27 February 2025
What Happened This Week
The Fortnight That Was – Weeks 3 and 4
Chapel Thought
In every Chapel Service we have three symbols on our Chapel Table that guide our reflections. The prime symbol is the Cross, the central symbol of our Faith, reminding us of Jesus’ death and resurrection. We have our Light, our Christ Candle, reminding us of God’s light shining in even the darkest places. And our third symbol is our symbol of Love, the figure of the Risen Jesus ‘reaching out his arms to give the world a hug’.
This phrase, ‘Jesus reaching out his arms to give the world a hug’, may seem trite at first but at its heart is a deeply theological message. This symbol and these words are part of our foundational stories that we explore in RE and Chapel and remind every student of God’s love for all of us. They remind us that no matter what, God loves us, simply as we are.
Central to our exploration of Faith at Newington is that all in our community know the all-inclusive love of God. This is a love that doesn’t discriminate based on our background or experience, our past, our present or our future. God simply loves us just as we are.
When we see so much turmoil in our world, or face our own personal challenges, it’s important to be reminded, no matter our age, that God loves each of us, just as we are.
– Pastor Richard La’Brooy
3-6 Swimming Carnival
The 2025 Swimming Carnival at Stanmore Campus pool began with energetic house chants from Kingswood and Rydal. Mark Zhang claimed victory in the Senior Age Group 200m Individual Medley, while Lucas Foo won the Junior Age Group.
The Year 3 students, competing in their first Lindfield Swimming Carnival, received an enomrous cheer from the crowd as they finished their races. The 50m races saw Younghoon Jung post the fastest time in the U12 category, while Mark Zhang dominated the U11s and Lucas Foo triumphed in the U10s. Aiden Guo narrowly beat Liam Foo in the U8/9 race.
In the Backstroke and Butterfly events, Year 6 students continued to shine with Rydal taking an early lead in the house points. Younghoon Jung, Luca Karpelowsky, Riley Van Gelder, Mark Zhang, Oliver Effeney together with Lucas Foo, Taylor Green and Luca Guo continued to push themselves in the pool and took home several wins and places.
The carnival concluded with the relay races, where Kingswood won the Junior House Relay, and the Senior House Relay was decided by just 65 hundredths of a second.
Congratulations to all swimmers, and thanks to the staff, students, and spectators for making the carnival a memorable event.
IPSHA Swimming and Diving Team
Based on the results in the Swimming Carnival we are pleased to announce our IPSHA Swimming & Diving Team:
U8
Aiden Guo
U9
Liam Foo, Max Klingberg, William Huang, Edward Young, Maximus Gilchrist
U10
Lucas Foo, Taylor Green, Tristan Chen, Eren Kuscu
U11
Mark Zhang, Felix Reynolds, Michael Kwan, Edward Owens
U12
Younghoon Jung, Sam Wahl, Sean Yan, Ned Richardson, Riley Van Gelder
– Hugh Brown, Lindfield Sports Master
Round 2: Lindfield Spirit Recipients
Basketball
| Snr Black | Zack Hu | Hugo Harley |
| Snr White | Louis Cutcliffe | Jonathan Kiu |
| Snr Grey | Justin Zhang | Nathan Huang |
| Snr Orange | Charlie Eikeland | Mark Zhang |
| Snr Green | Andrew van Doorn | Zurayn Malik |
| Snr Yellow | Daniel Lin | Pedro Willson |
| Snr Blue | Albert Liu | Michael Tsang |
| Jnr Black | Aarav Dhringra | William Huang |
| Jnr White | Joshua Lo | Lachlan Wan |
| Jnr Grey | Arthur Yang | Henry Xie |
| Jnr Orange | Jacob Zhang | Max Dukovski |
Cricket
| Snr Black | Arlo Cole | Sam Wahl |
| Snr White | Arlo Cutcliffe | Oliver Wong |
| Year 4 | Will Lawrie | Jack Rembrandt |
| Year 3 | Paddy Johnson | Ko |
Touch Football
| Snr Black | Luca Wiseman | Luke Davis |
| Snr White | Jackson Kelly | Hugh Hammerschmidt |
Winter Uniform Fittings – Wednesday 2 April
Our Uniform Prep Shop will be holding winter uniform fittings for our new 2025 students to Lindfield in Years K-6. Book via this link.
Please book a ticket for one timeslot and the Prep shop will have the uniform ready for your child on the day.
Parents, please arrive to the School Office prior to your appointment time and we will assist in collecting your son from his class.
For all other uniform requirements, please refer to New Spaces for Uniform Prep Shop information and online orders.
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.
Parent Learning Series: The Science of Learning with Sean Kang
The College warmly invites all parents to an evening with Associate Professor Sean Kang from the University of Melbourne on Tuesday 4 March from 6.00pm at our Lindfield Preparatory Campus.
Join us to explore how your child’s brain develops at every stage and discover practical ways parents and schools can support their growth, ensuring they reach their full potential.
Staff Profile
This week, we shine the spotlight on Rebecca Gianakoulias, a Year 5 Classroom Teacher at Wyvern House. Known for her inspiring teaching methods and warm demeanor, Rebecca fosters an engaging learning environment where every student feels valued. She believes that teaching is not just a career but a calling, driven by a contagious passion for learning that sparks curiosity in her students.
Q. Which book, movie or TV show do you think every student should experience at least once, and why?
A. One book that really stands out to me is Wonder, which also has a movie adaptation. It’s a story that captures your heart and stays with you. The author R.J. Palacio described it as a ‘meditation on kindness.’ The book follows a boy with facial differences as he navigates joining a mainstream school and experiences the powerful effects of both kindness and unkindness. A key precept of the book is that ‘your deeds are your monuments’ which I think is such an important message for young people. I’ll admit, I can’t help but shed a few tears every time I watch the movie.
Q. What are some of the qualities that make a great teacher?
A. Let’s be honest, teaching is not for the faint-hearted. A passion for teaching is the most critical quality for success. I firmly believe teaching is a calling, not just a career you choose ‘because’. You need a passion that’s contagious, one that sparks curiosity and a genuine love for student learning. That’s the key to longevity in teaching. Empathy is also vital. The ability to understand students’ feelings, challenges and perspectives helps a teacher build meaningful relationships, which are at the heart of everything in a classroom. I always tell my students that we carry a ‘virtual school bag’, one that we can’t see but that holds all the baggage we bring with us. As teachers, it’s our job to help students navigate that because after all, we’re dealing with young human beings who each enter the class with their own unique experiences.
Q. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to students that you wish you had known when you were in school?
A. School truly holds some of the best moments in life. As a mum now, I often find myself asking, ‘Why is time going so fast?’ and this feeling is especially strong when I reflect on my school years. You spend five days a week with friends, engage in subjects you enjoy and form friendships that can last a lifetime. In fact, some of my best friends today are the ones I made in Kindergarten, and they’re still by my side. A quote that’s always stuck with me is, ‘I wish I knew I was in the ‘good old days’ when I was in them.’ So, my advice to students today is this: one day, these will be your ‘good old days,’ so cherish every moment.
