The half-way point of Term 2 has quickly approached and we are into our Semester 1 reporting period. Year 12 reports are currently being written and will be distributed to students on Wednesday 4 June. All Year 12 students will have interviews with their curriculum advisers who will assist them in setting goals for the remainder of their HSC year. These interviews are designed to help students achieve their school and post school goals and give them advice and support in dealing with the requirements and stresses of the final year of schooling.  

Earlier this term, Year 11 students undertook their Half Yearly assessment block. We commend them for the mature and responsible way they approached their first formal assessment block. The illness/ misadventure process was followed by students and assessments were rescheduled accordingly. Year 11 students will be issued their Half-Yearly reports during a meeting with their Curriculum Advisers on Friday 27 June. 

By the end of the term all students and parents will have access to their Semester 1 reports through the Sentral Portal. 

The final Parent Teacher interviews were held on Thursday 22 May. These Year 7 Parent-Teacher interviews were in person and this stand-alone night was very successful as it allowed for parents to meet with teachers to discuss their child’s progress and transition to high school. This was one of many opportunities for parents and students to receive feedback on their progress during Semester 1.  

All our new parents (Years 7-12) are invited to a special welcome event – Newtown Upside Down, on Thursday 29 May from 5pm to 6pm. This will be an opportunity for parents to meet key members of our staff, connect with other new parents and gain an insight into what makes our school such a unique and dynamic place of learning and creativity. The event is free, however parents are required to book their free ticket via TryBooking link: https://www.trybooking.com/DBKDL. 

We are looking forward to welcoming the new families to our school community. 

Our Showcase season begins this month. The program looks fabulous and we extend invitations for you and your family to attend as many concerts as possible. The showcase season is made possible through the professional and ongoing support of staff and the dedication and enthusiasm of our students. Details of the program are included in this newsletter.   We look forward to seeing you there. 

Music Showcase Concert tickets can now be purchased via the link:  Trybooking - 2025 S1 Music Showcase Concerts  

Drama Showcase Concert tickets can now be purchased via the link:

Trybooking - 2025 S1 Drama Showcase

All assessment information can now be accessed by students and parents through the Sentral Portal, including the assessment policy and procedures, calendar overview of scheduled task dates and subject outlines. It is important that students understand their responsibilities in regards to completing tasks and what to do if they are sick or late on the day of a task. Please note that the dates published may need to change for various reasons. All students will be notified by their teacher in writing of any date changes and the assessment notification should always be what the students follow as the correct scheduled assessment task date. 

The Tell Them From Me student survey, which schools have participated in previously, has now been replaced by the new NSW Public Schools Student Survey. This updated survey is conducted by the Department of Education and is designed to gather valuable feedback from students about their learning experiences and school environment. It provides an important platform for students to share their voices, helping schools better understand how students feel and what supports their engagement and wellbeing. The insights gained from the survey assist schools with strategic planning, evaluation, and continuous improvement. Specifically, the data can help identify strengths and areas for development, assess the impact of current initiatives, and inform future programs. At a broader level, the survey enables the Department to monitor emerging trends and shape effective, student-centred policies—supporting the goal that every student is known, valued, and cared for, as outlined in Our Plan for NSW Public Education. Students will have the opportunity to complete the survey during Week 7 of Term 2. The survey is confidential, takes around 10 to 15 minutes to complete, and will be conducted online during school hours. If you prefer your child not to participate, please complete the opt-out consent form NPSS Opt-out Form and return it to the school by Friday 6 June. Further information about the survey is available at https://education.nsw.gov.au/npss 

A reminder to parents that it is most important our students are prepared for the colder weather and are appropriately dressed in full school uniform. NHSPA has high uniform standards and we thank you for your support. It is an expectation that all students wear our school uniform, including school jumpers or jackets or soon the new student-designed NHSPA hoodie, as well as black, fully enclosed leather shoes to comply with Work Health and Safety requirements. In listening to our students and in further supporting them in maintaining warmth, this year we have introduced the NHSPA hoodie. This along with all other uniform items is now available for purchase online. Pickles Schoolwear - NHSPA Unisex Sports Hoodie Our uniform reflects school pride and fosters a strong sense of identity, belonging and equity. We thank our families for their continued support. Parents and Carers, please write your child's NAME on their clothing, so if it's lost it can be returned. NHSPA Uniform Policy  

NHSPA's 2025 prefect-led Talent Quest, held in Week 3, was a thoroughly enjoyable event that showcased an incredible array of student—and staff!—talent.

A special thanks to Ynping Mak for her outstanding organisation, and to Ben Turner and the technical crew for their technical support, which ensured the event ran smoothly. Thank you also to the teacher judges - your involvement was key in making the event such a success.

Congratulations to the staff band, First Warning, for a  very impressive performance.

Finally, our prefects deserve a big round of applause for their fantastic job in planning, coordinating, and running the event over the three days.

Premier’s Debating Challenge - Senior

Two senior teams from Newtown High School of the Performing Arts are currently competing in the Premier’s Debating Challenge, a knockout-format competition for Years 11 and 12. Debates are usually online with only one hour to prepare cases before speaking for 8 minutes. Teams have one “life” before elimination, allowing for multiple challenging rounds against schools across the state.

Newtown “A” (Year 12) has faced Marrickville High and North Sydney Boys High School, with one win and one very close result. Representing Newtown are Max Jackson, Mila Smith, Rose Graham-Hilliard, Genevieve Jackson, and Zoe Richardson, with Robin Ludwig as chairperson.

Newtown “B” (Year 11) opened their season with confident wins against Bonnyrigg High and Condell Park High. Their team includes Maya Harriman-Khan, Matilda Saunders, Izzy Preller, Ada Buttrose, Maggie Rosewarne, Zoe Richardson.

Debaters in Years 11 and 12 are invited to trial for the prestigious Combined High Schools Representative Team. Trials will be held on Saturday 2 August at The Arts Unit in Lewisham, with successful students receiving coaching from expert mentors and representing the Department of Education in Term 3. Registration opens in Term 2 through the Arts Unit website.

School Term Dates for Students

• Term 1: Thursday 6 February to Friday 11 April

• Term 2: Wednesday 30 April to Friday 4 July

• Term 3: Tuesday 22 July to Friday 26 September

• Term 4: Tuesday 14 October to Friday 19 December

On Friday 16 May, Year 9 participated in a full-day workshop facilitated by Burn Bright called "It's in Our DNA". The workshop consisted of four sessions where students engaged in various activities, including structured discussions, future planning, value exploration, personal reflection, and teamwork games that required effective communication and collaboration.

The Year 9 cohort approached the learning experience with enthusiasm and sincerity. As the day progressed, they demonstrated courage by opening up to their peers, developing confidence as they shared their beliefs, values, and experiences. Students tackled challenging ideas and topics, reflecting seriously on their identities and their impact on the world. They embraced difficult activities that demanded emotional vulnerability, showcasing their strength of character and resilience.

Overall, the day fostered the building—and even repairing—of important relationships within the cohort, establishing the trust and friendship necessary to navigate the challenges of the next four years and beyond. We are confident that the lessons learned from this workshop will resonate in the future.

Thank you Year 9 for your enthusiasm and willingness to continue learning and growing together!

Lisa Coveny and Dr. Jessica Brooks

Year Advisors

YEAR 10 TEXTILES TECHNOLOGY

Year 10 Textiles Technology students have been undertaking a design project involving the design and production of a corset. Students were required to explore a chosen concept and a variety of aligning design ideas through their design folio. 

Once a final design concept was confirmed, students constructed their corsets using relevant technical skills.  

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