Leadership Report

We hope everyone is as excited as we are for the Fête de Primavera tomorrow! It’s been another wonderful week at Newlands, but let’s be honest, the countdown to the Fête is definitely on.

As I walked through the school and watched the Fête preparations come together (I think we need to build a house for Abner and Claire who both basically live at the school), it was fantastic to catch a sneak peek of the 2025 Ofrenda created by our wonderful parent community. I also had the chance to join Nerida, our SRC, and parents in discussions on how we can continue to strengthen Indigenous Education at Newlands. And to top it off, Jacinta presented a perfectly drawn portrait of the two of us, I have never felt so seen!

But lets get into the classrooms!

Foundation

Colleen’s class had their Teddy Bears’ Picnic today! Every student brought along their favourite teddy and together they created an absolute feast, leaving a delightful Goldilocks trail behind in the staffroom. The excitement was contagious, and the class was so quick and full of energy that I didn’t even get the chance to snap a photo! I’m sure Colleen will share some wonderful pictures in next week’s newsletter.

1/2

I stopped by Rob’s room today, where all the students were quietly immersed in reading different Spanish books. They were so eager to share what they were reading with me! Ezra, Leroy, and Louis were reading El increíble niño come libros, a hilarious story about a boy who loves to eat books. I won’t give away too much, but it’s definitely worth a read!

After reading, the students used a graphic organiser to demonstrate their understanding of narrative structure by identifying the characters, setting, problem, and solution.

When I asked what everyone else was reading, Carolina, Sophia, Dax, and Pearl told me about Bluey: Abuelitas, where the main problem is that Nana can’t floss (the dance, not the teeth!). With some determination and teamwork, Bluey teaches her how to do it!

Meanwhile, Oliver and Aren were reading El corazón y la botella, a touching story about a little girl who places her heart in a bottle after losing her father. Olivers insights about the story were so insightful!

3/4

I joined Courtney’s class during lunchtime, where everyone was buzzing with excitement about the books they had just borrowed before their upcoming visit to the Ofrenda.

Here’s what some of them shared with me:

Leyla – “I borrowed Wild Fire because the front cover looks…” (At that moment, Otis jumped in perfectly on cue: “Don’t judge a book by its cover!”)
Hazel – “I borrowed Fish Girl because I couldn’t stop looking at it. Any book with a mermaid is cool to me.”
Anita – “Mix Up, I borrowed it because Leyla said it was really good.”
Fevala – “I borrowed one of The Baby-Sitters Club books because they’re always entertaining.”
Dom – “I got a Minecraft book because I’m obsessed with Minecraft.”
Sunday – “I borrowed Wings of Fire because it’s such a good series.”
Odie – “Crossbones — it’s a really funny series about dogs and one cat.”
Otis – “I borrowed Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway. I’ve read almost all of them, they’re addictive!”

It was wonderful to see how excited everyone was about reading and sharing their choices with such enthusiasm.

5/6

I joined Kaya’s class for Showtime today, where students were proudly sharing their original narratives. We truly have some potential authors in the making, exploring a wide range of genres, even a few murder mysteries! The sentences, vocabulary, and vivid detail they crafted were absolutely incredible. What impressed me even more was how attentively the students listened to one another as they shared their stories.

I asked each student to share one sentence they were particularly proud of from their writing, and here’s what they said:

Taylor – “Boredom is an interesting thing; it feels like a space of unknowing and disinterest.”
Henry – “Swivel awoke to the sweet smell of pancakes dancing around his room.”
Djuna – “The metallic blood clashed with the salty water and looked like a pretty painting in the orange sunset.”
Eadie – “I had a strong feeling about this!”
Austin – “You never know when you could be called to a dinner party and just get murdered like that.”
Tully – “The woods felt like danger in every step.”
Bonnie – “But I could be under here forever.”
Max – “I climbed up the ladder and waved at her as my eyes filled with tears like pools.”
Etta – “I froze suddenly, staring at the rust-encrusted door that shimmered in the sunlight.”
Luca – “The icy wind pierced his skin as it blew through the mountainous terrain.”

Each sentence was powerful in its own way, a wonderful showcase of imagination, voice, and growing confidence as writers.

Next Week - The 1/2 Sleepover is here!

Our 1/2 families are celebrating next Friday night as their children take part in the much-anticipated 1/2 Sleepover, their first Newlands camping experience! A big thank you to all the teachers who are giving up their Friday night to make this special memory possible. The students can hardly wait!

Bilingual World Cup

A massive congratulations to Newlands last week for their massive efforts at the Bilingual World. What an incredible day and event!

We cant wait to see you at the fete!

Thanks,

Luke