The P&F reflects on a bumper events schedule What a very busy three terms we’ve had so far this Our recent Gala Ball was another fantastic night. Four years in the year. The P&F and Support Groups have thoroughly making, it was amazing to see several hundred parents let their hair enjoyed organising and hosting various events down, kick their heels up and dance the night away. throughout the year and particularly having parents The P&F was pleased to be in a position to support the College’s back on campus and gathering at external venues Giving Day by donating $25,000 towards means-tested scholarships. for a full range of College experiences. It certainly With the roll out of New Spaces throughout this year we’ve also makes a change to the last two years of planning worked with ICT and Communications to help parents navigate the transition and understand how to make New Spaces work best for the event only to see it cancelled. them. We’ve gathered feedback via parent focus groups and look forward to continuing this as the New Spaces platform continues NEW Social has continued to host coffee mornings and parent to develop. socials for each cohort as well as the Winter Soiree and the recent Our Year 12 students will be leaving us shortly and I would like to Year 7 Father and Son Breakfast. We look forward to more of these take this opportunity to wish each student the very best for their social events in Term 4 as well as finally being able to bring the dads examination period. Congratulations to them all and to their own and boys of Years 8 and 9 together on campus for the first time. families and support networks. Our Creative Arts Support Group has also had a particularly busy year While our calendar of events has been extremely busy it does providing refreshments for Oklahoma! and our Ensembles Concert seem a lot of the load falls to a small number of people. We would and Founders Concert as well as providing pizzas pre-concert for our appreciate and welcome more volunteers to any of our support RockFest musicians and a community BBQ at that event. groups. AGMs will be coming up in November so if you think you Many other support groups have also held their end of winter sport can spare some time and would like to get involved, please reach season celebrations with players and parents. Congratulations to out to a support group if interested or to me if you’d like to have a boys and coaches on a successful winter sports season. conversation about what is possible. All these support groups along with our Black & White army of parent You can reach me at p&f@newington.nsw.edu.au volunteers completely outdid themselves for Back to Newington Day. My best wishes for the remainder of 2022. Having the College gates open to welcome our entire community was an amazing feeling. People came in their droves and enjoyed the Mr Jason Howard expanded offering of stalls, activities, sporting events and musical President, Newington College Parents’ and Friends’ Association performances. It really was an incredible day and a massive effort by many of our parents and families. I sincerely thank and congratulate everyone involved. Image: Gala Ball