Term 1, Week 3

13 February 2025

From the Deputy Headmaster

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

Welcome to Week 3! 

Last Friday, the Academic Excellence Assembly marked a special welcome back to the Class of 2024, to celebrate their achievements and recognise the dedication that led them to this milestone. An annual event on the Newington calendar, the assembly not only honours our wonderful graduates, but also serves as a source of inspiration and challenge for our school community. It sets the tone for the academic year ahead and provides our students with role models to follow. 

This year, we were honoured to have Old Newingtonian, Mr Angus Waldon (ON 2019) to address the assembly and present the awards. Mr Waldon was Dux in Years 9, 10 and 11 and received Academic Colours throughout his time here. Described as an outstanding young man by his Head of House, after completing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme he continued his academic success at the University of Sydney, where he completed a Bachelor of Science and served as President of the Science Society. He is now on placement in Orange while he pursues a Doctor of Medicine at the University of Sydney where he continues to enjoy basketball with his Newington friends. During his address to the assembly, Mr Waldon shared two key pieces of advice with the students. He encouraged them to ‘do what you love,’ explaining that motivation is something you can grow and practice. He also emphasised the importance of taking pride in your work, noting that the best predictor of future success is your current habits. Mr Waldon’s message was clear: passion, discipline, and consistent effort lead to success. 

In addition to recognising the achievements of our exceptional Class of 2024, we also celebrated the accomplishments of students across various year levels and academic programs. A range of students from Year 10, 11 and 12 were awarded the prestigious Academic Colours, which recognise outstanding academic achievement and effort. I congratulate these students on their efforts and thank them for the example they have set. You can watch the recording from the Academic Excellence Assembly here.

In our assembly this week, Mr Parker spoke to the students about the importance of classroom expectations and how classroom conduct is a two-way street. He explained that classroom conduct is a shared responsibility between both students and teachers, highlighting that a positive and respectful learning environment requires effort from everyone involved. Mr Parker also shared his article on this topic with you, parents, a couple of days ago. If you missed it, you can read it here on New Spaces.

Today we saw the first of our House Competition days. It was fantastic to see the colour and vibrancy of a spirited day of healthy inter-house competition. Students participated in a range of games including four court tennis, volleyball, softball, table tennis and swimming. Congratulations to Mackay as the winning house on the day!

Co-Curricular programs are now in full swing with a vast range of sports, clubs, activities, music ensembles, choirs and performing arts now into their full schedule of practices and rehearsals.  

The 2025 Newington Musical Catch Me If You Can will be one of the highlights of the term. Tickets are now available here.  Based on the hit film starring Tom Hanks and Leonardo Di Caprio, the show follows the true story of the relentless pursuit of charming con man Frank Abagnale Jr by seasoned detective Carl Hanratty, as Frank leads us through the twists and turns of a heady lifestyle of forged cheques, assumed identities, fake names and broken hearts. 

Congratulations to all students who competed in the Newington Age Swimming championships last Friday night. The record number of entries is testament to the strength of the Newington Aquatics program. Following the meet was the selection of the Newington swim team ahead of the AAGPS season. We wish all swimmers and coaches the very best for Carnival #1 to be held on Thursday evening at SOPAC. 

Our rowers will be competing in the prestigious Gold Cup Regatta on Saturday, promising a fantastic day of schoolboy rowing at Lane Cove. Newington will have 23 crews competing, with a special mention to our Year 8 rowers who will field 10 crews. 

Our first House Chapel services for the year will be held next Wednesday 19 February (Mackay and Prescott) and Thursday (Johnstone and Fletcher) evenings. These gatherings provide an opportunity for our students and parents to come together in unity and reflection, guided by the values of our community. 

Why not join us for some fabulous Friday night fun at our annual Newington Welcome Cocktail Evening, open to all campuses ELC, Wyvern, Lindfield and Stanmore. This weekend is your last chance to secure your tickets. It’s a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and welcome new families to the College. For more details, click here. . 

Enrolments are now open for 2026 and 2027  

We are accepting girls into Kindergarten and Year 5 from 2026 at our Lindfield and Stanmore Prep campuses, and Year 7 and Year 11 at our Senior campus in Stanmore from 2028.

If you are interested in enrolling your daughter, please call our Admissions team on 02) 9568 9333

Staff profile

This week, we are profiling Stanmore’s beloved Science teacher, Vatche Ansourian. A former television presenter, Vatche is known for his passion and charisma, contributing every day to making the campus a more vibrant place. With his infectious enthusiasm for science, he inspires students to explore, question and discover the wonders of the natural world.

Q. What is one of your favourite memories of being a student? 

A. One of my fondest memories is the thrill of group work – those moments spent huddled with friends, tackling tricky problems, writing a group play or designing a model, and even turning our collective confusion into outright hilarity. I remember vividly a play we wrote about consumerism in English that had us in stitches. Was it the best? Of course it was. Was the acting on point? You betcha! But it wasn’t just about cracking the lesson. It was about teamwork and thinking on our feet, skills that have served me well both in and out of the classroom.

Q. Did you have a favourite teacher growing up and why?

A. I was incredibly fortunate to have a couple of standout teachers who truly shaped who I am today. The first was my Year 6 primary school teacher, Ms Perantuono, and the second was my Year 7 science teacher (no surprises there!), Mrs Smith. Both gave me the freedom to explore and make my own decisions about learning. Ms Perantuono taught me how to set my own learning goals and explore my interest in the human body. Mrs Smith was always there to answer any question and made me think. Their trust and encouragement turned every lesson into an exciting adventure rather than just another day at school.

Q. If you weren’t a teacher, what other career would you imagine yourself in?

A. If I wasn’t teaching, I’d probably want to be a full-time kids’ science show host. Having had a stint in kids’ TV before, the idea of mixing humour with hands-on science to spark curiosity in the next generation is still incredibly appealing. Given that’s not happening, I’ll take a full-time kids’ science teacher any day #same.

Q. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to students that you wish you had known when you were in school?

A. My top piece of advice is simple: consistency. It might not sound as glamorous as a flashy study hack, but steady effort and regular practice lay the foundations for genuine understanding and long-term success. I’ve found that setting aside a bit of time each day to review notes or tackle practice problems builds a solid foundation, much like regularly hitting the gym builds strength over time. Each small, steady step helps you better understand complex ideas and reduces the need for stressful, last-minute efforts. Trust me, your future self will thank you for the effort you put in today.