Messages from the Principal

We're back! 

Welcome to the 2026 school year at Newtown Primary School! 

I am very excited to be back on deck, ready and raring to go for what will be a fantastic year ahead. 

I hope that you all had a great break over Christmas and the New Year and were able to take some time for yourselves and your family. 

This week, and especially over the last 3 days, I have been walking through learning areas and seeing firsthand just what a calm and orderly start we have had to the school year.  I am very proud of our students and how they've started their 2026 learning journeys! 

A large part of getting back into a new year is attempting to manage and oversee the plethora of things taking place and that we know are coming up. We have several events locked in already for this term and know that there are more on the way. PLEASE... keep an eye on the Whole School Calendar and Compass. If you cannot access Compass for any reason, please get in touch with the Administration Office.  A few of those events and activities of note that I would like to bring to your attention are;

• School Camps!
  • SLA Camp - Week 5
  • MLA Camp - Week 9
• NAPLAN Assessments
  • Taking place for years 3 and 5 students in weeks 7 and 8
• Family Night / Open Classrooms  
  • We'll be having our open classroom evening on Tuesday, 10th February. This is always a great way to meet your child's teacher if you've not already done so and have a walk through all of our amazing learning spaces. 
• Working Bee
  • This will be happening NEXT Saturday for ABERDEEN HOUSE from 8am - 11 am. 

Over the break, we've had a LOT of things happening regarding our buildings and grounds. You may recall that we had major building works to reinstate our Prep and Junior Learning areas after the 'Great Flood of 2025', which, led to other issues arising - one of these being a leaking roof. This has now been replaced with new skylights installed. Those works then led to electrical issues being identified, which too are now all fixed and repaired! Phew! 

You will have noticed the works also being undertaken in the Prep Courtyard. As saddened as I was to see those beautiful trees and brick walls come down, they needed to ensure the safety of our students. What is coming though will be amazing, and hopefully we'll see the end result of those safety and revitalisation works in effect by the end of March.  

Like we do every year, we'll yet again have a VERY strong School Council in 2026, and with several members tenures being up, we're looking for other keen and enthusiastic people wishing to join what is a very important part of our school. I please ask that if you've not been a member of our school council, you consider this. Feel free to contact the office at any stage, or come in and see me. 

Our Staff - Get to know the people...

It is not often that we welcome new staff members to our great school; however, this year we are VERY lucky to welcome Renee to our amazing staff and school community. 

Renee is our newest member of the NPS team in 2026 and will be working alongside Ali in the office as our Administration Assistant. Coming from Victoria University Secondary College in Melbourne, Renee comes with a great level of school experience and is looking forward to getting to know our students and the wider Newtown school community. 

Renee and her husband, Chris, have been busy over the school holiday break – purchasing their new home on the Bellarine! They are looking forward to moving in next term. Renee loves animals and has two cats named Harry and Skye! She also loves to travel and has been to many countries around the world. 

Renee is super excited to meet everyone and become a part of the NPS Community.