26 May 2015

P&F Forum with Trent Southworth

There are some difficult discussions that parents need to have, every now and then, with their teenagers.

No one wants to imagine that their sons or daughters will be the ones affected by dangerous levels of alcohol, being picked up for trafficking an illegal substance, driving unlicensed, being in a physical fight where knives are drawn, or experimenting “just this once” with ice.

The P&F Association at Newington knows that parents need expert and accurate advice when broaching these subjects at home to keep the communications open. They invited former police officer and youth liaison worker for many government initiatives, Trent Southworth, to spend an evening at a parent forum in the OBLT. Trent shared years of experience and ‘the facts’ without the drama on some of the most difficult topics for the parents of adolescents.

It was a frank and at times confronting evening—but very empowering for parents who left with some conversation starters that could be useful when asked permission to go to a party or have that, “before you go out tonight, I need you to be aware of…” discussion.

We have shared some points from the evening below:

Alcohol

  • Adolescents commence drinking at an average age of 14 years
  • Parents are a major source of alcohol supply
  • Preloading with alcohol before attending an event is most common
  • Energy drinks and alcohol are commonly combined creating the ‘wide awake drunk’ leading to greater consumption and physical risk taking.

Drugs

  • Young people are not ‘scared’ of drugs, they are socially acceptable, carry no stigma, are naturally accepted as part of night-clubs and are as accessible as alcohol
  • Prescription drugs are common at “pharm” parties where young adolescents mix their parents’ or friends’ pharmaceutical drugs with alcohol 
  • ICE is so popular because it is 22 times more profitable as a drug that heroine or cocaine, cheap to make, more addictive than heroine, has an ease of ingestion – swallowed, injected, smoked, snorted 
  • Two types of drug offences that can give you a criminal record – even amongst friends
    • Trafficking the physical handing over drugs for money.
    • Supply – the possession of drugs of a particular weight

Situational Awareness

  • Young adults need help to learn to read ‘where they are’ (the situation) and to make considered choices before trouble starts
  • If something is going on that makes adolescents uncomfortable they need to remember to divert themselves—not try to read someone else’s mind. They cannot control another person in a confrontation.

Getting involved in a fight (affray and public violence)

  • Increased use of CCTV now shows more clearly whether a person is defending themselves or aggressing in a fight and has increased the numbers of those charged with affray. ‘Self defence’ when you are aggressing is no defence.
  • These days due to anti-terrorism legislation a criminal record presents serious restrictions e.g. travel and work visa restrictions as well as employment and character reference issues for a long time. 

Risk Management – putting thought into your night out.

  • Transport hubs and fast food outlets are the most common venues for young intoxicated people to congregate and be involved in trouble.
  • The 3:00 am lock out coincides with cab shift change over and can be a risky time if young people are looking for transport away from venues or a situation.
  • Check that phones are charged to 100 % when leaving home to go out.

 

chapel

Time is of the Essence

I realise that as I prepare to write this little piece that I am primarily writing these articles every three weeks for parents. Only a few times have I had students talk to me about a Black and White article I might have written – it’s wonderful when it happens but it is much more common that a Newington parent or staff member will raise ideas that I have floated here.

Time is of the essence so I had better get on with it here. I was greatly encouraged in the lead up to Mother’s Day this year to read an article by Veronica Sherman, a freelance writer and mother of four children, about the intrusion of smart phones on her life as a mum. She recognised that the attraction and addictive qualities of the “wonder phone” had meant that she had significantly allowed the smart phone to seriously erode her real time with her kids. Her article was about her change of heart, her epiphany in this regard, and her intention to recommit to treasure real time, without technology intruding and reducing the quality of time that comes once and is then gone forever. She was challenged by reading again the words of the parenting guru Steve Biddulph “time and love are the same thing…spending time is how you love (your kids).”

I am sure that this is something that most of us as parents grapple with, and certainly if it is not our being lured away by technology, it will be our children being disinterested in engaging with us because they are so hooked to their phones, tablets and laptops.

Apparently there now is an app, can you believe this, that helps discipline yourself when it comes to accessing particular websites or over-using a particular device. This indeed is mind-boggling but I am discovering that nothing seems impossible now that we are in the age of apps for logging our sleep, our pulse throughout the day, and the number of calories we are burning throughout the day, and so on and so forth.

The crux of this issue is that if we are not careful then the one-on-one time between us and our children will disappear. We need to guard this at all costs. To place a priority upon real time together as a family – reading together, arguing together, playing games together and eating together. Have a family conference if you need to so that you can redefine these things in your family. Set specific times during the evening and week that are sacrosanct. If your children are under 12 or 13 years old this will be easier – start as early as possible to lay the ground-rules for such things. If you need help with negotiating this with your teenagers then let us know – we are getting pretty experienced at running mediations and refereeing between parents and our young men.

I don’t have a Bible verse for you on this but can simply say the Good God will bless you as you see to offer love through finding time together in your homes.

 

Rev David Williams
College Chaplain

 

7th Biennial Literature Festival

The 7th Biennial Literature Festival at Newington College ran from Wednesday, 6 May to Friday, 8 May 2015. Featuring more than 29 authors, illustrators, poets and journalists who came and gave lectures, participated in Theatresports and judged the Writing Competition, the festival was a huge success with both boys and staff walking out of lecture halls and classrooms buzzing with enthusiasm.

The Literature Festival is made possible each year due to the generosity of the Newington Parents and Friends’ Association who have long seen the value of sponsoring the best of speakers for our community forums and festivals while also increasing the opportunities for parents to connect with each other and the school. The funding for this number of quality workshops and presenters is an enormous boost and encourages literacy amongst the boys—at a time crucial to them choosing to be life long readers.   

Among those who attended were some who have been regulars at the previous festivals, and much loved by the boys, such as Archimede Fusillo, Arnold Zable, Michael Gerard Bauer, Oliver Phommovanh and Barry Heard, as well as new authors including P.M. Newton, an ex-policewoman turned crime writer and Claire Dunn. Claire wrote ‘My Year Without Matches’, the memoir of her extraordinary journey living in the bush for a year learning wilderness survival skills. Claire’s experience enabled her to talk about change and discovery to the Years 11 and 12 students. Another highlight was on the Friday with the two stage performances of I Am Jack by the Monkey Baa Theatre Company for the younger boys.

A panel discussion on ‘Why Is Literature Still Relevant in the Modern World’ was held on the opening night of the festival. Felicity Plunkett (poet and critic), Will Kostakis (author/ON 2006) and Archimede Fusillo argued that indeed literature was more important than ever. Parents and boys attended this event which was chaired by Mr Richard Wheeldon.

During the festival, a select group of boys under the guidance of journalist Michael Carayannis (ON 2004) and Dr Yvonne Smith produced a festival magazine Postscript showcasing the talks given each day which was made available to the boys and staff. During the three days of the festival, students from neighbouring public schools in Ashfield, Haberfield, Newtown and Petersham travelled to Newington College as our guests to take part in some of the activities. Students made collections and held a sausage sizzle to help raise funds for the festival’s chosen charity Room to Read, in particular for their work in Nepal.

Click here to see the student publication Postscripts and author testimonials.

 

Ms Ann Jagger
LitFest Coordinator

Don’t get footloose about common foot problems

A list of common foot problems and conditions and advice on how to treat them.

Athlete’s Foot (tinea)

Athlete’s Foot is a fungal infection which mainly affects the soles of the feet, in between the toes and around the nails. It can also affect the palms of your hands, underarms, scalp and groin area. The fungi that causes tinea thrive in a warm moist environment.

Symptoms include; burning, itching and flaking of the skin.

Tinea is contagious – so wash and dry the feet well, don’t share towels, change cotton or wool socks daily and try to air your shoes.

Over the counter creams or sprays usually work well, so apply to the red areas and around the sores.

See a Doctor if the infection doesn’t clear within 2 weeks.

Ingrown Toenails

Ingrown toenails are a common problem and can be very painful. Toenails if cut too short can allow the skin to grow over the nail. The side of the nail can grow back inside the skin causing pain and infection.

Poorly fitting shoes can cause ingrown toenails. Too narrow or too tight a shoe puts pressure on the nail forcing it to grow in. Toe injuries where the nail has ripped off can result in an ingrown toenail as new nails are more likely to grow inwards. Repetitive actions like kicking a ball can also result in an ingrown toenail.

Symptoms include pain, redness, swelling and a clear or pus discharge. Keep the area clean by soaking in a warm basin of salt water for 10 minutes regularly. Push the skin back using a cotton bud each time trying to free the nail. See your Doctor or podiatrist as you may need a course of antibiotics and then once settled, the part of the nail digging into the skin can usually be trimmed. Occasionally a wedge resection of the nail needs to be done.

So remember that toenails should be cut straight across and not too short.

Blisters, Calluses and Corns 

Blisters, calluses and corns are common. Blisters are a raised area of skin with fluid inside usually caused by friction. Keep them clean and covered and change the dressing daily. Don’t pop unless it’s very uncomfortable and then use a clean needle, heated in a flame.

Corns and calluses are thick hardened layers of skin formed when the skin tries to protect itself from friction and pressure. Corns have a central core and occur on the tops or sides of the toes usually from tight shoes. Calluses often develop on the ball of the foot or heel. Soften the skin by soaking it and use a pumice stone to remove the dead skin.

A podiatrist can also treat these conditions by paring old skin using a blade, using corn plasters or suggesting gel inserts to cushion the foot. They also provide great advice on footwear.

Plantar Warts

Plantar warts usually occur on the sole of the foot. They are a circular lesion with tiny black dots within. Plantar warts are caused by a virus that likes warm moist areas such as a shoe or bathroom floor. Treatments which are most effective are cryotherapy – freezing the lesion which often needs to be repeated a few times along with prescription strength acids applied directly to cause the skin to slough. Occasionally, surgery under local anaesthetic is required.

Chilblains

Chilblains are patches of coloured, itchy, sore skin usually caused when you come from the outside cold to a warm environment. Don’t itch but warm the feet slowly and wear woollen or cotton socks.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the thick band of connective tissue that links the toes to the heel. It is prone to tearing and inflammation when overworked. Pain is felt in the heel and is worse with the first steps in the morning or after rest. This can be an ongoing condition taking time to resolve.

Treatment includes physiotherapy, orthotics and a night splint to keep the Achilles tendon at the back of the lower leg in a lengthened position overnight.

 

Sister Margaret Bates
College Nurse

Drivers needed for Red Shield Appeal

More than 380 Newington boys are due to descend upon the streets of Stanmore, Newtown and Enmore for the 2015 Red Shield Appeal Doorknock and we need your help!

If you have a couple of hours to spare and a car handy, come down to the Stanmore campus from 8:20 AM this Sunday, 31 May to help transport boys to and from their designated collecting zones for the annual door-to-door fundraiser. The boys usually travel in groups of four and collect from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM. If however, you’re not much of an early riser but have a good idea of what to do at a barbeque, we also need people to help man the sizzling sausages for when our hungry volunteers return.

This is a great opportunity for our College community to come together as a team with boys, parents and staff working to assist the Salvos – arguably, Australia’s most well recognised and respected charitable organisations.

Your involvement will not only help the Salvos continue their work in helping Australia’s needy, you will make a powerful statement to our boys about the importance of giving to others. To assist with planning, volunteer drivers are asked to send their contact details to the Head of Service Learning, Mick Madden by email.

Careers Expo Coming Soon!

A mural has been recently installed in the P&F Careers Centre which captures Newington College’s Careers philosophy and demonstrates the attributes that students will need to lead enjoyable, fulfilling and successful careers in the 21st Century.

Boys should aim to visit the P&F Careers Centre (located directly above the Cafeteria in the Rae Centre) at recess, lunch or during free periods to reflect on the wall mural and also to read the vast array of brochures and flyers from different universities, colleges and TAFE organisations available. In addition, Years 11 and 12 boys who have not done so already, should aim to book a meeting with the Head of Careers (Mr Simon Pennington) by emailing spennington@newington.nsw.edu.au and asking to discuss career options.

A conversation with Mr Pennington will focus on the four main ideas presented in the Careers Wall Mural and should help boys choose a career that they like, a career they are good at, a career that the world needs and a career that they can be paid well in.

In addition, boys in Years 10, 11 and 12 and their parents are encouraged to attend the P&F Careers Expo, ONU Careers Advice Evening and Tertiary Options Seminar on Thursday, 11 June at school from 5:45 PM until 8:00 PM. Please see the attached flyer for the details.

Current parents who are interested in volunteering as a presenter for the ONU Careers Advice Evening, please register here. If you have any questions or queries, please email spennington@newington.nsw.edu.au.

 

120th AAGPS Athletics Carnival – Juniors Step Up to the Plate

On Saturday, 9 May, the 120th AAGPS Athletics Carnival was held at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Center to a raucous crowd of boys, teachers and supporters. For the second time in three years, our Juniors brought home the Ladies Challenge Plate which came down to the last relay where Newington won by seven points against The King’s School.

Amidst the electric atmosphere of hundreds of cheering boys, Year 8 Angus Beer (8/ME) broke not one, but two AAGPS records – the Under 13 800 m record at 2:05:68 and the Under 13 1500 m record at 4:27:06. Angus also won the Under 13 400 m race.

Other notable mentions goes to Finn Ballard McBride (10/PR), part of the Intermediate team who won the Under 16 800m and 1500 m race, and Year 9 powerhouse James Roach (9/MA) won the Under 14 100 m, 200 m, 400 m and Long Jump.

 

Sport Report

Athletics

Congratulations to Angus Beer (8/ME) and the Junior 4 x 400 m Relay team for the records they set at the GPS Athletics carnival on Saturday 9 May.

Angus set two new GPS records and the Relay team set a new Newington record.

Angus Beer
U13 800 m – broke a 10 year record 2 min 05:68
U13 1500 m – 4 min 27:06 Junior 4 x 400 m Relay team – 3min 54:87

Harry Clarke (9/MO)

Nick Condon (8/FL)

Haydon Ashley (8/LE)

Lachlan Watson (9/FL)

Congratulations to all the boys!

 

Swimming

On Wednesday, 29 and Thursday, 30 April sixteen of our Newington Swim Team members competed at the Combined Independent Schools Swimming Championships.

Congratulations to the following boys have qualified to swim for the CIS at the NSW All Schools Championships:

Callum Lowe-Griffiths (11/PR) (200 m Individual Medley, 400 m Freestyle, 200 m Freestyle, 200 m Backstroke, 100 m Backstroke, 50 m Backstroke)

Jason Hartill (10/MO) (100 m Butterfly, 50 m Butterfly)

Marcus Dadd (9/ME) (Multi-Class 100 m Freestyle, 50 m Backstroke, Relay)

Jack Xu (7/ME) (100 m Breaststroke, 50 m Breaststroke, 100 m Freestyle, 50 m Backstroke)

Edward Wydell (7/ME) (100 m Butterfly)

 

Football

Newington College travelled to Wollongong and recorded a stirring victory at Macedonia Park in a wind-ravaged match in which Illawarra Grammar School were a really aggressive and dangerous opponent. The first half saw TIGS dominate the opening 20 minutes with Harry Timms (12/KL) and Alex Iannuzzi (12/MO) impressive under pressure. Gradually the “Black and Whites” exerted control on proceedings with Finn Ballard McBride (10/PR) (fresh from his double winning 800 m and 1500 m winning GPS runs) and Connor Eldridge (11/PR) increasingly prominent. After a measured build up McBride swept home a superb right foot finish before half time.

The second half saw Newington command the game with a really eye-catching display of grit, nous and class as a terrific free goal from captain Alex Iannuzzi and a Jeremi Campese (11/MA) “sizzler” put us 3-0 up. TIGS grabbed a late consolation goal but Sam Mehmet (11/MA), James Icanovski (12/KL), Dom Siu (11/MA)  and Campese all went close to stretching Newington’s lead.

The game was played on a fine surface at Macedonia Park. Next up Quarter-Final time for the “Newie Boys”.

New gets behind Nepal in ‘Lip Sync’ Fundraiser

As you are aware, an incredible earthquake hit Nepal on Anzac Day this year. This natural disaster claimed the lives of more than 8,000 people. Newington has been travelling to Nepal for more than 20 years and some of the villages we used to visit have been hit hard.

To help those who suffered from the earthquake, the Newington Community aimed to raise $5,000 to help aid the recovery process. However, after a big week of fundraising, we were able to raise more than $11 000, thanks to the generous donations of various teachers, staff and students. To help us raise these funds, a mufti day was held on Thursday 14 May with the highlight being a “lip sync battle” at lunch between Year 12 boys and staff in front of the whole school. Many thanks to those brave boys and teachers who dressed up and revved up the crowd with their renditions of some 90s hits and a Queen Medley.

As a result of Newington’s tremendous fundraising, we were are to make a considerable donation to SOS Nepal, an organisation committed to helping children in need by investing in schools, villages and community centers, and to Beni Community Health Service Center where Newington boys have been volunteering for the past 20 years. The last visit was during the Christmas break in 2014-2015.

Such great fundraising is a demonstration of the generosity within the Newington community and thus I would like to say thank you to everyone who donated during the fundraiser event.
 

Edward Treloar (12/FL)
Deputy Senior Prefect

Congratulations

Football

Year 11 footballer Terry Lardis (11/MA), pictured left, who plays in the Under 18 Premier League 2 Division of the New South Wales State League, made his debut at Fraser Park on Sunday, 10 May winning against Bankstown City 3-1. Congratulations, Terry!

Newington Old Boy Jonathan Aspropotamitis (ON 2014), pictured right, made his debut with the Young Socceroos on Tuesday, 19 May, playing against the USA. Although the Young Socceroos lost 2-1, it’s a tremendous sight to see a Black and White footballer among the country’s best. Congratulations, Jono!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anger Workshops show boys potential to love

Stuart Ringholt’s artwork (Untitled) Clock 2014 has recently been named in MCA Director, Elizabeth Ann Macgregor’s top 10 contemporary Australian artworks. He has represented Australia multiple times internationally at art events such as Documenta (13) 2012, Singapore Biennale in 2011, TarraWarra Biennale in 2008 and the Sydney Biennale to name a few.

He has a richly-researched understanding of fear and anger and has been working for over 10 years to consider how leading workshops may be a way to explore emotional development. His artistic practice is interested in providing opportunities for more cohesive social relations in a society whose behaviours are becoming increasingly conditioned by technology.

Year 10 Visual Arts students and Year 10 Photographic Digital Media students were invited to be participants and audience members, respectively of Ringholt’s artwork Anger Workshop. In this artwork he instructed boys on safe and practical ways to focus on and release a stress they had, while listening to loud, Techno music. The boys were then instructed to hold hands with another student, apologise to them, tell the other they loved them and hug with eyes closed for three minutes, listening to Mozart.

Visual Arts boys then reflected on their experiences and were interviewed by Photographic Digital Media (PDM) students. Jonathon Eassey (10/FL) revealed “You feel a bit awkward being that close, but it’s also relaxing at the same time knowing that you have apologised for all the things you’ve struggled with, being held by someone and then listening to their breath and their chest rising and falling.” PDM students then worked with a combination of documentation, audio interview, and representations to create four video works for the exhibition Has Potential. Visual Arts boys learnt collage techniques from Ringholt and worked over the next two days to communicate their experiences from the workshop.

Students’ Max Higgins (10/LE) and Roger Li (10/FL) formally opened the exhibition on Tuesday 12 May at Concordia Gallery to a strong crowd of enthusiastic boys and proud parents. The exhibition was open for two weeks at Concordia Gallery. Visitors included students, grandparents and external art community members who recognised the boys’ courage and vulnerability.

We are very fortunate that such experienced professionals are willing to share their skills with the boys. Along with collage techniques, the key skill that Ringholt equipped the boys with was how to manage fear as an artist. He recommended practical ways to avoid operating in fear, as through his research he believed it was one of the biggest inhibitors to making art.

We appreciate Stuart travelling to Sydney at a busy time professionally and personally to work with the boys at Newington and to Ms Hannah Chapman, for curating the exhibition Has Potential. Thanks to Mr Andrew Pawley for directing the Photographic Digital Media students and Mrs Katherine Francis for her support of the boys and project as a whole.

 

 

 

No Budget on the Environment

The 2015 Budget and the Environment

Treasurer Mr Joe Hockey gave his second budget speech earlier this month and it proposed a bright future for Australians. Tax cuts to businesses, increased resources for military and national defence purposes as well as boosting access of parents to childcare assistance through a subsidy program will no doubt lift the spirits of Australians. However, as a member of the Sustainability Committee it is my duty to reflect on how the budget both relates to and affects the environment. Some of the main features of the budget that relates to sustainability include:

  • A $400 million package to assist farmers who have suffered from drought.
  • A $100 million subsidy to the care and protection of the Great Barrier Reef.
  • A $73 million cut to the environmental action program- the “Green Army”- over four years. 
  • A $400 million subsidy per year to businesses who undergo environmentally sound projects.
  • No additional funding for public urban transport but billions spent on road projects.

The view from the Liberal Environment Minister, Mr Greg Hunt is that the budget will ensure both a “healthy environment” and a “flourishing economy”. The Labor and Greens environmental spokespersons say the budget is not “…taking appropriate action on climate change” and that it “…almost completely ignores the environment.” The budget cuts have also disappointed environmentalists and it is viewed as a step backwards in the battle against climate change. So what is the Government’s aim? Simply, to reduce the deficit.

Australia’s total government debt is approximately $682 billion and it appears that Mr Hockey has decided that the best way to clear the debt is to promote economic growth through tax cuts. The question is this: is climate change a high priority issue for Australia and if so, what is the best way to go about it? The budget from the Government has so far told us that the answer is: not really.   Australia’s proposed approach of funding some businesses who undertake environmentally-friendly projects is one environmental approach criticised by climate economists who claim that it is inefficient and ineffective compared to an emissions trading scheme that could bring $2 billion a year into the budget.

While Australia still may not have the most efficient mechanisms in place to protect the environment, it is not neglecting it. The budget isn’t an attack on the environment, it is merely an arrangement of Australia’s priorities. In fact, in many cases the industrial development that the Liberal government is trying to promote will improve, not harm environmental conditions. It is never in the developing countries such as Vietnam that clean air is found, rather it is in the more progressive and industrious societies such as Australia or Singapore where the environment is the most protected. Nevertheless, policies still need to be adopted to balance the costs and benefits of societal development on the environment.

George Papasavvas (11/FL)
Sustainability Committee – Building a sustainable future.

 

Mooters en route to Finals

On Wednesday, 6 May, Alex Goth (11/MA), Jeremi Campese (11/MA), Jack Ryan (11/KL) and Spencer Cornish (11/ME) found themselves facing the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in Sydney. Fortunately not because they were called to be on trial, but rather they were competing in the regional round of the Bond University High School Mooting Competition. As a national competition, only two schools from each region would reach the final to be held later in August on the Gold Coast.

Mooting involves preparing a legal argument for a set problem with the aim of introducing students to a courtroom environment and giving them an insight into the legal system. As the Respondent of our case, we represented a tourist company, arguing that the warning on their resort should have been sufficient enough in deterring a 17 year-old girl from rolling down a dune and suffering serious neck injures. In the case the girl alleged negligence and sought damages of $4,000,000.

While Jack and Spencer composed the written submissions, Alex and his junior Jeremi presented our oral submissions for the two judges. As mooting is judged on the advocacy skills of the participants more so than the merits of the case, and it speaks to Alex and Jeremi’s ability to remain compelling and persuasive despite the judges’ efforts to sidetrack them with their unending interruptions and questioning.

Though we faced the Tara School on the day, only two schools in the region would be chosen for the final. Of the 20 that competed in Sydney, Newington has been selected in the final to be held on Saturday 1 August. A big thank you to Ms Shepherd and Brad Smith (ON 2011) for their hard work and coaching over the last few months, we truly couldn’t have done it without them.

 Jack Ryan (11/KL)
Mooting Team Member

Gaining Digital Citizenship

There seems to be nothing more demotivating than to open a talk with teenage boys with, “We need to make you aware of your safety online.” And yet, every week the news features something where unwise choices have led to serious crimes in the cyber world. To stop and think before we post a comment online or ‘press send’ is more important now than ever before.

In our Digital Citizenship Program, outlined below, we are aiming to impart necessary information to our boys and ensure they act in full knowledge of the law and their responsibilities within it. Making sure they are aware that all electronic communication cannot be deleted permanently, and understand that they are building a profile of themselves every time they are online, is essential.

Some common mistakes include not knowing that when they comment on something negatively on social media, it is the equivalent of publishing  something on the public record which could be deemed defamatory and actioned in court. Obviously, making unkind comments about others is unwise for many reasons and young people often use the excuse of humour to explain away these actions, but we must remember that if we write it, we can he held responsible for it.

The program of Digital Citizenship will occur in Mentor groups which allows small group discussions on relevant youth topics such as ‘sexting’ and ‘being aware of our digital footprint’. Our aim is to inform our boys in an age appropriate way of their rights and responsibilities whilst communicating with one another digitally. They will also be encouraged to report any unkind comments or postings and to speak up if they witness it in their observations of others’ communication.

In general, digital communication is good. It is a useful and informative tool  as well as being an excellent way for young people to stay connected. Our aim is that it remains just this and does not defame others or ourselves with unwise and uninformed choices. We look forward to delivering this program to our boys in the coming weeks.

Digital Citizenship Program

Due to the nature of which youths are now accessing digital technologies and participating in online environments for both personal and academic reasons, it is imperative that students develop a digital compass, or key set of understandings, to navigate its complexities. It is only fitting then that schools take ownership of implementing a set of guiding principles into the curriculum that provide teaching and learning resources on the topic of digital citizenship. The integration of a Digital Citizenship Program within Mentor groups at Newington, allows teaching staff to facilitate a student’s growth in gaining transferable digital citizenship skills in order for them to thrive online. In doing so, students are empowered to become enlightened and ethical navigators of their digital lives, and are well prepared for the rigours of adulthood in the 21st Century.

The 2015 program offers opportunities for discussions across a wide variety of areas. An example of a lesson plans for the Mentor groups can be found on the school’s ICT Blog, by our Teaching and Learning Librarian, Mrs Lily Young. Overall, sessions for each year group consisted of the following outcomes:

Year 8: RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Identify what personal information should be kept private and discuss the suitability for public and private profiles
  • Identify what good digital citizenship practices are
  • Explain how one’s digital footprint can impact him/her in the future
  • Discuss strategies when using online platforms to ensure students are conscious of what personal information is publicly available, which may provide an opportunity to combat online bullying.

Year 9: DIGITAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

  • Identify what digital tools are, and the role it plays in their lives
  • Learn basic statistics about the current digital landscape
  • Reflect on the positive and negative impacts of digital tools, and how they affect themselves
  • Discuss addiction in relation to technology and strategies such as ‘screen time’.

Year 10: SEXTING

  • Explore the role of digital technologies in romantic relationships
  • Analyse risky forms of self-disclosure and their possible consequences
  • Identify strategies for avoiding sexting while enhancing romantic relationships

In the future, Newington College’s aim, in collaboration with Mrs Lily Young, is to continue to host these themed sessions in Mentor groups and create a series of programs that cover the ‘essentials’ of good digital citizenship practice, to embed across all areas of school life. The Library aims to continue to develop and implement an effective digital citizenship strategy across the curriculum, which encompasses the grounding of the following ‘Six Tenets of Citizenship‘ (Churches, 2012):

  1. Respect yourself
  2. Protect yourself
  3. Respect others
  4. Protect others
  5. Respect intellectual property
  6. Protect intellectual property.

Our students’ real world is the online world; as educators, we are encouraged to facilitate this, to be involved in the development and implementation of various strategies, programs, events and activities to support students and their technology use across the curriculum, and to develop in students and staff a love of learning and habits of lifelong learning. At Newington, staff demonstrate teaching practices that reflect current innovative pedagogy in teaching and learning, advocating higher order questioning, critical and creative thinking, and problem solving that assist in the development of our boys to become self-directed, inquisitive and reflective learners. In doing so, all staff, specifically Mentors, create and nurture an information-rich learning environment which supports the needs of the Newington community.

 

Mr Bob Meakin
Deputy Head of Stanmore (Students)

Swimming Update

As the winter slowly settles in, a core group of Newington’s die-hard swimmers continue to train and achieve fantastic results in the pool. After our successful GPS Swimming season in Term 1, 16 students progressed to represent Newington and the GPS at the CIS Swimming Championships in late April.  From there, seven boys : Christopher Mina (6/HO), Jack Xu (7/ME), Shannon Lowe-Griffiths (7/PR), Edward Wydell (7/ME), Marcus Dadd (9/ME), Jason Hartill (10/MO) and Callum Lowe-Griffiths (11/PR) earned the opportunity to compete for CIS at the NSW All Schools Swimming Championships which was a qualifying event for the Pacific School Games which is being held in Adelaide in November.

During the NSW All Schools meet, held on Monday 18 May at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, the Newington boys lifted the bar to new heights with some stellar performances. While all students swam admirably, there were a few stand out performances.  Year 11 “super fish” Callum Lowe-Griffiths won no fewer than four individual events on the day and qualified for the New South Wales team to race at the Pacific School Games (PSG) in six events. In the process Callum bettered five Newington College long course Swimming records.

Another of New’s big guns, Jason Hartill, was in super form touching the wall in second place in both the 15 Years 50 m and 100 m Butterfly races.  Jason broke one Newington record and is off to the PSG in his favourite events.

The strength of our Junior Swimming Team is proving to be extremely solid as four of the seven Newington students at All Schools competed in the 12 and 13 Years age categories.  Ed Wydell and Shannon-Lowe-Griffiths have been important new members of the team in 2015; and recent indications are showing they will continue to improve and reach representative level again in the future.  Jack Xu has been the stand out in the junior age division breaking a number of Newington 12 Years records and qualifying for PSG in three events. A surprise performance came from one of our Wyvern students, Christopher Mina, in his bid to race for NSW at the PSG when he won the 12 Years 50 m Butterfly event racing in a mixed primary/secondary schools race.

Marcus Dadd also swam in four multi-class events and is continuing to improve his best times with every race. Marcus has demonstrated that a bit of consistent training pays dividends. He is a regular attendee at morning swim squad sessions at the Newington Pool on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

 

Mr Ryan Moar
Director of Aquatics

On the Western Front 97 Years Ago

Among the treasures on display in the exhibition Newington and the Great War is the diary kept by an Old Newingtonian, Russell Roberts (or Robberds) Lumsdaine, while serving with the AIF on the Western Front in 1917 and 1918.

Russell Lumsdaine attended Newington College in 1904 and 1905. He passed the Junior Examination in 1905, and played Cricket in the 1st XI and Rugby in the 2nd XV. He was living in Summer Hill and working as an analytical chemist when he enlisted in December 1915. He served on the Western Front as a Sapper in the 1st Divisional Signals Company. He married in England and returned to Australia with wife and baby in 1919.

What was Russell doing in late May 1918, 97 years ago? His diary entry for 26 May reads: ‘Got an Australian mail with letters up to 2nd April. There was a bit of shooting last night but no word of a resumption of the offensive. Have the job of horse picquet this morning so am going to write letters.’ And for 27 May: ‘Quiet day. Inspection this morning, a great success. Cricket this afternoon. Scored 24, top score, but lost match. Planes over again at night.’ The next day, though, his unit’s position was shelled for most of the day by the Germans: ‘Many landed only thirty yards from our tents, but the direction made it pretty safe for us.’

Russell’s diary, along with his stamped leather identity discs and a reference written for him by the Headmaster in 1905 have been loaned to the College for the exhibition by his daughter, Mrs Barbara Dawson.

Some years ago Mrs Dawson transcribed the diary, but the disk on which it was recorded became corrupted. Fortunately she kept a hard copy printout, which we have digitised. This transcription is available to read as part of the exhibition.

Newington and the Great War is in the Chaplain Peter Swain Archives Exhibition Room and is open from 2 to 4 PM each week day and at other times by arrangement. Please contact Mr David Roberts, College Archivist, for more information.

 

Mr David Roberts
College Archivist

StrayHat Lost Property App

Newington has become the latest of many schools nationwide to welcome the StrayHat lost property app on campus.

StrayHat is a new, easy and efficient way of monitoring and reclaiming your lost property. It allows for lost items to be easily reunited with their owner through the identification of QR label codes by both smart phone cameras and GPS.

When your lost item is found with a StrayHat label and scanned by the person who found it, you will receive a notification email advising you that it’s been found along with its whereabouts.

Currently, over 90 named items in the lost property room in the Taylor Sport Centre have been tagged and scanned by staff – so head on to the Newington StrayHat Website and see if any are yours!

Tagging and scanning your items is a simple process – just download the app, register via email and follow the instructions on the Lost Property SPACES page. StrayHat labels can be purchased at the Midford Uniform shop and to get things going, Year 7 have all received a free package of their very own tags!