Happy New Year!  

Welcome to Term 1, 2026!  

A very special welcome to all members of our school community, in particular our new students including our 12 new Year 11 audition students and our 176 Year 7 students, who are beginning their high school life by joining the vibrant learning culture of Newtown High School of the Performing Arts. It has been wonderful to see so many smiling faces this week as students reconnect with friends and settle back into the rhythm of school life. 

We welcome the return from leave of two permanent teachers to Newtown High School of the Performing Arts’ English Faculty: welcome back Ms Michelle Leotta and Mr Remi Slade-Caffarel. We also warmly welcome a new permanent Chemistry and Biology teacher into the Science Faculty: Mr Steven Fernandez. 

I would like to acknowledge and thank Ms Jane Gray for her professional, caring work as relieving Deputy Principal Student Wellbeing and Learning Support for 2025. I welcome Mr Jack Taylor into this relieving Deputy Principal position and Dr Jess Brooks as the relieving Head Teacher English. 

The four School Development Days held last week provided staff with valuable time to prepare for the delivery of high-quality learning experiences for our students. Collaborative activities included HSC data analysis; compliance and mandatory health and safety training; completion of two Trauma-Informed Practice modules; and the workshopping of effective numeracy strategies alongside the development of high-quality, differentiated teaching and learning programs aligned with the Quality Teaching Framework. 

Thank you to Ms Amber Johnson (Learning & Support), Ms Olivia Saravanos (Head Teacher TAS), Ms Vicki Stewart (Rel. Head Teacher Maths), and Ms Hannah Ingram (Head Teacher Teaching & Learning, who shared their expertise, and to Deputy Principal Teaching & Learning, Ms Nilaufer Rajwar, for her leadership of NHSPA’s professional learning and best practice. 

Our first whole school assembly on Thursday was a smoking ceremony. I thank Deslyn Marsh, founder of Nyumbar for addressing our assembly. Thank you Isaac Bamblett, whose mob are from Bundjalung and Wiradjuri country, for performing the smoking ceremony and strengthening our respect and connection to the land and First Nations people to mark the beginning of NHSPA’s new school year. 

A very big congratulations to our Year 12 2025 for their excellent HSC results! The HSC exams are the final challenge and culmination of academic achievement. NHSPA has high expectations for success, teachers work hard to motivate students, and we continue to perform very strongly – in the 2025 HSC we were the eighth highest performing comprehensive school in NSW.  

Congratulations to Max Jackson who achieved an outstanding ATAR of 99.25.

Congratulations to Grace Hardy who achieved 1st in state for VET Entertainment Industry and to Mila Smith placing 5th. Congratulations to their teacher, Ms Zoe van Munster, who has had a student placing first, as well as another in the top ten in the state two years in a row. These are outstanding achievements. 

From the information received from UAC, 28% of NHSPA students achieved an ATAR over 85, with 31 students (16%) achieving an ATAR over 90. 

Highlights include: 

• DANCE on 9.19% above state mean with 72% of students achieving a Band 6 – this was the highest in the state. 

• DRAMA: 8.39% above state mean 

• Music 1: 8.08 % above state mean 

• Food Technology: 7.67 % above state mean 

• Ancient History: 6.76% above state mean 

• Maths Standard: 6.01% above state mean 

• PDHPE: 5.05% above state mean 

• Legal Studies: 4.91% above state mean 

Congratulations again to our class of 2025 and to all the teachers and support staff who challenge, inspire and care for our students every day. As always, these results inspire our current Year 12 and the entire community. 

NHSPA’s 2025 Presentation Day was held at The Seymour Centre on Friday December 12th. Congratulations again to Year 10 DUX, Freya Mossman, and Year 11 DUX, Matilda Saunders, for their outstanding academic effort and achievement.   

Ms Eliza Cooper, from the class of 2015, was our Alumni Guest Speaker. Eliza is a choreographer, making and presenting work independently and by commission. She commissions works for dance companies including Sydney Dance Company, and in 2023, she was invited to join the Artistic Directorate of Dance Makers Collective. Eliza currently serves the NSW Government on the Create NSW Artform. She spoke eloquently and passionately about her time at NHSPA.  We are so grateful Eliza could take the time to address us as Alumni Guest Speaker. Below is an excerpt from her address: 

“I feel very blessed to stand here today and to be able to say that I am a professional artist. I achieved my dream - and this school played a major role in getting me there. 

I loved everything about school, I loved the electives I did, I loved the social scene and I felt a strong sense of belonging. It was an incredible world to be immersed in and all of it at a public school. A world class opportunity to train for a career in the arts and have an excellent education through the public system, at a school that genuinely embodied the values: Excellence, Creativity and Equity.  

A public education is a precious thing, and a public education in the arts must always be fought for and advocated for. I consider this my responsibility, and it will become your responsibility when you graduate and become alumni.” (Eliza Cooper, class of 2015) 

This week has been a delight as students reconnect with one another after the long break, and we watch our Year 7 students begin to explore their new world of high school. The Year 7 cohort has been actively engaged in the Transition Program, led by Year 7 Advisers Ms Simona Kanasugi and Ms Emma Hammond. The program supports a smooth transition into high school by introducing new learning expectations, daily routines, and movement around the school, while fostering a strong sense of belonging and social connection. 

NHSPA’s first performance for 2026 will showcase the extraordinary creative talent of our students with the Year 12 production of The Maladies. First performed in London in 2022, it is a powerful new play exploring themes of power and authority, agency, and voice. The production will be staged over three evenings. I encourage you to get your tickets early! The Maladies is directed by Ms Amy Hardingham with a team of students working with Ms Zoe van Munster in leading production roles: Phoebe Golder: Assistant Director; Sam Browne: Sound Operator; Indianna Thompson: Lighting Operator; Matilda Saunders: Stage Manager; Kieran Cashin: Sound Designer. 

Voluntary School Contributions letters will be sent home soon.  School contributions ensure NHSPA provides an extraordinarily rich education for all our students. I thank you for your support. A reminder that if you have any questions about school contributions, please contact the school. Parents/carers who are experiencing financial difficulty should email the school for support: Attention Deputy Principal at newtown-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au. 

This year we are targeting student lateness to school to minimise disruptions to learning. Data for student absences and lateness is now included in school reports. The NHSPA attendance policy is currently being updated and will be included in the next Bulletin. 

For any questions regarding Uniform Policy rules and expectations, or our Mobile Phone Policy, please contact the school. 

A reminder to please respect the right for teachers to disconnect. Please contact staff via the school email: newtown-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au 

If you happen to have a teacher’s direct email address, please ensure you schedule any email so it arrives during school hours. This will assist teachers to ‘switch off’ and better balance their professional lives by reducing intrusions into what was previously personal time. 

It is set to be an exceptional year, and I am excited to watch our students’ intellectual curiosity, creative thinking, and artistic excellence shine over the coming months and years in the collaborative, high expectations learning culture of our extraordinary school. 

Best wishes, 

Dr Susan Green 

It’s day 4 of high school!

How are you finding Year 7?

• • I like moving into different classrooms for different subjects.

  • I like the variety.

  • I like the swivel chairs in my Maths classroom.

  • We didn’t have Science labs in Primary.

PDHPE 

Physical Education is part of the Key Learning Area 'Personal Development, Health and Physical Education' (PDHPE). PDHPE is mandatory for all students in NSW from Kindergarten to Year 10. PDHPE aims to influence the cognitive, affective and psychomotor development of students. NSW syllabus documents detail the expected learning for students in terms of the skills, knowledge, values and attitudes required to be confident and competent participants in physical activity across their life course. 

Theory lessons cover a range of topics that relate to our school context for example - wellbeing, anatomy, risks, sexual health, consent, goal setting, mental health, road safety, alcohol and other drugs, food and nutrition, personal identity, relationships, sexuality and health benefits of physical activity.

Physical Education (practical) lessons include specifically teaching fundamental movement skills, rhythmic and expressive movement,  individual/group/team physical activities, initiative/challenge physical activities  and  aquatics. 

What's on in Term 1! PDHPE

Personal Development, Health & Physical Education 

classes begin the term with: 

• Year 7 - Practical lessons - bring sport uniform!

• Year 8 - Theory lessons - bring a pencil case and laptop!

• Year 9 - Check Google Classroom for mixed schedule!

• Year 10 - Practical lessons - bring sports uniform!

SPORT

• We have designed a weekly 7-10 sports program that focuses on giving students the opportunity to experience a range of sports over the four years.

• Students are allowed to wear the NHSPA sport uniform for the whole day on Tuesdays only. This must be the full uniform, including appropriate shoes (no Vans, Converse or Dr. Martens boots)

• Students out of uniform will continue to participate unless they are injured. When injured, a note from parent / medical certificate is required.

The sports uniform is purchased from https://www.picklesschoolwear.com/ 

What's on in Term 1! SPORT

Term 1 is jammed packed full of exciting sport opportunities!

NHSPA values sport and physical activity and the essential role it plays in contributing to overall wellbeing for all students. School sport is co-curricular and is a mandatory part of the school week for all Year 7-10 NHSPA students. 

Please keep a close eye out on your emails for communication about specific events, in particular the NHSPA carnivals. The list below on the left shows a selection of sports available, with more to come for Terms 2, 3 and 4!

Trial dates for our representative knockout teams and gala days occur on school grounds. Students are kept up to date via the Sentral notices and Sport Google Classroom. 

Tuesday Sport: 

Year 7 - Period 1

Year 8 - Period 2

Year 9 - Period 3

Year 10 - Period 4

Pictured below are week 2 highlights from Year 10's at their first week of sport. Pickle ball (ProPickle) and Rock Climbing (SICG) are just some of the fun options.

To support learners in developing effective study habits the school will run an after-school study centre during term times on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday afternoons from 3:25pm-5:00pm in the school Library.

This is open to all students, providing a quiet environment in which focussed study could take place.

Whilst attendance every week is not compulsory, should your child wish to use this facility, it is recommended that they be regular in their attendance for effective learning to occur.

The study centre will be supervised by a staff member between the times above to assist learners with organisation, planning, and developing successful study habits should they so wish.

This is an excellent opportunity for students to form small study teams to work together to improve their understanding of concepts and spur each other on to achieve a personal best in their subjects.

Expectations for attendance are as follows:

Students

• respect the rights of other learners and so maintain a quiet learning environment.

• desire to improve their performance in subjects.

• use this time productively.

• be regular in attendance.

The centre has been shown to be an effective way for improving students' results, confidence, and organisation in an enjoyable, relaxed environment.

THE ASSC IS A QUIET SPACE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR LEARNING AND SEEK HELP FROM STAFF

WHAT IS THE SCHOOL BYTES PORTAL

The School Bytes portal provides flexibility for you to conveniently:

• Make school payments online (including paying for multiple siblings at once)

• Use a family credit to pay for an activity or school contributions

• Download a receipt for payments made

• View all historical payments in one place

• Complete and submit digital permission notes

• View the status of all permission notes

Thank you!

School Bytes Parent Portal - accessed via this link:

• School Bytes Registration and Access 

• How To Guides 

TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS

St George’s Hall Trust Fund Performing Arts Donation

This donation is to support the school’s performing and visual arts endeavours. We suggest a donation of $200 per year per family or any amount which is tax deductible through our St George’s Hall Trust Fund. Each year donations provide funding for technical equipment, musical instruments and professional industry workshops for students which enrich our programs and extend students’ opportunities. Donation(s) may be made on the School Bytes statement or Parent Portal.

Library Fund Donation

The Library Fund is a tax-deductible fund established in 2025. Library Fund donations will be used for the following: 

• new books

• computer/software and hardware 

•  library furniture such as bookshelves, booth seating, library displays and archival preservation

Donations made to the St George’s Hall Trust Fund or the school Library Fund are fully tax-deductible as charitable contributions under the ATO provisions.

Tax Deductible Donations  

OTHER DONATIONS

School Donation

If you would like to make a general donation to the school, please include the amount you wish to donate at the designated section via the School Bytes statement which will be emailed to you in the beginning of Term 1. Please note, this donation is not tax deductible. Donation(s) may be made on the School Bytes statement or Parent Portal.

NHSPA P&C Donation

The P&C relies on voluntary fundraising donations as their primary means of fundraising.  We suggest a donation of $50.00 per year per family. Funds collected are allocated to fund items or projects in consultation with the school. P&C members support the school to ensure our children have the very best educational opportunities possible and our aim, when allocating funds, is to have whole of school impact.

The P&C works with the school to identify and implement specific funding for a variety of initiatives.  One such initiative was the purchase of mega decking, consisting of stage legs and braces, which were used for the 2023 production of the Musical ‘Sweeney Todd’ and ‘Legally Blonde’ in 2025.  In 2025 a laser cutter for the TAS faculty was partially funded through the P&C. Other items purchased in the past include the new school bell, PA security system and large fan in the gym.

ATTENTION 2025 YEAR 12 STUDENTS

While a student is enrolled in a NSW Public School, they are allocated user credentials that provide them with access to email, student portal, Google Workspaces and Microsoft Office 365. They can access these services for free both while at school and from home - or anywhere else.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY LEAVE?
Students need to be informed that from the date they leave an NSW Public School - i.e., when the school has marked them as a Leaver in ERN - they have 180 days before they lose access to:

• Their school email account (GMail)

• Their Google Drive contents

• Any Google Classrooms they were joined to

• Their Microsoft OneDrive contents

• Any Microsoft Teams they were a member of

So, from the time that they leave, they have 180 days to check all their content/files in these school-provided services and download anything that they need to keep. There is no need to delete what they do not wish to keep. Anything left in their cloud repositories after the 180 days will no longer be accessible to them.