A Message from the Head of Stanmore

Build yourself and strive to be the Newington Man; because you never know when you’ll need him.

Robert Morrison ON’07, Special Guest at Academic Excellence Assembly

BYOD Forum: Tuesday 6 March

I invite all parents to our forum on ‘the journey of BYOD’ next Tuesday 6 March in the new Old Boys Lecture Theatre, Rae Centre. Parents attending will be briefed by key staff on what we have learnt over the past five weeks and the new measures adopted to make the boys’ learning more effective. There will also be time for you to share your son’s experience after his first weeks of term! Please join us! For more information or if you have deliberate questions to be addressed, please call Melinda Grant on 9568 9359.

The Academic Excellence Assembly: Last Wednesday, we paid homage to the excellent results of the Class of 2012! Our special guest, former Deputy Senior Prefect, Robert Morrison (ON ’07) gave a rousing address that emphasised the importance of boys pursuing their passion after school. Now a journalist for Channel 9, Robert said: “When you leave you don’t want to be someone who just went to Newington, you want to be someone who embodies it.” The message was well received! Finally the assembly concluded with an enormous ovation for our 2012 Hardy Medallists, Zubin Bilimoria and Jonathan Ciofani! The College gave the former students the ultimate accolade ‘the Newington rumble’! My sincere thanks to Ms Jenny Diab for her expert planning and to our Head of Learning and Teaching, Ms Julia Shea who ensures that the energy and professionalism of our teaching staff are second to none!

May I now please draw your attention to more important administrational matters:

Student Safety

Recently, boys entering the College off Newington Road/Lane have endangered their safety by not looking carefully for traffic that sometimes turns out of Middleton Road too quickly. If you drop your son(s) off outside the college grounds, please deliberately chat to them about their safety.

Late to School

May I please remind all families that boys late to school must report to the pastoral administrator in the Rae Centre, whatever the reason! No exceptions!!

Winter Sports Choices

Please note all Winter sports choice must be complete by Friday 1 March. If your son has not done so, they will automatically default to their winter sports choice in 2012.

Parents on Site

Please note that while parents are always welcome on site, they must sign in at Reception first. Parents are not permitted to visit the Campus unannounced, nor to make unscheduled visits to meet with staff! We are very keen to provide effective communication but please understand that we cannot permit staff to relinquish their duty of care to meet with parents. Please remember that any need for face to face contact can always be arranged via the email or the phone.

Academic Leave Requests

Please also note that all applications for leave from school for one day or more, must be sent to myself in writing or by email. The request for leave should contain the dates being requested and reason, with as much notice as possible, to give the necessary time to consider the request. I will then confirm, in writing, whether or not leave has been granted.

Homework Club and Evening Prep

Supervised study opportunities  have now commenced in the Library. Homework Club offers assistance to boys in English and Maths on alternate days to their sports training from 3.30pm to 4.45 pm. Similarly boys in Years 11 – 12 are invited to join designated teaching staff for private study from 6.00pm to 7.30pm from Monday to Thursday. If you have further enquiries please email Assistant to the Headmaster, Mr Paul Bourke

Embers

I encourage all families to support our 2013 Senior Drama Production Embers. The show opens this Thursday 28 February in the Old Chapel from 7.00pm. We wish the cast and crew every success, confident that all their dedication and commitment will be rewarded! The musical runs until Saturday 2 March. Please book seats with Ms Jane Wynn Jones on 9568 9324 and enjoy this occasion.

Head of the River Regatta – Saturday 9 March 

Finally, I wish our rowers every success next weekend as they plan their final preparations for the 116th AAGPS Head of the River Regatta. A reminder that this is one of four compulsory occasions and all boys are expected to attend. No exemptions will be given and there will be real consequences for boys who fail to attend!

For transport arrangements please click here

What a week ahead!

 Dr Andrew Hirst
 Head of Stanmore 

Transport News

Transport

There have been quite a few calls over the last few weeks regarding overcrowding on the morning Eastern Suburbs and 560 bus from Hunters Hill. The service providers and the school have been closely monitoring both services and working on solutions to address these issues.

Eastern Suburbs Bus

The College will be leasing a larger bus for the Eastern Suburbs run for the “problem days” of Tuesday and Wednesday.

Hunters Hill 560

There have been a number of boys being refused entry on to the STA government bus 560 route at Drummoyne due to overcrowding. This occurs mainly on Mondays and Fridays.

The overcrowding occurs at Drummoyne, so having a second government bus originate at Rozelle has not alleviated the situation. Newington has requested that State Transit send two buses from Ryde depot in the morning instead of one from Ryde and one from Leichhardt depot.

Newington College has supplied the STA with the numbers of boys living in the Hunters Hill/Drummoyne area and they are working on a solution.

First Exhibition for 2013 at Concordia Gallery

Concordia Gallery is pleased to announce an exhibition of students in collaboration with artist Tom Polo, architect Andrew Burns and teacher Andrew Pawley to celebrate Newington College’s 150 year history.

Now Then Again is curated by Concordia Gallery Curator Hannah Chapman and will open at 6.00pm on Tuesday 5 March. The exhibition will be opened by writer and curator John Connell.

To find out more about this event, click here.

Anthony takes out NSW Outstanding Sportman of the Year

Anthony Hrysanthos (12/ME) won the NSW Outstanding Sportsman of the Year award at the NSW Combined Independent Schools Awards last Friday 22 February, making this Newington College’s fourth win in this major prize category since 2007.

Newington College has won this prestigious major prize four times, with consecutive wins in the last three years and another win in 2007. While Anthony took home the prize this year for his outstanding performance in water polo, Daniel Hill (ON ’11) and Cameron Stewart (ON ’11) won their prizes for basketball in 2011 and 2010 respectively, and Nicholas Sharman (ON ’09) won his prize for cricket in 2007.

To qualify, Anthony was awarded a Blue Award in the previous year. The best performers from that category are then nominated to be in the running for the Outstanding Sportman of the Year Award. In addition to receiving this important accolade, Anthony also received another Blue Award making him a Blue Bar awardee.

But Anthony was not the only Newington College representative on the night. Tennis player Harrison Lombe (ON ’12) received a Blue Bar along with basketballer Lewis Holey (ON ’12), while Morgan McDonald (12/MO), Chier Maker (11/FL) and James Smith (12/KL) all received NSW CIS Blue Awards to mark their respective achievements in cross country, basketball and water polo.

Community Events

Tennis End of the Season Celebration

The Newington College Tennis Support Group warmly invites all players, parents and family members to attend the End of Season Celebration and Awards dinner on Saturday 16 March at 7.00pm.

To find out more about the event and book your place, click here.

Year 7 Mother and Son Dinner

The New Women, a support group of the P&F warmly invites Year 7 boys and their mothers to the Year 7 Mother and Son Dinner help 6.30pm Thursday 14 March in the AJ Rae Courtyard followed on by a dinner in Centenary Hall.

To find out more details about the event and RSVP click here.

Youth Week in the City

Youth Week in the City 2013 kicks off 5–14 April. Hosted by City of Sydney, the event features a program of events ranging from live music at Martin Place to book binding and an annual skateboarding competition. So if you’re between 12 and 24, why not get involved? Click here to find out more.

Director of Bands Luke Gilmour completes his PHD

Congratulations to Director of Bands, Mr Luke Gilmour who completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Luke began his doctorate in 2009 where he studied under the renowned Chair of Conducting at the Conservatorium, Professor Imre Pallo.

Mr Gilmour was awarded the Henderson Research Scholarship for his degree and wrote his dissertation on the job satisfaction of freelance school conductors in New South Wales. For his thesis, Mr Gilmour surveyed more than 50 musical professionals and conducted three in-depth interviews with school conductors. He has been invited to contribute to the upcoming issue of the Music Council of Australia’s Music Forum magazine as a result of the success of his findings.

Outside of academia, Mr Gilmour has worked with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Sinfonia as well as a number of local orchestras and bands around Sydney.

We congratulate Mr Gilmour on his achievements thus far and look forward to his official graduation and titling in May this year.

Term 1 Sports Photos

It’s almost time for Term 1 Sports photos.

To download the Term 1 Sports Photos schedule, click here.

Congratulations

Congratulations to the following students on their achievements.

Henry Larkings (7/FL) won the Sabot Sailing Southern Zone Championships on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 February. Henry won the Senior Division over 7 races on Sydney Harbour and was presented his prize by 2012 Olympic silver medalist for sailing, Olivia Price.

Maverick Miles (11/MO) won the NSW Country Show Jumping Championship at Maitland on Sunday 24 February.  He is now the NSW Junior Show Jumping champion and will be traveling to Canberra to compete again this weekend.

Embers—Senior Drama Production Debuts this Thursday

The senior drama production Embers opens this Thursday 28 February. Embers is an award-winning play by Campion Decent and will be directed by Head of Drama at Newington College, Tamara Smith.

Embers is a powerful work drawn from real life experiences during the 2003 bush fires in Victoria’s North and East Gippsland regions. It depicts the resilience of ordinary individuals who overcome extraordinary hardships, showing the resilience of the human spirit.

Embers opens on Thursday 28 February and will show on the Friday 1 March and Saturday 2 March. To book tickets, click here.

Generation “Me”

In recent days we have witnessed many members of the Australian Olympic Swim Team being heavily criticised for their individual and group stupidity that has emerged from childish antics, in London, just before last year’s Olympic Games. One of the most revealing themes that is emerging relates to the selfishness of a few that affected, not just individuals performing well below their best, but also the overall performance of the swim team and the medal tally.

One hopes that this behaviour is not true of our sportsman at Newington. One hopes that it is not true that team members are directly rebelling and challenging team selections and coaches’ advice. One hopes that it is not true that individuals in summer teams whether it be rowing, cricket, swimming or tennis are putting their own selfish interests, and their egos, way before the well-being and success of the team.

Surely of all schools, with our foundation in the Christian faith, we would not see selfish individualism threaten team unity and team health. We have the example of a founder who jeopardised his own life for the well-being of the “team” – who was prepared to be totally given over to the well-being of his friends and followers. Surely our students understand these things and reflect them in the way they behave, and the way they look at life.

Parents we need your help too. Coaching sports teams is difficult enough a task with pre-season planning, running coaching sessions, studying the opposition and motivating the members of a team. What is really gutting is the added distraction of disunity and negativity engendered by a lack of trust and acceptance by individual boys and their parents of coaching strategies and coaching decisions. I need to say quite strongly, that after 25 years of working in schools, it is my observation that 99 per cent of all coaches do not show bias to any particular student above another. They weigh up selections and they think through, often over sleepless nights, team strategy. They are empathetic to the disappointment of a boy who is dropped from a rowing eight or is cut from a tennis team, or is asked to bat in a different position, or swims in a least preferred event. Coaches are on your side and on the side of the boys. However it is the best interests of the overall team and the success and health of the team that the coach is most focused on.

We must preserve and make as our priority at Newington the emphasis on team unity and team health. This is a lesson for life. Society has enough noxious pressure towards individualism which reinforces an egocentrism that saps life of meaning and fulfilment. There are already too many solitary and miserable people walking the streets of Sydney. We at Newington must be a community together, and like the strands of a rope we depend for our strength and vitality on the individual strands being bound together as one – or as the very pragmatic James puts it in the Bible,

“You can develop a very healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honour.” (James 3:16)

David Williams
College Chaplain 

7th Biennial Literature Festival

The 7th biennial Literature Festival will be held on 20, 21 and 22 March. We have over 35 authors, performers and journalists from across Australia visiting all three Newington Campuses.  Over the three days they will present exciting sessions and workshops for all boys from K-12. The attached flyers are available to the Newington community who are interested in attending. Bookings may be required.

To download a program, click here.

To find out about the special guest speakers at this year’s event, click here.

IB and HSC Graduates Shine at Academic Assembly

The Academic Excellence Assembly was held on Wednesday 20 February. It was wonderful to have so many boys from the 2012 HSC and IBDP cohorts return to the College and have their outstanding academic achievements acknowledged by the full school community.

A total of 43 boys were invited back for the occasion. The assembly recognised:

• Individuals that achieved the top HSC mark at Newington in a particular subject
• Students that received a ‘7’ in an IB Diploma Programme subject
• Boys that received maximum points in Theory of Knowledge and their Extended Essays in the IBDP
• Those that were nominated for one of the HSC exhibitions, namely OnStage, Encore, Art Express, DesignTech, InTech or Exemplar
• Those that were recognised by the Board of Studies as Top Achievers in the HSC for gaining a top twenty placing in the state in a particular subject
• Those that received a Premier’s Award for all round achievement, having achieved a mark of 90 or above in 10 units of HSC subjects
• Those that received an ATAR or UAC rank of 99 or above.

Robert Morrison (ON ’07), Deputy-Senior Prefect and a Premier’s Award winner from 2007, was the guest speaker at the assembly.

The following boys were invited to the assembly and those present received a wonderful ovation:

Phillip Alphonse, Kevin Arya, Spyridon Augoustinos, Angus Bagby, Adam Bertino, Zubin Bilimoria, David Bretag, Michael Cameron, Nicholas Chapman, Alexander Chiu, Jonathan Ciofani, Tom Crotty, Joseph Dorph, Michael Drummond, Christian Ferrao, Ciaran Frame, Jordan Garofali, James Grogin, Daniel Han, Lewis Jones, Devin Khatri, Gregory Koumoukelis, Collin Liang, Jordan Loy, Giulio Mancuso, Matthew Markakis, Max Miller Bock, James Palmer, Sebastian Pyne, Adam Rasko, Jackson Rickard, Nicholas Scaltrito, Andrew See, Matthew Shim, Max Stanistreet, Jarrod Stilp, Brandon Taylor, Mitchell Travers, James Torres-Lynch, Myles Turpin, Edward Watson, Nicholas Xenos and Anthony Yao

In addition, those boys that had qualified for the award of Academic Colours in 2012 were presented on stage.

In recognition of their outstanding academic achievement in Year 10 2012, Academic Colours were awarded to Ben Adams (11/FL), Jayce Carrano (11/MA), Aki Flame (11/JN) and Thomas Van Der Velde (11/JN).

In recognition of their outstanding academic achievement in the Preliminary Higher School Certificate Course in 2012, Academic Colours were awarded to Marcus Atallah (12/ME), Harrison Calligeros (12/JN), Clinton Chan (12/MA), Sam Hardy (12/MO), Stephen Kotsopoulos (12/LE), James Tsaousidis (12/ME) and Joshua Yu (12/LE).

Ms Julia Shea
Head of Learning and Teaching 

How to Avoid Acne

Acne is a common medical skin condition, so common that it is considered a normal part of growing up. Acne can cause severe psychological problems, undermining self-assurance and self-esteem at a vulnerable time in life.

Acne include whiteheads, blackheads, red bumps (pimples), bumps that are filled with pus (pustules) and cysts – painful, pus-filled lumps beneath the surface of the skin. These boil-like infections can cause scars. Acne is due to hormonal changes that come with puberty.

It occurs mainly on the face, neck, back, arms and chest which are the areas with the largest number of oil glands. Acne occurs when tiny pores on the skin that open into a hair follicle and oil gland become clogged with oil, dead skin and sometimes bacteria.

Risk factors include:

• Direct skin contact with greasy or oily substances, or to certain cosmetics applied directly to the skin
• A family history of acne — if your parents had acne you’re likely to develop it too
• Friction or pressure on your skin caused by various items, such as cell phones, helmets, tight collars and backpacks
• Stress doesn’t cause acne, but if you have acne already, stress may make it worse.
• Excessive milk intake, especially skim milk, in teenagers

Simple measures for mild acne

Cleanse your skin gently twice a day using your hands and a gentle cleanse like Neutrogena, Dove or Cetaphil. Scrubbing can irritate the skin so do not overdo it. Keep your hair clean and off your face.

Avoid squeezing, scratching or rubbing at the pimples and try not to keep touching your face with your fingers. Avoid wearing a tight headband or baseball type cap.

Avoid greasy creams and cosmetics. Look for products that are ‘noncomedogenic’ as these do not clog pores.

Greasy foods and chocolate have not been shown to make acne worse although a high sugar diet is best avoided. Low GI foods may help some people with acne,

Over the counter medications with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid are usually pretty helpful for treating mild acne. Try a little first to make sure you are not allergic and follow the instructions. These products cause the skin to peel and dry out to get rid of the pimples and the medication can take some weeks to work.

If your pimples are not improving or if you have a more severe form of acne, it’s necessary to see your Doctor. They can prescribe antibiotic creams or tablets such as erythromycin, tetracycline or doxycycline. A combination of a topical cream and an antibiotic is often prescribed as this helps to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance.

A topical retinoid like Retin A can be used, alone or in combination, for mild-to-moderate inflammatory acne.

For severe cystic acne that has not responded to other treatments Isotretinoin (Roaccutane) is the recommended treatment. It works by reducing the amount of the oily substance made by glands in your skin, reducing bacteria, reducing inflammation and opening clogged pores. A single course induces a long term remission in over 80% of these patients.

Extra care must be taken if the patient has diabetes, high cholesterol or a mood disorder, drinks heavily or has a very physical active lifestyle.

Usually a low dose is prescribed to start with which is gradually increased over a period of approx. 20 weeks to reduce the risk of side effects.

Roaccutane has serious side effects such as causing severe birth defects in the unborn, raising lipid and liver enzyme levels, serious headaches and visual disturbances, stiffness of bones, joints and muscles etc but these risks can be reduced by careful assessment by the treating Dermatologist of the patient before, during and after treatment. While there have been reported links to depression with the use of Roaccutane, recent studies have not shown this to be conclusive.

The overall goals of acne treatment are to lessen the physical discomfort from inflamed lesions, improve the adolescent’s appearance, prevent scarring, and avoid the adverse psychological impact of acne.

Remember this is Organ Donation Week so make sure you have the conversation at home so your family know each other’s wishes. I have!

Sister Margaret Bates
School Nurse 

Sport Report

Athletics

Training for the 2013 Athletics season will commence on Monday 18 March, with the first Invitational Carnival at Blacktown Olympic Park on Saturday 23 March. Further details will be places on SPACES, on the athletics page.

Cricket

Congratulations to Marcus Atallah (12/ME) on his selection in the AAGPS cricket squad for season 2012/13. Marcus has been a valuable member of the Newington 1st XI for three years. He is a left handed batsman who bowls right arm off spin. Marcus will represent the AAGPS at the NSW Schoolboy Cricket Championship in March. Jordan Gauci (10/FL) will also be representing Newington cricket at the Australian U15 Schoolboy Championships in Perth this week.

We wish Marcus and Jordan all the very best at their respective competitions.

Rowing

It is busy for the rowers at this time of year, with several crews racing in two regattas last weekend. On Saturday, our Junior crews braved the weather at the Shore Regatta, however the regatta was called off midway. Some good results were achieved by our Year 8 Quads before the regatta was stopped.

Our senior crews raced at the Sydney Rowing Club Regatta, with the 1st VIII posting two strong performances finishing a close 3rd in the Schoolboy Eight final and also a close 3rd place in the Men’s A Eight event. The 1st IV finished 3rd in their final. The 3rd VIII rowed a solid race and finished 3rd of the GPS schools. Several senior and junior crews backed up on Sunday to compete at the NSW Schoolboys Head of the River (this is a regatta for independent boys’ schools and is different to the GPS Head of the River).

Some solid performances occurred particularly in the Year 8 and 9 Quads. The 2nd Year 8 Quad remain undefeated for the season after another strong performance on Sunday, whilst the 4th Year 8 Quad also took out their race. The 3rd Year 8 Quad finished second. In the Year 9 Quads, the 4th Yr 9 Quad won their race, whilst the 2nd and 3rd Yr 9 Quads finished second.

We are taking the 1st and 2nd Yr 8 and 9 Quads to the Independent Schools Championships this weekend in Canberra. The Year 10 VIII’s, the 3rd VIII and the GPS Crews are all putting the finishing touches to their training as we lead into the GPS Head of the River on Saturday 9th March at SIRC.

Tennis

Newington College tennis has had three boys selected to represent AAGPS at the NSW Combined Independent Schools (CIS) tennis tournament this week. The boys listed below are members of Newington’s 1sts tennis team.

Blazo Djurovic (12/LE)

Richard Palmer (11/KL)

Damien Minguez (11/FL)

All the best to the boys in their quest for further selection.

Triathlon

Five Newington boys competed in the NSW Combined Independent Schools (CIS) triathlon championships on 21 February 21. The competition was held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre. The boys participated in the Junior and Intermediate divisions. Congratulations to the following boys:

Eden Bradford (8/LE)

Remy Krassoi (8/ME)

Tom Foley (9/FL)

Callum Lowe-Griffiths (9/PR)

David Murray (9/PR)

Congratulations to the boys and in particular to Callum who placed fifth in his first ever triathlon and gained selection in the NSW team.

Water Polo

The strength and depth of Newington Water Polo was underlined with the following Newington U14 players participating in the NSW U14 State Championships with their respective clubs.

Matthew Bramich (8/JN)

Ned Churchyard (8/ME)

Harry Dickens (8/LE)

Harry Gilkes (8/KL)

Henry Gowers (8/ME)

Remy Krassoi (8/ME)

Thomas Laird (8/FL)

Marco Loprevite (8/MO)

Well done boys!

From the Library

It’s been fantastic to see students and staff settling into the new library, discovering favourite couches, tables or lounges to sit and do work or read a book.

Speaking of new discoveries, I hope that many students have already discovered the newest additions for their seating comfort—our fabulous new black beanbags!

They can be found scattered about the library, but just a reminder for shoes to come off if you plan on putting your feet on them. And while I’m reminding you about behaviour expectations, please remember that there is to be no food or drink brought into or consumed in the library (bottled water with a lid on is okay).

We’ve also received several new issues of our new magazines. Last week saw new issues of the following make it onto the shelves:

• ABC Football
• The Economist
• Four Four Two (shipped directly from the UK!)
• Modern Fishing
• Rugby League

So if you haven’t already found the beanbags, come in, check them out and take a seat, perhaps with one of our new magazines!

Library staff have also been settling into the new library too. We’ve been busily running orientation sessions for staff and students. I’m inviting Heads of Department to hold their departmental meetings in the library, so I can show them all of the fabulous resources that the library has to support their teaching and their students’ research and reading.

We’ve also commenced orientations for students, starting with Year 7. Mr Carron, Ms Jagger and I have been running sessions which have seen our new Year 7 students wandering around the library, discovering all of the different collections and accessing our online catalogue (OPAC) using the very cool new touch screen computers.

So a very busy start to the term for the library, and we look forward to an even busier rest of the year!

Ms Choi
Head of Library Services 

Nepal Trip 2012

Over the school holidays between December 2012 and January 2013, sixteen Year 11 and 12 students were accompanied by Mr Pike, Ms Shepherd and Mr Van Asperen on the biannual Nepal trekking expedition. Students spent over two weeks trekking through the Everest region, exploring the medieval city of Bhaktapur within Kathmandu and visiting historical sites such as the Boudhanath Stupa and Pusupatinath Temple. This year’s trip also contained a large service learning component, including visits to the Fred Hollows Eye Foundation and the Herman Gmeiner Children’s Village School in the Kathmandu Valley. However, most of the service learning component was carried out at the Kushudebu Public Health Mission in Junbesi.

Junbesi is a very remote area, so remote that transport occurs exclusively on foot and by donkey. Despite it being so remote, it is still the closest medical facility for many Nepalese people, providing invaluable services such as immunisations, x-rays, a pharmacy, bone setting, maternity facilities and a small general health ward. As part of the service learning program students managed to raise $3,400 throughout 2012. This was done by selling chocolates, a mufti day and a barbeque. These funds were used to pay for the cement rendering of one of the buildings at the Health Mission and to purchase the paint used by students to paint that same building. Many students attested to the sense of satisfaction that came from being able to get involved personally in the local community, with the overwhelming feedback being that they wished they could have done more.

“ One of the best parts of the trip was the service learning aspect, where we helped to paint and render a health center in the village of Junbesi. Meeting all of the locals and actually getting to be a part of and see firsthand the help that our raised money could give to the locals was a truly rewarding experience.” – Ramon Briant (12/MO)

“Clearly though, the trip was about more than just the service learning. It allowed trekkers to witness and walk through the magnificent Nepalese scenery, enjoy the sensational Nepalese food and interact with the generous Nepalese people. Many enjoyed singing along the trail with them, battling it out in a fierce ad hoc game of ‘Nep-ball’ and playing cards with them. Some of the highlights for the group included visiting the (SOS) school and playing soccer.” — Edmond Cheng (12/FL)

“ Walking through this ancient city, everything is completely new and foreign. There are ancient temples and statues and figures everywhere. Motorbikes and cars drive where people walk, you don’t go 10 seconds without hearing a horn. The people are everywhere and there are animals all over the place too. Especially dogs and chickens. You get the sense that you are really in another world. It was unique, like nothing else, sometimes even intimidating and scary but at the same time exciting and fun. You really feel like an outsider, but it’s okay.” — William Ditmarsch (12/JN)

“ The Nepal Trek was a true feat of human strength. It tested the boys’ strength mentally and physically, pushing everyone to new extremes. As we ascended high into the mountains where the large crows live, the air became thin and brittle like ice, making us gasp like fish out of water. One step felt like 10 when going up-hill. Our bodies ached and were stiff after each day, but it was all worth it at the end of the day, to travel to a place with an ancient culture, which is overflowing and rich.” — Liam Knierim (11/FL)

It was a fantastic experience and we definitely recommend that all boys at least consider going on this trip when it is run again in future years.

Edmond Cheng (12/FL) and Ms Shepherd

Centre for Ethics 2013 Program Out Now

The Centre for Ethics at Newington College is a forum for students, teachers, parents and the wider community, to engage in discussion of contemporary moral issues, beliefs and values.

The 2013 program is out now with the first public event to commence on Wednesday 6 March. The subject matter is Spirituality in a Godless Country and features guest speaker Dr David Tacey, Associate Professor at La Trobe University. Other speakers at this year’s event include The Hon. Michael Kirby, Baroness Susan Greenfield and Dr Hugh Mackay just to name a few.

To find out more about the program and book a seat, please visit the Centre for Ethics 2013 insite.

Year 12 Retreat

There is (within independent schools) a tradition of retreats that enables an integration of the student’s learning, their social interaction and the spiritual self. Over the last decade Newington College has provided the opportunity for Year 12 students to spend three days on a Retreat.

The goal of this retreat is to provide an occasion to explore issues of spirituality in an enjoyable environment.

More specifically a retreat provides the students opportunities for:

• Reflection and meditation away from the normal stresses of day to day school life
• to think more clearly about who they are and what direction their life will take
• to focus on the larger picture of life and not just on the looming HSC
• to reassure and reinforce faith
• to become clearer in thinking about their relationships with self, others, God and the world

Naturally, not all of the students at Newington are Christian, nor are all, willing to make any sort of faith statement at this time in their lives. Our retreat model allows us to work with a group of students who may be from diverse faith backgrounds, or from no faith background at all, by assuming that all people have a spirituality. The response of the student to the retreat process and the manner of that response will be unique to each person.

The Retreat is to be held after the Mini Examinations in Week 11A commencing Wednesday 10 April departing at midday and returning Friday 12 April at 3.30pm. Letters will be sent home in the near future and will also be available at the Year 12 Parent / Teacher evening. It is very important that medical and dietary information is returned no later than Thursday 28 March.

Bob Meakin
Deputy Head of Stanmore / Head of Pastoral

Clean Up Australia, Clean Up Stanmore

Clean Up Australia Day is an initiative by Clean Up Australia, an organization started by Ian Kiernan, to “inspire and work with communities to clean up, fix up and conserve our environment”. From its popular beginnings in 1989 and 1990, Clean Up Australia Day turned into Australia’s largest community-based environmental event, and has now become a widely acknowledged global event in the form of Clean Up the World.

In 2012, more than 1,000 volunteers participated in the clean up in Stanmore, with more than 200 bags of rubbish being collected, accumulating to over two tonnes of litter. Until we find a way to convince everyone that littering is harmful to the environment and the eye, it is important that we keep our communities clean. So this year Newington will once again be running a clean-up zone, though we are hoping to expand it in all directions from the Boarding House as our starting point, we will need more support in the form of volunteers, both students and parents. This really is an important universal initiative and we urge you to come take part.

Time: 9.00am
Date: Sunday 3 March
Place: Newington College Turning circle
Equipment: Wear covered shoes; bring gloves and a garbage bag

Edmond Cheng (12/FL) and Mandi Randell

Take a Seat in the Old Boys Lecture Theatre

Ever thought of ‘taking your own seat’ in the new Old Boys Lecture Theatre?

The Old Boys Lecture Theatre (OBLT) has finally come to life with our current boys occupying its seats for several of their classes. And so to continue in the tradition of naming our rooms and buildings at Newington, we are also naming the seats in the OBLT.

Many members of our Newington family have “named” a seat (117 out of the 250 seats have been taken) which will bear their name or another name of their choosing. A gift of $4,000 (tax deductible and may be spread over up to 4 years) will secure a seat in the OBLT thus ensuring your name will forever be etched into Newington’s history.

For more information, please call Lea Greifeneder on 9568 9540 or email development@newington.nsw.edu.au.

History of the Newington Bus

A familiar sight before and after school is the chartered buses that take many of our boys from locations across Sydney to the College and back each day. But how did this start?

On 21 January 1936, a sub-committee of the Finance Committee of the College Council was formed to investigate ‘conveyance of junior boys to and from School’. This issue arose from the closure of Ashfield Grammar Preparatory School and the transfer of thirty of its boys to Newington. The sub-committee recommended against buying a bus but in favour of introducing a charter service. The cost to parents was not to exceed one sixth per boy per week.

On 25 February, the Headmaster, Philip Le Couteur, reported to the Committee that the service was proving a success, with twenty eight boys using it daily. It was costing the College 16/- per day, higher than the original estimate because the route from Ashfield now went via ‘Dobroyde’ (Dobroyd Point). Le Couteur also reported that the bus was taking boys to the rowing shed at Abbotsford, costing a further 10/- per day. He expected the total cost to be £20 until Regatta Day.

In July the Headmaster reported that the bus was being used to transport boys to Long Bay for rifle shooting practice on Mondays, at 12/- per trip. The boys were reported ‘providing their own way home’ from there.

During the Second World War, petrol shortages resulted in the bus being fitted with a large gas bag on its roof. Old Newingtonian Don Dwyer (ON ’49) recalls that the bag was sometimes torn by overhanging shop awnings, with the result that the gas escaped and the boys did not get to school until morning break.

Our illustration shows a later bus, loaded with racing boats and filled with boys about to depart for the 1951 Head of the River (From the collection of Barrie Titcume (ON ’51).

David Roberts
College Archivist

Gym equipment for Sale

There is some gym equipment for sale listed on SPACES. To find out prices and more information, please click here

Newington Shop: Now Online!

The Online Newington Shop is now available for families of boys in Years 7-12. Only Newington College students and parents can access the site and order. Once you enter the site, you need to register and create your own username and password, using the secure passphrase.

The Newington Shop passphrase is available by phoning the shop on tel: 9568 9427

If you have not yet REGISTERED, click here to do so. If you have registered since Friday 5 October 2012, use the LOGIN LINK to enter the online shop.

Why you should order Online:

1. Quick and easy ordering process
2. Order from the comfort of your own home
3. Check uniform availability
4. 24/7 access 365 days a year
5. Delivered to your door or pickup in-store
6. Avoid queues and the back to school rush

Invitation to 150 Years of Sport Luncheon

Join us in the city to celebrate and pay tribute to the history of Newington Sport. Relive the successes of past premierships in rugby, tennis, athletics, football and swimming…just to name a few, as one of the original members of the AAGPS. National and international representative sportsmen from the College will join us to recount how their early sports careers were forged on the fields at Newington.

When: Friday 22 March 2013
Where: Dockside, Cockle Bay Wharf
Cost: $125 per person

To register for the event, click here.

To make an online payment click here and choose the Sesquicentenary link in the “College” box.

Find out what else is on the Sesquicentenary events program by visiting our INSITE.