Primary Update – Term 1 Week 1
Welcome back to what promises to be a meaningful and rewarding year of learning. I hope the holiday break allowed time for rest, renewal and connection with family and friends. It has been a pleasure to welcome our students back to school and see our community come to life once again with energy, optimism and purpose.
The year has begun very positively. Students have settled into routines with confidence and have returned eager to engage in their learning. Across the school, classrooms are calm, focused and purposeful, reflecting our shared commitment to high expectations, personalised learning and student wellbeing. It is encouraging to see students already demonstrating independence, curiosity and a willingness to challenge themselves as learners.
At Newman College, our approach to learning is grounded in faith and shaped by the Marist tradition, placing relationships, care, and growth at the heart of all that we do. We seek to create learning environments where each child feels known, supported, and encouraged to strive for their personal best. This is achieved most effectively through strong partnerships between school and home, and we greatly value the role families play in supporting their child’s learning journey.
It was wonderful to see so many families attend the Parent Information Sessions on Thursday evening. These sessions provided an opportunity to meet your child’s teacher, gain insight into class expectations, and develop a shared understanding of learning priorities for the year ahead. Thank you to all parents and carers who were able to attend and engage in these important conversations.
We look forward to a year of learning, growth, and collaboration as we continue to work together, guided by our shared values and the spirit of Marcellin Champagnat, to ensure the best possible outcomes for every student.
Support and Extension for Students
At Newman College, we follow the Tiered support for Support and Extension for students. The following diagram demonstrates how the three levels target support. In both support and extension, the most critical and impactful level is Tier 1. The classroom teacher spends the most time with the children and knows them best. They differentiate tasks and supports in the classrooms so all students can succeed and achieve their best.
Gifted Education Plans are developed for students who have been formally identified as gifted through assessment and reporting. Our Gifted and Talented teacher works with classroom teachers in preparing these plans before sharing them with families for feedback.
Curriculum Adjustment Plans are prepared for students with a diagnosis so we can track and target their needs in the classroom. Classroom teachers prepare these plans and will share them with families for their feedback once a year.
Individual Education Plans are prepared for students who are not able to access the year level curriculum. They have individual learning goals that are targeted at each students level. These are prepared by the classroom teacher and shared in a meeting with the Leader of Learning in Term 1 and again in Term 2. Collaborating with families is so important in creating effective and impactful plans for our students.
To ensure students receive timely and targeted support, our school follows a clear and consistent timeline for screening, intervention, and planning. Below is an outline of how support structures operate across the semester.
TERM 1
- Week 1-2: Students are screened and grouping is determined.
- Week 3: Withdrawn support and extension groups begin.
- Week 1-4: IEP, CAP and GEP plans are updated and developed.
- Week 5: IEP Meetings are organised by the Leader of Learning.
- Week 5-9: CAP and GEP meetings are organised by classroom teachers.
TERM 3
- Week 1-2: IEP plans are updated.
- Week 3: IEP meetings are organised by the Leader of Learning.
This structured approach ensures support is responsive, collaborative, and aligned with each student’s learning needs throughout the year. More information about the types of support and extension is available in the presentation from the Parent Information Evening.
Keeping Our Students Safe at School
A friendly reminder that all toys and sporting equipment from home should stay at home. We are fortunate to have a wide range of sports and play equipment provided at school, and students are encouraged to enjoy these at recess and lunch.
Importantly, students have had opportunities to share what sporting equipment they enjoy using or would like to see more of at school. We have listened to their feedback, and where possible, additional equipment has been added or purchased to support their interests.
Morning Drop‑Off Update
To further support the safety and wellbeing of our students, there will be a small change to our morning drop‑off routine. Students in Years 1–6 will now sit and wait in the undercover area, where they will be supervised by staff. This allows us to closely monitor students and ensure a safe and calm start to the day for all.
Mrs Laura Christopher
HEAD OF PRIMARY