Category: Future Families

ALAN FITZPATRICK, DEPUTY PRINCIPAL WELLBEING SECONDARY

Inaugural Business Breakfast

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.

Wellness Sessions

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!

Multicultural Week

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.

Dominican Special Needs Youth Group (DOMS)

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.

 

MITCHELL BRISTOW, HEAD OF PRIMARY

Little Discoverer’s Playgroup

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.

Winter Music Night

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.

Tinkering

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.

Before / After School Care

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

DANIEL LYNCH, DEPUTY PRINCIPAL MISSION AND CATHOLIC IDENTITY

K-12 Feast Day of St Marcellin Champagnat Celebrations

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.

 

Archbishop’s LifeLink Primary Launch

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’.

St Vincent de Paul Winter Sleep Out

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.

   

LISA FOGLIANI, VICE PRINCIPAL

This term, we have continually exposed students to the essential skills of collaboration, creativity and critical thinking which are increasingly important in an age of disruption and change. Discovering how we work with others, co-learning and co-constructing ideas is important in working with others and developing good working relationships.

Newman Parents

The College was very fortunate to secure ‘Australia’s foremost expert in the area of CyberSafety’ Susan McLean to speak at the Newman Parents meeting on Wednesday 12 June. This session focused on making parents aware of the dangers facing young people today and looking at effective parenting techniques that can be implemented. With the fast pace of technological development, Newman College is extremely grateful for the time Susan spent with our parent community and we are certain that they have taken away many useful points from her work.

If you would like further information on Susan McLean, she can be followed on Twitter @Cybercop1 or on Facebook as Susan McLean-CyberSaftey Expert. Susan also operates her own website cybersafteysolutions.com.au

Newman Parents is part of the College’s commitment to parent partnership and being active participants in the education of their children, in collaboration with the College.

DISA Survey

In 2016, staff, students and parents participated in the DISA Survey. The purpose of the DISA is to provide schools with information on which to base judgements about areas for school improvement. DISA is an online tool that you can use to examine your school’s overall alignment and is comprised of three surveys customised for each of staff, parents, and students. This term, all staff, students and parents were invited to participate in the survey. The data collected will inform the College’s 2019-2022 Strategic Plan.