As we approach the end of the year, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our students on a productive and very positive year. It has been a year filled with learning, growth and the forging of strong friendships. Our community of learners has flourished, demonstrating the unique and supportive environment that sets Newhaven College apart.
Our dedicated teachers have worked hard throughout the year, ensuring that each student is given every opportunity to reach their full potential. The commitment and passion displayed by our teaching staff have been strong, and I am proud of the close partnerships we have formed with families. From the beginning of the year, parent involvement and support have been instrumental in creating a positive community where families value partnerships in education and are involved in many aspects of school life and their child's educational journey.
Junior School Celebration Evening
I am excited to celebrate our achievements at the upcoming Junior School Celebration Evening on Wednesday 27 November. Each Junior School class will perform an item, and all families are invited to join us for this special event. It will be a wonderful evening of celebration, showcasing the talents and hard work of our students.
Farewell Linda
At the end of this year, we will be farewelling Linda Austin, our dedicated and adored Prep teacher, who has been at Newhaven College for 11 years. We would like to thank Linda for her incredible dedication and the impact she has had on our community. Families have been fortunate to have such a wonderful teacher, and our students absolutely adore her. Linda will be missed by all, and we wish her all the very best in her retirement.
Prep Transition
Our transition sessions for incoming Preps and their families began last week and will continue on Thursdays over the next few weeks. We are excited to announce that Mrs. Kerryn Lynch and Miss Charlotte Bassed will be teaching our Prep classes in 2025. Next week, we will host a Literacy and Maths session for incoming Prep families, offering insights into our evidence-based approach. The final session will be especially exciting as we distribute school readiness bags to help prepare our new Preps for the year ahead!
Junior School Leadership
Our Year 3 students have been busy writing speeches as part of the Junior School leadership process. They are eagerly applying for various leadership roles, including School Captaincy, House Captains and Wellbeing Captains. A letter outlining the selection process, timelines and key dates has been sent to all Year 3 families via SEQTA. We are excited to see our young leaders step up and take on these important roles.
This term, we have a new cubby house that was built by our Trade Centre students, and it has quickly become a popular addition to our playground. It has been wonderful to see the children enjoying this new space.
As we near the end of the year, we are also beginning to focus on transitions to ensure a smooth move to new classes next year. Our teachers have invested a significant amount of time and effort to create the perfect mix and dynamics for the 2025 classes.
Upcoming Dates for Your Diary
Correction Day (Student Free Day) - Friday 22 November
Junior School Celebration Evening - Wednesday 27 November
Prep-Year 8 Orientation Day for 2025 Classes - Tuesday 3 December
Year 4 Graduation Assembly - 2:05 pm, Wednesday 4 December
End of Year Junior School Picnic for Families - 1:00 pm, Thursday 5 December (Last Day)
Thank you once again to our Newhaven College community for your ongoing support and involvement. I look forward to celebrating our year together at the Junior School Celebration Evening.
Cath Huther
Head of Junior School
Prep visit Churchill Island
Our Prep students visited Churchill Island to learn about how objects from the past have changed compared to those from the present. They also considered how places have changed over time.
We had a great day learning about farming in the "olden days" and admiring many of the animals and wildlife.
Heath - I liked the babies, the chicks and the bunnies
Eden - My favourite part was looking at the fluffy bunnies
Evelyn - I liked the pig and walking through the house and gardens
Riyasat - I liked playing games, duck, duck goose and the number hook game
Jude - I liked the hamsters
Winsley - I liked the group photo of all the Preps on the log
Raph - My favourite part was when we looked in the houses
Elise - I liked looking at the old houses and the kookaburra
Julia - I liked watching the man twisting the metal
Maeve - My favourite part was seeing the cow
Child Safety Police Visit
For Child Safety Week the Junior School had a visit from Senior Constable Megan Krause from the Proactive Policing Unit in Wonthaggi.
Students in Prep to Year 2 focused on ‘The community role of the police and building a positive relationship with the police.’
Year 3 & 4 focused on ‘Online and Cyber Child Safety.’
The students were very engaged and came away with an increased knowledge about the police.
Miranda Reich
Junior School Teacher
Merit Awards
Congratulations to the students in the following photo who were presented with their Merit Awards and recognised at Junior School Assembly.
