Newsletter, Socials and Website
Welcome to the first newsletter for 2026! We will be sharing all the news on events and student achievements throughout the year. There will be three newsletters per term, and the link will be sent to all parents, guardians and students via SEQTA. So keep an eye out!
Our socials are busy too, with our Facebook and Instagram pages gaining followers every week. Be sure to follow us!
Our website has information about Newhaven College that you might be looking for, so please check it out.
We look forward to keeping you informed throughout 2026!
Steph Thornborrow & Lucy Couper
Marketing and Communications
Middle and Senior School Home Group Teachers and House Mentors
Bell Times changes for 2026
The 2026 bell times have been made to provide the optimum learning environment for all of our students. The day will be broken into five 60 minute periods, with Home Room providing 10 minutes at the start of the day.
The Junior School and the Middle and Senior School bell times now differ, making the school day more conducive to the needs of our younger students.
For Middle and Senior School, there is a ‘Purple Day’ three times a fortnight, where we incorporate two 90 minute periods into the day. This is for the benefit of those subject areas that value longer learning periods.
School Photos - Next Week!
Newhaven College's official School Photographs will take place next week - Wednesday 18 February, with a reserve day on Friday 20 February for absent and Prep students.
Payment envelopes have been sent home with all students. Be sure to complete and return to class or home group teachers.
All students are expected to wear full summer uniform and have their shoes polished. Long hair is to be tied up and off the face, minimal make-up and jewellery.
And practice that winning smile!
Turning Left Only at Peak Times
We thank the members of our community who are following the Turn Left Only signs during peak times in the morning and afternoon. Can we please remind everyone to follow the timings to ensure everyone, including buses, are able to arrive/ leave in a timely manner.
Morning: 8.45am - 9.00am
Afternoon: 3.20pm - 3.40pm
For safety reasons, please turn around at the Back Beach Rd roundabout, as U turns along Phillip Island Rd are not safe.
Drop & Go Zone
Please remember that cars should not be left unattended in the Drop & Go / Kiss & Go Zone. If you need to walk your child into school or come to the main reception, please park in the carpark. The zone needs to be kept clear all day to avoid inconveniencing others.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Open Morning and Alumni Reunion - Saturday 14 March
Open Morning
Our upcoming Open Morning will be bigger than ever, with many of our student leaders guiding visitors around our campus. Students are encouraged to sign up to help out on the day. The Open Morning will run from 9am-12pm this year and we anticipate lots of families taking the opportunity to see our stunning campus.
Alumni Reunion
Do you know any Newhaven students who graduated in 1986, 1996, 2006 and 2016? We warmly invite all students from those graduating years (whether they graduated or not) to attend their Alumni Reunion from 10am-12pm on Saturday 14 March. The event will start with a complimentary morning tea, followed by a guided tour around campus.
More information about these important dates on the College calendar will be shared via SEQTA and online.
First All-School Assembly
At our first all-school assembly for 2026, we welcomed and congratulated our 2026 Student Leadership for our Junior, Middle and Senior Schools. Our Year 12 cohort promises to provide dedicated and caring mentorship for the whole school.
During the assembly, we also welcomed back many of our 2025 high achievers. The College Proxime Accessit, Isaac Savona, spoke about his experience of Year 12, where he acknowledged that working hard is essential, but it is also important to allow time for leisure throughout the year. The 2025 Dux of School, Lara Smyth is currently in Hong Kong on a special STEM scholarship, however Mrs Milkins-Hendry read her speech on her behalf. Lara's words of wisdom for students were not to focus on comparing yourself to others, but to focus on your own effort, your mistakes and your decisions; to be proud of all of your achievements.
College band Zenith Paradox were electric with a popular Arctic Monkeys' song and the College Choirs lead the school in the national anthem and school song.
Newhaven College 2026 Charity
The Year 12 Leadership Team has chosen Carrie’s Beanies for Brain Cancer as the 2026 College Charity. This organisation is committed to supporting vital brain cancer research, improving survival rates, and creating a brighter future for patients and their families.
To support this cause, there will be lots of fun activities and fundraising events throughout the year. We strongly encourage everyone to get involved and pitch in where they can. Details of our first fundraiser will be announced very soon, so keep an eye out!
We will share our donation link to our fundraiser soon.
We look forward to a fantastic year!
Tilly Stecher, Harry Arceo, Issy Mahon and Kadek Humphris
Newhaven College Captains 2026
Junior School Refurbishment
Additional Classrooms
We are pleased to be working with our architects, Baldasso Cortese, and local building contractor, TS Constructions on the refurbishment of our Junior School, and the installation of two new classrooms and an amenities block. Over the Summer holidays, carpets have been replaced in all classrooms with new Active panels installed in the remaining Junior School classrooms. Over the past 2 years, all smart boards have now been replaced with brand new active panels.
We are excited to advise that the refurbishment works are
progressing as planned and on-time with a larger presence of contractors
on-site from this week, to commence the refurbishment works of the assembly
hall area. The new classrooms and amenities block are scheduled to be
constructed and installed over the upcoming Easter holidays.
Adventure Playground
We are currently working with local landscape architect, Orchard Design, and local landscaping contractor, Earth Design Landscapes, on our new Junior School playground. The works are progressing well, with a number of areas including the yarning circle, tunnel, Gunyah Shelter and decking now complete. Upcoming works over the next three weeks include the installation of the swing, play tower, spidergon and rope bridge, which are due to be completed by the end of the month.
We look forward to opening the playground before the end of term 1.
Should you have any queries or feedback, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Alan Nolan
Director of Business
Camps, Sports, Excursions Fund (CSEF) Application Form
A communication has now been sent out via SEQTA, which will be relevant for all families who hold a current eligible concession card, containing the 2026 CSEF Application form.
For information about eligibility - please visit the website
The Department of Education (department) administers the CSEF to help eligible families with the costs of camps, sporting activities, excursions and incursions.
Upon successful applications, payments are made directly to an eligible student’s school.
Application Forms must be returned via email by Monday 1 June to:- admissions@newhavencol.vic.edu.au. Alternatively, forms are available and can be returned to Main Reception.
Bec Anderson
Admissions Officer
Homework Club and Maths Support
Homework Club and Maths Support are available for students in Years 7 – 12 every Wednesday from 3.30 – 4.50pm.
There is a Late Bus Timetable that leaves promptly at 5pm which travels from the College to Inverloch with stops at Cape Woolamai, San Remo, Anderson, Wonthaggi and Inverloch.
Homework Club is supervised by English teachers, whilst Maths Support has Maths teachers in attendance. Maths Support is held in Senior School SS1 and SS2, with Homework Club being held in the Senior School Student Support area and SS3 and SS4.
Wednesday Afternoon Guidelines
- Students must bring enough work for the entire session.
- No phones allowed.
- Students completing Maths homework must sit in SS1/2.
- Group work is encouraged however, there must be a clear goal and the groups must be respectful of the other students’ studying.
- Normal classroom behaviours apply.
- A roll will be taken to monitor attendance and teachers will also note the type of work being undertaken by students who are attending.
- Homework Club is not a place to view videos or films; that can be done at home. Edrolo videos are the exception.
- Calculators should be charged.
- We are building a culture of study and support for our students and will be ensuring Homework Club is used as a dedicated space for academic focus.
Mrs Sharon Paterson and Mrs Melinda Kelly
Homework Club and Maths Support Coordinators
Spoonbill Cafe
Last Friday, Spoonbill Cafe, located in the College Pavilion, welcomed around 100 staff, parents and friends with a hot coffee. Everyone was excited to sample Lachie Gale's own delicious Sun House Coffee Roasters brand. On opening day, Lachie was supported by Emma, Charlotte, Katrina and Andre.
From this Friday, Spoonbill Cafe will be offering a discount for squeaky clean keep cups and 25c from each purchase will be donated to the Year 12 charity, Carrie's Beanies for Brain Cancer. Please be sure to drop your children off to school before visiting the cafe.
Open every Friday from 8am-10am. Come along!
Parents Welcome Drinks
On the first Friday of term, over 100 new and existing parents and guardians attended our annual Parents’ Welcome Drinks in the Performing Arts Wing.
The atmosphere was uplifted by the musical talents of Director of Music, Matthew Goss, and Guitar Teacher, Daniel Seale. The mood was fun and relaxed, with our fantastic Parents and Friends Association (PFA) members helping out, making the night run smoothly.
If you’d like to get involved with the PFA, please contact Angel at newhaven.pfa@gmail.com
Thank you to everyone who came along and made it such a special evening.
Parents and Friends Association (PFA) Report
We hope everyone has had a smooth and positive start to the school year and that families are settling back into the routines of school life! The PFA is looking forward to another great year of bringing our community together and supporting the school through a range of events and activities.
Get Involved: PFA meeting and WhatsApp group
Our first meeting of the year will be held at 2pm on Friday 6 March 2026 in the school boardroom and we warmly invite all parents and carers to attend. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the purpose of the PFA, hear about our proposed events for the year (including some exciting new additions), and find out how you can get involved by either joining the committee or helping organise and run a specific event. The PFA is a small team of dedicated individuals and we truly need extra hands to make these events happen, so we would love to see you there!
We also encourage parents and carers to join our PFA volunteer WhatsApp group to receive notifications on volunteer opportunities at one of our events. Sign up via the QR code or feel free to email us your mobile number so that we may add you to our group. Your help means that we can run more successful events!
PFA Outdoor Movie Night
One new event for this year is the Outdoor Movie Night! Pencil in a fun night of entertainment with family and friends at 6pm on Friday 20 March 2026. More information about the night, how to book and volunteer opportunities will be shared soon.
Questions
If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please contact us at newhaven.pfa@gmail.com. We would love to hear from you!
Angel Chambers
President | Parents and Friends Association