As a parent or carer, you are an important part of our school community.
Effective communication between families and our college is essential for supporting student success. When we work together, we can provide the necessary support and resources for students to achieve their full potential.
Working together to support the academic and social-emotional development of our students provides a more consistent and comprehensive approach to learning. Here are some of the key reasons why our college believes effective communication between families and schools is important:
- Better understanding of student needs: When families and schools communicate regularly, they can gain a better understanding of the individual needs of students. This can help parents and educators develop a more targeted approach to supporting academic, social, and emotional growth.
- Improved academic performance: Communication between families and schools can also lead to improved academic performance for students. When parents and educators work together to support student learning, they can identify areas where a student may be struggling and develop strategies to help them improve.
- Early identification and intervention of problems: Communication between families and schools can help identify any problems that students may be experiencing early on. This can lead to early intervention and support, which can prevent academic or social problems from becoming more severe.
- Increased parental involvement: Effective communication between families and schools can also increase parental involvement in their child's education. When parents are kept informed of their child's progress and are encouraged to participate in school activities, they are more likely to be engaged and invested in their child's education.
- Building a partnership: Finally, communication between families and schools can help build a strong partnership between the two groups. When parents and educators work together as partners, they can create a positive learning environment for students and support them in their academic and personal growth.
We offer a range of services to support you and your family.
Communication with Hastings Secondary College
Communication channels
Our College communicates with parents in the following ways:
- Newsletter - emailed to parents once a fortnight. This includes a message from that alternates between the College Principal and our Campus principals. The newsletter also outlines upcoming events on the school calendar, useful resources and highlights from various events, activities and students success.
Please click here to subscribe to the fortnightly newsletter and to view current and past newsletters. - Sentral Parent Portal - Sentral is an online parent portal that provides parent with 24/7 access to different aspects of your child's education. The Parent Portal has been designed for parents to be more informed and in control of information relating to their child's campus. This makes it very easy to monitor and manage all aspects of your child’s education and interaction with their campus. Within the portal, you can send absence notifications, view/access school reports, view newsletters and view attendance data. Click here for moree information regarding the Parent Portal
- Facebook - View the College Facebook page for photos and updates on school-related events. Hastings Secondary College Facebook
- Instagram - View the College Instagram page for photos and updates on school-related events. @hastingssecondarycollege
- Email -
Port Macquarie Campus - hsc-portmac-school@det.nsw.edu.au
Westport Campus - hsc-westport-school@det.nsw.edu.au - Text messages - For important and/or urgent messages to parents the school will send out text notifications to parents. Please ensure your details are up to date to receive these messages.
Who do I contact about my child?
Who should you contact directly at Hastings Secondary College about my child?
The following chart provides an indication of who is best equipped to assist families with any concerns they may have regarding their child.
If you have any concerns, please feel free make contact on 6583 1844 (Port Macquarie Campus), 65836400 (Westport Campus) or via email.
You can also view our Exective Team, Year Advisors, Head Teachers and our Student Leadership Team by following this link.
Parents and Citizens’ Association (P&C)
Counselling for families
The school counsellor can assist when families undergo a trauma or big change. Contact us to make an appointment. For information in community languages, see school counselling service.
Outside of the education system, free telephone counselling services are available to support families who may be going through a difficult time.
- Lifeline – 24-hour telephone counselling service. 13 11 14.
- Mensline Australia – 24-hour telephone counselling service for men. 1300 789 978.
- Parent line – 24-hour advice and information service. 1300 1300 52.
Interpreting and translations
We will help you communicate with our school. If you’d like an interpreter for a school meeting, let us know and we will arrange one, if available.
If you don’t speak or understand English well and want to contact us, call TIS National on 131 450 and ask for an interpreter in your language. The operator will call the school and get an interpreter to help. This service is free.
For more information, listen in your language.
Visit the department’s translated documents section for important information that’s relevant for your child’s education in many languages.
Communication with families
The successful learning of our students is achieved in collaboration with their families and community.
Updating our parents and carers on the latest information on school operations and on the learning and wellbeing of their child/children is vital to ensure our students are safe, respectful, responsible and engaged in their learning.
You can contact the school, to discuss your child's learning, if they are absent or unwell, their wellbeing or other needs, by phoning or by sending an email.
Westport Campus
Email - hsc-westport-school@det.nsw.edu.au
Phone - (02) 65 836400
Port Macquarie Campus
Email - hsc-portmac-school@det.nsw.edu.au
Phone - (02) 65831844
Please make sure that your family's contact details (phone number, address and email address) is up-to-date so that the school can contact you about matters relating to your child.
Other important channels the school uses to communicate with families include:
- Email - we will send emails to students, parents and carers to the email addresses provided to the school.
- SMS - we will communicate with parents and carers via SMS to the mobile number provided to the school.
- Phone - teachers, staff and school executives may contact you on the phone numbers that you provide to the school.
- Letters and Mail Outs - We will send home letters with students, or mail out information when necessary.
- Hastings Secondary College Website - The news and events section are updated with relevant and important information for families. You can also make secure online payments for school activities and fees online through the Parent Online Payment section.
- Facebook - The Hastings Secondary College Facebook page is a great way to keep uo-to-date on school news and student activities. Like and follow the Hastings Secondary College Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/hastingssecondarycollege
- The Parent Portal - Each family is provided unique log on details to access the Parent Portal. You can use the Parent Portal to check your child's timetable, report absences, check on the latest announcements and access online reports. To log onto the Parent Portal please follow the link below for your respective campus.
Westport Campus Parent Portal
Port Macquarie Campus Parent Portal
Our fortnightly school newsletter shares stories about our student's achievements and activities as well as information about school operations.
Subscribe to our Westport Campus Newsletter
Subscribe to our Port Macquarie Campus Newsletter