Mr. Barclay's Briefing!
Hello NPS Families.
It's been another wonderful few weeks since our last newsletter, and as always, there is so much to celebrate and share, so let's dive in!
Mr. McKinnis and I had the privilege of attending the 2026 Department of Education's Statewide Principals Conference last week over two days. This an inspiring event dedicated to deepening our understanding of how students learn best, along with another 2,800 school leaders from across Victoria.
The conference featured some of the most respected voices in education today. Simon Breakspear - a globally recognised educational researcher, author, and advisor - shared his insights on evidence-informed school improvement and the power of focused, purposeful change in schools. Dr. Breakspear is well known for his practical, energising approach to educational leadership, and his message was a timely reminder that great schools are built through clarity, collaboration, and a relentless commitment to getting better. Something we're consistently striving for.
We also heard from Dr. Nathaniel McSwain, whose work bridges the worlds of classroom practice and cognitive research, and his presentation reinforced how small, evidence-based changes in teaching can have a profound impact on student outcomes - particularly in the areas of literacy, language, and effective instruction.
Rounding out an extraordinary line-up was Dr. Carl Hendrick, Professor of Evidence-Informed Learning and Teaching and co-author of the widely acclaimed books How Learning Happens and How Teaching Happens. Dr. Hendrick's key message was both simple and powerful: effective teaching is not about keeping students busy or entertained - it is about creating the conditions for deep, lasting understanding. He reminded us that working memory is limited, that retrieval practice strengthens memory far more than passive review, and that evidence-based teaching is one of the greatest gifts we can give our students.
The conference reinforced what we already believe deeply as a school, that the science of learning matters, and our commitment to evidence-informed practice is central to everything we do for our students and your children.
On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of taking 4 of our year 5 and 6 GALS (Girls as Leaders of STEM) group to Deakin University this week, and what an experience it was! The girls were fully engaged, curious, and inspired throughout the day. They have been working hard on their project and will share their work at our assembly next week! As part of our day's work, we visited the IISRI Centre, the Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation, which was a remarkable space. As part of that, 2 of our girls had the opportunity to fly a helicopter in a static simulator.
Programs like GALS are so important in nurturing confidence, curiosity, and capability in our young female learners. Seeing them step into university spaces, ask questions, and imagine their futures in STEM fields is genuinely a highlight on our school calendar.
On Wednesday, our school had its photoshoot for our brand new website, and I am so excited about the results. The day was a great success, capturing the energy, warmth, and spirit of our wonderful school community. I look forward to revealing the finished product, so please stay tuned over the next few weeks as our new website comes to life.
Although I have thanked him already, I do want to acknowledge Mr. McKinnis for his exceptional organisation of our Athletics Day. It was a tremendous success! Events like these don't happen by accident - they are the result of careful planning, dedication, and a genuine passion for giving students the best experiences possible. And to our students - a massive congratulations must also go to their fantastic efforts! Whether they came first or simply gave it their all, they represented our school with pride and enthusiasm!
Finally, it is hard to believe, but we now have just 3 weeks - or 14 school days - remaining in Term 2, with a public holiday on Monday 08th June factored in. It is a short run home, but a packed one.
There is much still to accomplish before the end of the term, and we appreciate your continued support in keeping your children focused, well-rested, and ready to learn each day!
Thank You,
Corrie Barclay
Principal
Our Staff - Get to know the people...
My name is Marsha and I have been an Educational Support here at Newtown PS for 3.5 years. I come at ES with prior knowledge rather than official training as my middle son has AuASD and my youngest is Inattentive ADHD. I have an affiliation with NPS because I know our middles teacher, Cindy P out of school hours, my brother is a previous teacher at NPS (Adam Gilbert) and my own kids have had Shaun Haberfield (another previous NPS teacher) as their current principal. So, me and NPS are like 6 degrees of separation.
My background is that I was born in WA but spent most of my childhood in Bairnsdale, East Gippsland. I then went to Uni in Ballarat where I studied a Bachelor of Arts – Theatre. I met my husband there and after a stint in Melbourne we moved to Geelong in 2007 and decided to bring up our family here. I have 3 sons’ Josiah 16, Elijah 14 and Micah 11.
My hobbies are reading trashy romance novels, theatre, dance and being creative. I binge watch lawn mowing and renovating videos to turn my brain off. I see myself as a positive and fun personality who can often find the positive in the worst situations.
My favourite parts of NPS are our dress up days and our incredible staff who are all so supportive!
