28 Jul 2015

Jeremi Campese (11/MA) at Bell Shakespeare’s Hamlet

June 29 saw me with another Hamlet privilege. Only this time, I had the chance to witness professionals at work. Bell Shakespeare have been putting together Shakespeare’s epic for a number of months now and began their Australian tour on July 10 and will end in Sydney. Directed by the incredible Damien Ryan, and led by Josh McConville who portrays Hamlet in one of the most inspiring performances I’ve ever seen, the production was coming together really strongly as I watched and absorbed as much as I could for the day.

When Damien introduced me to the cast, they could not have been more welcoming; the humour, the excitement and of course, the banter. But their ability to quickly shift from friends backstage to siblings, lovers or enemies on stage was extraordinary. It quickly became clear how utterly seriously they took their roles, no matter how large or small. There were new ideas the production presented, questions the actors challenged, and overall displayed a truly professional contemporary interpretation of the play. To say I learnt a lot would be an understatement, not just about the play itself but about acting and engaging your fellow actors on stage; these guys were true pros.

A huge thanks to Ms Tamara Smith for getting in touch with Bell Shakespeare and giving me the opportunity!

Jeremi Campese (11/MA)
Drama Student

God Has a Sense of Humour

It is amazing the kind of images children and teenagers have of God, often quite negative and misleading pictures of what God might be like.  I have to say this has not been helped by some of the artistic representations of God – in fact any representation of God is bound to be misleading because the Divine and Eternal Creator is not a physical being.

Just recently I have been discussing with the boys at the Senior Campus three things that they have never been told about God’s character – well at least I don’t think they have.  This week I began with the theme of “God has a sense of humour”. 

We looked at some of the artistic representations of God.  They were all old men basically, with angry eyes, and very upset looking faces – most with flowing beards.  Of course such images cause young people to be repelled by such a character, and this is not helpful for us as chaplains who are focused on presenting God who is welcoming and lovingly interested in their lives.

So it has been a really enjoyable experience to reveal God’s “sense of humour” to our young men.  For me, animals like the hippopotamus, orang-utan and sloth epitomise God’s sense of humour, and of course I found some hilarious (I thought) photos of such animals for my power-point presentation – and included a ridiculous shot of myself just to prove I wasn’t being species-ist and mocking other species.  Surely we are ourselves, each, evidence of God’s sense of humour.

As a Christian, I believe that one of the points of the Incarnation, Jesus the God/Man was to reveal God’s character to humankind.  We don’t know what Jesus looked like – and it doesn’t really matter because as we’ve said God is Spirit not a physical being- but we do know that Jesus had a sense of humour, and he often used animals to crack jokes.

Have you heard the one about the overly religious fanatics being so concerned about the details of religious observance that they actually miss the point of life with God?  Jesus paints the picture of the Pharisees and Scribes straining out a little midge from their food but instead they end up swallowing a camel.  Jesus is actually using a very clever literary device and a play on words in the Aramaic he would have been speaking – galma meaning midge or gnat, and gamla meaning camel (Matthew 23).  This may not seem hilarious to us today – but apparently this would have had people rolling around in the streets of Galilee towns.

Even the parable of the Lost Son (or Prodigal Son) can been seen to be a tragic comedy and may well have had people rolling around holding their sides.  This guy who thinks he’s a “winner” and real “trendsetter” ends up wishing he could eat the food of the most despised of animals by his own people – yes tragic but also a strong touch of ironic humour as well.

I am absolutely sure God has a sense of humour – here are some verses from our Scriptures that seem to support my thesis – and I will conclude with these:

A joyful heart (laughter) is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones (Proverbs 17:22)     

 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with joyous shouting (Job 8:21). 

 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them (Psalm 126:2).

A time for every season under heaven – a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:4).

 

Rev David Williams
College Chaplain

 

 

 

 

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Get Smart about Food and Rest during the Exam Season

With exam season fast approaching, here are some helpful tips and tricks to stay happy and healthy.

What to eat during exam season:

  • Make breakfast the most important meal of the day
  • Eggs poached, boiled or scrambled are a great way to start the day or try baked beans on toast, fruit smoothies and cheese and tomato toasties
  • Wholegrain cereals with fruit and yogurt or breads spread with hummus, tomato, avocado or peanut butter are other alternatives.
  • Blueberries are good to snack on (but can be expensive)
  • Oily fish like salmon, tuna and trout are great sources of omega 3 as are flax seeds
  • Broccoli, spinach, sweet potato and kale are ‘superfoods’ and delicious
  • Nuts – eat a handful of walnuts, cashews and almonds for a protein snack
  • Stay hydrated – drink eight glasses of water a day, more if exercising
  • Don’t have a heavy lunch (like pasta) before an afternoon exam as it will make you feel sleepy,
  • Make a wrap, sandwich or roll with lean meat and salad or have some leftovers
  • Cut back on junk food and feel the difference it makes. Even your skin will improve, ready for Schoolies!
  • If you want to have energy for the day you must get enough sleep. Warm milk drinks and herbal teas help before bedtime. Caffeine is a stimulant so if you are used to having a coffee in the morning then continue, but don’t increase your coffee intake. This can make you irritable and you will find it hard to concentrate. Avoid caffeine drinks close to bedtime.
  • Some will be tempted to take some so called ‘smart drugs’ which are supposed to help you concentrate. I can only advise against it as these drugs should only be taken under medical supervision for certain medical conditions.

So some other natural ways to help you through, besides a good diet and adequate sleep (8-9 hours).

  • Exercising before you study has been shown to boost memory and brain power
  • Have a power nap for 15 minutes
  • Get some fresh air, go for a brisk walk or run with the dog around the block
  • Eat an apple while you study – it gives you some natural sugar and energy
  • Have a shower to freshen you up
  • Try and laugh often – it relieves stress and stimulates the brain
  • Stretch at your desk and remember to look away from your computer into the distance to ease eye fatigue every hour
  • Have something to look forward to, it will help you get through.

Think positive and do your best.

Good luck

Sister Margaret Bates
College Nurse

Rockfest 2015

Rockfest 2015 was a feast for the senses. There was the amazing audio visuals, smoke machine, high level of musicianship from each of the performers, complimented by professional sound and finally, blood, sweat and tears from all of our homegrown rockstars.

Rockfest 2015 once again showcased why it is such an anticipated event in the musical calendar as it brings boys from all backgrounds and musical abilities together and allows them to express themselves in ways that they might not get a chance to in other areas of their College life.

In the lead up to the night, bands from Year 7 to Year 12 auditioned to gain a spot on stage. Rocks songs, new and old were performed to a hungry crowd. Next year, we celebrate ten years of Rockfest. Watch this space!

Mr Chris Paton
Head of Contemporary Music

 

Service Learning Tour to the Red Centre

The 2015 Red Centre Immersion Service Learning Tour was led by College Chaplain, Mr Michael Bennett, and myself during the June holidays. This was the third Service Learning expedition hosted by Newington to visit an Aboriginal Community, but the first trip to the desert country of Central Australia.

The tour lasted seven days and the boys camped out each night under clear but chilly desert skies. The bus driver and guide was an Aboriginal man called John Liddle (Great Uncle of one boy in Year 8), so the boys were fortunate enough to spend three nights at his remote family property where they learnt about traditional bush tucker, desert survival, navigation and animal tracking from both John and his older brother “JS”. During our time there, not only were we able to ‘chow down’ on a few raw witchetty grubs, but the hosts invited Aboriginal Elders from Mutitjulu near Uluru to come and share their knowledge of Aboriginal art, history and Dreamtime stories with our boys. Their stories were all spellbindingly told to the boys around a campfire in traditional native language with the aid of a skilled translator. A rare privilege and experience for non-Indigenous Australians.

The feedback from the boys about this experience has been excitingly positive. Most have come away with new ideas about who the Aboriginal people are, and nearly all boys said that they would treat the negative stereotyping of Indigenous peoples and issues with a more critical eye as a result of the experience. “I know more about Indigenous issues and how and why they arise. The knowledge which I have gained has made it less likely for me to stereotype indigenous people,” said Nicholas Sharp (11/JN).

Thanks to our local hosts, our boys were also able to walk away from the trip with a richer idea about country they live in. Fletcher Howell (11/JN) said, “I have learnt that there is much in the bush which would be overlooked by the naked, city-dwelling eye. There is much knowledge and wisdom, in areas not qualitatively valued by European society, and which are of great value and which hold great weight and significance such as surviving in a harsh environment, knowing where to find food, how to navigate, and what bush-medicines can be used. This knowledge should be held in high regard, preserved and passed on.”

William Ryan (11/MO) said, “Whilst I knew some things about the history of Australia’s Indigenous people, I never realised just how vast and rich the history and culture of Aboriginal people is. The stories behind physical features, the food, knowledge of the land, and structure of Aboriginal society were all things which I was not aware of before the trip. Knowing these things now allows me to properly appreciate the true magnitude and depth of Indigenous Australia.”

Another tour highlight included an unscheduled Australian Rules match in which our boys ‘mixed it’ with a group of about a dozen young local boys from the Hermannsburg community. Samuel Yu (11/LE), said this was one of the many highlights on the trip, as he got an opportunity to chat to some of the local boys and share stories.

On top of making new friends and learning about our country was the sheer beauty of the landscape. From the awe-inspiring sunrise observed from the remote Chamber’s Pillar in the Simpson Desert, to the breathtaking backdrop where we camped each night – by the riverbed of the ancient Fink River – and the natural majesty of King’s Canyon, the landscape told a story of it’s own. 

The tour was a real eye opener and a powerful learning experience that will be offered to Year 11 boys again in 2016 and we hope, for years to come.

Mr Mick Madden
Head of Service Learning

 

Q&A with new Head of Bands Josh Mann

A day after Founders Concert, we caught up with the new Head of Bands, Josh Mann to talk about how he got into teaching and what’s the best piece of advice a teacher has ever given him.

How was your first experience of Founders Concert?

The Concert was amazing! The wealth of talented students at the College is inspiring and the kids did a fantastic job.

First impressions of the College and the boys?

I’m loving it here. Everyone has been welcoming and the boys have made a positive impression on me. I didn’t know Year 9 boys could work so hard!

Can you tell me a little about how you got into music teaching?

Before I started teaching, I had been on staff at an annual camp for underprivileged children. These experiences had a significant impact on me and made me want to work with kids full time. At the time I was also conducting various primary school band programs. When I finished my studies, I was fortunate enough to start work at Chatswood High School teaching in the classroom and leading instrumental ensembles.

What instruments do you play?

Trombone is my main instrument, but I also play Euphonium, Trumpet and dabble in some Violin playing.

Do you play in any bands or ensembles? If so, can you tell me what they’e like and how long you’ve been playing with them?

I currently play with the Army Reserve Band based in Parramatta, with the 1/15 Royal New South Wales Lancer Band. I’ve been with the band for four and a half years.

What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received from a music teacher in relation to learning music, performing, or studying?

Probably to have an opinion on the music I am rehearsing, performing or listening to. Fundamentally, music should be about self expression, but if I don’t care enough, how will people be able to hear me in the music? This idea has really shaped my thoughts about how music should be rehearsed, performed and experienced.

What did you want to be when you were a kid?

I think I originally wanted to be an engineer like my grandfather. Somewhere in high school I forgot, and went with what I was good at – music!

The Real Madrid Experience at Newington

June 2015 marked a watershed era for Australian, New South Wales, Sydney and especially Newington College Football as the greatest club side in the world sent two of its finest coaches to teach our boys at the Newington College – Real Madrid Foundation Coaching Clinics.

With over 200 Stanmore, Lindfield and Wyvern Boys taking part in addition to external school players and club players, two marvellous weeks of enthralling football games, fun and Spanish accents permeated the Stanmore air. We were blessed with the weather, the facilities, very well behaved and enthusiastic players but most of all with two humble yet brilliant coaches from the Madrid Academy, Jamie Torcal and Tristan Celador.

Throughout the 10 days of coaching clinics, practical and theory seminars, etc., our two Spanish guests exuded modesty, passion, kindness, wonderful rapport with the boys and a teaching style which illustrates so clearly why European football is the pinnacle of the universal game. To witness Jamie, the Under-12 Academy Coach gather his young players around him and hypnotise them with his humour, charm and educational group work as he had his fledgling acolytes drawing x’s and o’s on his tactic board as he explored their understanding of each game and development was ground breaking. The template for Australian coaches, if they really want to bring native players to the standard of their western world contemporaries, was clearly on view on the Buchanan landscape.

On the other pitch the Real Madrid Under-17 Coach, Tristan Celador (who coached Juan Mata, Carvalho, Moratta, etc. ) was taking the older groups through a repertoire of fantastic tactical games which challenged them mentally, technically and progressively. His constant incantation of “hard pass”, “Control”, “you must play with intensity” punctuated the atmosphere as he demonstrated with aplomb but always with humility and respect for the players. He urged the players to work hard in and out of possession and to illustrate that he showed with his own touch and energy what is required to take the next step on the learning path. His range of educational and development games was mouth watering for any emerging or professional coach. It was heart warming to see elements of our own Football Program in Newington very much in evidence in the Spanish coaches football program.

Part of the Real Madrid experience, and remember this was the very first Football clinic run in Australia by the ten time European Champions, were two wonderful seminars run in the Old Boys Lecture Theatre and Lambert Park, respectively.

Almost 120 coaches attended a 2 hour talk and Q & A in the Old Boys Lecture Theatre in which Jamie and Tristan outlined the philosophy, objectives and player development model in Madrid. In particular they stressed the following:

  • Great objectives with humility & Sobriety
  • Fight until the end / Exemplary behaviour from the players
  • Eliminate excuses / Players Watch your personal image
  • Capability Compromise and Responsibility
  • Enthusiasm Curious Coaches
  • Scouting Technical Admin and Integration
  • Scouting / Development and Promotion
  • Players with best potential future
  • Decision making / Temperament / Relationship with the ball – Excels in one of these

The final seminar took place in Lambert Park where almost 200 coaches attended as some of the best Under-12 players in Sydney were put through five thrilling games, with coaches allowed to watch closely, film, take notes, etc.

Throughout all the activities one of the constant themes was that Jamie and Tristan always drew their game and exercise on a white board prior to the session to illustrate the basics of each game and then as the exercise evolved they would ask the players what their role was and where should they be. To see the boys respond to this interactive player development model was revolutionary and makes all of us, as coaches, re-examine our coaching styles, program and player centred approach.

A full video of the weeks activity will shortly be up on Spaces as will the Key Coaching Criteria for Player Development as practiced by Real Madrid.

We didn’t even have time for a siesta!!

Muchos gracias Jamie and Tristan.

 

Mr Brian McCarthy
Director of Football

Growing a more sustainable Australia

Sunday 26 July marked the 20 year anniversary of National Tree Day – Australia’s largest community tree planting event. It began humbly in 1996 and has grown immensely, with over 21 million trees planted by over 3 million Australians.

In recent years and in the near future, there has been and will be a significant increase in Australia’s population, forcing the urbanisation of more natural landscapes. Whilst the future expansion is set to be carried out with sustainability in mind, past expansion neglected this, creating a situation with severely diminished natural resources.

Planet Ark’s establishment of the Tree Day initiative was intended to promote sustainable behaviour within younger generations, as well as to physically contribute to environmental regeneration. So, not only does the day bring together community volunteers, but it also betters the national environment and establishes a good base for the future.

Last Sunday was the inaugural Newington Tree Day, as 50 boys joined the 250,000 nation-wide volunteers, to help regenerate the environment.

Held at Tempe Reserve, the event involved boys planting trees with the local community, in one of Marrickville Council’s focus areas. It was a wonderful opportunity for boys to engage with voluntary service, gain service learning hours and contribute to the community. The council provided gloves, shovels, trees and refreshments, and together the group were very successful in planting hundreds of trees around the area.

Under the guidance of the Sustainability Committee, the event is expected to expand and continue in years to come, and proved to be an excellent event.

Stavros Dedes (10/PR) and Ashan Karunagaran (12/KL)
Sustainability Committee

Sport Report

Cross Country

Congratulations to the following boys who represented Combined Independent Schools (CIS) at the NSW All Schools Cross Country, unfortunately Matthew Dyster (9/FL) had to withdraw with an injury.

  • Zak Stevens (12/LE)
  • Callum Lowe-Griffiths (11/PR)
  • Angus Beer (8/ME)
  • Matthew Dyster (9/FL)

Callum was also a member of the AAGPS team that defeated CAS at the Knox Invitational on Saturday.

Congratulations to all boys!

On Saturday 8 August Newington will be hosting its Invitational meet at Sydney Park, any parents who are able to assist please contact Mr Symon Astley.

Football

Newington Football’s run in the CIS cup came to an end in the semi final at Moriah College, Moriah went onto win the competition. Well done to all boys who participated and represented the College in fine style.

Rugby

After the annual GPS v CAS Rugby fixtures, seven boys gained selection in the NSW Schools teams that participated in the National Schoolboy Championships.

  • Teu Atiola (12/FL)
  • Tom Piroddi (12/FL)
  • Matthew Long (12/MO)
  • Simon Kennewell (12/ME)
  • Sepesa Loga-Tarogi (12/MA)
  • Opeti Helu (11/FL)
  • Tyrone Taukamo (11/ME)

The Australian Schools team was selected from the Championships which saw Simon and Sepesa gain selection.

We would also like to acknowledge Cameron Murray (12/ME) who is the Captain of Rugby at Newington this year. Cameron has displayed outstanding leadership qualities and his on field performances have been excellent. Cameron was selected in the CIS Opens Rugby league team and his performances at the National Carnival earnt him selection in the Australian Schools team.

Congratulations to all boys.

A message from the Head of Stanmore

‘The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing but rising every time we fall’ – Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela, or Madiba, as he was affectionately known, was an activist, a political prisoner, South Africa’s first democratically elected president, an international peacemaker and a statesman.  Mandela was known and respected all over the world as a symbol of the struggle against apartheid and all forms of racism; the icon and the hero of African liberation.  He was a symbol of global peacemaking and received the Nobel Peace Prize.  Hence the opportunity to explore ‘lessons from Madiba’ earlier this month at the 22nd International Boys’ School Coalition Conference was truly a privilege. Head of Kelynack and Johnstone Houses, Mr Alex Pyne and Mr Jon Mountain presented their own paper and joined myself and 646 other delegates from 128 schools within 11 countries in Cape Town, South Africa.

Over four days, many stirring themes prevailed.  Judge Edwin Cameron, a high court judge appointed by Mandela advocated that it is ‘vital to give our next generation a sense of agency and possibility’ and Dr Wilhelm Verwoerd, grandson of a former Afrikaner PM, reinforced this theme.  Verwoerd chose to take a different path from his grandfather and noted that conflict resolution in South Africa was about bringing together people who didn’t necessarily have the answers but who had a commitment to listen.  Verwoerd believed that men like Mandela and Tutu embody what Africans call ‘Ubuntu’ meaning humanity; where at a human level people must take risks to open relationships and commit to a new level of humanisation. Verwoerd argued ‘We carry our knowledge through our blood’ and in order to change and advance, people need to drop anger and take risks to re-humanise and be honest because ‘pain not transformed is transmitted’.  Verwoerd believed the challenge of education is to find risk accommodating spaces for our boys.  More than teaching intellectual education, we must create spaces for empathy and understanding in our classes.  He urged we must find ways to guide boys to cultivate compassion and understanding, to humanise relationships of difference.  Ultimately, he advocated we need to respect the ‘shyness of the soul’. Verwoerd’s address was truly inspiring and made a profound impact.

The IBSC now numbers almost three hundred member schools and the opportunity to focus and reflect on issues specific to boys’ education was invaluable. I thank the Headmaster and Council for this special opportunity and hope the College will continue to contribute to this important professional body in years to come.  As Archbishop Desmond Tutu concluded ‘In a world of finite resources there are still infinite possibilities’. At Newington we must continue the task that Tutu advocated, nurturing our young ‘to dream and not be bound by limitations’!  I feel most confident that Newington is working towards the challenges of a changing world. In fide scientiam.

Dr Andrew Hirst
Head of Stanmore / Deputy Headmaster

Everybody’s welcome Back to Newington

Back to Newington Day is one of our biggest community events of the year, and it’s just around the corner!

Please join us on Saturday, 5 September as we celebrate with those most important to us – you!

Come and support the Black and White as our Football, Rugby, Volleyball and Fencing boys compete at a number of events throughout the day. And, while you’re here, why not take a stroll through the P&F Marketplace in Centenary Hall where there will be tantalising tastes, books, clothing and other giftware available for purchase.

We are inviting everyone to the party, so bring your families and friends along too. 

Each year, the P&F make this day extraordinary and we thank and appreciate them for their time, expertise and enthusiasm. We are very grateful to have such a generous group of diverse volunteers who work so hard to make the day particularly memorable and enjoyable.

We can’t wait to welcome you to Back to Newington Day. Lock it into your diaries.

 

 

 

 

 

Founders Concert 2015

Founders Concert this year was themed War and Peace, and presented a wonderful program that dipped alternately into the sadness and solace that both states offer.

The tone was set with the ominous opening of the Prelude from Concerto Gross for Strings by Ernest Bloch, and then each ensemble from the Chamber Strings, Jazz and Stage Bands, Prep and Senior Choirs to the Symphonic Winds, demonstrated the very best of what music in concert gives us—that unpredictable stirring and emotional response.

The Minstrel Boy, Peace Prayer, and the finale, Non Nobis Domine were some of the most moving items in the program in terms of poignancy; Muffin Top, Chorale and Shaker Dance, and Stompin at the Savoy were the ones for injecting the joy of feeling like you just can’t keep still.

Mr Scott’s address identified quite simply why we were all at Founders Concert this year.

“You all like music. You all enjoy having music, as part of your lives. You all have music that resonates with you…pieces that move your heart, connect with memories, make you smile, motivate you. You all like music.”

His tribute to the boys in a rendition of We’ll Meet Again was a particularly touching moment on the night which left the Year 12s, not unemotional, as they sat watching him and facing their very proud parents.

After such a concert it is worth reflecting that the boys who participate in the co-curricular music program do so by choice. It is a decision that demands hours of rehearsal and behind-the-scenes commitment in return for very little comparative time basking in the limelight and applause, such as they received last Thursday night.

Yet it is obvious how enjoyable and worthwhile music-making at Newington is, and why parents support their son’s decision to play an instrument and practice at home or sign up for very early mornings at choir.

While the Music Department received many accolades for the wonderful repertoire and preparation for Founders Concert 2015, one email in particular addressed how perhaps many attendees felt approaching the concert and how they left at its conclusion.

On 24 Jul 2015, at 9:10 pm, Maura Boland wrote:

I just wanted to give some feedback on the Founder’s Concert.

I’ve had a busy week, and sighed at the thought of going to a school concert last night. But…oh my goodness…it wasn’t a school concert. It was a CONCERT. The quality was amazing. I laughed (at the drummers) and I cried (at a number of pieces, particularly the prep choir and solo doing the Minstrel Boy, but also the final combined choir piece). I want to join the Marimba Quartet and am secretly plotting to see if I can make myself look like a teenage boy to get in. And the Chamber Strings and Symphony were amazing. I felt so blessed to have a son at a school that was so committed to quality in areas that I feel are really important—music is so much a joy. And after seeing Rockfest only a few weeks ago, it’s clear that all bases are covered. My son, is very lucky to be there. And I do hope you keep Mark Scott for a long long time.

Anyway, I felt I needed to pass on my congratulations.

Kind regards

Maura

 

Wish you were here

Picture postcards have suffered the same fate as handwritten letters in our age of instant digital communications, replaced by selfies and posts in a range of social media as a way of saying ‘Wish you were here’.

Sending postcards became a craze in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Their popularity in Australia was boosted in 1905 when the Postmaster General allowed postcards with the familiar divided back — with the message on one side and the address and stamp on the other — to be sent through the post without an envelope, thus allowing the picture, usually a photograph, to cover the whole front.

Many printers took up the opportunity afforded by this new form of communication. One, the Donald Taylor Collotype Company, of Adelaide, produced postcards depicting places and scenes around Australia. A series of at least five postcards provides views of Newington College in the decade before the First World War. These comprise a view north from the Tower, a Sports Day scene, a cricket match, boys in the swimming bath, and, of course, the classic angled view of the College building (now the Founders Building). The back of each card has an ornate printed design using an early version of the Australian coat of arms.

We don’t know if these cards were commissioned or what, otherwise, motivated this Adelaide printer to produce them. The cards in the College Archives have not been used, as the backs have no message or address, although some have contemporary or later annotations.

Mr David Roberts
College Archivist

Congratulations

Karate

Looks like there’s a new Karate Kid in town. Patrick Lu (7/FL) represented Australia in the USA Karate Open over the holidays and came third in traditional Kata and fifth in the Traditional Weapon categories. 

Tennis

More great news from Newington Tennis. During the holidays our junior tennis players took part in a number of top-level tournaments around Australia and achieved some outstanding results.

Daiki Tanabe (11/FL) competed in the Queensland Platinum Lead-in and was in the Finals of the 18 Boys Single and won the 18 Boys Doubles.

Meanwhile, Josh Kaplan (9/KL) was also in the Final 14 Boys Singles at the Queensland Platinum Lead-in and was a finalist in the Sydney Junior Open and a semi-finalist in the 14 Boys Singles at the Rod Laver Nationals in Queensland.

Fellow Year 9 boy Jun Sasagawa (9/LE) was a finalist in the 14 Boys Singles in the Sydney Junior Open, semi-finalist in the 14 Boys Singles at the Queensland Platinum Lead in, and quarter-finalist in the 14 Boys Singles at the Rod Laver Nationals.

Paul Howe (9/ME) was also on fire, competing in the Semi-finals of the 14 Boys Singles of the Sydney Junior Open and the Quarter Finals of the 14 Boys Doubles at the Queensland Platinum Lead in.

Our youngest competitor Eric Tripathi (7/JN) in Year 7 also put in his best at the Quarter Finals of the 12 Boys Singles at the Rod Laver Nationals in Queensland.

There were also some strong tournament performances during the holidays from Daniel Pascale (10/FL), Steve Hatzipavlis (10/PR), and Daniel Nailand (8/LE).

James Smith (10/PR) Service Learning

It doesn’t take a lot to make a positive impact on someone else’s life and James Smith (10/PR) in Year 10 is a great example of this. Over the past couple of months, James has chosen to be a swim instructor on Saturday afternoons for a couple of hours with the Rainbow Club at Newington Pool as part of his Service Learning. Part of his job includes assisting kids with different disabilities in the pool. James says, “I work with the other instructors to teach a variety of different kids who have different disabilities how to swim.  The one-on-one swimming sessions go for 30 minutes and the kids usually stay in the pool after their lesson.”

He says, as someone who enjoys being in the water, he really likes helping kids develop the same love for water. “One of the kids I work with is only a year younger than me and it is really good to be able to work with him”, he says, “because I can see how even with his disability he can appreciate the water as much as I can.”

James plans on continuing his service for his Duke of Edinburgh Award and further on in the future.

The Newington College Rainbow Club Swimming Program is one of 15 clubs operating in NSW that provides swimming lessons for children with a disability. The Club is focused on providing individual help to those with a disability to acquire skills to allow them to be safe in an aquatic environment.

 

Newington at the NSW Snowsports State Championships

This winter holidays, 30 boys from the Lindfield, Wyvern and Stanmore campuses competed at the annual Sydney Interschools Snowsports Championships at Thredbo. Of the 30 boys that competed,  9 boys qualified for the NSW State Championships to be held on 27 August at Thredbo.

Of these boys, some impressive results included Flynn Gannon (6/HO) achieving Gold medals for both of his snowboarding events and Will Rumi (6/LU) finishing 5th for Snowboard GS. In the Seniors, Harry Quinn (8/KL) finished 6th in his Snowboard division and Jonathan Sharpe (9/JN) finished 8th, despite competing against several boys in the Year above. Sam Martin (7/MA) finished 5th overall in his Moguls event also competing against several boys from the Year above.

I’m sure you will all join with me in congratulating these boys and the whole team which gave a great account of themselves down on the slopes this winter for Newington College!

 

Mr Justin Verco
Master in Charge of Snowsports

 

Languages Poetry Evening

The Languages Poetry Finals Evening was held on Thursday 18 June in a number of venues throughout the school. It gave boys the opportunity to showcase their talent by reciting poetry in Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Modern Greek and Spanish. The students who achieved first place in each category were presented with an iTunes gift card on the evening. Special mention should be given to Jack Alscher (9/FL) who placed first in both French and Latin, an amazing achievement.

The calibre of this year’s finalists was extraordinary and I would like to thank the Language Staff and parents for their support in this competition.

The aim of learning a poem provides boys with a challenge, an extension task that takes them often into unfamiliar territory, but at the same time provides students with a real sense of achievement.

The winners of the 2015 Languages Poetry Competition are:

  • Year 7 Chinese – Arky Wild (7/FL)
  • Year 7 French – Zach Leung (7/KL)
  • Year 7 Latin – Alex McEvoy (7/FL)
  • Year 8 Chinese – Ethan Whitty-Pike (8/LE)
  • Year 8 French – Harry Rowland (8/FL)
  • Year 8 Latin – Jonathan Lee (8/FL)
  • Year 9 Chinese – Thomas Papasavvas (9/FL)
  • Year 9 French – Jack Alscher (9/FL)
  • Year 9 Latin – Jack Alscher (9/FL)
  • Year 10 French – Lucas Greenslade (10/MO)
  • Year 10 Japanese – Brian Wu (9/KL)
  • Year 10 Latin – Richard Zhang (10/LE)
  • Year 11 French – Fletcher Howell (11/JN)
  • Year 11 Italian – Alex Bruce (11/MA)
  • Year 11 Japanese – Jordan Clementson (11/LE)
  • Year 11 Latin – Marco Stocca (11/LE)
  • Year 11 Modern Greek – William Papapetros (11/ME)
  • Year 11 Spanish – Kurt Bush (11/ME)

 

Mr Michael Bennett
Head of Languages