Category: Early Childhood

Book Week is a big week in the life of any college community. The preparation, thought, innovation and commitment by our students, with support from their parents, was first class this year. Mr Bristow our Head of Primary compared our “Book Week Parade to the AFL Grand Final” at our Marian Campus Assembly. The real highlight of these festivities is the opportunity it provides our students to express themselves; and what better way than through reading. The greatest gift a child can receive is that of reading. The adage you learn to read, you read to learn is a great attribute to acquire. Our hope is that this week will inspire both students and adults alike to grab a book and take time to read.

The excitement of book week exemplifies the plethora of opportunities that our students have been afforded in our community this term. They include, but are not limited to : Science Week; Primary STEM Festival; launch of the IDEAS Lab at Marian; Year 11 REMAR immersion in Mullewa; Year 11 Leadership Program; Codo Dojo; Catholic Performing Arts; Angelico Exhibition; and the ongoing Homework Club. This is over and above the opportunities that happen period by period, year group by year group. The intent of these activities is to create the space for success. We measure success by our preparation, participation and the impact of our efforts. Our students are remarkable in their openness to learn new things and commitment to get involved. Our Vision for Learning – Shine through Discovery – Let your Light Shine challenges our community to take these opportunities and see the fruits of their labour. It animates students and staff to collaborate, work together, develop relationships and build a culture of innovation and creativity.

Angelico

Congratulations to Grace Hasler Year 12 for her recent award at the Catholic Education Western Australia Angelico Art Exhibition Awards. Her sculpture, “Survival”, was accordingly given one of the major awards, the Caritas Australia Art Award. The criteria for this Award is for artwork which most reflects the Caritas Focus for 2018 (Human Dignity, Preferential Option for the Poor, Solidarity, Subsidiarity and Stewardship of the Earth’s Resources). I was so pleased to have been present for the presentation and to listen to Grace’s family speak of her amazing commitment to producing the artwork.

We also had a number of students, both Primary and Secondary, exhibit artwork at the Exhibition and I congratulate and thank them for their effort and commitment to their art works.

On Wednesday 15 August and Friday 17 August, our K-12 College community celebrated the Feast of the Assumption. This is the Feast day chosen for the Marist Brothers at the time of their foundation by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, the founder of the Marist Brothers and of Marist Education.

Primary Feast of the Assumption Celebrations

Our Primary School students gathered together to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption with a Mass, Buddy Day activities and also a Lap-a-thon to raise funds for Australian Marist Solidarity.

Marcellin Campus Assumption Day Mass

On Wednesday 15 August students at the Marcellin Campus celebrated the Feast of the Assumption with a Senior School Mass.

All K-6 money raised on Friday 17 August will be pooled with the money raised by the Marcellin Campus on Friday 8 June (Years 7–12 Chamapgnat Fete Day) and will be given to ‘Kuya’, an Australian Marist Solidarity NGO supporting children living on the streets in Manila. This project is visited by our Year 11 students on the Philippines Immersion. Our Year 11 students (as part of their visit to Kuya) learn about how these much needed funds are used to support homeless and vulnerable young people on the streets of Manila as part of their ‘street retreat’ in December.

Families can learn more about the work of Australian Marist Solidarity by clicking here.

Primary School Book Week Celebrations

The theme for Book Week this year was “Find Your Treasure”, which is such a perfect description of the search to discover our next great book. An exciting story can feel like treasure to children when it speaks to them and understands the way they think and feel. Each year our school spends a week celebrating Australian authors and illustrators, which is a wonderful way to promote books and literacy to our students.

The students at Lavalla Campus loved their incursion with visiting local author James Foley. We were very lucky to welcome James to our school who explained the creative process of writing and illustrating a picture book or graphic novel.

The students attended a second incursion during Book Week with award winning artist and performer Sam Hughes. They experienced; laughter, a little mischief and lots of fun as Sam created & illustrated some original stories.

The students at Marian Campus also enjoyed a visit from story teller Samantha Hughes. The students were very excited to have the opportunity to participate in story making and creating art with Sam.

The Pre-Primary, Year 1 and Year 2 students from Marian Campus walked to the Cambridge Library to attend an author talk with Sandi Parsons. Sandi introduced her fantastic new chapter book ‘Pepsi the Problem Puppy’ to the students. She explained that that her ideas came from her dog a blue heeler called Pepsi who is very mischievous and always getting into trouble.

The Kindy students took part in the wonderful Better Beginnings incursion by Cambridge librarian Melissa Payne. All the children were thrilled to receive a free Better Beginnings gift bag at this visit.

All students from both campuses were very excited to participate in a parade where they came dressed up as one of their favourite book characters. Please see photos below.

Marcellin Campus Book Week Activities

It has been a busy week at the Marcellin Campus with numerous activities to celebrate Book Week.

A daily Book Week quiz has been published in the Notices with riddles and anagrams to solve, along with questions about well known books, characters and authors. Book vouchers have been awarded to the winners.

Students from Years 7-9 participated in the Write a Book In A Day Competition on Wednesday. Each team produced a 5000 word book complete with illustrations.

Year 12 students visited the Lavalla Campus to read some CBCA Short-listed picture books to Year 3 students.

Term 3 concludes for PK-12 on Thursday 20 September.

Student return dates:

PK-Y11 students return Tuesday 9 October