12 June 2025
What Happened This Week
The Week That Was
Sports Update and Spirit Awards – Week 7
Last week was a bye round due to the long weekend — we hope everyone enjoyed the well-deserved sleep-in!
As we head into the final two rounds of sport for the term (Rounds 6 and 7), we’d like to wish all our teams the very best. Play hard, play fair, and continue to do Newington Lindfield proud on and off the field.
Special Mini Olympics – Friday 27 June
Over the past ten years, Lindfield families have raised an incredible $120,000 in support of Special Olympics Australia – an amazing achievement that reflects the spirit and generosity of our community. This year, we’re aiming high once again, with a goal to raise over $10,000.
Our much-loved Special Mini Olympics will take place on the last day of term, Friday 27 June. Year 6 students will set up a variety of fun and inclusive sporting challenges around the school, with all year groups joining in the action.
We’re also thrilled to welcome Special Olympics athletes and participants to Lindfield. They’ll be sharing their inspiring stories, showcasing their talents, and joining students at each station to take part in the challenges.
Adding to the celebration, the College will be providing a sausage sizzle lunch for all students, with huge thanks to our Year 6 parent volunteers who will be cooking and serving on the day.
A reminder for families: Students should complete their Service-Learning Sponsorship Book, and all donations are to be made directly to Special Olympics Australia via the following link: Special Olympics Australia : 2025 Newington College Mini Olympics.
Our current tally stands at $1056 with some students demonstrating great acts of service to raise these funds. These are being celebrated at school and in class so please keep them coming.
Let’s keep the momentum going and make this year another one to remember!
Chapel Thought
On Sunday, Christians around the world celebrated Pentecost. Often considered the Birthday of the Church, Pentecost reflects on the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples as told in Acts, Chapter 2. The events occur some days after Jesus has ascended into heaven and the disciples are commissioned to continue his ministry and told to spread the Good News of God’s love to the world.
The story tells us that the disciples were together in a locked room when suddenly a rushing wind came into the room. Then miraculously small tongues of fire appeared above each disciple’s head, giving them the ability to speak in different languages and proclaim Jesus’ message to all nations. Since then, the image of the flame and the concept of wind have been powerful ways that we depict the Holy Spirit.
Pentecost gives us the opportunity to remember that God’s Spirit is always with us giving us hope and strength in all that we do. Because of Pentecost, we too have the Gift of the Spirit sustaining us and supporting us in all that we do. Pentecost encourages us to reflect on where we have experienced God’s Spirit in our lives and to know that God is always with us.
As a College, we will have an opportunity to reflect on the Gift of the Spirit in our community with our Newington Pentecost Service which will be held on Tuesday 17 June at 5.30pm in the Senior School Chapel. It will be a Uniting Church Service, led by our College Chaplains, with musical leadership from the College Choir. All members of the Newington community, from all campuses, are welcome to attend.
– Pastor Richard La’Brooy
Lindfield Futsal Camp July 2025 (Years 3–6)
We will be holding a two-day Futsal camp for girls and boys in Years 3 to 6 at our Lindfield campus. This event is for current families as well as those outside our community.
Our aim is to provide an active holiday environment with an appropriate balance between ‘Futsal fundamentals’ and ‘Futsal fun’. We hope to cover both individual skills and team concepts during the course of the camp. The camp will be facilitated by two fantastic Newington coaches and national level Futsal representatives – Aurelia Collins and Sienna Beram.
- WHERE: Lindfield Preparatory
- WHEN: Monday 14 July and Tuesday 15 July from 9.00am–1.00pm
- COST: 1 Day = $20, 2 Days = $40
Register now by clicking clicking the button below and please share with families who may be interested.
Lindfield Open day – Wednesday 18 June 2025
We are holding our next Open Day from 3.30pm–5.00pm for prospective families who are looking to join our school community.
If you know of any families who may be interested in this afternoon, please share this invitation.
Co-ed Scholarships for Year 5, 2027
We are excited to announce that co-ed scholarships for girls and boys entering Year 5 in 2027 are now open and close Friday 4 July 2025. These scholarships are in addition to the extensive program already available across academic, co-curricular, sporting and boarding in the Senior School.
To find out more and to apply, click below or email our Admissions team.
Senior School Co-Education Parent Information Evening
We are delighted to invite families of future senior girl enrolments to an information evening at our Stanmore Senior school campus.
Building on our move to co-education in our Prep K-6 campuses from 2026, co-education will commence at our Senior School in Years 7 and 11 from 2028.
You will receive information about the College’s co-education journey and hear from our Headmaster Mr Michael Parker, and our Director of Co-education Ms Brigid Taylor.
Code Camp Holiday Program
We’re thrilled to announce that Code Camp Australia will be running a Holiday Camp Program during the upcoming school break—right here at Lindfield!
There will be three engaging camp options, open to all year groups and welcoming Lindfield students, their families, and friends. It’s a co-ed program designed to inspire creativity, coding skills, and fun!
Camp Options:
- Minecraft Minis (Ages 5–7): A playful introduction to coding and creativity using the world of Minecraft.
- Spark Camp (Ages 7–12): Learn the fundamentals of coding and create your very own game!
- Illustrate a Graphic Novel Camp (Ages 7–12): Bring stories to life through art and storytelling.
Special Offer: Lindfield students receive a discount—just follow the link on the attached flyer to book!
Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to learn, create, and have fun these holidays!
ICAS Assessment
Lindfield will be participating in the 2025 ICAS assessments again this year.
Participation in these events are voluntary. ICAS provides an opportunity for students in Years 3 to 6 to gain a measure of their own achievement in an external testing situation.
ICT Help for Parents
To assist all families in navigating New Spaces please refer to this comprehensive article with relevant links.
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.
Staff Profile
This week we caught up with our beloved College Chaplain and Mathematics Teacher, Geordie Barham. Whether its through his involvement in Cadets, the AFL program, Chapel services or in the classroom, Geordie is a familiar face to many in our Stanmore community.
Q. Why teaching? What is it you enjoy about teaching?
A. For me, teaching is a ‘calling’. The reward is the success and improvement acquired through those who you serve in educating.
Q. What is something people don’t know about you?
A. I served as a Minister for thirteen years prior to becoming a teacher. I’m a grandfather of two and passionate supporter of all teams Queensland (Lions, Reds, Broncos, Maroons…) despite being born and growing up in Sydney.
Q. Did you have a favourite teacher growing up and why?
A. My favourite teacher was my music teacher, Mrs Mary Lopez, because she believed in my musical ability when I did not. She saw something in me that I struggled to see.
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. There’s no doubt I’d want to dine with Jesus Christ. I would ask ‘millions’ of questions in an effort to grasp the depth of care, compassion, love and forgiveness He has for me, like He does for all mankind. I’d like to experience the sense of awe and connection that those characters in the Bible experienced being in His presence.
Q. What was your favourite subject in school when you were a student, and did you ever struggle with a subject yourself?
A. There’s no doubt my favourite subject at school was ‘Mathematics’, simply because it clicked with me. I remember turning up to class back in Year 6 at Beecroft Primary School, reaching within my tote-tray to find a marked Maths quiz that had ‘100%’ written at the top. I remember feeling a deep sense of disbelief, coupled with a resonating sense of satisfaction. With sky-high confidence, this became my beacon for success that sent me through secondary school as an Extension Two (four unit) Mathematician and into university to complete a Bachelor’s degree that majored in Mathematics.
On the flipside, English was a struggle. I did have poor eyesight which made reading more challenging, finding myself in the bottom reading group; a group made up of just three students. I battled throughout high school, yet in the end, English featured as one of my important marks in my overall HSC aggregate. Later in life as a preparatory school educator, I effectively learnt the art of reading and writing, as I crafted how to best teach junior school students to comprehend texts and express themselves in writing.
In light of this, two pieces of advice I’d like to offer:
- Master what you find challenging, turning your weaknesses into strengths.
- Excel with the strengths you’ve been given; never take them for granted.
