Leadership Report
The holidays feel like a distant memory already, and we are straight back into the full swing of things as if nothing ever happened. We hope everyone had a relaxing break.
If you walked past the school over the holidays, you would have seen a significant amount of work taking place across the site. We now have brand-new paths, meaning no more rocks being tracked into the gym, no more sand through the new buildings, and no more uneven or spongy surfaces. This would not have been possible without our incredible PFA, and we once again thank them for making such a visible and lasting difference to our school.
While Jill, Bede, Romy and the OSHC team had to quickly adapt and make changes to their program, extensive works have also taken place across the school, including additional painting and the removal of asbestos and visible lead paint. This has been a major project led by Kristy and the Buildings and Grounds team, who have worked tirelessly to prioritise improvements at Newlands Primary School.
As previously discussed, the works are now ahead of schedule and nearing completion, which meant our early preparations to move classrooms were a little too well prepared. A huge thank you goes to the Foundation team, Kaya & Flor, and Rhenny for their incredible efforts early on Monday morning of the first day back, as we quickly returned furniture, tables, chairs, and lockers to their original spaces. This also means that all C-Block furniture is back in place, allowing OSHC to return to C-Block, along with the Visual Arts and STEAM programs. Thank you to all staff for their flexibility, teamwork, and support throughout this process.
A very special moment for Newlands Unidos Escuela de Primaria, with six teams representing the school over the holiday break in the Coburg Basketball Association. Congratulations to Pom for being the first-ever scorer for the club, and to the Alcones and Tigresas for becoming the first teams to record wins. It was fantastic to see all teams enjoying themselves, supported by wonderful families on the sidelines. A big thank you to all coaches, team managers, and everyone involved in creating such a positive experience for the children. A special acknowledgement goes to Cameron Stark, who has taken on the presidency and worked tirelessly over the holidays to get everything up and running. ¡Vamos Unidos! If you would like your child to join training sessions with Players First, please email the school and we will send through the registration link.
Our Grade 6 students recently attended a meaningful cultural and educational event at the Aboriginal Advancement League in Thornbury as part of the National Walk for Truth, led by Travis Lovett and Renata Lovett. The day began with a powerful Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, followed by cultural performances and presentations from First Nations leaders. Students then participated in a symbolic Walk for Truth around Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval, deepening their understanding of truth-telling, reconciliation, and anti-racism. Throughout the day, our students represented the school with respect and pride, showing thoughtful engagement and a strong commitment to learning from and honouring First Nations perspectives. A massive thank you to Simon for organising this important event and for continuing to lead the work for the upcoming Yarning Conference later this year.
Our first school tours are taking place next Wednesday, which is incredibly exciting. A big thank you to all of our school leaders for their hard work in preparing to showcase who we are and what we value as a school. As with last year, we are only able to accept 80 enrolments. If you have a child starting school next year, please prioritise submitting your enrolment forms as soon as possible.
The first one was excelente… this one will be even better. On Sunday, the second Spanglish get-together will be held at Newlands at 3:00pm. If you didn’t make the first event, don’t worry, you’re absolutely still welcome! For more information, please see the Spanglish page in the newsletter.
Our first evening event for Term 2 is the Outdoor Cinema Night. While my movie recommendations were, let’s say, enthusiastically rejected, the PFA have chosen what is sure to be a classic. Movies, popcorn, blankets, and friends under the stars at Newlands. It’s going to be a fantastic night! The PFA are also looking for volunteers to help; please click on the Outdoor Cinema Night page for more information.
That’s it for the first week at Newlands!
We can’t wait for another excellent term ahead.
Thanks,
Luke