2026 Term 1 Week 5 27 Feb 2026

Dear Lindisfarne Parents and Guardians,

It has been another purposeful and engaging week across our community, beginning in Sydney and concluding with strong moments of leadership and connection here at home.

I commenced the week in Sydney at Mount St Benedict College, Pennant Hills, attending the Term 1 AHISA NSW Branch Meeting. These gatherings are always valuable opportunities to connect with fellow principals, share insights, and discuss the evolving landscape of independent education. The professional dialogue and collaboration that take place at these meetings strengthen not only our individual schools but the broader educational community in which we serve.

On Tuesday morning, we held our Middle School Leadership Induction Ceremony. This is always a special occasion as we formally acknowledge and commission our student leaders for the year ahead. Leadership at Lindisfarne is grounded in service, integrity, and example, and I congratulate our Year 8 students for stepping forward to represent their peers with pride and responsibility.

We extend our congratulations to Rohrig Constructions, which celebrated 35 years in the construction industry across Queensland and New South Wales at a function in Brisbane on Wednesday evening. Rohrig Constructions recently completed our Senior centre project and is currently working on our next two major projects at Lindisfarne, the Year 7 centre and the Creative Industries Precinct.

Yesterday afternoon, we convened our first RAP (Reconciliation Action Plan) meeting for the year. This ongoing work continues to guide our commitment to meaningful reconciliation, respectful engagement, and authentic partnerships within our community. I thank those staff and community members who contribute their time and expertise to ensuring this important work continues with intention and impact.

Today, I had the pleasure of joining our Year 7 students for their Immersion afternoon at the Boatshed. It was wonderful to see students kayaking, participating in team-based activities, and building connections in an outdoor environment. Experiences such as these are instrumental in fostering confidence, resilience, and a strong sense of belonging as students commence the secondary years of their educational journey at Lindisfarne.

This afternoon, we will launch the 2026 Lindisfarne Business Network from 5.30pm at the Ivory Waterside Tavern. This ongoing initiative is designed to strengthen connections between our parent community, alumni, and local business leaders. I look forward to gathering with many of you as we build meaningful partnerships that support both our school and the wider community.

Over the weekend, rehearsals will continue in earnest for our 2026 Musical, Beauty and the Beast. Opening night is only four weeks away, so now is certainly the time to purchase your tickets. With the cast and crew working so hard to bring a world-class production to life, it would be terrific to sell out all 5 shows.

Tickets are currently available via this link. It promises to be a wonderful production and, as the song reminds us, a tale as old as time, one that our talented students are bringing to life in spectacular fashion.

Finally, a reminder that our next Spiritual Gym family service will be held this Sunday at the Mahers Lane Chapel. Refreshments will be served from 4.30pm, followed by the service from 5.00 – 6.00pm. All families are warmly invited to join us.

Thank you for your continued support as we move confidently through the term.
I wish you all a restful and enjoyable weekend.

Warm regards,

Stuart Marquardt
Principal

Dear Students, Staff, Parents, and Guardians,

In my last two articles, I focused on the Round Square Ideal of Democracy and then on the first of its two subcategories - Communication.

In this article, I would like to draw your attention to the second subcategory of Democracy - Responsibility.

Responsibility means being dependable by taking charge of your own actions in a way that demonstrates that you can be relied upon in regards to what you do and say.

Unfortunately, we live in an age where all too often we encounter the attitude of “all rights and no responsibilities.”

Often, we are encouraged to “stand up for our rights!” But I wonder how different the world would look if we focused instead on “standing up for our responsibilities?”

Because rights mean nothing in a society where people are not responsible.

How are you going to uphold your rights if you live in a world where individuals believe only in themselves and not in the dignity of other people?

Rights are great, but unless they are sustained and maintained by responsibility, they become worthless.

And so, I encourage each and every one of you to be a person who takes responsibility before claiming your rights.

As we are an Anglican school, I encourage you all to assume the same mind and attitude that was in Jesus when He humbly and quietly went about His Father’s business, knowing that He had a mission to carry out (see Philippians 2:1-11).

While the Savior had rights as the King of Heaven, He was more concerned with taking responsibility for the ministry God had entrusted to Him.

By submitting Himself to the greater plan, He secured the freedom of all of humanity and gave them the right to become children of God (see John 1:12).

With that right sealed for you on the cross, you can go forth confidently and take responsibility for all the good things the good Lord has called you to accomplish!

One of the ways we have recently taken responsibility as a community is through the purchasing of pancakes for Shrove Tuesday.

We managed to raise over $1400 for Wedgetail Retreat (a palliative care service in the Tweed Valley) and to support a new school in Reverend Constantine’s home village - St Paul’s Technical School, Owerre-Umudioka, Orlu, Nigeria.

This is but one of the ways that we as a school community can be responsible for all that we have - by taking from our abundance and giving to those less fortunate.

As Chaplains, we have decided to focus on this year as being the year of kindness. We have even developed a pledge that spells out how we are going to enact kindness in our school.

Interestingly, the etymology (the origin and developing meaning of words) of responsible is re- “back” and spondere “to pledge.” So, “to pledge back.”

It is therefore our hope and prayer as Chaplains that our wonderful school will embrace our year of kindness, by responsibly pledging to find creative ways to spread kindness throughout our community and beyond.

Blessings,

The Reverend Lyndon

TICKETS ON SALE VIA THIS LINK

TICKETS ON SALE VIA THIS LINK 

Contact:musical@lindisfarne.nsw.edu.au

SCHOOL FEE CASH PAYMENTS

If anyone is wishing to pay their school fees in cash at either Maher’s Lane or the Junior School, could you please call or email accounts in advance to make an appointment, outside of start and finish bell times.

Planning ahead will ensure you do not have to wait.

Email : accounts@lindisfarne.nsw.edu.au

Lindisfarne Buses

The Lindisfarne buses provide a service for students registered to travel to and from the closest bus stop to the residential address of the family. The Lindisfarne Bus service does not have the capacity to meet requests such as transport for students to swap buses for travel to other locations for sport, work, social or other reasons.

Should your child need to attend such an activity we advise you to make alternative arrangements like carpooling to transport your child to their event.

Your understanding in this matter is appreciated.

Please direct any Lindisfarne bus enquiries to bus@lindisfarne.nsw.edu.au

Brett Dinsdale
Business Manager

Join the P&F for a fun-filled night. Get a team together or get a single ticket and join a table.

TICKET BOOKING LINK - trybooking.com/DJJVH

TICKET BOOKING LINK - trybooking.com/DJJVH

NAPLAN 2026

Each year the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is sat by students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. Students will participate in tests for writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.

NAPLAN will take place from Wednesday 11 March to Monday 23 March 2026.

NAPLAN is just one part of our school’s learning assessment program. The tests assess literacy and numeracy skills your child is already learning at school, so the best preparation is their everyday classroom learning. Students will also undertake activities to help them become familiar with the types of questions and tools available in the online tests.

The public demonstration site can be viewed here and further information about NAPLAN is also available on theNAP website.

The 2026 NAPLAN testing schedule can be accessed here.

HSC Minimum Standards Tests

All students in Year 10 will undertake the HSC Minimum Standards Tests next week,

Further information from NESA regarding the tests can be found here.

Parent Teacher Parent Teacher Interviews

Junior School, Tuesday, 3 March and Tuesday, 10 March and Thursday, 12 March

Stage 4 and 5 - Years 7, 8, 9, 10, Wednesday 4 March and Wednesday 11 March

Stage 3 - Years 5 and 6 Monday, 9 March and Monday, 16 March

Stage 6 - Years 11 and 12 Tuesday, 17 March and Wednesday, 18 March

Please check your emails for booking information.

Caroline Jeffries
Dean of Studies 

This week, our Heroes have been welcoming students in the turning circle and front playground, creating a joyful start to each day and bringing the language of the Discoveries to life in a visible and meaningful way for both students and families. Students have loved getting up close with their favourite little Heroes and embracing the challenge of finding and naming all 12!

As we continue to build momentum around our Round Square Heroes of Discovery, we are proud to spotlight our newest hero, Communication Cara.

Communication Cara reminds us that our words have power. She models what it means to:

• Listen to others and respect their views

• Communicate sensitively with different audiences

• Share opinions, even when feeling shy

Across the Junior School, students are exploring what thoughtful communication looks like in the classroom and on the playground, learning that strong communication is just as much about listening as it is about speaking.

While our focus now shines on Communication Cara, we continue to strengthen the important foundations of Responsible Rami. Our students are not leaving these traits behind; they are building upon them. Responsibility and communication work hand in hand, shaping respectful relationships and encouraging positive impact within our school and beyond.

Together, our Heroes continue to guide the growth of character across the Junior School, ensuring the language of the Discoveries remains alive in our daily actions and interactions.

Angela Mundy
Assistant Head of Junior School

Term 1 Key Dates – Junior School

Please add the following important Term 1 dates to your calendar:

• Friday 27 March (Week 9): Pre-school – Year 1 Fun Cross Country
  

• Thursday 2 April (Week 10): Years 2–12 Lindisfarne Cross Country Carnival

For all the Sports news please expand article. 

Middle School Leadership Induction Service

On Tuesday, we held our Middle School Leadership Induction Service, formally recognising our Year 8 student leaders for 2026.

The service marked an important milestone for our House Leaders and Middle School Captains as they stepped into their roles and committed to supporting their peers and contributing to the life of the Middle School. With this year’s leadership theme of Kindness, students were encouraged to consider how this can shape the way they lead and interact with others.

We look forward to working with our Year 8 leaders as they begin to take on their responsibilities across House and Middle School initiatives throughout the year.

Year 7 Respect and Contribution Immersion

Three more of our Year 7 classes took part in the Respect and Contribution Immersion at the Boathouse this week.

Through their time on Country with our Traditional Custodian and out on the Tweed River, students developed a stronger understanding of how respect and shared responsibility support the care of our local environment. They also took time to reflect personally on the role they each play in contributing positively to their community.

We look forward to the remaining Year 7 classes taking part in this experience next week.

Stage 4 and 5 Parent Teacher Interviews

A reminder that Stage 4 and 5 Parent Teacher Interviews will be held in Ngahriyah next Wednesday, 4 March, from 4.00 pm.

We strongly encourage students to attend these meetings alongside their parents or carers. Being present allows students to hear feedback directly from their teachers, reflect on their progress, and take an active role in setting goals for the term ahead. Their involvement supports greater ownership of their learning and helps to strengthen the home-school partnership.

Students attending interviews are required to wear their full school uniform. The standard should reflect that of a normal school day, including hair tied back where required, shirts tucked in, and correct school shoes.

Cathy Cox
Head of Middle School

In December 2025, Australia introduced legislation restricting access to social media platforms for young people under the age of 16. Because the law has only recently come into effect, it is difficult to draw firm conclusions about its overall impact. Much of the national conversation reflects this. It will take time before we see measurable change.

What is clear to us in the Senior School, however, is why these reforms were necessary.

Despite the responsibility now sitting with social media companies to prevent under-16s from holding accounts, we know that a significant number of students are still accessing platforms such as Snapchat. In our Year 10 cohort in particular, where many students are only just 15, we continue to see the consequences. Unkind comments, screenshots shared without consent, and online exchanges that escalate quickly are having a real impact on friendships and well-being.

Even when these interactions take place outside school hours, they do not stay there. They arrive at school the next day in the form of fractured friendships, heightened anxiety and distracted learners. Staff are then supporting students not only with their academic progress, but with the emotional fallout of something that began online.

The legislation introduced last year was intended to provide a layer of protection during a critical stage of adolescent development. Our Year 9 and 10 students are navigating identity and increasingly complex peer relationships. Social media can amplify normal teenage conflict in ways that are public, permanent, and difficult to resolve.

While the legal obligation rests with the platforms themselves, the broader responsibility sits with all of us. Schools can respond to incidents, educate students about respectful conduct and reinforce expectations. However, lasting change requires consistent messages at home as well.

I encourage families to continue having open conversations about online behaviour, to monitor device use carefully, and to be clear about expectations. Checking accounts, knowing which apps are being used, and discussing what respectful and appropriate communication looks like are all important steps. Just as importantly, helping young people understand why these boundaries exist can make them more likely to accept them.

We want our Senior School students to flourish academically, socially, and emotionally. Reducing the negative influence of social media is part of that work. The new laws were introduced for good reason. Their success will depend not only on enforcement, but on the shared commitment of schools and families to protect and guide young people wisely.

Kate Cornell
Head of Senior School

Annual University Showcase

Last Friday afternoon, our Year 11 and Year 12 students participated in the annual University Showcase, which was held onsite at Lindisfarne and organised in collaboration with participating institutions.

The showcase provided students with the opportunity to engage directly with university and tertiary pathway representatives, ask questions about courses and study options, clarify entry requirements and deepen their research into life after school. Having a number of institutions represented in the same space created a valuable opportunity for students to compare options side by side, broaden their thinking and network meaningfully in one setting — an opportunity that is not always readily available outside of large-scale expos.

Representatives in attendance included Southern Cross University, University of Southern Queensland, University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, Griffith University, Bond University, and TAFE NSW.

As Year 11 marks the first year students are included in the University Showcase, it was wonderful to see these students engage confidently in conversations, ask thoughtful questions and begin building connections with representatives. Early exposure to these discussions plays an important role in shaping informed future pathway planning.

This was the second year that Year 12 students participated. Now well into their research phase and working towards post-school decision-making, the opportunity to speak directly with institutions provided clarity and reassurance as they refine their preferences and consider their options.

We thank the institutions for taking the time to visit our campus and for their ongoing collaboration with Lindisfarne in supporting our students’ future pathway

For more Careers and Vet news, please expand the article. 

Please use this link to purchase tickets. 

Please get around our Lindisfarne Primary representative swimmers. What a great day it was at Alstonville yesterday, with a neutral temperature and tepid humidity - a pleasant change! The Lindisfarne navy swimming cap with the gold stripe and lion was once again very prominent. Thanks to all of our Primary Swimmers for their contributions to the final school placegetters result of second. FULL DETAILS:

NCIS Primary Swimming 2026 - LINDISFARNE RESULTS and CIS ADVANCERS

Lots of early mornings, late evenings, parent preparedness, and sustained athlete effort/dedication go into obtaining any of these Age Champion/Runners Up awards. Congratulations to you all!

Junior Girls
Age Champion - Arli Freeman

11 Girls
Age Champion - Taylen Upton

Senior Girls
Age Champion - Addison Cecil
2nd - Florence Gaffney

Senior Boys Multi Class
Age Champion - Flynn Flaherty

NCIS Primary Swimming - Official NEW RECORD HOLDERS

A sterling performance from Flynn Flaherty, for smashing no less than FOUR records. Flynn, may those records live in that program for many years to come.
We wish our CIS qualifiers all the best in Sydney on 25 March.

For all the Sports news, please expand the article.

KEY DATES

Please see the upcoming key dates for our rugby program below. You can find the full list of key dates HERE.

For all Rugby news, please expand the article.

The 2026 Netball Season launch was worth the wait, having the Cyclone in 2025 previously cancel this event as we collaborated with the Bond Bullsharks to deliver an exceptional morning of Netball activities for our Sunshine Ave and Mahers Lane players and parents.

Pioneer Country provided an incredible backdrop to our activations with Netball intertwined through the fields and Palm Trees of the property. We are grateful for the outstanding hospitality and refreshments that Pioneer Country delivered. Our beautiful photos are taken by Ryan O’Hehir, and we have some wonderful shots that will be featured through the Netball Bulletin and Newsletter across the season.

Thank you to the parents and carers who were able to bring the players to this event on a busy Saturday. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet other families, try on new dresses, and share some information for the upcoming Season.

Netball Saturday Competition will start with 3 weeks of Pre-Season training from Thursday 12 March, and the Junior, Intermediate, and Open teams will have 3 weeks of Grading matches at the Tweed Netball Association. More information can be found in the Netball Bulletin.

Thank you all for your support of Netball as we look forward to an exceptional 2026 Season.

Suzanne Evans
Teacher - Netball

For more photos, please see the gallery below

Students in Years 8 to 10, and Years 11 and 12 Standard Mathematics use Mathspace regularly as part of their Mathematics learning. The platform is embedded into both classwork and homework, providing students with immediate feedback, guided working, and opportunities to practise skills at an appropriate level of challenge.

Beyond weekly homework tasks, Mathspace is an excellent tool for independent revision. Students are encouraged to revisit prior topics, consolidate foundational skills, and take ownership of their learning through consistent practice.

To further support families, Mathspace recently hosted a parent webinar that outlined how the platform works and offered practical strategies for supporting students at home. We understand that parents play an important role in encouraging positive study habits, and this webinar provides helpful insight into how Mathspace can be used most effectively.

The webinar link is https://youtu.be/E3lu68IY4fA and is available to interested families. We warmly encourage parents to take advantage of this resource. It drags on a little at the end, but the first section is very informative.

In addition to this, a reminder that Maths Help sessions run every morning before school and every lunchtime, should your child need some extra support. On behalf of all of the Mathematics faculty, we thank you for your ongoing partnership in supporting your child’s learning.

Frank Malone                                          Karen West
Director of Mathematics                    Coordinator of Mathematics

Lindisfarne students recently participated in the Round Square History Lab, hosted by GEMS Academy in Dubai, joining peers from Dubai, India and Pakistan in a rich, collaborative exploration of Civil Rights and Revolutions. The History Labs connected students across countries through the shared investigation of significant historical topics, inviting them to analyse case studies using a 360-degree approach. Students examined multiple perspectives, explored contested narratives and evaluated the role of AI in influencing historical perspectives, encouraging careful source analysis and critical reflection.

As part of the History Lab, students were required to prepare and present on a civil rights movement. Lindisfarne students proudly shared the history of civil rights movements for First Nations peoples in Australia, offering important perspectives to a diverse international audience. Our students were enthusiastic throughout the experience and particularly enjoyed hearing how civil rights movements have unfolded in different cultural and regional contexts. The peer-to-peer format provided a valuable opportunity to learn directly from students in other parts of the world, deepening understanding of the complexities of historical events while fostering global awareness, critical thinking and meaningful cross-cultural dialogue.

Amy Blinco 
Acting Director of Humanities

This week, Lindisfarne proudly took part in our Clean Up Australia Day House Competition, reinforcing our strong commitment to sustainability and care for our school environment. Throughout the week, students enthusiastically collected general waste from around the campus, demonstrating teamwork, responsibility, and pride in our shared spaces. The total amount of waste collected by students was 100.79kg.

Congratulations to St Cuthbert, who were crowned the winners, collecting 28.8kg, followed by St Barnabas with 18.58kg, St Hilda with 15.62kg, St Margaret with 14.8kg, St Stephen with 14.65kg, and St Andrew with 8.34kg. House points were well earned, and it was wonderful to see such positive participation across all year levels.

We would like to congratulate and thank every student who contributed to the clean-up effort. Your willingness to take action reflects the values we promote at Lindisfarne and supports our broader sustainability initiatives across the school.

Let’s continue this momentum beyond the event by picking up litter whenever we see it and encouraging others to do the same. If we all take responsibility, together we can ensure Lindisfarne remains a clean, rubbish-free school every day.

Lyla Macdonald and Andy Yen
Sustainability Prefects

Last week, members of the Sustainability Club attended the World Surfing Conference at Southern Cross University. Global surf leaders discussed the interconnected roles of surfing, sustainability, and science in safeguarding our oceans and surf ecosystems. Presentations focused on exploring solutions to coastal and ocean challenges, from surf break protection and ocean plastics reduction, to sustainable surf tourism and innovation in surf industry recycling. We listened to Politicians, Environmental Laywers, Academics, NGO Representatives and passionate Environmentalists.

Throughout the day, we learned about ecosystems saved from development and pollution, and, significantly, about how NGO Surfrider Foundation has successfully lobbied alongside surfing communities against seismic blasting, a new topic for many of us. Seismic blasting involves detonating explosives beneath the ocean to map the seafloor in search of fossil fuels. The blasting produces 240 decibels, one of the loudest sounds known to man. To put this into perspective, an atomic bomb produces 230 decibels. The sound caused by seismic blasting can disrupt marine life by interfering with communication, disorienting animals, damaging hearing, and altering feeding, migration, and breeding behaviours.

The conference left us inspired and empowered to use our voices and actions to help protect our oceans and the marine life that depends on them.

Chloe Manwarring and Elzin Abbey
Middle School Students

Corporate Benefits Program - Please note, you must be signed in to Parent Seqta Engage to access this link.