A Message from the Head of Stanmore

“I remind all families that Newington College will demonstrate zero tolerance for any behaviour that damages property, personal safety or endangers the safety of others.” – Dr Andrew Hirst, August 2008

Good luck Year 12!

After an incredibly successful year, next week we have planned a series of functions to honour, educate and formally farewell Year 12:

Monday 9 September: all Year 12 are invited to a special morning tea with staff, partake in a Year 12 Exit survey and attend a forum presented by the NSW Police on the legal ramifications of ‘safe-partying and driving’. That evening, we will honour our Senior Drama students at 7.00pm in the Old Chapel

Tuesday 10 September: Wyvern and Lindfield graduates will attend a farewell chapel service at their primary schools; that evening a special Senior Farewell Concert is scheduled to honour Year 12 music students at 7pm in Centenary Hall

Wednesday 11 September: we will hold the Winter Sports Assembly at 2.30pm in Centenary Hall and afterwards serve afternoon tea to our Colour recipients and their families in Prescott Hall.

Thursday 12 September: This year we will hold our inaugural ‘Father and Son Breakfast’ at 7.30am in Taylor Sports Centre. At 8.30am our House Competition Day for all years commences. Year 12 will have a fun photo at 8.35am and a lunch at 1.30pm

Friday 13 September: Valedictory Day commences with Year 12 Farewell Assembly at 9.45am, followed by the Valedictory Chapel Service at 11.00am and finally, a Farewell Luncheon in Centenary Hall at 11.45am.

Saturday 15 September: Year 9 & 10 Cadets depart for outdoor camp at 5.45am, returning 8.00pm Thurs. 19/9; Yr 10 Newington Challenge students depart at 8.00am, while Yr 9 leave at 8.30am

I remind all families that Newington College will demonstrate zero tolerance for any anti-social behaviour throughout this time. Any student, who engages in this type of behaviour, at any time, may well face varying actions from losing their prefecture right through to suspension from the College and all the Valedictory activities.

We wish all Year 12s the very best in the HSC and IBDP and I remind them “the only time ‘success’ comes before ‘work’ is in the dictionary!”

Dr Andrew Hirst
Head of Stanmore / Deputy Headmaster 

4 September 2013

Technology in the Newington Classroom

Now nearing the end of three terms of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) the recent P&F forum on Technology in the Newington Classroom was an opportunity to report back to parents some real examples of the types of learning experiences teachers are developing with their classes and to hear parents’ frank views about their son’s use of technology.

Head of ICT, Mr Myles Carrick began the forum by painting a learning landscape of dramatic change in the last fifteen years. He contextualised Newington’s position by outlining the adoption of 1:1 computers at the beginning of the year and what technology was now enabling our boys to do with such ready access.

ICT Facilitator, Mr Rolfe Kolbe, who has worked alongside Newington staff, then introduced some savvy teacher practitioners who had taken up the personal challenge to engage with new technologies to better equip themselves to teach in a classroom full of boys with laptops and ipads. Some senior boys were also present at the forum to share their perspective on the issue, having experienced both the before and after effects of BYOD.

English teacher, Mr Will Van Asperen, one of the many teachers at the forum gave some examples of how he created learning content using iPads – the chosen device for Years 5-8. He gave some reassurance to parents that while iPads were used in his classes he also checked handwriting in hardcopy workbooks – an example of blended learning whereby both traditional and modern tools of learning were used to better engage students in a changing classroom.

Mr James Norman in Design Technology then spoke to the audience about how teachers track student engagement as well as analyse completion of tasks online.

Meanwhile Ms Helen Bremner from Languages demonstrated webtools used in her classes that allowed the boys, literally, to do the talking by practising verbal tasks using an online program. Ms Bremner showed the effectiveness and usability of this tool through a short film.

Ms Kate Shepard from English discussed how our online learning environment , Canvas, assisted in the electronic submission of assignments, online journals as well as discussion on online forums. In particular, she pointed out the advantage in the latter for students who were a little more reticent to leap into class discussion.

Several other staff members showcased the use of BYOD in their classrooms before a panel led by Ms Julia Shea, Head of Teaching and Learning was set to give parents the opportunity to express their opinions or concerns. Some issues parents brought up regarded completion of homework tasks, the practicalities of computer maintenance and reliability, distractibility and supervision when using laptops and ipads as well as the consistency of technology use across year groups and departments. The Newington ICT Blog is one of the best places to find more information about Technology in the Newington Classroom.

The P&F forums are a chance for parents to hear opinions on and grapple with challenges in parenting – and to know that other parents share the same experiences. The next P&F forum is on 16 September when Paul Dillon and Susie Burrell will present current evidence on drug and alcohol usage amongst young people.

‘iCal’ it now!

Back to Newington Day – What you need to know on the day!

Prepare with a quick history lesson on BTND

Our archivist Mr David Roberts has provided the most wonderful account of the Great Wyvern Fete. To help you prepare for the celebrations on Saturday click here to read how Back to Newington Day originated and enjoy the rich history of our College.

Fashion “off” the fields

Take a moment away from the Football and Rugby fields so you don’t miss the 26 Marketplace stallholders in Centenary Hall selling jewellery, fresh flowers, gourmet food, ladies clothing accessories, hats, homewares, kids clothes and toys on Back to Newington Day.  Come and have a look at the great items we have on offer during half time. Click here  to find out more.

Need a Coffee hit?

Our local baristas at Papercup Cafe in Stanmore will be running the Black & White Cafe on the day. Come and say hello while grabbing a delicious, creamy beverage to enjoy. Click here to find out more.

Are you a self-confessed sweet tooth?

The New Women group at Newington College  have been busy baking up a storm for the New Women Cake Stall.  They’re looking for keen lovers of all things delicious to come and try out their homemade goods. If you’re looking for something sweet to complement your Latte why not drop by and see what they have on offer. There might even be something for you to take home for the family dessert that night as well.

Nab a classic at the Secondhand Book Stall

If fashion and homewares are not your thing, then maybe you’d like to come and try your luck at the secondhand book stall. The College library has also had a recent cull so there are some great buys for the boys also available.

Need a Hand?

Have your shopping minded for you at Centenary Hall by the volunteers of the New Women group for a gold coin donation.

Calling all Domestic Goddesses (& Gods)

If you wish to contribute to the New Women Cake Stall and live in the Sutherland Shire, boxes to donate your goods can be collected from a New Women family in the area. Please contact Helen Burton for more details.

Boxes and jars are also still available at Reception and Concordia Building also.

Put in a bid

A bit of a eBay guru? Why not place a bid in the P&F Mini Auction. Click here to find out more or click here to visit the webpage and put in a bid. New items still being loaded with well below market value bids.

In Black and White, we unite!

Standing on the sidelines of the Football and Rugby game but feeling a little under dressed as a Newington supporter because you left your Wyvern at home? Help is at hand at the Black & White Shop’s Crested Ware stall. Click here for more details.

Stock up on Sesquicentenary Memorabilia

It’s our 150th Birthday and we want everyone to know about it. If you haven’t had a chance to check out the Sesquicentenary Memorabilia that has been on sale this year, this is your chance. Click here for more details and don’t forget to visit our stall on the day. It will be a long time before we are 150 again.

App-tly deserved – Newington dominate Yr 7-8 category at NSW Young ICT Explorers Competition

On Saturday 31 August a group of extraordinarily gifted Newington boys competed in the NSW Young ICT Explorers Competition with fantastic success.

Young ICT Explorers is a non-profit competition, which has been created by SAP (who develop enterprise software and software-related services) to encourage school students to create their best Information and Communication Technology (ICT) related projects.

The competition’s alignment with the school curriculum enables students to apply what they learn in their ICT classroom to develop a technology related project. At the judging event, students have the opportunity to present their project to a judging panel of academia, industry partners and ICT professionals. Each project is assessed on the criteria of creativity, uniqueness, quality, level of difficulty and project documentation.

1st place in the Years 7 and 8 Category went to the following Year 8 boys:

• Rhys Watkins (8/MA)
• Simon Giordano (8/MO)
• Max Quinn (8/KL)
• Henry Mellor (8/JN)

These boys designed an App called “Crl Track” an application designed to benefit sales staff at an energy company by enabling them to access information about a cylinder via barcode scanning to access product information and highlight when supplies are running low. Several industry players and the judges were impressed with the app and awarded these boys first place for their innovative use of technologies.

3rd place in the Years 7 and 8 category went to two other Year 8 boys

• Massimo Marchese (8/LE)
• Michael Knox (8/LE)

They designed an app called “I.Will.Survive”, which offers support and contact information for students being bullied or who suffer from mental health issues. As a result of this design, they have been approached by UNSW and TAFE who have the desire to build the app further including collaboration with the boys.

Teacher Librarian Mr Adam Carron said while he encouraged the boys to enter the competition, he could not have anticipated the success the group would achieved.

“We are all very impressed with the standard of creativity and entrepreneurship displayed by these young Newington men,” said Mr Carron. “We hope to see even more entries for next year’s competition.”

As a result of their remarkable achievement, the boys have the opportunity to present and sell their inventions to a group of industry professionals from SAP and NICTE – some of the largest organisations dedicated to ICT research.

Congratulations Rhys, Simon, Max, Henry, Michael and Massimo for being pioneers for Newington ICT.

HSC Important Reminders

• Following the marking of HSC Trial examinations, all boys will be made aware of their final assessment rank in each subject. If they are unsure, they should confirm these details with the teacher concerned prior to the end of term. Any queries in relation to assessment ranks must be resolved by Wednesday 11 September.
• Final assessment ranks will also be stated on the final Year 12 reports.
• All boys must log onto Students Online via the Board of Studies website using their BOS number and PIN. They should check that all details, including their address, are correct. Boys that have lost their PIN will need to contact the Board of Studies directly in order to have a new PIN issued.
• Assessment ranks will be available via Students Online following the final HSC examinations on Wednesday 6 November. It is imperative that all boys check that their assessment ranks are correct. Any anomalies must be reported to the College immediately.
• Boys must check their HSC examination timetable carefully. If boys misread the timetable and fail to attend an examination, they will receive a mark of zero for that particular exam. Parents can download a copy of the HSC examination timetable here.
• Boys that are unable to attend an examination due to illness must contact the College on the morning of the examination.
• Students may lodge an appeal if an illness or misadventure suffered immediately before or during an HSC examination has affected their performance. The decision to submit an illness/misadventure appeal and the responsibility for doing so rests with the student, except where the student is too ill to do so. Boys must make the Presiding Officer aware of their intention to submit an illness/misadventure appeal prior to the commencement of the examination. Illness/misadventure appeal forms are available from the Presiding Officer.
• No mobile phones or notes of any form are to be taken into the examination hall.
• Teaching staff will be available to assist boys in Term 4 up until their HSC Examination. The best time to contact staff is during the time of their normal Year 12 classes. It is best to contact staff via phone or email prior to coming into school for assistance so that no misunderstandings arise.
• HSC results will be made available on Wednesday 18 December.
• EAS Applications must be lodged with UAC by Friday 27 September. Any boys that have experienced long-term educational disadvantage due to circumstances beyond their control or choosing, which has seriously affected their educational performance in Year 12 should apply. Forms may be downloaded here.

Chess Players through to Metropolitan Championship Finals

The Intermediate A team of Cedric Koh (9/MO), Victor Dai (10/FL), Justin Ting (10/JN) and Nicholas Sharp (9/JN) have won their first Inter-regional final match against the previously undefeated Sefton High School to secure a place in the Metropolitan Championship Final.

The matches were hard fought with Cedric winning on board 1 with a confident and commanding presence throughout the match. Victor’s game was filled with his familiar derring-do and demonstrated his dramatic and vigorous attitude. Justin’s match by contrast was ordered, patient and overwhelming. The same could be said of Nick’s game in which he took control early and never relinquished the pressure.

There is now a wait to find our final opponent. The Met-North winner Killara High School  and Met-West winner James Ruse Agricultural High play this week and we meet the winner in the final.

Mr Graeme Downward
Chess Co-Ordinator 

Sport Report

Cross Country

On Saturday August 31, Morgan McDonald (12/MO) competed in his fifth Australian Cross Country Championship in Launceston, Tasmania. Morgan won the U18 years event which is an amazing third national Cross Country title for him. Whilst the conditions were cold, wet and muddy, Morgan ran a tactical race, taking the lead at the start of the second 3km lap. He went on to win by just over 20 seconds.

Morgan was happy with his race and this latest victory adds to his impressive distance running record.

Basketball

The Australian Schools Sport National Basketball championships were held in Perth, Western Australia from 17 – 23 August 2013. Newington were represented in the NSW All Schools team by Captain Jack Jones (12/PR), Jack Haddrick (12/MA) and Chier Maker (11/FL). The week turned out to be a gruelling affair with nine games in six days against the best in the country. In the gold medal game NSW beat Queensland 81 – 51 with the margin of victory only being sorted in the final quarter. With NSW going undefeated throughout the week our three boys were rewarded with Australian Schoolboy selection as well as Chier Maker being awarded the Championship Most Valued Player award while Jack Jones claimed the Most Valued Player award for NSW.

Sport Staffing Update

Matt Nicholson, Director of Cricket (K-12) will be finishing up with us at the end of Term 3 after four years of service at Newington. He leaves to take on a new and exciting challenge away from school cricket and to be closer to his young family and home on the Northern Beaches. Matt is recognised as one of Australia’s leading cricket coaches and his knowledge and expertise has been the basis for Newington’s recent improvement and has set solid foundations for future success. During his time at the College he also worked closely with our elite level students as part of the Talented Athlete Support Program (TASP) where he mentored boys on various issues relating to their unique circumstances. We thank Matt for his contribution and wish him all the best with his new direction.

Mike Little, Coach Athletics/Cross Country (ex Director of Cross Country) resigned from Newington last week after 5 years of service to the Athletics and Cross Country programs. Lachlan Little, Mike’s son (and Captain of Athletics 2012), finishes Year 12 this year and Mike will move on to focus on club related coaching. We thank Mike for the many hours he has spent working with our boys to improve their running.

Cadets Passing Out Parade

The Final Cadets Passing Out Parade was held last Friday 20 August. This Parade is a tradition that dates back to the late 1800s where we recognise the contribution of our Cadet Leaders in particular, the current Unit Leaders in Year 12 who have served in Cadets over the past four years. At the conclusion of the parade, the retiring Unit Leaders return their sword or stick and are congratulated on their efforts.

The Australian Army Cadets Corps is dedicated to the development of student leadership and it is our aim to further this commitment by offering cadets the opportunity to use their skills, both at school during Home Training and at Camps.

I look forward to the opportunity of working with all cadets during camp in a little over two weeks time, and wish the retiring cadets all the best on their exams and future endeavours.

Mr Rodney Wood
Head of Newington College Cadets Unit 

Father and Son Breakfast for Year 7

The annual Year 7 Father/Son Breakfast was held on Friday 30 August. The event was held in Centenary Hall and helped to promote ‘mateship’ – the important bond for boys between them and a significant male role model in their lives.

It was attended by over 300 people and was a great opportunity for the boys to introduce their friends to their fathers and for fathers to get to know each other. It was also the perfect opportunity for dads to have ‘time outré’ from their busy lives and spend some quality time with their sons.

This was a perfect opportunity for fathers to be part of their son’s world and to celebrate that special relationship.

Ms Colleen Scalone
Head of Yr 7

Keeping Healthy During School Camps

With School Camps coming up I thought that I would give some tips for camping and first aid.

While first aid kits are at all bases and your leader carries a basic kit, it is a good idea to pack a small kit to carry with you. If you are asthmatic then please make sure to pack your reliever inhaler. Even if you haven’t used it in ages, it is always important to carry one with you. Let your leader know early if you feel unwell.

Those with anaphylaxis need to take both of your epi pens. Pack one in a protected cover in a pocket of your backpack and ask your leader to carry the other.

Hopefully all boots have been worn in and are comfortable. Even so, blisters can be annoying; some moleskin or foam padding from Dr Scholl’s at the chemist will do the trick. The packs cost about $10 and can be cut to any shape.

Vaseline is a staple for camping. Chaffing can be irritating at least and downright painful at worst. Vaseline is cheap and very useful on lips, blisters, dry hands, feet and inner thighs.

Sunscreen is also a must. Apply often, and if you get sunburned, the best thing to apply is sunscreen.

Insect repellent for mozzies, ticks and leeches such as the Bushman Range or any which contain either Deet or Picaridin are good. Apply sunscreen first and then repellent. Some anti-itch cream is also a handy thing to take with you.

Tummy upsets and dashes to the toilet in the middle of the night can hopefully be avoided by washing and drying hands well. Hand sanitizers are easy to carry and use, but there is nothing like soap and water at the different bases. Besides the obvious hand washing after the toilet – don’t forget to wash before you eat.

For those going overseas to Tonga, your routine vaccinations should already be up to date. Check with your Doctor if you require travel vaccinations such as Hepatitis A or Typhoid vaccination. Let a teacher know early if you develop diarrhea, vomiting or if you have any skin grazes or cuts so that you can be treated effectively. Drink only bottled water and don’t add ice to your drinks.

Have fun!

Sister Margaret Bates
School Nurse

Newington Snowsports through to Nationals

Over the last week, 12 boys from all three Newington campuses were invited to compete against the best skiers and boarders from across New South Wales. The boys competed in a range of events from Cross Country skiing to Snowboarding and Moguls. All the boys competing were present because they had finished in the top percentage of their events amongst the Sydney competition at Thredbo during the winter holidays. So competition on the mountain was fierce, as well as the conditions! Our skiers and boarders who competed on the Thursday and Friday had to also deal with some pretty difficult conditions with poor visibility on the mountain; this made their job even harder.

I am pleased to announce that of the 12 boys competing, four finished in the top percentage of their events and have been invited to compete in the Australian National Competition at Mt Buller, Victoria from 4 – 8 September.

Those boys were: Flynn Gannon (4/HO) for both Snowboard and Snowboard Cross, Alexander Woolley (6/KI), Sam Martin (5/WI) and Josh Billingham (5/WI) who all qualified for the Moguls event, a particularly difficult discipline, especially in poor visibility!

I congratulate all the boys that competed for their spirit and enthusiasm and I’m sure you’ll join with me in wishing the boys all the best at the National Championships!

Mr Justin Verco
Master-in-charge Snowsports

Spotlight on IB Visual Arts

Eugene Gibson (12/JN) is one of five current Year 12 IB Visual Arts students. His Year 12 Body of Work is closely linked with the Theory of Knowledge course that is a major component of the IB Programme. Being a reflective student,  Eugene decided to investigate what it means to be human – how do we as human beings see the world around us and the concept that every object has its meaning and significance on both spiritual and philosophical levels. For example, a small rock can be seen as an object that has no value, yet in some cultures people hold the rock to represent the “essence” of the Universe.

Eugene’s sculptures explore this idea through the use of rocks, river pebbles, weightless cane and tissue to create structures that remind us of different elements of nature such as chrysalis shells and ancient fossils.  The sculptures he has created are golden in colour and semi-translucent, and the skeletal-like forms he has made accompanied by small drawings of the famous Venus of Willendorf symbolise the interaction of the animal and human worlds. In particular, a Venus-shaped rock represents motherhood.

While some of his works look like papyrus-thin autumn leaves, others are rock structures that are suspended from the wall – seemingly defying the rules of gravity. The effect of these two styles working side by side make the audience consider the paradoxical nature of many things.

The key part of Eugene’s series is the “Golden Tree” that appears to grow through a box hence showing the breaking down of boundaries and expectations. The tree symbolises nature, and its preciousness is reflected in the golden flesh that can be seen through the gaps in the bark. The tree, in contrast to the rocks show the dichotomies of life v death, movement v stillness and growth v eternity.

Overall, a very successful work which captures the essence of the IB Visual Arts course.

Congratulations Eugene!

Ms Marina Hinves
IB Visual Arts Teacher 

The Great Wyvern Fete

Back to Newington Day, which we celebrate this weekend, has its origin in the annual school fetes of the 1920s and 1930s.

Our earliest record of one of these concerns the ‘Great Wyvern Fete’ held on 1 November 1930. Planned initially as the ‘Stanmore Jubilee Fete’, one of the events marking the 50th anniversary of the College’s move to Stanmore in 1880, the name ‘Great Wyvern Fete’ quickly stuck and was used again for the following years’ fetes. The December 1930 issue of The Newingtonian provides a detailed account of the day.

The fete started more formally than nowadays, with prayers by the College Chaplain, then Lady Street, wife of the Chief Justice and Lieutenant Governor of NSW, opening the event, and a vote of thanks made by the President of the Methodist Conference.

Stalls included ‘that old favourite’, the Sweets Stall; the Fancy Stall (‘one really of interest only to the ladies’); the Kitchen Stall, conducted by the MLC Old Girls’ Union; the Bathroom Stall; a stall selling provisions, jams and jellies (‘it is certain that the larders will be well stocked in this department for many weeks to come’); a grocery stall ‘conducted on very original lines’; the Bachelor and Tobacco Stall conducted by Misses Wilson and Stewart and ‘very popular with most of the young men’; and the Flowers and Plants Stall, whose blooms and vines ‘were objects of admiration throughout the Fete.’

An element of competition was provided by Cakes No.1 and Cakes No.2, conducted by the girls of MLC and the Parents’ and Friends’ Association respectively. An ice cream and cool drinks stall attracted the greatest number of boys, while a cup of tea and a sandwich ‘enabled a great many people to spend the evening as well as the afternoon here’. Lucky Dips were conducted by the boys and a ‘Lemon Tree’ with mystery prizes by the ONU Younger Set.

Other entertainments included miniature golf on the Johnson Oval, a court in Mr O’Brien’s classroom, in which two ‘policemen’ arrested anyone they liked and imposed small fines, and a cinema that showed the Harold Lloyd film ‘Hot Water’ and several short films in the evening. With the cricket season in full swing, the College’s 1st XI provided further entertainment in a competition match against St Ignatius on the Buchanan Oval.

The Wall Street Crash, precipitating the Great Depression, has occurred just a year previously. ‘But, although business is so slack everywhere and money is so scarce,’ The Newingtonian noted, ‘all true supporters of Newington turned up and spent as much as they could and so helped to make the Fete the great success that it was.’

David Roberts
College Archivist

Mental Health in Teens

Over the next fortnight, at the secondary campus, our chapels will be focussing on the mental wellbeing of teenagers – specifically of young men. It is always a delight to work with students in preparing and delivering our chapel services. This fortnight it will be my pleasure to share the services with our Deputy Senior Prefect, Lachlan McKirdy (12/LE).

Lachlan has already been responsible, together with our legendary school counsellor and psychologist, Mr Stan Comino, for a seminar on “mental health” that saw senior leaders from many Sydney schools, both independent and government, attend and gain great benefit. I therefore thought it was appropriate, and hopefully useful, for our message to go out in this current issue of Black and White.

Mental health is a subject that still gets pushed aside by most teenagers, even though most of them know of someone either in their family or in the peer-group who has suffered some form of mental illness. Perhaps the tide is turning and we are hoping that the kind of focus our school has embraced this year will continue to see the tide turn. My hope is that it will be acceptable and normal to talk about mental health, just like we would be aware of physical health issues.

The vast majority of mental health problems will be in the area of depression and anxiety disorders. It is estimated that only 23% of teenagers who suffer from mental illness are diagnosed correctly – the remaining 77% go on into adulthood never having had either identification or treatment.

The signs of depression and anxiety disorder include:

– Boys who are often alone at school

– Changes of mood (eg. Becoming more aggressive or sad)

– Changes in school behaviour (disruptive or fall in grades)

– Becoming more reclusive

– Involvement in excessive alcohol use or other drug use

One of our goals is to increase the commitment of boys towards their peers in “looking out for” each other more actively. There is a simple four step approach we are encouraging:

i) LOOK – for the signs of depression or anxiety

ii) LISTEN – to what others are going through (their experiences)

iii) TALK – about what’s going on in their lives

iv) SEEK HELP – to help them access support (counsellor, chaplain, mentor or doctor)

At the end of the day it is the bond of friendship that will mean the most to someone who is struggling with depression or anxiety but often this needs to be augmented with professional counselling and even sometime appropriate medication.

In addition to those things there exist some fantastic websites that are very helpful and supportive (I didn’t believe this until I visited these myself):

www.beyondblue.com.au

www.eheadspace.org.au

www.kidshelp.com.au

www.blackdoginstitute.com.au

I also want to point you in the direction of spiritual support and sustenance, and some great wisdom from God’s words to us:

“The LORD will help those who are sick, and will restore them to health…be merciful to me, LORD, and restore my health…you will help me as I walk in your paths, you will keep me forever in your Presence.” – Psalm 42

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” – Philippians 4: 6—9

David N Williams
College Chaplain

Design and Technology Student Redefines Electronic Music Performance for Major Work

Congratulations to the Year 12 Design and Technology and Industrial Technology students who completed a wonderful array of innovative design projects for their Major Works. The students spent many hours both inside and outside the classroom to transform their design concepts into fully functional products. The projects were diverse and all had their own special “wow” factor – as can be seen in the gallery below.

One of the Design and Technology Students, Zubin Nanavati (12/KL), tells us about the work he completed for HSC Design and Technology – a work titled The Midi Controller.

“Currently in electronic music the main performance devices use knobs and buttons. Audiences are becoming bigger at events where a DJ or performer uses one of these devices and people are starting to question the “performance” aspect of a musician who simply presses buttons and turns knobs on stage. My major work is a device which addresses these issues. It is a device which provides the user with very complex and subtle control over music through the use of touch pads, motion sensors and multifunction button pads. In a nutshell, it is a music performance controller. A device which gives both the performer more freedom to experiment with music, and the audience more insight into the craftsmanship of the performer when creating sound.

I completed HSC Design and Technology and really enjoyed the course due to the fact that I ended up with a final work that I could be proud of. In the process I gained knowledge in quite complex areas of technology such as circuit design and digital logic. The fact that I learnt these through trial and error also enhanced my understanding of them. Another really great thing about this course was the freedom I had in deciding what I wanted to develop. I had access to everything from 3D Printers, CNC Mills and Laser cutters all the way to a large inventory of plastics, metals, wood and electronic components. Throughout the year, I was encouraged by staff members who supported and motivated me regardless of how difficult or complex the problems I faced were, and this meant I had almost limitless freedom to make whatever I wanted to make. I think anyone that has an aptitude for engineering or design will not only enjoy this course but also gain valuable insight into what this industry entails.”

This Saturday! – Mothers of Old Newingtonians (MOONS) Luncheon

The Headmaster, the Alumni and Development team and College Council member, Mrs Joy Christian, invite all Mothers of Old Newingtonians to attend a luncheon in Prescott Hall on this Saturday 7 September 2013 (Back to Newington Day).

If you would like to attend this event, please click here for a form and more information.

Visit the Crested Ware Stall at Back to Newington Day

There are a range of crested ware on offer at the Black and White shop. They range from memorabilia, clothing, keepsakes as well as an exclusive Sesquicentenary line which can be found on the Sesquicentenrary site. For more information about crested ware, please contact Rollanda Rosenstrauss.

To download the crested ware catalogue and price list  click here

To view the crested ware page on the public website, click here

Crested ware will also be at Back to Newington Day. Don’t forget to visit our stall this Saturday 7 September.

Win a Car!

As part of Newington’s Sesquicentenary, the Sesquicentenary Commitee will be hosting a raffle!

1ST PRIZE

Toyota Corolla Ascent 1.8L CVT Hatchback courtesy of Chatswood Toyota. Silver Pearl with Black trim, 3 years extended warranty, 2 years insurance, window tinting, plus dealer delivery and on road costs, stamp duty and GST . Total prize value: $30,634.49

Contact: The Newington College Sesquicentenary Committee on: 150@newington.nsw.edu.au
RSVP: Please return form below with attention to:
150 Art Union by post: Accounts Department, 200 Stanmore Rd, Stanmore 2048
Click here to pay online (Please choose Product in the drop-down box)
Fax: 02 9569 0133

To find out more about Sesquicentenary events and celebration, visit out insite

Sesquicentenary Memorabilia

A new online Sesquicentenary Memorabilia Catalogue – have you chosen your 150 item yet?

To click through our new Sesquicentenary Memorabilia online catalogue and choose your item to remember and mark our special year, please click here

Newington College: A Sesquicentenary History 1863 -2013 – only a few Premium copies left

There are only a few copies remaining of the special, collector’s Premium Edition of Newington College: A Sesquicentenary History  1863 –2013.
Only 150 copies were created, each numbered  from 1 – 150

Each copy is co-signed by

• Dr Stephen Gapps, the award winning author and Newington parent;
• Chairman of College Council, the Hon R.N. (Angus) Talbot; and,
• Mr Rod Bosman, the Chair of the Newington Sesquicentenary Committee

The book includes a specially created Sesquicentenary bookmark, only available with this Limited Edition. Encased within a boxed sleeve, the cover includes the Sesquicentenary insignia and embossed Wyvern relief.

This book, as a history of Newington College, was commissioned for the 150th Anniversary.  It presents a new and different tack to previous histories, based on student, teacher, parent and old boy recollections, as well as an extensive archival documentation.

To directly see the Sesquicentenary Memorabilia booklet, please click here