Issue #5 22 May 2026

Welcome back to Term 2

Well, we have finally welcomed winter after an extended summer, and what a lovely sound it was to hear the rain falling on the tin roof over the long weekend. The change in weather has certainly reminded us that the year is moving quickly.

Term 2 continues to be a significant period in the academic calendar, with exams, assessment tasks, and preparations for the transition into a new semester well underway. I have been extremely pleased with the diligence, resilience, and commitment our students have demonstrated in their learning. Their positive approach and work ethic will place them in a strong position as they continue preparing for these important assessments and opportunities.

As we approach the end of Semester One, students are preparing to transition into their Semester Two subjects next week. While some classes will continue, others will be entirely new, providing students with fresh learning opportunities, new challenges, and the chance to further explore their interests and strengths. This transition period is an important opportunity for students to reset goals, build on their achievements from Semester One, and approach the second half of the year with renewed focus and enthusiasm.

Upcoming Term 2 Key Dates

Power Outage

I am sure you are all aware that in the second-to-last week of Term 1, the College experienced a significant power outage after a truck struck a power line. This resulted in a complete loss of power across the school, affecting Wi-Fi, screens, computers, 17 switchboards and many of the systems we rely on each day. For a brief moment, there was some excitement amongst students at the prospect of using their phones for emails and Compass, although the reality of the challenges ahead quickly became apparent.

The Department described the situation as a “unicorn,” as an outage of this scale had never previously affected an entire school and had generally affected only individual blocks or sections. What stood out most during this time was the remarkable flexibility and resilience shown by both staff and students as they adapted quickly to ensure teaching and learning continued with minimal disruption.

When an initial timeline of six to eight weeks was suggested, there was understandable concern about the potential impact on the College. Fortunately, the Department was able to organise tradespeople to work throughout the weekend, and power was successfully restored by Tuesday, an outstanding outcome considering the possible alternative.

Work continued throughout the school holidays and across many weekends to ensure all repairs and systems were fully restored. I am pleased to say that the final works were completed by Tuesday, 19 May. The commitment shown by everyone involved to minimise disruption to the College and return the school to full operation as quickly as possible was greatly appreciated.

I would like to sincerely thank all staff for their support and adaptability throughout this challenging situation. In particular, I would like to acknowledge Jason Smith, our Maintenance Manager, and Thomas Grantham, our IT Manager, who both went above and beyond to help restore normal operations as quickly as possible.

Practice GAT

This week, our Unit 3–4 VCE VM and VCE students completed the practice GAT. We were pleased to welcome Fred Slade, a former NGSC teacher and alumnus, in his new role as VCAA convenor. He was highly impressed by the discipline, focus, and maturity demonstrated by all students involved throughout the assessment.

The GAT is a very important component of the VCE program for all students. It is essential that students approach it with seriousness and give their best effort, as the results play a significant role in moderating school-based assessments. In addition, the GAT can serve as an important safeguard when illness or injury affects a student’s ability to complete assessments, assisting in determining derived scores when required. The GAT will be conducted on the 16th of June.

Exams

The next few weeks are an important time for students as they prepare for upcoming exams. For Years 7–10, exams will begin on 1 June, with Year 11 examinations commencing the following week on 9 June. This is a key period for students to consolidate their learning and demonstrate their understanding across all subjects.

It is essential that students engage in regular revision both in class and at home. In doing so, they are not only preparing for these upcoming assessments but also developing the study habits and skills that will support them in VCE examinations and the GAT in the years ahead. These capabilities, organisation, revision strategies, and time management are fundamental to future academic success.

It is also important to remember that formal examinations and summative assessments are a feature of many post-school pathways, including further study and a range of vocational and trade careers.