Principal's Report

One School – Two Sites

Newcastle High School is one of the largest, comprehensive secondary schools in the Newcastle and Hunter network, proudly serving a diverse learning community.  One of the unique aspects of our school is that we are one school, on two inner-city sites.  On the Parkway Avenue site, we cater for Year 7-12 students in both mainstream classes and we have seven support classes, offering a curriculum that is supportive of student engagement, innovation and learning.  On our Cooks Hill Campus site, situated on the corner of Laman and Union Streets, we offer an alternative curriculum model in partnership with The Big Picture Education Australia, where project-based learning meets innovation and personalised approaches to schooling.  We are very proud of how our school holistically meets the needs of all students in our learning community and from across the Newcastle area on the two sites.  Across our school sites we have over 135 staff who are all highly qualified to support teaching, learning and leadership at the highest level.  Our expert, passionate teachers care deeply about the outcomes for our students, in all pathways through school and I commend their service to our school and public education in what is uniquely Newcastle High School.

High Potential and Gifted Education

This year, we are proposing a variety of additional programs in our school for 2021-2022, with regard to the identification, support and development of High Potential and Gifted Education (HPaGE).  At Newcastle High School we are committed to providing engaging and challenging educational opportunities for all students, while explicitly identifying and addressing the learning needs of high potential and gifted students in the areas of intellectual, creative, social-emotional and physical domains of potential.  This year, we have two additional head teachers in the school, focused on our HPaGE approach, programs and personalised support all to ensure we are extending and developing our school.  Details will be updated regularly this year on the HPaGE tab of our Website.

Aboriginal Education

Newcastle High School is strategically focusing this year on further developing and improving our Aboriginal Education programs, personalised support, cultural competence and practices.  We have Paul Myers and Loretta Swindale leading the 2021-2024 Strategic Improvement Plans we are making, with a strong and committed team striving for excellence in all aspects of our Aboriginal Education programs. These Include Aunty Belinda (Aboriginal Education Officer), our Clontarf Academy leaders (Daniel, Brad and Tyler) and faculty representatives from across our school sites.  Our programs aim to support all students within our Aboriginal Education Strategy, with focused personalised goal setting, learning support, tutoring, cultural activities, attendance support and Clontarf mentoring.  All Newcastle High School staff will be attending cultural competence training on country at our Term 3 School Development Day, which will further develop our collective and shared responsibility to strive to achieve the goals of our Aboriginal Education Strategy. 

Dux and Distinguished Achievers Assembly

Our 2020 Higher School Certificate (HSC) Dux and Distinguished Achievers will be recognised in our formal assembly on Thursday 18 March in the Cultural Centre.  Invitations have been sent to our alumni who have excelled at the 2020 HSC and their families.  We are looking forward to celebrating and promoting the academic excellence represented in the achievements and hard work of this distinguished group.

P&C Forum Topics 2021

Please join us for the next P&C Forum Meeting in Term 2 on Monday 10 May, which will be our Annual General Meeting (AGM), face-to-face in the Cultural Centre.  On the Agenda will be Faculty and Team Focus presentations, as shown in the 2021 overview below.  We will also be having a Welcome to 2021 BBQ, to celebrate the return to being able to meet in person.  Please come along and engage with the life of the school.  All welcome to attend.