27 March 2025
What Happened This Week
The Fortnight That Was
Weeks 7 and 8 – Term 1 2025
NAPLAN
A huge congratulations to all our Year 3 and Year 5 students who completed their NAPLAN testing last week. We are so proud of the way they handled themselves with persistence and calmness throughout the whole week. Thank you also to our parents and carers who supported the students beforehand at home; the children were so well prepared each day, and this made a huge difference in the way they approached each assessment. We should expect the results back at some point in Term 3.
Easter Raffle – Save the Date!
We are excited for our upcoming P&F Easter Raffle and Year K-2 Easter Hat Parade on Friday 11 April.
The P&F will send home raffle tickets to all families for purchase or selling, and are requesting donations of Easter Eggs for this Raffle. Please drop off all donations to the Office by Monday 7 April.
Further information please refer to New Spaces: New Spaces – Lindfield Easter Raffle.
CIS Swimming and Diving
On Wednesday, Newington Lindfield students showcased their incredible talent at the CIS Swimming and Diving Championships at SOPAC, and we couldn’t be prouder of their achievements!
A special congratulations goes to Aiden Guo, who secured an impressive 2nd place in his race. Aiden’s performance was outstanding, and his dedication earned him a spot at the upcoming NSW PSSA Championshnips on April 11th. Maximus Gilchrist also put on a fantastic display, finishing 2nd in the diving competition. Maximus will also represent Newington College at the NSW PSSA Championships.
Lastly, a big shout-out to Mark Zhang, who participated in the U11 50m Breaststroke final. Mark came in 4th place, showing incredible skill and effort throughout the race. It was a great finish in what has been a fantastic season for him!
Let’s all send our best wishes to Aiden and Maximus and we wish him the best of luck as they prepare for their next exciting step!
Hugh Brown
Sportsmaster
Week 8 Lindfield Spirit Recipients
Chapel Thought
As we move through Lent and approach the season of Easter I’ve been reflecting a lot this week on the symbol of the Cross, the central symbol of our faith.
For Christians, the Cross reminds us of Jesus’ death and resurrection. It’s the most recognisable symbol of our faith seen in all places of worship and often worn as a personal item of devotion. The Cross has even moved into popular culture, Hot Cross Buns being a perennial symbol of this season with the emblematic cross across the top.
But as we reflect on the Cross, we must remember that historically this was a symbol of deep brutality and extreme punishment in the Roman Empire. Crucifixion was a painful and humiliating punishment in the ancient world reserved for the most extreme of criminals.
Yet at Easter we see our Saviour, Jesus Christ, undergoing such brutal punishment; an innocent man willingly undergoing this so that we can be closer to God. In this act the Cross is transformed from a symbol of pain and suffering into a symbol of Love, the all-encompassing love of God that knows no bounds. The love that includes all people, no matter their background or experience, a love that welcomes and accepts all people.
As we move towards Easter and we see the symbol of the Cross throughout our daily lives, may we see it as a reminder of God’s all-embracing love; a love that we celebrate at Easter time.
– Pastor Richard La’Brooy
Newingtonian 2024
We are excited to share that the 2024 Newingtonian will soon be available.
The Newingtonian is Newington College’s annual yearbook recording the lives and achievements of students and staff since 1884.
If you would like a hard copy we request that you register via the following link. Digital copies will be shared in April.
The deadline for orders is this Friday 28 March, 5pm. Please note it is limited to one per family.
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
2025 Lindfield Calendar and Term Dates
*Subject to change
The 2025 dates have been published on New Spaces and can be found here on New Spaces Please ensure you check this Calendar regularly for any additional events and changes.
New Sport Holiday camps
NewSPORT has the following holiday camps taking place in Week 1 of the April School Holidays. These camps are open to current students and the wider community, both boys and girls, so please feel free to bring a friend or siblings.
For a 15% early bird discount prior to 31 March, 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
Community Support – Cromehurst School
Our friends at Cromehurst school are opening two new classrooms for their high school students. They are fundraising for new furniture, smartboards and teaching resources.
Cromeshurst is reaching out to our Newington Lindfield Community to help support and donate to raise much needed funds.
Seniors and Special Friends’ Morning
What a beautiful morning it was as we gathered for our annual Seniors and Special Friends Day!
During our morning assembly, our string ensemble and school choir performed, and we were treated to an energetic performance by the band, who had us all tapping our feet to a lively rendition of Thriller.
Mr Benjamin Barrington-Higgs welcomed everyone with a warm and heartfelt message, setting the tone for the day. His words of encouragement and gratitude were a perfect start to a day filled with joy and connection.
Visitors were also invited into our classrooms, where they had the chance to experience the incredible work of our students. Year 3 Grandparents were especially lucky to explore the Year 3 Antarctica diorama, which featured ice and detailed models that brought the frozen continent to life. But the excitement of learning was not limited to Year 3, with all classes undertaking rigorous, creative and deep learning experiences. It was a wonderful opportunity for our special guests to see the creativity and hard work of the students firsthand.
A huge thank you goes to the Lindfield Parents for their incredibly generous contributions of sweet and savoury treats. The selection was simply amazing, with something to satisfy every taste! The spread was a true reflection of the values our community shares.
A big thank you once again to all our volunteers, performers, and supporters for making this day such a success. Your kindness and generosity truly make a difference. We are looking forward to next year’s Seniors and Special Friends Day!
P&F Update
We would like to thank the Lindfield P&F Executive, Kindergarten Parents and Year 2 Parents, who worked tirelessly to prepare and deliver a successful morning tea at our Seniors and Special Friends Morning last Wednesday. The sense of community is strong at our school and is evident through the work of our P&F.
ICT Help for Parents
To assist all families in navigating New Spaces please refer to this comprehensive article with relevant links.
Co-ed Scholarships for Year 5 2026 Now Open
Become a part of history with the Pioneer Scholarship, created to celebrate Newington College’s transition to co-education and support girls and boys who are ready to lead, innovate and inspire. This is more than just a scholarship—it is an opportunity for trailblazers who are eager to make a lasting impact.
This scholarship is available to existing and prospective students (both boys and girls) currently in Year 4 (entering Year 5 in 2026). This prestigious opportunity is designed for students with a balanced range of achievements who will benefit from the outstanding opportunities at Newington College while enriching our vibrant school community.
Current and new students can apply here.
Staff Profile
This week, we hear from Hana Kitamura who is a Religious Studies Teacher at Lindfield. Hana has been teaching at Lindfield for 7 years.
Q. Why teaching? What is it you enjoy about teaching?
A. I enjoy getting to know the students and seeing them grow throughout their primary school years. I feel very privileged to see my first Kindergarten cohort graduate Year 6 this year!
Q. What is something people don’t know about you?
A. It was after spending a year in Tanzania that I decided to become a teacher.
Q. What is one of your best memories of being a student?
A. Living in the boarding house in the senior school and playing Saturday sports and training with my friends.
