Dear parents and guardians,

On Tuesday we held our second student-run assembly.  Prescott House was in the spotlight. Prescott Captain Sam Eagleton, Vice Captains James Francis and Christopher Mina and Chapel Prefect Sachin Spencer ran an assembly that recognised the effort and achievements of many of our fabulous students.  In total, 130 boys crossed the stage. There was also a fun video that took us inside the Prescott House area and explained the work the boys do with their charity.

House Honour Colours were awarded to Sebastian Hailwood and Hugh Matthews from Johnstone House. Reverend Barham announced Owen Read as the Senior Under Officer (CUO) for 2021 and his six fellow Cadet leaders.  Ms Munns-Conry introduced the Newington Challenge senior leaders and announced Addison Eastway as Captain for 2021.

Instead of a man of the fortnight, we had men of the fortnight.  Aiden Carter, Kyan McLean, George Evans, Harry Smyth, Zac McCutcheon, Oscar Tentij and Jonathon Kerr starred in the Year 11 production The Popular Mechanicals. The time these gentlemen put into bringing this production to the Newington community is be admired and applauded.  Well done gents!

The AAGPS Swimming carnival on 5 March approaches, and this was our opportunity to send our swimmers off in style.  Captain of Swimming Christopher Mina told the assembly what it takes to get back into the pool day after day in the hope of shaving seconds – or less – off a record.  Christopher invited the 18 members of the junior swim team, the 16 members of the intermediate swim team and 14 members of the senior swim team to cross the stage.

This year our swimmers have broken four new age records.  Congratulations to Aleksander Barlin (12 years 100m freestyle) and Thomas Oates (17 years 100m freestyle, 50m breaststroke, 50m butterfly and the long course record in 200m breaststroke).  We also have new GPS records: congratulations to Jackson McCleery (intermediate 400m freestyle) and Christopher Mina (senior 200m butterfly) and the open 4 x100m freestyle relay AAGPS record. The boys who swam the relay are Karl Kovarik, Jackson McCleery, Thomas Oates and Christopher Mina.  Our boys have trained hard and will give it their all at the carnival.

We will turn our attention to our rowers at Head of the River on Saturday 13 March.  Our Captain of Boats, Sam Bristow, spoke about the rigours of rowing and thanked the tremendous coaching efforts of Mr Schmidt and staff and the training schedule employed at the boatshed.

Both our swimmers and rowers left the assembly to a round of deafening applause.

Enjoy the last weekend of summer.