Newington College

31 October 2024

What Happened This Week

ICAS Success

Congratulations to the students who sat ICAS assessments earlier last term in Maths, Writing, English and Science. The ICAS assessments are designed to be academically challenging for students, and therefore only a small percentage of students who sit the assessments nationally score highly. This year, our students have shown remarkable achievements across all the subjects. The following students achieved either High Distinction or Distinction across the different subjects, which is a remarkable achievement. Congratulations to all the students who sat these assessments. A special highlight is Milton Z from Year 3, who has been awarded medals in both Mathematics and Science.

English

Archer L Year 3High Distinction 
Milton Z Year 3High Distinction 
Max C Year 5 Distinction 
Felix M Year 5Distinction 
Jad C Year 6Distinction 
Harry W Year 6Distinction 

Science

Quentin S Year 3 High Distinction 
Milton Z Year 3 High Distinction 
Thomas T Year 4 High Distinction 
Zachary W Year 4 Distinction 
Max C Year 5 Distinction 
Felix M Year 5 Distinction 
Ethan W Year 6 Distinction 

Mathematics

Archer L Year 3 Distinction 
Milton Z Year 3 High Distinction 
Aaron C Year 4 Distinction 
Jacob F Year 4 Distinction 
Thomas T Year 4 High Distinction 
Max C Year 5 High Distinction 
Alexander C Year 5 Distinction 
Aiden K Year 5 Distinction 
Felix M Year 5 Distinction 
Joshua S Year 5 Distinction 
Jaiman V Year 5 Distinction 
Auguste B Year 6 Distinction 
Alex C Year 6 Distinction 
Jack J Year 6 High Distinction 
Christopher T Year 6 Distinction 
Ethan W Year 6 Distinction 
Harry W Year 6 Distinction 

Writing

Quentin S Year 3 Distinction 
Milton Z Year 3 Distinction 
Alexander B Year 4 Distinction 
Jacob F Year 4 Distinction 
Max C Year 5 Distinction 
Felix M Year 5 Distinction 
Alex C Year 6  Distinction 

Australian Maths Competition

Congratulations to all students who took part in the Australian Maths Competition. A special mention goes to Milton Z in Year 3, who achieved Best in School.

Alexander L Year 3Distinction 
Thomas P Year 3Distinction 
Quentin S Year 3Distinction 
Milton Z Year 3Distinction/Best in school 
Jacob F Year 4Distinction 
Max C Year 5 Distinction 
Alex C Year 5Distinction 
Nick M Year 5Distinction 
Dylon T Year 5Distinction 

Chapel Thought

‘Be still and know that I am God’ – Psalm 46:10 

Recently, I’ve been reflecting on the importance of stillness and the need to embed moments of reflection or spiritual practices into our day. Our days can be so busy as we work or organise home life, and the same can be said for a school day. Finding five minutes to centre ourselves, to focus on our breathing and to reflect on what’s really important can be such a rewarding practice to get into the habit of doing.  

Across the school, K-12, we’ve spent time in Chapel and RE classes over the last fortnight reflecting on various spiritual practices and the importance of being still, of calming our mind and our body and listening to the still, small voice of God within us and the presence of God’s Spirit around us. While meditating and reflection may not be for everyone, it can be so rewarding to find the time to simply be still and calm. In doing so, we find a sense of peace within ourselves and are able to recalibrate ourselves to face the next part of the day. It can be an incredible blessing to simply be still and know that God is with us.

Pastor Richard La’Brooy 

Year 6 Burn Bright Incursion

On Monday, Year 6 enjoyed an incursion from Burn Bright. The program was full of fun-filled activities focusing on being a Global Citizen. It provided the students with the opportunity to broaden their horizons to a global outlook and develop an understanding of the impact of their choices on the world.  

Wyvern’s End of Year Band & String Concert

Congratulations to all our students who performed so brilliantly in the End of Year Band Concert on Tuesday afternoon and the String Concert on Wednesday afternoon! Your hard work, dedication and passion for music truly shone through in your performance. 

A big thank you to our Heads of Bands Mike Rapper and Michael Wray and Head of Strings Adele Okhi, who organised the concert. Thank you to the staff and music tutors who supported the students in their preparation and on the day. Your guidance and commitment play an essential role in making these events such a success! 

Community Connection in 2025

The P&F is an active and significant contributor to school life. Various events and activities are coordinated by the P&F throughout the year, with the aim of building connections between families and contributing to the improvement of facilities and resources for students. 

You are warmly invited to become involved in the community in 2025. Please click here to submit an Expression of Interest for one or more of the following areas. 

  • Wyvern Uniform Shop
  • Wyvern Canteen
  • Class Parents 
  • Events 
  • Creative Arts 

Staff Profile

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

A. I was a student who often struggled in school. Sitting still and focusing was difficult for me, and looking back as an adult, I realise I often felt unseen, with my unique strengths going unrecognised. This experience inspired me to become a teacher – so I can ensure that every student feels seen, valued and supported. My goal is to help students reach their full potential in a way that honours and embraces who they truly are. 

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

A. You wouldn’t know it now, but I used to be an athlete. I began as a swimmer and eventually transitioned into triathlons. After just three weeks of training, I competed in my first triathlon at the New Zealand Junior Championships and finished 5th. That led to my selection to represent New Zealand at the Triathlon Junior World Championships. The following year, I placed second at the New Zealand Junior Championships and competed in the Triathlon Junior World Championships again, this time in Mexico, where I ran my fastest 10k at 38 minutes.  

Q. Which book, movie or TV show do you think every student should experience at least once, and why?

A. When I was in school, I struggled to enjoy reading because I could never find books that truly captured my attention. Now, as a teacher, I read children’s books with the goal of finding ones that spark engagement, so I can recommend them to my students. My top three favourites are Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, Holes by Louis Sachar and Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz. 

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