The Future of Learning

“We don’t need to improve schools – we need to re-invent them for our times, our requirements and our future.” [NMC Horizon Report 2013 K-12 edition]

As educators and parents, it is incumbent upon us to collaborate and work with our young people to create the spaces that enable them to dream about what is possible and thus act upon it. We want every student to succeed and engage in learning pathways that enable them to pursue careers that are commensurate to their personal attributes. At Newman College our Vision for Learning Shine Through Discovery – Let Your Light Shine (Matt 5:16) seeks to offer a PK-12 education which is of the highest quality and relevance, enabling individuals to learn to build, share, manipulate, communicate and generate knowledge.

A recent article A Future Schooling – A Stimulus Paper (Marie Hamilton and Dr Mark Turkington 2015) argues that it is integral for schools in Australia to ensure a learner-centered pedagogy which is enquiry based and puts problem solving as a prime focus. The paper contends that we recognise that the future of learning is not singular but plural. We can predict that seismic technological and social change of the past decade is set to continue but also to accelerate in pace, scale and amplitude. As teachers, we understand that we need to further develop our capacity to meet these changes. Our pedagogy will continue to undergo a fundamental shift from the teacher focused, pre-programmed model to learning programs which are increasingly differentiated, individualised and collaboratively master planned in which the role of teacher is that of facilitator, coach and mentor. From passive to active investigatory exploration, our students are taken outside the classroom to use the whole campus and beyond. Our learning spaces in the future will support our Vision for Learning.

In 2019 we intend to develop new spaces as part of our Stage 1 Capital Development Plan on Marcellin Campus. These spaces will be commensurate to the changing dynamic of our students that will position our College to be a leader in educational excellence in Western Australia. Moreover, it will give our students more choices to be able to navigate the changing dynamic of world in which they live. More information on this development will be communicated in the coming months.

Website Launch

The new College website was launched this week. This has been a two year project from conception to delivery. Thank you to members of the Newman Parents Consultative Committee who were instrumental in the feedback provided to our consultant and to our team who designed the site. It is a work in progress but its accessibility, information and design are excellent.

Newman Parent Consultative Committee (NPCC)

Thank you to those parents who attended our meeting this week. The feedback again was constructive and, as always, helpful. One area of concern for the College, which was discussed on the night, is the upcoming Marist Cricket Carnival to be held at Newman College 4 December – 11 December. We are currently struggling to enlist families who are willing to billet cricketers for this carnival. Part of our obligation to host the carnival is be able to host billets. This has been reciprocated to our cricketers in the carnival locations across the country for last fifteen years. I recognise the responsibility placed on families in this very busy time of the year. However, I also believe that our Marist family spirit compels us to consider this carnival as an opportunity. As an incentive the College will put all host families into a draw to get $2000 off their school fees in 2019. If you are interested in assisting, please contact Tania Bailey 9204 9400 or tania.bailey@newman.wa.edu.au

Deputy Principal, Wellbeing Secondary

Mr Alan Fitzpatrick has been appointed to the position of Deputy Principal, Wellbeing Secondary commencing in Week 6 Term 4. He will be a member of the College’s Senior Leadership Team and will oversee Wellbeing Years 7- 12. Mr Fitzpatrick is currently the Deputy Principal, Student Services at La Salle College Midland. We look forward to welcoming him into our community.

Pastoral letter- Message from the Most Rev. Timothy Costelloe SDB, Archbishop of Perth

I draw attention to Archbishop Timothy Costelloe’s pastoral letter reflecting on the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) and Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) response to the Royal Commission. Please take time to read this important letter Message from Archbishop Costelloe re Response to the Royal Commissin Aug…