Year 12 Valedictory Day Celebrations was a day of mixed emotions. In this year group, I had a small sub group of boys in my Year 7MA Mentor Group. A group that I bonded with very quickly. Many of the boys have been learning together for six years, and have formed unique and very special relationships with one another. They have supported each other through hard times, celebrated the many good times, shared laughter and tears and have become brothers in the true Newington way.

Our introduction to these young, naïve boys was at Year 7 Camp. It is amazing how much you learn about boys when they are away from home! From this, I watched the boys grow into the amazing young men they are today. This week they walked out of our gates for one last time to enter the world and become engaged citizens, dedicated professionals, loving fathers and caring partners. In all aspects of their life, their thoughts, feelings and actions will be governed by the values of respect, responsibility, honesty and compassion. They are courageous and ethical. I am so very proud of them. I am confident that they will lead by example and provide an ethical community in an uncertain world.

From boys of promise to men of character – that is what we have in this very special group of young men. I wish the boys of 7MA, and all the Year 12 cohort, every success in their upcoming HSC or IB examinations and beyond.

Ms Colleen Scalone
Head of Yr 7