6 March 2025
From the Deputy, Head of Preparatory Schools & ELC
Breaking Up With Your Mobile Phone
In her After Babel article, health and science writer Catherine Price says that it’s not just kids’ screen time we need to worry about, whilst children and teenagers are suffering the most from the negative effects of social media and too much screen time; their parents and most adults are as well. Price shares five steps for building a healthier relationship with our phones:
• Step 1: Define what you want. Setting an arbitrary goal and relying on will power (e.g. one hour of phone time a day) won’t work. The algorithms that drive our devices are scientifically designed to steal our attention and that’s a big deal, because ultimately, our lives are what we pay attention to. When we allow app-makers to steal our attention, we’re allowing them to rob other parts of our lives. Ask: Why do you want to change your screen habits? What do you want to spend your time and attention on? What would a healthy relationship with your smartphone (and other devices) look like?
Price also suggests calculating how much time you spend with your screens (usually about 25 per cent of waking hours) and then explaining why this needs to change.
• Step 2: Reconnect with real life. She suggests brainstorming what we’re curious about, what feels fun, things we love to do, things we want to do more of, then putting them in your calendar, increasingly displacing screen time. We turn to our phones when we are lonely or bored, if you lean into things you love to do, then screen time is less alluring.
• Step 3: Make your phone boring. Apps trigger our brains’ dopamine systems. To counteract this, we need to block unnecessary notifications and take steps to make our phones unexciting. Retain features that have a tool-like purpose, and delete or hide those that mainly entertain, entice, and distract. She recommends app blockers like Freedom, ScreenZen, Opal, Brick, and Unpluq Tag. By the end of this process, your home screen should contain only tools, not temptations. Your phone will be less like a poker machine and more like a Swiss army knife.
• Step 4: Create phone-free spaces. Nowadays, it’s nearly impossible to find any place or gathering that does not include smartphones. She recommends creating times (breakfast and dinnertime) that are mobile phone free and solely for human connection. And there might be phone-free evenings, even whole days with no screens – a Digital Sabbath.
• Step 5: Start and end the day on your own terms. If you can get your phone out of your bedroom, you will reclaim the morning and evening and you will probably sleep better, too. That means using a regular alarm clock and having an out-of-bedroom phone charging station for the whole family.
Escaping mobile phone dependence isn’t easy, concludes Price. If you lapse, she says, don’t be too hard on yourself, notice what happened and decide how you want to move forward. In the end, we want to model the behaviours we’re trying to instil in our children because the reality is that the best parts of life don’t happen on a screen.
“Are You Struggling with Your Own Screen Time?” by Catherine Price in After Babel, January 29, 2025
What Happened This Week
Parent Learning Series: The Science of Learning with Sean Kang
Newington College warmly welcomed Associate Professor Sean Kang from the University of Melbourne this week. Professor Kang is a cognitive psychologist whose research focuses on applying the cognitive science of human learning and memory.
Teachers and Parents gained a valuable insight into how your children’s brains develop at every stage and discovered practical ways to support their growth, ensuring they reach their full potential.
The next event in our Parent Learning series is with parenting expert Dr Justin Coulson on 25 May 2025. More information to follow.
Chapel Thought
This week across the College we will be celebrating International Women’s Day. The theme, March Forward, provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the impact of women in our lives as well as a time to challenge those biases we see in our community.
As people of faith, striving for equality is central to living as a Christian. The Gospel message of Jesus is one of inclusion and equality for all people. His ministry was one spent challenging those places where there was injustice and striving for a better world, centred on God’s Kingdom of inclusion for all.
The Bible is full of incredible women who challenged norms and strove for God’s inclusive kingdom. I often think of Ruth or Esther in the Old Testament or Lydia in Acts 16. Jesus’ female disciples were the first to witness the Resurrection and were the ones who conveyed the Good News to the other disciples.
In the Uniting Church, we have always affirmed gender equality, and we are blessed by incredible female leadership, including from our current National President and State Moderator. Equality is an expression of our faith and the way we live out God’s Kingdom.
So, this International Women’s Day, let us give thanks for the impact women and girls have made in our lives and let us commit ourselves to continuing to March Forward towards equality for all.
– Pastor Richard La’Brooy
IPSHA Swimming & Diving Team
On Tuesday 4 March, the Lindfield Swimming and Diving Team proudly represented the college at the IPSHA Swimming and Diving Carnival. A total of 17 swimmers and one diver competed at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.
Our Junior relay team was the first to hit the water, showcasing their teamwork and securing 5th place in their heat. The Senior relay team followed with an impressive performance, recording a competitive time and finishing 6th, just missing out on a ribbon.
Throughout the day, our swimmers achieved outstanding results, setting personal bests and bringing home ribbons. Notably, two swimmers qualified for the IPSHA Swimming Team and will compete at the CIS Swimming Carnival. Congratulations to Mark Z, who placed 1st in the U11 Breaststroke, and Aiden G, who finished 2nd in the U8 Freestyle. We wish them the best of luck in the upcoming competition.
In diving, Maximus Gilchrist delivered a standout performance in the U9 Springboard competition, achieving a personal best and securing 1st place in his age group. We are proud to announce that Maximus will be the first Lindfield diver to compete at a representative level. Congratulations, Maximus!
Well done to all our students for their hard work and achievements!
– Hugh Brown, Lindfield Sports Master
Round 2: Lindfield Spirit Recipients
Basketball
| Snr Black | Edward Owens | Leo du Rietz |
| Snr White | Max Thompson | Jonathan Kiu |
| Snr Grey | Joshua Low | Caleb Kim |
| Snr Orange | Charlie Eikeland | Hubert Ma |
| Snr Green | Taylor Green | Zurayn Malik |
| Snr Yellow | Ben Denes | Eren Kuscu |
| Snr Blue | Warren Li | Xavier Fan |
| Jnr Black | Aarav Dhingra | William Huang |
| Jnr White | Ernest Chu | William Deng |
| Jnr Grey | Jordan Kim | Nicholas Endres |
| Jnr Orange | Lucas Bautista-Carter | Timothy Yang |
Cricket
| Snr Black | Oliver Le Hume | Sam Wahl |
| Snr White | Flynn Zhang | Oliver Wong |
| Year 4 | Arlo Cutcliffe | Jonah Denes |
| Year 3 | Maximus Gilchrist | Paddy Johnson |
Touch Football
| Snr Black | Henry Nixon | Felix Reynolds |
| Snr White | Cooper Dietrich | Luke Rogan |
International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day (March 8) is a great opportunity to talk to students about gender equality, inspiring female role models, and the importance of respect and inclusivity. This year, Lindfield specialist teachers took the lead in celebrating and sharing insights of women from their area of their expertise who have made significant contributions:
Beth Walker (Art Teacher)
Yayoi Kusama is a positive influence on women today because she shows that creativity and determination can overcome challenges. As a female artist from Japan, she faced many obstacles in a male-dominated art world but never gave up on her passion. Kusama is famous for her bold, colourful polka dot patterns and infinity rooms, which inspire people to see the world in new and exciting ways. She has also spoken openly about her struggles with mental health, showing that it is okay to ask for help and keep following your dreams. Her success proves that women can achieve great things in art and beyond, making her a wonderful role model for International Women’s Day.
Susanne Williams (STEM Teacher)
Veena Sahajwalla is an Australian materials scientist and engineer known for her groundbreaking work in sustainable recycling. She invented “Green Steel”, a revolutionary process that replaces coal in steelmaking with recycled rubber tires, reducing carbon emissions and waste.
As the founder of the Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) Centre, Veena has pioneered innovative ways to transform waste—like old electronics and textiles—into valuable new materials. Her work is shaping the future of eco-friendly manufacturing, proving that waste isn’t just rubbish but a resource for a sustainable planet.
Her contributions have earned her global recognition, including the Australian of the Year (NSW) award in 2022. Through science and engineering, Veena is leading the way toward a cleaner, greener future
Veena and how she started out…
She grew up in India, surrounded by recycling and reusing culture. As a child in Mumbai, Veena saw people fixing, reusing, and repurposing everyday items instead of throwing them away.This sparked her curiosity about how materials could have a second life—a passion that shaped her future work.
She was fascinated by fire and melting metals. As a teenager, she loved watching metalworkers in Mumbai repair and reshape broken metal objects.This later inspired her research into metallurgy and recycling.
She was a science and maths whiz. She studied engineering in India before moving to Canada and later Australia for advanced research.Her love for problem-solving and materials science led her to create the revolutionary Green Steel process.
She turned waste into gold—literally!One of her projects involved extracting valuable metals, like gold and copper, from old electronics instead of mining them from the Earth.
She’s known as Australia’s “Waste Warrior”.She doesn’t just research recycling—she actively changes industries to make them more sustainable! Her work has prevented millions of tires from ending up in landfills, turning them into new materials instead.
Eva Angel (Mandarin Teacher)
Kim Hsieh is a renowned children’s music producer and singer, known for her significant contributions to children’s music, particularly within the Taiwanese community. Residing in Canada, she has collaborated extensively with Wind Music, a prominent Taiwanese record label, for over eight years, producing music that resonates with children and parents alike.
Kim Hsieh’s work in children’s music and education has made a lasting impact, blending cultural elements with educational content to enrich the musical experiences of children.
At our Lindfield Concert, we have been able to perform Kim’s work for many years with her blessing. She was impressed by how well our students performed with limited Mandarin.
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.
NewSPORT Holiday Camps
NewSPORT have the following holiday camps taking place in Week 1 of the April School Holidays.
For a 15% early bird discount for purchases prior to 31/3/25 please use EBIRD15.
Water Polo
- Monday April 14 to Wednesday April 16
- 8.00am–12.00pm
- Click here to register
Futsal
- Monday April 14 to Wednesday April 16
- 9.00am–1.00pm
- Click here to register
2025 Lindfield Calendar and Term Dates (subject to change)
The 2025 dates have been published on New Spaces and can be found here New Spaces Please ensure you check this Calendar regularly for any additional events and changes.
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.
Keeping Your Contact and Health Information Up to Date
To ensure we have the most accurate and up-to-date information, we kindly ask all parents to check and confirm the details we have on file for you and your child. This includes contact details, emergency contacts, and any important health or medical information. Having the correct information is essential for effective communication and the wellbeing of our students. If your details have changed since our last request, please update them here.
Use of ID cards to travel
This is a reminder that all students should be using their 2025 student ID card to tap onto the school bus. Cards from previous years should be disposed of.
Staff Profile
This week, we hear from Elissa Julian, a Year 4 Classroom Teacher at Lindfield Prep. Elissa’s passion for teaching is evident in her dynamic approach to the classroom, where every day brings fresh energy and new opportunities for collaboration. She thrives on the unpredictable creativity and humor of her students, finding joy in their unique perspectives on the world.
Q. Why teaching? What do you enjoy about teaching?
A. Teaching is a constantly moving, dynamic experience that keeps me energized. I love the daily buzz of activity, the collaboration with both students and colleagues and the way every day brings something fresh. Kids have a unique way of seeing the world, and their humor and creativity make each day unpredictable and genuinely fun—I could probably fill a book with the jokes and one-liners I hear! Working in a school community also means I’m always learning alongside them. It’s rewarding to help students grow and navigate their way through life, especially in a world that’s always changing.
Q. Something other people don’t know about you?
A. I’m an avid scuba diver and used to work as an instructor so I get to fulfill my mermaid dreams underwater! My favorite dive spot is Julian Rocks in Byron Bay where I’ve had incredible experiences swimming alongside manta rays and leopard sharks. Being down there feels like entering another world—there’s a calm and thrill in exploring the ocean, and it’s the closest I’ll ever get to being a mermaid.
Q. What is one of your best memories of being a student?
A. One of my favorite memories as a student was International Day at my primary school UNIS in New York City. It was the highlight of the year and the whole school would come alive with vibrant colours, music and the incredible aroma of foods from around the world. Students and families would dress in traditional attire, proudly representing their heritage, and it felt like the entire world was under one roof for a day. We lived in a kaleidoscope world. My brother and I, eager to show off our Aussie pride, scrambled to put together our look. The best we managed was a stereotypical cork hat but we wore it with pride. We walked around like we were Australia’s unofficial ambassadors, soaking in the excitement and diversity around us. Looking back, those days really shaped my love for different cultures and the joy of being part of a global community.
Q. Anything else you’d like to share?
A. I have a cat named Calcifer, named after one of my favourite movies Howl’s Moving Castle. Calcifer has a bit of personality—he’s got a crooked head and very selective hearing. He’s convinced he’s in charge and he’s not entirely wrong!
Staff profile: College Leadership Group (CLG)
This week, we are profiling Helen Loe, Deputy Head of Wyvern (Teaching & Learning). With a passion for fostering a love of learning, Helen plays a key role in shaping the academic environment at Wyvern House. Helen ensures every student is supported in their growth and development and creates an inclusive and dynamic setting that equips every student to explore new opportunities.
Q. What is something not many people know about you?
A. I absolutely love the mountains and would happily spend every holiday hiking. I grew up holidaying in Lake District National Park in the UK and I definitely count this as my happy place. Australian mountains are often a little more challenging though!
Q. If you were a student at Newington today, what would you be most excited about?
A. I’d be excited to be part of a community that offers such rich opportunities for all students. Newington isn’t a school for one ‘type’ of student; there is something for everyone and all students are encouraged to step outside their comfort zone and explore the opportunities on offer.
Q. If you could describe Newington College in three words, what would they be?
A. Welcoming, inclusive and equipping.
