Westminster Life - Term 4 2025
Welcome to Edition 4 of Westminster Life
Thank you for your steadfast support and commitment in 2025 and for continuing to make Westminster the extraordinary community it is.
Last night’s Carols on the Green was a remarkable expression of the spirit that defines our School.
It has been another full and rewarding term. We farewelled our outgoing Year 12s and now look forward to celebrating their exam results in the weeks ahead. We also congratulated our Year 6 students as they prepare to leave the Prep School and step into the next stage of their education.
This term we have seen our students share their talents across Visual and Digital Arts, Photography, Design, Architecture, Engineering, Fashion and Digital Technologies. Their courage has also shone through on stage as they embraced a wide range of creative pursuits.
Thank you to everyone for another remarkable year at Westminster. I will be on long service leave until mid-March 2026 and our Deputy Principal Andrew Whiteman step into the role and guide the School in my absence.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a safe holiday break.
Simon Shepherd
Principal
Term 4 Highlights
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Our list of Term 4 adventures is impressive:
- New School Leaders and House Captains were proudly celebrated as they prepared to step into their 2026 leadership roles across the Preparatory School, Senior School, Boarding and Wellbeing.
- The whole school lined the campus in a sea of green for a heartfelt Guard of Honour, farewelling the Class of 2025.
- On World Teachers’ Day, Westminster honoured its dedicated educators, recognising the curiosity, integrity, confidence and sense of adventure they inspire in every student.
- Families gathered for the Year 12 Prizegiving Ceremony and Valedictory Service, celebrating award recipients and welcoming graduates into the Westminster Old Scholars community.
- The annual SACE Art, Design and Digital Technologies Exhibition showcased outstanding Stage 1 and 2 student work across Visual and Digital Arts, Photography, Design, Architecture, Engineering and Digital Technologies, complemented by a fashion parade and live music.
- In the 2025 Co-curricular Dance Performance, students from Years 2–6 took to the stage with creative, storytelling-inspired pieces set to music ranging from Queen to The Lion King.
- National Agriculture Day highlighted Westminster’s exceptional achievements, including Best Presenting Dairy School, Best School Oil, wool division champions, 14 first-place ribbons, impressive academic results and more than 400 students studying Agriculture.
- Westminster Drama brought heart, humour and high energy to the 2025 Junior Play, A Pair of Star-Crossed Lovers, an evolving Romeo-and-Juliet–inspired production featuring spectacular stage combat.
Student Achievements
Please join us in celebrating our students across a number of remarkable achievements in Term 4.
We are delighted to showcase the success of our students with the Westminster community. If your child has recently accomplished a significant achievement, please complete our Student Achievement submission form for inclusion in our next update.
Term 1 Key Dates 2026
Preparatory School
January
- Monday 26 January - Public Holiday
- Tuesday 27 January - Pupil Free Day & Book Drop Off, 2.00-3.00 pm
- Wednesday 28 January - Term 1 commences, 8.45 am
- Friday 30 January - Student ID Photos & Year 6 Leader's Induction assembly
February
- Thursday 5 February - Parent Welcome Event
- Friday 20 February - Year 6 Leaders Day
March
- Monday 9 March - Public Holiday
- Wednesday 11 March - NAPLAN commences
- Friday 20 March - Harmony Day
- Monday 23 March - NAPLAN concludes
- Monday 23 March -Friday 27 March - Athletics Week
April
- Thursday 2 April - Tenebrae Service
- Friday 3 April - Term 1 concludes
Senior School
January
- Monday 26 January - Public Holiday
- Tuesday 27 January - Pupil Free Day
- Wednesday 28 January - Term 1 commences, 8.45 am, Senior School ID Photos & 2026 Leaders Induction Ceremony
- Thursday 29 January -Friday 30 January - Year 12 Retreat Woodhouse
February
- Thursday 5 February - Welcome Parents Event
- Tuesday 10 February - Year 11 Leadership Day
March
- Monday 9 March - Public Holiday
- Wednesday 11 March - NAPLAN commences
- Friday 20 March - NAPLAN concludes
- Monday 23 March-Friday 28 March - Summer Intercol Week
- Monday 23-Friday 27 March - Athletics Week
April
- Thursday 2 April - Tenebrae Service
- Friday 3 April - Term 1 concludes
Vale
Arthur ‘Art’ Ingram passed away on 9 November 2025, aged 90. Art joined Westminster in 1965 and left in 1976. During his tenure, Art taught secondary science and coached cricket as his preferred co-curricular sport, as pictured with the U14B side in 1966. Art left Westminster to take up a position in 1977 as Guidance Officer, Psychology Branch SA Education Department. Our thoughts are with Art’s sons Christopher Ingram (’74) and David Ingram (’75).
Vale
Richard Lane passed away 10 November 2025, aged 88. Richard was Head of Drama from 1984 to when he left in 1997. Richard’s love of theatre extended beyond Westminster into Adelaide’s amateur theatre scene, particularly with St Jude’s Players. In his final year at Westminster, Richard directed the Year 11 production of Ibsen’s ‘A Doll House’ and the Year 12 production of Bolt’s ‘A Man for All Seasons’. Here Richard is pictured with his 1992 Year 8 Class (shared with another former staff member, Di Howarth). The heading of his farewell in Reflections 1997 sums it up perfectly - “Break a leg, Richard” and thanks for the memories.