School Council Report

Hola Newlands community!

What an inspiring meeting we had this week! We were treated to a presentation from our student leaders – Charlie, Millie, Florence and Abbie – who gave us a glimpse into the fantastic work that they and the SRC has been doing to make Newlands the very best it can be. They recently ran a survey across the school and identified two exciting focus areas: creating a permanent space for learning about First Nations cultures, and providing more choice and hands-on activities for our 5/6 students. It was inspiring to hear the impact that their advocacy has had. The leaders also pitched in to help Luke with a grant application to the VSBA, and supported the House Leaders with cheering sessions. Most impressively, they’re working out how they can best support and mentor those students who are interested in becoming leaders in 2026. We were all blown away by their passion and commitment – truly awesome and inspiring!

We then moved on to the regular business of Council. Graeme shared updates from the Attitudes to School survey and the great work happening through focus groups which will inform the school's next steps in this area. Luke’s Principal’s Report was, as always, a highlight – he gave a huge shout-out to our wonderful teachers for their tireless efforts, welcomed our newest staff who have already made such a positive impact, and even gave us a sneak peek into planning for an exciting year of learning in 2026! We were also excited to hear that upgrades to B Block will soon begin, made possible through the brilliant fundraising efforts of our PFA.

Our subcommittees continue to keep things buzzing: Buildings & Grounds are preparing ideas for the next working bee (with a special thanks to Rhenny for powering through that to-do list!); Sarah updated us on OSHC, where Jill and the team have been busy refreshing policies and the Quality Improvement Plan; and the PFA are working tirelessly on the upcoming Fete – which promises to be nothing short of amazing. Craig reported that the Education and Wellbeing subcommittee has welcomed new members and celebrated Graeme’s ever-popular “Facts on Fire” data snapshots. Aggie shared the latest from the Spanish subcommittee, who are gearing up for Salsa Night on October 24 and exploring even more ways for us to connect with Spanish-speaking cultures.

Finally, Graeme presented several exciting excursion proposals, ensuring plenty of rich learning opportunities ahead for our students.

It’s fair to say it was a jam-packed meeting, full of energy and forward momentum – just like Newlands itself.

Warmly, Kate Patsky, on behalf of School Council