1 May 2025
From the Head of the ELC
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to Term 2!
We hope the term break has provided an opportunity for your family to relax and recharge, whether it was spent enjoying holidays away or finding moments at home together.
Thank you to our families who actively embraced and participated in the ELC Holiday Program. Your enthusiasm made it possible for your child to enjoy the enriching Holiday Program explorations.
As we step into the new term, we are thrilled about the opportunities to connect with you through our Mother’s Day Breakfast and Grandparents’/Special Persons Day. These gatherings provide a wonderful chance to honour your child’s treasured relationships and create meaningful moments to strengthen our community bonds.
We look forward to making Term 2 a productive and rewarding time for every child. Thank you for being an integral part of our community and for trusting us with your child’s growth and development.
Important Information
Library Specialist Lessons
As informed at the beginning of the year, Library Specialist Lessons for the Eagle and Goanna classes will commence this Friday 2 May. Please remember to pack your child’s library bags each Friday.
ELC Mothers’ Day Breakfast
The ELC Mothers’ Day Breakfast will be held on:
- Wednesday 7 May: 7.30am–8.30am
- Thursday 8 May: 7.30am–8.30am
Thank you to our mothers who have confirmed attendance. Please select one of the above dates to attend and RSVP via this link as soon as possible, if you haven’t already.
ELC Individual and Class Photos: Tuesday 20 May & Friday 23 May
- Tuesday 20 May: 5-day attendees and 3-day attendees (Mon-Wed)
- Friday 23 May: 2-day attendees (Thurs-Fri) and any children absent on Tuesday 20 May
Please have your child arrive at the ELC by 8:30am on this day to ensure that they do not miss their photo session.
Vision Assessment – Goanna and Eagle Classes
The Statewide Eyesight Preschooler Screening (StEPS) program is an initiative of NSW Health and offers 4-year-old children, eligible for school in 2026 (who have not been previously screened), a free vision assessment.
We have arranged for the StEPS program to visit the ELC on the following dates at 9:00am:
- Tuesday 20 May – Goanna Class
- Friday 23 May – Eagle Class
Consent forms are available at reception. Please ensure the original forms are completed, signed, and returned to ELC reception by Friday 30 May.
What’s Happening This Term
LitFest 2025 Speaker Panel
Join us for an exciting speaker panel at LitFest 2025, as we explore the evolving role of human storytelling in an era shaped by artificial intelligence.
Hosted by two student MCs, this conversation promises to ignite fresh perspectives on creativity, narrative, and the future of storytelling in a digital world.
Featuring renowned authors Joel McKerrow, Jack Heath, Rawah Arja and Sue Whiting.
7 May 2025
Newington College – Old Boys Lecture Theatre
Free!
LitFest Volunteer Call Out
As we prepare with excitement for the return of LitFest, we remember these grand events are made possible through the generosity of our parent community. There will be several opportunities for parents to volunteer during the festival, outlined below/ These will include providing hospitality to authors and helping coordinate authors with their student buddies:
Author Services – Grove Room (Chapel)
| Timeslots | Tuesday 6 May | Wednesday 7 May | Thursday 8 May |
| 8.00am–1.00pm | 2 parent volunteers | 2 parent volunteers | 2 parent volunteers |
| 10.00am–2.00pm | 2 parent volunteers | 2 parent volunteers | 2 parent volunteers |
Speaker Panel
| Timeslots | Wednesday 7 May |
| 5.45pm–7.45pm | 3 parent volunteers (library & OBLT) |
Year 11 Design and Technology Visit to ELC
Year 11 Design & Technology students will be visiting the ELC to work on a project with the children and teachers this term. Please see the consent form here which details further information.
Please return signed forms to reception no later than Thursday 8 May. E-signature of the returned form is also fine. The consent forms will also be available in hard copy at the front desk.
Chapel Thought
For people of Faith, the last two weeks have been a monumental and full few weeks.
We went into the holidays journeying into Holy Week. In the middle weekend, we celebrated Easter, showing us God’s Liberating Hope and All-Inclusive Love. And on the day that followed we heard the news of Pope Francis’ death. The week that followed was full of reflections on his life, culminating with his Funeral on Saturday.
Whether you’re Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox Christian, people of other faiths or no faith at all, the death of Pope Francis was a significant event. He was a remarkable figure and one who embodied Christ’s teachings in a profound way.
Pope Francis showed what it means to welcome the stranger and support those who are different. He was fearless in his advocacy of migrants and refugees and made some concessions to groups who had traditionally been marginalised by the Church. He advocated for care of creation and action on Climate Change.
As the world waits with eager anticipation to see who will become the next Pope, let us be inspired by the example of Pope Francis in our daily actions and our work in the world. And in this Easter Season may we continue to know God’s Liberating Hope and All-Inclusive Love in our daily lives.
– Pastor Richard La’Brooy
Co-education at Newington
Hear from Brigid Taylor, our Director of Co-education as we prepare to welcome our first cohort of girls in Kindergarten and Year 5 from 2026.
Discover the strengths and values that define Newington – and how the move to co-education will enrich and expand our community.
To learn more about co-education at Newington, including the Pioneer Scholarships for girls and boys in Year 5 2026, click here.
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. Applications close tomorrow, May 2.
Staff Profile
This week we chatted with Meg Edwards, who has been a teacher at Newington for 10 years. While she spent the first 6 years at Wyvern, Meg has become an integral part of the Lindfield community since she began there 4 years ago. She is not only a passionate and kind teacher of our youngest students, but she also leads the Lindfield K-3 teaching team.
Q. Why teaching? What is it you enjoy about teaching?
A. I absolutely love teaching because you form unforgettable relationships and get to see huge growth. It’s a really special thing to be part of.
Q. What is something about you that other people may not know?
A. I can pick almost any song just from hearing the first few notes.
Q. What is one of your favourite memories of being a student?
A. Going on school camp!
