On Monday 9 September, 75 members of our community enjoyed working with 2019 Artist in Residence Andy Quilty at the Community Workshop. The workshop was divided into two sessions; Session 1 exploring new drawing processes and experimental techniques. Session 2 monoprinting using a range of different tools allowing the participants to become active print makers.
Andy encouraged everyone to be free and take risks in their own art journey
Every day I walk into Newman College I feel blessed to walk amongst a community of people who support one another. It is this unique quality that defines our College. Under each individual child sits a vast support network that seeks to challenge, collaborate, create and celebrate the learning of our students. This is a strength that exists to ensure that parents, staff and students all work together to set high expectations. At Newman College we hope to inspire every child to reach their potential by fostering an education in which they can Shine through Discovery.
Our youngest students have had the joy of celebrating their learning with family members during Term 2. Grandparents Day and Tinkering Day are features on our early learning calendar that encourage parents, guardians and grandparents to participate in our collaborative learning environment. The day is met with much enthusiasm by both the students and their visitors. The tradition of Mothers Day at Newman College remains extremely strong, with no better example of our Marist values and faith. ‘In the spirit of Mary’ is one of the Marist characteristics, with Mothers Day providing a grand occasion to showcase our love and support of one another. Fitness Friday and Coffee at the College continues to bring families together every Friday morning at the Marian Campus. Our Wellbeing Program drives a culture of inclusion and is helping to bring our families into the lives of our students.
As we bid safe travels to our students and staff heading to New York on the Arts Tour; and those journeying to New South Wales on the Humanities Tour, we acknowledge the many journeys and adventures our students have undertaken throughout Term 2, 2019. The outstanding commitment of our Netball team in Alice Springs at the annual Marist Netball Carnival; the Outdoor Education Camp for Year 9 students in Dwellingup; the Biology Camp for Year 11 students in the Perth Hills; the Design Thinking Course undertaken by members of staff at Republic Polytechnic in Singapore; the Year 12 Earth and Environment Tour to Kalgoorlie; Year 7 Camp to the Ern Halliday Recreational Camp; and our Year 6 Camp to Waroona. At Newman College we challenge our students to explore themselves through exposure to new cultures, ideas and environments. What an exciting plethora of opportunities await our students every term.
We celebrate the achievements of all students over the course of Term 2. From the achievements of our sporting teams throughout the winter NAS sports program, to the achievements at the ACC sports days. The triumph of our Ladies Hockey Team who went undefeated through the carnival was a particular highlight, as was the First XVIII AFL Team that won their division of the Jakovich Cup particularly exciting moments.
As we take time to pause at the midway point of the year, I encourage all families to be present to their children and the special time you can spend with one another. Embrace the connections to your own communities and know that you are always a welcome part of the Newman College community. I wish you well for the ensuing second half of 2019.
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.
On Tuesday 28 May, Year 12 General Pathway students had the opportunity to engage with the wider world of work at Newman’s inaugural Industry Networking Breakfast. Representatives from several industries generously volunteered to attend this event. During breakfast, the students were able to hear the experiences of their guests, ask them questions about their industry, and explore possible future career pathways.
The Year 12 students were the first to participate in a series of Wellness Talks scheduled to run over the course of the year as part of the College’s Wellbeing Program. This session, run by the College Wellbeing and Counselling Team, was interactive and engaging, and provided tips for self-reflection, helpful self-talk and self-care. Ultimately, students were encouraged to value themselves for who they are as people (not their skills or abilities). It is hoped that the Year 12’s will carry this message forward with them in their final year of schooling and into their future endeavours!
The Language Department helped the Years 7-12 students celebrate Multicultural Week with a series of events scheduled during lunchtime this week. We saw some Greek dancing, an Aboriginal Dance performance, PCG quizzes and a Gelato van visit.
Members of our College community have continued with their commitment to assist the Dominican Special Needs Youth Group (DOMS) this year. This group, which operates once a month out of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Doubleview, provides friendship and hospitality to adults with special needs, who are former students of Newman College and other nearby Catholic Colleges. Now in its 26th year of operation, DOMS has already run three events this year including; a games night, an Aussie Bush Dance and a Quiz Night. A combination of present and former students, along with some of their parents, have come along to help run the events and enjoy the company of our members.
This term, the College launched the Little Discoverer’s Playgroup offering an opportunity for members internal and external to our community to come and begin their learning journey at the College. Participants enjoy a range of developmentally appropriate activities such as play dough, collage, dance, song and story time. The Playgroup has been incredibly popular and the College is currently exploring options around additional sessions being offered in Term 3. We look forward to welcoming new and existing families to the playgroup sessions and providing a further opportunity for families to be involved in our dynamic and child-centred community. Please monitor the website for future changes and additions.
On Tuesday 18 June, students from Years 3-6 participated in the Winter Music Night held in the Marist Auditorium. We enjoyed performances by the Year 3 Choir and Year 3 Strings, Lavalla Choir, Lavalla String Quartet and Lavalla String Ensemble, as well as excellent individual performances by student musicians across Years 4-6. The evening was a wonderful celebration of the many musical talents of our students and was a credit to their tutors, directors and Performing Arts leadership at Newman College.
On Thursday 6 June, Year 6 were involved in a STEM activity called TINKERING. Tinkering gives students the opportunity to be creative, think critically and collaborate in an inquiry-based approach to STEM-rich learning. The day allowed our Vision for Learning Shine through Discovery to be present as the students took apart various electronic devices, labelled the parts, and noted the purposes and complexities. Students then used the parts to create a natural disaster detector. We were very fortunate to have Year 6 parents and grandparents assisting the students.
The College is proud to be working with Mercy Care to provide daily before and after school care for Newman College students. The service caters for students from Kindy (if they have turned 4 {or as long as they are turning 4 that year} and there is a vacancy) to Year 6. For more information please contact Mercy Care on 0409 065 996 or email newman_oshc@mercycare.com.au
On Friday 14 June, our K-12 community celebrated the Feast Day of St Marcellin Champagnat, Founder of the Marist Brothers and Marist Education. As an Australian Marist community, we give thanks for the life, witness and commitment of the Marist Brothers and those committed to Marist education who have served in our community, and across Western Australia.
Please CLICK HERE to view images of our Primary celebrations, and CLICK HERE for images of our Secondary celebrations.
On Wednesday 5 June, Newman College hosted 478 students and teachers from 76 Primary Schools across the Archdiocese of Perth for the annual Archbishop’s LifeLink for Primary Launch. Visitors were welcomed by our Year 6 Student Council, with Ella Rose (Year 6) leading the Acknowledgement of Country, and the Year 5 and 6 Lavalla Dance Troupe sharing their Liturgical Movement piece titled: ‘Amazing’.
On Friday 24 May, 33 students from the Marcellin Campus (Years 7-12) attended the St Vincent de Paul Winter Sleep Out. Students and staff participated in activities that looked at the facts around homelessness in Australia. Participants learnt that many issues and factors can affect a person’s access to a home, which contributes to the 116,000 people who find themselves homeless in Australia. Students and staff shared a simple meal of soup together before hearing from two Archdiocesan groups, including Mrs Carol Mitchell from the Justice, Ecology and Development Office and Mr Damian Walsh from Catholic agency, The Shopfront. Mrs Mitchell and Mr Walsh spoke about homelessness from two interrelated views, one being justice and the other being practical support and care.
Following a question and answer time, students began a Review of Life, following Joseph Cardijn’s – ‘See, Judge, Act’. To see the issue for what it is, judge it in light of the Gospels and faith and then to come up with actions that individuals and groups can take to address the issue. Before the evening concluded, students and teachers completed the See and Judge sections of the review and collectively agreed to meet again to complete the Act section. Following prayer, students and staff settled down for the night, some choosing to sleep on a thin mat, others sleeping directly on the floor. The short experience helped participants gain a greater understanding of the issues of homelessness and a small insight into rough sleeping. It was a great evening and we thank all of those who participated and volunteered to assist.
