Last Wednesday evening the College welcomed all parents and guardians to the first Parents and Friends gathering for the year.

It was a dual-purpose event to provide detailed accountability information to parents and guardians and to welcome all new parents of Stanmore 7-12 campus. “New” includes our Wyvern and Lindfield families as well as those parents and guardians who are still in their first weeks of College life at Newington.

The agenda for the formal presentations in Centenary Hall included:

• An update on the academic results for the Class of 2014 presented by Deputy Head of Stanmore, Academic, Mr Trent Driver
• A detailed and very enthusiastic report on the Year 12, 2014 student satisfaction survey presented by Head of Stanmore, Dr Andrew Hirst
• An introduction to the Office of Community and Development from the Director, Mr Rod Bosman
• An introduction to the vision and commitment of the Parents and Friends’ Association presented by P&F President, Mr Andrew Loveridge.

Dr Hirst also “put a face to a name” for the senior executive and leadership staff with introductions.

Immediately following, all in attendance were invited to the Space Frame for welcome drinks and canapés. Entertainment was provided by a new line-up Jazz Combo, limbering up on a laidback jazz repertoire.

Each year at this event the P&F Support Groups, manned by current representative parents use this opportunity to start the communication and answer questions on how to be involved on the sidelines and/or in the meetings that are held to raise community support and needed funds for the boys’ co-curricular activities.

We were delighted that so many new families took the opportunity to meet each other, and the members of the P&F Executive, and the Newington staff so early on in the new year. We extend grateful thanks to the long serving P&F representatives who worked so hard on the night to ensure a connection to the Stanmore 7-12 Campus.