Term 2, Week 4

22 May 2025

From the Deputy Headmaster

Dear Parents and Carers, 

National Boarding Week was celebrated last week and the theme was ‘Threads of Connection.’ The Newington boarding community used the week to celebrate the unique experiences and contributions of boarders on campus. One highlight was a school assembly featuring Senior Boarding Prefect Patrick Jones, who presented ‘A Day in the Life of a Boarder’ video. Throughout the week, Year 8 students were invited on a tour of Edmund Webb House, guided by senior boarders. This included a lunch and Q&A with Head of Boarding, Mr Xavier Gargan. The week acknowledged the vital role boarding plays in shaping Newington’s identity, celebrating the maturity, resilience, and camaraderie fostered through the shared experience of living and learning together.  

After concluding a lively and eventful National Boarding Week, we were thrilled to dive straight into the celebrations of ONU Week. This week is a chance to enjoy the many contributions of the ONU, and celebrate our alumni community with reunions, chapel service, and special events like our Life After School Panel or our ONU TheatreSports Night, and especially our ONU assembly. In particular I’d like to thank Ed Miller, the President of the ONU, for his meaningful address at assembly this week. 

‘The hardest challenge in life is learning to listen to yourself,’ said Ed, encouraging students to take their time in trying new things, finding their own voice and figuring out what they want in all areas of life. Also in attendance was the ONU Council, who serve not only as a vital link to the school and the shared experience of being a Newington alumnus, but also as a valuable source of advice and guidance. 

Thanks also to Jack Ryan (ON 2016) for hosting the Life After School Panel, Richard La’Brooy for hosting the ONU Chapel Service, our Old Newingtonians who attended today to put on lunch for Year 12, and all those who attended reunions last Saturday. It has been a busy and fruitful week for all involved. 

The Theatresports Interschool Challenge started this week with both the Newington Intermediate and Senior Teams competing in their first rounds. We wish them all the best. Hearty congratulations also to the cast and crew involved in the Year 8 Production of ‘The Trolleys’. The show was a huge success, and these students should be very proud of what they have achieved. 

I would also like to take this opportunity to celebrate all boys who may not play in the 1st or 2nd teams but who dedicate themselves to sport each week. Your commitment to training, learning and competing is a powerful example of what it means to pursue goals with passion and purpose.  

Week after week, you show up with energy, focus, and a genuine desire to improve. Whether it’s on the field, court, or in the gym, your efforts reflect not only your love for the game but also your determination to grow as individuals. Your willingness to listen, learn, and challenge yourselves to be better is something to be truly proud of.  

All co-curricular activities teach  us resilience, teamwork, and discipline—and you are living proof of these values in action. Thank you for representing your school and community with pride, humility, and sportsmanship.  

Red Shield Appeal

If your child is one of the 300 plus students from Years 10,11 and 12 participating in the Red Shield Appeal on Sunday May 25, we urgently need your help. Students have been asked to organise themselves into groups of four before the day. Each group of four will be allocated a map area on the day and be accompanied by an adult driver. 

If your son has signed up to participate, please ask him if he has already organised this and if he knows who his driver is. If his group does not yet have a driver, we invite you to consider volunteering as the driver for his group. 

To sign up, simply email mmadden@newington.nsw.edu.au and you will receive more details.

This is always an enjoyable and worthwhile activity for all concerned, but its success relies on the goodwill of our wider Newington Community.’  

2025 Sydney Schools Convention

We are looking for parents to participate as an advisor in their work or study area at the Careers Convention to be held at Sydney Grammar on Monday 2 June.

This year Sydney Grammar, SCEGGS Darlinghurst, International Grammar School, Wenona, Newington College, Kincoppal Rose Bay, St Andrews and Ascham are combining for the Sydney Careers Convention. The event will have three streams; an exhibition of tertiary education providers in the School Gymnasium from 3pm; a series of talks in the Palladium Theatre, John Vallance Hall and Alastair Mackerras Theatre from 4pm and the stream that I am inviting you to, the career and course advising in the Palladium Classrooms. This will be an opportunity for you to share your wisdom with the young people from these schools, from your own studies and work.

The career and course advising part of the evening will be held from 4.30pm to 7.00pm in the Palladium Building at College Street. There will be a briefing session at 4.30pm in Palladium Classroom P6 on Level 0 with the advising to begin at 5.00pm. If you cannot attend the briefing session, please feel free to arrive at any time after 5.00pm.

Parent Learning Series: Boys, Girls, Brains & Behaviour with Justin Coulson

Newington College warmly invites all our parents, and families from 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. 

Senior School Co-Education Parent Information Evening

We are delighted to invite families of future senior 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.

Staff Profile

This week we chatted to ELC Teacher Heidi Chae. A beloved member of our ELC faculty, Heidi is the favourite of many, thanks to her warm demeanour and creativity.

Q. Did you have a favourite teacher growing up, and why?  

A. Yes! I had two favourite teachers growing up. The first was Mr. McDonald, who taught me in Years 5–6. I put my hand up for everything in primary school, whether it was band, sport, or drama, but sport was my favourite by far. He incorporated a lot of movement-based activities into the classroom to make boring tasks, fun – like having the whole class stand up and throw a ball around while reciting the times tables. 

My second favourite teacher was my modern history teacher in high school. I feel horrible for forgetting her name, but she was the best. I had never felt so moved in a class as I did when learning about World War II. She was incredibly passionate about what she taught and always thought-provoking. She constantly reiterated the importance of learning our history and understanding its lessons because if we don’t, history will repeat itself. Her words have stuck with me ever since, and I’ve loved watching movies and reading books from that era!

Q. Which book, movie, or TV show do you think every student should experience at least once, and why?

A. When age-appropriate, the HBO TV series Band of Brothers. It’s just so good! You’ll have to watch it yourself to see why.

Staff Profile: College Leadership Group

This week we are profiling Andrew Thompson, who, as Associate Principal of Wyvern Preparatory School, is a crucial part of our College Leadership Group. Known for his passion for the South African Rugby team and great sense of humour, Andrew displays true leadership every day on the Wyvern campus.

Q. What do you think is the ‘Newington difference?’

A. The ‘Newington difference’ includes a holistic education that balances academics, personal development, and cocurricular activities. Newington fosters a strong, inclusive community and emphasizes leadership and character building. The school blends tradition with innovation to prepare students for the future. 

Q. If you were a student at Newington today, what would you be most excited about?  

A. If I were a Newington student today, I’d be most excited about the diverse opportunities in academic, sports, arts, cocurricular and leadership activities. In addition to this, developing long lasting friendships and having a sense of belonging for life. 

Q. If you could describe Newington College in three words, what would they be?  

A. Inclusive, engaging, inspiring.