Welcome to our new Deputy, Pastoral (K–12) Mr Neil Scotney joined the College at the start of Term 3 as our Deputy, Pastoral (K–12). A PDHPE teacher by training, Neil was I am keen to establish strong connections the Head of Senior School at MLC where with the student body and build he had the responsibility for the Pastoral relationships. There are already quality Care and Wellbeing Framework. programs running, but I welcome the challenge to build on these within the Prior to this he worked at Trinity Grammar pastoral care and wellbeing space. School for 10 years and St Aloysius’ Working closely with key pastoral staff College for four. He has also lectured at the across the College from K–12 and University of Wollongong. connecting with the parent community will allow me to fully support the boys pastorally. 1. What are your early impressions Having scope to create a bespoke ‘How to of Newington College? Live Well’ program is exciting and something I am looking forward to. I was fortunate to have had a connection with Newington from my previous role at MLC School. As a result, I had already 3. You are a PDHPE teacher met several staff and senior student by training – what do you leaders from the College. From this limited love about that subject? exposure, I understood Newington was I grew up being heavily involved in sport an outstanding school. I was always keen and enjoyed an active lifestyle, so it was a to discover more. My early impressions natural progression for me to study PDHPE have not disappointed – I was welcomed and then pass on this passion to others with open arms and found the staff and through teaching and coaching. In the students incredibly genuine. As part of my fast-paced world we all live in, it’s crucial K–12 remit, I have had regular visits to that we prioritise our health so we can 4. Tell us about your experience Wyvern, Lindfield and the boarding house squeeze everything we can out of life. lecturing at the University of to familiarise myself with everything Studying PDHPE will hopefully allow boys to Wollongong? Newington has to offer. With the positive learn more about their own health and instil vibe I have witnessed already, I can’t wait to in each of them a strong desire to remain My wife and I took time off to enjoy a immerse myself into College life even more. physically active long after they leave school. 12-month sea change to live and work on the NSW south coast. With a change 2. What is exciting about the of scenery, I juggled the renovation of our 4. What are some of your holiday home and working in the events Deputy, Pastoral (K–12) role? career highlights? industry staging endurance races, while Despite spending the past eight years in I have been extremely fortunate to have also lecturing at the University of girls’ education, I am excited to return worked in some wonderful schools and Wollongong. It was a very rewarding to a boys’ school, having spent 15 years privileged to have had roles where I could experience as I lectured as part of the previously in boys’ education at St Aloysius’ utilise my skills and strengths. As an Diploma of Education course and worked College and Trinity Grammar School. I love educator, there have been many highlights, with a range of students. Many of those the opportunities that come with working in that range from coaching a premiership; studying had come from a different industry an environment that offers boys a holistic guiding a class through to the end of year and returned to study for a career change. education. Through every exposure of their 12; the fun and challenge of school camps; It was exciting to work with people who academic, sporting and co-curricular lives, seeing a cohort graduate and even the were bringing a range of experiences and we have the chance to work with the boys simple pleasures of greeting students looking to make an impact in education. and prepare them for life after school. at the front gate each morning. Being I thoroughly enjoyed the lectures and sharing Not only do these experiences create lifelong appointed as Deputy, Pastoral is certainly my own experiences, while also learning memories, but they also equip students with a highlight, and I really look forward to from others about what they could bring the skills to cope and the essential qualities being fully immersed in it. to an educational setting. that allow them to thrive and flourish. Service | News Spring 2022 | 7