Students choose 2 'Showcase Electives' that run for one semester each. The aim is to provide engaging and accessible arts courses that align with our Showcase season in some way. 

With a focus on creativity, student led learning and inclusivity, NHSPA students can enjoy building critical thinking and collaborative skills whilst gaining an insight into the arts in an area they may have not experienced before. The result we see as teachers is that students enjoy creating performance work, building backstage production skills, learn to critique and write about performances or exhibitions, explore design and communication for visual promotional materials, design menus and cater food, write songs and scripts, build characters and costumes, and apply arts creativity to STEM projects. 

All SHOWCASE ELECTIVES have a product outcome with a focus on fun, engagement and creativity and continue to foster an Arts education for all students at NHSPA. Keep an eye out for some pics in The Voice published at the end of this term!

LIGHTHOUSE DANCE PROJECT is a 2 day program offered to NHSPA Dance students from Years 10-12. It provides further extension and information for students who are excelling and at an elite level in Dance and Classical Ballet through performance opportunities, workshops, audition, information sessions and professional dialogue with industry. 

Our Newtown dancers join with other dancers from leading performing arts schools in NSW such as Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts, Hunter School of Performing Arts, Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School, Campbelltown High School of Performing Arts and Westfields Sports' High School to participate in a series of workshops led by leading tertiary institutions from around Australia.  Dancers also listen to lecturers discuss the courses they offer, hear what life on campus is like, what the entry requirements are and the post-study industry links each institution has. The aim is to educate secondary Dance students on the tertiary Dance opportunities available to them fostering informed choice making on where to continue their dance education  after completing school. This year the following tertiary programs were represented:

Victorian College of the Arts (VCA - University of Melbourne) 

Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA - Perth)

Queensland University of Technology (QUT - Brisbane)

Sydney Dance Company’s Pre-Professional Year program (Sydney)

Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE - Sydney)

Academy of Music and Performing Arts (AMPA - Sydney)

National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA - Melbourne)

Other tertiary institutions who regularly attend are:

Adelaide College of the Arts (ADA - Flinders University)

New Zealand School of Dance (Wellington)

Point Park University (Pittsburg USA)

Year 12 dancers audition for the panel of tertiary representatives and a large number of dancers are offered placements, secondments and scholarships to courses. This year the audition was run by NHSPA Alumni Holly Doyle (ex-Sydney Dance Company member now finishing her Physiotherapy degree whilst continuing as an independent artist in Sydney and abroad). 

Huge congratulations to all our senior dance students for their outstanding professionalism throughout Lighthouse Dance Project highlighting the high calibre of artistry at Newtown High School of the Performing Arts.

The evidence is clear that consistent attendance is the essential first step for your child to have a positive experience at school. Every day matters for your child’s learning. In recent years we’ve seen too many students miss a day of school here and there. Missing school for students means missing assignments, time with friends, an important Maths lesson or getting picked for a sports team. With days missed, years are lost.

Students are required to attend school every day, whether it’s the first or last day of the term, Mondays, Fridays or days dedicated to sports carnivals, school excursions and incursions. Help us make sure your child is achieving their best and stays ahead in their learning with regular school attendance. The more time your child attends school, the greater their opportunity to learn, make new friends and improve their wellbeing. Together, let’s build positive attendance habits for a lifetime.

If your child is absent from school, please let us know why as soon as possible, even if it is just a few minutes at the start or end of the school day. Of course, there will be times when your child is unable to be at school (like when they are unwell). Medical appointments should take place outside school hours where possible and family holidays should be taken in term breaks.

If your child is feeling anxious about coming to school and you need support, please reach out to your child’s Deputy Principal, Year Adviser or myself directly. Our staff are here to work with you and your child to help them attend school each and every day. There are also helpful resources for parents and carers on the Every Day Matters website.

Thank you again for working with our teachers and support staff to make sure your child is at school, on time, every day. We all want to see our students learn, grow and belong in our equitable and outstanding education system.

Newtown High School of the Performing Arts

STUDENT BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT POLICY

In line with the Department of Education's new Student Behaviour Policy, we have updated ours. We have consulted widely with staff, the Year 12 Prefects, the S.E.E.D Team and parents/carers for the community feedback. Any additional feedback can be directed via email to the school.

DRAFT Student Behaviour Management & Support Policy

NEW Health & Movement Science 11-12 Syllabus

The PDHPE faculty is currently planning for the new Stage 6 course, Health and Movement Science for implementation in 2025. 

The course allows students to explore and apply scientific concepts to engage students in learning about the factors influencing health and movement. A focus on practical application allows students to develop deep knowledge and understanding and provides opportunities to develop students’ skills in problem-solving, critical and creative thinking, research and analytical skills. Students are encouraged to explore areas of interest, to contribute positively to their own and others' health and wellbeing. The concepts studied in Health and Movement Science make clear links to relevant post-school pathways relating to Australia's health, movement physiology and anatomy. 

HOW TO PROVIDE CONSENT:

1. To complete online consent for your child’s school vaccinations, visit: https://engage.health.nsw.gov.au/engage

2. Follow the steps to log in to your existing ServiceNSW account. This is the same account you may already use to renew your driver’s licence. 

If you don’t have a ServiceNSW account, refer to ServiceNSW to create one.

3. Update or confirm your personal details in ServiceNSW as required.

4. Complete the School Vaccination Consent Form for your child/ren. You will need to:

a) Enter your child’s personal details

b) Provide the Medicare card details for you and your child 

c) Read the linked Parent Information Sheet and privacy statement. Translations available in 27 languages

d) Provide consent

If you or your child do not have a Medicare card, consent can still be provided by requesting a paper-based consent form directly from your child’s school.

THE BENEFITS OF PROVIDING CONSENT ONLINE:

• easily update your child’s details

• receive SMS and/or email notifications when vaccinations are given

• faster upload of vaccination records to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

For more information on routine school vaccinations, please visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/schoolvaccination.aspx 

If you require information in your language, please visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/school_vaccination_language.aspx

• From Good Shepherd - Stress and anxiety support program for young people

As you may be aware, our team has been facilitating the delivery of a psychoeducational group in schools in the Inner West / surrounding area known as the 'Green Door Group'. This group is focused on building awareness of the impacts of everyday stress and anxiety, learning about the connection between mind and body and exploring creative self-care strategies. 

We are pleased to also be offering a one-off session on Thursday 20 June at 4pm on site at our Marrickville location. 

The session is targeted at young people aged 13-17 who would benefit from exploring general tools and strategies around stress and anxiety, who may not feel ready to access one-to-one counselling yet. Numbers will be limited to ensure everyone feels comfortable to participate, but pending interest we might look at running more in future. 

Please see the attached flyer for details. To register, please email or call us at reception@goodshep.org.au or +61 2 8571 7800 

If you would like to get in touch with us about running a Green Door Group at your school, please contact myself on the details below.

Stephanie Reynolds (She/Her/Hers) , Adolescent & Family Support Practitioner,  

T 02 8571 7800 | M +61429 791 828 | E stephanie.reynolds@goodshep.org.au

• PCYC Balmain – Cool Kids program

Check out the Expression of Interest

Cool Kids Anxiety Program: Expression of Interest | Logic Lounge Psychology

Excellence, Creativity and Equity