27 February 2025
What Happened This Week
Inquisitive Minds: Igniting the Spark of Learning in Prep Schools
This week at Wyvern each class from Years 1 and 5 enjoyed a two-hour workshop from Inquisitive Minds, and it was great to see the hall buzzing with excitement and competition as each pair of children raced against the clock to complete as many puzzles as possible.
The workshops are designed to create an environment where learning is fun, interactive and engaging. During each session, each pair of children worked together to solve mathematical puzzles and brain teasers, which not only enhanced their mathematical knowledge but also developed their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. It was fantastic to see teamwork and communication skills being developed across the days as the children watched the problem being modelled and then applied this to further problems.
Supervision before school
Under normal circumstances the school does not provide supervision of students before 8.00am or after 3.40pm unless they are taking part in a compulsory, supervised school activity such as a club or music ensemble, or unless a special arrangement has been made with the school executive.
For their safety, students must not arrive before 8.00am. The only exception is for students who use the Newington bus service or those who are enrolled in an approved before-school activity or lesson.
We kindly ask for your cooperation and thank you for your understanding and ongoing support. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.
We encourage all parents and carers to read the Wyvern Parent Guidelines and Procedures which can be found in the Parent Services menu on New Spaces.
Prep School Magazine
Tomorrow in assembly we will be launching our Prep School magazine, a publication written for students, by students. This exciting initiative will start in Term 2, with all students from K-6 invited to submit articles to be considered for publication. The magazine will be run by a small team from Year 5 and 6. If your child is in Year 5 or 6 and is interested in being involved, we will be accepting applications over the next two weeks. Students are invited to submit a 300–500-word article on a topic of interest, suitable for a magazine. This could be a sports report, a film or book review or an article on a recent school event. The deadline for applications is Friday 14 March. Students will be provided with further detail on how to send their applications and submissions soon. Please note that students must be prepared to give up a lunch time on a regular basis.
Compulsory Saturday Sport
It has been great to see the students enjoying representing Wyvern the last couple of Saturdays. They are developing their skills and teamwork every week.
A few parents have asked for leave from Saturday sport for different reasons this term. Part of the enrolment agreement for attending Newington is the undertaking to play Saturday sport every week for the College. This is one of the compulsory elements of attending Newington. The sports schedule is placed on New Spaces at the beginning of the school year and it is intended that families will plan their holidays and other activities outside these Saturday sport dates and times. Click here to view the summer sport schedule.
Whilst we are very supportive of family time and other opportunities outside school, playing team sport is compulsory for all students. The College values the time families commit to taking their child to games, supporting the teams and helping with the other aspects of the Saturday sport program.
Newington’s sport program gives our students opportunities to be part of a team, develop friendships, learn new skills, and put their training and preparation into practice. When students are absent for sport, they let down their team and often leave their team short of players. We intentionally set up our teams with a minimum number of reserves to ensure maximum game time for our students.
If students are selected in a representative team or competing at state level, then they can obtain permission for one exemption. For all other reasons, it is expected that families plan around their child’s Saturday sport commitments.
The Wyvern House Sports Manual can be found here.
Congratulations to the Wyvern Spirit recipients in Round 2 of Summer Sport. A list of the recipients can be found here.
Music Workshop Weekend
All students in Wyvern String and Wind Ensembles will be participating in the Music Workshop Weekend on Saturday 29 March and Sunday 30 March. Invitations have been sent to the parents or carers of the students that are expected to participate. The P&F will be coordinating the catering and volunteers for the weekend. If you would like to volunteer to assist at the workshop, please email wyvernmusic@newington.nsw.edu.au.
Enrichment opportunities
Whitlam Institute’s ‘What Matters?’ Competition
Interested students in Year 5 and Year 6 are encouraged to enter the Whitlam Institute’s ‘What Matters?’ writing competition. Entries close on Friday 16 May 2025, leaving plenty of time for students to brainstorm, research, plan and write.
How to enter: Students submit a maximum of 600-word piece of fiction, non-fiction or poetry. The work must be an original piece completed by the student in 2024. One entry per student. Full information on the competition can be found here.
MindQuest 2025
MindQuest caters for high potential and gifted primary students from Years 1 to 6. This fast-paced, challenging program offering 33 exciting courses for gifted and talented students is designed to enrich and extend students of similar interests and abilities that are one or two years beyond students’ year level and the scope of the general curriculum. These highly successful, fun-filled weekends offer students the opportunity to meet other students of similar interests and abilities. Further information about upcoming days, can be found here.
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
Winter Uniform Fittings: New Students Only
A reminder to book your appointment by tomorrow Friday 28 February if you are planning to visit the uniform shop for a winter uniform fitting.
Bookings can be made here.
Please note the uniform shop will be closed over the school holidays. All orders for winter uniforms must be completed and collected by Thursday 10 April.
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.
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.
