Term 1, Week 4

20 February 2025

From the Deputy Headmaster

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

Welcome to Week 4! 

In this week’s assembly, the focus was on service learning here at Newington. Head of Service Learning Mr Mick Madden addressed the students and highlighted the importance of giving back to the community through meaningful service opportunities. 

Mr Madden emphasised that service learning at the College is designed to encourage students to contribute to society in a way that extends beyond simple fundraising. While monetary donations can be beneficial, the true value of service lies in dedicating time and effort to assist others. He explained that hands-on service experiences offer invaluable lessons in leadership, empathy and personal growth. These experiences create a sense of pride and self-worth that is far more impactful than financial contributions. This philosophy is why the program is called ‘service learning’ rather than ‘community service.’ 

At Newington, leadership and service go hand in hand. Prefects, House captains and other student leaders are chosen only after they have demonstrated a commitment to serving others. Mr Madden made the clear distinction the school’s focus is on developing ‘servant leaders’—students who are willing to serve before they lead. 

He outlined two key types of service opportunities available to students. The first category includes ‘in-house’ service activities, which are organised by the school. These include initiatives such as the dessert van, Loaves and Fishes, the Red Shield Appeal, school tour guiding, Saturday sports barbecues, and house charity events. The second category consists of service activities that students seek out and organize independently within their communities. These may include assisting elderly neighbours, volunteering at Vinnies, participating in surf lifesaving patrols, working with community garden groups, coaching junior sports teams, or supporting local church and after-school care programs. 

Finally, Mr Madden encouraged students to reflect on how their actions shape their personal narratives and to think about who they want to be, what they want to do and how would they like to be perceived by others as the choices we make today, define us tomorrow.  

Our Year 12 students, Joseph H and Max B then spoke about their incredible three-week Tour to Nepal they attended alongside 17 other students and staff, Mr Garner, Mr Light and Mr Dudman.  

Their adventure was filled with cultural exploration, community service and a challenging trek through the Himalayas. The trip began in Kathmandu, where they visited Hindu temples and Buddhist stupas, gaining insight into Nepalese traditions. They then travelled to Janakpur for five days of service, helping to lay the foundation for Buddhist monk accommodations while bonding with locals over cricket. Next came an 11-day trek through the Himalayas. The grueling hike led them through Sagarmatha National Park, across suspension bridges, and through snow, culminating in the breathtaking sight of Mount Everest from Namche Bazaar at 3600 meters. After their trek, they took an adventurous flight from Lukla back to Kathmandu and visited the Pathik Gyan Niketan School. There, they learned about students’ daily contributions to their community and enjoyed a friendly game of futsal. To commemorate their journey, they presented a gift from the Pathik Gyan Niketan School to Mr Parker.  

Also in December, during the first week of holidays a group of Year 12 students, along with staff Ms Wickenden, Mr Dickens and Ms Bates, participated in the Sony Camp hosted by MLC School, caring for children with disabilities and offering their families much-needed respite. Year 12 students Finn D, Rupert F, and Kye P shared their impactful experiences from the camp, highlighting both the challenges and rewards of this opportunity. 

Finn D spoke about his camper, Cameron, who was initially shy but opened up over the four days. One of Finn’s favourite memories was taking Cameron to the beach for stand-up paddleboarding. The best part for Finn was knowing they were helping parents as well as campers. He encouraged others to take part in the camp, calling it a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Rupert shared his experience with Jeremy, a returning camper who loved Minecraft and Mario. Despite the long days and little sleep, Rupert focused on ensuring Jeremy’s happiness and safety. A touching moment came when Jeremy expressed his joy with a reference to Inside Out, saying, ‘I am the yellow emotion, I am joy!’ Rupert stressed the rewarding nature of the camp and encouraged others to embrace service learning opportunities. Kye highlighted the essential role of relief companions, who supported the primary companions during the long days. These companions helped manage the needs of multiple children, ensuring the camp ran smoothly and everyone had the support they needed. 

The Sony Camp was an unforgettable experience for students, deepening their understanding of service and the impact they had on others. Through their hard work they made a difference in the lives of the campers and their families, demonstrating the power of selfless service and the rewards that come from helping others. 

Last week we had our Chess teams compete in their first four-round Swiss format tournament. With 20 entrants our competitors can achieve a maximum of four points (four wins).  

The results were: 

1. Four points: Miro K (Year 12) 

2. Three points: Kye P (Year 12), Jed R (Year 11), Kent S (Year 10), George W (Year 10), Jeffrey T (Year 8) 

We currently have 71 students registered within our Chess program and we look forward to their continued growth and skill across the upcoming trainings and competitions. Debating has also had a successful start with many teams competing across our NewDeb and FED debating programs. It has been fantastic to see many new faces join our debating program and we look forward to future success in the upcoming weeks as our teams progress through the ISDA competition (Independent Schools Debating Association). A reminder that several communications have gone out in recent days regarding our Camp Week which is scheduled for Week 11 of Term 1. Parents are reminded to complete the consent for these activities as soon as possible. Our outdoor education camps place our students in unique and varied experiences that develop the skills and essential values that we want them to develop as young people growing up in today’s world. Additionally, our Year 11 and 12 students also get the opportunity to engage in a range of micro-credentialled learning opportunities, service activities and university visits to build up further real-world experience they can use beyond the school gates.  

This Saturday, Newington will host St Ignatius’ and Knox in basketball, cricket, tennis and water polo. With favourable weather ahead, we look forward to welcoming these schools to Stanmore. Our football team kicks off their CIS Cup campaign with a Round 1 match against Shellharbour Anglican College. Our golfers will compete against Scots College at Bonnie Doon, and our table tennis team will face Trinity at Sydney Olympic Park. Best of luck to all our teams for their weekend fixtures! 

The tickets to the 2025 Newington Musical Catch Me If You Can are now sold out. We wish the cast and crew all the best for the last few weeks of rehearsals.  

Just a reminder to follow the procedure for Absence and leave request when your child is unable to come to school or participate in their co-curricular activity. The Absence and Leave procedures can be found here on New Spaces.  

I look forward to seeing parents and guardians tomorrow night at the 2025 Newington Welcome Cocktail Evening from 6.30pm on Memorial Drive. It’s a great opportunity to welcome new parents and reconnect with old friends in a relaxed environment on campus. Make sure you purchase a ticket if you haven’t already. We’re excited and hope to see you there! 

Co-ed Scholarships for Year 5, 2026 Now Open

Become a part of history with the Pioneer Scholarship, created to celebrate Newington College’s transition to co-education and support girls and boys who are ready to lead, innovate and inspire. This is more than just a scholarship—it is an opportunity for trailblazers who are eager to make a lasting impact.  

This scholarship is available to existing and prospective students (both boys and girls) currently in Year 4 (entering Year 5 in 2026). This prestigious opportunity is designed for students with a balanced range of achievements who will benefit from the outstanding opportunities at Newington College while enriching our vibrant school community. 

Current and new students can apply here. 

Why Critical Thinking Matters

Critical thinking is at the forefront of education at the College, teaching students to listen, reason and develop independent critical and ethical thought by engaging with life’s big questions. Watch more about the importance of critical thinking below:

Staff Profile

This week, we are profiling our ELC office administrator Stephanie Christofides. Known for her exceptional organisational skills and warm demeanor, Stephanie plays a crucial role in ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. Her attention to detail and unwavering support ensures that staff, students and families always feel welcome and well-cared for at the ELC.

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

A. People don’t always know that I used to be a teacher. I have a Bachelor of Education in Primary/Junior School from Canada, where I was born and studied. In Canada, the schooling years are a bit different. Primary school includes pre-kindergarten (ages 3-4) and goes up until Year 8 (ages 13-14). High school starts in Year 9. I previously taught primary in Canada and early learning in Hong Kong.

Q. What is your favourite hobby?

A. My favourite pastime is travelling. I have lived and worked in five different countries on four different continents. I just returned from visiting Mexico with my family, which was the 65th country I have now visited. My two teen boys and my husband have also become seasoned travellers as we have visited over half of these countries together as a family.

Q. What is your favourite memory from school?

A. My favourite memory from my school years was the excursions. I loved not just the camps, but the real-world experiences. This included walking to the shops in my Year 1 class. I remember visiting the local butcher, watching the meat hanging and being cut, and then going to the bakery, where I was captivated by the cake decorators. It was in those moments that I decided I wanted to pursue cake decorating as my profession when I grew up. After the excursion, I wrote a long story about my experiences and received my first gold star sticker, which made me feel proud of my learning.

Other memorable experiences included visiting the local pioneer cemetery to study history, going to the local parks to help clean up rubbish and embarking to the local library to hear authors speak. All these excursions instilled a great sense of community for me in my local area and really engaged my curiosity for learning outside of just the classroom in a practical, more hands-on approach that worked well for me as a learner. 

Staff profile: College Leadership Group (CLG)

This week, we are profiling Kate Pollitt, our new Director of Admissions. With her expertise in navigating the admissions process and her approachable nature, Kate is the first point of contact for many families joining our community. Her deep commitment to ensuring a smooth and seamless experience for all prospective students and their families makes her an invaluable part of our team.

Q. What do you think is the Newington difference?

A. I am new to Newington and really love the Wyvern philosophy, fostering Great Hearts, Inspired Minds and Strong Wings. There is also a strong focus on academic excellence, wellbeing and future-ready skills. It embraces critical thinking, ethics and community service, which are all important for preparing our students to thrive in a dynamic world with courage, integrity and creativity.

Q. What is something not many people know about you?

A. I am lucky to have had the opportunity to live and work overseas, including 11 years in Shanghai and time in London and Poland. I’ve loved travelling with my family, exploring different cuisines and immersing myself in different cultures and histories—and I also attempt to speak some Mandarin! 

Q. If you were a student at Newington today, what would you be most excited about?

A. If I were a student at Newington College, I would be excited about the incredible range of co-curricular opportunities, including sport, drama and music and the school’s strong emphasis on academics and service learning. Access to the Ethics Centre is also a unique opportunity for students to develop their critical thinking skills, setting them apart as thoughtful and engaged learners. I also wish I had the opportunity to take part in the exciting community service program that our students experience at the Year 9 Eungai Camp. I look forward to hearing about their experiences and how they develop these important life skills through hands-on learning, collaboration and meaningful contributions. Newington students are privileged to grow academically and personally while being part of a diverse, forward-thinking community.

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

A. Innovative, inclusive, and inspiring.