From the Principal – Term 4 Week 4
Lavalla Opening and Blessing
As we close Week 4 of this final term, I reflect on the joyous event celebrated last Tuesday, the Blessing and Official Opening of Lavalla – our completely new PK-6 learning community. What an amazing journey it has been from the first visionary moment to the celebration of welcoming our Marian students to join Lavalla at the beginning of Term 3. We carry so much gratitude to so many for their contribution to realising the dream of our whole community united on one campus site. This historic occasion made me reflect on an extract I received recently entitled Builders of a New Hermitage – Message from the XXIII General Chapter of the Marist Brothers:
Two hundred years ago, Marcellin Champagnat and the first Brother raised stone upon stone in the valley of the Gier to build the Hermitage. They worked with bare hands, great courage, and unwavering faith, but always with deep trust that the work was God’s. As the psalmist reminds us and as Marcellin always said “If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do the builders labour” (Psalm 127:1).
The Hermitage was never only a building. It was a home of fraternity, a school of the Gospel, and a springboard for mission. The river Gier that flowed beside it carried timber, refreshed the Brother, and symbolised the Spirit’s constant presence.
The vision of building a new Hermitage sits well with our celebration of the opening of the completed Lavalla build. There has literally been the building with bare hands, the courage to stay the course and trust that our new creation moves us to build further a communion, a community that brings hope and opportunity to our young people. It is not the extensive and innovative primary resource that we only celebrate and cherish, it is what we do as a community within the facility that matters. As a College, we are grateful to the following leaders, supporters and significant contributors to the project:
- Dr Frank Malloy, National Director MSA
- Br Peter Carroll, Provincial of Star of the Sea Province and the Marist Brothers
- Mr Darren McGregor, Regional Director MSA
- Mr John Finneran, immediate past Principal Newman College
- The College Advisory Council
- The College Finance Committee
- Newman College Executive
- Ms Lisa Mc Clue, past Head of Primary
- Mr Ryan von Bergheim, past Head of Primary
- Mr Thomas Wagner, past Director of Engagement and Operations
- Mr Steve Halley Wright, past Director Finance and Administration
- Munns Sly Moore Architects
- Badge Construction
- Borrell Rafferty Surveying
- Pritchard Francis Light
Year 11 Finish
Today, our Year 11 students finished formal classes and then on to two weeks of examinations. As the WACE examinations close for Year 12s shortly, we also wish our Year 11 students all the best in the coming weeks.
Grandparents Day Liturgy, Class Visits and Morning Tea
What a way to end the week! We welcomed over 400 grandparents to our first combined PK-6 Grandparents Morning at Lavalla. Grandparents are the great treasure of families and the pride they had in their grandchildren at today’s visit warmed everyone’s hearts. In chatting with our guests at morning tea, it was so uplifting to hear that many have been past students of our school. Thank you to our team for their work in bringing about a great morning and every blessing to our wonderful grandparents at Newman College.
Recently, I informed the community of the news that Mr Michael Chiera, Vice Principal, had been appointed to the position of Principal Servite College from 2026. This is a great achievement for Michael and we recognise his great contribution to Newman College over the past two years. The opportunity to lead and serve your own community is a special gift and responsibility for a senior leader. Marist Schools Australia has begun the process of appointing the next Vice Principal to Newman College and we will keep you up to date with this news.
Wishing all our students and families a wonderful weekend.
Mr Andrew Watson
PRINCIPAL
