Dear parents and guardians

Co-Curricular captains were announced at assembly on Wednesday.  Congratulations to Fallon Fotaras and Hamish Thompson, our Chess Captain and Vice-Captain; William Smith (C) and Alexander Palmer (VC) – Debating; Charlie Papps (C) and Hugh Finlayson (VC) – Drama; James Lucas (C) – F1 in Schools and Hugh Mathews (C) and Vincent de Souza (VC) – Music.  Henry Beissel was named Head Chorister, Sebastian Hailwood is Leader of Symphonic Winds and Oliver Chow is our Leader of Orchestra.  Benjamin Wainman is our Captain of Sustainability. The boys are pictured above.

Head of Science Mr Cosgrove had the pleasure of presenting certificates to 19 boys who were recipients of Big Science Competition High Distinctions.  Deserving a special mention is Toby Stepto, who was awarded a High Distinction for the Junior Science Olympiad, and Alexander Lynch, who received a High Distinction for Earth and Environment. 

Last Friday, 20 November, was White Ribbon Day in Australia. White Ribbon Day is a global movement that aims to engage boys and men to end violence against women and girls.  Our Senior Prefect, Conor Corcoran, reminded the boys of the Year 12 2016 motto: “Value You. Support Him. Stand with Her”.  Conor told the boys the issue of domestic violence against women is no longer swept under the carpet; however, the sad reality is that while a lot has changed, a lot also has not changed over the past five years.  In Australia, there are 260,000 police call-outs to domestic violence incidents every year.  That is one every two minutes. Every day.  Tragically one woman a week is killed because of domestic violence.

Conor asked the boys to think about their mothers, sisters, friends and girlfriends and the harmful treatment inflicted on many women simply because of their gender.  Conor asked the boys to stand, and then led them in this pledge: “I swear to never commit, excuse or remain silent, about violence against women”.  It was a powerful moment.  Well done Conor. Please ask your son about this pledge.

Deputy Senior Prefect Nicholas O’Shea once again recognised our Newington Man of the Week.  This week’s award went to Year 9 student Jackson McCleery.  On Friday evening, in the 1500m Freestyle race at the GPS Convener’s Invitational, Jackson set a new GPS record and achieved a national qualifying time with a personal best of 16.58.84 minutes.  Well done Jackson – we will follow your swimming career with great interest over the next three years.

Nick also asked the boys to finish the year strongly.  With just over a week of school to go, he stressed the importance of doing the right thing every day between now and the end of the school year.

Our 158^th Annual Prize Giving is scheduled for Friday 4 December at 3.45pm.  We are planning an outdoor event but will be at the mercy of the weather. If it looks like there will be showers on the day, we will communicate our wet weather plan to all families on Thursday, 3 December, and reiterate the changes in this newsletter that goes to all families on Thursday afternoon.

Enjoy the weekend and the last week of term.