Category: Early Childhood

Having a growth mindset is the concept that refers to how we face challenges and setbacks. Students with a growth mindset believe their ability and skill will improve over time. Pushing through challenges and overcoming disappointment are important traits of students with a growth mindset. Parents can support their children in developing a growth mindset by offering process praise; praising how your child approached the challenge and acknowledging that failure is part of the learning process.

Developing growth mindset is an ongoing process. Getting and taking feedback from others, learning from mistakes and finding innovative ways to approach tasks isn’t easy. Our Vision for Learning, Shine through Discovery, seeks to support all students to challenge themselves to achieve their very best through creative learning tasks and collaborative learning processes.

End of Semester Reflection

At the end of semester assembly on the Marcellin Campus, the students were challenged to reflect on their commitment to their College community over this semester. To serve can be described as the action of helping or doing work for someone.

The benefits of serving others are:

• develops an increased sense of social responsibility – a global view of society and a heart for ‘giving back’ and helping others.
• provides an opportunity to apply learning to real life events. Acts of service build relationships and ‘connectedness’ with student and teachers and improves lifelong communication and interpersonal skills.
• helps students find their passions and interests that may lead to future opportunities.

A quick scroll through the College’s various social media platforms showcases many examples of service through everyday opportunities, PK-12.

The involvement of our staff and students contributes to our stories of service which make Newman College stronger and richer for the relationships formed and for the acts of service we show to one another; within our community and beyond. I sincerely thank and acknowledge the valuable acts of service that make Newman College the life-giving, love-giving and hope-filled community that we are.

Staffing

I acknowledge the significant effort and dedication of all staff at the end of a busy semester and sincerely thank those that are leaving Newman College for their contribution to the lives of their students and our College community. Queva Fitzgerald, McKenzie Pugh, Brianna Kirkbride and Rachael Loughridge.

We also wish Mitchell Bristow a successful secondment at St Thomas’ Primary.

I also wish the following staff a well deserved period of leave and look forward to their return in Term 4. Louise O’Mahony and Hannah Parker.

Reporting

As parents, the first educators of your child, we encourage you to consider the following guiding questions during assessment and reporting time.

1. Are your expectations for your son or daughter realistic and in line with their ability?
2. Do you believe that children learn at different rates?
3. Do you use growth mindset language with your son or daughter when discussing their report and achievements and their challenges?

We welcome all families to Parent Teacher Interviews to discuss the wellbeing and learning outcomes of your child on Tuesday 23 July. I thank our teaching staff in advance for their preparation and commitment to this important opportunity for partnership and collaboration.

SEQTA logins to access Reports

Student reports will be available to families on Friday 5 July via the SEQTA Engage portal. Please note that Year 10 reports will be uploaded on Friday 21 June.

Please Click here to access details on the SEQTA Engage login process then use the below link to login.

Click here to access the SEQTA login screen.

I remind families leaving our College community to ensure they download and save their children’s reports from SEQTA as this function will not be available to families that have withdrawn from the College.

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.

Newman College Social Media Platforms

The College uses Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to celebrate and showcase learning, connect with families, prospective and current, and to stay in contact with past students. We know social media platforms are a highly effective way to engage with all members in our College, Marist and wider community. The Code of Conduct extends to all social media platforms and it is important that if you have feedback for the College, that it is directed to a relevant member of staff. As adults, we must role model appropriate online behaviours for our children and give the College an opportunity to respond directly to any concerns or feedback.

Risk Management for College Excursions – Consent 2 Go

At Newman College, we are committed to providing the highest level of care to our students while they are on our campus or engaging in an excursion or activity away from the College. To ensure our medical and contact information is accurate, easily updated and accessible, we have partnered with Consent2Go for our excursion planning and risk assessment processes.

For any upcoming excursions or events, a link will be sent to parent email addresses requesting that consent is given to participate and the medical information about the student is accurate at the time. This software also allows teachers to identify and mange risks and ensure their activity is compliant with College and Catholic Education policies.

Raquel Carver

As advised to our College community earlier in the week, a Newman College staff member, Raquel Carver, passed away peacefully last Sunday.

Raquel was a gifted educator and at ease with people from all walks of life. She is remembered fondly by all who came into her presence. During her life, Raquel fulfilled many roles, including that of teacher, mentor, pastoral care teacher, Liturgy Coordinator and companion to many students, parents and staff members at Newman College. We give thanks for her witness, faith and hope.

We pray for Raquel’s husband Michael, her parents Henry and Patricia, and brother Edward, members of her extended family, friends, ex-students and members of the Newman family who seek consolation at this time of such sadness, through memories, stories and community. May they be consoled in their sadness by the God who brings comfort and peace.

All loving God, we pray for Raquel who responded to your call to give herself to others by following Jesus as a witness in the way of Mary and Marcellin Champagnat as a Marist educator. May those whose lives have been touched by her be able to respond as generously as she did in all circumstances of life.

We pray that you welcome Raquel home and take her into your loving care forever.

2018 Annual Report

The 2018 Annual Report is now available via the College website for families to view. The Annual Report is a requirement for school registration and satisfies our compliance to both Marist Schools Australia and Catholic Education Western Australia. The report evidences the significant progress the College has sustained towards school improvement and community engagement. Thank you to the College Council and College staff for their commitment to realising the bold goals of our Strategic Plan.

Download 2018 Annual Report

Reconciliation Action Plan

During Term 2, the College has been working towards the creation of its first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP is not only a strategic intent of the College through its Annual School Improvement Plan, but a firm commitment to place reconciliation at the very forefront of thinking within our College Community.

The RAP Working Group consists of 19 individuals from the College community. Individuals have been drawn from our parent, student, alumni, and staff community across the PK-Y12 College. This representative group is tasked with developing a plan that will carry forward the College’s aspiration to lead our community in reconciliation ‘actions’.

The support of facilitator Christine Sindley of Waangara Marra Consulting has been welcomed and fostered by the RAP working group. It is our hope to launch the 2020 Newman College Reconciliation Action Plan during Term 4 this year.

College Tours

I acknowledge the significant undertaking teachers make to travel and support College Tours, Camps and experiences during their personal time. This week, tours departed for Canberra and Sydney on the Humanities Tour and New York for the inaugural Arts Tours. Opportunities such as these seek to challenge and immerse students in their learning and to foster quality collaboration and cooperation between staff and students alike. We look forward to hearing of these experiences upon return.

Capital Development Plan Update

Preparations and planning are continuing ‘behind the scenes’ in preparation for the commencement of the Years 3-12 Learning Hub build later this term. I am very grateful to the staff and students who have relocated to temporary arrangements for the start of Term 3. The disruption to students has been kept to a minimum for the start of Semester 2. Moving from ‘C’ block will be gradual and carefully considered over the course of Term 3.

Preparatory work for the bridge connecting the Lavalla and Marcellin Campuses will commence next term. I thank the Grounds and Maintenance team and the staff involved with supporting and planning this undertaking. For further information, please visit the College website click here.

Grandparents Day, Marian Campus

Grandparents Day at the Marian Campus was a great celebration of our Marist family spirit and very well attended. Thank you to all the grandparents who attended in support and interests of your grandchildren. Click here to see more photos from the morning.

Closing

At the end of a rich and busy semester, I encourage each of us to express our gratitude to teachers, support staff and peers who have walked with our young people, supported them and worked closely with them to achieve their goals. My prayer for our community is that all staff, families and students return next term, renewed and refreshed after the holiday break.

Lisa Fogliani, Acting Principal