A letter from Mr Tony McDonald – Chair of Newington Council, published in February 2026.

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Dear Newington Community, 

Welcome back to a relatively new school year. I hope you and your families enjoyed a restful break and have returned with renewed energy for an exciting year ahead. There is always a special energy on our campuses at this time of year – full of promise, possibility and the joy of seeing students reconnect with friends, teachers and routines.

Newington finished 2025 on a wonderful note by celebrating the outstanding academic results achieved by our students, particularly our graduating Year 12 class. You can read more about their results and achievements here on our website. It capped off a year in which our students distinguished themselves in the classroom, across sport, the creative and performing arts, technology, outdoor education and service-learning.  

These achievements are never just the result of individual effort alone. They are made possible by the discipline and diligence of our students, and the dedication, passion and expertise of our remarkable teachers and staff. On behalf of Council, I extend our heartfelt congratulations to everyone involved. We are immensely proud of what our students and educators have, and continue to, accomplish together.s

This year is already a particularly historic one for the College as we welcomed our first pioneer co‑educational classes in Kindergarten and Year 5 across our Wyvern and Lindfield campuses. This milestone represents years of planning and preparation and definitively signals a moment in our rich history. I thank our community for embracing this next exciting chapter and welcoming all the new families to the College in 2026.

From College Council’s perspective, our major priority for the year ahead is to ensure the College remains well‑positioned to deliver an exceptional education for both today’s students and the generations that will follow. This includes continuing our strategic focus across academic excellence and rigour, student wellbeing, facilities enhancement, and long‑term financial sustainability.  

We are especially excited about the continued evolution of our Eungai Creek campus, our intentional approach to critical and ethical thinking, and the embedding of wellbeing programs that nurture student agency, belonging and resilience.

An important part of Council’s responsibility is to ensure leadership and strategic continuity. We have a clear vision and a well-articulated 2025-2027 strategic plan. As part of our normal governance processes, Council regularly reviews our skills matrix, succession planning and tenure policies across both the Council and the College’s senior executive team. This includes considering the composition of Council to ensure it reflects the diversity, experience and capabilities needed for the effective stewardship of Newington College now and into the future.

With deep confidence in our future direction, I am now approaching the end of my tenure as Chair of Newington College. In preparation for this, over the last 18 months Council has been engaged in a thorough process to determine the attributes required in our next Chair, and has worked closely with an independent search firm to consider and canvas both current Council members and external candidates, with the goal of nominating the best individual to serve Newington.

This process is now nearing completion and Council expects to confirm a new Chair in the coming months. We look forward to sharing more with our community as soon as the appointment is finalised.

As we embark on this significant year, Council extends its warmest wishes to our students, staff and families for a positive, fulfilling and inspiring start to 2026. We are grateful for your support as we continue to work together to strengthen Newington for the future.

Warm regards, 
Tony McDonald  (ON 1976)
Chair of Newington College Council