The school year is off to a good start, with students settling into their new classes and routines. It has been especially wonderful to see our new students embracing their new learning environment with confidence, forming meaningful connections, and becoming valued members of our school community.

All students and parents now have access to assessment calendars and booklets which have been posted on the school’s website and Parent Portal. These documents outline the nature of all assessment tasks scheduled over the year along with the dates when each task will be held. The assessment calendar allows students to plan their time effectively, organise their study routine and establish quality practices when it comes to completing their school work. The school’s assessment policy, which outlines the procedures for assessment tasks, is outlined in the assessment booklets. Year 7 and 8 students have also been issued a 2025 school diary. We encourage all students and parents to familiarise themselves with these documents and start entering important dates into student diaries. It is important to start the new academic year organised and prepared and it is hoped that these documents will assist students in planning for key assessment tasks.  

YEAR 7

Our Year 7 students have now completed their Transition Program and are adjusting well to high school life. The students have been busy learning how things work at Newtown, making new friends, and building important social connections. Later this term, in Week 8, we will run the Year 7 Peer Support Camp at “The Tops Conference Centre”, Stanwell Tops. Year 7 students and their Year 10 Peer Support leaders will attend this three-day camp. It is another important initiative that assists Year 7 students’ transition into high school.  Thank you to Ms Amanda di Camillo (Peer Support Co-ordinator) and Year Advisers, Olivia Callaghan and Justin Bradley for their organisation of the camp. Parents have already been sent the Peer Support camp notes via School Bytes. May we please request parents complete this form at the earliest as student information is required in the final organisation for the camp. We would like to thank all staff who will be attending the camp in advance. 

SENIOR ASSESSMENT POLICY AND PRODEDURES FOR ILLNESS/ MISADVENTURE

The Senior Assessment Policy and Procedures for Illness/Misadventure are outlined in the Year 11 and 12 assessment booklets.  The school has a very clear policy in relation to assessment and it is important that all senior students and their parents familiarise themselves with the procedures in place.  If a student is unable to attend an assessment task due to an illness or misadventure, the student or family member must contact the school to notify the relevant Deputy of their absence. 

On the first day of their return to school the student must report to their Deputy and complete the Illness/Misadventure form. All students in the senior school have been informed about these procedures during their year meetings, however if there are any further questions regarding the policy we encourage students and parents to contact us for further clarification.

STUDY CENTRE

Our library is open from 8.00 am each morning to support student learning. Additionally, the after-school Study Centre operates on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 3.10 pm until 5pm. This is a very useful resource that supports students in their preparation and revision for assessment tasks and examinations.  Year 12 students also have access to quiet study rooms (E1 and C12) during their morning study periods.

YEAR 9 AND 10 COACHING SESSIONS

The Year 9 and 10 Goal Setting Program commenced this week with an introductory presentation on character strengths and goal setting. Through coaching sessions, students set their short-term and long-term SMART goals and the steps they would take in achieving their goals. Students will meet with their coaches once a term to discuss their progress and refine their goals.

SENTRAL PARENT PORTAL

The Parent Portal provides parents/carers information about their child's progress. Parents will have access to a range of information including records of attendance, student timetables, student academic reports and the ability to book an interview for Parent Teacher Nights. We strongly encourage parents/carers to set up a Parent Portal account. Should you experience difficulties please do not hesitate to contact David Gaynor, our Technical Support officer for assistance.

SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS

School Photo Day will take place on Wednesday, 5 March, with a catch-up day scheduled for Monday, 10 March, for any students who were absent. For more detailed information, please refer to the School Photos section in this bulletin.

US DANCE TOUR

As we write this bulletin, we can report that the staff and students attending the US Dance tour arrived safely and are currently in New York where they have been attending Alvin Ailey classes. They will soon be arriving in Pittsburgh for the USA National High School Dance Festival where they will perform and audition for scholarships to US universities.  We look forward to hearing about their successes upon their safe return back to Sydney.

YEAR 11 LIFE READY PROGRAM

In Week 3, Year 11 Students attended the Life Ready Camp at Stanwell Tops. It was a successful camp with students displaying exemplary behaviour, participating in all activities, engaging in the talks presented by the guest speakers and most importantly building stronger bonds with their peers. The last component of the Life Ready course will be covered by Paul Dillon, from Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia, when he addresses Year 11 students at school later this term. Thank you to Year 11 Student Advisers, Jose Gonda and Amanda Di Camillo, for their organisation of such a successful camp and the Life Ready Program events. Thank you also to the staff who volunteered their time to make this camp such a rewarding experience for our students.

YEAR 12 2024 REUNION

Last week, we had the privilege of hosting a Year 12 2024 3-month Reunion, and it was an outstanding success! It was wonderful to welcome back so many of our recent graduates, hear about their exciting new journeys, and celebrate their achievements. Seeing our alumni thriving—having secured post-school pathways that align with their talents, aspirations, and hard work—filled us with immense pride. This memorable event would not have been possible without the dedication of Year Advisers Alain Lavrut and Amanda Di Camillo, whose efforts ensured its success. A special thank you also goes to our 2025 prefects, who did a phenomenal job running the BBQ and helping create a warm, celebratory atmosphere. We are incredibly proud of our alumni and look forward to seeing all they accomplish in the future.

NAPLAN

The NAPLAN tests are a point in time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life. Each year students in Years 7 and 9 participate in tests for Writing, Reading, Conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and Numeracy. NAPLAN is just one part of our school learning assessment program and questions are primarily based on knowledge, understanding and skills gained from the prior year of schooling.  Year 7 students will complete the NAPLAN online exams from Wednesday 12 March to Friday 14  March 2025.  Year 9 students will complete the NAPLAN exams from Wednesday 19  March to Friday 21 March 2025.  If you wish to withdraw your child from the test, a Parent/Carer consent form for exemption and withdrawal needs to be completed and submitted to Ms Gray. A Parent/Carer consent form also needs to be completed if you would like your child to receive Disability adjustments. Forms will need to be returned by Friday 1 March 2025 to Ms Gray. 

LEGALLY BLONDE – THE MUSICAL

We are excited to kick off our performance year this March with the fabulous Legally Blonde. This production promises to be one of the highlights of the year, and we can't wait to share it with you. The season runs for just four nights, with two matinee shows from 19-22 March, so be sure to grab your tickets early.

A special thank you to the P&C for hosting the fundraising event on Thursday, 27 February. The outdoor movie night featuring Legally Blonde was a wonderful evening, and we appreciate everyone who joined us.

Tickets for the musical are available for purchase on the school website. As our musical productions often sell out quickly, we encourage you to book early to secure your seats and avoid disappointment.

ATTENDANCE

Ensuring students arrive at school on time is crucial for their academic success. It is most important students leave home with sufficient time to reach the school by 8.45am. When students persistently miss parts of lessons, or whole lessons, it impacts negatively on their academic success. We want all our students to successfully fulfil their course requirements in all subjects. When your child is absent, either for a partial or whole day, a written explanation is required within one week of their return to school. This is a Department of Education requirement. With respect to students needing to leave early, we would appreciate if parents/carers could notify the school by 9am of the morning of the requested early departure. This information can be conveyed to the school by phone, e-mail or written note brought by your child. The early departure will be entered online to alert teachers of the early departure request to avoid your child being marked absent in class.

Finally, we just wanted to remind parents that many of the events outlined in this bulletin are also available via the Sentral school calendar.  The school places all key dates, events and assessment information on the calendar. We would encourage parents to visit the website routinely to ensure you have all the relevant information and are updated on all school activities.

School Photo Day                Wednesday 5 March 2025

Photo Catch-up Day           Monday 10 March 2025

The School Photographer   NHSPA Online Order Form X2291SUP55N

Newtown High School of the Performing Arts school photo day is scheduled for Wednesday 5 March 2025. On this day every student will need to have an individual photo taken as part of our school roll marking and Swipe ID Cards.

Students are required to wear full school uniform for the photographs. School shirts, NO jumpers or Year 12 Jerseys, should be worn. No visible undergarments, large jewellery, excessive makeup or headphones and leads should be visible. Black, white, or grey socks should be worn. Students not dressed appropriately will not be photographed.

Please note the following important information:

WEDNESDAY 5 MARCH 2025 – following year group order -  may change on the day

Period 1  Years 8 and 12 Individual portrait photographs

Period 2  Years 9 and 11 Individual portrait photographs

Period 3  Year 10 Individual portrait photographs, Peer Support Group, Prefects and School Captains

LUNCH    Prefect and SEED Group photographs

Period 4  Year 7 Individual portrait photographs

MONDAY 10 MARCH 2025 periods 1 and 2

·   Catch up morning for individual portraits of students absent on the main photo day

·     Sibling Photographs

Photographs may be ordered online via a secure web portal specifically set up for our school. Flyer attached indicates an 11 digit school code X2291SUP55N.  All orders are to be made on The School Photographer website. No payments can be made through the school. Any queries regarding payment should be directed to The School Photographer. PLEASE DO NOT CALL the school regarding your photo orders as we do not handle that aspect of the process.

What is the best thing about school right now?

"Year 8 Textiles"

"My Friends!"

The school library serves diverse users. The principle of fairly shared space, which is paramount in NHSPA Library, seeks to accommodate highly varied student needs.

There have been vast writings about the need to cultivate the school library as a place of refuge - and certainly libraries have long served their more vulnerable clients as a safe place. As a schoolgirl, at the state library, I was struck by the animated conversations between state library staff and one erudite old man who slept in the domain. Years later a librarian at a local public library pointed out the pylon which offered privacy to a number of homeless who used it for safe cover during the day, as they slept. Such an ethos of hospitality was truly inspiring. 

While the notion of refuge is far from redundant, in more recent years there has been a greater emphasis on cultivating the library as a place of celebration. And in that spirit, let us say, Happy Mardi Gras!

According to Bruce Munro (QUT Library) the “LGBTIQA+ friendly library” asserts its friendliness by relevant signage, as well as organising events for LGBTIQA+ students. Indeed, the phenomenon of the Pride Club in department high schools -  so wonderfully supported at this school by Dean Adams - was one of the factors which drew me back into the state school system. 

The idea of the school as a microcosm of larger society may be embraced with pride at NHSPA and is well illustrated by panning out to our local community. For instance, inner west libraries stamp their LGBTQI+ titles with the emblematic rainbow colours and provide public links to their collection. The old Newtown Town Hall has been renamed Pride Place and the Pride beacon was celebrated by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in person in 2023. At this time of 2025 Mardi Gras festivity, NHSPA asserts its pride in our LGBTIQA+ students and their families through its celebration of our rainbow collection - and a commitment to building this collection, particularly in the direction of appropriate books for younger readers.

Patricia.Pugliese@det.nsw.edu.au

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.