Senior School

The Challenges and Triumphs Year 12

Balancing Academics, Sport, and the Arts

Year 12 at Newhaven College marks a defining moment in every student’s journey – a year brimming with ambition, responsibility, and the pursuit of excellence. For those who strive to be all-round students, the demands can often feel overwhelming. Balancing the rigours of five VCE subjects, a full season of local football or netball, and possibly a deep commitment to the arts – be it singing in the school choir or mastering a musical instrument – requires not only time management but also emotional resilience.

The Academic Challenge

Undertaking five VCE subjects is, in itself, a considerable commitment. Each subject brings its own set of work requirements, revision schedules, and the ever-present shadow cast by SACs and the examinations. The pressure to perform academically can be intense, especially as tertiary aspirations ride on the results. Students often find themselves juggling essays, problem sets, language analysis, and practical assessments, all the while striving to absorb and retain a seemingly endless stream of information.

Sporting Commitment

For many Newhaven College students, sport is not just a pastime, it’s a way of life. Committing to a full season of local football or netball means attending regular training sessions, travelling to home and away matches, and maintaining peak physical fitness. The camaraderie and sense of belonging that come from sport are invaluable, yet the physical and mental fatigue that can accompany a busy fixture list must not be underestimated. Injuries, losses, and the pressure to perform for your team add another layer of stress to an already packed schedule.

Artistic Pursuits

Participation in the choir, learning a musical instrument or being part of our outstanding Musical Theatre performances brings its own joys and demands. These creative outlets offer a respite from the academic grind, fostering self-expression and emotional wellbeing. However, rehearsals, performances, and practice routines require consistency and focus. Balancing these activities with academic and sporting commitments can be challenging, especially when school concerts or matinees coincide with crucial assessment dates or important sporting fixtures.

Managing Competing Demands

The greatest challenge for all-round students lies in balancing these competing demands without becoming overwhelmed. Here are some strategies to help maintain equilibrium:

Prioritise and Plan: Use a planner or digital calendar to map out your commitments each week. Allocate specific time blocks for study, training, rehearsals, and downtime. Identify peak periods, such as examination weeks or finals, and plan ahead to reduce last-minute stress.

Communicate: Keep open lines of communication with teachers, coaches, and family. If you foresee clashes or need extra support, don’t hesitate to ask. Your teachers, coaches and parents want to help you succeed and can offer flexible arrangements where possible.

Set Realistic Goals: Understand that you can’t do everything perfectly all the time. Set achievable goals for each area of your life, and remember that sometimes, 'good enough' truly is enough. Celebrate your progress, not just your results.

Embrace Rest and Recovery: Schedule time each week for rest and relaxation. Whether it’s reading, spending time with friends, or simply enjoying the outdoors, prioritising downtime is vital for sustaining your energy and enthusiasm.

Practice Mindfulness: When things feel overwhelming, take a moment to breathe. Techniques such as mindfulness or meditation can help you manage stress and bring clarity to your thoughts.

Resilience When Plans Go Awry

No matter how meticulously you plan, things won’t always go as expected. An injury might sideline you from sport, a performance might not go as well as hoped, or a test result may disappoint. In these moments, it’s important to show yourself compassion. Learn from setbacks rather than dwelling on them. Seek support from friends, teachers, or our Wellbeing Team – Newhaven College is a community, and you are not alone.

Remember, being a committed, all round student is about growth, not perfection. The skills you develop in Year 12 – time management, resilience, adaptability, and teamwork – will serve you well beyond graduation. Embrace the journey, cherish the friendships and memories, and trust that every challenge you face is shaping you into a well-rounded, capable and hopefully, happy individual.

Brett Torstonson

Head of Senior School

Year 9 Update

As we move into the latter part of Term 3, I am pleased to share with you some of the rich and varied experiences our Year 9 students have engaged in over recent weeks. A clear theme of community has underpinned much of what we have done this term, whether through learning in the field, creative exploration, or service to others.

Food Security and Connection to Land

Our work on food security has taken students beyond the classroom to learn from the land and from those who work closely with it. At Swan Lake, Uncle Steve Parker guided students through an exploration of Indigenous food practices and sustainable ways of gathering from Country. His deep knowledge and generosity in sharing stories provided students with invaluable insights into the long-standing connection between First Nations Australians and the land.

In Woolamai, students visited Michael Gordon’s farm, one of our long-term maintenance staff members, to explore contemporary food production and the challenges of farming in the Bass Coast region. Michael’s openness in showing both the successes and the challenges of farming life allowed students to see the complexities behind the food we eat and to appreciate the resilience required in this essential industry. We are grateful to both Uncle Steve and Michael for their time and their commitment to helping our students connect theory to reality.

STEAM Week – Building Community Through Creativity

STEAM Week was another highlight of the term, providing opportunities for our students to work together in innovative, problem-solving contexts. Through science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics, students collaborated in teams to design, create, and present their work. What stood out was the way Year 9s supported each other, demonstrating empathy and leadership as they tackled challenges and shared ideas. STEAM Week continues to be an important way of building connections across disciplines and reinforcing the importance of curiosity and creativity in our learning community.

Community Service – Giving Back

The theme of community has been most visible in the service activities our students have undertaken. Within the Junior School, Year 9s have been active in literacy and numeracy support, modelling patience and care while assisting younger students. Beyond our campus, their contributions in the Cowes Care Community have also been significant. Whether through assisting residents, engaging in conversations, or providing practical support, our students are learning the value of empathy, respect, and responsibility.

These experiences remind us all that learning is not only about knowledge and skills but also about building character and contributing meaningfully to the communities of which we are a part.

Looking Ahead

As we look to the remainder of Term 3 and beyond, our focus remains on deepening these connections to community, to Country, and to each other. I continue to be impressed by the way our Year 9 students are growing in maturity, responsibility, and understanding, and I thank staff, families, and our community partners for supporting them in this important year of learning.

Sam Foura
Head of Year 9

STEAM Week at Year 9

STEAM Week (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) has landed at Year 9 with a range of amazing experiences for our students. Students were treated to a Forensics workshop where they had to solve a murder, and a presentation from technology and defense group AVISTA on technologies, careers and innovations in aeronautics and robotics. This is on top of a series of workshops for students to pursue their own interests, including rocket building, Lego Car building and programming, Clay Totem making and building Melbourne Cityscapes. The Lego cars will drive around the streets of the Melbourne Cityscape at the end of the week, and the highly contested Da Vinci Bridge challenge will put the final bridges to the ultimate weight test. Year 9 students have been enjoying this opportunity to immerse themselves in STEAM activities and gain some excellent career inspiration in the process.

Elizabeth Hall

Year 9 Teacher

African Drumming for STEAM Week at Year 9

On Wednesday 27 August, students from Year 9 had the privilege of participating in an African Drumming workshop with Kofi Nortey, a renowned dancer and performer from Ghana, who has lived in Australia for 12 years. Students had an amazing experience playing Djembe (pronounced Jem-be), a hand drum played with bare hands, bringing forth amazing rhythm and energy. Students were even treated to an impromptu (but requested) singing performance from Kofi, songs from his recent album! This was a wonderful Arts addition to our STEAM week program.

Elizabeth Hall

Year 9 Teacher

Year 11 Ball

Saturday 16 August was a special night for our Year 11 students and their families as they gathered at Silverwater Resort for the Year 11 Ball. The students enjoyed the opportunity to dress up, and they all looked stunning. 

With DJ David Manning spinning the discs, everyone got onto the dance floor. 

A big shoutout to our leadership team who came along and a special thank you to Hannah Blake for organising the event.

Year 11 Environmental Science

Our students recently visited the Westernport Water Waste Treatment Plant to explore how wastewater is treated before being safely returned to the environment. They learnt the important rule of only pee, poo and paper down the drain to prevent blockages and pollution. Students also discussed the growing challenge of “forever chemicals,” which are extremely difficult and, at this point, nearly impossible to remove from water once they enter the system, ultimately ending up in the ocean. Below is a report from one of our Year 11 Environmental Science students.

Ann-Marie McLean

Environmental Science Teacher

My name is Alyssa Rogers, I am currently a Year 11 student at Newhaven College studying Environmental Science. I’m here to address the issue of Forever Chemicals and explain that, not only do they cause harm to the environment, but also to us. ‘Forever Chemicals’ contain a strong carbon-fluorine bond, which makes them highly resistant to breaking down. In short, Forever Chemicals persist in the environment and will continue to do so, as they don’t break down. For example, the lining of microwave popcorn bags contains Forever Chemicals, Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). There is evidence that this chemical leaches into the snack while popping. This is an issue as we eat this and our waste goes through a pump station and then on to a Wastewater Treatment plant. The treatment plant removes debris (baby wipes and condoms), as well as nutrients but Forever Chemicals can’t be removed as they are persistent. This chemical ends up in our oceans. Fish accumulate the chemical and as it goes up the food chain, the chemical biomagnifies and eventually, as we eat seafood it will accumulate in our body. Ocean Side, a recycle smart website, provides information to not recycle popcorn bags; “lined with chemicals to prevent grease soaking through. Chemical-lined paper cannot be recycled.” The harsh chemicals cause potential health risks. It is very important to be aware of what you pour down the drain or down the toilet.

 Alyssa Rogers

Year 11