Campus News
Mother's Day
We held a number of lovely Mother’s Day community events across all our schools at Newlands recently. Thank you to all families who supported these celebrations as well as our Haileybury Parents and Friends Keysborough (HPFK) for their support throughout.
LEAP Week
Get ready for an unforgettable LEAP Week at Newlands in Week 5 as we celebrate the rich and diverse cultures of First Nations People through a series of thoughtful and engaging experiences.
This year’s theme will immerse students, staff and the wider community in indigenous perspectives, such as an exciting Mini Master Chef session featuring native ingredients that will connect us to country. Dive into innovative art activities, listen to guest readers sharing powerful stories of First Nations People from around the globe, and join the PE department as they explore traditional indigenous games and practices. The highlight of the week will be a special visit from Torres Strait Islander artist Chris Tamwoy, who will perform and share his inspiring journey, and a parent within the community who will share their culture and heritage.
LEAP Week promises to be a vibrant celebration of culture, heritage and connection.
Early Learning Centre
Caring for country
Reception
Term 2 has seen our Newlands ELC more energised than ever in its commitment to sustainability. Children across the centre have immersed themselves in gardening by planting flowers that attract pollinators, and seasonal edibles, caring for our worm farms, composting and working together to care for country. Our youngest learners have taken the lead, with Reception classes proudly tending to garden beds, some now yielding enormous Kent pumpkins. These are set to be harvested and transformed into a delicious pumpkin soup to be shared for all to enjoy.
Pre-Prep
Our Pre-Preps welcomed Rethink Recycling Co-op and their innovative solar-powered trailer, RUSTIE (Regenerative Upcycling Solar-powered Trailer with Interactive Education). This hands-on incursion deepened the children’s understanding of the circular economy. The children were surprised to learn that Australians use approximately nine billion plastic lids annually — enough to fill 75 Olympic-sized swimming pools — and that single-use plastics can take up to 500 years to decompose. Those are very big numbers — even higher than 20!
The children sorted plastic lids by type and colour, identified recycling numbers, learnt about their characteristics and potential uses, and operated machines that shredded and melted plastic into new items such as slinkies and carabiners. This experience not only enhanced the children’s STEM knowledge but also nurtured their environmental awareness and sense of agency, seeing the lids that they had rescued from becoming waste in a landfill being repurposed into something valuable. Such rich experiences nurture confident and involved learners who, at their young age, are already contributing to a more sustainable world.
Junior School
National Simultaneous Story Time - Jen Lane
Get ready to read along. On Wednesday, 21 May our Newlands ELC and Junior School students will be joining in the fun of the 2025 National Simultaneous Storytime. This special event happens every year, when children all over Australia enjoy the same picture book at the same time — in schools, libraries, homes, bookshops and more.
This year’s book is The Truck Cat, a delightful story about a truck-driving cat and his human as they travel together and explore big ideas like identity, immigration and finding where you belong.
It is a great way to celebrate the joy of reading and the magic of storytelling, while reminding us how important language, learning and libraries are in every child’s journey.
Year 2 Strings Recital
We are excited to present the Newlands Junior String Recital, taking place on Tuesday, 27 May in Aikman Hall from 2.30 pm to 3.30 pm.
The recital will be the highlight of the term for our Year 2 students, as they take to the stage for the very first time with their string instruments. Joining them will be the talented Years 3 and 4 Scrolls students, coming together to showcase their hard work and musical growth.
For many of our Year 2 students, this will be a memorable milestone, and we are sure the pride and joy on their faces will speak volumes.
We warmly invite our families and friends to come along and support what promises to be a wonderful celebration of music and learning.
Middle School
Languages & Cultures Week
Languages and Cultures Week at Newlands is one of the most exciting celebrations of the year. It is a special week when the Haileybury Community comes together to celebrate the many languages spoken here at Newlands and around the world.
Throughout the week, the school is transformed into a vibrant hub which celebrates global traditions. Some of the activities that are planned are student-made posters and cultural displays from different countries. Students will have the opportunity to enjoy international cuisine from the Newlands canteen during lunch.
The school will showcase mini cultural zones where students engage in fun activities including music, dance, art projects, language games, workshops and incursions that highlight different customs and traditions.
Languages and Cultures Week reminds us that understanding and respecting other cultures makes our communities richer. It encourages curiosity, empathy and appreciation for the diversity around us. Most importantly, it inspires students to become global citizens who are proud of their own heritage and excited to learn about other languages and cultures within our diverse community.
Hugo Engele
Head of Newlands (Keysborough)
Haileybury Parents & Friends Keysborough (HPFK)
Opening Hours May
Friday, 30 May – 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm
Saturday, 31 May – 9.00 am to 12.00 noon
Amy Ching
President, Haileybury Parents & Friends Keysborough
