During the recent school holidays, the new student leadership team gathered to train for their new roles, prepare for the year ahead and set clear goals for 2014.

The structure of Senior Prefect, Deputy Senior Prefects, House Captains and Vice-House Captains, has not changed but their portfolios and their mission have. Significant areas of the school were targeted and nine portfolios were identified where Senior student influence was deemed crucial in the delivery of specific goals.These portfolios were: Communication; House areas; Sport; Music; Drama; Service Learning; Chapel and Ministry, links with the Preparatory schools; and smaller Co-curricular activities. These nine portfolios were assigned to the House Captains and Vice-House Captains; each leader receiving three portfolios with specific goals and duties.

All leaders retain the general task of Prefect duty supervision and assistance to their Head of House for assemblies and House meetings. The general goals of promoting cross-age/year connections in Welfare, Inclusion and Diversity are their goals for the coming year.

Welfare at Newington encompasses well-being programs, individual support, and a focus on positive well-being which follows on from the theme that Lachlan McKirdy (ON 2013), Deputy Senior Prefect 2013, introduced on Mental Health.

Inclusion focuses on being a school that is indeed inclusive not exclusive. It requires a prioritising of identifying lonely or less connected boys and inviting them into the community through interests and Co-curricular groups.

Finally, Diversity shines a light on our many faiths, cultural backgrounds, ethnicities, interests and abilities. It aims to showcase the many beliefs and views promoting tolerance and understanding, a real strength of Newington College.

The leaders worked hard at bedding down strategies for these goals and were inspired by our guest speaker, Mr Simon Poidevin, a current parent, a leader in the corporate finance world and a former Australian Rugby Captain. His message was clear and highly motivating which united the team through the themes of cooperation, support for each other, the dangers of complacency, and setting and adhering to demanding goals. He spoke of ‘difficult conversations’ with peers that would be required if they were to succeed and his ‘take a mate with you’ for those conversations, was both simple and effective advice.

The leaders have practiced their public speaking both with and without a microphone and were appraised by Mr Jon Mountain, Head of Johnstone House, and myself. This term their focus will be on Welfare and Kevin Stathis (11/JN), Senior Prefect, will speak about this in Assembly.

The team has made a fine start and they show a great deal of promise. A special thanks to Simon Poidevin and to Jon Mountain for their time and wisdom at the training sessions.

Mr Robert Meakin
Deputy Head of Stanmore / Head of Pastoral