Whole-School Assembly
Our whole-school assembly on Wednesday was a wonderful celebration of community - not only the wider community in which we live, but also the strong sense of connection and belonging that makes our school so special.
We heard reports from our Junior, Middle, Year 9 and Senior College Captains, who shared highlights from the incredible events and activities that have taken place throughout the year so far.
Our combined choir delivered a stunning rendition of Olivia Rodrigo’s Can’t Catch Me Now, while College band Zenith Paradox had the crowd rocking along to a Led Zeppelin classic. College Captains Tilly and Harry also hosted an engaging Q&A with a selection of students and staff, with Prep student Bobbie Foster delighting everyone with her confident and refreshingly honest response.
Yet again, it was an uplifting assembly that brought us together, strengthened our sense of community and reminded us of what makes our school such a special place to belong.
Celebrating Success in AMT Competitions
Throughout the year, 65 selected students from Years 5–12 have had the opportunity to challenge their mathematical thinking and problem-solving skills through competitions run by the Australian Mathematics Trust (AMT).
In Term 1, students participated in the Kangourou sans Frontières (KSF) competition. KSF is an international mathematics competition that encourages students to think creatively and apply their mathematical knowledge to a range of challenging problems involving number, algebra, geometry, measurement, statistics and logical reasoning.
Congratulations to Josie Richer (Year 7) and Tilly Stecher (Year 12), who both achieved a Distinction in the KSF. A further 15 students achieved a Credit, which is a wonderful result.
In Term 2, students took part in the Computational and Algorithmic Thinking (CAT) competition. Rather than focusing solely on traditional mathematical calculations, CAT challenges students to use logic, identify patterns, apply rules and develop algorithms to solve unfamiliar problems. No programming experience is required; instead, students are encouraged to think carefully, systematically and creatively.
Congratulations to Jayden Harrick (Year 7), Braxton Wilcocks (Year 7), Arthur Dunn (Year 8) and Matthew Korecki (Year 8), who each achieved a Distinction in the CAT competition. An impressive 23 students also achieved a Credit.
Congratulations to all students who participated in these competitions. They provide an excellent opportunity for students to step beyond familiar classroom questions, tackle challenging and unfamiliar problems, and develop persistence, reasoning and confidence as mathematical thinkers. We are very proud of the way our students embraced the challenge and represented Newhaven College.
Melinda Kelly
Mathematics and Numeracy Leader
Pyjama Dress Up Day
Last month's charity fundraising event, PJ Day, was so much fun, with students and teachers wearing their PJs and dressing gowns for the day. It was the perfect excuse to dress up for Carrie's Beanies 4 Brain Cancer Foundation. The Year 12 leadership ran another couple of bake sales which are always popular.
Congratulations to our Year 12 cohort, as this event alone raised over $2,500!
PFA Trivia Night
Congratulations to the Head Honchos who won our Trivia Night on Friday 14 August! It was a fantastic evening filled with laughter, friendly competition and plenty of memorable moments. A huge thank you to our incredible host, Jacob Fry (or was it Elvis?), whose humour and energy kept everyone entertained throughout the night.
In addition to the trivia questions, participants enjoyed a range of fun and quirky activities including a Whitney Houston drum-along challenge, the ever-popular Moo-Off, a paper aeroplane competition and even a drone contest. It was wonderful to see so many members of our community come together and embrace the fun.
We would also like to extend our sincere thanks Hayley Brebner for helping source the generous business sponsors in the local community who donated prizes for the evening. Their support helped make the event such a success, so we strongly encourage you to visit them in the future to show your support.
Thank you to our generous prize donors: Remedi. Skin Aesthetics, Engaging Engraving, San Remo Hotel-Motel, Westernport-Hotel San Remo, San Remo Fisherman's Co-op, The Store Ventnor, Flametrees by Ramada Resort Phillip Island, Turn the Page Bookshop, IGA Cowes, Woolworths Cowes, Butter Studio, Wellbeing Elements, The Seaside Provider, Cove Boutique, Phillip Island RSL, Mario's at San Remo, Local clothing, Manna Gum Cafe at the Koala Park, Phillip Island Vineyard & Winery.
Angel Chambers
President | Parents and Friends Association
PFA Update
As we move through another busy and exciting term, I would like to take the opportunity to thank our wonderful Newhaven College community for your ongoing support of the Parents and Friends Association. The enthusiasm and involvement of our families and local community businesses continue to make our events such a success.
Father's Day Stall
Our much-loved Father's Day Stall will be held on Friday 4 September.
Students from Prep to Year 6 will visit the stall with their classes at allocated times, while the remainder of the school will be able to purchase gifts during break times. Gifts are priced at $5 and $10, providing students with a great opportunity to purchase something special for a loved one.
To add some extra excitement, every student who purchases a gift will receive a raffle ticket for the chance to win a fantastic prize. This year's raffle prizes include a beautiful hamper and a $100 PT gift voucher, generously donated by Engaging Engraving and Balance in Motion. Thank you for your support and generosity.
Newhaven College Community Golf Day & Sunset Fundraiser
We are delighted to invite our community to the inaugural Newhaven College Community Golf Day & Sunset Fundraiser, to be held on Saturday 5 September 2026 at Red Rocks Golf Course.
Held over Father's Day weekend, this exciting new adults-only event offers a wonderful opportunity for parents, carers, alumni and friends of Newhaven College to come together for an afternoon of golf and an evening of food, drinks and entertainment, all while supporting the PFA.
The afternoon will feature a 9-hole Ambrose competition with a 3.00pm shotgun start, followed by grazing platters, pizza, drinks, raffles and presentations. For those who aren't golfers, social tickets are available so you can still enjoy the evening festivities.
Event Details
- Date: Saturday 5 September 2026
- Venue: Red Rocks Golf Course
- Golf: 9-hole Ambrose | 3.00pm shotgun start
- Social Event: From 3.00pm onwards
- Golf Entry: $120 per person or $440 per team of four
- Social Ticket: $85 per person
Places are strictly limited, so we encourage everyone to book early.
We hope you will join us for what promises to be a fantastic afternoon and evening, and the beginning of a wonderful new Newhaven College tradition.
Newhaven College Fete - Friday 20 November
As I have mentioned previously, planning is already well underway for the 2026 Newhaven College Fete, which will be held on Friday 20 November from 3.30pm to 7.30pm.
The fete is one of the highlights of the school calendar and provides a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together for an afternoon and evening of fun, food, entertainment and connection.
Vendor bookings are now open for both food and non-food stalls.
We are also beginning our search for corporate sponsors, raffle prizes and silent auction donations. If you own a business, work for an organisation that may be interested in supporting the fete, or are able to donate prizes or sponsorship, we would love to hear from you. Sponsorship packages are available and provide an excellent opportunity to support the school while gaining exposure within our wider community.
We also warmly welcome volunteers to assist with planning and on-the-day activities. Every contribution, no matter how large or small, plays an important role in making the fete a success.
A Special Thank You to Engaging Engraving
The PFA would like to extend a very special thank you to Helena from Engaging Engraving for her ongoing generosity and support of our school community. Helena continues to generously donate prizes and items to so many of our PFA and school fundraising events, and we are incredibly grateful for her continued support. Her willingness to contribute time and time again never goes unnoticed and helps make our events and fundraising efforts such a success. We are very lucky to have wonderful local businesses like Engaging Engraving supporting our school. Thank you, Helena, for everything you do for Newhaven College!
For sponsorship enquiries, prize donations, volunteering opportunities or vendor bookings, please contact the PFA at newhaven.pfa@gmail.com.
Thank you once again for your ongoing support of the PFA. We look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming events.
Angel Chambers
President | Parents and Friends Association
