Category: Future Families

PK–12 celebrations for the Feast of the Assumption

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.

St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal

This Term, Newman College supported the St Vincent de Paul’s Winter Appeal by collecting blankets. This winter, many families, including children, have been 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). This appeal is one of the many Social Justice activities and projects students and families are able to support throughout the year.

Year 11 Remar Blue Caravel Solidarity Retreat – Mullewa, WA

The Remar Blue Solidarity Retreat ran from Wednesday 28 August to Tuesday 3 September in Mullewa, Western Australia, a small farming town 470km North-East of Perth. Following preparation sessions, the students lived and worked alongside the community of Mullewa, where they had a packed itinerary that involved various services to the Mullewa community including helping to host their annual Agriculture and Wildflower Shows, working with the students at Our Lady of Mount Carmel primary school and hosting their school disco. Click here to read more and see more photos from the trip.

Building Bridges Interfaith Dialogue 2019

Each year, students in Year 11 are invited to participate in the Building Bridges project. The ‘Building Bridges: Interfaith Dialogue in Schools’ Program promotes mutual understanding and respect and ethical behaviour across our cultural and religious diversities, to develop competent global leaders for the 21st century. Click here to learn more about the Building Bridges Project.

2019 Newman Arts Festival

The Newman College Arts Festival is a celebration of the PK-12 Arts learning journey at Newman College held over three days (October 16, 17, 18). The event also showcases the artistic endeavours of the STEM learning area along with students’ instrumental, choir and drama performances.

Student Art Exhibition Opening Night

Wednesday evening is the official opening of the festival. We invite the Newman College and wider community to join us in celebrating student Art works created throughout the year and Art projects that have been inspired by collaborative workshops with the 2019 Artists in Residence. Opening night will also include a presentation of the student awards, including a people’s choice award. Food stalls, games and Art activities, for our budding younger artists will also be hosted on the oval.

Parent Soiree

The annual Parent Soiree is taking place on Friday 18 October. This is a great opportunity for families entering into the College in 2020 to join other parents to enjoy drinks and canapes, whilst celebrating the student works of the Arts festival. Guests will also enjoy live music by dynamic and modern band Nano Soul who will perform a combination of funk, soul, and classic hits with a twist.

• Where: Marist Auditorium, 216 Empire Avenue Churchlands
• Time: 6.00pm – 9.00pm
• Tickets: $35 Click here to purchase

Artists in Residence Program

The Newman College Artists in Residence Program for 2019 was another exciting and truly authentic arts experience for our students, teacher, parents and members of our Newman community. The workshops allowed for all to collaborate with industry professionals, strengthen and deepen their understanding of Arts skills and processes and build their cultural competency, cultural literacy and sensitivity around Aboriginal people; culture oral storytelling traditions, and connection to country.

We were pleased to welcome Andy Quilty (2018 Artist in Residence), and Contemporary Noongar Artists Bradley and Rohin Kickett as our 2019 Artists in Residence. Click here to read more.

Catholic Arts

The Performing Arts Festival for Catholic Schools and Colleges seeks to provide students with specific ‘performance platforms’ where they have the unique opportunity to give of their very best and perform to a public audience. Open to both Primary and Secondary school students, the performance categories encompass choral, drama, musical, instrumental, vocal and dance aspects of the Performing Arts. Approximately 18,000 students enter the Festival each year.

Newman College had the honour of performing the Acknowledgement of Country song, Koort Doodjarak Yewool (Heart Song) in collaboration with the Madjitil Moorna Choir accompanied by James Web at the closing concert on Monday 16 September at the Perth Concert Hall. We acknowledge Music Teacher, Nicole Boddy who wrote the lyrics and melody. This is a unique opportunity for the College, and I acknowledge the efforts of the staff and students involved in this initiative, in particular the leadership and creativity of Mrs Maree Grayden, Leader of Learning Arts PK-12. Click here to view the performance.
 

New Uniform Options

After a period of consultation with the Newman Parents Consecutive Committee (NPCC), staff and student groups, the following options are now available to students:

• 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 are available via the online store or from the Uniform Shop.

Newman Parents  Evening

Newman Parents was honoured to host Paul Dillon at Newman College this Term. 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.

2020 Term Dates

Term 1 – Monday 3 February – Thursday 9 April

• Monday 3 February: K-6, 7 & 12 return
• Tuesday 4 February: Years 8-11 return
• Thursday 13 February: PK-12 Family Mass

Term 2 – Tuesday 28 April – Friday 3 July

• Tuesday 28 April: All PK-Y12 staff and students return
• Friday 19 June: Champagnat Day (TBC)

Term 3 – Wednesday 22 July- Friday 25 September

• Monday 20 July: Staff Faith Formation / Pupil Free Day
• Tuesday 21 July: K-12 Parent Teacher Interviews / Pupil Free Day
• Wednesday 22 July: All PK-Y12 students return
• Friday 14 August: Staff Wellbeing Day/ Pupil Free Day
• Monday 17 August: CEWA Faith Day (College Closed)

Term 4 – Tuesday 13 October – Friday 4 December

• Monday 12 October: Staff Professional Learning/ Pupil Free Day
• Tuesday 13 October: All PK-Y11 students return
• PK-Y9 Final Day (TBC)

Beyond the Bounds of Newman College

The world is a big place and we need our students to cast their eyes and expectations into their place in it. The great strength of our College is the plethora of opportunities our students have to engage with the world. Such opportunities were exemplified over Term 3 when we had students participating on the Arts Tour to New York and another on the Humanities Tour to Sydney and Canberra. Both Cultural Tours highlight our desire for students to seek new ways of learning, seeing and thinking about the world.

Later in the Term, our Year 11 REMAR students traveled to Mullewa north of Geraldton, to serve in the local community as part of their solidarity camp. This will be followed in December by more students travelling to the Philippines on our social justice immersion.

Such experiences empower students to gain the skills, confidence and agency to make decisions and create opportunities that impact their lives and the lives of others in a positive way. Moreover, it creates the space for our students and teachers to develop soft and firm skills including adaptability, decision-making, problem-solving, resilience and self-reflection. Critical to these experiences is the role of our teachers. We are very fortunate to have teachers who are passionate about their specialisation which enable such activities to occur. I challenge all our students to take the opportunities that are presented across PK-12. Such a challenge encapsulates our Vision for Learning, Shine through the Discovery and its intent to let their light shine.

Junior PALS Project 2019

Early this Term, students in Years 4 and 5 were part of an Arts experience; a song, movement and storytelling performance based on an abridged version of Dr Noel Nannup’s creation story, “The Carer’s of everything”. The intent of this PALS Project was clearly communicated by these excellent performers as they told a story that encouraged us to reflect on Aboriginal culture and histories as we walk towards Reconciliation. In August, the students performed the item as part of the nation-wide Wakakirri Performing Arts Festival, semi-final, held in Perth at the Perth Concert Hall.

Student Voice

In Week 4, I held a series of morning teas and lunches for students across the College to listen to their opinions on the direction of the College. I trialed questions that will eventually become part of the consultation process for the development of the next Strategic Plan.

Hon Sue Ellery MLC, Minister for Education and Training – Visit to Newman College

In Week 6, the Hon Sue Ellery, Minster for Education and Training WA, visited our school to discuss our mobile phone policy. Students, teachers and parents from Lavalla and Marcellin Campuses were in attendance. The purpose of the meeting was to seek feedback on what we do at Newman College and how the voice of our community will be used as part of a wider consultation to develop a policy for schools across WA.

In our local context, put simply, phones are out of sight unless they are used for explicit learning. The Minister unpacked this with our students who were excellent in their presentation and discussion. The confidence and reflection on display exemplified the intent of our school to animate our students to have a voice and to be critical thinkers. The wider issues of social media and student interaction were also discussed as was our approach to the education of students and families.