A reminder that Sunday 20 May is the Red Shield Appeal. Typically we have about 200 Year 10–12 boys who volunteer for a few hours to collect on behalf of the Salvation Army in the local area of Newington. Please contact Mr Madden for more details.

Winter Sport Season is now well and truly upon us. Please click here to view the sports contact information for the 2012 Winter Season.

Senior School

Year 12

Retreat

This year’s Year 12 Retreat was a great success. After a busy time with examinations the opportunity to slow down and talk to other students and staff is a most welcome change. The most important work at retreat is done in small group discussions focusing on areas such as Values and Choices, Trust, Communications and Relationships, Your Life Story, Life: What’s it For?, Hurt and Healings, Gifts: Mine and Yours; and Space for the Spirit. All I can say it is one of my highlights of the year which is a view shared by many others. As part of the follow-up, students have written themselves a letter which will be posted to them late in Term 3. Each site was run by Heads of House who were supported by Mentors and the Chaplaincy Team. My congratulations to all the boys and staff involved.

Year 11

During the Mini Examinations prefect duties are covered by Year 11 students, allowing Year 12 to concentrate on academic matters. In late June, Year 11 will undertake further training before permanently taking over prefect duties from the Year 12 group at the beginning of Term 3.

Heads of House are currently asking for Year 11 nominations for the National Leadership Camp (NLC). This is a premier leadership training program for young Australians. Each year it brings together up to 200 students (14–18-year-olds) from across the nation. It is held from Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 July at the Collaroy Conference Centre. Newington will subsidise the costs of four students selected to attend this camp.

Rising Generations places a strong emphasis on mentoring by providing a highly skilled and experienced leadership team to co-ordinate the camp. Additional information about the program can be found at www.risinggenerations.org.au

Year 11 boys have also been continuing to support the Loaves and Fishes Restaurant at Ashfield by serving breakfast from Monday to Friday each week. While this primarily benefits those who are less fortunate it also contributes greatly to the personal growth of the boys involved. Well done!

Year 10

Jonathan Doyle  – Youth Culture Presentation
7.00pm Thursday 7 June
Advance notice of a seminar for parents presented by Jonathan Doyle, to encourage, affirm and introduce them to major trends and issues in youth culture and decision making while providing concrete strategies for protecting, guiding and nurturing their children. Fathers may find this of particular interest.

For more information go to www.choicez.com.au/about-us-2/ and www.choicez.com.au/seminars/male-seminars/

Half Yearly Examinations
Half Yearly Examinations are beginning in Week 15A (Monday 21 May). These examinations are important for a number of reasons, particularly the School Certificate and subject selection for the HSC/IBDP. Students have been reminded that levels for HSC English and Mathematics and entry into Extension courses are subject to academic achievements in Year 10. These entry requirements will be discussed at the Parent/Head of Department evening on Tuesday 24 July. An early and thorough preparation will make these examinations far less of a challenge. Further information can be obtained from the Year 10–12 Academic Coordinator Mr David Phillips.

Middle School

Year 7 Reporting and Parent Teacher Evening

Formal Year 7 reports are now being written by teachers and will report on how boys have settled into their first term or so at Newington. There will be no formal examinations for Year 7 until the end of the year. Parents will be able to meet and discuss their son’s progress with teachers at the Parent Teacher Evening to be held on 12 June. More details about this evening will follow as the date approaches. Reports will arrive home in the days prior to the Parent Teacher Evening.

Mid-Year Exams

Examinations commence for Years 8, 9 and 10 Monday 21 May. Timetables have been made available to boys. Year 9 boys are reminded that with the free time that they are given comes the responsibility of using it wisely. This should particularly be remembered when travelling to and from school at times that vary from the norm.

Other Important News

Clothing Pool News

The Second-hand Clothing Pool is currently clearing stocks of tracksuit jackets and as a result all tracksuit jackets are now priced at $5.00. Tracksuit jackets and pants do not have to be purchased as a set because they are individual items. If your son has mislaid his tracksuit jacket or has outgrown it you can easily replace it at the Second-hand Clothing Pool.

Second-hand clothing can no longer be left with Mrs Franks in the Music Department so please bring all donations/consignments to the Second-hand Clothing Pool in Concordia House. Parking is available and accessed from Cavendish Street.

Changes to the Education Tax Refund (‘ETR’)

A new means tested ‘Schoolkids Bonus’ has been introduced to assist Australian families with out-of-pocket school expenses such as uniforms, excursions, music lessons and computer costs.

The new reform, applicable from January 2013, replaces the existing Education Tax Refund (‘ETR’) and will provide eligible families with $410 per year for each primary school child and $820 per year for each child in Secondary education.

The ‘Schoolkids Bonus’ will be paid to eligible recipients in two equal instalments in January and July each year. There is a possibility that should the legislation go through quickly a transitional one-off payment of the ETR may be made as early as June 2012.

Like the ETR the ‘Schoolkids Bonus’ will be means tested. Eligible families will be those who are receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A. If you are unsure if you are currently eligible for the ETR, or may be in the future, you can visit the ETR Website.