Learning from Glasgow: Inclusion, Aussie Spirit and Belonging
The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow have given us plenty to celebrate, and plenty to learn from. What sets these Games apart is something quietly powerful. It is the only major international multi-sport event that runs a fully integrated Para sports program. There is no separate "Para Commonwealth Games." Every athlete competes across the same multi-day window, on the same stage, as one team. Inclusion is not an add-on here; it is built into the design.
That idea sits close to the heart of what we try to do in the Middle School.
Of course, we could not look away from the Aussie spirit on show. Our 4x100m relay team broke a 52-year drought, with Browning, alongside Lachlan Kennedy, Josh Azzopardi and Calab Law, holding off a furious challenge from Olympic champions Canada to take Gold. And in the women's mile, Australia swept the podium, finishing first, second and third, with Caldwell surging home ahead of Hull and Hollingsworth.
What struck me most was not the winning. It was that in the mile, three athletes racing for themselves were genuinely, openly delighted for one another. They competed with everything they had, then celebrated together. That is the spirit we want our students to carry: give your best and be the first to cheer for the person beside you.
In the Middle School this term, our focus has been on strengthening connections, in Homegroup and across classes and year levels. It has been a real pleasure to watch how warmly and inclusively our students have welcomed the visiting students and teachers from Ibaraki. There is a lovely Glasgow-like quality to it: making room, on our own stage, for others to belong.
It has also been pleasing to see our Year 7s more settled and assured in their friendships. This week they stepped up in a big way, with Year 8 away at camp. I asked several Year 7 students to host, perform and present in assembly, to step in as tour guides, and to start thinking about their leadership aspirations for next year. A few will also join a Q&A panel at our upcoming Year 7 2027 Information Night. These are exactly the moments where quiet confidence grows.
Competing hard, cheering louder and making room for everyone: Glasgow reminded us how good that looks. It is a fine thing to see it alive in our Middle School too.
Meanwhile, our Year 8s went to Kinglake Forest Adventures Camp for a week. The camp keeps all the fun and adventure of a traditional school camp while bringing personal development and wellbeing to the forefront. Nestled in a picturesque outdoor setting, it is designed to help young people build life skills, stretch themselves and flourish. Thank you to Mrs McMillan, Mrs O’Brien, Mr White, Mr Appleby, Mr Scott, Mr Fourie and Jenna Harman, Andy Neal and Jason Scott for accompanying the students.
On a more personal note, I had the great pleasure of attending the Year 12 Formal at the RACV Inverloch on Saturday, 1 August. I have a special connection with this cohort. They were in Prep during my first year as Head of Junior School back in 2014, and I have walked much of that journey alongside them and their families ever since. Over the years I have become close to a number of those families, and I know many of the students well; some are friends with my own child, and others I have come to know through our local sporting teams. Watching them on Saturday, I was reminded that it truly does take a village to raise a child. It makes me enormously proud to see the young people I first met as Preps grow into such fine adults, their values shaped in no small part by their time at Newhaven College.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday 12 August, 9:05am - 10:35am - Whole School Assembly
Friday 14 August, 6:30pm - 9:00pm - PFA Trivia Night, The Collect
Wednesday 19 August, 2:20pm - Middle School Assembly, The Collect
Wednesday 19 August, 3:40pm - 7:50pm - Year 5 to 8 Parent-Teacher Interviews via MS Teams 5-minute sessions
Friday 21- Monday 24 August - Music Camp
Wednesday 26 August, all day - SEISA Dance & Theatresports
Wednesday 26 August, 6:30pm - 7:30pm - Year 7 (2027) Information Night
Thursday 27 August, 9:05am - 9:30am Middle School Book Week Parade, The Collect
Thursday 27 August, 12:35pm - 3:20pm - Year 7 -12 House Cross Country Carnival
Friday 28 August, all day - Staff Professional Learning Day – Student-free day
Ralph Arceo
Head of Middle School
Middle School House Music
Middle School finished Term 2 with a bang! Music, singing, dancing, costumes and so much laughter! Congratulations to all the students who took part. It was incredible to see each House group supporting and cheering on other House performances. To top off the event, our fabulous MS House Leaders performed the Macarena in their 'size-enhanced' costumes!
It was a close competition, but Sambell came out the victors in 1st place, followed by McHaffie, then Clarke and Bass.
Year 7 Humanities Students Explore the World of Fossils
Our Year 7C&D students were fortunate to welcome Natasha Ballard, the mother of Cassius Ballard, who shared her impressive fossil collection and passion for palaeontology during our shared HAS session last Thursday afternoon.
Natasha prepared an engaging presentation, sharing her knowledge and personal experiences collecting fossils, while giving students the opportunity to view a range of fascinating specimens up close. The session provided students with valuable insight into how fossils can be used as evidence to understand the past.
This experience has helped build our students’ understanding of how historians and archaeologists use primary sources of information as they begin their investigation into the discovery and significance of Mungo Man and Mungo Lady. We thank Natasha for sharing her expertise and helping to inspire curiosity and deeper learning among our Year 7 students.
Lachlan Gale
Middle School Teacher
Year 8 Bottle Rocket Challenge
Our Year 8 Community Project students recently completed their Bottle Rocket Challenge, showcasing their creativity, engineering skills, and problem-solving abilities.
Students were tasked with designing and building a water-powered bottle rocket. Through a series of test launches, they investigated how different fuel loads (the amount of water in the bottle) affected performance and used this information to improve their designs.
The project also required students to create cardboard prototypes of nose cones and fins before recreating their final designs in Tinkercad or Fusion 360 for 3D printing. While waiting for their printed parts, students designed and built parachutes to help their rockets return safely to the ground after launch.
Launch day was a fantastic success, with students demonstrating persistence, teamwork, and innovation throughout the project. Congratulations to Cruz James, Michael Christofi, Saxon Collier & Liam Cleary whose rocket achieved the highest apogee while also returning safely to the ground.
Well done to all students involved for an outstanding effort and an exciting project.
Carel Fourie
Senior Teacher
