Dear Parents and Guardians,

As you would all be aware the King and Queen of Tonga were at Newington on Monday for the official opening of our new buildings. A special assembly was held in the afternoon which incorporated singing by both our Tongan guests and our Newington Choir, official speeches by the King of Tonga, our Chairman of College Council, Mr Tony McDonald (ON 1976) and our Headmaster, Dr David Mulford, as well as the unveiling of the plaques for our new buildings.  Dr Roger Davidson (ON 1940) unveiled the plaque for the Davidson Health Centre, named in his honour; with His Majesty King Tupou VI unveiling the plaques for the Pearson Cadet Centre and Newington Challenge Centre, Drama Centre and Theatre and the Tupou College Centre, named in recognition of the very long and proud connection we maintain with our brother school Tupou College. I do hope your sons have shared some of the excitement of the day.

Our Year 11 Drama students, supported by many others backstage and in the technical crew, performed ‘Michael Swordfish’ for invited guests on Monday evening after the official openings. It is a play by Lachlan Philpott, commissioned by Newington College. Post the performance our Drama Captain, Harrison Saunders (12/LE) and Vice-Captain, Elliot Ulm (12/LE) described eloquently the collaborative process that resulted in this very clever and engaging performance that the boys, and our Head of Drama, Ms Tamara Smith should feel justifiably proud of. Limited tickets are still available for the Thursday, Friday and Saturday night performances.