We are almost at the end of our current mid-year showcase season with many students performing in two or more Showcase nights in Dance classwork, HSC student choreographed performances, Music ensembles and Drama pieces. It is always an exciting time for students, directors, conductors and specialist tutors to present their work to their peers and the school community. The showcase season is made possible through the professional and ongoing support of staff and the dedication and enthusiasm of our students. We would like to recognise the commitment and professionalism of our performing arts staff who continue to work with passion to ensure our students have such performance opportunities. 

The technical crew, under the leadership of Ben Turner, also works behind the scenes with meticulous attention to detail to maintain the highest of production standards. We would also like to recognise and thank our P&C who offer continued support during the showcase season and would like to acknowledge the work of the TAS faculty and the Year 9 Showcase Hospitality class who cater for some of the performance evenings during showcase.

IN CLASS

Meanwhile, the students are continuing to pursue excellence in their classrooms, with tasks such as a Design and Technology Investigation in Year 9, Year 12 Depth Studies in Chemistry and Year 7 Multimodal Narratives for English. Students have sat examinations, presented portfolios, and submitted edited films.

Students are encouraged to be familiar with the assessment schedules for all their tasks and start to plan their busy weeks to achieve success in all work. 

UNIFORM 

The students of Newtown High School are proud of the reputation of the school as a school of excellence in the Performing Arts and also the regular curriculum any high school in NSW.  We encourage students to express that pride by wearing the school uniform with the same standards of excellence. The weather is bracing, but there are plenty of warm options available at the uniform shop. 

Uniform is a safety issue, a social issue around equity, around image, and uniform is often linked with behaviour.

A REMINDER TO EVERYONE:

• NHSPA sports trackpants are allowed ✓

• Jeans or leggings are not allowed X

• NHSPA jackets/jumpers/hoodie are allowed ✓

• Non-school jumpers or non-school hoodies are not allowed X

• Black leather shoes must be worn ✓

Please see the link to the current uniform policy Uniform

Uniform - Newtown High School of the Performing Arts

REPORTS AND GOAL SETTING in STAGE 5

Year 9 and Year 10 will undertake Goal setting/Report interviews this term. Year 10 will meet their teachers for a short interview to talk about their grades, areas of strength and areas for growth on Wednesday 25 June. Year 9 will do the same on Wednesday 2 July. Both cohorts have the opportunity to reflect upon their work during first semester and aim for improvement for their end of year report. Teachers discuss realistic goals and how to aim towards constant improvement. It is a positive way for teachers and students to engage at the end of the term. 

VACCINATIONS

Vaccinations will be held for Year 10 on Thursday 26 June. Year 10 are offered a free meningococcal ACWY vaccine. Please click on the link below to register if you have not already done so. 

https://engage.health.nsw.gov.au/engage  

If you do not have a medicare card, internet access or are unable to to complete the online consent form, please ask for a paper consent form before 26 June.  

ATTENDANCE

It is important that students attend school on time every day to ensure their continuation of learning. Regular attendance builds confidence in content and establishes the important connections students make in every class. Please find more detail on attendance below. 

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.

St George’s Hall Trust Fund  

• $70,000 has been contributed to air-conditioning in St George’s Hall and two classrooms within H Block.   

• This Trust Fund provides extra funding each year to the Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Arts faculties. This extra funding assists with student scholarships, awards and master class practitioners to enable extension opportunities and to develop the talent of creative and performing arts students. In 2024 the funding enabled the following:   

• Dance – Paul Knobloch, from the Australian Ballet, to teach and choreograph with Year 10, 11 & 12 Dancers.  

• Drama – A Series of Public Apologies collaboration with award winning director, Warwick Doddrell 

• Music – purchase of resources for ensembles and repairs to music equipment  

• Visual Arts – Scott Owen workshop, HSC Material Worlds – Contemporary Asian Art presentation, installing of a hanging system in the St George’s Gallery and the purchase of camera equipment. 

Library Fund 

The Library Fund is a new tax-deductible fund established this year. 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 School Library Fund or the St George’s Hall Trust Fund are fully tax-deductible as charitable contributions under the ATO provisions. 

Tax deductible donations can be made using our online payment portal or by visiting the school office during school hours (8.30am – 3.00pm). For assistance making payments online, please visit: How to make a payment online – School Bytes 

For further information on donating funds please contact, Mr Adam Oliver, Business Manager on 9519 1544 or email the school at newtown-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au 

Air conditioning in St George’s Hall has been a goal since the school opened in 1990. We thought we were getting closer… We were hoping it might be ready well before the next Musical. Unfortunately, it will not. We were informed this week by School Infrastructure NSW that the design and supporting documentation will still be completed and provided to the school once finalised, however, the current Quantity Surveyor’s report indicates that the project is now expected to exceed the $2 million mark.

• NHSPA AirCon Concept Presentation

• NHSPA AirCon Architects' Return Brief 

Below is a summary of the key factors contributing to this cost increase:

• Heritage Restrictions – These have ruled out more cost-effective options (That would not suit the hall). The current design approach is the result of a collaborative decision between School Infrastructure Assets, Heritage, and the school.

• Compliance Requirements – Additional considerations have been required to meet updated building codes and standards.

• Structural Requirements – Modifications are needed within the ceiling space to support the weight and installation of the air conditioning system.

• Technical Constraints – The system is limited to a ceiling-mounted solution, as underfloor installation is not viable and tiered seating prevents the use of wall-mounted solutions.

• Electrical Works – Minor upgrades are necessary to support the proposed mechanical system.

• Access Requirements – Custom-built stair access to the ceiling space is required to ensure safe construction and long-term maintenance.

• Fit-for-Purpose Design – The system must meet acoustic standards appropriate for a performance space, while still effectively cooling the high-volume hall.

For suggestions of where to next, please email the NHSPA P&C.

Hey Newtown!

Over the last few weeks, we have had some incredible performances from both Music and Dance showcases across all year groups. A big thank you to all of the Prefects and Senior Students who helped MC and usher these events. Senior dance students have also been lucky enough to receive industry workshops from guests from Sydney Dance Company, VCA, and more. 

Next Thursday, we will be celebrating our multicultural day, which will be commemorated with a special assembly, and at lunchtime with our food stalls (courtesy of the SEED team). We will also have some incredible performers helping us celebrate, so keep an eye out!

Coming up, we have our Drama Showcase, which will feature performances from companies spanning all year groups. Good luck to all the performers participating in these shows, and make sure you grab your tickets from our school website to support your friends and peers. 

We hope you have a wonderful week and stay warm!

Make sure to stay up to date with all of our upcoming events on instagram @nhspa_prefects 

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