Newman College Teacher takes out the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) Teacher Award ‘Improving Student Learning and Progress’

Beth MurphyAndrew WatsonDr Lucie McCrory GAICDRyan von BergheimJustin KirrySimon Martino

Catherine Young – WINNER Teacher Awards 2023 ‘Improving Student Learning and Progress’

Newman College Perth is thrilled to announce and celebrate the outstanding achievement of one of our own, Catherine Young Leader of Learning PK-6, who has been announced as the recipient of the inaugural National Teacher Awards 2023 in the category Improving Student Learning and Progress.

The Teacher Awards have been developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), to recognise and commend the exceptional contributions of educators, school leaders, and support staff in K-12 school settings across Australia. Catherine, nominated by our Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning PK-12, Beth Murphy, has made numerous contributions and taken various initiatives in the field of education, with a particular focus on data literacy and enhancing student progress. This award highlights the significant impact of her work for educators, students, and the broader educational community. The award recognises Catherine’s leadership abilities, collaborative endeavours, dedication to data-driven decision-making, reliance on evidence-based practices, and continuous commitment to professional development. It underscores her role in empowering her fellow educators and cultivating a culture of ongoing improvement and professional growth among her colleagues.

The Judging Panel, comprising nine esteemed experts in the field of education, including Professor Geoff Masters, Professor Lyn Sharratt, Professor Pasi Sahlberg, Professor Pauline Taylor-Guy, Associate Professor Marnee Shay, Dr Troy Meston, Ben Sacco, Alex Wharton, and Mali Jorm considered the nominations. Their expertise and rigorous evaluation process make Catherine’s achievement even more remarkable. Professor Geoff Masters, a distinguished member of the Judging Panel, remarked on the exceptional contributions made by teachers like Catherine Young to the teaching profession, student learning, and the overall wellbeing of students. The 2023 Teacher Award applicants showcased the profound passion and dedication that educators across Australia possess, and Catherine’s achievements truly stand out and this award is a recognition of Catherine’s unwavering dedication, exceptional contributions to education, and her profound impact on the lives of the students here at Newman College.

Congratulations Catherine!

The Nomination Criteria

Improving Student Learning and Progress

Every student is capable of successful learning and of making ongoing progress. This award is open to an individual or team of educators and celebrates success in improving learning and progress for students, regardless of their starting point – including those working above or below year-level expectations. Judges will be looking for elements such as:

  • Professional learning to support data literacy of staff
  • Systematic collection and use of data, from different sources, to identify: where individual students are in their learning; gaps in learning and individual student needs; appropriate teaching strategies and interventions (this may include programs to support specific cohorts of students, such as those facing disadvantage)
  • Using multiple sources of data to monitor student progress and evaluate the effectiveness of teaching
  • A feedback and reporting approach that aligns with the school context, teaching approaches, and student/parent needs
  • Teachers clearly explain students’ current knowledge, understanding and skills
  • Communicating student progress and long-term growth, rather than just achievement
  • Students understand the next steps in learning, and receive clear feedback on how to improve
  • Parents understand their child’s learning progress and needs, and how to best support them

Newman News Term 1 Week 10: From the Deputy Principal Primary

“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it” JM Barrie – Peter Pan 

At the end of what has been a very busy, and often tumultuous term, I am pleased to be able to sit back and reflect on the many great achievements and moments of celebration that our students have experienced over the past ten weeks. Despite the challenges that this term has presented, such as our inability to gather for liturgies and assemblies, having to take events online, and beginning mask wearing throughout the school day, our students have continued to believe in their ability to overcome each challenge and show us how they can fly. It is no coincidence that one of our College’s pedagogical pillars is Challenge; the skills that our students have learnt in facing this term’s challenges, such as resilience and a growth mindset will stay with them as they continue their educational journey.  

My sincere thanks are extended to our amazing teaching team, who have once again shown that teaching is not just a career but a vocation. The challenges of COVID this term have resulted in teachers often being required to work longer and even harder in ensuring that their students learning remained unaffected. This has involved teachers preparing lessons and resources in support of other classes, supporting relief staff when someone was unwell or isolating, picking up extra recess or lunch duties, keeping in touch and preparing learning packs for isolating students (whilst still being present to their face-to-face class) and engaging in remote learning (sometimes even when they have been a bit unwell themselves!) What a team! I hope that our teachers, along with our students and families have a very well-deserved and restful Easter break. We look forward to everyone returning in Term 2, with a sense of rejuvenation and the energy to combat whatever Term 2 may present us with.  

Key Dates 

College Calendar Link – In recent times, our school calendar has changed regularly. 

Project Compassion  

Many thanks to our families for their support of Project Compassion throughout Lent. Your generous support can help change the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people. To learn more about Project Compassion you can go HERE.  

Easter Raffle 

Our annual Easter Raffle was once again a huge success in contributing to our Project Compassion fundraising efforts. The winners of the raffle were drawn at the end assembly on Friday morning with the Easter Bunny delivering prizes to students across Pre-Kindy to Year 6.  

Thank you to Mrs Jane Short, for her coordination of the raffle and the parent helpers who assisted in wrapping and assembling the prizes.  

Lavalla Campus Assembly 

Thank you to Mrs Robyn Hatchett and the Year 6 Green students for their wonderful assembly performance. Your energy and enthusiasm is to be commended, particularly on the last day of term. We are so grateful for all your efforts in putting the assembly together,  

 A big congratulations to all our Merit Award winners on their fantastic achievements. 

Year 1 Zoo Excursion 

Year 1 students had an adventure at the Perth Zoo on Monday, as they consolidated their Science Unit on Life and Living. Thank you to the parents that were able to assist as Excursion Helpers on the day.  

Year 2 Bunnings Incursion 

In Science this term, Year 2 have been learning about the Earth’s important resources. As a final project for their Science unit, Bunnings provided an incursion on creating a mini school garden. Students discussed how water, soil and the sun as well as many other resources, support our plants and creatures. Each student planted their own vegetable, which they ae excited to watch grow, ready for harvesting. We hope that these garden beds continue to promote learning with all Marian students and promote our College’s focus on sustainability.  

Mercycare School Holiday Program 

Mercycare’s School Holiday program has a range of exciting incursions and excursions available throughout this upcoming Easter holiday period. The service is open to currently enrolled students of Newman College and operates from 7am to 6pm each day. Families interested in enrolling their child into the program should contact Luisa on 0409 065 996 or Newman_OSHC@mercycare.com.au. Details of the upcoming holiday program can be found below.  

School Photos Days

A reminder to all families that our photo days are taking place on the following days:

  • Years 3-6 (Lavalla Campus) – Friday 29 April 2022
  • Kindy, Year 1 & Year 2 (Marian Campus) – Friday 13 May 2022
  • Pre-Primary TBC

Students should now have received their school photo order envelope. The order envelopes are printed uniquely for each student. On photo day, the camera links to the bar code on the order envelope, therefore it is extremely important that every student returns their envelope on photo day – even if families are not buying photos. The instructions to parents are printed on the envelope and are self explanatory. Parents will notice that they have a wide choice of photo packs available to purchase.

Uniform Expectations

Kindy – Students have the option to wear their Newman College t-shirt

Pre Primary – Students must wear their Newman College Tracksuit (tracksuit pants are preferred)

Years 1-6 – Students must wear their full winter uniform. Boys can wear either their shorts or trousers and girls are welcome to wear their dress or skorts (Years 4-6 to wear their blazer)

We hope that all students can be present at school this day, as school photos often become a treasured memory that are looked upon with great fondness and affection in the years to come.

Newman News Term 1 Week 10 : From the Vice Principal

The end of term has come, and the celebration of Easter is nearly upon us. I am confident that most of our community members are welcoming the much-needed rest, relaxation of routine and time with family and friends. Despite the constraints around gathering as a community, students in PK-12 were able to celebrate the Easter story at reformatted liturgies, which included online presentations and small class gatherings. Throughout the Lenten period, we asked students and families to support fundraisers for Project Compassion and Caritas. Thank you for your generosity.  

Next term will see the winter uniform return for our students. Can I please take this opportunity to remind you to check clothing sizes for fit and ensure hair styles are in line with the expectations of our community prior to the start of term. We are hoping to recommence the term with a clear focus on learning and we do not wish for unnecessary distractions to take us away from our core business.  

As we celebrate Easter, in keeping with our 2022 Marist Theme ‘Known and Loved – Dignity for all’, may we remember God’s perfect love for all humans, in their richness and diversity, and may that love fill us with hope and a growing realisation of our unity, as one human-kind.  Happy Easter. 

Key Dates 

College Calendar Link – In recent times, our school calendar has changed regularly.  Incursions, Excursions, Retreats, Carnivals, Year 12 Ball, to name a few, have all had to be cancelled/postponed or delivered in a different format.  We sincerely thank you for your understanding and support. We encourage you to continue to look at the online College calendar as entries are updated daily.

Staffing 

The following staff are leaving our College community to pursue other endeavours for which we wish them every success.  We thank them for the support they have given to both students and staff during their time here. 

Cristina Guzzomi

Melissa Gordon 

Remmi Missell 

Kelly Fitzpatrick, Leader of Wellbeing Year 8, will be commencing maternity leave at the end of Week Two, Term Two, and Hannah Parker, Leader of Learning Science will be taking maternity leave from the end of Week 4. We wish both Kelly and Hannah well with their first journeys into motherhood.  

We look forward to welcoming Scott Smith into our College community and Marist family, in the role of Leader of Wellbeing Year 8. We are also welcoming Giorgia Bakeberg to our community as a Science and Mathematics teacher from the start of Term 2 and Olivia Biasin in the capacity of Art Technician PK-12.     

Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews – Years 8-10 

Parent, Teacher, and Student interviews for students in Years 8-10 are being held online on Thursday 28 April from 4.00pm-8.00pm via TEAMS. Details have already been emailed to relevant families.   

Uniform Shop 

All stock of bathers and rash vests have been delivered to the uniform shop. A reminder to families that from the start of next year (delayed by a year) these items are compulsory for students in Years 3 to 10. Students will be engaged in swimming for the following periods of time.  

Aquatics summary 

  • All Years 3 – 6 students swim in Term 1 during HPE and at the carnival and engage in swimming lessons during Term 4. 
  • All Year 7-10 students swim for the duration of Term 1 approximately 22-27 lessons. 
  • Year 9 students swim for an additional 4 weeks in Term 3 as they complete a lifesaving module (approximately 12 lessons). 
  • Year 10 students complete a 4-week water polo module that will start in week 9 of Term 3 (approximately 12 lessons). 

Term 2 Information 

All students will return on Tuesday 26 April. Monday 25 April is ANZAC Day, which is a public holiday.  

  • Uniform Expectations 

All students are reminded of the expectations relating to their personal presentation. Please Click Here  to access uniform requirements and guidelines.  If you need to purchase new uniform items, please ensure you give yourself adequate time. 

COVID 19 

There will be no COVID-19 reporting completed over the holiday period by our staff. However, if your child is required to isolate from the second week, please complete the online form to alert us to the absentee, and the positive case or household contact. All forms and information regarding COVID can be found on the Website

Code of Conduct

Please click here to download the Newman College Code of Conduct for Parents.