The Newlands Times

Leadership Report

It has been another massive week at Newlands, packed with incursions, excursions, AGMs, and Foundation Information Nights. I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our teachers for the incredible work they’ve done organising these enriching experiences beyond the classroom. With teachers already stretched for time, managing to coordinate relevant excursions, schedule changes, transport, and compliance requirements is no small feat. It’s yet another example of the dedication our staff show in creating opportunities for our students.

 

Yarra-Darebin Principal Conference

Last week, I attended the Darebin/Yarra Principal Conference. It was fantastic to collaborate with colleagues from across the region to discuss our schools’ unique strengths and challenges. While Bruce Armstrong and Matt Sexton were outstanding presenters, it was Dale Sidebottom’s session on Play and Wellbeing that really stood out. We’re hoping to welcome Dale to Newlands soon to work directly with our teachers.

 

Annual General Meeting

On Tuesday night, Luisa, Claire, and I presented the 2024 Annual Report and the 2025 Annual Implementation Plan. A big thank you to everyone who joined us and gave up their evening to hear about our goals and focus for the year ahead. For those who couldn’t attend, you can find a link to the PowerPoint presentation in last week’s newsletter.

 

Foundation Information Night

On Wednesday night, over 100 people came to hear about what learning looks like at Newlands Primary School. As Principal, I was so proud to witness the strong relationships among our staff and the pride with which they spoke about our program. A huge thank you to Kate, Suzi, and Marie for giving up their evening to share their Newlands experience.

 

 

 

IDAHOBIT Day

It was a sea of colour at Newlands today! IDAHOBIT is just one day where we show support for all people, but the energy and love across the school served as a powerful reminder that inclusion and equality are everyday values. A big thank you to all the students (and staff!) who dressed up to celebrate.

 

What’s Been Happening in the Classrooms

 

Foundation

I joined Katherine and the Foundation students as they explored European and Indigenous seasons. Max shared that we're in Autumn, while Reign explained that according to the Wurundjeri calendar, people observe signs in nature—like moths, mushrooms, and wombats in May (it's Warin season). When I asked for their weekly highlights, here’s what they said:

  • Reign – A big spider was in our house, but Mum saved us!
  • Luella – I’ve loved reading this week because I love it.
  • Ara – I love lunch orders, especially ham and pineapple!

 

Grade 1/2

I sat in on “Facts on Fire” in the 1/2 area and watched Anta power through his maths goal. The classroom was buzzing with quiet focus as students tackled their questions using different strategies. Over the last two weeks, they’ve participated in Tier 2 Maths, where students are grouped based on collected data. Here's what they had to say:

 

  • Marlowe – The brain breaks with Christine are really fun.
  • Anta – I love doing hard Maths with different students.
  • Paloma – It’s been fun working with students from other classes.
  • Barra – I’ve been using hundred charts with Luisa to practise counting.
  • Molly – I’ve loved skip counting with Paula—it’s fun!
  • Evie – I enjoy brain breaks with Paula, especially ‘move your body’.
  • Vivienne – It’s fun doing maths in Spanish with Luisa.
  • Emilio – I liked working with Kylee again!
  • Louis – I love showing how great it is to have Mel as my teacher.

Grade 3/4

I headed to the gym to see the 3/4s listening to our local favourite, Constable Andy Moreton, who spoke about online safety. He reminded students not to engage with strangers online, to ask a trusted adult if unsure, and never to share personal information. This was Andy’s final presentation at Newlands before his retirement. We thank him for his support over the past five years and wish him all the best. Here's what students had to say:

 

  • Zoe – Don’t trust anyone online; it might not be who you think.
  • Holly – If you get strange messages or calls, ignore them.
  • Louis – Don’t give out personal info—it can be misused.
  • Savannah – Don’t talk to randos!
  • Eli – Don’t use voice chat with strangers in games.
  • Ramona – Never share your school, address, or other details.
  • Isabelle – Don’t respond to people you don’t know online.

Grade 5/6

I popped into the Grade 5/6 Spanish Maths review and asked about their Melbourne Walks excursion. Students shared their learnings with great enthusiasm:

  • Eadie – We learned how to split grass to make baskets.
  • Abigail – We saw how First Nations people filtered water.
  • Max – They used bottlebrushes as combs; inside they felt like velvet.
  • Martin – They made jewellery from plants.
  • Felix – We discussed being a floater or a sinker in life.
  • Lowri – Fish was a key food, and they trapped eels.
  • Taylor – There was a man-made waterfall that filtered fresh water from the sea.

 

District Cross Country

This Monday, a group of Year 4–6 students will represent Newlands at the District Cross Country. They’ve volunteered to give up a day at school to run kilometres through the Coburg track and lake. Huge thanks to Raul for organising tryouts during his lunch breaks. Students should arrive at school as normal and will walk down to the track at 9:30am. Best of luck to all our runners!

 

Colour Run

It’s almost here! Next Friday, Newlands will be bursting with colour during our second annual Colour Run, kicking off at 2:00pm. Families are welcome to join in the fun. A big thank you to the PFA for all their hard work raising funds to renovate the B-Block building ahead of our two 5/6 classes in 2026. So far, we've raised over $15,000—what an amazing effort!

 

Have a fantastic weekend!

Warm regards,

Luke