Two former students of Newtown High School of Performing Arts, Catherine Lagaʻaia and Milly Alcock, are now leading blockbuster movies, Moana and Supergirl, respectively. This is a remarkable feat for a hometown, especially one as small as Newtown, Sydney's inner west. The school, which opened in 1990, has produced two global screen stars, a testament to its quality and the talent of its students. The school accepts general admissions and also audition intakes for students wanting a strong focus on performing arts. Head drama teacher, Daniel Kavanagh, remembered auditioning Lagaʻaia, who showed the necessary qualities. He noted her ability to listen, collaborate, and use creativity in activities, as well as her intelligence and keen sense of the units of work. Alcock, who was in Year 11 when Mr. Kavanagh joined the school's faculty, was also very measured and thoughtful, with a keen analytical approach. The school has a program that allows students to study overseas during the holidays, and Alcock was one of the students who was really keen on that opportunity, but wasn't necessarily able to afford that. The opportunity for Lagaʻaia to play Moana came at an inconvenient time, as it often did for students, but the school worked with her, the tutors, and family to make it work. She did have to go off to film in the middle of her Higher School Certificate (HSC) year, and so we were having her emailing assessment tasks back and forth. She did end up having to sit her HSC exams while she was over in the US through special arrangement with the New South Wales Education Standards Authority. She was really committed to making sure that she did that because some students might have just gone, 'You know what, it's just too hard, I'll put it off and I'll come back later'. During Alcock's studies, an opportunity landed at her doorstep in 2019 to star alongside Tim Minchin in television series Upright, about an unlikely pair trying to transport a piano through the desert. She finished with her schooling in 2018. Alcock went on to play young Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO's series, House of the Dragon, before starring as Simone DeWitt in the American black comedy television series Sirens alongside acting veterans Julianne Moore and Kevin Bacon. She then transformed into Supergirl in the latest film in the DC Universe. Mr. Kavanagh said the public school did not have the same resources as some private ones, but its strength lies with the 'really strong staff', including six drama teachers. The community pride is evident in the local cinema, where the area is represented by locals, and the films are popular with employees and the community because of the local connection. For Mr. Kavanagh, seeing posters for both films during a recent visit to the cinema was a 'proud teacher moment'.
