Walcom Ngarrwa News
21st May 2024
Principal News
Principals News
It is hard to believe that we are already halfway through Term 2. The year is just flying by, as the school is a hive of activity with a lot happening for students and staff alike. It has been great to see students productively engaging with their learning around the school but also making great use of their social time at recess and lunch. One of the key areas that our students and staff are currently enjoying is our Clubs program that runs throughout the week during lunchtime. This is a great opportunity for our students to get involved in areas of interest and to get together with other like minds. Many thanks to our staff team for assisting students in the facilitation of our clubs’ program. Clubs we currently have running include:
- Chess (Monday)
- Art (Monday)
- Robotics (Tuesday)
- Music (Wednesday)
- Dungeons & Dragons (Wednesday)
- Music (Thursday)
- Minecraft (Thursday)
- Dungeons & Dragons (Friday)
College Values
This past week our Principal Team have spent time discussing school expectations with students. This has largely centred around supporting students to make better decisions about what they are bringing to school and how they are interacting with each other via social media. Our team highlight for students the sorts of items that need to stay at home, for the safety of themselves and others. This includes objects such as knives and other weapons, that are physically dangerous to other students, but also included items such as energy drinks and vapes. All of these items have no place at school, and we would appreciate parent / carer support in conveying this message to our students.
Our team also spoke with students about the appropriate use of social media. Recently, we have seen an increase in the number of issues that we are supporting students with at school, as a direct result of their social media use outside of school. Whilst social media has many benefits, it also presents challenges for our students and given that most students are 12 or 13 years old, we are calling on parents to partner with us and take an active role in educating and supporting the appropriate use of social media by our students. I encourage all parents and carers to have a look at the great resources available through the eSafety Commissioner at https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents The eSafety Commissioner also has a range of resources available for students, these can be found at https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people
It is timely to remind our school community that as a school we are actively working to Build Bright Futures for all of our students. This work is built around our College values of Belonging, Curiosity and Achievement and the concept that we want each and every student to be healthy, happy and curious. Help us in this journey, as we work towards equipping our students and your children, with the skills they need to be successful both through and beyond school.
Student Survey
The AtoSS is a voluntary annual student survey offered by the Department of Education to assist schools and the department to gain an understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school. We value student voice as a means to improving student engagement, wellbeing and quality instruction and will be asking your child about their thoughts and feelings in relation to their school, their learning, peer relationships, resilience, bullying, health and wellbeing, physical activity, and life in general.
This year, the survey will be conducted from 27th May until 14th June at Walcom Ngarrwa Secondary College.
I encourage all families to open and read through the attached information and consent letter.
Student Survey Information and Consent
Professional Practice Day – Friday 21st June
We would like to provide all families with advance notice that Friday 21st June will be a Pupil Free Day. Staff will be utilising this professional practice day to continue their work on curriculum planning, preparation, assessment and reporting. No students are required at school on this day.
School Saving Bonus
You may have seen the recent announcement of the School Saving Bonus, as part of the Victorian Budget 2024/25. We are sharing more information about how families will be able to access and use this support.
This one-off support will include $400 for each eligible student to help families cover the costs of school uniforms and activities in 2025.
It will be available to parents and carers of every child enrolled in a Victorian government school in 2025.
Cash will not be paid directly to individuals or families. Instead, families will receive the bonus as credits on their school accounts that will help meet the costs of your children’s activities and uniforms.
Existing supports
The School Saving Bonus support will be in addition to existing and continuing means-tested supports for camps, sports, excursions, and uniforms.
The application-based Affordable School Uniform program, through State Schools’ Relief, will continue to be available to families experiencing financial hardship or other forms of vulnerability and short-term crisis. This program allows schools to make multiple applications for support on parents' behalf throughout the year if needed.
There will be more information and guidance about the School Saving Bonus in Term 3, 2024, ahead of its implementation in 2025.
Building Culture at Walcom Ngarrwa Secondary College
In our first year one of our fundamental tasks is establishing a vibrant and positive culture for our students and staff. This culture sets the tone for the future of our school community, and we are striving for it to capture our school values of Belonging, Curiosity and Achievement, together with our mantra of Building Bright Futures. We encourage you to partner with us as we build our high expectations and a positive culture for our school community. Your feedback is always welcome, and I can be contacted on 03 8000 6688 or via email at Walcom.Ngarrwa.SC@education.vic.gov.au
Positive Impressions
Student Positive Impressions.
During assembly on Monday, students were awarded with Positive Impressions These are an award, handed out to our students, based on the observations of our Belonging Group teachers. It gives me great pleasure to share with you the following students who have been congratulated.
7A - Kaysie, for working and assisting her friends in class to the best of her abilities.
7B - Aban, for always participating in class discussions.
7C - Katie, for being a positive presence at school and her amazing growth mindset.
7D - Pele, for always working to the best of her ability and giving every challenge a go.
7E - Khadeejah, for always being diligent and working to the best of her ability.
7F - Arielle, having a positive start to term 2 and for his positive attitude to learning.
7G - Aishveer, for always being diligent and working to the best of her ability.
7H - William, for having a consistent and positive approach to all of his work and for never giving up on learning new things
Year Level Coordinator Award: Jay, for giving his own time to be of service to our College.
Stay well this winter
Stay well this winter!
Symptoms of influenza (flu) can hit very quickly and may last several weeks. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and others from getting the flu.
Keeping our school community well
Parents, carers and students are encouraged to practice prevention measures, including:
· washing and sanitising hands regularly
· avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
· covering nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing
· staying home if unwell and consulting a general practitioner (GP) or Nurse-on-call as required
· staying up to date with flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.
Flu vaccinations
Flu vaccinations can be booked through GPs and pharmacies, many of which can also provide COVID-19 vaccinations. Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over.
Some people are more at risk of complications from flu and are eligible for free vaccination as part of the National Immunisation Program.
COVID-19 booster
The 2024 COVID-19 booster dose is available for everyone aged 18 and above.
Getting your booster dose remains the best way to prevent severe illness or hospitalisation, especially in people aged over 65 and those at higher risk of severe illness.
Children aged between 5 and 17 years who are at risk of severe illness can also receive a 2024 booster dose.
You can get your next dose at your local pharmacy or GP. To find one near you, refer to the vaccine clinic finder.
Find out more
For more information about preventing flu, and immunisation, refer to: · Better Health Channel influenza flu immunisation fact sheet · Getting vaccinated against influenza.
Art Club & Visual Arts
Term 2 has seen students from Art Club and those in Visual Arts classes this semester exploring our brand new Ceramics room.
Students are learning lots of new vocabulary, experimenting with tools and creating masterpieces that will come home in a few weeks.
Materials Technology Class
Students have been learning how to safely use a variety of new tools in Materials Technology with Mr Johnston and Miss Kelly.
Marking gauges, chisels, mallets and tenon saws have been introduced as well as their second machine introduction; the linisher (sander).
Thank you to all students who have followed the safety precautions so well, keep up the great work!
No smoking or vaping at Walcom Ngarrwa Secondary College
Parents, carers, schools, and community all play an important role in protecting children and young people from, and educating them about, the harmful effects of smoking and vaping.
Research from the Royal Children’s Hospital shows many parents and carers are not aware of the harmful effects or how their views about smoking and vaping can impact the likelihood of a young person taking up smoking or vaping.
The Department of Education has developed resources to help you learn more about the health risks of smoking and vaping. The resources include advice about how to talk to children and young people about vaping, and where to get support. To access the resources, go to https://www.vic.gov.au/smoking-and-vaping-advice-parents
You can also view this video on smoking and vaping from experts at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne for health advice and tips for starting a conversation with young people.
A reminder to all parents, carers and students that smoking and vaping are not permitted on school grounds, or within 4 metres of any entries into the school.
Mobile Phone Reminder
A reminder that the Department of Education has in place a mobile phone ban that requires students who bring mobiles phones to school to have them switched off and securely put away once arriving at and entering school each day.
The department is requiring all schools to ensure this ban is in place and enforced from the start of the 2024 school year.
The ban applies equally to all government schools right across the state.
This helps ensure that school is a learning environment free from unnecessary distractions and disruptions.
By ensuring mobile phones are kept away at recess and lunch times, students can interact with each other face-to-face, without the distractions and social pressures that mobile phones can cause.
We ask for the support of all our families, staff and students in continuing to support the implementation of this policy in our school.
Further information
Exceptions: For a small number of students with particular health needs, an exception to the policy may be granted. Please contact Tahnee Curtain if you would like to discuss this.
Emergencies: In the event of an emergency or if you need to immediately contact your child, I ask that families contact the school office who will pass on a message as required.
School mobile phone policy: A copy of our school’s local mobile phone policy, which implements the government’s mobile policy in line with our local context, is available on our school website at https://www.wnsc.vic.edu.au/
Parent support: The Mobile phones in schools webpage provides links to resources for families to help them balance their children’s time using mobile phones.
If you have further questions, please contact a member of our office team on 03 8000 6688.
Smile Patrol - School Dental REMINDER
Smile Patrol provides free dental health education to all students. If your child is eligible under the Childcare Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) treatments can be done for free depending on the remaining benefits. If your child is not eligible we will send you an email with an option for a private checkup. But to do this we need your consent.
To sign up you can visit : https://smilepatrol.com.au/consent-form/
It’s very easy and takes less than 5 mins to complete.
If you would like more information, please refer to the parent/guardian information handout which can be downloaded here: https://smilepatrol.com.au/information-for-parents-and-carers/
Just remember to hop online https://smilepatrol.com.au/consent-form/ and complete the consent form by the deadline 31st May 2024 . DON'T MISS OUT!
Contact information:
For more information please feel free to contact us.
Email: info@smilepatrol.com.au
Thank you for prioritising your child’s dental health. We want to make sure every Victorian child has access to quality dental care.
Parent Information
Written Consent