Our Connect program continues to play a vital role in strengthening student wellbeing across North Geelong Secondary College, with a strong focus on building resilience, emotional literacy and a sense of belonging within our school community.

Whole School Excursion – Discovering The Resilience Project

As part of our commitment to embedding The Resilience Project into our Connect program in 2026, all students will be attending a whole-school excursion to GMHBA Stadium.

On Tuesday 21st April:

• Years 7–9 will attend in the morning
• Years 10–12 will attend in the afternoon

Students will participate in an engaging, high-energy presentation from Martin Heppell. Through storytelling, humour and relatable experiences, Martin will share simple, practical strategies that students can use in their everyday lives to improve their wellbeing. This experience will further strengthen our whole-school approach to wellbeing and resilience.

• Cost: No cost to families
• Consent: Required via Compass by 1st April, 11:59pm

Parent/Carer Session Opportunity

We are also excited to offer a parent/carer session run by The Resilience Project on Wednesday 22nd April at GMHBA stadium. This session will provide families with valuable insights and practical strategies to support wellbeing at home.

Families are encouraged to attend and can register via the QR code provided.

Celebrating Harmony Day

Recently, our college proudly celebrated Harmony Day, recognising and embracing the diversity within our school community. Students participated in activities that promoted inclusion, respect and understanding of different cultures and backgrounds. A highlight of the week was a collaborative Connect lesson where Year 7 and Year 11 students worked together, building connections across year levels and fostering a strong sense of belonging. These shared experiences are an important part of creating a supportive and inclusive school environment.

Connect Learning Focus

Throughout Connect lessons, students have been developing their emotional literacy, learning to recognise, understand and manage their emotions. A key focus has also been building an understanding of resilience—what it is, why it is important and how students can apply it in everyday challenges such as friendships, learning and personal setbacks.

Students have explored how resilience is not about avoiding challenges, but about responding positively, learning from experiences and continuing to grow.

Tip for Home – Building Empathy

A simple way to support your child’s wellbeing at home is through developing empathy. Try asking your child:

• “What is something kind someone did for you today?”
• “How do you think someone else felt in that situation?”

These conversations help students build emotional awareness, strengthen relationships and develop a deeper understanding of others.