As we approach the school holidays, we kindly ask parents to support the College by ensuring that any student haircuts align with our grooming expectations. If your child is considering a style that may not meet College guidelines, we encourage this to be done early in the break to allow time for any necessary adjustments before Term 2 begins.
The commencement of term two also marks the transition to Winter Uniform for all students from Year 1 to Year 12. Students are expected to return to school in their full Winter Academic Uniform. Some points to note:
Shirts must be tucked in when wearing College trousers
All students must wear the College belt when wearing the College trousers
Students in Years 4 to 12 are to wear College ties and blazers
The Uniform Shop holiday opening hours are below. We appreciate your ongoing support in helping maintain the standards and presentation of our College students.
A reminder to all parents and guardians that you are not permitted to access the College Campus between the hours of 8.00am and 4.00pm, unless you have signed in at the office and are accompanied by a staff member. The exception to this is the Uniform Shop and primary school families for pick up and drop off. If you are collecting your child from Secondary Homework Club, you must arrange to meet them in the carpark or see a staff member at the front desk.
This is an important Child Safeguarding measure.
Afterschool Duty of Care
A reminder to parents that students need to be picked up or have left campus no later than 3.40pm each day. At this time, duty will cease. Homework Club is available to all Marcellin students Monday to Thursday until 5.00pm in the John Henry Newman Hub.
We are pleased to welcome families to Primary Classrooms for Parent Teacher Interviews on Tuesday 21 April. All families will now have received a booking link to book these meetings with their child’s teacher.
We would like to remind all families that time limits are strict to ensure that all families have the opportunity to meet. If further time is needed, this can be booked through the teacher at another time.
During these conversations we ask all parents to remain respectful and constructive in their interactions with staff. The Parent Code of Conduct applies to this event.
Secondary Learning Conversations
We are looking forward to welcoming you and your child to the Student Learning Conversations on Tuesday 21 April.
A reminder that students attending face-to-face conversations are required to wear their full winter uniform.
As the purpose of the day is to strengthen student voice and advocacy in their learning, it is essential that students attend and actively participate in the conversations.
Students are also required to bring their completed reflection sheets for each subject (Years 7, 9, 10, 11 and 12). Year 8 students, who are engaged in the MyLearning program, are asked to bring their end-of-term MyLearning reflection.
During these conversations we ask all parents to remain respectful and constructive in their interactions with staff. The Parent Code of Conduct applies to this event.
Thank you for your support, and we look forward to these valuable conversations.
This term has been a busy and wonderful one, filled with learning, laughter and opportunities for our students to shine. Across the school, students have proudly showcased the Newman Norms through their positive attitudes, teamwork and willingness to step outside their comfort zones. From engaging assemblies and music performances to hands‑on classroom learning and memorable camp experiences, it has been a joy to see students growing in confidence and celebrating their strengths. As we head into the break, we are proud of all that has been achieved this term.
Year 6 Leavers Shirts
Our Year 6 students also proudly received their Year 6 Leader tops and have been wearing them with great pride, demonstrating their readiness to take on their leadership roles within the school community.
Pre-Primary – Year 2 Choir
This week, our Pre‑Primary to Year 2 Choir truly amazed both the leadership team and teachers by showcasing their beautiful voices. Students confidently performed two songs they have been practising throughout the term, demonstrating great focus, enthusiasm and joy. It was an absolute privilege to watch them shine and embrace the opportunity to try something new. The choir is already looking forward to performing for parents’ next term.
Assemblies – Year 1 Blue and Year 4 Red
Year 4 students led us in a beautiful assembly this week, proudly showcasing their learning around neurodiversity. They highlighted the important message that we all have different strengths and learn in different ways, delivering this message with confidence and maturity.
Last week, our Year 1 students dazzled us with a water‑spectacular assembly, perfectly timed on what turned out to be a very wet day! They enthusiastically shared their learning and showcased the wonderful science experiments they have been exploring throughout the term. It was a joyful celebration of curiosity, discovery and learning in action.
Year 6 Camp
Our Year 6 students recently returned from a wonderful and memorable camp experience at Forest Edge, Waroona. Throughout the camp, students were challenged by a wide variety of exciting activities, including kayaking, raft building, screen printing, crate climbing, billy karts and the flying fox. Each activity encouraged students to step outside their comfort zones, build confidence and try something new.
Along the way, we shared plenty of laughs. From life jackets being confidently put on the wrong way, to kayakers initially facing the wrong direction and paddling enthusiastically against each other, there was never a dull moment. Some students found themselves stuck in the mud, while others watched their carefully constructed rafts come apart far sooner than planned. These light‑hearted moments became some of the highlights of camp and reminded us all that learning is often best supported with teamwork, persistence and a good sense of humour.
Camp also provided a valuable opportunity for students to strengthen peer relationships and see one another in a different light. Working together as a team, students encouraged one another, shared responsibilities such as serving meals, and helped with cleaning up. These shared experiences fostered independence, resilience and a strong sense of cooperation.
Online Safety / Keeping Safe
As our children continue to grow up in an increasingly digital world, it is more important than ever that we work together to ensure their online experiences are safe, respectful, and age-appropriate. While technology offers wonderful opportunities for learning and connection, it can also expose children to risks, including contact from strangers through seemingly innocent platforms like gaming modules.
We remind parents and carers to be extra vigilant when it comes to their child’s online interactions. This includes monitoring chat functions in games, setting parental controls, and having open conversations with your child about who they talk to and what they encounter online.
At Newman College, we take a proactive approach to digital safety. The Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum is taught across all year levels, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to stay safe, including in online environments. We also enhance this learning through initiatives such as the upcoming Constable Care Incursion for our Year 3–6 students, which includes key messages around personal safety and online behaviour.
For practical advice on how to support your child’s online safety at home, we recommend visiting the eSafety Commissioner’s website.
Mother’s Day Morning Tea
End of Term
As we come to the end of a busy but wonderful term, it has been fantastic to see our students finish strongly while consistently showcasing our Newman Norms. Their commitment, resilience and positive attitudes have been evident across classrooms, playgrounds and school events, and we are very proud of their efforts.
Thank you to our students, staff and families for your continued support throughout the term. We wish everyone a safe, restful and happy Easter break and look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed for the new term.
As the term draws to a close and we approach Easter, students have engaged in meaningful opportunities to pause, reflect, and connect with their faith. In the lead-up to the final days, students participated in a guided Easter reflection, exploring the journey of Jesus through moments of pressure, failure, waiting, loyalty, and hope.
Students considered the story of Palm Sunday, reflecting on the pressures and expectations they face in their own lives, and the freedom that comes from trusting in God. The story of Peter’s denial invited them to acknowledge mistakes and learn from them, while the stillness of Holy Saturday encouraged patience and hope in times of uncertainty. Reflecting on Mary at the Cross, students explored courage, loyalty, and the importance of standing by those they care about.
Through these reflections, students were invited to consider how they can carry these lessons into their daily lives, acting with honesty, courage, and compassion, and living with hope for the future. These reflective practices not only deepened their understanding of Easter but also strengthened our shared Marist values of care, service, and faith.
This time is an important reminder for our whole community: Easter is a time of new beginnings, and even in challenging moments, God’s love invites us to live with courage, compassion, and hope. I hope that everyone has a safe, happy, and relaxing break.
Migrant Cross Visit
We are excited to announce that on Tuesday, 28 April, our College will be hosting the Migrant Jubilee Cross, a national pilgrimage cross travelling across Australia to celebrate and reflect on the journeys of migrants and refugees.
The Cross, crafted from Australian timber and set on a symbolic boat-shaped base, carries the stories of hope, courage, and faith. It includes relics of the Holy Family and Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, reminding us of the resilience, compassion, and generosity that migrants bring to our communities. The boat and the Southern Cross engraved on it represent guidance, welcome, and safe passage, echoing the journey of all who seek a new life.
As part of its visit, we will celebrate with a Community Mass at 8.00am, where our students, staff, and families can reflect on the contributions of migrants and refugees and consider how we can live out the Gospel call to welcome ‘the stranger’ in our daily lives.
This is a unique opportunity for our College community to come together in prayer, reflection, and solidarity, and we warmly invite all families to join us.
If your family has a migrant story that you would be willing to share with our community, we would love to hear from you. Please email Jenni at communications@newman.wa.edu.au
This week, Newman College joined schools and communities around the world in celebrating Neurodiversity Celebration Week — a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences, and helps us all understand, value, and celebrate the talents of neurodiverse minds.
This year’s theme, “Working together to create a world that understands it takes all kinds of different minds,” reflects our commitment as a Marist community to welcoming every person and the unique gifts each one brings.
During the week, our secondary students had the opportunity to explore what neurodiversity means through a range of engaging activities in Founders Court. Students took part in Walk in My Shoes, stepping into the experience of others and sharing their reflections on our dedicated reflection wall. They also tackled Unlock the Puzzle — a dyslexia-style letter scramble challenge designed to give students a firsthand sense of how text can appear differently to neurodiverse readers. Our Memory Madness games rounded out the week with fun, thought-provoking activities exploring how different minds process and retain information.
Harmony Week
Every year, the third week of March invites Australians to pause and reflect on what makes this country truly special. Harmony Week is about more than just celebration. It is a reminder that inclusiveness, respect, and a genuine sense of belonging are values we must actively live out — not just acknowledge. Every culture represented in our community adds something irreplaceable to who we are as a people.
This week, our students engaged with these ideas in meaningful and age-appropriate ways through our Equip, Guide, and Thrive lessons. Students were invited to explore important topics including racism, microaggression, and diversity within our own community — not as uncomfortable subjects to shy away from, but as conversations that empower young people to become more aware and courageous members of society. We are proud of the thoughtfulness and maturity our students brought to these discussions.
Harmony Day falls on 21 March, which also coincides with the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It is a powerful reminder that celebrating diversity must go hand in hand with a firm and ongoing commitment to standing against racism in all its forms — in our classrooms, our corridors, and our wider community.
We encourage our families to continue these conversations at home, celebrating the cultures and stories that make your family unique, and affirming in your children that difference is always something to be embraced.
Year 11 EGT Programs: RAC bstreetsmart
On Wednesday 1 April, Year 11 students will be attending the RAC bstreetsmart event at RAC Arena. This event aims to demonstrate the consequences of distracted driving, speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and informs students on how to reduce risk taking behaviours. Further information has been communicated with families via Consent2Go.
Student Early Departures:
If your child needs to be collected prior to the end of the school day for a scheduled appointment or another approved reason, please ensure that you have contacted the College beforehand. As students do not have their mobile phones on them during the school day to receive reminder messages, it is imperative that they know what time they are to meet you at Student Reception in order to minimise disruptions to classes. Thank you for your support.
Year 10 students and families have now received the prerequisites for Year 11 subjects at Newman College for 2027. This is to allow for goal-setting in time for the Semester 1 Year 10 report. Prerequisites for Year 11 2027 can found HERE.
A summary of the different pathway options for Year 11 and 12 can be found HERE.
In Term 2, all Year 10 students will commence their subject selection research, in preparation for Year 11 2027.
Pathways and Careers Information: Year 11
Selecting Year 12 subjects
Please see below a summary of the rules for selecting subjects in Year 12, 2027:
Students who select a Year 12 ATAR subject must have achieved at least 50% in that ATAR subject in Year 11.
Students who select a new Year 12 ATAR subject in Year 12 (not having studied that subject in Year 11) will be required to seek permission.
Students with a predicted ATAR of less than 70 will not be permitted to continue the ATAR Pathway in Year 12.
Students who have an ‘E’ grade in a Year 11 General subject will not be permitted to re-select that General subject in Year 12.
For students wishing to enter the UniReady or UniPath Programs in Year 12:
If coming from the ATAR Pathway in Year 11, students must have passed at least 4 Year 11 subjects.
If coming from the General Pathway in Year 11, students must have a ‘B’ grade or better in at least 4 Year 11 subjects, including English.
Alternatives to University
Did you know that University is not the only place you can obtain a degree? There are several alternatives here in Perth:
SAE: Offers degrees in things like Animation, Audio, Game Development, Creative Industries. https://sae.edu.au/
ACAP: Offers degrees in things like Psychology, Criminology, Social Work. https://www.acap.edu.au/
TISC has a series of videos explaining things like ATAR calculation, prerequisite subjects, scaling, and preferences. You can find them here: https://www.tisc.edu.au/static/guide/video.tisc
Key dates for TAFE and University applications for 2027
For those students applying for TAFE for 2027, applications will open in September of this year and close in November of this year. You will be advised of this at the time.
For those students applying for University for 2027, early applications (early offers) will open in June and you will have until mid-December to lodge your application. Closer to the time you will be provided with instructions and further information about applying.
Year 12s are welcome to come and collect (and keep) any of the University handbooks that are on the table near my office. These can be very helpful in making your choice.
Alternatives to University
Did you know that University is not the only place you can obtain a degree? There are several alternatives here in Perth:
SAE: Offers degrees in things like Animation, Audio, Game Development, Creative Industries. https://sae.edu.au/
ACAP: Offers degrees in things like Psychology, Criminology, Social Work. https://www.acap.edu.au/
Applying for Medicine or Dentistry or Veterinary Science for 2027
All students who wish to enrol in Medicine or Dentistry in 2027 (including Assured Pathway at UWA and Notre Dame) will need to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) this year.
Please see below for some important dates:
3 March 2026: UCAT bookings open
15 May 2026: Deadline to book your UCAT for 2026
12 June 2026: Deadline if you need to cancel your UCAT booking
1 July 2026: UCAT testing begins
5 August 2026: Last test date
September 2026: Results available
You can check https://www.ucat.edu.au/ for further information, practice tests, and tips to succeed. It is recommended to book a UCAT as early as possible as demand for testing places is high.
UWA The official handbook for entry to Medicine at UWA can be found at this link and Dentistry at this link. Please note that Medicine and Dentistry at UWA are postgraduate courses and require completion of a relevant Bachelor degree prior to entry.
Curtin Curtin University offers the only direct entry medical program in Western Australia. In 2025, the cutoff ATAR for this course was 93.
TISC has a series of videos explaining things like ATAR calculation, prerequisite subjects, scaling, and preferences. You can find them here: https://www.tisc.edu.au/static/guide/video.tisc
