Term 1, Week 8

20 March 2025

From the Deputy, Head of Preparatory Schools & ELC

The educational landscape is continually evolving and changing to meet the complex needs of young people. As a school, we are always looking at how we educate and where we can improve.  A recent Edutopia article highlights the most significant educational research findings from 2024. We are always fascinated by what research and practice is telling about the way we can enhance what we do as educators. These findings include:  

• One study found that combining challenging tasks with easier ones increased students’ motivation and enjoyment without sacrificing rigour. For parents, that means mixing up the learning and not always pushing students to the edge of their competence. Make sure learning stays fun and there is a mixture of challenge and consolidation.  

• Another study revealed that inattentive behaviours in a classroom could spread to nearby students, emphasising the need for engaging lessons and classroom management. Engagement has been a primary concern in our planning and teaching for a number of years. This year particularly, we have been focusing on strong routines, rules and procedures to create a safe and calm learning environment where learning is at the centre.   

• Research on the impact of generative AI (GenAI) showed that while AI-assisted students performed better in practice sessions, they scored lower on closed-book quizzes, AI can sometimes reduce the thinking and problem-solving acuity of students in the learning process. 

• Journaling about nature and journaling in general helped students reduce stress and improve self-esteem. 

• Low-stakes practice tests were found to be an efficient way to improve student performance, with error analysis being particularly effective. This is an aspect of cognitive load theory that we use in the Newington classrooms. Retrieval of information helps to solidify in our long-term memory through games, quizzes, exit tickets and end of lesson challenge activities.  

• Peer instruction was shown to enhance learning, with students who explained the concepts to the other peers outperforming others. If you can explain it, you understand it.  

• A modest improvement in youth mental health was observed in 2023, with schools playing an important role in addressing this issue through social emotional learning programs. 

• Finally, the importance of a balanced approach to early reading instruction was emphasised, with phonics being one component of good literacy instruction. 

These findings underscore for us at Newington the importance of innovative teaching strategies, excellent classroom management, and addressing the diverse needs of students to enhance learning outcomes. These are all important aspects of the learning and teaching that we have developed to further our aim to provide an excellent education for all the students at Newington.  

“The 10 Most Significant Education Studies of 2024” by Youki Terada and Stephen Merrill in Edutopia, December 6, 2024 

What Happened This Week

Child Safeguarding Hub

Student safety and wellbeing continue to be at the centre of everything we do. They have a right to feel safe and be safe. Their wellbeing is our most fundamental concern and as a Child Safe Organisation, we are dedicated to this criterion.

To enhance Child Safeguarding at Newington, in September 2022, we established a Child Safeguarding Committee to oversee the development and monitoring of systems, policies and process that implement the child safe standards.  

The Committee is comprised of key staff members integral to Child Safeguarding at Newington. The Committee manages several Child Safeguarding initiatives and engages external experts to advise on best practice on various aspects of child safeguarding, including safe recruitment, student voice, engaging parents, staff training and risk management.

One of the initiatives Newington’s Child Safeguarding Committee has been working on is the Child Safeguarding Hub, a unique and innovative resource that puts the College at the forefront in its commitment to student safety. This hub is available here on New Spaces and contains valuable resources and tools for parents and carers.

To find the parent hub on New Spaces head to:

New Spaces > Parent Services > Child Safeguarding for Parents and Carers

Harmony Day

At Wyvern, we take pride in the diverse backgrounds and cultures that make up our school community. We are excited to celebrate Harmony Day on Friday 21 March, where students will participate in age appropriate, meaningful activities which promote inclusion, respect, and diversity across all year groups. Keep an eye out in next week’s newsletter for photos! All students will receive the official orange Harmony Day ribbon to commemorate this special day. 

IPSHA Swimming & Diving 

Wyvern were represented by 23 boys at the recent IPSHA Swimming and Diving Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. The highly competitive carnival involves hundreds of school-aged swimming talent from independent school in NSW. This year Wyvern were also represented in the diving competition with Ned Blake, Paxton Clarke and Oscar Boyd in the U/12 springboard.  

Unfortunately, we did not have any swimmers qualify for the CIS carnival this year. However, our team did shatter many personal bests and gained confidence and perspective to help on their swimming journey. The team will undoubtedly continue to improve before the next opportunity to swim at invitational carnivals during Term 4. 

Our divers fared well in the U/12 springboard competition with amazing performances and high-scoring dives. Congratulations to Ned Blake 1st, Paxton Clarke 2nd and Oscar Boyd 4th for their execution on the day and subsequent CIS Carnival qualification.  

Thanks to Mr Joel Wilson organising the Wyvern team. Mr Wilson’s full report of the event including some great photos of the students can be hound here. 

You can read the latest news from our sports department here.  

Cross Country Carnival 

A wonderful Newington Preps Inter-House Cross Country event was held this week on the beautiful senior school grounds. Fantastic staff assistance and parental support helps to provide an event which is a highlight on the sporting calendar. Special congratulations to our Age Champions, IPSHA representatives and the mighty WILLIAMS House for a well-earned House Champions Trophy. Please look out for Mr Wilson’s full report on the Wyvern Sport page on New Spaces soon.  

End of Term Tiredness 

It has been a very busy and successful first term. The students have worked hard and been involved in many areas of school life. At this stage of the term, many of them are getting tired. It is very important that they continue to get good sleep and downtime as they are on the go from the moment they arrive at school until the moment they leave. My understanding is that our Junior Primary students need 10 hours of sleep a night and our students in Year 5 and 6 need 9 hours of sleep every night. If they fall an hour short of this target every night then they are missing almost one night of sleep a week. Technology, inconsistent bedtime routines and not enough exercise can impact the quality and consistency of their sleep.

Chapel Thought  

This week, as we celebrate Harmony Day, is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on God’s inclusion and love of all people, no matter our background or experience. 

Our scriptural stories tell us a lot about God’s Kingdom, the place and the way that we are closer to God, and time and time again they remind us that there is a place for everyone. The Parable of the Mustard Seed, in Matthew 13:31-32, describes God’s Kingdom like a mustard seed that is planted in the ground. The tiny seed grows to become an enormous tree, broad enough for all the birds of the garden to make their homes in. 

In this simple image of a tree, stretching out it’s branches wide, we see that God’s Kingdom is a place where all are welcome and all are accepted, just like the birds in the Parable. We can be comforted to know that no matter our background or experience, no matter our past or our present, God simply welcomes us and loves us no matter what. 

May that be an image of hope for us this Harmony Day. 

Pastor Richard La’Brooy 

Wyvern Sport News 

Read the latest news from our sports department here.  

New Sport Holiday camps 

NewSPORT have the following holiday camps taking place in Week 1 of the April School Holidays. 

For a 15% early bird discount for purchases prior to 31/3/25 please use EBIRD15. 

Water Polo 

• Monday April 14 to Wednesday April 16 

• 8:00am- 12:00pm 

• Click here to register 

Futsal 

• Monday April 14 to Wednesday April 16 

• 9:00am- 1:00pm 

• Click here to register

Save the Date! Wyvern Easter Toy Drive

Tuesday 24 March – Friday 11 April 2025  

Since 2017, Wyvern parents have co-ordinated a Toy Drive for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Play Therapy Department. More information and specific requests from the hospitals as to the types of toys required can be found here. 

Easter at Wyvern – Save the date!

Friday 11 April 2025 

• Coffee on Cambridge  

• Kindy & Year 1 Easter Hat Parade  

• Whole School Easter Chapel  

Parents are welcome to join us on the morning and final details will be published in the coming days. 

Co-ed Scholarships for Year 5 2026 Now Open

Staff Profile

This week, we hear from John Sullivan who is a Year 5 Classroom Teacher at Wyvern House. John loves seeing students gain confidence in the classroom and thrives on the variety each day brings.  

Q. Why teaching? What is it you enjoy about teaching?  

A. Honestly, it is that ‘lightbulb’ moment when a student finally gets something. I love seeing their confidence grow and knowing I played a part in that. Plus, every day is different, keeps me on my toes!  

Q. What is something people don’t know about you?  

A. I secretly write terrible sci-fi short stories. They are hilariously bad, but it is a fun and creative outlet.  

Q. If you could have dinner with any historical figure or celebrity, dead or alive, who would it be and what would you talk about?  

A. I’d love to have dinner with David Attenborough. I’d want to hear all his stories about the natural world, his insights on conservation and just soak up his wisdom. He has seen so much! 

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

A. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, even if you think they’re silly. Embrace your mistakes; they’re the best way to learn and grow.  

Staff profile: College Leadership Group (CLG)

This week we are profiling Tom Kindred who is the new Head of Co-curricular, let’s give him a warm welcome! Tom will be responsible for overseeing and enhancing the wide range of extracurricular activities offered to students.  

Q. What do you see as the role of the College Leadership Group?   

A. To provide leadership in both the strategic and operational spaces for the overall education of students at Newington.  

Q. What do you think is the Newington difference?  

A. A College community whose culture is very clearly built and espoused around diversity, courage and kindness.  

Q. What is something not many people know about you?  

A. I enjoy making sourdough and have four beautiful children, all of whom I adore equally… even my favourite.  

Q. If you were a student at Newington today, what would you be most excited about?  

A. The incredible breadth of opportunity I would have to try different activities and knowing that it would mean I could improve at something every day. No matter how big or small. Learning is fun, the difficulty is that it takes wisdom to appreciate that. Also, Eungai Creek, the pool, the rowing shed and the drama centre, these are just some places that elicit joy even for me now.   

Q. If you could describe Newington College in three words, what would they be?  

A. Kindness, Courage and Diversity. I think the College and the many wonderful people who are part of the community are walking the talk when it comes to those values.