Hello!

At a recent meeting of the College P&F Executive Committee, I learned about the College’s character values approach to sport and co-curricular activity. This truly seems to me to be a ‘best practice’ framework, which advocates the pursuit of personal best, rather than winning at all costs, with the ultimate goal of improving the boys’ well-being.

The six principles that underpin the character framework are:

• Enjoyment: have fun; encourage each other; participate with passion; and be positive.
• Unity: learn to trust yourself and each other; teamwork – together everyone achieves more; and enjoy the mateship in good times and bad.
• Growth: be keen to learn; challenge yourself; teach others; and lead by example.
• Resilience: courage under duress; physical and mental stamina to keep going when it gets tough; determination to achieve what you set out to achieve; and persistence in life.
• Hard work: commitment to working hard for each other; personal and team discipline on and off the field; personal best effort at all times; and an attitude that respects the value of hard work.
• Respect: be honest with yourself and others – have the hard conversation; live life with integrity; always show humility in success and defeat; and have empathy for others.

These character values are so pertinent to our boys’ wellbeing – and also for us, as parents. Our boys are very lucky to have such an abundance of choice of co-curricular activities, as well as teacher and peer support to encourage participation in whatever it is that interests them. Through participation in any of them, our boys can develop life-long passions and connectedness with the various communities to which they do and will belong while they are developing physical skills, teamwork, confidence, expression and leadership qualities. And, of course, participating in an activity that peaks an interest gives our boys great enjoyment and many opportunities to foster meaningful friendships outside of the classroom and playground.

There are also many lessons young men can learn from adversity in co-curricular activities, including the struggle to master a skill, selection disappointments and the disappointment of defeat. To quote the Head of Co-curricular at the College, Mr Peter Wilkins, “It is here at Newington that young men can learn that life is not perfect and it is here that the opportunities to develop resilience are provided.” We cannot underestimate the importance of giving our boys opportunities to make mistakes and to fail, as well as to succeed, in a safe and supportive environment. This is how our boys learn and grow, and mature into the young men we expect they will be.

To close on a completely different topic, we had a periodic review of the canteen menu on 2 June. The only change of note is that Katia will take Billabongs and Nudie Sodas off the menu at the end of this term. The school is also investigating a ‘flexicard’ for payment, so that parents have full control over the type of food their boys will be able to purchase. We are also investigating more ‘specials’, which you’ll be informed about as they are decided.

What was most interesting about the review was the discovery of how much more TLC Katia puts into the canteen than we thought. Here are some interesting canteen facts:

Until next time, be well and happy

Natalie Mina
President, Wyvern P&F
natalie.mina@accenture.com; 0414 850 455

Dates for your diary

• TICKETS ON SALE: Christmas in July, the Wyvern parents’ social event is on Friday, 25 July, 7-11pm at ECCO Ristorante, Drummoyne. The $88 ticket price includes four hours of beverages and a substantial cocktail menu. The Funky Do Da’s jazz band will be back to entertain us. RSVP by Thursday, 17 July 2014 via online payment.
• Kindy mums meet at Paper Cup every Wednesday and Friday morning at 8:15am
• Year 3 Parents’ Coffee & Chat is on every Thursday from 8.15am at the Little Treasures Café, 313 Stanmore Rd, Petersham (up the road from the senior school, opposite the fruit market)