As we move into November, it’s hard to believe another school year is quickly drawing to a close. This is always a busy and exciting time at the College, with exams, final assessments, and preparations for end-of-year events well underway. It’s also a moment to pause and reflect on the many achievements of our students and staff throughout the year. The commitment, resilience, and sense of community shown across the College continue to make me proud to be part of North Geelong Secondary College.

Term 4 Key Dates

Year 11 and 12 Completion

The Year 12 students are now through the first week and a half of their exams, while our VCE VM students have finalised their work requirements. We are eagerly looking forward to the Year 12 Graduation on November 25, one of my favourite nights of the year. This event celebrates not only this year's achievements but also the culmination of 13 years of schooling, as students prepare to embark on the next phase of their lives — whether through further study, training, or entering the workforce.

Our Year 11 students will begin their exams in the gym next week, followed by their Orientation Program the week after, which will also include all VM students. This will ensure they are well prepared for any holiday homework and ready to begin the new academic year with confidence. While we encourage students to remain organised and take responsibility for their studies, it is equally important that they take time over the holidays to rest, recharge, and return refreshed for the year ahead.

Exams 7-10

Years 7–10 students are now preparing for their end-of-year exams, which serve as necessary preparation for their future Year 12 exams and further study. These assessments are carefully structured to help students refine their exam techniques, focus on responding effectively to questions, and become familiar with the exam environment, all of which help to reduce anxiety and build confidence. The College has continued to see steady improvement in VCE exam results each year, reflecting our students’ commitment and the effectiveness of this well-planned preparatory process.

Finalising Subject Selection and Booklists

In the coming weeks, students will receive their 2026 subject selections and begin making their booklist choices. I encourage all students to speak with their Sub School Manager if they have any questions or concerns about their selections. These choices must align with both career aspirations and curriculum requirements. While we recognise that interests and goals can evolve, students are encouraged to seek advice from staff, parents, and peers to ensure their selections best support their future pathways.

Multicultural Day

Last Friday was one of the most significant days on the College calendar — Multicultural Day, a vibrant celebration of our school’s diversity. Many students proudly wore their traditional dress, showcasing our community's rich cultural heritage and highlighting the shared values that unite us. The day featured an exciting array of music, dance, workshops, arts and crafts, amusement rides, and delicious food from across the globe. A standout feature was the Human Library Exhibition, where several of our new arrival students shared powerful stories of the adversities they have overcome to begin a new life in Australia. These were truly extraordinary stories of resilience and courage. I would like to acknowledge the hard work of all staff and students who contributed to making this day such a great success, especially the event coordinator, Ms Henry, for her leadership and dedication.

2026 School Captains

After a lengthy application process which involved a written application, searching for references, a speech to their entire Year 11 cohort, a student vote and an interview, the 2026 NGSC School Captains have been selected.

The College Captains for 2026 are:

Tanishka Negi

Louis Smith

Academic Captain: Lila Fennell

Sports Captain: Maria Pagtolon-an

Cultural Captain: Julia Gamboa

Arts Captain: Ezra Washington

The new Captains held their first whole school assembly on Wednesday where they were formally introduced and made a speech. We look forward to working with all Captains and having them represent our College in 2026.

Middle Years Leadership Scholarships

Year 9 students are encouraged to apply for the Middle Years Leadership Scholarships and are awarded for demonstrating excellent leadership skills, communication skills, taking initiative, and having a passion to motivate, delegate, guide and lead fellow students. Congratulations to the successful recipients:

• Patricia Joy Mina
• Mia Joldzic
• Jayden Mangat
• Deborah Bijimba

Senior Academic Scholarships

Every year, NGSC has an amazing opportunity for the Year 10 students to apply for one of four Academic Scholarships to support their VCE studies over the next two years. Students had to submit a written application and sit an interview to demonstrate their success in either English, Humanities, Science or Mathematics. There was a really competitive pool of applicants that applied, and we would like to congratulate everyone that went through the application process. The recipients of the four VCE Academic Scholarships are:

• RJ Cathro
• Georgie Webster
• Ayush Singh
• Will Devlin

7-10 Testing Week

Recently all students in Years 7-10 completed testing for Mathematics and English. This end of year data is used by students to reflect on their personal growth, as well as by teachers for report writing and Sub-Schools also access this data for 2026 class selections. It was wonderful to see the level of effort put in by all students involved. Below are the top performing students for the Acer-PAT Mathematics and Reading tests. Congratulations to these students:

Mathematics

Year 7 - Lachlan Wright & Justin Acharya

Year 8 - Ethan Hoff

Year 9 - Zach Darling

Year 10 - Fatima Shirvani

English - Reading

Year 7 - Justin Acharya

Year 8 - Georgia Ferreria

Year 9 - Sadie Dorais

Year 10 - Hayden Hubacsek

Be Bold Be Heard

CELEBRATION FORUM

This has been an amazing year for the Be Bold, Be Heard initiative. We have celebrated some incredible new initiatives that included Student Leadership Training sessions through YLead and Staff Champion Training. We extended offers to new schools outside of our region and continued to embrace our non-government schools for different and the same perspectives. Soroptimists International have continued to provide support through a partnership, to enable 10 students to participate in the program. In addition to this, they have representatives who have joined our newly appointed committee. The committee, which has grown over the years and will develop further in 2026, has added staff from various schools and Respectful Relationships leaders. One early highlight being the speeches of BBBH Alumni, Anna (GHS) and Nya (NGSC -at a principal conference).

In Term 2, we had Iona College lead a forum, then in Term 3 Bellarine Secondary College and this really underpinned what the program is about, student voice agency and leadership. These forums epitomised this and inspired the leadership in others. Including some primary school students on the Bellarine, who wrote about it in their own newsletters as something that they really look forward to in the years to come.

Our guest speakers have continued to volunteer their time happily and contribute to the program even after inspiring the students. Politicians such as Ella George and Alison Marchant cannot get enough of the program and readily volunteer their time to assist, but also to celebrate the work of these girls. It is an outstanding feeling to be a part of such a vibrant and uplifting program where community leaders engage as part of their own fulfilment whilst inspiring others.

But all this is where the components of a build up to a wonderful event…the Celebration Forum. 

All our work prior to this would appear to be in place to prepare students for this day. Students presented their achievements to camera on entry to the event to have their work recorded for future presentations and inspirations of others. This was led by students and supported by Courtney McCullough (NGSC) who ran the media component of the day. Student leaders then continued to organise and manage the event like a well-oiled machine, each with their own responsibilities they did not miss a beat. Even at one point saw Mollie Brilliant (Sacred Heart) using initiative and running an activity with the guests so they were engaged and involved.

The MCs were outstanding and managed to, for the first time keep to the time schedule of the agenda and should be congratulated. Leading us off however, was Cat Salt who reminded students that we should all be considerate of the stories behind a person and her inspirations were articulated in the feedback of the students later in the day.

Thoma and Rushneet (NGSC) relished the opportunity to speak up and be heard (constantly).

The students, in between a fantastic spread of morning tea and lunch, presented their actions and achievements for the year. Some were complete, others were ongoing because of determined efforts to see it come to fruition. Ultimately, they were not just individualised, they were big picture things to have vast impact on their cohort, gender or college. Quite incredible really! What really resonated with me was their goals were in the realms of the work of the Principal team and in the week prior we were unable to solve some of the issues relating to toilets and yet the students willingly and enthusiastically tackled the opportunity creating posters, creating happy colourful designs and visiting Bunnings for paint. Perhaps that is why the initiative is starting to embed in the action planning of schools around the region.

Again, the speakers Nicole Briscoe (swimmer), Karen Feldman (Clawdia - Geelong FC cat) and Michelle Tither (Mint) were inspiring and delivered wonderful anecdotes and enabled students to envision positive future aspirations in their own lives.

Thank you to all the schools for supporting the program in 2025 and well done to the students.

Finally, thanks to the committee members for supporting the growth of the program and I look forward to further growth and development of this program in 2026! If you would like to join the committee in 2026, please contact bradley.headlam@education.vic.gov.au

Climbing Mt Everest

At the beginning of the year students were set the challenge of “Climbing Mt Everest” with the amount of Green Positive Entries earned by the students. The target was 8,849 entries, one for each metre of height that Mt Everest stretches, by Multicultural Day in Term 4. The students surpassed this goal with 10,084 positive entries with a few weeks to spare. The students were promised a whole school reward, which the SRC wanted a Halloween Dress Up Day, which we had on Friday 31st October. Great effort to the students and a new goal will be set early in 2026 for the students to achieve.

📘 Year 11 Exams – Next Week

Year 11 exams begin next week! Students are only required at school for their scheduled exam sessions. Please check the exam timetable carefully to ensure you know when and where each exam is taking place.

These exams are a vital part of preparing for success in Year 12. They provide students with the chance to practise the structure, timing, and focus required for VCAA exams next year. Sitting exams under formal conditions helps build exam stamina, time management, and confidence—all essential skills for success in senior studies. Students should take these exams seriously and use them as an opportunity to reflect on their progress and identify areas for improvement before orientation begins.

🎓 Year 12 VCAA Exams

Our Year 12 students are well into their VCAA exams, with only a few remaining. The focus and effort shown by our students has been outstanding, and we wish them all the best as they complete the final stages of their secondary schooling. Thank you also to our teachers and supervisors for supporting the smooth running of these exams.

🌟 Year 12 Graduation – Tuesday 25th November

We’re very excited to celebrate the achievements of our graduating class at GMHBA Stadium on Tuesday, 25th November. This will be a special evening to recognise the hard work, growth, and accomplishments of our students. Tickets have all been purchased and are now ready for collection from the Senior Sub School. We look forward to celebrating this milestone together with students, families, and staff.

🔄 Orientation – Years 10 → 11 and 11 → 12

Our Senior School Orientation Program is just around the corner! This is an important step in preparing students for success in 2026. The program gives students a head start on their new courses, introduces key expectations, and allows them to meet their teachers and classmates for next year.

We look forward to welcoming both our new Year 11 and Year 12 cohorts as they begin the next stage of their learning journey.

🏕️ Year 12 Camp – 2026

Planning is already underway for the 2026 Year 12 Camp, an important event that helps set the tone for the final year of schooling. This camp provides students with the opportunity to build strong connections, develop leadership skills, and prepare for the year ahead both academically and socially.

Students and families can now access Compass to provide permission and make payment for the camp. Any families who need support with logging in, making payments, or accessing Compass are encouraged to contact the school for assistance. We are more than happy to help.

We want all Year 12 students to attend Camp in 2026 and be part of what is sure to be a memorable and valuable experience.

📅 2026 Senior School Reminders

As we begin looking ahead to 2026, it’s important that all students and families understand the expectations for attendance and participation in the Senior School.

Under VCAA requirements, each VCE and VCE VM unit involves a minimum of 50 hours of scheduled classroom instruction. Students must attend regularly and complete coursework under teacher supervision to meet authentication and outcome requirements.

Taking extended time off during the school year, outside of approved medical leave or family emergencies, can place students at risk of receiving an ‘N’ result for their unit. This includes missing key assessment periods, excursions that contribute to outcomes, or extended absences for travel or work.

Consistent attendance, engagement, and communication with teachers are essential for success in all Senior programs. Students and families are encouraged to plan holidays and personal commitments outside of Term time, wherever possible, to ensure full participation in the learning program.

Enjoy the next few weeks.

As we approach the final weeks of Term 4, it’s an exciting and important time across the school community. Students are balancing preparation for upcoming exams, finishing off their final assessments and preparing for a new start of 2026 classes.

Exam Preparation

Teachers and students are working together to consolidate learning and ensure everyone feels confident heading into assessment time. Revision sessions, study tips, and targeted feedback are helping students strengthen their understanding and achieve their personal best. We encourage all students to maintain a balanced routine; prioritising rest, nutrition, and positive study habits to perform at their best. Exam Timetables have been shared on google classrooms for each year level. Remember to communicate with your teachers and Year Level Coordinators regarding absences and clashes.

Year 10 into 11 Orientation

Our Year 10 students are preparing to take the next step in their learning journey as they begin their senior studies. The Year 10 into 11 Orientation Program gives students a valuable introduction to the expectations, routines, and opportunities of senior school. Through workshops and subject previews, students are developing a clear sense of direction and motivation for the years ahead. It is expected that all students attend all of orientation from the 24/11 to the 5/12.

End-of-Year Activities

To celebrate another successful school year, a range of engaging and rewarding activities are planned for the final weeks of term. These events provide a chance for students and staff to reflect on achievements, strengthen friendships, and enjoy time together before the holidays. We look forward to recognising the hard work, growth, and accomplishments of all our students. Paper forms were handed out to Year 9 students last week and can be filled out and returned at the times listed on the paperwork.

The Man Cave

Our Year 9 boys will have the opportunity to participate in The Man Cave incursion next week. A small blurb about the program is below.

What is The Man Cave?

The Man Cave is a preventative mental health charity empowering communities to raise generations of healthy young men. Our vision is a world where every man has healthy relationships, contributes to his community and reaches his full potential. Using evidence-based workshops and expert facilitation, our programs provide boys with the critical emotional and social skills they need to become self-aware, respectful, and emotionally mature men.

Year 8 Smashed Incursion

Year 8 students recently participated in the Smashed incursion, an engaging and hard-hitting, interactive program that explored the life-changing effects of alcohol.

Through a powerful multi-media performance, students followed the story of three friends who found themselves in trouble after misusing alcohol. The session highlighted the impact of underage drinking on health, safety, relationships, and future aspirations.

An interactive workshop followed the performance, allowing students to work with the cast to discuss peer pressure and explore positive choices that could change the outcome for the characters.

Feedback from the day was overwhelmingly positive — students found it both thought-provoking and relevant to real-life situations.

Activities Week

Information about Activities Week has now been shared with students, including details about the activities on offer, sign-up dates, and how to register.
It’s very important that students follow the sign-up process and meet all deadlines, as some activities have limited numbers. Being organised will give students the best chance of securing their first preference.
Activities Week is always a highlight of the year — a fantastic way to celebrate student success and growth while enjoying fun and engaging experiences with friends.

Exams

Year 7 and 8 exams will take place during Week 8. The exam timetable has been posted on Google Classroom and displayed in the Junior Sub School area.
Students are reminded to come prepared with the correct materials and to continue their revision to showcase the knowledge and skills they have developed throughout the year.

Swimming and STEM Programs

During Week 9, Year 7 and 8 students will participate in the Swimming Program, which is part of the Physical Education curriculum. Permissions are available on Compass, and participation in this program is vital for developing important water safety skills ahead of summer.

At the same time, Year 8 students will take part in the STEM Program, an annual highlight that promotes creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. It’s always inspiring to see the innovative projects and teamwork that come out of this program.

Over the past few weeks in Connect, our students have explored a range of important topics that support their wellbeing, personal growth, and understanding of respectful relationships. These sessions are designed to build confidence, resilience, and positive connections within our school community.

Social Media – Year 7

Students discussed the impact of social media on their daily lives, focusing on the importance of using technology safely and responsibly. Conversations centred around developing a healthy digital balance, understanding privacy and consent online, and recognising how social media can affect self-esteem and relationships. Discussions around the social media laws were sparked in conversation and will be delved into more deeply with incursions form Faith our school nurse later this term.

Stress Management – Year 8

As exams approach, students have been learning strategies to manage stress effectively. Sessions explored practical techniques such as time management, healthy routines, mindfulness, and identifying personal triggers. The aim is to help students maintain balance and build emotional resilience both at school and at home.

Active Bystander – Year 9

Students examined what it means to be an active bystander — someone who stands up for others and challenges disrespectful or unsafe behaviour. Through scenarios and discussions, students learned how to respond appropriately in social situations, online and in person, and how their actions can help create a safer and more supportive community.

Respectful Relationships – Year 10

This unit focused on promoting equality, understanding consent, and developing positive gender relationships. Students explored stereotypes, communication skills, and respect for diversity. These discussions form part of our ongoing Respectful Relationships program, which helps students build empathy and confidence in their interactions.

Safer Socialising - Year 11

With end-of-year celebrations approaching, students reflected on how to make safe and responsible choices when socialising. Topics included personal safety, decision-making, peer pressure, and looking out for friends. The goal is to help students feel confident and informed as they navigate social situations.

The Geelong Project – Exam Stress Workshop

Our Year 11 students also took part in a session led by The Geelong Project, focusing on managing exam stress. The workshop provided practical tools for handling pressure, maintaining perspective, and reaching out for support when needed. It encouraged students to recognise that preparation, rest, and balance all contribute to doing their best.

Remembrance Day

As part of our Remembrance Day reflections, all students across the college learned about the significance of November 11 and the importance of honouring those who have served in times of war. Classes discussed the values of courage, sacrifice, and peace, taking time to reflect on how remembrance connects to gratitude and community. Discussing symbols of Remembrance Day and how we can pay our respects during this time.

 The past few weeks in Connect have been a wonderful opportunity for students to reflect, discuss, and develop skills that support both their wellbeing and their relationships with others.

Results from the SSV Track and Field State Championships

Sienna Bilinski

• Gold – Long Jump 5.41m, Triple Jump 11.27
• Silver – 200m 26.68sec
• Bronze – 400m 1:01.88 m

Xander Mitchell

• Gold – Javelin 39.82 m

Asher Mitchell

• Bronze – Javelin 43.49m
• 4th place - Long Jump

These are amazing results from our three competitors. Well done, Sienna, Xander and Mitchell.

Multicultural Committee News – Final for 2025

The Multicultural Committee held its final meeting on Monday, 3 November 2025, to reflect on and celebrate this year’s achievements — particularly the tremendous success of NGSC’s annual Multicultural Festival, a long-standing milestone in our College’s tradition.

We were also delighted to welcome the 2026 College Captains — Julia, Lila, Ezra, and Louis — who introduced themselves and shared their goals and ambitions for the year ahead.

A special acknowledgment goes to the NGSC Multicultural Festival, themed “One World.” Under the outstanding leadership of our College Events Coordinator, Suzanne Henry, the event was a dazzling success — perhaps our best yet — with record numbers of visitors attending. Suzanne’s dedication, creativity, and energy throughout the year, together with the continued support of the Multicultural Committee, ensured that the festival once again shone as a celebration of unity and diversity.

As the festival’s original founder, it fills me with great pride to see how the event has grown stronger over more than four decades. What began as a vision to bring our NGSC community together as “One World” has evolved into one of the largest and most beloved school–community events in Greater Geelong and beyond.

No Multicultural Festival would be complete without our much-loved Cake Stall, now in its fourth decade and affectionately known as “The World’s Best Cake Stall.” Each year it continues to grow in popularity and success, thanks to the incredible generosity of our NGSC community — parents, grandparents, carers, staff, students, and friends — who bake, donate, and purchase with such enthusiasm. This year’s stall went above and beyond expectations — a true reflection of community spirit and teamwork.

A special thank you goes to Dragana Skoric (current parent and former student), who once again went above and beyond. Dragana arrived early to set up the stall, stayed until the very end to pack up, and contributed her signature “peach cakes,” which were a delight to all! This marks her third year of dedicated involvement, and we are deeply grateful for her ongoing commitment and generosity.

Finally, sincere thanks to our Chairperson and School Captain, Dean Smilevski, for leading every meeting with confidence and enthusiasm, and to Keir Osborne, our dedicated Minute Secretary, for accurately recording each meeting’s outcomes.

In closing, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all Multicultural Committee members for your energy, enthusiasm, and dedication throughout 2025. Together, we have once again demonstrated the strength, harmony, and community spirit that make NGSC truly special.

As we farewell our Year 12 Class of 2025, we wish them every success in their future endeavours.

Wishing everyone a joyful festive season, a safe and happy holiday, and we look forward to seeing you all again in 2026!

International Student Program

Recently our Japanese International Student, Minami Sasagawa, competed in the Victorian Championships for Kendo (a Japanese sport similar to Fencing in Australia) and Minami received 3^rd place. Well done to Minami, such a wonderful achievement which you should be so proud of.

The support from Minami’s Homestay family is above and beyond and we also thank them for being involved with this and allowing Minami to shine through with her best performance at a sport she loves so much and is close to her heart and culture.

Our College has had a great deal of enquiries recently for the coming year regarding our International Student Program. These enquiries are from around the continent ranging from Turkey, China, Vietnam, Kuwait, Hong Kong, Thailand and India. We are feeling so proud that the Program has been highlighted in these areas and beyond but hope these enquiries lead to International Students commencing at our College to experience the wonderful opportunities that are available to them.

With this in mind, this is another call out for new homestay families to join our Homestay Program. This is such an amazing experience to be a part of a new culture in your home.

Would you like to become a Homestay family with the International Student Program?

By becoming a Homestay Family, you are making lifelong connections with international friends, which make the world feel smaller and more connected. Speaking and associating with different languages, is rewarding, it allows you to discover this common ground amongst us all. International Students start to feel like family in only a short period as the Homestay Families welcome and include them in their daily activities.

Hosting an International Student brings new life from other cultures into your home, breaking down borders to create an extended family. A weekly fee of $320.00 is paid to the family.

If you are interested in becoming a Homestay family, please email: Tonia.Tigani@education.vic.gov.au for more information. We would welcome all new families to be a part of this wonderful and exciting Program.

Celebrating Student Voice through Learning Walks

On Monday 13th October, we held our first ever Student Learning Walks—an exciting opportunity for students to explore different classrooms, observe teaching and learning, and reflect on what makes learning most effective. Traditionally, this process involves a group of teachers visiting classrooms to gather insights about what is happening for learners across the school. This year, we thought—what better way to do that than by inviting students into the conversation?

The purpose of these Learning Walks is to develop staff and student understanding of quality learning, strengthen their voice and agency, and provide meaningful feedback to staff. By sharing their observations, students help teachers reflect on their practice and contribute to making our learning environment even stronger.

We want to thank and celebrate the students who took part with curiosity, respect, and thoughtful insight: Prisha Prisha(7D), Nhu-Y Pham (7D), and Tanishka Negi (11C). Your contributions are helping shape a school culture where student perspectives are valued, and learning continues to improve for everyone.

We look forward to continuing this partnership in our next round of Learning Walks with even more student voices in 2026.

Alumni News

Alumni events were somewhat quieter at the end of term 3 and the start of term 4 as I was hiking in Slovenia and Italy!

This term we welcomed alumni to our annual Multicultural Festival on October 24th. Nya Tut (2024) and Paris Mina (2024) were our guest speakers, giving an account of how important our cultural diversity is to our school and our community. Other alum attended the Opening Ceremony as invited guests or performers; two attended as stallholders displaying information about the support services their new business offered; others simply turned up to enjoy the day!

Thank you to everyone for supporting our alumni community and the College. 

Future sessions are in the making - some guest speakers for Orientation classes and the 2026 Year 12 camp. 

If you would like to be a part of the alumni community, please get in touch by email (alumni@ngsc.com.au) or fill in the survey linked to the QR code below.

Some Great Information Regarding Applying for an Apprenticeship or Traineeship

What are employers looking for in an apprentice or trainee?

There are the baseline traits that all employees look for:

• Punctuality
• Honesty
• Initiative
• Work ethic.
• Self-awareness and the desire for self-improvement – Curiosity is big thing all employers say they are looking for. They don’t expect you to know it all, but they want to see a drive to learn.

So how do you capture the attention of an employer?

Why are you unique? What can you offer that no one else can? We all have Unique Selling Points or USPs (in digital marketing terms). Name your top three strengths then ask a parent, friend or former employer to do the same. For example, you may be efficient, outgoing and driven. Think of examples in your personal life where you have illustrated these strengths and spell them out using examples.

YOU MUST have a Resume. Employers offering apprenticeships and traineeships accept that you may have very little paid work experience, but you do have skills. Perhaps you are the captain of your sporting club, or you are coach of a team, completed a pre-apprenticeship, studied tech or hospitality at school, worked at your dad’s company in the holidays or learned how to construct things. Include achievements such as awards or projects you managed at school. It could simply be that you worked part-time for a year to go on a school trip, which shows you have determination.

Be creative with your skill set.

Present well. Dress well and look clean and tidy even if you are in your school uniform. Presentation also includes ensuring there are no spelling or grammar mistakes in your resume. This is especially important to show you have a keen eye for attention to detail.

Be enthusiastic. Enthusiasm is so important in apprentices!

Someone who is enthusiastic, energetic and passionate creating products will get employed. Remember, while you may not have a lengthy resume, you might be surprised by how much you can truly offer.

Employers also value a young person’s initiative to pick up the phone (yes actually talking) and have a conversation with prospective employers.

Stay off your mobile during business hours!

Might be obvious, but Snapchat, Instagram, Tik Tok.... CAN ALL WAIT!

The one thing the Head Start Coordinators hear from frustrated employers; “They are always on their phone.”

Check it at appropriate times during breaks, but other times show some initiative during slow periods and clean, restack, clean a work vehicle – this is the thing that will impress.

What makes doing an apprenticeship so worthwhile?

Learning in a practical setting is invaluable. Not only do you get to develop skills in a practical environment, but you’re surrounded by experienced professionals that you can learn and draw inspiration from. An apprenticeship goes beyond the theory and provides you with skills and experience that will set you up for a career that you may have never been able to access otherwise.

Finding yourself the right apprenticeship isn’t always as difficult as you may think. Talk to your Careers Teacher about how Head Start can help you present well to employers.

If you’re a student looking for a pathway into employment, a parent looking for a secure future for your child, or an employer looking for your next apprentice, contact the Careers and Pathways Team about the Head Start Program!

Healthy School News

Vape Prevention Project

Some of our Year 11 & 12 students have been working in collaboration with Geelong Youth as part of the Vape Prevention Project. Through this partnership, NGSC students co-designed several educational resources to help raise awareness about the harms of vaping.

They developed:

• Vape Prevention Animation - Vape Ingredients
• Vape Prevention Animation - Vape Harms
• Be Smokefree – an interview with a Barwon Health Be Smokefree clinician

It has been amazing watching their ideas come to life and make a real impact in our community.

To explore all the resources available through the City of Greater Geelong, visit Youth Vape Prevention Project - City of Greater Geelong.

Social Media Age Restrictions presentations for students:

During Term 4, all year 7 & 8 students will be attending a presentation regarding the social media age restrictions being implemented by the government.

Social media age restrictions webinars for parents and carers

From 10 December 2025, certain social media platforms won’t be allowed to let Australian children under 16 create or keep an account.

You can join an information session for parents and carers to understand the changes, their purpose and implications.

The 30-minute webinar will help parents and carers understand the upcoming changes to social media access for children under 16.

Join the e-safety information session to:

• understand the purpose of the new age restrictions and how they aim to protect young Australians
• understand which platforms will require users to be 16+ and what platforms they can still access
• get tips and resources to support your child’s online safety and wellbeing through the transition.

 Parents and carers will gain:

• a clear understanding of the new rules and their implications
• confidence in guiding their child through these changes
• access to trusted resources to support safe and positive online engagement.

Dates of the information sessions:

• Friday 14 November, 1:00pm (AEDT)
• Wednesday 19 November 7:00pm (AEDT)
• Tuesday 2 December, 7:00pm (AEDT)
• Monday 8 December, 3:30pm (AEDT)
• Monday 15 December, 1:00pm(AEDT)
• Thursday 20 November, 12:30pm (AEDT)

You can register via the Registration link.

For more information visit Social media age restrictions and your family| eSafety Commissioner

Exam Stress and Teenagers

Exam stress, results and the uncertainty of what comes next can feel overwhelming for both parents and teenagers. It helps to build skills for managing exam expectations and handling academic pressure. Check out the resources below for practical tips and stories about how other parents and carers support their teenagers through exam anxiety and stress.

• Understanding exam stress in teenagers | Exam stress
• Practical strategies for managing exam stress | Exams & teens
• How to make a study schedule with your teenager | Exam stress
• Surviving Year 12: A parent’s guide to self-care
• How to help your teen avoid distractions during studies & exams
• Ask an expert: Exam stress, neurodiversity and teens
• How to help young mob manage study stress | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families
• How to manage teenagers' expectations after exams
• What to do if your teen is stressed about the future
• A parent's guide to life skills for teens | Work & finances

The Get Active Kids Voucher Program is now open!

The Get Active Kids Voucher Program is now open! Get in quick as applications

will close 13 November or earlier if the budget allocation is fully exhausted.

If your family or child has a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, you may be eligible for up to $200 to put towards the cost of your child’s participation in sport and active recreation activities.

Important Dates:

Round 9 open to apply for a voucher or reimbursement: 10:00 am Wednesday, 15 October 2025 and will close 13 November or earlier if the budget allocation is fully exhausted.

Reimbursement expenditure dates: from 1 July 2025 to submission of application​

Vouchers expiry date: Wednesday, 31 December 2025.

The Get Active Kids Voucher Program helps eligible families get their kids involved in organised sport and active recreation activities by providing financial support for the cost of membership and registration fees. Eligible children may be able to receive up to $200 each.

Special consideration also applies for children residing in care services, as well as temporary or provisional visa holders, undocumented migrants, or international students.

To find out if you are eligible, how to apply, what costs are covered and more, visit www.getactive.vic.gov.au/vouchers

Dental Health Services Information

We want all students to get the most out of school. Tooth decay can get in the way of learning. It can be painful and affect sleep and concentration. It is important to help children and young adults keep their mouth healthy and decay-free. Regular dental checks help spot and treat any problems early.

At Barwon Health all children aged zero to 18 years are eligible for FREE dental care!

You can contact any of the following services to make an appointment:

• Barwon Health North Phone: 03 4215 7240
• Belmont Community Health Centre Phone: 03 4215 6972
• Newcomb Community Health Centre Phone: 03 4215 7620
• Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative Phone: 5277 2038 (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders only)

Helping students feel more confident and supported online

The Department of Education have partnered with Orygen, to develop ScrollSafe. ScrollSafe for Parents and Carers offers simple ways to start meaningful conversations, build trust, and create a shared sense of what healthy social media use looks like — together. The ScrollSafe for Parents video provides a snapshot straight from the mouths of young people, based on feedback from teens, parents and experts.

For more information follow this link PARENTS AND CARERS - Orygen, Revolution in Mind

Thunderstorm asthma – be prepared this pollen season

Grass pollen season, which typically runs from October to December each year in Victoria, brings an increase in asthma and hay fever symptoms. It also increases the risk of Thunderstorm asthma | Better Health Channel. For people with asthma or hay fever, especially those who experience wheezing or coughing with their hay fever, thunderstorm asthma can be sudden, serious and even life threatening.

North Geelong Secondary College will implement a range of measures to keep our school community safe as the risk of thunderstorm asthma increases.

Many of our staff are trained in asthma first aid. We will monitor the VicEmergency app to receive thunderstorm warnings and, where appropriate, keep students indoors when weather forecasts identify greater risk.

During the season, there are some things you can do to prepare and protect yourself and your family:

• If your child has ever had asthma, talk to your doctor about what you can do to help protect them from the risk of thunderstorm asthma this pollen season, including updating your asthma action plan. Taking an asthma preventer properly and regularly is key to preventing asthma, including thunderstorm asthma.
• If your child has hay fever, see your pharmacist or doctor for a hay fever treatment plan and check if you should have an asthma reliever puffer. These are available from a pharmacy without a prescription.
• If your child has hay fever and experiences wheezing and coughing, it is important to make sure they don’t also have asthma. Speak to your doctor about an asthma action plan.
• Where possible, avoid being outside during thunderstorms from October to December, especially during the wind gusts that come before the storm. Go inside and close your doors and windows. If you have your air conditioning on, turn it to ‘recirculate’.

Protect yourself this pollen season – managing asthma and allergies matters.

Find out more - For more information, speak to your doctor. You can also refer to the Thunderstorm asthma | Better Health Channel website.

Protecting against mosquito-borne diseases

Warm and wet weather can result in greater numbers of mosquitoes and an increased risk of illness from mosquito bites. While the overall risk is currently low, some mosquitoes may be carrying diseases that make people sick.

The best protection against mosquito-borne illness is to avoid mosquito bites.

Families can protect against mosquito bites by:

• covering up as much as possible with long, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing
• applying insect repellent that contains picaridin or DEET on exposed skin when outdoors
• limiting outdoor activity if lots of mosquitoes are active
• clean up and remove containers and items around the home that may hold water where mosquitoes may breed.

Families with any health concerns should see their doctor or phone NURSE-ON-CALL: 1300 606 024 (available 24 hours).

Free Japanese encephalitis vaccines

Japanese encephalitis virus is spread to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes and can cause a rare but potentially serious infection of the brain.

A free vaccine is available to some individuals to protect Victorians at higher risk of the virus.

For more information, including vaccine eligibility, refer to the Department of Health’s Japanese encephalitis webpage.

Find out more

For more information on protecting against mosquito-borne diseases, families can refer to the following Better Health Channel pages:

• Mosquitoes can carry diseases

• Protect yourself from mosquito-borne disease, including a handy checklist to help reduce mosquito breeding sites at home and resources translated into other languages.

• Japanese encephalitis virus

SunSmart

Term 4 is in full swing and summer holidays are now just around the corner.

It’s also that time of year when UV levels reach 3 or above every day, making sun protection a must. Please encourage your teenagers to wear a hat, apply SPF 50 or 50+ sunscreen, and seek shade during lunch breaks and time outdoors.

For more information refer to Be a SunSmart family - SunSmart

Free Beyond Boxing Sessions Across Geelong – Term 4

Geelong Boxing Club is continuing to deliver free boxing and wellbeing sessions across Geelong as a preferred supplier to the City of Greater Geelong.

These programs help young people (aged 12+) build confidence, resilience, and emotional regulation skills in a safe, inclusive, and structured environment, all while connecting with positive mentors and local peers.

📍 The fOrT Youth Centre – Corner of St Georges & Melbourne Road, Norlane
📍 The Nest Youth Hub – 17 Gheringhap Street, Geelong
📍 Armstrong Creek East Community Hub – 46 Central Boulevard, Armstrong Creek

Sessions run weekly for nine weeks this term and are free to attend, but registration and consent forms are required.

For more information or to register, contact:
📞 (03) 5272 5272
📧 youthadmin@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
💬 Or send a message via Geelong Youth on Facebook or Instagram.

SKAART Community Festival at the fOrT

Mark your calendars! The SKAART Community Festival is almost here!

📅 Saturday 29th November

⏰ 11am-2pm

📍 The fOrT Youth Centre, corner of St Georges and Melbourne Road, Corio, 3214

💲 FREE! Everything including food and rides are FREE

Local Support Services:

Be Smokefree (and Vapefree) Clinics at Barwon Health

The Be Smokefree/Vapefree Clinics at Barwon Health provide individual support over a number of weeks.

This approach can be very helpful because:

• It helps you to understand why you smoke/vape and why you want to quit
• It helps you to develop strategies for quitting or cutting back
• It provides you with regular support to manage through the quitting process
• It provides non-judgmental encouragement to achieve the goals you set for yourself.

Our staff will also liaise with your general practitioner and other health professionals to make sure we consider your overall physical and mental health concerns.

Give us a call or download the self-referral form in the service brochure.

Information for young people UNCLOUD

When is this service available?

The BRaSH clinics run at University Hospital Geelong on Tuesday afternoons, and at Barwon Health North on Thursday afternoons.

Wathaurong offer a wide range of Aboriginal health services specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Their dedicated team including culturally sensitive health professionals, provides consultations, testing, and medical procedures, along with essential social and emotional well being support. Their approach ensures that every service respects and aligns with cultural needs and values. All health appointments at Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative are bulk billed. They can also assist with transport to get to and from your appointments. For all your health needs, call them to make an appointment on 5277 0044.

2025 Term 4 Regional Parenting Calendar.docx

Where You Can Eat Doc July-Dec 2025 Brochure.pdf

Reproductive and Sexual Health (BRaSH) Clinic

When is this service available?

The BRaSH clinics run at University Hospital Geelong on Tuesday afternoons, and at Barwon Health North on Thursday afternoons.

Wathaurong offer a wide range of Aboriginal health services specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Their dedicated team including culturally sensitive health professionals, provides consultations, testing, and medical procedures, along with essential social and emotional well being support. Their approach ensures that every service respects and aligns with cultural needs and values. All health appointments at Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative are bulk billed. They can also assist with transport to get to and from your appointments. For all your health needs, call them to make an appointment on 5277 0044.

2025 Term 4 Regional Parenting Calendar.docx

Where You Can Eat Doc July-Dec 2025 Brochure.pdf

City of Greater Geelong Term 4 Youth Programs

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!