Leadership Report
Term 2 Reflection...
What an incredible way to finish the term than with our Walk for Truth celebration, coinciding with our First Nations History focus across the school. It was fantastic to welcome Travis Lovitt back to Newlands and for him to see firsthand the impact he has had on our students, staff and wider community. A big thank you also to Nathan Lambert MP and Jackie Mansourian for joining us and showing their support for such an important event. Finally, congratulations to Simon, whose leadership and organisation ensured the day was a fitting and powerful conclusion to a term of learning, reflection and action.
Term 2 at Newlands Primary School
We kicked off Term 2 with one of our favourite community events, the Newlands Outdoor Movie Night. Families gathered under the stars to enjoy Zootopia 2, great food and wonderful company, creating a fantastic atmosphere to begin the term. It was a wonderful reminder of the strong sense of community that exists at Newlands and set the tone for another busy and successful term ahead.
One of the highlights of the term was our annual Colour Run. Thanks to the incredible efforts of our Parents and Friends Association, students enjoyed a day full of colour, laughter and fun while helping raise an extraordinary $44,000 for the school. The event not only provided lasting memories for our students but also showcased the generosity and community spirit that make Newlands such a special place.
The school community also came together for a range of events throughout the term, including Salsa Night, Spanglish sessions, Foundation Information Night and a highly successful Working Bee. The Working Bee attracted one of the largest turnouts in recent years, with families helping transform our gardens and outdoor spaces. It was wonderful to see so many people giving up their time to make our school an even better place for our students.
The Newlands Unidos Basketball Club officially began its journey this term and our before-school sporting programs continue to grow in popularity. With basketball, wrestling, tennis and dance opportunities available to students, more children than ever are staying active, building confidence and strengthening connections before the school day begins.
Academically, the school continues to go from strength to strength. Our preliminary NAPLAN results show improvements in Strong and Exceeding outcomes across eight of the ten assessed areas compared to 2025. These results come on the back of Newlands being recognised as the 49th-ranked government school in Victoria in data released by the Herald Sun earlier this year.
Grade 3
| Area | 2025 | 2026 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Numeracy | 89% | 90% | +1 |
| Grammar | 77% | 78% | +1 |
| Reading | 84% | 95% | +11 |
| Spelling | 82% | 74% | -8 |
| Writing | 85% | 93% | +8 |
Grade 5
| Area | 2025 | 2026 | Difference |
| Numeracy | 86% | 83% | -3 |
| Grammar | 88% | 96% | +8 |
| Reading | 84% | 91% | +7 |
| Spelling | 74% | 86% | +12 |
| Writing | 90% | 91% | +1 |
Our Year 3/4 students also enjoyed an unforgettable experience at The Ranch. From mountain boarding to horse riding, students challenged themselves, built resilience and created lifelong memories with their peers. The smiles, laughter and stories that returned with them showed just how valuable these experiences are in helping students grow both personally and socially.
Behind the scenes, staff have worked tirelessly to prepare Semester One reports, conduct assessments and ensure every student receives the support they need to thrive. We have also continued important work around student wellbeing, Disability Inclusion and intervention programs to ensure every child has every opportunity to experience success.
Over the Holidays
Soundproofing the Foundation Rooms
Over the school holidays, works will commence to improve the acoustics in our Foundation learning spaces. This project will help reduce noise transfer between classrooms, creating calmer and more effective learning environments for our youngest students and staff.
Skeletons Filming at Newlands
During the holidays, Newlands will once again become a film set, with scenes from the upcoming horror movie Skeletons being filmed across various locations around the school. While there will be a large production crew on site, all filming will take place during the break and will have no impact on student learning programs.
OSHC Program Continues
Our OSHC program will continue to operate throughout the school holidays, providing families with a safe, engaging and enjoyable environment for students. While some areas of the school will be utilised for filming and holiday works, the OSHC team has worked closely with the school to ensure students continue to have access to a fantastic holiday program.
What's Coming Up in Term 3?
Term 3 is shaping up to be another action-packed term at Newlands, with plenty of opportunities for learning, celebration and community connection. We will begin the term by recognising NAIDOC Week and continuing our commitment to learning about and celebrating First Nations histories, cultures and achievements. Our Year 5/6 students will also head off to Ski Camp at Camp Marysville, where they will challenge themselves, build independence and create lasting memories with their peers.
Throughout the term, students and families can look forward to a range of much-loved Newlands events. Our Foundation students will celebrate their 100 Days of School, while the annual Readathon, Science Week and Athletics Carnival will provide opportunities for students to challenge themselves both academically and physically. Book Week and the ever-popular Book Week Parade will once again bring stories to life across the school, while Wear It Purple Day will celebrate diversity, inclusion and belonging within our community.
As we move towards the end of the term, we will welcome families for our Father's Day Breakfast and Parent Social Night, followed by Parent Teacher Interviews where families can discuss student progress and celebrate achievements. We will then finish the term with our highly anticipated Paraguay Cultural Week, culminating in our Cultural Week Celebration and Footy Colours Day.
Of course, one of the biggest events on the Newlands calendar will also take place in Term 3, our whole-school student performance at the Darebin Arts Centre. This is always a highlight of the year and an opportunity for our students to showcase their talents, confidence and hard work. More information will be shared with families during Week 1 of Term 3.
As we head into the holidays, I would like to thank our students, staff, families and wider community for their ongoing support. Term 2 has been packed with memorable experiences, significant achievements and countless moments of learning and growth. We hope everyone has a safe, restful and well-deserved break, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another fantastic term.
Thanks,
Luke