Welcoming Years 8 to 12 in 2026
We are delighted to invite your child to our Orientation Day for all new students from Years 8 to 12, on Friday 21 November. Orientation Day will commence 8.50 am and end at 3.30 pm. As a key part of Your Onboarding Experience at Westminster, this day is to welcome new students and make them feel comfortable and excited about joining the Westminster community.
Registration
To assist with planning for the day, if you have not done so already, please complete the online link to the Westminster Orientation Day 2026 by Wednesday 19 November 2025.
Key Information
Preparation
The following provides key information about the day:
- During the day, students will also be introduced to Westminster’s extensive co-curricular program, covering sport, performing arts and clubs.
- Nominations for 2026 activities have opened and remain open for families with new students until Monday 24 November. We encourage discussion at home first as co-curricular commitment involves more than the student.
- Lunch and recess will be provided on the day. Our 2026 School Leaders will organise lunch for the students from 12.40 pm and recess will be provided at 10.20 am to meet with Heads of House. Please advise if your child has any dietary requirements (or medical needs we need to know about) via the registration link.
Drop-off/pick-up
- Students are asked to meet on the eastern entrance steps of the Michael Murray Centre for Performing Arts by 9.00 am. You will find this as Reference 44 on the School map found here. Students will then be guided into the main auditorium where our Orientation Day program will begin.
- After student drop-off, parents/carers are welcome to meet with Westminster Senior School staff and if it suits, attend the program’s first session (9.10 to 9.30 am) in the Michael Murray Centre for Performing Arts. If you can’t attend the first session, no problem - we will be sharing more information with you after Orientation Day.
- Orientation Day will conclude at 3.30 pm and all students will be dismissed from the same steps leading into the Murray Centre.
- Morning and afternoon parking for families will be available near the ovals and Sports and Swimming Centre (entry via Gate 4 off Alison Ave).
Student requirements on the day
- Wear neat casual clothes suitable for all planned sessions, including PE lessons and activities. No jewellery is to be worn, and hair needs to be in a neat and tidy fashion – School uniform is not required on this day.
- Wear closed-in shoes (i.e. no thongs, Crocs or Birkenstock-style shoes) - some lessons may be in laboratories.
- Bring a backpack/bag for personal belongings, including a pencil case and notebook required to complete some written work.
- You do not need to bring a laptop, mobile phone or iPad to complete any tasks during the day. If any student requires their mobile phone, it must stay in their bag, and it will always remain their responsibility when at School.
- Bring a water bottle (there are plenty of filling stations) and pack snacks if needed during breaks. Even though recess will be provided, the Senior School canteen will be open if students wish to purchase food and drink. Please note the Senior School Canteen is a cashless venue.
- New students will meet their student buddy during the day.
Boarding families
For our Boarding families, we understand distance may not make this day possible, given also that Year 10s are having their Boarding sleepover on the weekend prior. There will be more information to be shared following Orientation Day. Our Boarding and School staff will use all available opportunities to ensure no-one misses out on what is shared.
Orientation Day Program
| Time | Activity | Location |
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8.50 am
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New students arrive at the Westminster Green and find their House flag
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Westminster Green, (Campus Map – 45)
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- Meet Head of House and 2026 House Captains
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- Collect name tag
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9.10 am
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Welcome and Introduction
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Michael Murray Centre for Performing Arts, (Campus Map – 43)
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- Andrew Whiteman – Head of Senior School
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- Kate Inglis (’01) – Deputy Head of Senior School
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- Stephen Schwerdt, Head of Activities
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- Wellbeing Team
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- Anna Goad and Ian Thomson – 2026 School Captains
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9.30 am
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School Tour
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Senior School Campus
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- 2026 School Leaders arrive and break into small groups to take everyone on a School tour
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10.00 am
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Return to Murray Centre and meet their buddy student
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Worthley Foyer steps, (Campus Map – 44)
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- Get to know buddy student
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- Buddy student to explain various aspects of school life
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10.20 am
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Catered recess and connect with Heads of House
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Worthley Foyer steps, (Campus Map – 44)
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10.40 am
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Attend lessons with buddy student
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Various Classrooms
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12.40 pm
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Subway lunch and connect with other students and buddies
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Thomas Pavilion steps, (Campus Map – 40)
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1.30 pm
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Attend lessons with buddy student
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Various Classrooms
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*At 2.50 pm, New Year 11 2026 students will meet in the Martin Library for an Introduction to AIF session.
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3.30 pm
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End of school day
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Worthley Foyer steps, (Campus Map – 44)
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If you have any questions about Orientation Day or the Senior School in general, please contact, Deputy Head of Senior School, Kate Inglis ('01), E: kinglis@westminster.sa.edu.au or T: 08 8276 0288.