Welcome to Term 3
Term 3 has arrived in full swing, and the Junior School is already buzzing with the kind of energy that makes this term one of our busiest and most rewarding. Between now and the term's close, our students will move through a rich stretch of learning, growth and milestone moments, from camps and incursions to the everyday progress that often goes unnoticed but matters most. It is also a big term of learning and rehearsing as we build towards our major Junior School event, the JS Production, with students putting in the hard work behind the scenes that will make the final performance so special. It is this steady accumulation of effort and curiosity, on stage and off, that shapes confident, capable learners, and none of it happens without the partnership between home and school. Thank you, as always, for the role you play in that partnership; we are looking forward to a term filled with achievement, connection and plenty to celebrate together.
JS Production
Rehearsals are officially underway for our Junior School Production at Wonthaggi Arts Centre, and every single Junior School student will take part, a wonderful opportunity and one of the true highlights of our JS calendar. Held only once every two years, this production gives our students an experience unlike anything else on offer: singing, dancing and performing together on a full stage in front of a live audience. A heartfelt thank you to Nina and Dave Prideaux for the extraordinary work they have poured into writing, composing and directing this year's show, and to the many parent volunteers who have already rolled up their sleeves to begin work on sets and costumes. It is a team effort, and our students are the beneficiaries of everyone's generosity and hard work. Consent2Go and a transport survey will be sent to families this week; please complete both at your earliest convenience so we are fully organised ahead of the final week of rehearsals and performances.
Year 3 Camp: Settling In at Candlebark Farm
Year 3 students, teachers and parent volunteers set off yesterday for camp at Candlebark Farm in Healesville, with a wonderful day exploring Healesville Sanctuary to start things off. Back at camp, the excitement was palpable as cabins were assigned and students got to work making their beds, sorting their bags and settling into their rooms, working as a team and showing wonderful independence along the way. As is typical of the camp experience, the day brought a rich mix of emotions: excitement, courage, nerves and everything in between. I was so proud watching our students settle into their cabins and embrace opportunities well outside their everyday routine. Camps like this are invaluable for our Year 3 students. They build resilience and independence by asking children to problem-solve and manage daily tasks without their usual support networks close at hand. They strengthen friendships and teamwork through shared experiences and communal living. And they offer a hands on connection with the natural world that classroom learning simply cannot replicate. Experiences like these shape confident, capable young people who return to school with new skills and a stronger sense of who they are. We will have some photos of camp in the next newsletter.
Home - School Partnerships
Next week, Junior School families will receive their child's first continuous report on home learning habits via SEQTA, a new addition showing each child's weekly reading and number fluency completion rate. Our aim is simple: the more consistently learning is practised at home, the more securely it consolidates what is explicitly taught in the classroom, and we're hoping to see as many students as possible reach a high percentage of completed home learning sessions. Last term, Mrs Milkins Hendry and I had the pleasure of visiting every classroom to present certificates for outstanding home learning habits, and it was a special moment to award a certificate to every single student in two classes. Congratulations to Prep L and Prep C for this exceptional achievement.
NAPLAN Results
Year 3 families will have now received their child’s NAPLAN results. These provide a useful snapshot of progress in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy. NAPLAN helps us assess how students are progressing against national benchmarks. While these results are valuable, it is our classroom teachers who provide the most comprehensive picture of student growth through their daily observation and ongoing assessment.
PFA Donation: Six Crepe Myrtle Trees for the New Playground
A heartfelt thanks to the PFA for their generous donation of six semi established Crepe Myrtle deciduous trees for our new playground. These trees will provide welcome shade during the warmer months and let the light through once winter sets in, a thoughtful and practical gift for the space. The PFA continues to do a wonderful job, not only raising funds for initiatives like the gaga pit and these trees, but also bringing our Newhaven College community together in the process. A plaque will be placed in recognition of this generous donation.
Prep: 100 Days of School
The year is flying by, and it is already time to celebrate 100 days of Prep. It feels like only yesterday our youngest learners began their journey at Newhaven College, and reaching this milestone is a wonderful moment to celebrate their hard work, rapid growth and the many opportunities these first 100 days have brought. To mark the occasion, our Preps have been invited to dress up as 100-year-olds for the day! A parade will be held in The Collect at 9.10am, where Prep families, Junior School students and their Year 6 buddies can join in the fun. Families of Prep students are warmly invited to attend and celebrate this special milestone with us. We will share photos of the celebrations in the next newsletter.
Pyjama Day: Tuesday 11 August
Our Year 12 leaders have organised a Pyjama Day next Tuesday 11 August, with a gold coin donation supporting brain cancer research. This is a friendly reminder for families, details have also been shared via SEQTA. There will also be a bake sale organised by our student leaders. We look forward to seeing everyone in their comfiest pyjamas for a great cause!
Book Week Parade
Book Week will take place in Week 6, with our Junior School Book Parade scheduled for Thursday 27 August at 9.00 am in the JS Assembly Area. Families are most welcome to attend. We look forward to seeing our students dressed as their favourite book characters as we celebrate the joy of reading and storytelling together.
Thank you for your continued support throughout the term. We look forward to sharing more learning moments and exciting events with you in the weeks ahead.
Term 3 Key Dates
Tuesday 11 August - Pyjama Day – gold coin donation for brain cancer research
Wednesday 12 August - Whole School Assembly, 9.05–10.35am, The Gymnasium (JS parents welcome)
Wednesday 12 August - Junior School Assembly – Prep hosting, The Collect, 2.30pm
Friday 14 August - PFA Trivia Night – book a table, bringing parents and carers together
Wednesday 18 August - Parent Teacher Online Interviews from 3.40pm (students attend school as usual)
Wednesday 26 August - Junior School Assembly – Year 3 hosting, JS Assembly Area, 2.30pm
Thursday 27 August - Book Week Dress Up Day – parade for families and students, JS Assembly Area, 9.00am
Friday 28 August - Staff Professional Development Day – student free
Tuesday 1 September - Year 1 Wildlife Incursion
Friday 4 September - Dads & Donuts, 8.30–9.00am
Friday 4 September - Father's Day Stall – Pavilion
Friday 4 September - Prep Churchill Island Excursion, 9.45am
Monday 7 September - Spring Concert – Year 4
Wednesday 9 September - Junior School Assembly – Year 2 hosting, Assembly Area, 2.30pm
Friday 11 September - Year 4–6 Division Athletics, Casey Fields
Monday 14 September - Junior School Production Week begins
Wednesday 16 September - JS Production dress rehearsal/matinee
Thursday 17 September - JS Production matinee
Thursday 17 September - JS Production evening performance
Friday 18 September - Last day of Term 3 – 2.20pm finish
Cath Huther
Head of Junior School
Professional Learning: Investing in Great Teaching
Our Junior School teachers recently spent a Professional Learning Day sharpening the practices that help your child learn best, grounded in the latest research on how students learn and retain information. The focus was Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI), an approach built on structure, routine and high expectations, where every new concept is taught clearly before students move to independent work. Teachers model each step, check understanding through frequent opportunities for every student to respond, and give immediate feedback along the way, so your child always knows what they're learning and why.
We were fortunate this term to welcome Joe Ybarra from DataWorks (USA), who observed and coached our staff in the EDI approach, a wonderful opportunity for our teachers and, ultimately, for your children. Our teachers have also begun reciprocal classroom visits with St Paul's Anglican Grammar Traralgon, with both schools observing, coaching and learning from one another. EDI sits at the heart of both schools' practice, and this kind of structured collaboration strengthens our shared commitment to instructional excellence, and the outcomes it delivers for students.
Cath Huther
Head of Junior School
Pen Pal Project - Bali Children Foundation
This year, ten Year 4 students from Newhaven College have been writing letters to students in Bali. Facilitated by Margaret Barry, founder of the Bali Children Foundation, the Indonesian students involved attend a public primary school in Buleleng, Bali named SDN 1 Tigawasa. The Pen Pal Project aims to enhance student connection across countries and for students to exchange information about their school lives and experiences. So far, students from both countries have written 3 letters each. Gathering and sharing thoughts, stories and feelings, as well as learning how to construct a letter, are some of the skills that the project develops. It is also an opportunity for Balinese students to practise their English. Year 4 students participating are:
4F: Hazel Werner, Maeve Glen, Madison Carter, Hudson Holtzman
4M: Miles Ritterman, Mason O’Connor, Rohan James, Imogen Hilgart, Samuel Phillips, Emmy Simpson
Bridget Haines
Library Teacher
Year 1 Family Catch-Up
Our Year 1 families enjoyed a wonderful afternoon together at Phillip Island Tenpin Bowling & Entertainment Center last Friday. It was a great opportunity for families to connect, catch up and enjoy some fun together.
Thank you to everyone who came along and helped make it such an enjoyable community event!
Jenni Lewandowski & Kyoko Blondel
Parents
Merit Awards
Congratulations to the students in the following photo who were presented with their Merit Awards and recognised at Junior School Assembly.
