One person can make a difference, and everyone should try
John F. Kennedy

Welcome back!

I extend a big welcome to all ‘New boys’ commencing their journey at Stanmore this year. I also welcome back the entire Newington College community for what promises to be a very exciting 152nd year in the College’s history. Our 2014 HSC/IB cohort results were excellent. Three boys attained a perfect IB diploma score and a further nineteen boys scored an ATAR above 99. Almost seventy boys scored an ATAR over 90 while nearly 80% of our Year 12 cohort finished in the top third of the State. Outstanding results for a non-selective school.

This Year 12’s motto ‘Thrive, Strive, 2015’ is a timely reminder that it is everyone’s responsibility to make a contribution to College life. Furthermore, American President, John F Kennedy’s quote reinforces the prospect that while we all can ‘make a difference’, imagine what the impact would be if we were all truly ‘united’!

The Stanmore school population now totals 1334 boys and new initiatives like ‘meeting with the mentor’ on the first day back will ensure that every boy is a name, not a number!

I welcome the following new secondary teaching and administrative staff to Stanmore:

• Mr Jonno Arscott (English)
• Mrs Olga Caristo (Academic Administration)
• Mrs Margo Fleiser (Learning Enhancement)
• Mr Tyrone Giese (Maths)
• Mr Luke Giles (PRS)
• Ms Ellie Landy (Science)
• Mr Neil Martin (Director of Human Resources)
• Mr Brian McCarthy (Director of Football)
• Ms Briony Morath (IBDP)
• Ms Brodie Richards (Hospitality)
• Mr Tom Ruddock (History)

New developments in 2015:

• Year 7 Sport now being held on Friday afternoons from 3.20pm – 4.45pm.
• Years 7, 8 and 9 boys will attend Parent/Teacher evenings.
• New progress reports for Years 7- 11 will be introduced to update parents prior to parent/teacher evenings.
• House Choir Competition will be held on Thursday 4 June.  All 8 houses will now perform on the one occasion in Centenary Hall.
• Homework Club and Evening Prep: Homework Club offers assistance in the Library to boys in English and Maths on alternate days to their sports training from 3.30pm to 4.45pm.  Similarly boys in Years 9 – 12 are invited to partake in private study from 5.00pm to 7.30pm from Monday to Thursday.  If you have further enquiries please email Mr Peter Wilkins our Head of Co-curricular.

Last term provided me with a wonderful opportunity for reflection on my first 7 years at the College.  I realised how truly fortunate I am to work at such a school as Newington.  I hope this year the boys will learn from their mistakes, embrace the many opportunities before them and remember that one person ‘can make a difference’.

Dr Andrew Hirst
Deputy Headmaster/Head of Stanmore