Issue 1
13 Feb 2026

Welcome back to the 2026 School Year

Dear Students, Parents, and Guardians,

I hope you all had a great summer and were able to enjoy a well-earned break. We’re really looking forward to welcoming everyone back and getting started on what promises to be an exciting and rewarding school year.

Our teachers and staff have been preparing engaging learning experiences and ensuring the school is a safe, supportive, and welcoming place for every student. We’re committed to creating an environment where students feel comfortable, valued, and encouraged to do their best.

I can’t wait to see our students back in the schoolyard and to work together with families to make this year a positive experience for everyone. If you have any questions or need support along the way, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

This year marks our largest Year 7 intake to date, with nine classes for the first time. It was pleasing to see such strong parent attendance at the Year 7 Teacher and Chromebook Night on January 29. The College values the support of our teachers and appreciates parents taking opportunities to strengthen their connections and familiarity with the school.

We also warmly welcome all newly enrolled students in Years 8–12 to the NGSC school community. We hope you feel supported and inspired as you settle into life at the College.

As we begin the new academic year, we encourage all students to embrace challenges, set goals, and take full advantage of the opportunities ahead. Our dedicated teachers and staff are committed to supporting every student throughout their learning journey.

Let’s make 2026 a year of success, collaboration, and strong community spirit. Should you have any questions or require support, please don’t hesitate to contact the College.

This year is especially significant for our Year 12 students as they embark on their final year of secondary school. We hope they will look back on 2026 as one of the most rewarding and memorable years of their educational journey. It is a critical time, and we encourage them to stay focused, set goals, and seek support when needed. Our teachers and staff are here to guide them through their studies and provide any assistance required.

To help prepare for the challenges ahead, our Year 12 students recently attended a study camp at Federation University in Ballarat. This valuable experience was designed to equip them with essential study skills and strengthen connections with peers and teachers, setting them up for a successful final year.

Once again, welcome back to the NGSC school community. I look forward to working closely with all members to ensure a successful year of learning for all students.

Welcome to New Staff

Welcome the following new and returning staff to our college and wish them a productive and enjoyable year. The staff and I look forward to working closely with our new staff to ensure the best possible teaching and learning opportunities for our students.

New

Tracey Clark (Middle School Coordinator)

• John Buckley (Food Technology)
• Jason Smith (Maintenance Coordinator)
• Alyssa Travaglini (DI Support)

NGSC Annual Implementation Plan (AIP)

All Victorian government schools follow a four-year strategic planning cycle to support school improvement and comply with the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic). The School Strategic Plan (SSP) sets the long-term direction, and the Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) puts it into action each year.

The AIP outlines how the school will implement the goals and Key Improvement Strategies (KIS) selected for focus that year. It includes:

• The SSP goals, targets, and KIS for focus
  
• Key actions and tasks to implement the KIS
  
• Evidence of change to measure the impact of these actions

This year, the AIP will focus on supporting the use of data in the classroom, with an emphasis on students owning their learning data. Students will use this information to work closely with their teachers, accessing tasks that challenge them and help further develop their skills.

The AIP is developed in Term 4 and must be endorsed by the Senior Education Improvement Leader (SEIL) by the end of Term 1 the following year.

School Council and School Council elections

School councils play a key role in Victorian government schools. Effective councils have a wide range of skills, expertise, and knowledge to support good governance and provide students the best possible educational outcomes.

The annual school council election process provides an opportunity to attract members keen to add value and bring their expertise and skills to assist the school's governance.

All government schools with students enrolled in Year 7 and above must have a student member category on council. The school election process for the student member category must co-occur with Parent and DET employee member elections.

Where a council has Community member positions, the council can co-opt members following the election process and add to the council’s skills and expertise.

School council membership

Each school council’s constituting order makes provision for its structure and membership:

• Parent members – parents of students at the school must comprise more than one-third of the school council’s total membership. ‘Parent’ includes a guardian or person responsible for maintenance or custody of a student at the school. Department employees are eligible for membership in this category as long as they have children attending the school and the Department employees do not work at the school (except for the principal, who is a member of the Department employee member category) of that school council.

• Department employee members – must not be more than one-third of the school council’s total membership. The principal is automatically included in this membership category and has full voting rights. Other staff (teaching and non-teaching) are elected or co-opted to this category. To be eligible for election to this category, a person must be a member of the school's Department of Education and Training (DET) employee electorate.

• Student members– ‘student’ describes a student enrolled at and attends the school and is in Year 7 or above. Students are elected to this membership category or co-opted if a casual vacancy occurs. To be eligible for election, a student must be a member of the school's student body. The number of student members is recorded in the Ministerial Order for the school council.

• Community members– is an optional membership category. The council’s membership schedule may include this category. If a council has the option of community members, the committee decides who to approach and co-opt into this position. People are co-opted by the school council to a community member position to bring additional skills and perspectives. Community members hold the same rights, responsibilities, and terms of office as elected members. Parents are eligible to be co-opted to a community member position, but Department employees are not. Students may also be co-opted to a community member position.

The North Geelong SC, school council composition includes:

(9 x parents, 1 x community member, 2 x students and 5 x DET employees including the Principal - voting members)

• 9 x parents (no DE&T employees)
• 1 x community member
• 1 x co-opted member
• 5 x DE&T employees – teaching and non-teaching staff, including the Principal
• 2 x elected students     

Total number of voting members 17.

The College Principal is the Executive Officer of the school council.

This year we have:

• 4 x parent members vacancies for a 2-year appointment (2026 and 2027)
• 3 x DE employee member vacancies for a 2-year appointment (2026 and 2027)
• 1 student member vacancy for a 2-year appointment (2026 and 2027).

I call for parent nominations for three vacancies. Any parent or community member that would like to discuss the role of the Council or the role of the parent member on the council please call the school and speak to Ms Leanne Scarlett or the Principal.

Nomination forms can be obtained from Ms Leanne Scarlett at the General Office. The closing day for nominations is Tuesday 10th of March by 4.00pm.

I take this opportunity to thank all school council members, particularly the parent body, for their outstanding contributions to the life of the college.

Welcome to 2026. It has been a pleasure welcoming students and families to the new school year. A special welcome to our incoming Year 7 students and families and others new to the College. 2026 promises to be a year that provides students meaningful learning opportunities, extra-curricular activities and many opportunities for students to make new friends, build confidence and reach goals. The start of the school year can be very busy, and families receive lots of important information about schedules, classroom expectations and upcoming events. We encourage you to regularly access Compass, ask questions and partner with us to support student success.

PROCEDURAL REMINDERS

Sometimes, students and families may forget the correct procedure for how we do things at North Geelong Secondary College. This section will be designated for little reminders about areas that pop up throughout the year.

Camps/Excursions - Please remember to click consent and pay by due dates for camps and excursions as there is a lot of administration that goes on behind the scenes to prepare for these events. If you miss the deadline, you will miss the event.

Student drop-off/pick-up - When dropping off students in the morning, please abide by the signs posted at the bus bay and staff car park. Cars are not to use the bus bay during morning and afternoon periods due to the buses requiring the space. Parents and carers are also not to use the staff carpark at any time.

Sickbay - Sickbay is to be used by students to report they are not feeling well, calls will then be made home to collect the students. Some students have been under the impression they can spend long periods of time in this area to see if they get better, this unfortunately is putting pressure on admin staff and is very difficult to manage.

Curriculum

The College continues to embed the GRO model as a framework for learning. This provides students with the opportunity to approach each new topic in a scaffolded manner. The three levels provide learning tasks at the following levels: G- Gain, allowing students to further develop their skills and knowledge, R-Reach, allowing students to consolidate skills and knowledge at the expected level and O-Optimise that extends and challenges students skills and knowledge. Students, guided by teachers, are given the opportunity to select and move between the levels to support their own learning growth.

Students in Year 7-10 have undertaken reading and numeracy testing during Week 2. This data supports teachers to plan learning and classroom activities to meet the needs of students. The testing is repeated in Term 4 to reflect and celebrate growth.

Students in Year 7 and 9 will sit NAPLAN during weeks 7 and 8 of this term. More information will be provided to students and parents via Compass.

Progress Reports

Progress reports will be completed every 4 weeks, and the first round will be completed at the end of Week 4. The four key areas are:

• Demonstrated preparation for learning
• Displays respect for learning
• Meets attendance requirements
• Participates in learning
• Progress in learning

This provides parents with regular feedback and allows staff to support students who require extra support. Student Support Group Meetings will be held as required.

Homework

With the new year, new teachers, new school and new subjects come many questions. One of which we, as parents, find ourselves asking “have you done your homework?”. In my household it is often “I finished it in class, or we didn’t get any”. The guidelines for successful outcomes in high school suggest the following calculator of time year level x 10mins per week per subject. This means a Year 7 student should be doing 70 minutes per subject a week. Homework is not about learning new content, it is about more than that and includes the following:

• Builds a study routine
• Reinforces what has been learned
• Helps recall the content for the next lesson
• Establishes a deeper understanding that enables more effective revision for exams
• Determines what has been missed or misunderstood to inform any questions for clarification in the next lesson
• Is so much healthier for the brain that technology   

Advice for parents of the child who “does not have any homework”

• Identify a time with your child that suits you both (after a break, before dinner etc) 
• Create a visible schedule (diary, fridge, kitchen table)
• Explain that it is about recalling the skills and knowledge to see what is known and what is needing further explanation
• If your child is a bit unsure, go through the list of subjects in the day with them, ask about what they talked about in that class, “What do you remember?”, “What did not make sense?”, “Can you show me the skills?”, “Can you show me your work?”, “Is there something that sparked your interest and you want to know more?”
• If they are a bit lost in the learning, encourage them to make a note in the diary to talk to the teacher and see how they go.

Homework can comprise any of the following:

• Revision of terms
• Practice of skills
• Pre reading
• Reading notes
• Reading the chapter
• Emailing questions for teacher
• Compiling questions for clarity

Mayoral Lunch

Due to being a part of the Japanese exchange in 2025, Mr Headlam was requested to speak at a large delegation of guests of the Mayor of Geelong Stretch Kontelj in the new Wurriki Nyal boardroom in Geelong. The meeting was entitled Friendship City Meeting and included discussions with the Mayor of Izumiotsu (Geelong’s sister city) which discussed the range of partnership opportunities between the two cities in agriculture and industry. Geelong certainly has so much going on and Izumiotsu is also doing great things. Mr Minamide highlighted a range of new initiatives including carpet that kills bacteria and medical rice. Mr Headlam was asked to highlight the initiatives across Geelong schools and within the programs schools have.

Japanese Delegation 

During the first week of school, we were very pleased to welcome a large delegation from the Mayoral office in Izumiotsu. Mayor Kenichi Minamide was brimming with enthusiasm for our school program, and our leadership were also very proud of our staff, students and school. The delegation included 6 other staff from his offices and Morita Yukari who looked after our students whilst we were on the Japanese exchange in 2025. Student members of the exchange in 2025 joined us for a tour of the school and engaged in some conversations (Japanese and English) and evidently really ensured a strong connection with the delegation. We will have senior students from Izumiotsu visit us briefly this term, whilst junior high school students will visit us in August. Our next exchange to Japan will be in 2027 and we are hoping it continues to build such positive and lifelong relationships with the students and the city.

Welcome to the 2026 Senior School Year

We are delighted to welcome our senior students and families back for another exciting year at North Geelong Secondary College. The beginning of a new year always brings fresh goals, new opportunities, and a renewed sense of purpose as students continue to shape their future pathways. Our Senior Sub School team is looking forward to supporting every student to achieve success across VCE, VCE VM, and VET programs throughout the year.

Senior Sub School Team

Our Senior School is supported by a dedicated group of staff who work closely with students and families to ensure a strong and supportive learning environment.

Year 12 Coordinators: Mrs Martin and Mr O’Callaghan continue to guide our graduating students through the final stages of their secondary schooling, helping them stay focused, organised, and prepared for what lies ahead.

Year 11 Coordinators: Mr Milsome and Mr Hipic are working with students as they transition into senior studies, supporting them to build confidence, independence, and positive study habits.

VCE VM Coordinator: Mr McDougall is overseeing the Applied Learning Program, strengthening connections between school, industry, and future employment pathways while supporting students to develop real world skills.

VET Coordinator: Mrs Sulomar continues to provide outstanding support to students undertaking vocational programs, ensuring meaningful learning experiences both in and beyond the classroom.

Sub School Assistant: Miss Megan plays an important role behind the scenes, supporting students, staff, and families each day and helping keep the Senior Sub School running smoothly.

Year 12 Camp at Federation University

Our Year 12 students began the year with a visit to Federation University, providing a valuable opportunity to explore post school pathways and experience aspects of university life. Students engaged in sessions focused on study strategies, future planning, and personal development, while also strengthening relationships with their peers.

The camp provided a balanced mix of learning and connection, setting a positive tone for the year ahead and reminding students of the importance of both wellbeing and academic focus during their final year.

Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence

Senior VCE students recently participated in a presentation exploring the responsible and effective use of Artificial Intelligence in learning. As technology continues to evolve, it is important that students understand both the possibilities and the limitations of these tools.

The session focused on how AI can support revision, organisation, and deeper understanding when used appropriately, while also reinforcing expectations around authenticity and independent thinking. Developing the skills to critically evaluate technology is becoming an essential part of preparing students for the modern world, and this session provided a strong foundation moving forward.

Year 11 Study Skills Session

Our Year 11 VCE students participated in a targeted study skills session designed to help them build strong learning routines early in the year. Students explored strategies for managing workload, planning assessments, and approaching challenges with confidence. Establishing these habits early supports a smoother transition into the demands of senior school.

VCE VM. Building Skills for the Future

Students enrolled in the VCE VM program have made a positive start to the year. Many have commenced VET programs and are preparing for structured workplace learning placements. The focus remains on developing practical skills, confidence, and independence through authentic learning experiences that prepare students for employment and further training.

Technical Updates and Password Changes

Over the recent break, all senior students were issued new passwords as part of important system security updates. As expected with large scale changes, this has resulted in some temporary issues with student access to emails, Google Classrooms, and Edrolo.

Our team is currently working closely with administration staff from these platforms to resolve any remaining concerns. If students continue to experience difficulties, they are encouraged to speak with one of our amazing YLC team members, who will be happy to assist and ensure access is restored as quickly as possible.

Welcome Back to the 2026 School Year!

There have been some changes to the staff in the Middle Sub School and your key staff for each year level can be found below. We all look forward to supporting the Middle Sub School students this year.

Middle Sub School Staff

Putting Your Best Foot Forward

Priorities for this month are all about starting the year right and setting strong habits that will support students throughout 2026.

• Punctuality: Being on time to school and to class is essential. Arriving punctually ensures students do not miss important instructions, learning time, or assessment information. We ask families to support students in developing routines that allow them to arrive at school on time and ready to learn each day.
• Organisation: A successful start to the year relies heavily on organisation. Students should be coming to class prepared with the correct equipment, charged devices, and an awareness of their daily timetable. Using Compass, diaries, and Google Classroom regularly will help students stay on top of their learning and responsibilities.
• Uniform: Wearing full school uniform correctly helps promote pride, consistency, and a positive learning environment. Students are expected to be in full NGSC uniform each day, including appropriate footwear. We appreciate families supporting our uniform expectations as we reinforce these standards across the Middle Sub School.

Subject Changes

All subject changes have now been finalised. Students should be following their current timetable as displayed on Compass. Any remaining concerns regarding subject placements should be directed to the relevant Year Level Coordinator, noting that changes will only be considered under exceptional circumstances.

Year 9 USI Numbers

Year 9 students this year will be required to have a USI number (Unique Student Identifier). These numbers will be required for several upcoming excursions to The Gordon that will help students explore and support future career choices. Information on how to acquire a USI will be shared with Year 9 students via their Google Classroom.

To help prepare students for this process, they will need to use a personal email address (not their NGSC email) and provide a form of personal identification. All student USI numbers will be collected by staff later in the year once they have been obtained.

Year 10 Satisfactory/Non-Satisfactory Learning Tasks

As Year 10 students are now moving towards their senior studies, with many undertaking an accelerated subject, this is a reminder that students in Year 10 will receive a Satisfactory (S) or Non-Satisfactory (N) result on all learning tasks this year.

The decision about satisfactory completion of an outcome or assessment is based on the teacher’s professional judgement of the student’s overall performance, including:

• Regular attendance at classes
• Completion of set work and homework
• Contribution to class discussions and learning activities
• Satisfactory completion of assessment tasks
• Effort shown in class

Students will not receive an ‘N’ determination if they have genuinely attempted all required work. This process places increased ownership on students to attend school regularly and actively engage in their learning. Students who receive multiple ‘N’ results may be at risk of failing a subject and repeating the school year.

It has been a wonderful start to the year in the Junior Sub School. We are very pleased to welcome back our Year 8 students and to officially welcome our new Year 7 cohort to the College. There has already been a positive energy around the school, with students settling into routines, reconnecting with friends and forming new relationships. We are excited for the year ahead and the many learning, wellbeing and co-curricular opportunities it will bring.

Important Reminders:

Uniform

Students are reminded that the blazer is a compulsory part of the academic uniform and must be worn to and from school and when attending excursions. The PE uniform is to be worn only on designated PE days, paired with the school soft-shell jacket. We appreciate your continued support in helping students maintain pride in their appearance and school identity.

Being Organised for Learning

Students are expected to arrive at classes organised and ready to learn, with their Chromebook, workbook and pencil case each day. If students require support logging into Jacaranda or accessing learning resources, families are encouraged to contact classroom teachers or Year Level Coordinators for assistance.

Recess and Lunchtime Use of Synthetic Surfaces

The synthetic surfaces are fantastic spaces for students to burn energy, build friendships and have fun. These areas are not suitable for rough play, pushing or competitive games. Yard duty teachers will continue to actively monitor these spaces to ensure they remain safe and inclusive for all students.

Year 7 Camp

Our Year 7 students are currently out on camp this week, participating in a fun, exciting and highly valuable experience. Camp provides students with opportunities to build strong relationships with classmates and teachers, challenge themselves, and develop confidence and resilience. Photos and student reflections will be shared in the next newsletter.

As the term continues, we look forward to seeing students continue to grow, engage positively with their learning, and contribute to the welcoming and respectful culture of the Junior Sub School. Thank you to families for your ongoing support as we work together to ensure a successful year for all students.

We are excited to begin the year with Connect running once again as our pastoral care program at NGSC. Connect plays a vital role in supporting student wellbeing by providing dedicated time for students to build relationships, develop resilience and strengthen their social and emotional skills.

With concerning statistics around mental health and wellbeing among children, young people and adults in Australia, The Resilience Project is working to drive meaningful change through a preventative approach that builds a culture of wellbeing in schools. In 2026, we are fortunate to be partnering with The Resilience Project to further strengthen our Connect program. This partnership will allow us to draw on evidence-based principles of Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness (GEM), alongside emotional literacy, to equip students with lifelong wellbeing habits and empower families to support wellbeing at home.

Our whole-school wellbeing approach includes explicit teaching through an evidence-based curriculum, supported by wellbeing habits that are embedded into daily school routines. This ensures students not only learn about wellbeing, but practise it consistently in meaningful ways.

So far this year, students have been focused on building positive relationships within their Connect classes and being introduced to the GEM principles. These early lessons help establish a strong foundation for learning, connection and personal growth throughout the year.

We know that when schools, families and communities share a common language around mental health and wellbeing, young people are best supported to thrive. Throughout the year, families will receive resources and information to help reinforce wellbeing strategies and resilience-building practices at home.

We look forward to working together to support the wellbeing of all our students through the Connect program in 2026.

SPORTS SHACK

Borrowing Times: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri 12:34pm – 12:45pm Thurs 12:50pm-1:00pm

You need to hand in your Student ID card to borrow equipment.

Please record the date, your name, form group, and the items you have borrowed on the Borrowing Sheet.

Return Times: 1:22 pm

Ensure you return the borrowed equipment on time, check off your name and collect your ID card. Should there be any issues with returning the equipment, inform the staff at the Sports Shack.

Failure to return equipment may impact your ability to borrow in the future.

The Sports Shack is an excellent resource for students, and it is in everyone's interest to contribute to its efficient operation.

Year 12 Outdoor Education: You Yangs Excursion

Our Year 12 Outdoor Education class visited the You Yangs we were investigating Indigenous relationships with the land before and after colonisation. We were guided by Ebonee a Park Ranger, a Wadawurrung Woman and traditional custodian of the land. Ebonee shared stories about the Wadawurrung people, including the significance of Big Rock, caves nearby which provided shelter for around 150 people. We learned about rock wells a sustainable water source used by the Wadawurrung. Ebonee explained scar trees which hold cultural meaning and reflect a deep connection between the people and the land.

It was an insightful and meaningful experience, connecting us to the history and culture of the You Yangs.

Maria Pagtolon-An - Sports Captain

International Student Program

The International Student Program is going from strength to strength with enquiries and incoming International Students, this year is no different....

What an exciting start to Term 1 

Two new International Students have been welcomed to our College community, they are:

• Mehrnaz (Naz) MIRJALILLZADEH, Year 7 from Iran
• Ela YILDIRIM, Year 9 from Turkey

We hope both of these International Students enjoy Australia and the wonderful experiences during their studies at North Geelong Secondary College. They are both very focused on their studies, humble and look forward to what the future may bring them both with their studies.

Our College also has five Temporary / Short Study International Students joining our classes for a period of two to four weeks. The start that they had has been so welcoming and positive. The NGSC students have taken so much time to get to know them and making wonderful friendships. This is what our NGSC community is about, sharing diversity and friendships among others around them.

Excursion

Excursion 10/02/2026 - What an amazing day and experience for our Short Stay / Temporary International Students.

From feeding the Ausralian Wildlife, walking through the rainforests to see the picturesque waterfalls, experiencing sand between their toes and the waves crashing down on their feet making all their shoes wet, to finally relaxing and eating some well-deserved and delicious ice-cream, our International Students all experienced this today.

The weather didn’t disappoint either, bright sunshine, big smiles and the International Students showing their gratitude by writing beautiful messages in the sand. These were the most memorable experiences that our International Students can be a part of.

The descriptive words that the International Students used to describe the day were, wonderful, exciting, enjoyable, fantastic and not to mention FUN ! Good times with so many different activities that were new to them all.

Chess Club

Every Tuesday is Chess Day at NGSC. During lunch, students are invited to come to the Library to learn the game, play a friend or challenge a teacher. If students beat a teacher, they win a trophy.

The teachers who regularly attend and play to not give up a trophy are Mr Parker, Mr Cowen-Clark, Mr Doyle and Mr Scott.

This is a fun and friendly way to spend a lunch with friends and meet new students in the school, the games are not too serious (unless a teacher is not doing so well) all abilities are welcome, from beginners to those who the teachers are too scared to face.

In previous years, very few trophies were won, this year a trophy was won on the first day. I had a bad day last Tuesday. 

Encourage your children to come along for a game, either to learn or hone their skills.

“Every chess master was once a beginner” - Irving Chernev

The Alumni Program launched with great momentum in 2026, with four past students returning to inspire our Year 12 cohort during their Orientation Camp at Federation University in Ballarat. We were delighted to welcome Dayna Maring (Class of 2025), Paris Mina (2024), Faith Qoon (2023) and Emmanuel Sumo, who shared their experiences and pathways since graduating from North Geelong Secondary College.

Dayna spoke about her ambition to join the Australian Defence Force and how she is working towards meeting all entry requirements. She highlighted that an ATAR was not necessary for her chosen pathway, but understanding and preparing for the required tasks was essential.

Paris shared his busy and varied schedule, balancing his role as an Electorate Officer for Ella George MP, leading a team at KFC, and studying at Monash University. He has also co-founded FYPG, a group supporting young Filipino professionals in the Geelong region, and volunteers with Cultura, a multicultural support service.

Faith discussed her studies in a double degree in Sports and Exercise Science and Nutrition, alongside her commitment as a player in Geelong’s VFLW team.

Emmanuel reflected on his unique journey, which included changing study directions, working at Cotton On, and eventually pursuing Youth and Social Work. A chance encounter with Ms Elkin led him back to North Geelong Secondary College, where he now works as a Careers Counsellor, Chaplain and member of the Wellbeing team, continuing to develop his skills and qualifications.

All four alumni encouraged students to take advantage of every opportunity, manage work commitments alongside school demands, and prioritise health and wellbeing by leaning on peers and school support services. They also reinforced the important message that it is perfectly okay to change your mind and pursue new interests as goals evolve.

A big thank you to Dayna, Paris, Faith and Emmanuel for generously giving their time and giving back to the North Geelong Secondary College community.

If you would like to be a part of the alumni community at NGSC, please email alumni@ngsc.com.au or complete the survey below

Alumni Survey

Year 12 Orientation Camp

Years 7 - 9

During Weeks 5-8, Years 8 & 9 students will commence their Careers Action Plan. A career action plan is a dynamic planning document, owned and managed by a student. Creating a plan is a process of self-reflection and goal setting. The plan helps students:

• Consider their motivations and strengths
• Choose their goals
• Clarify the actions needed to achieve these goals
• Commit to participating in the planned activities.

Annual planning creates continuity through student's career development in secondary school. This helps them develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes and confidence they need to make informed decisions and effectively manage subject selections through secondary school.

Year 9

Geelong Tertiary futures Program 

During Week 4, Year 9 students will commence planning for the Geelong Tertiary futures Program run by The Gordon TAFE

GTFP is an exciting initiative that engages Year 9 students in education by providing an in-depth preview of a broad range of tertiary studies. The program is delivered by The Gordon TAFE in partnership with Geelong Secondary Schools. The flagship program is now widely recognised as an example of good VET pathways delivery and engagement and the Career Previews remain highly successful, with high engagement and positive feedback from both students and teachers. Students will visit The Gordon Tafe semester to complete five taster sessions.

Morrisby Profile

During Week 6, students will commence the Morrisby Profile. The Morrisby combines questionnaires and psychometric assessments with a rich library of careers and course information. The platform helps students understand their strengths, interests, priorities and personality, and uses these results to generate personalised career and subject suggestions.

Starting Secondary School

Going to secondary school: what to expect

The transition to secondary school means big changes for your child. For example, your child’s friendships and peer group, schoolwork, uniform, and school environment and routines are all likely to change. Your child will adjust to these changes, but it might take time.

Friends and peers
When your child goes to secondary school, they’ll meet new peers and make new friends. They’ll also need to work out where they fit in a new peer group.

Schoolwork
At secondary school, your child will:

• learn across a wide range of subjects
• work with different teachers in different classrooms with different teaching and assessment styles
• become more responsible for their own learning
• have a heavier and more complicated study and homework load
• learn a new and more complex timetable.

School environment
Your child will have to adjust to a new school campus, probably with more students, classrooms and facilities than their primary school. They’ll also have to learn to find their way around the campus and get to class on time with the right books and materials. They might also have to remember how to get to and from school on public transport.

These changes can be particularly challenging for children with disability or other additional needs, and children living in rural or remote communities.

Feelings
It’s natural for children to have mixed feelings about moving from the familiar to the unknown and learning new ways of doing things. For example, children might be:

• excited about new friends, subjects and teachers
• nervous about learning new routines, making new friends or wearing a new uniform
• worried about handling the workload or not fitting in.

Preparing to start secondary school

You can help to ease any worries your child has about starting secondary school by preparing your child.

Feelings
Here are ideas for working through mixed feelings and worries:

• Talk with your child about what they’re most looking forward to and what they’re worried about. Actively listen when your child shares their feelings and worries about secondary school.
• Reassure your child that it’s natural to worry about going to secondary school. Let your child know you’re confident they’ll settle in eventually.
• Encourage your child to look at the positive side of the move to secondary school. For example, you could highlight the new extracurricular activities your child could try.
• Talk with your child about keeping in touch with old friends and making new friends.
• Share your own positive high school experiences or the experiences of friends and family.

During the transition to secondary school

Practical issues
Here are ideas to help with the practical side of the transition to high school:

• Try to arrange for a parent, grandparent or other close adult to be home before and after school for the first few weeks after your child starts secondary school.
• Work on routines for before and after school. This could include making time for homework, hobbies and sport, and relaxation before bed.
• Use a weekly planner to help your child learn the school routine. Put the planner where you and your child can see it easily, like on the fridge. List daily school and extracurricular activities, plus the equipment that your child needs for each activity.
• Try to make sure your child eats healthy food and gets plenty of physical activity and sleep. This will help if your child is feeling tired.
• Try to make your home as comfortable for study time as possible. For example, make sure your child has a quiet place to study, away from distractions like the TV or a mobile phone.
• Let your child know which school staff to talk to for help if they need it – for example, teachers, the sub school team and/or the wellbeing team.

Friends
These ideas might help with worries about getting to know people and making new friends at high school:

• Reassure your child that it’s common to worry about making new friends. Let your child know you’re confident they’ll make friends eventually.
• Let your child know that new friends are welcome in your home. Encourage your child to invite new friends over, or be ready to transport your child to their houses.
• Help your child explore new opportunities. Learning a musical instrument, trying a new sport or joining a drama class are great ways for your child to meet new people and get involved in school activities.
• Encourage your child to keep in touch with their old friends so they still feel socially connected.

Teachers
Good relationships between your child and their teachers will help your child have a positive transition to secondary school. One of the best ways for your child to build these relationships is by asking their teachers questions when they’re unsure about tasks or expectations or when they need help.

Feelings
You could try these suggestions for handling emotional ups and downs:

• Be prepared for ups and downs. Adjusting to change takes time, but if things don’t settle down after the first term, talk to your child’s teacher or year level coordinator.
• Remind your child that it’s natural to feel nervous about starting something new. For example, you could share how nervous and excited you feel when starting a new job.
• Talk to other parents to check whether your child’s experiences and feelings are similar to those of others. Sporting and school events are good opportunities to meet other parents.
• Stay calm. If you’re calm and reassuring, you’ll help your child feel confident about getting through the start of secondary school.

Signs your child might be having difficulty at secondary school

If your child is struggling with the transition to secondary school, they might:

• not want to go to school or refuse to go to school
• say they feel sick on Sunday nights
• seem uninterested in schoolwork or school activities
• avoid talking with you about school or friends
• seem low on confidence – your child might say they’re dumb or nobody likes them
• get lower marks than they used to.

If your child is having trouble, don’t wait for things to improve on their own. Try to get your child talking about how they’re feeling, let them know that it’s OK to feel worried, and see whether you can work out some strategies together.

If things don’t improve within 2-3 weeks, consider speaking with your child’s teacher, year level coordinator, wellbeing coordinator or GP.

Your feelings about your child starting secondary school

Your child’s transition to secondary school is a big change for you too. Your relationship with your child’s primary school might be ending, and you’re likely to have a different sort of relationship with your child’s secondary school.

It’s natural to have mixed feelings about these changes.

It often helps to talk to other parents, particularly those who have gone through high school transition before. It might ease your mind to know that most children find things a little hard at first but settle in during the year.

Also, other parents who are experienced at your child’s new school can often answer small questions and give you helpful tips about how things work at the school.

And don’t be surprised to find that your child doesn’t want you to be around at their secondary school. But although your child is developing more independence, they’ll still need your support outside of school.

Year 12 Camp

In week 1, we delivered a health education session at Year 12 camp focusing on the importance of staying healthy through Year 12. The session covered:

• Healthy Eating
• Physical Activity
• Sleep
• Mental Health
• Social Health

Art Therapy

Tina will be commencing the NGSC Art Therapy Program in Week 4. Tina will be providing group Art Therapy one period per week. Parent consent is required for this program. Art Therapy aims to reduce distress and improve social, emotional and mental health by promoting insight, self-compassion and a sense of agency and self-worth.

Join a headspace Geelong group program

headspace Geelong invites you to join their group programs in 2026. A great opportunity to meet like minded young people in the region.

Brainspace - A chill, low-sensory group space for neurodiverse young people - and you don’t need a diagnosis to join in. The program explores relationships, life skills, and managing emotions, all from a neurodiverse perspective.

Peerspace - Combines discussions of lived mental health experience with psychoeducation around a wide range of topics, customised for what each young person is interested in exploring.

For more information 2026 group programs

Under 18s travel free with a Youth myki

Public transport is free for children under 18, making it easier for young people to stay connected, whether travelling to school, sport, work or social activities, while helping families save on everyday costs.

The Youth myki is available for purchase for $5 – this is for the cost of the card, you won’t need to pay for anything after this.

For more information Youth myki | Free travel for children under 18 - Transport Victoria

Did you know that vapes can’t be thrown out into any of your kerbside bins?

Classified as e-waste, vapes contain batteries, plastic and harmful chemicals that pollute the environment and cause fires in rubbish trucks and landfills. To support the community to dispose of these devices safely, dedicated vape recycling bins are now available at the following locations:

• The Nest Youth Hub - 17 Gheringhap Street, Geelong
• The fOrT Youth Centre - Cnr Melbourne and St Georges Rd, Norlane
• Geelong Resource Recovery Centre - 21 Slevin Street, North Geelong
• Drysdale Resource Recovery Centre - Becks Rd (off Murradoc Rd), Drysdale

In Our Words

For more than 20 years, the In Our Words survey has shed light on LGBTIQA+ young people’s health and wellbeing in Australia. Last time in 2021, over 6000 LGBTIQA+ young people shared their stories, leading to real service and policy changes for the community. It guides programming and funding decisions, so it’s important to hear from regional voices.

In Our Words is now open and they want to hear from you!

If you’re:
- 14-21 years old
- Lesbian, gay, bi+, trans, intersex, queer, ace/aro, or anywhere on the rainbow

Take part in this anonymous survey to help shape the future of LGBTIQA+ young people’s health and wellbeing in Australia.

Your voice, real change.

Survey link:

https://latrobearcshs.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8kN2NovmmlzaHhc 

North Geelong Centre

Located at

North Geelong Secondary College

Just a quick update on the situation with VSL / LOTE learning. Many of our students attend school on a Saturday morning to learn a language. The VSL is running all classes through on-line learning, as are day-schools; the lessons are running at the usual time on a Saturday. The VSL teachers contacted each class member prior to the commencement of this term in regard to the electronic platform being used and instructions to access those. If any of our students or their parents/guardians have questions about this, please contact the class teacher first (if possible) and then make all enquiries through the VSL head-office.

The Victorian School of Languages is a specialist Government school offering complementary language instruction outside of regular school hours. It enrols students in Years 1 to 12, who are unable to study their language of choice in their mainstream school. Students from all educational sectors (Government, Independent and Catholic) are eligible to enrol.

The Victorian School of Languages offers quality courses aligned with Government curriculum standards, based on communication skills, that include speaking, reading, writing and listening. Its VCE Program is fully accredited and can advantage students in the calculation of their university entrance score.

The school`s Language Program is delivered through online teaching in over 40 Language Centres situated in government Secondary Schools across the state, and through Distance Education mode.

In North Geelong, classes are held on Saturday mornings between 9:00 am and 12:15 pm online.

Languages offered:

Croatian, Karen, Vietnamese, Dari, Persian, Polish, Macedonian, Bosnian, Turkish and Russian

*New languages may be offered subject to demand*

For enquiries Telephone: 5277 9833

Further details and enrolment are available online at our website: www.vsl.vic.edu.au

Discover the World of Languages!