Newington’s sport and co-curricular program is wide and varied and allows each of our individuals the choice and space to uncover their own interests. With our winter program of co-curricular under way, Year 12 student Jacob L shares what inspires him.

Jacob, as a House Captain and Captain of Music you’ve made the most of life at Newington in the classroom, on sporting tracks and the stage. What’ve been your favourite co-curricular experiences?

Ushering at school plays (gets you a free ticket), being a companion for a disadvantaged child at Sony Camp, being a part of the school musical for three years in a row, and the Red Centre service learning tour to Central Australia.

Why do they stand out for you?

They were all so special because I was able to learn, grow and gain a much better perspective of my own life and how lucky I am, and take advantage of the opportunities I have been given.

What’s one thing about Newington you’ve come to realise now you are set to finish school soon and start life outside the school gates?

High school is the best time in your life to try new things, meet new people, and experience so many cool things that you might never get another opportunity to do, and nowhere better is this true than Newington.

Your older sibling came to Newington too – how did that help you?

It was nice to have someone older to learn from and look up to while I was still learning my way around the school, but now I have certainly been able to pave my own path within the school.

How to decide ‘which school will best suit your child’ is a big choice and commitment for parents to make – any words of advice as a longtime student?

Newington is great in every single aspect of school – academics, sport, the arts, technology. And this is both the facilities and staff.

You play the trumpet and the guitar, and you sing and act. After last year’s production of Catch Me If You Can (Jacob pictured as Frank Abagnale Jnr in top image), our Head of Drama called your performance ‘outstanding’ and said the entire production was ‘nothing short of spectacular.’ Has Newington helped you find that part of yourself?

Without such a developed music program, or so many awesome opportunities to be in plays and musicals, I wouldn’t have been able to do half of the things that I have achieved at Newington. Coming to such a school has certainly affected how I view my future career.

And finally, it can be difficult to ‘value’ an opportunity until you look at it in hindsight, but how do you think you will think about Newington, the friends you have made and the experiences you’ve had, in the years to come?

I know that I will value my time at Newington so greatly in the future. Being given the opportunity to learn and live here is something that has shaped my life. I know that I will always look back fondly at the relationships, experience and wisdom that I have gained from coming to Newington.

Did you know?

• Newington offers 50 co-curriculars including debating, oratory, media production, theatre improv, drama, gender equity, robotics, sustainability and Newington College Army Cadet Unit.
• Newington is the only GPS school in NSW to field a 1st and 2nd team across six sporting codes including rifle shooting and fencing.
• Newington’s co-curricular music winter performance program includes RockFest, the College’s premier contemporary concert; Junior and Senior Concerto Concert; infants Music Festival; and Founders Concert, which is all about classical music, in August.
• Newington excels at drama – in 2025 the Newington Senior team won the annual Impro Australia Theatresports School Challenge Grand Final for the second year in a row.

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