Welcoming Year 7 in 2026
We are delighted to invite your child to our Orientation Day for all new students in Year 7, on Friday 21 November. Orientation Day will commence 8.30 am and end at 3.15 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
Drop-off/pick-up
Student requirements on the day
Boarding families
Preparation
The following provides key information about the day:
- During the day, students will be given an overview of 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 will be provided on the day. Please bring own recess. Recess will be held at 10.20 am to meet with Heads of House. Our 2026 School Leaders will organise lunch for the students from 12.40 pm. If you have not already, 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 Westminster Green by 8.30 am. You will find this as Reference 45 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, including Heads of House, and if it suits, attend the program’s first session (8.45 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 3.15 pm for Year 7s and all students will be dismissed from the eastern 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 and lunch 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 buddy group during the day.
Boarding families
For our Boarding families, we understand distance may not make this day possible. 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
8.30 am
|
Students arrive in front of the Michael Murray Centre for Performing Arts
|
Westminster Green, (Campus Map – 45)
|
|
8.45 am
|
Welcome and Introduction to Year 7
|
Michael Murray Centre for Performing Arts, (Campus Map – 43)
|
|
|
- Chris Mellow - Head of Year 7
|
|
|
9.10 am
|
Welcome and Introduction to Westminster
|
Michael Murray Centre for Performing Arts, (Campus Map – 43)
|
|
|
- Andrew Whiteman – Head of Senior School
|
|
|
|
- Kate Inglis (’01) – Deputy Head of Senior School
|
|
|
|
- Stephen Schwerdt – Head of Activities
|
|
|
|
- Wellbeing Team
|
|
|
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- Anna Goad and Ian Thomson – 2026 School Captains
|
|
|
9.30 am
|
Tutor activities
|
Senior School Campus
|
|
|
- Ice Breaker Games and Getting To Know You Activities
|
Tutor classrooms (201-205, 306-307)
|
|
10.20 am
|
Recess (bring own) and connect with Heads of House
|
Michael Murray Centre for Performing Arts steps, (Campus Map – 43)
|
|
10.40 am
|
Year 12 Leaders Tour
|
Various
|
|
|
- Finding your Way Scavenger Hunt
|
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|
11.20 am
|
Tutor Activities
|
|
|
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- Student Expectations
|
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- Questions and Answer Session
|
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- Locks, lockers, and day-to-day timetable
|
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- Maths Testing
|
|
|
12.40 pm
|
Catered lunch and connect with other students and buddies
|
Outside Dragon Cafe
|
|
1.30 pm
|
Information Session - OneNote, SEQTA, FUSS and Performing Arts
|
Chapel
|
|
|
- Ella Camporeale - FUSS
|
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- Jeanella Lim - OneNote and SEQTA
|
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- Sophie Wilson and Chris Gould - Performing Arts
|
|
|
2.00 pm
|
Tutor Activities
|
Tutor classrooms (201-205, 306-307)
|
|
|
- Orientation Day Reflection
|
|
|
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- Team Quiz
|
|
|
3.15 pm
|
End of school day
|
Michael Murray Centre for Performing Arts steps, (Campus Map – 43)
|
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.