2026, the day after the Labour Day public holiday.

All students are required to be in full academic uniform. Students who have PE or Sport on the day must wear academic uniform for photos and change into sports uniform for their class.

Photo orders must be completed via Compass.

Catch up photo day will be held on Thursday 19 March 2026, which will also include the Year 12 group photo.

Some Admin to Remember

A few important reminders for families:

  • Any uniform issues should be accompanied by a parent note.
  • Students arriving late must sign in at the Senior Sub School office.
  • Absences should be supported by a medical certificate where applicable.

Staying on top of these expectations helps ensure a smooth and supportive school environment for all students.