Teaching & Learning – Term1 Week 1
Secondary Parent Information Evening
On Monday 9 February, Secondary parents and students will gather for the Parent Information Evening. This is a key event that allows families to begin the year well-informed. Each year group session is compulsory, and families may then attend a range of other sessions on offer. The full schedule of events is available here.
YouTube at School
At the College, we are always looking for ways to support student learning, wellbeing, and online safety. With this in mind, we have made the decision to block direct student access to YouTube for all students during the school day.
While YouTube is an age-restricted platform for students under 16, our decision goes beyond age alone. We know that open access to YouTube during the school day can sometimes make it harder for students to stay focused and can create challenges around learning time and online safety. Taking a consistent, whole-school approach helps set clear expectations for students and supports staff in managing digital learning spaces effectively.
Importantly, students will still benefit from YouTube as a learning resource:
- Teachers will continue to use carefully selected and previewed YouTube content as part of classroom learning.
- YouTube videos embedded in OneNote will remain available at home, so students can revisit learning when needed.
- In some cases, specific YouTube links may be temporarily enabled to support approved learning activities or research tasks.
This approach allows us to strike a balance, ensuring students can access high-quality digital resources while keeping learning time focused and safe.
Thank you for your continued support as we work together to create a positive, engaging, and safe learning environment for all students.
Physical Education Curriculum Variation
At Newman College, we are committed to providing a well-rounded education that supports students’ academic, physical, emotional, and social development. Our Physical Education program plays a vital role in this holistic formation, aligning with our mission to nurture the whole person in the context of faith, learning, and community.
Where students are unable to participate in Physical Education (PE) classes due to injury, illness, or medical conditions, a curriculum variation must be granted by the Deputy Principal, Teaching and Learning and the Leader of Learning. All curriculum variation applications are to be supported by specialist medical documentation. Students must submit their curriculum variation and accompanying documentation prior to the commencement of their swimming unit. Students who have been granted a curriculum variation must remain in the PE class for the duration of the lesson and be under the direction of their PE teacher. This ensures the College’s duty of care and ensures students are present for important lesson content and do not fall behind. Students are not permitted to use this time to study in the library or complete homework. In some cases, students may be asked to complete a theory-based task related to the lesson. This approach ensures continued learning while supporting our core values of excellence, integrity, and respect.
To ensure all students feel comfortable in the pool, the uniform policy was updated last year to allow all students in Years 7-12 to purchase school board shorts for swimming lessons.
We appreciate your cooperation in supporting Physical Education at Newman College.
Mrs Sarah Pagett
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL OF TEACHING & LEARNING PK-12