Leadership Report 

Our 2020 in review

Thanks for the Journey

2020 has been the most talked about year, one of individual and collective persistence, reflection and optimism.

So, on that note I want share my observations of our journey at Newlands through a very demanding time. We started the year with great enthusiasm and levels of high energy from the new Foundation students. It was not long before our whole school went into lockdown; and a lockdown that extended far beyond our expectations.

This led us into the world of learning remotely. To learn and teach through Zoom we would all agree was challenging; far beyond anything we had been prepared for as teachers or parents. The professionalism and creativity from our teachers to this type of teaching experience could have easily gone pear shaped ... but it didn't! Our strong parent community were so supportive and as a school leader I was very appreciative of the warmth shown to our teachers and support staff.

While we acknowledge the pandemic it did not dictate how we engaged with the students. It set a challenge that our teachers met head on. I saw such a high level of adaption by our teachers, and of course many creative approaches to teaching the curriculum.

Term four we finally came back to school. We saw our students reconnect with their friends, their teachers: what a delight! This term finally saw us receive funding to upgrade our much loved, but sadly inadequate buildings. Then we were rewarded with the news that our bilingual vision for Newlands had received the well earned funding, but more importantly the recognition by the Department of Education and Training (DET) that we are now recognised officially as a Bilingual Spanish School.

To close out the year was one of elation sprinkled with a little sadness. The year 6 graduation was again a very uniquely presented night of Newlands magic. The students did not disappoint with their wit, observation and reflections. The favourite of the night was Josh's rap, which he had polished over the past three months; it was insightful as well as witty. The night also had a touch of sadness as some of our longstanding families now become part of the unique Newlands history. A special thanks to the 4-6 teaching; Graeme, Karren, Laura and Sonya who contributed a lot time and support behind the scenes as well as on the night to mark the night so special and memorable for the students.

Goodbyes

Mark - Foundation& Year 1

Will be missed by all of us. He has been such an asset to us, as teacher, an area leader and of course the man with answers for our newbie parents. We wish him and his partner all the best in Sydney on the 12 month sojourn to the bright lights of Emerald City - Sydney.  

Belinda - Visual Arts

Belinda replaced Bianca this year after working with us in many roles since 2018, and has provided visual arts to our students throughout a very unique year. The year presented many obvious challenges to visual arts through Zoom, but we are very thankful to Belinda for her persistence to engage our students through remote learning and your creativity and boundless care with the children. Wish you all the best in 2021.

Katey- Performing Arts

She came, she performed, and now she's leaving. We would have loved for her to stay at Newlands longer, but the call of Darwin won the day. We thank you for your creativity, your sense of fun to engage with the kids. We wish you well as you return to Darwin, their gain, our loss.

Steph - OOSHC  

We have enjoyed her bubbly personality and enthusiasm to provide the children in the OOSHC with a creative program, as well as high degree of support to Rhonda. She will be sadly missed, but she will be a great asset in 2021 as an Visual Arts teacher at a secondary school. All the best on your venture as an educationalist.

Students

For those students who will not be returning in 2021: we hope you leave Newlands with some fond and positive memories of your time with classmates and teachers.

Best Wishes to Our Community

All the best wishes for the holiday season. I hope you will enjoy the time reconnecting with family and friends, and look forward catching up with our Newlands community in 2021.