Certificates

Director of Bands Luke Gilmour completes his PHD

Congratulations to Director of Bands, Mr Luke Gilmour who completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Luke began his doctorate in 2009 where he studied under the renowned Chair of Conducting at the Conservatorium, Professor Imre Pallo.

Mr Gilmour was awarded the Henderson Research Scholarship for his degree and wrote his dissertation on the job satisfaction of freelance school conductors in New South Wales. For his thesis, Mr Gilmour surveyed more than 50 musical professionals and conducted three in-depth interviews with school conductors. He has been invited to contribute to the upcoming issue of the Music Council of Australia’s Music Forum magazine as a result of the success of his findings.

Outside of academia, Mr Gilmour has worked with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Sinfonia as well as a number of local orchestras and bands around Sydney.

We congratulate Mr Gilmour on his achievements thus far and look forward to his official graduation and titling in May this year.

Crested Ware

There are a range of crested ware on offer at the Black and White shop. They range from memorabilia, clothing, keepsake as well as an exclusive Sesquicentenary line which can be found on the Sesquicentenrary site. For more information about crested ware, please contact Rollanda Rosenstrauss.

To download the crested ware catalogue and price list  click here

To view the crested ware page on the public website, click here

Take a Seat in the Old Boys Lecture Theatre

Ever thought of ‘taking your own seat’ in the new Old Boys Lecture Theatre?

The Old Boys Lecture Theatre (OBLT) has finally come to life with our current boys occupying its seats for several of their classes. And so to continue in the tradition of naming our rooms and buildings at Newington, we are also naming the seats in the OBLT.

Many members of our Newington family have “named” a seat (117 out of the 250 seats have been taken) which will bear their name or another name of their choosing. A gift of $4,000 (tax deductible and may be spread over up to 4 years) will secure a seat in the OBLT thus ensuring your name will forever be etched into Newington’s history.

For more information, please call Lea Greifeneder on 9568 9540 or email development@newington.nsw.edu.au.

Centre of Ethics 2013 Program Out Now

The Centre for Ethics at Newington College is a forum for students, teachers, parents and the wider community, to engage in discussion of contemporary moral issues, beliefs and values.

The 2013 program is out now with the first public event to commence on Wednesday 6 March. The subject matter is Spirituality in a Godless Country and features guest speaker Dr David Tacey, Associate Professor at La Trobe University. Other speakers at this year’s event include The Hon. Michael Kirby, Baroness Susan Greenfield and Dr Hugh Mackay just to name a few.

To find out more about the program and book a seat, please visit the Centre for Ethics 2013 insite.

History of Newington Bus

A familiar sight before and after school is the chartered buses that take many of our boys from locations across Sydney to the College and back each day. But how did this start?

On 21 January 1936, a sub-committee of the Finance Committee of the College Council was formed to investigate ‘conveyance of junior boys to and from School’. This issue arose from the closure of Ashfield Grammar Preparatory School and the transfer of thirty of its boys to Newington. The sub-committee recommended against buying a bus but in favour of introducing a charter service. The cost to parents was not to exceed one sixth per boy per week.

On 25 February, the Headmaster, Philip Le Couteur, reported to the Committee that the service was proving a success, with twenty eight boys using it daily. It was costing the College 16/- per day, higher than the original estimate because the route from Ashfield now went via ‘Dobroyde’ (Dobroyd Point). Le Couteur also reported that the bus was taking boys to the rowing shed at Abbotsford, costing a further 10/- per day. He expected the total cost to be £20 until Regatta Day.

In July the Headmaster reported that the bus was being used to transport boys to Long Bay for rifle shooting practice on Mondays, at 12/- per trip. The boys were reported ‘providing their own way home’ from there.

During the Second World War, petrol shortages resulted in the bus being fitted with a large gas bag on its roof. Old Newingtonian Don Dwyer (ON ’49) recalls that the bag was sometimes torn by overhanging shop awnings, with the result that the gas escaped and the boys did not get to school until morning break.

Our illustration shows a later bus, loaded with racing boats and filled with boys about to depart for the 1951 Head of the River (From the collection of Barrie Titcume (ON ’51).

David Roberts
College Archivist

Faith Matters

Obedience from Love

Paul the apostle says, “God … is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Most of us don’t connect obedience with pleasure. We’re used to obeying out of necessity or fear. Perhaps we had parents who made us obey ‘just because I said so’. Now it’s not wrong for parents to expect obedience from children, or bosses to expect cooperation from their employees. But it’s not the best definition or the highest motivation for obedience. The element that’s missing is the ‘want to’ factor that God built into each of us, but is buried deep beneath selfishness and forgetfulness. This takes the ‘ought to, have to, better do it or else God will destroy you’ element out of it. It elevates obeying God to a level of joyful response to all that He’s done for you. Obedience is not something you have to manufacture. It’s something you have to cultivate, then activate, because the desire is already present in you. Anything else is merely outward compliance.
It’s like the boy who misbehaved and was told by his mother to go and sit in the corner. After a few minutes she called to him from the other room, ‘Are you still sitting down?’ He replied, ‘Yeah, I’m sittin’ down on the outside, but I’m standin’ up on the inside’. You could call that obedience, but actually it’s nothing more than outward compliance without the inward response of eager and joyful obedience.

Mr Peter Morphew
Chaplain

Parents and Friends News

Dear Lindfield Community

It was a fantastic night for the P&F Welcome Reception and I hope that all those who attended had a great time. The Year 6 parents did a magnificent job, especially having to change from outdoors to indoors due to the inclement weather. Not only did they have the actual night to organise but also clean up the next day. So, once again, a huge thank you to all who participated in making it such a successful evening.

We also had our first P&F meeting for the year and I’m very pleased to say that we had a great turn out. I thank all the parents who were able to make the time to come along and also Mr Weekes who stood in Mr Wyatt’s place with a succinct and informative presentation.

If you could please check Prep Shop News in this fortnight’s Prep Talk as we have a couple of things coming up, including Winter Uniform fittings and a 2nd hand sale in the Hall that you may be interested in. For our new parents they will need to purchase Winter Shirts, shorts, jumper, blazer and also a tracksuit if you haven’t already. Years 3-6 will also need winter sports uniforms for either soccer or rugby when the teams are finalised. We have a few blazers and jumpers in our 2nd hand department so you may want to check with the Prep Shop. Unfortunately, due to space, we can’t stock it all in the shop but can take you to check it out if you come during the usual opening hours.

Judy Ryan
P & F President 

Prep Shop

The Prep Shop is open on Mondays from 3.00pm – 3.45pm and Wedensdays from 8.00am – 8.45am.

Week 7 Roster

11 March
Ingrid Ying Gao
Erica Berkovich

 13 March
Sing Sing Wan
Hayley Rose

Week 8 Roster

18 March
Rebecca L’Orange
Brenda Cumarasingam

 20 March
Maria Dickinson
Linda Hardyanto

Pre-Loved Uniform Sale – 20 March

The Prep Shop will be having a 2nd hand uniform sale in the Don Brown Hall on 20 March from 2.00pm onwards. Both summer and winter stock available.

Kindy Winter Uniform Fittings

In order to accommodate Kindergarten winter uniform fittings please make an appointment with the office for a time on Monday or Tuesday of Week 8 (18 & 19 March) or
Monday or Tuesday of Week 9 (25 & 26 March).

Tuckshop News

I hope everyone is settling into school routine – despite the heat and humidity!

While striving to maintain a healthy nut-free Tuckshop, we have discovered that Fountain Tomato Sauce, which was supposed to be made in a nut-free environment, is no longer available. Currently, Masterfoods Tomato Sauce is in stock which is not guaranteed nut-free.

The current menu is available on the school’s website, hard copy in School Office or Tuckshop. A new Autumn/Winter menu will begin in Term 2.

There are a couple of ‘special’ Paddle Pops available for a short while, Vanilla flavour and Sticky Toffee Apple flavour ($1.60) – both are Healthy Kids Canteen approved. Icy Twist ($1.20) and Calippo ($1.00) are great thirst quenchers too.

If your son orders one on a lunch order, he will have to return to the Tuck Shop to pick up the treat. I’ll endeavour to put a little reminder in the bags of the younger classes in the form of a laminated picture of an ice block.

Kathryn Nordstrom
Tuck Shop Manager

 Week 7

Tuesday 12 March 2013
9.00am – 12.00pm  Jody Burrows
11.00am – 2.00pm  Amanda Johnston

Thursday 14 March 2013
9.00am – 12.00pm  Jo Stewart
11.00am – 2.00pm  Jennifer Gripton-Corbett

Friday 15 March 2013
9.00am – 12.00pm  Jules Ashworth
11.00am – 2.00pm  Tracy Ayres

 Week 8

Tuesday 19 March 2013
9.00am – 12.00pm  Leearna Plank
11.00am – 2.00pm  Erica Berkovich

Thursday 21 March 2013
9.00am – 12.00pm  Hayley Rose
11.00am – 2.00pm  Rhoda MacCulloch

Friday 22 March 2013
9.00am – 12.00pm Natasha Rowe
11.00am – 2.00pm  Lisa Munckton

A Message from Mr Wyatt

Lindfield…a unique learning environment

As I welcomed prospective families to our school this week for Open Morning I was once again reminded of the distinctiveness of our learning community. Coming to school each day it is easy to become complacent and take for granted the amazing setting, resources and people that form the basis of our school.

There are few schools in the world that have such a beautiful backdrop and provide students with the opportunity to explore and play in such diverse play spaces.  We have a committed staff and the partnership that is shared between teachers and parents is outstanding.  Our boys are fabulous and constantly surprise us with their enthusiasm and creativity.

All in all, Lindfield is a wonderful learning community committed to the boys. It’s good to be reminded occasionally!

Spelling Parent Information Session

Last week’s Parent Information Seminar on ‘Spelling and the PYP’ was extremely well attended. If you missed it we have managed to upload a video of the evening presentation so that you can watch it in the comfort of your lounge rooms. To access this presentation simply follow this link http://newtube.newington.nsw.edu.au/media/spelling-and-the-pyp

Pastoral Positives – Detective DoRight

As we continue to promote positive pastoral care and social skills we have launched a new initiative this term to help our boys to focus on all of the positives that are occurring in our school.

Over the last couple of weeks Detective DoRight has visited our Assembly to highlight the positive behaviour of a couple of our boys. Two weeks ago he shared the principled behaviour of Callum Sharp who ‘walked’ in his Representative Cricket match despite being given not out. Last week he highlighted Freddie Bourne for going out of his way to care for another Junior Primary boy in the playground.

These acts of positive behaviour are definitely worth celebrating but are only a couple of the examples that we see every day at school. We want to use examples like these to encourage (and coach) our boys in maintaining our Essential Agreement at all times.

Enrolments for 2014

We are currently interviewing students for 2014.  If you know of anyone who might be interested in enrolling their son in these grades, please encourage them to contact the School Office on 9416 4280.

Year 3 Family Histories

Year 3 boys at Lindfield have been learning about their Family Histories in their first Unit of Inquiry. The boys were fortunate to have a very special family heirloom driven to school by Logan Ford’s Grandfather, Ivan Hodge. He brought in his beloved 1959 VW Beetle which was driven from the United Kingdom down to India in 1961 and then completed the same road trip again in 1997. Mr Hodge still had his original roadmaps from the first trip as well as some wonderful memories he shared with the boys.

It was a fantastic opportunity for the Year 3 boys to also observe a car made more than 50 years ago.

[Show as slideshow]

Leonie Russell
Year 3 Teacher

Music Notes

Assembly Performances

If your son is learning an instrument out of school he still has the opportunity to perform at assemblies. We try and have 2 musical items at each assembly. Your son will need to come to register his interest.

Remembering Instruments

It is really important that your son remembers his musical instrument and music for the various ensembles and programs each week.

Tuesday – String Ensemble and Year 5 Instrumental Program

Thursday – School Band and Year 4 Instrumental Program

Friday – Year 2 and Year 3 Instrumental Program and String Ensemble Tutorials

Thank you for your help in this matter.

Vanessa South
Music Teacher

P and F Easter Raffle

Please click here for more information.

Dates to Note

Friday 8 March Chapel in Don Brown Hall at 8.30am all welcome

Saturday 9 March Summer Sport Round 5

Week 6

Monday 11 March Maths Challenge Camp

Tuesday 12 March Maths Challenge Camp, School Assembly – Year 3 Item in Don Brown Hall at 2.30pm all welcome

Wednesday 13 March Junior Primary Swimming Carnival 11.00am start

Friday 15 March Chapel in Don Brown Hall at 8.30am all welcome

Saturday 16 March Summer Sport Round 6

Week 7

Tuesday 19 March School Assembly – Year 2 Item in Don Brown Hall at 2.30pm all welcome

Wednesday 20 March Literature Festival, Second Hand Clothing Stall 2.00pm – 3.00pm

Holiday Rugby Clinics

Click here for further information.

Holiday Multi-Sports Camp

Click here for more information.