Term 1, Week 2

6 Feburary 2025

From the Head of the ELC

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Since the commencement of the new year at the ELC, our focus has been on establishing a connection with each child. Research shows that positive relationships with young children are central to developing acceptance, self-esteem and higher-functioning thinking skills that contribute to positive learning and life outcomes. Our team of educators take an active role in nurturing, supporting and promoting relationships with our children and their social skills. We align our practices to ensure respectful and equitable relationships are developed and maintained with each child in our Education and Care (ACECQA National Quality Standards 5). 

We want our interactions with your child to be meaningful, warm and responsive. Focusing on building and maintaining connections over time is crucial, as it significantly affects a child’s sense of security, well-being and their feelings of belonging. We want to build social competence through the relationships children form with educators and peers. Social competence is the foundation that will allow your child to understand and self-regulate their emotions and negotiate their interactions with others. They are learning important skills of care, empathy and respect toward others as they develop their social competency.  

Laying the foundations for quality relationships help children: 

• Feel secure, gain confidence and the gives them the freedom to explore, play and learn. 

• Learn how to interact with others – respecting others’ rights, being appropriately assertive and caring for others beyond themselves. 

In the past few weeks, we have seen the ELC children positively engaging with and applying their understanding of the relationships they’re building with both educators and peers. Our role, then, is to be ‘emotionally available’ so that we can nurture, support and help lay the foundations for these connections. We are growing gradually as a community with your children, and we look forward to establishing warm connections with our families too as we progress throughout the year.

Parent Code of Conduct

As the new school year begins, I would like to reiterate our commitment to each and every child at Newington to support and assist them to learn, think and thrive. The education of a child is a wonderful partnership between the school, the parents and the student. For that partnership to be successful, there needs to be a base of respect and trust. Trust that we have the child’s best interest at heart and that we know the best way to educate them – whether that’s in the ELC or Year 12 – and how to run the College. And respect in the way that we all communicate, share our feedback, thoughts and/or concerns which extends to digital and social media platforms.  

A reminder for all parents to embrace New Spaces and the Weekly Newsletter. Important information is posted there and that is our central point of truth. Newsletters come out every Thursday via email and live on the website. 

If you have a concern or are seeking clarification on any matters, in the first instance, please contact the school and person responsible directly. We are only too happy to assist and improve where we can. If you are unsure who to contact – the starting point is your child’s class teacher.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Newington College is filled with wonderful and kind families. I respectfully ask all parents to familiarise themselves with the parent code of conduct found on New Spaces, so that this partnership and promise to our children is at the core of everything we say and do throughout the year. 

ELC Email Address

Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us at elc@newington.nsw.edu.au and we will respond to you as soon as possible.  

What’s Happening This Term

Developing the Whole Child

At Newington, we’re focused on developing the whole child. Mr Benjamin Barrington-Higgs speaks to this further in a video you can watch here.

Parent Information Evening – Thursday 20 February 2025

As noted on the ELC calendar, please save the date and RSVP via this link by Friday 14 February. The evening will provide families with the opportunity to meet the ELC team, meet each other and gain insight into our educational program for each class.

Anaphylaxis Prevention

Please be informed we have children at the ELC who have anaphylactic reactions to eggs, nuts and sesame. We kindly request that you avoid packing any of these allergens (in any form) on Thursdays and Fridays.

We also request that birthday cakes/cupcakes you provide for your child must not contain eggs, nuts and sesame if brought in on Thursdays and Fridays.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation.

ELC News & Parent Resources

The ELC New Weekly will be emailed to ELC families during term time on Thursday each week and is also available here on the website. It will outline important dates and information to note.

Parent Resources can be found on ELC New Spaces and in our Parent Hub located in the ELC piazza. The Parent Hub has articles, brochures and information leaflets on various topics. This space will also serve as our QIP station where you can view the National Quality Standards and information on the Seven Quality Areas.

We kindly ask that you engage with us in this space by looking at each of the Quality Areas, which are clearly displayed to guide your feedback on:

• What are our strengths?

• What improvements can we make?

We will display one Quality Area for you to focus on over a two-week period, commencing as of next week.

Storypark

Please engage with us via Storypark and support the building of community by sharing special moments from home/holidays or memorable occasions. We also encourage you to respond to posts shared by your child’s teachers – individual or group learning stories, and partner with us in celebrating your child’s educational journey. We look forward to reading your thoughts, feedback and any insights you may like to provide.

Specialist Lessons (Music, French and Library) and Chapel

Music Specialist Lessons have commenced this week with Ms Eva Evat. We will have Chapel with Pastor Richard La’Brooy every Tuesday, starting from next week. French lessons will take place in the coming weeks with Ms Emilie Montusclat.

Library lessons will commence in Term 2 for the Eagle and Goanna classes. Please ensure library bags are purchased from the uniform shop by the start of Term 2.

Holiday Programs 

During Wyvern House term breaks, the ELC provides two weeks of Holiday Program. When there are three weeks of Wyvern term break, the last two weeks will be allocated for the ELC Holiday Program.   

The Holiday Program outline for each term break will be available to families a week before the program starts. Children can attend the ELC in their normal clothes and are not required to wear uniforms during this time. 

Signing In/Out

Please ensure you sign your child in and out each day they attend. If you have delegated pick-ups or drop-offs to a family member or friend and they are on our records, please provide your access details to Xplor sign-in/out. Stephanie at the front desk will be available to assist should they require support.

This week we are profiling Lindfield’s School Office Administrator Sophie Lappin. As the first friendly face you see when you walk in, Sophie plays an important role in the Lindfield ecosystem. She is a crucial point of contact for parents, students and community members while also helping to maintain the everyday operations of the school, ensuring everything runs smoothly.

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

A. Good Will Hunting (1997), starring Robin Williams and written by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, has been my favorite movie since I first saw it. The film tells the story of Will Hunting, a janitor at MIT whose extraordinary mathematical genius is discovered by a professor. What follows is a beautiful journey of friendship, self-discovery and healing, especially between Will and his therapist, played by Robin Williams. The way their relationship developed struck a chord with me. 

One of the movie’s most famous lines is, ‘You’ll have bad times, but they’ll always wake you up to the good stuff you weren’t paying attention to.’ It’s a reminder that even through hardships, there’s always something valuable to learn, a message I think we could all use more of in our lives. 

Q. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to students that you wish you had known when you were in school? 

A. Enjoy each day! As a student, the school year always felt like it would never end. I remember counting the days from January to when Christmas would be here again–each day seemed to drag on forever! But now, as an adult, the years fly by and there’s never enough time in the day, week, month or even the year. Before I know it, Christmas is right around the corner again! It’s a reminder to savor the present moment because time seems to slip away faster than we expect. 

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

A. Since stepping away from my career in Hospitality Management at 25, my family and I have had the incredible opportunity to live in Korea, Singapore and Japan—three times, in fact. Each of these experiences, the cultures, the people and adventures, I will cherish forever. 

Staff Profile: College Leadership Group

We are excited to feature a new profile on each member of the College Leadership Group (CLG) in our newsletter each week. This dedicated team plays a vital role in shaping and supporting the Newington community, and we look forward to sharing more about their contributions and leadership.

This week we are profiling Mr Mark Salmon who is the Director of Senior School Operations – our scheduling extraordinaire. He is responsible for ensuring everybody on the senior campus is in the right place at the right time, formulating student and staff timetables, coordinating teacher covers, and overseeing the smooth day-to-day functioning of the Senior School.

Q. What do you see as the role of the College Leadership Group?

A. The College Leadership Group plays a crucial role in shaping the vision and culture of Newington. The CLG works collaboratively to ensure students receive a well-rounded education, encouraging both academic and personal growth. They help create an inclusive environment for both students and staff.

Q. What do you think is the Newington difference?

A. The Newington difference is its commitment to holistic education; academic achievement is balanced with personal development and co-curricular activities. The strong sense of community and diverse learning experiences across its campuses set it apart.

Q. If you could describe Newington College in three words, what would they be?

A. Inclusive, innovative and kind.