Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to Term 4.

Congratulations to the boys (pictured above) who were confirmed as Full College Prefects on Tuesday. We have a unique prefect system at Newington. All Year 12 boys are eligible to be named Full College Prefects but must fulfil several requirements: they must set the tone of our College, take responsibility and lead by example. Full College Prefectship is not an entitlement – it is something the boys must work hard at to achieve. Most boys, I am proud to say, have exceeded what was required of them – and in most cases not because it would mean they would be confirmed as a Prefect, but because they wanted to contribute, to give back and to improve themselves and the College.

This week we swore in our 2020 student leaders, a group that includes 5 boarding prefects, 32 house captains, vice captains and chapel prefects and, of course, our 3 senior leaders

All Newington, student leadership positions – from prefects, house captains and vice captains to cocurricular and sporting captains and outdoor education leaders – are awarded based on a strong record of service to the College and the wider community. They are expected to model servant leadership, putting the needs of others ahead of their own. 

Our leaders are expected to demonstrate empathy and care for their fellow students and those in need in the wider community. As a cohort, they can have an impact on the tone and spirit of the school and leave a positive legacy for those to come.

Leading is challenging. It requires doing what is right, not what is popular. Our student leaders are expected to do the right thing, particularly when no one is watching.

I thank our 2019 leaders for their outstanding contribution and wish all our 2020 leaders a successful year.