12 June 2025
From the Acting Head of the ELC
World Environment Day, held annually on the 5th of June, is a wonderful reminder and opportunity to engage in rich and meaningful conversations about sustainable practices. This year’s theme #BeatPlasticPollution, encourages us to reflect on our everyday practices and implement gradual changes to support this initiative.
Some of the changes we could make as a community to support this initiative could include:
- Minimising plastic packaging used when packing your child’s lunchbox.
- Collecting and sharing recycled materials (yoghurt pouch lids, cardboard boxes and fabrics) with us, to be reused in craft experiences.
- Supporting our ‘Renew and Regrow’ initiative here at the ELC, by sharing your knowledge and expertise in gardening or sustainable practices.
Ms Nicole Bor
Acting Head of Early Learning Centre / Early Learning Teacher
What’s Happening This Term
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.
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.
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
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.
