Dear Parents and Guardians,

This weekend we share the Easter celebration.  Besides being a holiday break and a valuable time to spend with our families, it also presents the opportunity to reflect on the values embedded within this tradition.

At our Easter Assembly this week, Reverend Barham talked about resolve: to be single-minded, fixed, determined and unapologetically purposeful.  When people are resolved, they mean business.  This brings me to our Swimming champions.  Last Friday evening, our swimmers competed at the GPS Swimming Championships. Our senior swim team entered the competition needing to win almost every race to win the competition.  They entered the event resolved to give their all, and are now the 2018 GPS Champions. 

Thank you to the parents and boys who supported them from the stand. Although there were a few willful chants, I was very pleased with Newington’s level of spirit and comradery with other schools.

We have several other boys who have resolve and mean business. 

Mark Elwaw (11/JN) and Ben Leung (11/KL) have introduced their recycling initiative.  In conjunction with the cafeteria, the boys have been recycling bottles and cans to raise money for their House charity, Oasis Foundation. Oasis works with young people aged 15-25 from marginalised and disadvantaged backgrounds.  The boys have introduced four new recycling bins and will “wheel” their message to the boys at recess and lunch time.  They currently recycle 100 bottles per week, but hope this initiative increases that number dramatically.  Every bottle or can they recycle raises 10 cents for Oasis Foundation.

James Roach (12/MA) spoke to the boys about another fund-raising initiative, World’s Greatest Shave.  Thirty Year 12 boys and a number of teaching staff have signed up to raise funds for the Leukemia Foundation.  All donations give families facing blood cancer the emotional and practical support they need. 

These projects are the work of our boys. They are responsible for project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, control and, in some cases, closure.  Well done boys!  

Enjoy your Easter long weekend. The short break from routine will be beneficial to the boys.