Dear Parents and Guardians,

Our talented Year 7 debating team were recognised at assembly this week. The boys pictured above – Ishaan Patkar (7/MA), Bodie Young (7/PR), Tom Carlisle (7/MO) and Daniel Martin (7/KL), – won the 7B division of the Friday Evening Debating (FED) Competition.  Congratulations, boys: it is a wonderful result you should be very proud of.

Tomorrow is Heritage Day at Newington. Our College boasts a community of families from more than 40 different ethnic groups and all world religions.  Senior Prefect Lachlan McIntyre spoke to assembly about the importance and impact of this diversity. It is easy to say we are diverse – but what does that mean?  For Lachlan, diversity translates into being influenced by various ways of thinking, by perspectives from around the world, by different religious and moral values and even by more tangible things like food and music.  We are diverse because every individual offers something that can change our way of thinking and give us a new perspective.  When we embrace those influences, we become truly diverse.

Deputy Senior Prefect Alexander Humphreys challenged the boys to start a conversation with a mate about their heritage this Friday.  He told the boys that our ability to be influenced by someone’s heritage doesn’t just come from seeing them wearing a French national soccer jersey, but it starts with having a conversation.  The power of Heritage Day is in the lessons we can learn from each.

Tomorrow we will watch the grand final of the inaugural Inter-House World Cup.  A “magnificent” trophy will be presented to the winning team.  Will it be Johnstone or Manton?  This trophy will have pride of place in the winning House space until 2022, when hopefully the next Inter-House World Cup will be played at Newington.

I would like to thank the staff who are taking our boys on tours this term break and wish them safe travels and amazing learning experiences.  To our Newington families, enjoy the break in routine and use the time to recharge ready for the first day of Term 3 on Monday 23 July.