On our website, the first thing our Principal Tony Corr says is "When you step foot on Newhaven College’s grounds, you know you’ve arrived somewhere special. " At first this is easy to think it's just about the stunning grounds and spaces, however, I felt so confident talking about our school to the 35 families who arrived to tour the school last week. As I was doing my welcome to the families I was looking at the proud and diverse range of students patiently waiting for me to finish, ready to head off and be tour guides for the next 60-90 minutes. If the families didn't instantly know they had arrived somewhere special at the beginning of the morning, they absolutely did by the end of it.
This is because our community at Newhaven is full of students coming from far and wide, interested in a multitude of things, striving for goals or still figuring it out and being encouraged to be their authentic selves. That was on display in bucket loads during the tour. Students are not told what to say, they are given the confidence to answer truthfully and let their perspective of the school shine through. Meeting the families at the end of the tour for follow up questions was an opportunity for me to see our students through the eyes of families who had just met them. Following one tour, a parent shared how impressed they were by the thoughtfulness and articulation of the student guide's responses to their questions. For me, this conversation was a powerful reminder of the quality of our students and the strength of the culture we have built together.
As Acting Principal, one of the great privileges of the role is the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of conversations across our College community. On any given day, these may be with students, staff, parents, prospective families or community members. These interactions provide a unique perspective on College life and, importantly, the opportunity to see our Strategic Plan in action through its five key pillars: Learning, Community, Sustainability, Care and Innovation.
As we approach the end of Semester One, our students have much to celebrate. Our senior students have recently completed their assessments and examinations, with our staff meticulously assessing and having rich conversations in collaborative teams. Valuable opportunities for reflection, feedback and continued growth are part of these end of semester milestones. Being with our Year 9 students at City Cite for several days was such a pleasure. Everywhere they went I had staff and organisations praising our students for their conduct and curiosity - our Year 9 team work so hard to create that positive, inclusive culture and it was on display for all to see.
During the upcoming break, seven students will travel to Sri Lanka accompanied by David Prideaux as part of our service and cultural immersion programme. Experiences such as these embody many aspects of our Strategic Plan, encouraging students to develop independence, broaden their perspectives, strengthen their understanding of community and sustainability, and engage meaningfully with the wider world.
On behalf of Tony Corr I thank our students, staff and families for their ongoing contribution to College life. Together, we continue to create a learning environment where young people are supported, challenged and inspired to thrive.
I wish all members of our community a restful and enjoyable semester break and look forward to all that Semester Two will bring.
Karen Milkins-Hendry
Acting Principal