15 May 2025
What Happened This Week
The Fortnight That Was – Term 2 Weeks 2 and 3
Lindfield Music Concert
Mark your calendars for the most anticipated musical event of the year, the Lindfield Music Concert on Thursday 29 May from 6.00pm in Centenary Hall.
All students in Years K–6 perform at this event in a variety of ensembles and choirs, which is an amazing experience for them, the audience and our staff.
Senior School Co-Education Parent Information Evening
We are delighted to invite families of future girl enrolments to an information evening at our Stanmore Senior school campus.
Building on our move to co-education in our Prep K-6 campuses from 2026, co-education will commence at our Senior School in Years 7 and 11 from 2028.
You will receive information about the College’s co-education journey and hear from our Headmaster Mr Michael Parker, and our Director of Co-education Ms Brigid Taylor.
Parent Learning Series: Boys, Girls, Brains & Behaviour with Justin Coulson
Newington College warmly invites all our parents, and families outside our community, to an evening with Dr Justin Coulson on Thursday 5 June in the Old Boys Lecture Theatre, starting at 5.30pm with refreshments.
Stereotypes about boys and girls have been around for centuries. We all grew up learning that girls play with dolls and boys play with trucks, girls wear pink and boys wear blue, girls are good at reading and boys are good at maths, boys are active and use their bodies, but girls prefer to be sedentary and talk lots.
Despite the supposed gender revolution, boys and girls really do seem to be different. They relate to others differently, develop differently, play differently, receive diagnoses differently, experience mental health challenges differently, and more.
In this science-based presentation, Dr Justin Coulson unpacks brain, behaviour, and gender myths, truths, and rumours to help parents work with their children to uncover their strengths, build motivation, and maximise their resilience and wellbeing.
The Breadth of Opportunity with Amy Van Arkkels
Last term we checked in with Deputy, Academic (K-12) Amy Van Arkkels about the endless possibilities Newington provides for all types of students – because every child is unique.
To learn more about the breadth of opportunity available at Newington watch the video below or visit the Learning and Teaching page on our webiste.
Eungai Creek Campus Design Award nomination
We are thrilled that our Eungai Creek Campus has been shortlisted in the Urban and Community Scale Category as part of the 2025 Biophilic Design Awards!
The judges admired its light, respectful presence on Country, commitment to circular materials, and outstanding engagement with First Nations communities.’
We thank AJC Architects for their work on the project, creating the home of our social service immersion and outdoor education programs.
Learn more about the awards at the Living Future Institute Australia website.
Chapel Thought
At Newington, when we ‘explore Faith’ our hope is that all in our community may know the all-inclusive love of their God. In all faiths, the principal of love is central to what they teach. For Christians, love, and in particular the love of God, is fundamental to how we understand our relationship with God and one another. Our Faith, as expressed through the theology of the Uniting Church in Australia, affirms that God loves and includes all people. Our background or experience, our current context or our past actions don’t matter, we are simply loved and accepted by God, just as we are.
Knowing the all-inclusive love of God means having the courage to show acceptance towards groups that are marginalised and welcome to those who are different.
Sharing the all-inclusive love of God means having the integrity to stand up for what is right, remaining true to our beliefs in what the Kingdom of God represents for all people.
Showing the all-inclusive love of God means acting with kindness towards all people and offering compassion to those in need.
At Newington, our hope is that when our students and our wider community ‘explore Faith’ they might know and come to show the all-inclusive love of God in all that they do.
– Pastor Richard La’Brooy
Round 2 of Sport
Round 2 marked the first full weekend of sport for our students, and Koola Park was buzzing with energy as over 60 sporting matches took place.
Our Year 3 footballers represented the Lindfield campus against The King’s School, with the Black team narrowly going down in a nail-biting 3–2 match. Meanwhile, the Year 4 Football White team knew exactly where the back of the net was, scoring 8 unanswered goals in an outstanding performance. Our Senior Orange Football Team capped off the day with a strong 4–1 win over a tough St Aloysius College side.
Our Rugby 7s team impressed with fantastic teamwork, scoring some brilliant team tries. It was also great to see our senior rugby players stepping up to support the junior teams—an excellent display of leadership and school spirit. We’re excited to see more big tackles, sharp footwork, and quality passing this weekend.
For the second weekend in a row, our AFL team delivered a cracking performance, scoring multiple unanswered goals. We’re looking forward to the upcoming match against Wyvern House.
A special welcome back to Halle Smit, who has just returned from competing in the AFC Women’s Asian Futsal Cup in China. Halle was part of the first-ever Australian Women’s Futsal team to compete in this prestigious tournament—what an incredible achievement!
Congratulations to the following students for receiving the Values Awards in Round 2:
Year 4 Camp
Last week, Year 4 enjoyed a memorable few days at the Great Aussie Bush Camp. From the moment the boys stepped off the bus, their excitement was clear as they unpacked bags and settled into cabins, eager to see what the next few days would bring.
The adventure began straight away with rock climbing. There was a mix of nerves and determination as the boys took turns scaling the wall, cheering each other on. With the first activity under their belts, they moved into bushcraft, where they learned how to set up simple camps and had a go at cooking damper over an open fire. This hands-on session gave them a real taste of outdoor life and a chance to work together in small groups.
After dinner that evening, the boys gathered in the hall for night games – a fast-paced and fun way to finish the day. Although there was plenty of chatter and excitement at bedtime, everyone eventually settled in, with the last few boys drifting off just after midnight.
The next day started early and brought some light rain, but it did little to slow the boys down. Spirits remained high as the morning began with the giant swing – an activity that quickly became a highlight. With three boys harnessed into the swing and the rest of the group working together to pull them up, there was plenty of teamwork, laughter, and a few wide eyes before the release. From there, it was off to archery. Hitting the target proved to be more difficult than expected, and although there was only one bullseye for the morning, the boys remained focused and gave it their best shot.
Later that afternoon, the group tackled the high ropes course. This activity really brought out the boys’ supportive side, with lots of encouragement and helping hands as they navigated their way across beams and bridges high above the ground. After such a busy day, it was no surprise that the cabins were quiet not long after lights out, giving the teachers a well-earned peaceful evening.
On the final morning, the boys headed to the water for a canoeing session. Working in pairs, they paddled across the dam, getting the hang of steering and keeping their balance. The day wrapped up with a woodland group activity that required problem-solving, cooperation and a bit of creativity. It was a fitting way to end the camp, as the boys continued to show great teamwork and a willingness to give everything a go.
By the time the bus rolled back into school, the boys were tired but happy. The camp was a wonderful opportunity for them to step out of their comfort zones, build friendships, and enjoy a few days of outdoor learning and fun.
Mother’s Day Breakfast
On Monday, our school community came together for a heartwarming Mother’s Day Breakfast, beautifully organised by Year 3 and the P&F.
Families were treated to a wonderful array of delicious breakfast items, creating welcoming atmosphere to start the day. As a special gesture, the boys had written heartfelt cards for their mums, and every mother received a rose as a token of appreciation.
The P&F also added a touch of excitement with raffle prizes, generously donated and awarded to a few lucky mums in each year group. It was a lovely celebration of the amazing women in our lives and a memorable morning for all who attended.
Young Archies
A big congratulations to Ian v D from Year 6B, whose portrait The World of Possibilities has been shortlisted for this year’s prestigious Young Archies competition.
Ian’s artwork is a heartfelt tribute to his co-curricular art teacher, who he says inspires his growth and passion as a young artist.
This year, the Art Gallery of NSW received over 3,200 entries from talented young artists aged 5 to 18 from across Australia. As the Gallery shared, ‘Each portrait is a tribute to someone special—a friend, family member or role model—brought to life with imagination and care.”’
Well done, Ian, on this remarkable achievement!
Parent Presentation – Save the date Tuesday 3 June (Zoom)
Having a gifted child isn’t always easy. What can you do as a parent to support your child through school?
As part of the Northside Gifted and Talented Network, this presentation will be delivered by Dr Ruth Phillips.
To ensure Dr Phillips can tailor the workshop to address your needs and answer your questions, please complete the form linked here to inform the presentation based on what our parents want to know. If there are common questions received, these will be covered in the presentation.
Learning and Development Consultant and Director, Accanto Pty Ltd.
Ruth works with groups, individuals, and organisations to provide better understanding about the way people learn and, in particular, the way individuals develop and use their potential.
ICT Help for Parents
To assist all families in navigating New Spaces please refer to this comprehensive article with relevant links.
2025 Lindfield Calendar and Term Dates
*Subject to change
The 2025 dates have been published on New Spaces and can be found here on New Spaces. Please ensure you check this Calendar regularly for any additional events and changes.
Staff Profile
A recent addition to the school, Argyris Giantsis brings with him a deep love of the classical world. Passionate about all things ancient, he’s excited to share the richness of the Greek and Latin languages with his students and become part of our growing community.
Q. Why teaching? What is it you enjoy about teaching?
A. Teaching lets me share my passion for the timeless, whether it’s the music of a classical sonata or the words of Cicero or Homer. I love helping students connect with the great minds of the past and seeing those ancient voices spark something new in the present.
Q. If you could have dinner with any historical figure or celebrity, dead or alive, who would it be and what would you talk about?
A. If I could meet anyone, I’d choose to interview an eminent philosopher of the past, someone whose ideas have shaped generations, like Socrates, Plato or Aristotle.
I’d want to explore how they saw the role of reason, virtue, and language in human life, and whether they believed we’re any closer to wisdom today. There’s something deeply moving about sitting across from a mind that still speaks to us across thousands of years. I wouldn’t just ask questions; I’d want to listen, to truly understand how they made sense of a world that was, in many ways, as complex and contradictory as ours.
Q. In a world where you could have any superpower for a day, what would it be and how would you use it in your teaching?
A. If I could have any superpower for a day, I’d choose the ability to walk through time… just once.
I’d take my students with me, stepping into the Athenian agora as Socrates questioned the crowd, or standing in the temple of Jupiter in Palatine Hill as Cicero delivered a thunderous speech. I’d let them feel the dust, hear the voices, and realise that these were real people with real thoughts, fears, and dreams.
Because once you’ve been there, even just for a moment, the ancient world stops being distant; it becomes something alive and deeply human.
