Dear parents and guardians,

It is great to have all the boys back on campus. We welcomed four new students to the College this week and watched as some of our Year 12 Boarders packed up their belongings to ship home – the start and finish of the journey on display.

Our Full College Prefect Assembly was held on Tuesday. Newington’s unique prefect system was introduced during the time when Mr Tony Rae (1972–1993) was Headmaster. The Newington prefect system seeks to prepare our students for the changing environment outside of school, whilst aligning closely with our published College values. 

Our Full College Prefect is expected to be a senior boy of the highest integrity who has displayed true servant leadership, initiative and service. He sets a fine example in all that he does both inside and outside the classroom, including his personal presentation, attendance, punctuality, reliability and effectiveness in prefect duties and beyond.

Headmaster addressed the boys at the assembly. He told the boys that when he first came to Newington, some 20 years ago, he was very suspicious of the Prefect system but has since completely changed his mind. He said he watched boys lead through serving and care for others. Leading is challenging, he said. It requires doing what is right, not what is popular, particularly when no one is watching. He thanked our 174 2020 Full College Prefects for their service and asked them to take what leadership taught them about integrity and honesty and use it.

Important information for summer fixtures

This weekend we commence summer sporting fixtures. In light of the NSW Health correspondence dated 24 September 2020, a limited number of spectators will be permitted to attend these fixtures, although this will be different across schools so please check Spaces information carefully.

If coming to Newington, spectators must register their attendance at fixtures using the Service NSW app (download the app here) and remember that the restrictions on the number of spectators permitted will vary between outdoor and indoor venues and individual school facility capacities. At Newington we will be able to have two parents per boy on site for outdoor activities, and after completing an audit of our basketball courts and the pool area we can safely accommodate one parent per boy and still maintain the 4sqm rule. Gatherings before and after fixtures are to be minimised, with participants and spectators leaving immediately after the completion of their fixtures. We ask that you are patient, as you may have to wait for some people to leave before you are able to enter an indoor venue.

Schools are no longer required to conduct widespread temperature screening, so I would like to remind all parents and guardians NOT to send children to school if they are unwell, even if they have the mildest flu-like symptoms. I also ask that parents and guardians do not come onto campus if you are feeling even slightly unwell. For more information please click here.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish Year 12 2020 all the very best as they start the NSW HSC exams next Tuesday 20 October.