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. 

Bookings

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.

Vendor Bookings

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

There is something quietly powerful about a room full of students and staff united behind one idea. That was the feeling at our recent Whole School Assembly, held under this term's theme of Community, where pride and connection were on full display from the first moment to the last.

Our sub-school captains spoke with a poise well beyond their years, and our combined Junior School, Middle School and Senior School Choir filled the space with warmth and energy. What stood out most was how many students from Prep through to Year 12, stepped forward to speak, present and perform, a genuine reflection of the culture we are building together at Newhaven College, one where every child feels able to contribute and be seen.

Assemblies like this are a good reminder of what community really means here: connection, belonging and shared achievement.

Our Preps Reach a Milestone: 100 Days of School

Friday 7 August marked a proud milestone for our Preps: their 100th day of school. Dressed as “100-year-olds,” our youngest learners paraded, shuffled and, in Mrs Carlson's case, rolled proudly on her electric chair past an audience of Junior School students, staff and families.

The whole day was built around the number 100, packed with hands-on activities that turned a simple milestone into a joyful celebration of how far our Preps have come since Term 1. Thank you to Mrs Lynch and Mrs Carlson for bringing such spirit to the occasion, to our Prep families for their wonderfully creative costumes, and to everyone who helped make the day so memorable.

Book Week Brings Stories to Life  

Today, students from Prep to Year 4 brought their favourite stories to life in our much-loved annual Book Week Parade, held for the first time in our newly refurbished Junior School Assembly Area. Characters from beloved authors including Pamela Allen, Mem Fox, Dr Seuss, Marcus Pfister and Eric Carle filled the space with colour, imagination and excitement.

Congratulations to Lewi Muratore (Prep), Griffin Merefield (Year 1), Arabella Wall (Year 2), Alex Baker (Year 3) and Selina Chen (Year 4) who were each presented with a book voucher from Turn the Page in recognition of their outstanding borrowing habits in the Library. Thank you to Bridget Haines for organising the parade, and to our Year 4 students for speaking so beautifully on the day. It was a genuine celebration of stories, imagination and the simple joy of reading. Photos of the event are below.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Thank you to our teachers for the thought and care they brought to last week's Parent Teacher Interviews. These conversations are a direct expression of our vision, to deeply know each young person and to honour and enrich their unique learning path, and we are grateful to every parent who joined us online to build a shared understanding of how their child's year is unfolding so far.

Australian Teacher Aide Appreciation Week (31 August – 4 September)

Newhaven College is fortunate to have such dedicated support staff, and next week gives us a moment to properly recognise them. Our Junior School's tiered intervention programs simply would not run without the skill and commitment of our teacher aides, who help students thrive academically, socially and emotionally every single day. A heartfelt thank you to Desserae, Kellie, Marina, Katanya and Pam for the difference they make in our students' lives.

Coming Up: Dads and Donuts Morning (Friday 4 September)

On Friday 4 September, we are hosting our Dad’s and Donuts Morning, a chance for Junior School students to celebrate the fathers and special people in their lives. From 8:30am to 9:00am, dads and special guests are warmly invited to join us in the Junior School Assembly Area for a donut and a cup of tea or coffee, before heading into classrooms for a morning of shared time, showing off student work and exploring the classroom together.

Staff Professional Learning Day this Friday (Student Free)

This Friday, our teachers take part in a Student Free Professional Learning Day on Respectful Relationships, sharpening our shared language and continuing our whole-school approach to wellbeing. It builds on almost two years of deliberate work bringing our Learning Ambition, learning through wellbeing, to life across every year level.

At its heart, Respectful Relationships is simple: everyone deserves to be respected, valued and treated equally, and children learn this by seeing it modelled everywhere. Schools that embed this program and approach see real gains in academic outcomes, mental health, classroom behaviour and relationships between teachers and students. It's a genuine priority for us, and by working together, teaching it explicitly and living it daily, we give every child at Newhaven College the understanding that sets them up well for respectful relationships, now and into the future.

It has been a term full of milestones both big and small, from Prep parades to Library visits, interviews to assemblies. Thank you to our students, staff and families for everything you bring to our Junior School community. There is plenty more to look forward to in the weeks ahead, and we can't wait to share it with you.

Cath Huther

Head of Junior School

100 Days of School for our Preps!

What an incredible day our Prep students had as they celebrated 100 Days of School! This exciting milestone marks one hundred days of learning, growing, making friendships and discovering new things. Reaching 100 days is a significant achievement for our youngest learners, and it was a wonderful occasion for our Junior School community as we recognised all the fantastic achievements they have accomplished since their very first day of school.

The celebrations began with one of the highlights of the day - our 100 Days Parade. It was fantastic to see our school community come together to cheer on the Prep students as they proudly showed off their creative costumes. The excitement and smiles were contagious as families, staff and students celebrated this special milestone together.

The costumes certainly did not disappoint! Our Prep students transformed themselves into adorable 100-year-olds, with an amazing array of grey wigs, fluffy white hair, glasses, cardigans, dressing gowns, walking sticks, walkers, pearls, hats and slippers. Every costume was unique, and it was clear that families had put an enormous amount of thought, creativity and humour into helping the children prepare for the day. It was wonderful to see everyone embracing the occasion and making it such a memorable celebration.

Following the parade, Prep C and Prep L enjoyed a day packed with hands-on activities centred around the number 100. The classrooms were buzzing with excitement as students explored the many different ways we can represent and celebrate 100.

One delicious highlight was making fairy bread covered with colourful 100s and 1000s, before writing a procedure explaining each step involved in creating their tasty treat. Students also challenged themselves to carefully count out 100 objects, practising their counting skills, perseverance and teamwork. We also invited our buddies to join in the fun by creating beautiful crowns to commemorate our 100 days of school together.

Creativity was on full display as the children designed and drew imaginative monsters with 100 different features, resulting in some wonderfully quirky and colourful creations! Throughout the day, the classrooms were filled with laughter as students sang songs about the number 100, completed counting challenges and reflected on all they have learnt during their first 100 days at school.

The day was a wonderful reminder of just how much our Prep students have grown in confidence, independence and learning since the beginning of the year. They have developed new skills, formed lasting friendships and embraced every opportunity to learn with enthusiasm and curiosity.

A huge thank you to our Prep families for helping make the day so special through your creativity, support and fantastic costumes. Congratulations to all of our Prep students on reaching this exciting milestone. We are incredibly proud of everything you have achieved in your first 100 Days of School, and we can't wait to see what the next 100 days of learning will bring!

Kylie Carlson and Kerryn Lynch

Prep Teachers

Welcoming Our 2027 Preps: School Tour and Pre-Prep Library Sessions

Our future Preps for 2027 have started settling into life at Newhaven College. Over recent weeks, children enrolled to start next year have taken a school tour and joined Library and story sessions, exploring our new Junior School playground and borrowing their very first books along the way.

Visits like these matter more than they might seem. They give children a chance to become familiar with their new environment and meet future classmates, while giving parents a chance to connect with our community too. Mrs Milkins Hendry brought her theatrical flair to story time, reading with such expression that, by all reports, our youngest visitors were captivated by every word.

It has been a lovely start to the transition program, and we look forward to welcoming these future Preps back for more Library sessions in the coming weeks.

Cath Huther

Head of Junior School

Year 3 Camp - Candlebark Farm

Year 3 students had an unforgettable first camp at Candlebark Farm in Healesville! The adventure began with a visit to Healesville Sanctuary, where students enjoyed an entertaining bird show and came face-to-face with many of Australia’s amazing native animals.

At camp, the fun continued with a packed schedule of activities, including the low ropes, flying fox, rock wall and Gaga pit. Students also enjoyed delicious camp meals and worked together to keep their cabins tidy for inspections. Most importantly, camp gave our Year 3s the opportunity to build resilience and independence, strengthen friendships and enjoy the great outdoors together.

Miranda Reich, Marcelle Krieg and Meg Oudshoorn

Year 3 Teachers

Year 2 Dads Catch Up

The Year 2 dads enjoyed their annual catch-up recently, with a fun night at Phillip Island Golf Sims! It was a great chance to get together, have a few laughs and test out their golfing skills. A big thank you to Phillip Island Tenpin Bowling for hosting the group - everyone had a fantastic time! 

Merit Awards

Congratulations to the students in the following photo who were presented with their Merit Awards and recognised at Junior School Assembly.

Symphony of Stories - Book Week Parade

It was wonderful to see so many of our Year 5-8 students and Middle School teachers dress up in the spirit of Book Week. The parade was expertly hosted by Middle School Captains, Ivy Addison and Annabelle Fallu.

Middle School HAS featured at the GTAV Conference  

On Friday 14 August three of Middle School teachers, Melanie Flower, Steven Scott and Cynthia Young, presented at the Geography Teachers Association of Victoria (GTAV) Conference. We were invited by GTAV to write an article for the quarterly newsletter, and then the request came for us to speak about the innovative Humanities and Science (HAS) class running in Middle School. This interest from the peak body representing Geography teachers in Victoria was a real endorsement of what we are doing with HAS.

Three years ago Mrs Milkins-Hendry approached a small team of Humanities and Science specialists and asked if we could put together a ‘super-subject’ that seamlessly combined the curriculum of Science and Humanities. Thanks to some planning time, collaboration and creative thinking, our Middle School students are now studying a subject that three years ago did not exist in its current form.

The interest from teachers attending the conference was high, and there were a lot of questions and great discussions about how this could be implemented in other schools. Several teachers from schools across Victoria (including some quite elite Melbourne schools) expressed an interest in coming to Newhaven College for a day to observe the HAS classes in action. We were delighted by the reception our presentation received.

It is satisfying to know that something we have invested a lot of time, thought and energy into is being recognised across Victoria as being innovative and exciting. As teachers, we get enormous joy out of the creative and collaborative opportunities offered by teaching HAS. Our students also benefit by making connections across the subjects and developing a deeper understanding of how the world works (Science) and how we live in that world (Humanities).

With a pioneering program which is attracting interest from other schools, the HAS journey has been an exhilarating one. It is just one way the Newhaven College Middle School is working to engage, innovate and educate our young people.

Melanie Flower, Cynthia Young and Steven Scott

Middle School Teachers

Tournament of Minds Success

On Saturday 22nd August, 'The Seven Spectacular Sparkling Spoonbills' went to Churchill University to compete in the Tournament of Minds. Dressed in custom-made matching shirts, the team included Mia Bowring, Emily Miles, Jim Haynes, Zara Hill, Amelia Ritterman, Wren Plews and Liliana Fenwick. We were up against five other schools from the Gippsland region.

Students participating in Tournament of Minds choose from four different challenges - The Arts, STEM, Social Science and Language & Literature. We chose the Language & Literature challenge, which asked us to create a radio play that could take the place of social media for young people. We also had to make all our props, sets and costumes out of basic craft resources such as cardboard, newspaper, fabric scraps and icy pole sticks. In just under ten minutes we set up, presented our solution in the form of a short play, and packed up.

The judges enjoyed our performance and laughed at all our jokes, even when Jim shouted “6 7”. They thought our props and sets were well done, and they liked the radio play which included romance, a shady Scottish dude and, of course, murder. In fact, they liked it so much that we won the competition!

The Seven Spectacular Sparkling Spoonbills are very excited to have made it through to the State Finals held in Melbourne in three weeks, and we are looking forward to this next challenge. 

Melanie Flower

Middle School Teacher

Year 8 Camp

Our Year 8 students had an incredible time on camp at Kinglake last week, creating lasting memories while challenging themselves in new ways.

From tackling the high ropes course to participating in a range of team-building activities, students stepped outside their comfort zones, strengthened friendships, and developed trust, resilience, and confidence throughout the week.

A huge thank you to our dedicated staff, whose support, encouragement, and care helped make the camp such a rewarding and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

Year 6 Science

Our Year 6 students have been getting hands-on in the science labs, exploring the fascinating world of electricity! They have been learning how electrical circuits work by constructing and investigating both series and parallel circuits. Students have also tested a range of materials to identify conductors and insulators, developing their understanding of how electricity flows and how different materials affect a circuit. It has been fantastic to see their curiosity and problem-solving skills in action as they experiment, test and make connections between theory and the real world.

Rebecca Burgan

Year 6 Teacher

Years 5 & 6 Health and Wellbeing

As part of the Years 5 & 6 Health and Wellbeing lessons, the students have been learning about photography. This term, they have learned about what makes a good photo and the students have been taking 'general interest' photos around the school.

Some of the images are stunning.

Donna Driscoll

Year 5 Teacher

Year 5 & 6 Crazy Golf Day

Our Year 5 and 6 students had a fun mini-golf trip to Grumpy's Crazy Golf in Cowes as part of our Year 5 and 6 Health and Wellbeing learning. Sharing fun experiences with our peers supports our affective engagement and creates a sense of class belonging.

Social Licence

August is Social month in the College Calendar, with the Year 12 Formal falling on Saturday 1 August. For many of our Year 12 students, the Formal marks a genuine milestone: a rare night where they step out largely on their own, with no parents in the room and only their Senior School House Leaders and members of College Leadership looking on from a respectful distance. The dresses were elegant, the suits were sharp, and every student made the effort to look their very best. On an evening built for students under pressure to finally unwind, that effort showed. Our Year 12 cohort are natural dancers, and the dance floor proved it, with teachers coaxed on for a spin through the Nutbush, the Macarena and Dancing Queen. Time may march on, but it is reassuring to know the classics never lose their charm. My thanks go to Ms Aisling Fagan, whose efforts in pulling the evening together, in her first year as Clarke House Leader, were outstanding. Photos from the night can be seen in the last newsletter.

The second social event on the College Calendar was the Year 11 Ball, held on Saturday 15 August. Thanks in large part to the exceptional work of Ms Hannah Blake, McHaffie House Leader, more than 260 Year 11 students and their parents gathered at Silverwater Resort to mark the midpoint of their senior schooling: pens down, for one night, in favour of fun, frivolity and dancing. Watching our students make the effort, suiting up or frocking up, for an evening where joy is simply the point, never gets old. This is a close-knit cohort, and that was on full display: they clearly relish each other’s company, as well as that of their parents and the small but dedicated group of staff who joined them on the night. In the busyness that so often consumes staff and students alike, it is a genuine pleasure to pause and simply celebrate being together, and the Year 11 Ball captured that spirit perfectly. Photos from the night can be seen below.

With both major social events now behind us, the senior school has settled back into its usual rhythm: the energy of the classroom, the thrill of competition across the SEISA sporting calendar, and the quiet, steady work of study. With only three and a half weeks left in Term Three, the SAC calendar is getting busier, and with it, so are the stress levels of our Year 11 and 12 students. Even the term break ahead will look different to the previous breaks this year, with Trial Examinations looming large: six days of practice exams scheduled for all scored VCE students. These trials are one of the best opportunities our students will have to test their skills and knowledge under timed conditions before the real VCE examinations in October and November. It is essential that they make the most of this opportunity to prepare for the challenge ahead.

Brett Torstonson

Head of Senior School

Year 9 STEAM Week and What’s Ahead

Year 9 students have enjoyed an exciting and productive STEAM Week, taking part in a range of hands-on activities involving science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics. Throughout the week, students have been challenged to think creatively, work collaboratively and apply their problem-solving skills in practical and engaging ways. It has been wonderful to see students embracing new experiences and supporting one another through each challenge.

Our next major learning experience will be the commencement of the Horizons Project. This self-directed project will give students the opportunity to explore an area of personal interest, set meaningful goals and take greater ownership of their learning. Further information about the project and its expectations will be shared with students as it begins.

The final week of term will also be our NAIDOC Week celebration. Several workshops and activities are being planned across the week, providing students with opportunities to deepen their understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and achievements. A special feature will be the creation of new artwork with Uncle Steve Parker, with every Year 9 student contributing to this shared piece.

We look forward to finishing the term with a meaningful and engaging celebration of learning, creativity and culture.

Sam Foura

Head of Year 9

Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) 

A few weeks back, Max Brocklesby, Tierlin Hamley, Harvey Kirk, Mia Thompson, Lucas Jungwirth and I participated in a yearly event called Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA). We prepared over the course of 2 weeks, being chosen to represent the UK and its views on issues.

As a result of this, we were the first against on the first issue, which was open borders in immigration. Australia and Turkey were our competitors, with 3 other countries waiting to be convinced. Harvey and I delivered the opening speeches, with Mia securing the almost impossible win of 4 to 2 with her excellent counterarguments.

In our second preplanned round, we were the secondary (assisting the sponsor) on the issue 'no first-placed weapons in space'. The USA was the first against on the issue. Lucas and Max were our speakers, and they won the vote very easily, securing a total of 4 countries on our side.

For the final improv round, we were given an extremely difficult role, first against on returning all land and possessions back to countries they originated from. Harvey was able to come up with an amazing opening speech without any physical prep, with Tierlin assisting. Despite a hard verbal battle with Mia and Lucas, we lost 2 to 3, with Turkey choosing not to vote. Although our group argues that Australia should have voted for us.

In the end we won MUNA as the best debaters, taking home a medal, certificate, badge and bragging rights. Can't wait to participate again next year.

Scarlette Hill

Year 10

Year 11 Ball

Saturday night, 15 August,  was one to remember as our Year 11 students and their parents and guardians came together at Silverwater Resort for a spectacular Year 11 Ball.

Our students looked incredible and certainly brought the glamour! With DJ David Manning behind the decks, the dance floor was soon packed, with everyone dancing the night away.

A big shoutout to our leadership team for joining the celebrations, and a special thank you to Hannah Blake for organising such a fantastic event.

HMAS Cape Woolamai

Newhaven College was delighted to welcome 10 crew members, including a number of officers, from the HMAS Cape Woolamai on Thursday 6 August. Ostensibly, the crew visited to inform students in the Senior School of possible career pathways within the Armed Services, particularly the Navy.

Students and staff were regaled by on-water and off-water stories over the years of service of each crew member. We are made aware of the different roles that can be filled within the Navy both on and off ships and the crew answered a wide array of questions regarding fleet readiness, career pathways and naval operations from over 200 eager Senior School students. It was a fascinating afternoon and I am sure a number of our students could be tempted by a life on the high seas in the near future!

Brett Torstonson

Head of Senior School

Newhaven College Annual Urban Music Camp

Over 60 students from Years 5–12 came together for the Newhaven College Annual Music Camp at Urban Camp in Melbourne from 21–24 August. It was a wonderful four days filled with music, friendship, laughter and plenty of noise!

Students spent much of the camp rehearsing in their ensembles and choirs, working hard to prepare for our upcoming Spring Concert on Monday 7 September at the Union Theatre, Wonthaggi. The camp provided a fantastic opportunity for students across all year levels to develop their musical skills, collaborate with others and build confidence as performers.

One of the highlights was the formation of our very own Camp Choir, led by Ms Poletti. All students and staff came together to sing as one large ensemble, creating a wonderful sense of community and showcasing the power of music to bring people together. We can't wait to hear the finished product at the Spring Concert of the Aussie classic 'Holy Grail'!

Of course, camp wasn't all rehearsals! Students enjoyed an evening at the Comedy Theatre to see SIX The Musical, followed by a scrumptious dinner at Macca's and a very noisy tram ride back to Urban Camp. It was certainly an evening to remember!

A huge thank you to all of our students for making the camp such a wonderful and special experience. Your enthusiasm, energy and commitment to music made the four days incredibly rewarding.

A very special thank you also goes to our dedicated music staff, whose passion, hard work and commitment continue to make the music program such an exciting part of our school community. We are incredibly grateful for everything you do to support and inspire our young musicians.

We look forward to sharing the results of all that hard work at the Spring Concert on Monday 7 September!

Matthew Goss

Director of Music

Taiko drumming

While she was here, it was wonderful to have Ichino from the Ibaraki Christian High School exchange share her Taiko skills with our College Taiko ensemble. It was great for our drummers to practice and learn from Ichino.

As a thank you, Taiko mum, Pharrah, shouted all our hard-working drummers to yummy hot chocolates from The Spoonbill Cafe to celebrate!

Rebecca Scully

Head of Strings

Prep Portraiture

Our Prep students are revisiting the genre of self-portraiture. Their working drawings are being done in their books, using an acrylic mirror and a printout of their school photos for reference.

Corina Suidgeest

Prep - Year 6 Art Teacher

SEISA Indigenous Round

On Thursday 10 August, we proudly honoured the Indigenous heritage of Millowl (Phillip Island) during our SEISA sports day at Newhaven.

The Indigenous Round is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across all SEISA sporting codes, while reflecting on the importance of respecting and caring for the Country on which we play.

Year 10 student River Hume presented the Acknowledgement of Country before today’s matches commenced, setting a meaningful tone for the day.

Newhaven College 5/6 Boys Compete at State AFL Finals

On Thursday 20 August, our Year 5/6 Boys AFL team travelled to Bundoora to represent Newhaven College at the School Sport Victoria Primary Boys/Mixed Australian Football State Finals.

Reaching the State Finals was an outstanding achievement. The boys progressed through the District, Division and Regional competitions undefeated, earning the opportunity to compete against some of the best primary school football teams from across Victoria.

Newhaven was placed in one of two sections and faced Kialla West Primary School, Mount Scopus and Our Lady Star of the Sea (Geelong). While the results didn't go our way on the day, the boys continued to compete hard. Newhaven finished fourth in its section, with Our Lady Star of the Sea eventually going on to win the State Final.

Finishing the season as one of the final eight primary school teams in Victoria is something the boys should be extremely proud of, and it was a fantastic way to cap off an incredible school football campaign.

Congratulations to our State Final team: Noah Hollings
(Captain); Cooper Bennett; Logan Regnier; Leith Cameron; Oscar Innes; Fletcher Hennessey; Sam Martindale; Billy Kimber; Will McClimont; Ryder Fisher; Tanner Lee; Dash Janson, Reeve Dennis and Austin Lynch.

A huge thank you to Noah Martin-Endress for all of his help with the team throughout the day and all the competitions, and to the parents and families who made the trip to Bundoora to support the boys. 

The icing on the cake was meeting the one and only Nick Riewoldt at the match!

Jaclyn Clark

PE and Sports Teacher

Newhaven MTB Riders Shine at You Yangs

Newhaven College MTB Academy riders travelled to You Yangs for Round 5 of the Victorian Schools MTB Series, taking on one of the more challenging tracks of the season.

With three Newhaven riders competing, two finished on the podium. Austin Mitchell continued his impressive podium streak, taking first place, while Felix Boyce put in another fantastic ride to finish third in his category. Matt Korecki also produced a great ride in the Under 15 Boys Novice category.

The racing was competitive but enjoyable, with riders finally treated to warm, sunny weather. The course certainly didn’t make things easy, with a tough uphill rock garden proving to be one of the defining features of the race and helping to spread out the field.

It was also the longest race of the series so far, with Austin’s winning ride taking around 45 minutes — a huge effort on such a demanding course.

Congratulations to Austin, Felix and Matt on their excellent performances and for representing Newhaven College so well. It was another fantastic round for the MTB Academy.

The riders are now looking forward to the final two rounds of the series, with Round 6 at Castlemaine on 12 September, followed by the series finale at Bendigo on 13 September.

Team Vic Softball Selection 

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Chelsea Chambers, who has been selected to represent Victoria in the School Sport Victoria (SSV) Team Vic 12 Years and Under Girls Softball Team.

This is a fantastic achievement and a wonderful recognition of Chelsea’s talent, teamwork and love of softball. After a competitive selection process, Chelsea has earned her place among the best young softballers in Victoria.

Chelsea will travel to Newcastle, New South Wales, from 25-30 October 2026 to compete in the School Sport Australia 12 Years and Under Girls Softball Championships. The championship will bring together talented young athletes from across Australia for an exciting week of competition.

Being selected for Team Vic is about much more than sporting ability. Players are chosen for their skills, athleticism, tactical understanding, teamwork, positive attitude, sportsmanship and ability to contribute to a strong team culture. Chelsea should be incredibly proud of reaching this level.

Jaclyn Clark

PE and Sports Teacher