We are delighted to welcome back acclaimed Western Australian artist, Andy Quilty as the 2019 Artist in Residence.
Student Workshops
Andy will conduct a number of workshops with students across the three campuses where they will have the opportunity to explore different experimental approaches to drawing and art making.
Community Workshop
An opportunity for our staff, students and families to come together and work with Andy is also available. The Community Workshop will focus on experimental drawing and monoprint, equipping participants to build confidence as well as technical ability to take a more intuitive and exploratory approach to their work.
All materials provided. No drawing experience necessary.
The event is taking place on Monday 9 September at 6.30pm. Tickets cost $20 for Adults and $15 for Children / Concession. Click here to purchase tickets.
Mission Australia has been contracted by the Federal Government as a Partner in the Community to assist with the implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Christopher Barty from Mission Australia will be presenting information and clarification to ensure the NDIS planning experience runs smoothly and successfully for all involved. Click here for further information.
Please come equipped with questions relating to your own planning experiences. Please RSVP Sharon.wills@cewa.edu.au as soon as possible.
Feast of the Assumption
The Feast of the Assumption is a special day in the life our Catholic Church, as it is for the Institute of the Marist Brothers fms. This is the day chosen as their Feast Day at the time of their foundation by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, the founder of the Marist Brothers and of Marist Education.
On Thursday 15 August we celebrated Mass for Pre Kindergarten – Year 6 in the Marist Auditorium and Years 7- 12 in the Gymnasium. Both occasions were purposeful and liturgically important as this Feast Day defines our College’s foundation. On this day we come to together as a Marist family to celebrate our faith and our community with Jesus’ mother Mary as our constant.
For many Christians today we are confronted by the challenges that life presents often in the uncertainties of the future. Pope Benedict XVI emeritus says that “being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person which gives life to a new horizon and a decisive direction.” For our students we want to provide opportunities that give them a purpose, a sense of agency and a direction to navigate the future ahead. Celebrating the Feast of the Assumption is one such encounter that will enable us all to reflect on our Christian story and the hope it provides for the future ahead.
Student Engagement
So many magnificent events have occurred over the last few weeks. The STEM Festival, Science and Humanities Week, Buddy Day, Year 7 Disco, our Primary Dancers performing at the Perth Concert Hall and the Catholic Arts Festival to name but a few. Further details of all these events can be seen in throughout Newsletter.
I had the great privilege to attend Prendiville College for the Catholic Performing Arts Festival to watch our Year 8 Band ‘Outbreak’ and ‘Newman Groove’. Both bands were incredible! The students’ love of music was clearly on show as exemplified by their energy and talents. To this end our Vision for Learning Shine through Discovery – let your light shine is clearly evident in all that we do.
Marian Campus Playgroup
We aspire to create the best possible learning opportunities for children at Newman College. As part of this commitment, we have launched the Newman College Playgroup. This new initiative provides young families with access to our wonderful learning facilities, along with educational oversight by the Newman College Leader of Wellbeing Early Childhood, Lisa McClue. A unique Playgroup setting offers families support with the first steps towards structured education for their child.
Families can apply to enrol in Newman College Playgroup by clicking here.
Newman Parent Consultative Committee (NPPC)
Last week, the NPCC meeting was both fruitful and insightful. We commenced the discussion and feedback on the development of our College’s next Strategic Plan. I piloted the following three questions:
- Identify three aspects of Newman College that engages your children in their learning.
- Identify three areas that you would like to see improved.
- What new initiatives or programs would you like to see?
The ensuing discussion was constructive and directive to the process and eventual development of the Plan. Next week I will repeat this process with the College Advisory Council and in the weeks ahead with our students. By mid September the timeline indicating a period of community consultation will be communicated.
Student Voice
I will be holding a series of morning teas and lunches for students across the College this term to listen to their opinions on the direction of the College. As stated above, I will be trialing questions that will eventually become part of the consultation process for the development of the next Strategic Plan.
Catholic Education Staff Breakfast
Catholic Education WA recognizes staff who have given service to Catholic Education for 30 or more years. This year, Newman College celebrated with three members of staff who were presented with awards at this very special event. We congratulate:
- Mrs Terri White, Education Assistant Arts
- Mrs Lucy Zambonetti, Teacher of Year 5
- Mr John Geekie, Leader of Wellbeing Year 10
Mitchell Bristow
As announced earlier in the week, Mr Mitchell Bristow, Head of Primary, has been appointed to the position of Principal at St Gerard’s Primary School Westminster, commencing 2020. We congratulate Mitchell on this wonderful achievement and we wish him every success and fulfillment in his new role and indeed into the future.
The Year 2 Excursion to Whiteman Park was fantastic! Each class had a session in the Revolutions Transport Museum exploring how different forms of transport have changed over time. Students were fascinated by the first ever bike called a ‘velocipede’, the old train and car.
During the day we also enjoyed a tram ride around the park. The tram was from Melbourne and was made mostly of wood on the inside. It was from 1955 but the oldest one there was 120 year old!
Thankfully the rain held off and we got to play olden day playground games too. Tug of War was a favourite with both boys and girls, and the girls showed they had what it takes to win! What a wonderful day of learning and fun!
PK–12 celebrations for the Feast of the Assumption
Today, Thursday 15 August was the Feast Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This Feast day was chosen for the Marist Brothers at the time of their foundation by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, the founder of the Marist Brothers and Marist Education.
To mark this significant Feast and Day of Holy Obligation in the life of the Church as well as the international Marist Institute, our PK-12 College Community celebrated the Feast of the Assumption across the College. As one of 54 Marist schools across Australia, the Feast Day of the Assumption is an annual opportunity for all members of the Newman College community to gather, give thanks, and to celebrate our shared Marist identity.
The Marian and Lavalla Campus students combined to celebrate Mass, Buddy Day activities and the annual Lapathon to raise money for the work of Australian Marist Solidarity (AMS). All funds raised from the Lapathon will be directed towards the Kuya Centre for Street Children in Manila. The Kuya Centre is one of the College’s partner organisations of the Year 11 Philippines Immersion. In November this year, our Year 11 Immersion students will present our donation to Sister Kate O’Neill, Director of the Kuya Centre, on behalf of the Newman College community.
Students on the Marcellin Campus gathered for Mass in the Gymnasium.
Click here to learn more about the work of Australian Marist Solidarity.
Australian Catholic Youth Festival
The Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) is a national gathering of Catholic young people established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC). It exists to provide young Australians with opportunities to deepen their relationship with Jesus, be empowered to be disciples in the world today and encounter and celebrate the vitality of the Church in Australia. This year the ACYF will be held in Perth between 8 – 10 December. Young people between the ages of 14 and 35 from around Australia will be invited to:
- Participate in high-quality formative and experiential opportunity for young Catholics to encounter Jesus Christ, in the context of the Catholic Church in Australia;
- Listen to and discuss the issues and challenges in the lives of young Catholics in Australia;
- Engage with local examples and connections of vocations, social action, liturgy and prayer, catholic music and faith formation.
Students in Year 9 from the College will be invited to apply to attend ACYF. This event will take the place of the Remar Embarkation camp this year.
Weekly Thursday Morning Community Mass (Champagnat Chapel – 8.10am – 8.35am)
All parents, guardians and families across our PK-12 College are invited to attend the weekly Thursday morning Mass. Our weekly Newman College Community Mass is an important way that we as a Catholic community seek to nourish and live-out our faith in community with one another.
St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal
Newman College is supporting St Vincent de Paul’s Winter Appeal by collecting blankets during Term 3. This winter, many families, including children, will be forced to spend the night without adequate warmth or in some cases, without adequate shelter.
The Newman College Community endeavours to imitate Mary’s tenderness and concern for others, particularly the manner in which she lived out her faith with courage in the face of great pain and adversity. Donating a blanket is a simple way to follow Mary’s example and to live the Gospel Message to “Love your neighbour” (Mark 12:31). By doing so, families will be standing in solidarity with those who are on the margins this winter. This appeal is one of the many Social Justice activities and projects students and families are able to support throughout the year. We thank you for your support.
Donations
Blankets should be in good condition, recently cleaned and free from pet hair. Donations can be made at all three College Campuses:
- Marcellin: Champagnat Chapel
- Lavalla: Reception
- Marian: Reception
The final day to donate is Friday 30 August, 2019.
If you have any questions regarding the appeal, please feel free to contact Clare Cole-Carter, Leader of Youth Ministry and Advocacy clare.cole@cewa.edu.au or 9024 9416
REMAR Gold Retreat
On Friday 2 August, the Year 12 Remar Gold Caravel embarked on their very last retreat before our graduation. Click here to read and see more photos from the day.
Veritas Night
Veritas is an annual gathering of Catholic young people in Western Australia aged 12-35. It exists as a state wide festival, which aims to provide young people in Western Australia with an opportunity to deepen their faith and take an active role in the Church and community.
This year the event took place at John XXII College on Friday 9 August and attracted close to 900 young people. The theme of the festival was Christ is Alive. Year 9 students from the College were accompanied to the festival where they met other young people, enjoyed live bands, heard from dynamic speakers and participated prayer. It was wonderful to see so many young people celebrating their faith together.
Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Doubleview First Holy Communion – Saturday 21 September, 6.00pm
Due to number of requests from families to attend the Saturday night Sacrament of the First Holy Communion celebration, the Parish has decided to combine Saturday and Sunday masses so that all Year 4 children can celebrate together. Please contact Kaye Shervington, Pastoral Associate for further inquiries 0411 123 441 or doubleview@perthcatholic.org.au
Keep Australia Beautiful Week – 19 to 25 August
Keep Australia Beautiful Week is held late August each year to raise awareness about the simple things we can all do in our daily lives to reduce our impact on the environment and encourage action. Click here to register your clean up or event for KAB Week. For further inquiries: contact (02) 8594 4077 or admin@kab.org.au
World Refugee and Migration Week – 19 to 25 August
It is not just about migrants but also about ourselves, our fears, our hopes. How is God encouraging and inviting us? Who are we becoming? What kind of society are we preparing for those who come after us? For the 105th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Council has prepared a resource that is available online. Click here for further information. Click here to also read Fr Frank Brennan SJ’s Homily Reflection for Migrant and Refugee Sunday 2019 (see page 20).
Learning Environments
The Marian Campus offers a wide variety of learning spaces and opportunities to our students which facilitate engagement in a broad selection of educational experiences. The Early Years Learning framework discusses how indoor and outdoor environments should support all aspects of children’s learning and invite conversations between children, teachers, families and the broader community. The College’s ability to offer outdoor play spaces that allow children to connect with nature, encourage open-ended interactions, exploration and discovery are all key aspects to the provision of a quality Early Childhood Learning experience. By providing our students with diverse environments and opportunities, such as the Nature Play spaces, our sustainability projects such as the worm farms, small world gardens and vegetable planters, children are able to explore and make sense of the world around them whilst developing an appreciation for God’s creation.
Our teachers utilise learning environments in a variety of ways to promote opportunities for collaborative learning, community engagement and play-based learning, all of which facilitate a supportive environment where children can ask questions, problem solve and engage in critical thinking.
STEM Festival
The STEM Festival provided a fantastic collaborative learning opportunity for students to come together. With a broad focus on sustainability, the Year 9 students from Marcellin Campus assisted our Marian students to build marble runs and musical instruments from recycled materials, explore the environmental impact of oil spills and create rain gauges. The hands-on collaboration that resulted from each of these tasks, was a perfect example of our Vision for Learning, Shine through Discovery in action. Click here to see more photos from the day.
Marcellin Award
Congratulations to the following students who have received a Marcellin Award in Weeks 3 and 4:
Mason Whitehead Year 1 Red: For encompassing the Marist value of Family Spirit by making sure the gates are locked so everyone is safe while at school.
Eowyn Bishop Year 1 Red: For being very helpful to her classmates and demonstrating the characteristics of kindness & helpfulness like St Marcellin.
The Marcellin Award at Marian Campus is drawn from submitted nominations each Wednesday morning at Prayer Assembly.
Fitness Friday
Fitness Friday continues to be an excellent opportunity for community engagement and the promotion of extra-curricular involvement for our Early Childhood students. This term, we continue to offer Lego Club, Running Club, Go Noodle, and Dance Aerobics. We have also introduced Art Club and board games. We encourage families to come down each Friday morning and enjoy our Coffee at the College facility, meet new families and provide students with an opportunity to be active.
Parent Workshops
We encourage parents to join us on Thursday 22 August for our parent workshop evening.
Save the Date: Fathers Day Celebrations
Hands on learning was exemplified over the last fortnight, as our students participated in our STEM Festival, Science Week and Humanities Week activities. These are but a few examples of how our staff and students worked collaboratively to challenge one another. The STEM festival focused on sustainability, creativity and challenge. I extend my thanks to the students from Marcellin Campus who supported the learning experience for the Primary students. It is amazing to see what can be achieved by ‘thinking outside the box!’
Need to Know
Pupil Free Days
- All staff will be engaging in professional learning on Friday 16 August. This day is designed to support wellbeing strategies for our Staff. Staff wellbeing is named in our Strategic Plan as we recognise, that in order to support the wellbeing and learning of young people, teachers require tools and strategies needed to manage their own wellbeing.
- Monday 19 August is a pupil free day that recognises the contribution that teachers in Catholic Education make to the holistic development of young people. It is hoped that all members of our community return for the second half of Term 3 refreshed and rested.
New Uniform Options
After a period of consultation with the NPCC, staff and student groups, the following options will be available to students in 2020.
- Skorts with a blouse will be available to students who would prefer this over the summer dress (Primary) and skirt (Secondary). Skorts can be worn all year.
- Womens trousers for students in Years 7-12, are available for order and can also be worn all year.
- The boys in Primary are able to wear shorts during summer and winter.
These items will be available via the online store or from the uniform shop.
Thank you to Diana Potter, Uniform Shop Manager for her support and expertise as we seek to cater to the needs of all students and respond to feedback from our parent community.
Newman Parents – Monday 16 September
Newman Parents is honoured to host Paul Dillon at Newman College. Paul is the Director and founder of DARTA and he is passionate about ensuring that the community has access to accurate and up-to-date alcohol and other drug information.
RSVP to Jo Dunn, Marketing and Communications Officer by Wednesday 11 September jo.dunn@cewa.edu.au
Code of Conduct
A reminder to all families that the Code of Conduct can be accessed via the College website. The Code is mandated by Catholic Education Western Australia and the application of the Code extends to all staff, students, parents, guardians, caregivers and volunteers.
The Code seeks to value the dignity of every person, foster positive relationships, ensuring confidentiality and accountability and supports professional boundaries. Events held during school hours AND outside of school hours that are associated with the College are also supported by the Code of Conduct. Any perceived breaches of the Code can be discussed with any member of the Senior Leadership Team. We thank you in advance for your understanding and support of how we strive to partner positively with one another.
In the lead-up to Science Week 2019, students on both the Marian and Lavalla Campuses enjoyed a fun and engaging day where they had the opportunity to be challenged, collaborate, create and celebrate with their peers as part of the 2019 STEM Festival.
With the focus on sustainability, in particular the three R’s; Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, students at Marian enjoyed working with their buddies to look at ways of making sure that our resources last a very long time or even forever! Some of the activities they took part in were; the oil spill activity, recycled musical instruments, water saving options and the marble run.
The Years 3-6 students were challenged to “Think Outside the Box” where they had to create an arcade game using cardboard, other recycled materials and imagination. Once complete, the students had the opportunity to put their games to the test with their peers. The challenge allowed the students to explore their interests and passions; teach critical thinking, resourcefulness, perseverance, teamwork; and brought the community together to foster and celebrate child creativity.
The STEM Festival was a great opportunity for all students to explore and experience Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math through engaging hands-on activities and to better understand STEM concepts. All of the notions mentioned shed light on our College’s Vision for Learning Shine through Discovery – Let your light shine (Matthew 5:16)
On what was a beautiful sunny Friday, the Pre Primary students embarked on their journey to Landsdale Animal Farm.
We explored and learnt about the basic needs of living things as part of our Biological Science unit of work. We became farmers for the day; meeting, feeding and learning about all the animals on the farm including, cows, ponies, alpacas, sheep, goats, geese, chickens, roosters and rabbits.
Learning about the lifecycle of a chicken was definitely a highlight because we were lucky enough to give the chickens a cuddle at the end. We also enjoyed going on a gnome hunt and riding in carts around the farm. We had a terrific day and we learnt so much about animals that live on a farm!
Maddie Ciullo, Pre Primary Teacher
To celebrate Fathers Day, father’s are invited to enjoy a sausage sizzle breakfast with their children.
We then invite you to join us at St Cecilia’s Church for our special Father’s Liturgy celebration.
