In this Issue
From the Principal
I hope all of our Newhaven families have had a smooth start to second semester.
Over the break I had the opportunity to travel with twelve Year 10 and 11 students, along with Prep teacher Fiona Smart, on a service trip to Cambodia. It was a thoroughly rewarding experience. The students worked very hard at Vihear Sour Primary School in Phnom Phen where they taught English and renovated classrooms. As well as this we had the opportunity to take in many sites and cultural experiences. Based on the success of this trip we plan to offer this opportunity to senior students in 2025 during the mid-year holidays. More information regarding this will be provided towards the end of this term.
As you will read throughout this newsletter there has been a lot happening in the first few weeks of school this semester.
One of those events was our very successful Colour Run on Friday 2 August. I would like to thank our Parents & Friends Association for all of the organising of this event. It could not take place without the generous support of our parent volunteers. Our students thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to participate.
Last Saturday I had the privilege of attending the Year 12 Formal at the RACV Club in Inverloch. Our Year 12s looked resplendent in their evening attire and a thoroughly enjoyable night was had by all. An occasion such as this makes you realise how grown up our students have become as they prepare for their exams and the world beyond school. The formal is one of a number of important milestones that our Year 12s experience as they enter their final few months of secondary schooling.
This week we farewell our visiting staff and students from Ibaraki Christian Junior High School. The Japanese students have been wonderful guests at our school, enthusiastically participating in classes and school life. My special thanks to our Newhaven families who have hosted a Japanese student and made this cultural experience possible. We look forward to our Newhaven students travelling to Japan in September. Go to the College News section of this newsletter for more on the Ibaraki visit.
The start of term three also has a number of 2025 information nights for students and parents at different stages of secondary school. Many students are now in the process of subject selection as we begin our planning for 2025. A reminder that for those families whose children may be moving on from Newhaven at the end of this year that a term’s notice to the school in writing is required. This is to ensure we have sufficient time for any vacant spot to be reallocated for next year.
At the start of this term we have a number of camps running for different year levels. As a school we value outdoor experiences for the students. We are very proud of the fact we have camp experiences each year beginning at Year 2 all the way to Year 10 – a point of difference from other school offerings. These camps are devised in a sequential way to provide age appropriate challenges for students in different year levels.
Camps are a compulsory part of a Newhaven College education. Parent support in encouraging those students who may be reluctant to attend is greatly appreciated.
Finally, I have enjoyed many of our students enthusiastic interest in the Olympics. There are always wonderful human stories behind many of the competitors. For young people there are lessons in resilience, determination and effort that are rewarded in these competitions. These are qualities we encourage in our students at school and it is always good to see these attributes celebrated and promoted on a global stage.
In Quietness and Confidence Shall Be Your Strength
Tony Corr
Principal
College News
2023 Students Awarded Top Honours at Premier's VCE Awards
2023 students Saffi Campbell Walker and Will Murphy received top honours this week for their outstanding VCE results in Music Contemporary Performance in 2023. These 2 incredible students were 2 of only 3 students to be awarded in this subject.
Saffi is now studying for a Bachelor of Music majoring in jazz and Improvisation at Victorian College of the Arts. Will is studying for a Bachelor of Music on Double Bass at University of Melbourne.
Saffi also features in the promotional video. To learn more and watch the video go to: www.vic.gov.au/premiers-vce-awards
Cambodia Project
Truthfully, I was utterly horrified to go on an overseas trip. I’d never really travelled abroad or taken time away from my family, and I had no idea what to expect. But when we arrived in Phnom Penh, met our group leaders, and began making genuine connections with the people we went on the trip with, it is safe to say going to Cambodia has been the best experience of my life thus far. Becoming acquainted with such a beautiful culture, trying new foods and learning about the country’s history were only some of the many highlights. What was most important, and the reason why we went, was the volunteer work we did for a local school. I won't lie, it was difficult and somewhat tedious at times, but seeing the enthusiasm these children had for learning and the joy they gained from us being there made it all the more worth it.
Seeing their smiles as we got off the bus each morning and watching them succeed and improve every class was a feeling I can’t express. The things this work taught me have been invaluable, and I have no doubt that the personal growth, friendships and memories I made will last a lifetime. I could not be more grateful for everyone who was by our sides this whole time, Mr Corr and Mrs Smart, as well as our group and leaders. I hope to go back to Cambodia one day, not only to reminisce but to experience it all over again.
Lola Afford
Year 11 Cambodia Project Participant
20th Ibaraki Christian Junior High School visit
After successfully resuming the exchange program with our sister school, Ibaraki Christian Junior High School in Japan, last year, we are delighted to continue this year. From 28 July to 9 August, our school hosted 12 Year 9 students and two teachers Ms Rieko Kasahara and Mr Stewart Youngblood from Japan. This enriching experience fostered cross-cultural friendships and mutual understanding.
The Japanese students received a warm welcome from our homestay families, immersing themselves in our community and experiencing Australian life firsthand. They followed the Year 5 to Year 8 timetable and participated in Year 9 to Year 12 Japanese classes. They also visited Junior School Japanese classes, enhancing our language learning environment. Additionally, they enjoyed making ANZAC biscuits and learning about their significance.
Exploring local attractions, the students gained a deeper appreciation for our region's history and beauty. Special thanks to our host families and the Townsend family allowed us to use their accommodation for the teachers' stay. The role of homestay families is a significant part of the exchange program, and we greatly appreciate their generosity and dedicated care for the students. We also appreciate those working behind the scenes to ensure a smooth program.
This Friday, 9 August, we will say our farewells. It will be difficult to see them go, as we have formed strong bonds of friendship.
Is September, nine students from Year 10 and 11 will visit the Ibaraki school. We eagerly anticipate continuing this cultural exchange and further strengthening our sister-school relations.
Host Families
The Anderson, Andrianopoulos, Baud, Bennett, Dean, Feehan, Flynn, Gale, Hilgart and Power, Hill, Kesterton and Serle, Oakley and Grant Families
Backup Families
The Jungwirth and Thompson, Dakers-Hock, Leys and Davidson, and Whitton Families
Mitsuko Horiguchi
Japanese Exchange Program Coordinator
Welcome to Australia and our College!
Over the past couple of weeks, our College has had some international guests visiting.
Oscar Yang, in Year 8, bravely flew on his own from Hong Kong to visit the Arnott family, and spend some time at Newhaven College.
Also, the grandchildren of our recently retired Receptionist, Salome Rapson, visited our Junior School from Paris recently. Oliver and Talia Moreau forged new friendships during the three day stay at the College.
It was such a pleasure to host our international guests!
Maths Competitors Awarded
During the all-school assembly, certificates were awarded to our top performers in two Mathematics Competitions.
The Kangarous sans frontieres (KSF) Competition included, basic arithmetic, fractions and ratios, algebra and pre-algebra, geometry, measurement, statistics and probability and problem-solving.
Distinction certificates were awarded to
- Scarlette Hill (Year 7)
- Tilly Stecher (Year 10)
- Tilia Pires-Andersen (Year 12)
Computational and Algorithmic Thinking (CAT) Competition incorporates unique ‘three-stage tasks’ that encourage students to develop informal algorithms and apply them to test data of increasing size or complexity.
Distinction certificates were awarded to:
- Zara Hill (Year 6 and best in Primary School)
- Heath McLean (Year 8)
- Tilly Stecher (Year 10 and best in Secondary School)
- Joey Thompson (Year 11)
Karen Milkins-Hendry
Director of Learning
Olympic Theme Fundraising Day
On the Friday before the Olympic ceremony, College students and teachers decided to get into the Olympic spirit, by having a fundraising dress up day.
The Year 12 Leadership team ran a bake sale, raising funds for Cancer Council. Donations are always welcome via our College Fundraising page for the Cancer Council: https://shorturl.at/zCEPQ.
It was wonderful to see so many dress up and have fun!
Vale Vaune
Last month we were saddened to hear of the loss of Vaune Lewis. Vaune was a pivotal figure in the formative years of music at Newhaven and on the Bass Coast through the 80’s and 90’s. Vaune was the wife of Brian Lewis – who was a Newhaven College Vice Principal / VCE Co-ordinator and English teacher.
Vaune was an Advanced Accredited Suzuki Piano Teacher who taught many College alumni, including Christy Spottiswood, Zac Ablett and many others. She nurtured and mentored music staff at Newhaven, including the Head of Music, Amanda Van Delft. Vaune also supported Lauren White and Christy Spottiswood to become Suzuki Piano Teachers (both of whom taught piano at the College) and employed our current Guitar Teacher Rob Turton in 1993 in his very first guitar-teaching job.
Rob remembers her as "the most supportive, encouraging presence" and Karen Milkins-Hendry says of Vaune's memory, ‘the gentle nature and authentic spirit of generosity Vaune shared, inspired and encouraged both teachers and students alike.’
We send our condolences to Vaune's family and friends.
Colour Run Fun!
It was wonderful to see such enthusiasm from the youngest Prep, through to Year 12s and teachers all happy to be blasted with coloured powder.
Clouds of coloured powder wafted across the grass, seeking out students and onlookers alike. Some students had a lot of fun with costumes, with Shaun the Sheep, a robot, polar bears, astronauts, stormtroopers and unicorns parading the grounds. It proved to be an incredible mid-winter cobweb clearer, with hysterical laughter ringing across campus.
We thank our wonderful PFA organisers and other volunteers who made the day so fun!
Parents and Friends Association Report
Crazy Colour Day Fun Run
On Friday, 2 August, the school dressed in their best white outfits for the second annual Crazy Colour Day Fun Run. The sun was shining as students ran through a fun obstacle course that included hay bales and a pool noodle rainbow! The brilliant idea of Mr Arceo to host a dance off saw our students demonstrate their dancing skills while being coloured by volunteers. Bryn Chandler, from Year 8 Bass, won points for his house for his superior moves and in Mr Arceo’s words, ‘dancing like nobody was watching!’ Well done, Bryn!
A special thank you to the always helpful maintenance team, Cam and Kev, for their efforts on an especially long day, the PFA ‘A’ Team (Jenni Lewandowski, Chantelle Manallack, Casey Bartlett, Kay Kondarios, Michelle Pardoe and ‘Super-MC’ Jo Vohland for her amazing skills on the mic!) as well as all the Year 12 students and parent volunteers that helped set up, colour students and pack up on the day: Pharrah Underwood, Annalisa Scarlato,Denise Dillon,Kim Hauser,Laura McCabe,Amy Cattermole,Natalie Biviano,Johanna Randall,Kirsty Armstrong,Kelly Latham,Malcolm Pope and Jordan Chambers.
An extra special thank you to the students who helped pack up the obstacle course, without prompt: Nate Kondarios – Year 3K, Thomas Hardy – Year 3K, Grayson Kondarios – Year 2P and Logan Chambers - Year 8 Sambell.
With a week to go until fundraising and prize ordering ends on Friday, 16 August 2024, we encourage everyone to sign up and fundraise. The top four fundraisers will have the opportunity to win a Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, electric scooter and plush toy with first place choosing from the prize pool first, then second, third and fourth.
The Crazy Colour Day Fun Run will help fundraise towards the PFA Giving Fund which has been established to support and enhance the school and educational experience for students. The PFA fund has supported several important initiatives this year including a donation to the MTB Club for a trailer, the Music Department for a performance stage and Shades of Pink, a breast cancer charity.
Fathers’ Day Stall
Mark it in your diaries, our Fathers’ Day Stall will be held on Friday, 30 August 2024. Prep to Year 6 will visit with their class at their allocated times, while the remainder of the school can visit the stall during breaks 1 and 2. Presents at the stall will cost $5 and $10.
As always, we need volunteers, to assist, please sign up at: NC PFA Fathers' Day Stall (signup.zone)
School Fete
Save The Date! The school fete will be held this year, on Friday 8 November 2024 and we are still on the lookout for community members that can help coordinate (with the support of the PFA) various stalls. We are also on the lookout for external stall holders such as food vans and craft stalls.
We are holding a fete planning meeting for volunteers that would like to help organise the event at 9.30am on Thursday, 22 August 2024 in the school boardroom. If you would like to attend or would like further details, please email us at Newhaven.PFA@gmail.com
Second hand uniforms
Do you have school uniforms that your children have outgrown? This year, we will have a second-hand uniform stall at our school fete and we invite donations to the stall. Any donations may be left at reception or alternately, please email the PFA for collection.
Questions?
If you have any questions or would like to register your details to volunteer at future events, do not hesitate to reach out to us at newhaven.pfa@gmail.com
Angel Chambers
President | Parents and Friends Association
Junior School
It has been a busy start to Term 3, with our Junior School teachers and students quickly settling back into their routines. To complement their learning, a range of engaging activities have taken place over the past few weeks.
Community
Last week, at our full school assembly, we came together to celebrate and reflect on a theme central to our school: ‘community’. Our Junior School leaders, Chloe, Leith and Eden, spoke beautifully about how each year level has been reinforcing our strong community connections. This year, we have had much to celebrate, but most of all, the spirit of community that makes Newhaven College such a special place.
Parent Teacher Interviews
Thank you to all the teachers and parents for their time and effort during last week’s Parent Teacher Interviews. Your participation and feedback are important in strengthening our home-school partnership. We greatly appreciate the positive responses regarding our new progressive reporting system, which enhances our ability to understand, track and support your child’s learning journey. If you were unable to attend in person, online interviews will be available in Week 4.
Cath Huther
Head of Junior School
The benefits of being in a Prep-Year 12 school
Throughout the year, our Junior School students have greatly benefited from the support of Year 9 peer tutors, who have assisted with their learning and helped in the vegetable garden. The Year 9 Environmental Centre currently has calves on site, and many of our Junior School classes have enjoyed visiting them. Additionally, our Year 11 Health class, focusing on stages of learning development, particularly fine and gross motor skills, recently conducted activities with our Year 2 students. The Year 11s planned and implemented a variety of engaging activities to support observation and instruction in physical learning development.
Colour Fun Run
The Colour Run was a joyful event that the children absolutely loved. We extend a huge thank you to the PFA and all the volunteers who made it possible. There are lots of photos from the Colour Fun Run in the College News section of this newsletter.
NAIDOC Week
Junior School teachers organised combined year level activities to celebrate NAIDOC Week, which fell during the holidays. Students participated in a variety of engaging activities, including Indigenous turtle shell weaving, unity badge making and learning about famous Indigenous Australians through mini research projects. Other activities included the Little Yarns podcast, loom band making, and a scavenger hunt. Highlights also featured Mrs. Smart sharing her experiences in Kalumburu, exploring Bunjil the eagle creator, and examining artwork by Steve Parker and Safina Stewart. This cross-age approach provided a valuable opportunity to learn about and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.
Olympic Theme Dress Up Day
Students thoroughly enjoyed our Olympic-themed dress-up day, which helped get everyone into the Olympic spirit. The Olympics is such a special time, and it has been a great way to extend students' learning in a fun and engaging manner. There are more photos of the Olympic theme dress up day in the College News section of this newsletter.
Sensory Playground
Our new Sensory Playground in the Junior School is expanding with additions like hefty tree stumps. We are thankful to Michael from MCM Maintenance & Construction for his generous support and strong community spirit. MCM, a reliable local business, offers various friendly handyman services. The playground focuses on developing Interoception, Proprioception and Vestibular senses—essential for children’s growth. It provides a space where children connect with nature and engage in activities supporting their development. Marina Healy’s vision for this playground has come to life thanks to her dedication and hard work. Her efforts have created a space where children can collaborate, create, socialise and enjoy their leisure time.
Junior School Mystery Egg
Recently, Junior School students stumbled upon a large, mysterious red and white egg in our garden, igniting a wave of curiosity and imagination. The discovery led to great discussions among the children about whether the egg was real or fake and what might lie inside. Inspired by this intriguing find, the students were given 'The Egg' as a writing stimulus. They developed a plan and crafted narratives based on this imaginative concept. This exercise provided an excellent opportunity for students to showcase their narrative writing skills, including punctuation, vocabulary, story structure, handwriting and spelling. The students’ creative writing pieces have been uploaded to SEQTA for families to view as part of our ongoing reporting.
Merit Awards
Congratulations to the students in the following photo who were presented with their Merit Awards and recognised at Junior School Assembly.
Some of the Junior School students were presented with a gold, silver, or bronze medal this week at Assembly based on the number of choir sessions they have attended. The Junior School choir meets every Wednesday with Mrs. Prideaux, and last term with Mr. Goss. This year, we have seen incredible interest, and the choir sounds amazing!
Middle School
It has been a positive start to Term 3 for our Middle school. Students were quick to reconnect with their friends, and most have settled smoothly into the routines and expectations of school life. This begins with ensuring that they are in the correct uniform, including wearing a tie and blazer with the school uniform and white socks with the PE uniform for sport, PE or SM.
On the first day of term, I addressed the students with an Olympics theme linking the Olympic motto of "Citius, Altius, Fortius" – "Faster, Higher, Stronger." This motto perfectly captures the spirit we aim to cultivate at our school. We encourage students to strive for their personal best (faster), reach for new heights in their learning and personal development (higher), and build resilience and strength in their character (stronger). By embodying these principles, students can achieve excellence not just in academics, but in all areas of their lives.
As we progress through Term 3, students should be well-prepared for each subject and lesson. This means having fully charged laptops, the correct textbooks, exercise books and other subject-specific resources ready for class.
A big thank you to everyone who attended the Parent/Teacher interviews. These meetings are vital as they bring together the two most important influences in a child's life to openly discuss school and home life, ultimately creating a more respectful and healthier environment for the child's growth.
In the first couple of weeks, students have also been involved in several exciting activities, including Music Camp, an Olympics-themed free dress day, and the Colour Run. I had the pleasure of joining the Year 8 students and staff at Kinglake later in the week to see how they were all doing. School camps offer a wonderful opportunity for students to interact positively outside the classroom. Fun activities, team sports and teamwork challenges help develop new relationships and deepen existing bonds of friendship. School camps are a crucial component of the curriculum and should not be seen as optional.
Respect
At our school, we maintain a zero-tolerance policy for any form of unkind, anti-social or unacceptable behaviour. We are committed to promoting and encouraging our students to demonstrate respect and inclusivity in all their interactions. It is our belief that every student deserves to feel safe, valued, and respected.
It is disheartening to hear reports of distasteful comments being made by students towards their peers. Such behaviour indicates a lack of awareness, empathy and knowledge, which are crucial attributes for harmonious living in our diverse society. There is no place for this type of conduct in our school or in society at large.
I urge parents, caregivers and staff to engage in meaningful conversations with our children about the importance of respect and empathy. It is essential that we all emphasise that there is no room for unkind behaviour within our school. We must work together to foster an environment where every individual feels respected and included.
As adults, we have a responsibility to model the behaviour we expect from the younger generation. By demonstrating respect and empathy in our interactions, we can guide our children to become compassionate and considerate individuals.
Calendar Dates
Parent/Teacher (online) interviews on Monday, 12 August, from 3:30pm to 8:30pm.
Year 7 2025 Parent Information Evening on Wednesday, 14 August, from 6:30pm to 7:30pm in The Collect.
MS Book Week Parade on Tuesday, 20 August, at 9:10am in The Collect.
Year 5&6 Parent Information Night (online) presented by Sexual Health Victoria.
MTB Fundraiser Day on Saturday, 31 August.
We look forward to your continued support and involvement in our school community.
Ralph Arceo
Head of Middle School
Year 8 Camp at Kinglake
Our Year 8 students have had a wonderful time at camp this week. They all having a go at the activities and filling themselves up on camp food in the evenings!
Newhaven College prides itself on providing some of the best camps available in Victoria. Camps are such a vital part of building friendships, resilience and learning new skills.
Year 6 students perform in locally produced film
Last week our Year 6 students were given the opportunity to play extras in a short film production.
The film Millie is a short film which has been written by a Family Lawyer, Darren Mort. He wrote a short book about the impact of family separation and specifically the impact on children. His previous book was made in a film called Tommy (the film is not intended for children as it contains mature themes). It was released internationally a few years ago. It was a stellar success, winning over 12 Film Awards at the Venice Film Festival – and subsequently has been utilised in the American Family Courts as a way of showing parents the irreparable damage they cause when fighting over their children.
Millie, is the second film to be made on the subject of the impacts of family separation. The film explores the emotional harm that this process has upon the child.
The part we were involved in was when Millie is playing a game of soccer for her school (Newhaven College) – she is well liked by her teammates, saves a goal and everyone is happy with her. Moments later, she is distracted by her parents arguing on the sidelines – and she lets in a goal. She is deflated and her teammates are unhappy with her.
Year 6 Students played the 2 soccer teams, with several students being more involved with the soccer ball – such as Tijian, Aiden, Levi, Addison, Zara H among others.
We had to run through scenarios several times, practice our moves and then they called ACTION!....and we were filmed. They had to film shots towards goal, then the same action but from behind the goal, then the same again but from the side and then close ups of feet, soccer balls and even Millie in goal.
The cameras had to be re-sited several times and this took a while – whilst we were waiting, we chatted with the crew, played a real game of soccer and got to meet the young actor, Annabelle, who plays Millie. She was an amazing young person – acting in her first film.
The filming also took place across the Island over the week – including at the beach, Phillip Island Winery and at a house in Silverleaves.
The film is scheduled to be released early next year and we were promised a special Premiere screening at Bernenneit in Cowes.
Simon Furniss
Year 6 Teacher
Year 7 Desal Visit
Year 7HAS students visited the Wonthaggi Desalination Plant to experience a scientific overview of water treatment and take part in some experiential lab work. They were also fortunate enough to experience a guided tour inside the plant with an engineer to learn how filtration works and the assets/processes behind drinking water filtration.
Senior School
A Time of Change
The first few weeks of my time as Acting Head of Senior School has been a whirlwind of activity. It is delightful to observe the hum of productivity within the Senior School and Specialist Wing buildings during lesson time, be it energetic and engaged students within the classroom, or a dedicated and focused group of Year 12 students at the study corrals.
As a Year 12 VCE teacher myself, I understand only too well the pressures that begin to mount in Term 3 on both students and staff. Term 3 is a vital term for students in Year 12 classes – it is the busiest of terms as an entire Unit of work is required to be completed in only nine weeks. As each day of the term ticks by, we get closer and closer to the inevitable set of VCE examinations that await all students in October and November. More on this later.
For Year 9, Year 10 and Year 11 students, the start of Term 3 is a time of change. We began the subject selection process with all three year levels last week. It is always an exciting time for students when looking to the future, and it has been such a positive experience sharing conversations with both students and their parents about the best way forward for their children. There is a genuine optimism that is so obvious amongst all three year levels when looking to decide their pathway forwards.
Subject Selection Deadlines:
Year 12 2025 students – online Subject Selection submissions are due Friday 9 August, 4.00pm
Year 11 2025 students – online Subject Selection submissions are due Friday 9 August, 4.00pm
Year 10 2025 students – online Subject Selection submissions are due Friday 16 August, 4.00pm, except for 9N students who must submit their selections by Friday 9 August, 4.00pm
Can I thank the large number of families that have attended the VCE and Year 10 Information Evenings over the past two weeks. Attendance was very high and the follow-up questions from families were well-informed and genuine. It in at these sorts of events that we see the vital importance of the critical relationship that exists between staff, students and parents.
For Year 12 students, their time of change is also upon us. Many families attended the VTAC Information Evening last week, so well hosted and explained by our Careers Practitioner, Ms Anthea Bennett. She did a marvellous job of navigating the intricacies of University admissions through VTAC and touching on the vast array of options awaiting our Year 12 students when they graduate from Newhaven College later this year.
One of the vital experiences all of our students studying Units 3/4 VCE subjects this year must commit to is the VCE Trial Examinations held in the second week of the September holidays. For Year 12 students and a number of Year 11 students, your holidays will look a little different this year.
These trial examinations provide students with an invaluable opportunity to learn and provide a critical practice run for students for the months ahead leading into the end of year VCE Examinations.
Please find the timetable and information for the compulsory VCE Unit 3&4 Trial Examinations below. The Examinations run from Monday 30 September to Friday 4 October. The trial examinations will take place in the Senior School buildings.
VCE Compulsory trial Examinations
Brett Torstonson
Acting Head of Senior School
Our Youth Parliament raise unanimous vote
Congratulations to our Youth Parliament team who presented their Criminalising Coercive Control as a Stand-Alone Offence Bill 2024 during the Youth Parliament sitting days on Monday 1, Tuesday 2 and Thursday 4 July. Students, parents and staff went along to support our team in action.
Our team of Miranda Zalunardo, Keegan Hughes, Gabriel Winterson and Gabriel Di Falco were given the tough task of refuting another strong team, from Ivanhoe Grammar. The Newhaven team argued their points clearly and with confidence, earning them a unanimous vote to support the Bill.
Gabriel Di Falco was nominated and elected by his peers as Chamber Leader and Miranda Zalunardo was awarded "The Best Speaker for the Opposition in the Legislative Council" for Youth Parliament 2024.
Miranda summed up the experience, "The Youth Parliament Program provided me with a deep understanding of the passion and commitment that our generation has concerning social justice. The program enabled personal growth and networking opportunities due to its supportive and engaging community. I wish to thank Newhaven College for affording me this opportunity."
Year 12 Formal
Last Saturday, our Year 12s joined their House mentors and College Leadership to take some time out from study to dress up and celebrate. Everyone looked magnificent in their formal attire.
This event provides our Year 12 students the opportunity to have some fun and connect with each other before the build up to exams and the end of their school lives.
Thank you to the RACV Inverloch for hosting our Year 12s.
Cows Create Careers
The Year 9 students in Community Projects are once again welcoming two additional students to their mix; two beautiful dairy calves from Chris and Vicki Kershaw, and the team at Cows Create Careers. This is one of our more popular projects in Year 9, where students get hands on experience working with livestock.
The focus is on industry education, where students learn about different jobs within the dairy industry, from farmers to chefs, robotics engineers to international trade advocacy.
Our calves learn to be handled by the students as they are fed, led and photographed for our entry into the National MaxCare advertising competition. We won this last year!
Phillip Island Nature Parks visit
On Friday 26 July we were very fortunate to host Phillip Island Nature Parks staff, Andrea Cleeland and Kate Adams in a workshop for our Senior School students. This workshop was intended as a consultation and planning session for our students to plan for the future sustainability of Phillip Island. In planning for their 30 year vision, Phillip Island Nature Parks sought the input of youth perspectives on the future of Millowl/Phillip Island. We were delighted to have the input of Year 9 students Harry Bentley, Tom Reich, Ethan Rhee, Max Jess and Joe Kelsey, Year 10 students, Tilly Stecher and Felix Fothergill, Year 11 students Joey Thompson and Marley Brown and Tahlia Lindley from Year 12.
Throughout the workshop the students worked in cross-age groups to identify issues and possibilities for Phillip Island, considering the balance of environmental sustainability and community liveability to set positive goals in myriad areas. The complexity of their understanding and evident connection with place was shown in their knowledge of Indigenous culture, environmental impacts on the sea, the need to balance human and ecological requirements, and solutions for achieving positive outcomes for biodiversity and enhanced liveability.
Thank you to our student participants for contributing their excellent ideas to the 30 Year Vision and to Kate and Andrea for running such an informative and engaging workshop.
Alycia James
Year 9 students receive NAPLAN certificates
Twenty-one Newhaven College Year 9 students received NAPLAN Certificates of Achievement in Reading and/or Numeracy. All students were congratulated during the all-school assembly last week.
Ethan Stephenson, Aidan Smyth, Poppy Miles, Grace Farley, Thomas Reich, Lucas Jungwirth, Ruby Taylor. Middle L-R: Lachlan Kelly, Josie Taylor, Sequoia Patterson, Ania Falzon, Inez Parmington, Brianna Turton, Milla Walker, Lucas Rowson-Pickett, Mia Thompson, Aidan Kelly, Georgia Slidders, Ethan Rhee, Piper O'Brien. Absent: Zoe Paterson.
World War One Incursion
On Friday 26 July Year 9 students were treated to a special guest performance in the Black Box Theatre. ‘WWI: Killing the Kaiser’ is a one-man play following the experiences of soldiers on the front lines in World War One, giving our students an extraordinary window into the aftermath of war. Troubie performer Glen Phillips performed the play for students, as part of their study on World War One, with great student participation as well.
Elizabeth Hall
Year 9 Home Group Teacher
Sophia volunteers in Sri Lanka
Over two weeks of my mid-year holidays, I embarked on a solo trip to Sri Lanka to participate in a volunteer medical internship with Projects Abroad. During this time, I had the opportunity to scrub in on surgeries, sit in on patient consultations and conduct blood glucose level checks and blood pressure checks during community outreach programs. I gained invaluable experience working at Galle’s Teaching Hospital and later compared it to a top private hospital in Colombo.
Throughout the internship, I built friendships with like-minded individuals from around the world, all sharing a passion for medicine. This experience was truly eye-opening and unforgettable, providing me with insights and memories that will stay with me forever.
Sophia Hungerford
Year 11 Student
Careers
Please be sure to check out this month's Career Newsletter.
Key highlights include:
- Upcoming Events and Open Days
- Scholarship Opportunities
Anthea Bennett
Head of Careers
Visual & Performing Arts
Music Update
The nine bands supporting our Year 12 VCE Music and 2nd Year VCE/VET Music students were very fortunate to receive expert coaching from College alumni Emma Volard and Jake Amy, alongside five of our own highly qualified teachers at our recent Bands Camp. Our students had a great couple of days making music together and applying the advice they received in preparation for their end of year performances. And we were excited to hear that Jake and Emma will be sharing the stage with Bumpy at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl this November as the support act for jazz superstars Herbie Hancock and Marcus Miller. This is the headline event for the 2024 Melbourne International Jazz Festival. Congratulations Emma and Jake! Go here for more information.
In other news, The Dropkicks, featuring Year 12 students Dean Lyle, Callan Spencer and Liam Fuery and alumni Esta Christensen, have been invited to perform at this year’s NYE on the Hill Festival. Well done to all of you!
And, after some great submissions from College music students, Archie Robson and Jasmine Turton have been invited to perform as support acts for College alumni Maddy May at an upcoming all-ages Freeza event. Congratulations also to College students (ifandwhen) Eve Oakley, Jemilla Prideaux and Aoife O’Connell and Finn Farley for their excellent auditions for this event. Bass Coast Freeza is a government-funded organisation, running all-ages, drug-and-alcohol-free events in partnership with the YMCA. The event with Maddy May is on Saturday 24 August from 4:30 to 8pm at the Phillip Island Board Riders clubhouse with live music, skate ramp, a food truck and buses from Cowes and Inverloch. Info about these events can be found at the end of this newsletter, in the Community Links.
Rob Turton
VET Music Teacher
Annual Music Camp
Term 3 has started with a bang in the Music Department. On Monday 29 July to Wednesday 31 July we held our annual Music Camp. This year we thought we'd try something different and take over the entire Performance Arts Wing (PAW) and hold the camp onsite. With over 70 students and 8 staff participating, we certainly used every nook and cranny of our beautiful building.
We were delighted to have Associate Profession Ken Murray from the Conservatorium of Music at Melbourne University join us for the first day to work with our Guitar Ensemble. Ken is a leader in his field and our students gained a lot from having him work with the ensemble and chat about music performance and all things ‘guitar’.
The purpose of our music camp is to provide students with an intensive music experience through rehearsals and workshops. With our Spring Concerts just around the corner, the camp is at the perfect time to put together our program for these very special events.
There were many highlights over the three days. The Music Captains dinner in the Canteen followed by their trivia night was a lot of fun. Well done to Music Captains, Jasmine Turton and Liam Fuery for all their work putting the evening together. The table tennis table in the PAW Foyer was a big hit and who could forget the endless supply of hot chocolate?
Well done to all students and staff involved for working so well throughout the camp. I know all the hard work will pay off resulting in outstanding performances at the Spring Concerts, as always.
Matthew Goss
Director of Music
Big Band at VSMF
On Thursday 1 August our Big Band took a trip up the highway to compete in the Victorian Schools Music Festival (VSMF) held at the Hawthorn Arts Centre. The Big Band is directed by Casey Thomsen and features students from Year 7 to Year 11. The band started playing together in November 2023 with most of the members coming through from the Year 5/6 Band Program. As the program grows, our band grows. For their performance, the band received a Silver Award. The College is extremely proud of the students for representing the school so well. The band performed Ulterior Motive (Doug Beach), You Are the Sunshine of My Life (Stevie Wonder) and Cerebro Congelado (Gordon Goodwin).
Big Band
Saxes
Alto 1 - Madi King
Alto 2 - Charlee Pedersen
Tenor 1 - Hayden Hopkins
Tenor 2 - Manning de Gooyer
Brass
Trumpet 1 - Keely Filsell
Trumpet 2 - Felix Fothergill
Trombone - Ambrose de Gooyer
Rhythm Section
Piano - Finn Campbell Walker
Bass - Gabriel Di Falco
Guitar - Flynn Dengerink
Drums - James Cameron
Percussion - Georgia Sanders
Matthew Goss
Director of Music
Luke plays the Beast
Newhaven College alumni, Luke Ward, has been given the honour of playing the title role of the Australian production of Beauty and the Beast. Luke graduated top of his class from VCA. In his first year since graduating, Luke landed the understudy of The Beast as well as key ensemble roles in the show.
Luke has played the Beast a fair amount since the show opened in Sydney. He was a Newhaven College student up until Year 10, when he left to study at Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS).
Sport
Jack Ryan Underwater Hockey
Year 12 student Jack Ryan visited Malaysia over the school holidays to compete in the Australian U19 Men's Underwater Hockey World Championships.
Jack was very pleased with the experience, "The Australian
U19 Men's Underwater Hockey Team came 4th after a very close Bronze final against Türkiye. We went into overtime and then sudden death in the final. The Underwater Hockey Age
Group Championships was a fantastic experience and will be one I will never forget."
Archie swims his PBs over and over!
Archie and his family headed to the Gold Coast for the School Sports Australia National Championships last week. Archie was chosen to represent Team Victoria for the third time in swimming. He swam in a 200m individual medley, 100m backstroke, 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly, 12yo boys medley relay, 12yo mixed medley relay and 12yo boys freestyle relay. Every time Archie swam he reached his Personal Best and made the finals, which was an outstanding achievement. Milliseconds separated the top four in 50m backstroke. Archie achieved a Gold medal and National Record in 12yo mixed medley relay. A Bronze in the 12yo boys medley relay topped off an incredible three days experience of swimming.
Archie had a wonderful time catching up and swimming with friends from all over Victoria. He enjoyed racing the best swimmers in Australia and pushing himself in every race to swim faster.
A huge thank you to South Gippsland Bass Swimming Club. It truly is a wonderful and supportive club with knowledgeable and passionate coaches. Archie your passion, determination, coachability and work ethic are simply amazing. Keep chasing your dreams.
Heidi a crucial member of the Junior Strike League
During the school holidays, Year 12 student Heidi Driscoll travelled to Darwin to compete in the Female U/19’s Junior Strike League Cricket Competition. Heidi took many wickets throughout the tournament with her best bowling being, 4-15 off 4 overs.
The VIC girls won all 6 games, taking out the overall win for the competition.
Olivia Showjumping Champion
Year 8 student Olivia Curtain has just returned from three weeks in NSW and Queensland where she competed in the Showjumping Winter Shows. Olivia is not only the Champion in Queensland at the Festival Of Showjumping, Children’s Championship 1.15m on her mare Ngahiwi Lady Blu, she also won the FEI Children’s Classic Silver Tour Championship 1.10m on her other new mare Yalambi’s Luciana at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre.
Olivia will represent her school for the third year in a row at the upcoming Australian Interschool Nationals at Tamworth in late September. Olivia has quickly built a bond with her new horses which adds to the challenge.
State Cross Country
On the last weekend of the school holidays, 20 July, four brave Newhaven College students took on the biggest cross country event in Victoria. Jett Fawaz, Lukah Fawaz, Ella Lomax and Lara Smyth took on the course in miserable weather with heavy rain and icy winds. With start lines of over 170 students, the four Newhaven College students ran well with Jett being one of the youngest in the Under 14 3km event placing 90th. Lukah placed 70th in the males and Ella placed 49th in the female category both in Under 15 4km event and Lara placed 9th in Under 18 4km event qualifying her for the Australian Cross Country Championships which will be held in Tasmania at the end of August.
To add to the excitement, Year 5 student Jett Fawaz has made the Victorian Cross Country team through Athletics Victoria. He came 12th in the state in the State Schools event at Yarra Valley Racecourse on 18 July. He has been selected to compete in the National Championships in Tasmania on 31 August.
Congratulations to all four Newhaven College runners.
Victories, Mud and Sunshine for Newhaven College MTB
Newhaven College MTB showcased remarkable prowess in the Auscycling Victoria Schools Cross Country MTB series with strong performances across various age groups.
Despite winter rains and school holidays, round two saw high participation from determined competitors statewide. Newhaven College MTB secured two first-place finishes: Lucy Thompson achieved first in the Under 15 Girls category, while Hamish Dakers-Hock improved from third in Round 1 to win the Under 15 Boys race. Year 1 student Charlie McCabe also delivered a notable performance, finishing fourth in the Under 9 Boys category.
The success continued in round three at You Yangs MTB Park on Sunday, 4 August. Seven Newhaven College students competed this round with Hamish Dakers-Hock securing another first-place win in the Under 15 Boys category, and Lucy Thompson continued her streak with a first-place finish in the Under 15 Girls category.
Charlie McCabe also finished 8th in the Under 9 Boys.
The next races are scheduled for Round 4 in Castlemaine and Round 5 in Bendigo on 7 & 8 September.
Community Links
All-age local music event
Saturday 24 August, 4.30pm-8.00pm.
An exciting all ages event is coming up at Phillip Island Boardriders Club in Cape Woolamai. Newhaven College alumni, Maddy May is the headliner, supported by Archie Robson (Year 11) and Jasmine Turton (Year 12).
The skate ramp will be up and running, bring a board along or borrow one from us. Eesy Peesy Sushi food truck will also be on site.
Book your tickets Free tickets available for those experiencing financial hardship. Get in touch with @basscoast.freeza to organise this.
Tickets $10 or $15 if you need a lift on the buses running from Cowes and Inverloch. Government-sponsored, YMCA affiliated, Freeza drug-and-alcohol-free youth music events.
Support Simon's climb for charity
On 7 September, our Year 6 Teacher Simon Furniss, a Volunteer Firefighter with Phillip Island Fire Brigade, will be climbing 28 floors in 25kg of kit and helping to raise $1,000 supporting Lifeline, Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation and 000Foundation. Please help him “Step up to fight cancer, depression and suicide” by sponsoring him if you can.
So far the students and staff have helped him raise $630 – by recycling bottles and cans – so if you have any spare, please send them to the school for him to collect.
You can also donate directly. Thanks to sponsors, 100% of every dollar donated will go to cancer research and crisis support.
Campion Vouchers
Campion Books are supporting families to ease the cost of living. By purchasing vouchers throughout the year, families can effectively start a lay-by program to spread the cost out and alleviate financial pressures at the end of the year. Families can stop by a retail service centre to pick up Campion vouchers, redeemable for their child’s back-to-school needs online or in-store.
Newhaven College's closest Campion store is: Unit 5, 151-155 Princes Hwy, Hallam.
Eating Anxiety
The complexity of eating anxiety stems from a combination of social, psychological, and environmental factors. Young people may develop this anxiety due to social pressures related to eating in front of others, fears about body image, or due to more ingrained issues such as eating disorders. Additionally, cultural norms or dietary restrictions can also play significant roles, as can direct experiences like bullying or teasing related to food choices or eating habits.
Whilst not a formally recognised condition, eating anxiety is a genuine and often overwhelming experience that can significantly hinder a young person's ability to participate in everyday activities comfortably. This condition can lead to serious nutritional deficiencies and social withdrawal, impacting overall health and academic performance.
Recognising and addressing eating anxiety is crucial for parents, carer, and educators. Through education, policy changes, and community support, we can help young people manage their anxieties and improve their relationship with food, thereby enhancing their overall well-being and social interactions.
This Special Report will help you understand how best to support a child experiencing anxiety around eating.
Here is the link to our Special Report
