Dear Parents and Guardians, 

Welcome back.   

I would like to extend an especially warm welcome to all our new families in Years 7-11.

It was great to see so many parents and guardians with their boys at Administration Day on Tuesday.  My thanks to the many boys who started constructive conversations at their Meet the Mentor sessions; I look forward to hearing how they develop throughout the year. 

At assembly on Wednesday, one of the first messages our boys heard reinforced Newington’s inclusive community.  We are a College that embraces people of all religions, cultures and backgrounds; families with a mother and father, families with two mothers or two fathers, boys and staff who are heterosexual or gay.  Here is does not matter.  Everyone is welcome.

I believe this generation is fortunate: for the most part, these differences do not even register. Our boys see people for who they are, and do not focus as strongly on backgrounds as previous generations have. 

I’d also like to stress that, for every boy at Newington, 2019 is an opportunity for a fresh start.

I have asked your son’s teachers to recognise that your son may want, and in some cases need, that opportunity.  I have asked your sons to give each other that chance and to maximise their own opportunity to bring exemplary behaviour, support for their friends and service to the community to the fore.

Every one of our 1362 boys have the opportunity in 2019 to “Discover what’s possible”, and I look forward to watching as they set their course.