Junior School Production

As Term 3 draws to a close, the Junior School is buzzing, and this year's Production has been the highlight. The whole Junior School has been alive with song and excitement thanks to the wonderful efforts of Nina and David Prideaux. We are so fortunate to have such a dedicated dynamic duo, who directed The World is Yours, wrote the script and lyrics, composed the music and choreographed every performance.

The Production gives every child the chance to shine in front of an audience, building on the performance skills our students develop naturally through school life, from assemblies and choir to the everyday public speaking woven through classroom learning. Congratulations to our Junior School students on a stellar effort. The talent on display from every class was exceptional, and the performances were thoroughly enjoyed by all. One grandparent summed it up beautifully: "It was absolutely amazing, having never seen a performance of that calibre involving so many varied aged children at once. The children were amazing, as was the rest of the cast. Huge effort involved by all, I am still buzzing."

We look forward to the final performance tonight. Break a leg!

See photos below!

Spring Concert

Last week's whole school Spring Concert was another highlight, with performances from our Year 4 Strings, Junior School Choir, taiko drums and guitar ensemble. The standard of musical talent was outstanding, a proud showcase of our music program and our students' hard work. There are lots of photos of this event in the Visual & Performing Arts section of this newsletter.

R U OK Day

To mark R U OK Day, we held a Wellbeing Recess Club where students wrote heartfelt messages of kindness, hope and gratitude on the Assembly Area windows, living out the values of The Newhaven Way. Thank you to Sarah Derham from our Wellbeing team for organising it. Go to the College News section of this newsletter for photos of this wonderful day.

Growing Together: A Third Prep Class in 2027

With Junior School enrolments nearing capacity for 2027 and a growing waitlist, we're excited to introduce a third Prep class next year. Every year level will run two classes in 2027, apart from Prep and Year 4, which will each have three, a strong reflection of the confidence families place in Newhaven College.

Home Learning Habits Awards

Monday's Home Learning Awards saw the highest number of certificates presented in my time at Newhaven College. One class grew from a handful of certificates at the start of the year to 81 per cent of students receiving one, and 100 per cent of Prep earned theirs this term. Our goal, together with our teachers, is for every Junior School student to receive one by year's end.

Junior School Values Awards

Each assembly we celebrate the class earning the most values keys for demonstrating respect, honesty, empathy, responsibility and excellence, simple words that take real, consistent effort to live out. It's been wonderful watching these behaviours become genuine habits across every class this year.

It's been a productive term full of growth and memorable moments.

Term 4's exciting lineup will be shared in the welcome back letter via SEQTA. Wishing everyone a safe and happy break, I look forward to seeing you all next term.

Cath Huther

Head of Junior School

Dads and Donuts

On the Friday before Father's Day, our Junior school provided a fun morning for students and their dads, grandads, stepfathers and father figures with donuts and games.

Students enjoyed showing their dads around the school campus and their classrooms. Many students created special gifts for the men in their lives, from drawings to decorated baseball caps. It was wonderful to host the event in our newly refurbished Assembly Area.

Preps Explore Churchill Island

Our Preps had a wonderful day of discovery and learning during their recent excursion to Churchill Island, bringing their classroom learning to life!

As part of their studies into Community and Special Places, students explored a place rich in history, culture and significance. They saw, heard and experienced aspects of the past, helping them understand what makes a place special to a community.

A highlight was visiting the blacksmith, where students watched in amazement as sparks flew and a horseshoe was transformed into a beautiful fish. They also loved watching the working farm dogs round up sheep and enjoyed a traditional whip-cracking demonstration.

Throughout the day, students learned about life on the historic farm, including the people, buildings, tools, farming practices and traditions that have shaped Churchill Island. They were also introduced to the significant role of the Bunurong people, the Traditional Custodians of the land, and the importance of respecting and caring for Country.

Most importantly, the children had a fantastic day! Their curiosity and excitement were evident as they explored, asked questions and shared their observations.

It was a wonderful reminder that some of the best learning happens when we step outside the classroom and experience the world around us!

Kylie Carlson and Kerryn Lynch

Prep Teachers

Year 1 Wildlife Incursion

Our Year 1 students were thrilled to take part in an exciting Wildlife incursion by Wildlife Xposure this term. As part of their current Biology Unit, students learned about Australian native animals, exploring their behaviour, relationships, adaptations, habitats, and classification.

The session was hands-on and engaging, as students had the opportunity to safely hold, pat, and observe a range of fascinating creatures, including a bettong (a small kangaroo species), pythons, a shingleback lizard, a goanna, a turtle, and even a 3 year old saltwater crocodile!

It was a memorable experience brough to us by Brandon who is just fabulous and brought our science learning to life. It deepened our students’ understanding of the amazing animals that share our environment. The excitement and curiosity in the room said it all and our emerging biologists absolutely loved the experience!

Sarah Pedersen and Tahlia Maher

Year 1 Teachers

Merit Awards

Congratulations to the students in the following photo who were presented with their Merit Awards and recognised at Junior School Assembly.