Author: Jo Dunn

Welcome Back 

A warm welcome back to school for all our Newman families. I hope you found some time over the holidays to relax and enjoy being together away from the busyness of the normal school routine.  

On day one of the term, our staff engaged in Faith Formation Professional Learning. We spent time together learning about aspects of inclusion relevant to our theme for 2022, ‘Known and Loved dignity for all’. This learning included an examination with Marist Brother, Br Tony Leon of what love actually is, and how it manifests as a choice or commitment to the wellbeing of the other, in line with the wellbeing of self. Staff engaged in workshop style high impact learning sessions that explored topics such as first nations people, gender and gender diversity, mental health, cry of the earth, living in poverty, displaced people and invisible in a digital age.  

The start of this term was particularly challenging due to the technical difficulties we experienced during the first couple of days. I would like to express our gratitude to parents and students for the patience and understanding that was shown during this time, especially with regard to the Parent Teacher interviews. It was fortunate that these difficulties did not significantly impact the student learning.  

New Staff 

We welcome the following new staff to the College Community and Marist family 

Secondary Science Teacher: Gina Thornberry 

Secondary Science Teacher: Helen Williamson 

College Events Coordinator: Karla Nessfield-Thomas  

Part-time Pre-Kindy Teacher: Delia Kretzmann  

Digital Innovation Coordinator: Joel Kandiah  

Italian Teacher: Maria Famiano  

Leader of People and Culture: Nicole Luckman  

Food Science and Technology Secondary Teacher: Emily Mincherton 

Ongoing Leader of Wellbeing: Scott Smith 

Staff Concluding 

Primary School Music Teacher Annette Grayden has resigned this term. We thank Annette for her contribution and wish her well in her future endeavours. 

Wellbeing Week 

During Week 4, teachers and students will come together to engage in activities, lessons and professional learning designed to support the wellbeing of the College community.  

We recognise the importance of education, raising awareness and providing opportunities for students to develop their own wellbeing and to contribute to and participate in our flourishing community. We look forward to working together to enhance our individual and collective wellbeing. We are calling for parents or students to submit appreciation or gratitude messages to our staff to be delivered on our Staff Wellbeing Day. To enter a message please complete this online form.  

College Production 

The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory company are excited to have begun rehearsals and preparation for five fabulous performances this September. Our cast of students from Years 4 to 12, will treat you to a wonderful night of entertainment, with something for the whole family!  

The world-famous Willy Wonka is opening the gates to his mysterious factory…but only to a lucky few. Young Charlie Bucket and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a life-changing journey through Wonka’s world of pure imagination, including chocolate waterfalls, nutty squirrels and the great glass elevator, all to be revealed by Wonka’s army of curious Oompa-Loompas. 

Based on the famous novel by Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory features an original score composed by Marc Shaiman with lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray) and a book by David Greig. The score also pays homage to the Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley score from the 1971 film with songs from the motion picture including “Candy Man,” “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket,” “Oompa Loompa Song,” and “Pure Imagination.” 

Tickets are going fast, with over 50% sold. So be sure to secure your tickets to a night of pure imagination! Click here to purchase your tickets 

 15/09/22 Opening night: 6.30pm  

16/09/22 Performance 2: 6.30pm  

17/05/22 Performance 3: 11.00am  

17/09/22 Performance 4: 6.30pm  

18/09/22 Performance 5: 11.00am

Catholic Performing Arts Festival  

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Opening Mass of the Catholic Performing Arts Festival. The Festival offers both primary and secondary school students the opportunity to perform in front of a public audience and receive some very useful feedback from experienced adjudicators. Categories include choral, instrumental, drama, musical, vocal and dance. Newman College supports this event to ensure our students have a platform where they can demonstrate the fruits of their hard work and showcase their talents. We wish all the performers well for their upcoming events. 

Christmas in July Evening 

On July 22 over 100 parents joined us for our Christmas in July gathering held in the transformed winter wonderland of the St John Henry Newman Learning Hub. It was a very enjoyable evening and gave parents the opportunity to socialise with each other and staff members in a relaxed setting. 

Assumption Day Activities 11 August  

The Feast Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Feast Day chosen for the Patronal Feast of the Marist Brothers is Monday 15 August. To mark the significance of these events, our K-12 Community will come together in celebration on Thursday 11 August.  As one of 54 Marist schools across Australia, the Feast Day of the Assumption is an opportunity to gather, give thanks to the Marist Brothers, and celebrate our shared Marist identity.  

Information about this important event was emailed to parents on Monday July 25. Please see a copy here. 

PISA is coming to our school! 

Our school is participating in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), which is taking place in Australian between 18 July and 9 September 2022. Our PISA will occur on Thursday 25 August and will include a collection of Year 10 and 11 students.  

PISA is an important part of the National Assessment Program in Australia, which is the measure through which governments, education authorities and schools can determine whether young Australians are meeting important educational outcomes. All Australian Education Ministers have agreed to Australian schools’ participation in PISA, which is reflected in the Australian Education Act 2013. 

Students Who Have Participated in State and National Representation

The College would like to recognise and celebrate the achievements of those students who have represented their team, sport, or activity at a state or national level. If your child has participated in an activity that falls within that category, we would love to hear from you. Please complete this form to let us know of your child’s achievement.  

Newman Parents Committee (NPC) 

All parents are invited to our next NPC meeting on Wednesday August 10 from 5.45pm – 7pm in the Marcellin St John Henry Newman Learning Hub. We will be finalising our Executive Parent Committee in the coming weeks, and we thank all those parents who submitted an expression of interest. The Executive Committee will be announced at the next NPC. 

Parent Teacher Communication Protocols

Parents are reminded that the most efficient and effective method for contacting teachers and support staff is through the staff member’s email address. In most cases, our staff will respond to the communication as appropriate, within 48 hours.   

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).

Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:

• year of schooling
• category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
• level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.

This information assists schools to:

• formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools
• consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
• develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.

The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability.

The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information. To find out more about these matters, please refer to the Australian Government’s Privacy Policy (https://www.dese.gov.au/about-us/resources/department-education-skills-and-employment-complete-privacy-policy-0).   Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal (https://www.nccd.edu.au). If you have any questions about the NCCD at Newman, please contact the Vice Principal, Dr Lucie McCrory on lucie.mccrory@newman.wa.edu.au

Key Dates 

Y7-12 Guild Athletics Carnival: Thursday August 4 

Bishop’s Religious Literacy Assessments: Monday August 1 to Thursday August 4 

Wellbeing Week: Monday August 8 to Thursday August 11 

Winter Music Night: Monday August 8 

Newman Parents Committee Meeting: Wednesday August 8  

Assumption/Buddy Day: Thursday August 11 

Pupil Free Days: Friday August 12 and Monday August 15 

Code of Conduct

Dear Parents and Guardians

Welcome to Term 3.  Our first couple of days this term presented the challenge of having no internet or phones.  I take this opportunity to thank those parents who attended our parent teacher interviews and for your patience with the break in technology, which also affected surrounding suburbs.  Fortunately, services resumed on the first day of school and our start to the term has been relatively smooth.

I hope families enjoyed some time together over the recent break and that everyone has returned refreshed and ready for a new term.

Newman College Principal 2023

Congratulations to Mr Andrew Watson who has been appointed to lead Newman College from Term 2 2023.  Andrew is currently the Principal of Mazenod College in Lesmurdie.  Andrew visited the College at the commencement of this term to meet with staff and was reconnected with some of those who were at Newman when he was Head of Society and Environment in the late 1990s.

Andrew is a well-known and highly regarded leader in Catholic education and we look forward to him continuing Newman’s exciting development and evolution.  For anyone who missed the announcement, please click here to view.

An Acting Principal for Term 1 2023 will be announced by Marist Schools Australia Ltd in the coming weeks.

Year 11 Dinner Dance

Congratulations to our Year 11 students for their highly enthusiastic participation in the Dinner Dance which was held in Week 1.  The students conducted themselves superbly on the night and obviously had much fun celebrating with their cohort.

Parent Engagement

Newman Parent Committee (NPC):  Our next NPC meeting is to be held on Wednesday 10 August 5.45pm. I warmly invite all interested parents to attend.  Further information will be circulated closer to the time.

Christmas in July:  We celebrated Christmas in July at Newman College with around 100 parents. It was wonderful to see so many brave the chilly conditions and connect with friends in a relaxed and festive setting. 

Marist Schools Australia Conference

I will be accompanied by three members of our College Executive to attend the Marist Schools Australia National Conference in Brisbane next Sunday through to Wednesday.  Marists from around Australia and beyond will gather together for a series of symposiums and workshops.  Newman College will be presenting two symposiums:

• Learning Strand – To Live is to Change; to be Perfect is to have Changed often
• Formation Strand – Vision for Mission: To Form “Good Christians and Good Citizens”

We look forward to sharing our journey with colleagues.

My best wishes to all for an enjoyable and productive Term 3.

Term 3 – Key Dates 

Monday 18 July – Staff PL day (College Closed) 

Tuesday 19 July – Pupil Free Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews **NOTE: Morning and afternoon interviews are online via Teams  

Wednesday 20 July – PK-12 Students Return 

Friday 12 August – Pupil Free (Staff PL) 

Monday 15 August – Pupil Free (Faith Day) 

Friday 23 September – End of Term 3

Introduction

As we close Week 10 of Term 2, we say farewell to Semester One. Walking around the school, I see that both students and staff are in need of the holiday break. Our Marist characteristic of Love of Work is more easily achieved when we have the balance of Presence and time for Family Spirit in our lives. We hope that all members of our community enjoy a restful period of relaxation, connection, and rejuvenation. Our PK-12 staff return on Monday 18 July to attend Faith Formation Professional Learning, Parent Teacher Interviews are on Tuesday 19 July, and we will welcome all students back to Term 3 on Wednesday 20 July.  

Reports PK to Year 12 

The Semester One Reports will have all gone live as of this afternoon. These reports detail student achievement across the year and provide measurement on respective efforts in the various learning areas. Reports provide us with feedback against curriculum intents and our vision for learning commitments. This feedback is most useful and can act as a catalyst for reflection on what has been. From this vantage point, students must set goals for the future. Student agency is actualised when the student is involved in the goal setting process and is committed to realising these goals, therefore enjoying the fruits of self-efficacy.

We have introduced new reporting cover pages to help our community to interpret the Semester Reports. From Semester Two these cover pages will form part of the report. Please find the cover pages below. These pages will be emailed to parents when the notification is sent to alert that reports are live. 

Kindy Cover Page 

Pre-Primary Cover Page 

Primary Cover Page 

Secondary Cover Page 

Parent Teacher Interviews 

Parent Teacher Interviews for the College commence on Tuesday 19 July from 9.30am – 7.30pm. In order to cater to the schedules of our families, we are trailing a hybrid system for this event. The hybrid system will include the opportunity to book either face to face or online meetings during allocated times.  Staff have worked hard to prepare for these interviews for which I extend my thanks. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with parents and students.  

Students Who Have Participated in State and National Representation

The College would like to recognise and celebrate the achievements of those students who have represented their team, sport, or activity at a state or national level. If your child has participated in an activity that falls within that category, we would love to hear from you. Please complete this form to let us know of your child’s achievement.  

Staff Changes Semester Two

Leaving 

• Risk and Compliance Officer: Kristina Telford 

Long Service Leave 

• Italian Coordinator: Anjuli Duncan 

New Staff 

• College Events Coordinator: Karla Nessfield-Thomas 
• Part-time Pre-Kindy Teacher: Delia Kretzmann 
• Digital Innovation Coordinator: Joel Kandiah 
• Italian Teacher: Maria Famiano 
• Leader of People and Culture: Nicole Luckman 
• Emily Mincherton: Food Science and Technology Secondary Teacher 
• Scott Smith – Ongoing Leader of Wellbeing  

Staff Professional Learning and Parent Teacher Interviews 

Our PK-12 staff return on Monday 18 July to attend Faith Formation Professional Learning.  Parent Teacher Interviews for the College commence on Tuesday 19 July from 9.30am – 7.30pm. In order to cater to the schedules of our families, we are trailing a hybrid system for this event. The hybrid system will include the opportunity to book either face to face or online meetings during allocated times.  Staff have worked hard to prepare for these interviews for which I extend my thanks. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with parents and students.  

Return to School – Term 3 

Students in all year groups return to the College on Wednesday 20 July.  We ask that you ensure students adhere to uniform and grooming expectations associated with our Winter Uniform.

Newman Parents Consultation Event – Christmas in July  

It is time to come together and celebrate our community. What bigger celebration is there than Christmas! Please join us to celebrate Christmas in July at the College at this parent only event. Enjoy mulled wine and hot food as we connect and share our journey together in this community.  Click here to buy tickets.

Bishops’ Religious Literacy Assessment 2022

At the request of the Western Australian Bishops, Year 3, Year 5 and Year 9 students in Catholic 

schools across Western Australia will take part in The Bishops’ Religious Literacy Assessment 

(BRLA) from the week commencing Monday 25 July in Term Three. This assessment is online. 

Students enrolled in Year 3, Year 5 and Year 9 who are following a regular classroom program 

are expected to participate. Students with disability are entitled to participate in the assessment. 

Exemptions may apply. 

The Nature and Role of the BRLA 

The Bishops’ Religious Literacy Assessment is a large-scale, standardised assessment that 

consists of Religious Education (RE) assessments developed and marked by the Office of 

Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA). The purpose of the BRLA is to measure student 

learning of the content in the RE curriculum. Formal school and student reports are produced 

by the Office and will become available to schools in Term Four. 

The BRLA provides a ‘point in time’ snapshot of student performance in RE. Students’ 

knowledge and understanding of the content of the RE curriculum is assessed using a 

combination of multiple choice, and short and extended response items. Students’ faith is not 

assessed. The use of the BRLA complements the school based assessment programs in RE. 

Please contact your child’s teacher or myself if you have any enquiries regarding the 

administration of The Bishops’ Religious Literacy Assessment. 

Code of Conduct