Newman Newbies: From the Head of Primary

 

Mitchell Bristow, Head of Primary

 

Teachers work tirelessly to develop social and emotional skills in each student, to help them understand the core concepts of Literacy and Numeracy, to engage them through the Vision for Learning, Shine through Discovery and grow them in their faith. This occurs every day and is a remarkable feat. One challenge that we must work in partnership with parents, is building student independence. This is a critical skill that will support them in all of their future pursuits. It is a fine balance between letting them take on challenges by themselves, supporting them without “doing” it for them and helping them bounce back when they make mistakes. As a PK-12 College, we continually challenge our students to become independent learners, independent individuals and confident young men and women.

Fitness Friday and Coffee at the College

This term the College launched a new initiative at the Marian Campus (Pre Kindy – Year 2), Fitness Friday. Every Friday students can enjoy a selection of activities including Lego Club, Cosmic Yoga, Running Club and Dance Aerobics. Fitness Friday coincides with another new community engagement initiative, Coffee at the College. The College is continually looking for ways to create opportunities for parents to interact, contribute and belong to the extended Newman College community.

Years 3-6 Eco Ninjas

Last year a group of dedicated students formed a sustainability committee called the Eco Ninjas on the Lavalla Campus (Years 3-6 Campus). The team have been working to improve the campus by reducing waste, growing vegetables and to inform students about sustainability and the environment. The Ninjas have recently received a Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant of $1000 and look forward to using these funds to continue to improve our school.

Homework Club

Homework Club takes place every Monday from 3.15pm – 4.30pm for students in Years 3-6. Students have the opportunity to complete work, work with teachers and complete their homework.

CoderDojo Club

CoderDojo is held every Tuesday from 3.15pm – 4.30pm. This coding club brings together students from Years 3-12 and are taught how to code and program.

IPSHA Swimming Carnival

On Thursday 21 March, Newman College hosted the Independent Primary School Heads of Australia (IPSHA) Swimming Carnival. Students in Years 4-6 competed against other Catholic Primary Schools and represented the College with pride while demonstrating excellent teamwork and sportsmanship.

IPSHA conduct a series of sporting carnivals for students in Years 3-6 with the focus on participation. There are no shields or points awarded. It is about giving students the opportunity to compete against students from other primary schools, promoting fun and enjoyment, encouraging everyone to participate and highlighting the importance of fair play and healthy competition.

 

 

 

Newman Newbies: From the Head of Primary

As we prepare to welcome new families into our College in 2019, I am reminded how important play-based education is for our young people. As they enter our College community as three or four year old’s, their world is only just beginning. Our play-based environment allows the students to firstly come to understand themselves and their position in their family and their world, secondly it allows them to understand how to interact with others and finally it allows them to explore the world God made. This also allows them to foster a strong imagination, to create new games, to collaborate and to solve problems. Our staff are always implementing learning intentions through this process and we are fortunate to have such dedicated staff offering the best for our students.

KINDY AND PRE KINDY ORIENTATIONS 2019

Over the last two weeks, the College has held the Kindy and Pre-Kindy Orientations for 2019. We have welcomed many new families to the school and recognised familiar faces as younger siblings start their journey. Each program was outlined, and the parents were able to connect with the families their children will become friends with. Thank you to the Primary Social Committee for supplying the refreshments and to Melissa Corbett, Katya Anderson and Lisa McClue for their support on the day.

SUSTAINABILITY @ LAVALLA – ECO NINJAS

The dedicated Year 5 students have banded together to support our College and our environment. They have formed a team to improve the Lavalla Campus in terms of sustainability, waste management and environmental care. These Eco Ninjas have already transformed the veggie gardens and will shape significant changes in the future. Well done!

PRIMARY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

Students, family and staff from our PK-Y6 classes came together for a night of Christmas celebration. Each year group has been working with our Music Teacher, Mrs Collins-Ford this term to learn a Christmas Carol. It was wonderful listening to their joyful young voices singing their chosen Carol so beautifully. The evening also allowed for our Primary community to reflect on a year of blessings and enjoy some significant family time together.

Newman Newbies: From the Deputy Principal Learning and Staff Development

One of the key strategic intents of our Vision for Learning Shine through Discovery – Let you light shine Matt 5:16 is to foster creativity. Creative solutions to complex problems is the mantra of our students as they navigate their learning in the 21st century. As educators, we support students to collaborate with their peers to design solutions and options to demonstrate knowledge and understanding. STEM skills that promote processes of design, prototyping and experimenting challenge students to review and improve their ideas and refine their thinking. Across the College, from the Marian Makerspace, to the Coder Dojo at Lavalla and the entrepreneurship program on Marcellin, exploring ideas supports our students to Shine through Discovery!

NAPLAN ANALYSIS 2018

NAPLAN results have been released and it is pleasing to note that Newman College performed above the national average in many outcomes. Spelling and Numeracy were areas of relative strength for most cohorts and reflects some of the different strategies utilised in both primary and secondary contexts. Writing persuasively and imaginatively is an area of growth for most groups of students and will be an area of focus in 2019.

Primary staff have been working with NAPLAN data to review areas of relative strength and areas for focus with current and future year groups. Staff meeting time has been allocated to data literacy and access to bespoke resourcing depending on cohort needs through an external group Best Performance. Extensive time has also been allocated to scope and sequencing of writing across the primary years to better target student areas of need.

Secondary staff have been engaged in productive projects and discussions this year to reflect on the way a range of data sources can be used to personalise the learning experience and activate growth for all students. NAPLAN data is one set of information which also helps target our literacy and numeracy intervention strategies along with Allwell Testing and class-based assessments and observations.
NAPLAN also assists us in providing data informed teaching and learning, which is in line with the College’s annual school improvement plan.