2024 has been incredible. During Wednesday night’s Carol service, I reflected on and celebrated the year that was.

Together, we have learnt so much - not just academically, but about resilience, relationships, and our own potential.

We have laughed, we have cried, and together we have navigated the questions about where we belong and how we fit into the world around us.

Students and Teachers, you really do inspire me daily. You give me the strength and determination to keep going. Your courage, kindness, and tenacity make NEGS the remarkable place it is.

To the teaching staff who are moving on:

• Mr. Hughes: Thank you for bringing the magic of music to NEGS. You made it okay for us to ‘try’, to step out of our comfort zones, and to be celebrated for our efforts.
• Ms. Oates: Your calm demeanour and quiet dedication has enriched our classrooms. Lunchtimes in the library were abuzz, and your encouragement meant so much to our students. Enjoy every minute of your overseas travel.
• Mr. Moore: A spade is always a spade; you are honest, considerate, and are an excellent litmus test. You have helped me immensely in my role as Principal and for that, I thank you. Your new school in Port Macquarie is lucky to have you.

To the corporate staff who are leaving us, Mrs Purkiss and Mrs Slade, thank you and be sure to embrace the new chapter in your lives.

To the students and families who are leaving us, know that you will always be a part of the fabric of NEGS. Wherever life takes you, I hope our paths cross again.

Enjoy every moment of the festive season, and I look forward to seeing you in 2025.

Ms Liz van Genderen

Principal

As I prepare to bid farewell to NEGS, I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude and pride. Serving as the Director of Sport and Deputy Principal has been one of the greatest privileges of my career. Over the last 3 years, my most cherished moments have been centred around the students—their journeys, their triumphs, and their growth. Witnessing their successes, both big and small, has been deeply rewarding and will remain with me forever.

I have had the pleasure of working alongside an incredible group of dedicated and passionate teachers and administration staff who continually go above and beyond to inspire and support our students. Their commitment to excellence and unwavering care have been a cornerstone of what makes NEGS so special. I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the maintenance, kitchen, and housekeeping teams for the vital role they play in keeping our school running smoothly. Their hard work ensures that our campus remains a welcoming and vibrant environment for everyone.

A special acknowledgment goes to the boarding staff, whose dedication to creating a warm and nurturing “away from home” atmosphere for our boarders is truly commendable. Your kindness and care have helped shape a supportive community where students feel safe and valued.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to our Principal, Ms. van Genderen, for her trust and friendship throughout my time at NEGS. Your leadership has been an inspiration, and I wish you continued success as you guide the school into the future. 

To the incoming Deputy Principal, Mrs. Heidi Dent, I extend my warmest wishes as you take on this important role. I am confident that you will bring fresh perspectives and great energy to the role.

The friendships I have built and the connections I have made here will always hold a special significance. However, what I will miss the most are the students. They are the heart and soul of everything we do, and their enthusiasm, resilience, and spirit have been a constant source of inspiration………and frustration. 

To the students, I DARE you:

• to always be kind,
• to accept others for who they are, 
• to have the courage to stand up for what is right,
• to embrace your unique selves with confidence and know that you have the power to make a difference.

As I leave, I want to share one of my favourite quotes, which has guided me throughout my professional journey. It was originally penned by a poet, Marianne Williamson, but became mainstream through the movie Coach Carter and was famously used in Nelson Mandela’s inauguration speech:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone. And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Thank you 

Mr Jamie Moore

Deputy Principal/CAFS and PDHPE Teacher

The Year 8 Debating team recently participated in the Grand Final of the Junior Division of the Australian National Virtual Debating Competition. Reaching the Grand Final of a national competition is quite the achievement in and of itself!

The team were able to put forward a very strong debate as the negative team on the topic that countries with poor human rights records should be banned from hosting major sporting events. Despite a strong performance, the win went to Regents Park Christian College.

The girls have had a fantastic season, have improved significantly, and have been an absolute credit to their school.

Congratulations on an excellent year of debating: Mackenzie Ellem, Sasha-Lily Scott Hamilton, Callie Jarrett, Zara Fairbank, and Evie Green.

Wishing the NEGS community a joyous and safe holiday period.

Mr Ryan Caldwell

Director of Teaching and Learning/English Teacher

Celebrating Our Students' Journeys

As we come to the end of our academic year, we focus upon not just acknowledging academic success, but celebrating the incredible journeys and growth of our students. Each achievement is a testament to the hard work, resilience, and passion of the entire NEGS community - students, teachers and families.

At NEGS, we recognise the extraordinary potential within every individual. This belief fuels our commitment to fostering a culture where kindness, empathy, and respect are at the core of everything we do. Our dedication extends beyond academic excellence to also nurturing character and compassion. Here, students are encouraged to dream big, take risks, and embrace challenges with courage.

Taking on difficult tasks is more than an act of perseverance; it is a source of inspiration. By facing challenges head-on, we build confidence and competence. We set a standard of excellence that inspires those around us. I have to admit, sports analogies and quotes aren’t usually my go-to, but raising a family of boys means they often come up in conversation. This year, one in particular has surfaced multiple times, and I felt it was fitting to share today. In the words of Michael Jordan (and many others): "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." This reminds us that every effort, every attempt, whether it leads to success or not, is a valuable step towards growth.

Our commitment to excellence is not solely about reaching goals but also about the journey we take to get there. It’s about the resilience we build, the character we develop, and the connections we forge along the way.

As we reflect on the year and look towards next year, let’s remember to embrace challenges, set ambitious goals, and support one another. Let’s make tackling difficult tasks the norm and inspire excellence in every endeavour. Together, we can achieve greatness and create a community where every member thrives. Thank you for your continued support throughout 2024.

Mrs Heidi Dent

Junior School Coordinator/Year 6 Teacher

NEGS is super proud and excited to have had our newly wrapped truck out and about at competitions recently. The purchasing of the truck and design of the wrap has come about after substantial amounts of work from parents, EC staff, Executive and Marketing Teams.

We are also incredibly grateful for the support of our Truck sponsors; Thunderbolt Equine Vets and Randlab, who have both been big supporters of NEGS over the years. We are humbled to have both of these quality services and products on board.

Thank you Thunderbolt and Randlab

https://www.thunderboltequine.com.au/

https://www.randlab.com/

Over the weekend of the 30 November and 1 December, we had Callie Jarret go down to Bendemeer for the Juvenile draft where she ended up placing 5th and Isabella Homfrey went with her as support crew. A big congratulations to Callie for placing so well in such a tough field of competitors. 

On 24 November, Jess Taylor competed in the Zone 13 Campdraft and Challenge and placed 3rd in the Associate Campdraft and 2nd overall in the Challenge.

We also had the EC Christmas party on Wednesday, 27 November, where we had a group of girls come down. We had a water fight which the girls got very into, musical chairs and a shaving cream fight. The girls got very into the water and shaving cream fight with them all coming back soaking wet or covered in shaving cream, and massive smiles on their faces. 

Shyla Clark - Equestrian Leader

Tamworth Dressage Showcase 2024

The NEGS Dressage squad went to Tamworth and had a very successful and educational weekend with their horses.

Sarah Barclay soldiered on after suffering food poisoning over the weekend and still managed to gain a great score of 63.94% in the Novice Pony 2.2.

Shyla Clark rode very well on her young mare producing two nice tests gaining 65%+ in the Prelim Open and 63%+ Novice Open, all while doing her school assessments each afternoon and evening.

Nevaeh Pearce rode two respectable tests gaining above 60%+ with her gelding in the Pony Prelim.

Harriet Penton had a brilliant ride with her 5 year old pony gaining an improvement score of 65% Prelim 1.3.

Overall, the girls had a great time riding, training and competing at AELEC.

I would like to pass on further congratulations to Robin Henry (pictured below) and Sienna Robinson, who won the Armidale Sports Council junior team of the year, for their win in the pas de deux at the National Interschool Championships held at the AELEC earlier this year.

Mrs Annyka Overton

Equestrian Centre Coordinator

Please read this week's Careers Newsletter HERE.

Mr Mark Ambrose

Business Studies Teacher/Careers Advisor

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas….” and isn’t everyone looking forward to spending precious time with their families?

I would like to thank each and every boarder this year for making the effort, in both small and large ways, to achieve personal growth. It has been a pleasure to see you all progress and mature through the year. You have all achieved this year, be it academically, co-curricularly or both and are now able to enjoy the fruits of that labour - spending glorious weeks at home with your families, well done!

Every term is busy, as parents are aware, but Term 4 is always full of ‘fun’ busy. There have been several opportunities to dress up and be silly, to watch teachers dress up and be jolly, time to spend outside playing games and being kids, trips away and afternoons spent in the fabulous sunshine. What a wonderful way to end the year.

As the term and year draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our NEGS families a holiday season filled with love, for our families, our friends and our community. May you have a blessed Christmas, a joyous New Year … and a well deserved break.

Mrs Kassy Cassidy

Head of Boarding

Please see the links below for photos of our Carol's evening and Speech Day.

Carols - https://community.negs.nsw.edu.au/galleries/view/47 (see also below gallery)

Speech Day - https://community.negs.nsw.edu.au/galleries/view/48