Future Families Archives - Page 4 of 17

Newman News Term 1 Week 10: From the Director of Mission and Catholic Identity

Jo Dunn on 07/04/2022

The end of Term 1 coincides with the end of Lent. This period of 40 days before Easter is a time for us to recalibrate our focus on what is truly important through prayer, almsgiving and fasting. Our students have demonstrated a spirit of generosity throughout the term in the way they have supported our fundraising initiatives for Lismore and Project Compassion. As we prepare for Holy Week and enter the Easter period, we encourage our families to contemplate this journey and how we can be Easter people and bring new life into our communities through our relationship with God, ourselves and most importantly each other. On Wednesday 6 April, our students from Marcellin participated in the Easter Liturgy, click here to watch. Students from Marian and Lavalla reflected on the Easter story through their liturgy, beautifully put together by our Year 1 class. Click here to watch.

It has been another big term for the Ministry office and I am grateful to the support of all our staff, students and families. I look forward to another term of advocacy, service and prayer in Term 2.

Key Dates

College Calendar Link – In recent times, our school calendar has changed regularly.

Year 11 Game Changer Retreat – March 29

Each Game Changers group takes part in an annual Retreat Day. These days are facilitated by Marist Youth Ministry and offer an opportunity for Game Changers to connect and build community with each other. The program features 3 main sessions, with an opportunity for large and small group discussion. The aim is to energise students in their ongoing journey as well as allow space and time to gather and plan for their leadership and service opportunities within and beyond the school context.

‘One does not live on bread alone’ Matthew 4, was the opening idea for our Year 11 Game Changers Retreat. We focused on our Five F’s: family, fun, faith, friends and fitness, reflecting on how we live these out in our lives at the moment, and perhaps how we can improve on them.  We discussed the fragility of life through the metaphor of the ‘Jenga tower’ and considered who helps us pick up the pieces when things become unsteady.

 “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10, once we had established our requirements for a supported and fulfilled life, we explored how we can contribute to society and how we can use our unique gifts and talents to create abundance for ourselves and those in our communities. A restorative and inspiring day, the students felt invigorated to return to school life, to bring a relaxed and innovative approach to recognising potential and creating a better future for themselves and others.
Mrs Aleisha Bryson, Leader of Youth Ministry and Advocacy

Our next Game Changers Retreat will be held on April 29 for Year 9 Students.

Project Compassion

Newman College would like to express sincere thanks to all those who helped with our last push towards achieving our goal for Project Compassion. The funds raised doubled in just a week as students participated in a range of activities across the College, digging deep into their pockets.

The sales from the famous Primary School Easter raffle, free dress day, teacher raffle and hula hoop throw competition all contributed towards accelerating our awareness and contribution of funds for those communities around the world in need of our small donations.

As Mr Martino could be heard time and time again quoting “$2 or $5, will barely be noticed by most of us, it may mean we go without a want, like a waffle or ice-cream from the canteen. But for these people it could mean the difference of eating, access to water or safe practices within their community.” We saw this in action with Pastoral Care Groups such as Romero 7 and Camara 10 taking on the challenge as a group and astounding all with the results of their commitment and generosity.

Students across Marian and Lavalla have continued raising awareness and funds for Project Compassion’s Caritas appeal. Our Year 4 students have organised a ‘Walk for Water’ event where students have carried buckets of water around the oval to experience what many young people around the world have to do each day. Our Year 6 students have been assisting in the organisation of our Easter Raffle and have also organised a number of competitions including, guess the lollies in the jar with all proceeds supporting Caritas.

A heartfelt thankyou to everyone who helped in the organising and running of the events, as well as those who participated and donated their time and money. Looking forward to sharing out totals next term.

Student Reflections

Walk for Water

Today we organised a ‘Walk for Water’ event for the Year 4 students. We have been learning how many people around the world have to walk each day to get fresh water. To help our class understand how that feels like we set up a relay around the oval where each team had to carry a bucket of water.

Sienna, Poppy, Vivienne and Stella (4 Red)

Easter Raffle

Today there was great excitement as we drew the prizes from our annual Easter Raffle. Many thanks to the generous donations already from our families. Thank you also to the students and parents who assisted with the wrapping of the prizes. All funds raised have been donated to Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion appeal this Lent.

Year 6 Fundraising

In Year 6 we have spent time listening to Project Compassion stories and how Caritas helps those in need around the world. We decided to organise a lolly guessing competition with all the money raised donated to Caritas’s Project Compassion appeal. We hope the money raised helps lives in need and provides opportunities for those people who are not as lucky as we are.

Ella, Lola, Olivia, Chloe, Emmersyn (Year 6)

Year 7 Retreat Day

As part of their Year 7 experience, students attended a Retreat Day organised by the College and facilitated by 24/7 Youth Ministry who are specifically trained for this role.  The Retreat Day follows our Vision for Mission “Good Christians and Good Citizens” as we offer students an opportunity away from their normal school routine to pause and reflect on their relationship with creation, others, themselves, and God. Students have found these experiences to be both positive and rewarding.

The next Retreat Day on the Marcellin Campus is scheduled for our Year 8 Students on May 26.

Thursday Morning Mass

Thursday Morning Mass will continue in Term 2 for students across the College. Mass begins at 8.10 am in the Champagnat Chapel and is celebrated by our local priests.

Week 1, Thursday 28 April; Year 12 Students
Week 2, Thursday 5 May; Year 3 Students

Newman News Term 1 Week 10 : From the Vice Principal

Jenni Vile on 07/04/2022

The end of term has come, and the celebration of Easter is nearly upon us. I am confident that most of our community members are welcoming the much-needed rest, relaxation of routine and time with family and friends. Despite the constraints around gathering as a community, students in PK-12 were able to celebrate the Easter story at reformatted liturgies, which included online presentations and small class gatherings. Throughout the Lenten period, we asked students and families to support fundraisers for Project Compassion and Caritas. Thank you for your generosity.

Next term will see the winter uniform return for our students. Can I please take this opportunity to remind you to check clothing sizes for fit and ensure hair styles are in line with the expectations of our community prior to the start of term. We are hoping to recommence the term with a clear focus on learning and we do not wish for unnecessary distractions to take us away from our core business.

As we celebrate Easter, in keeping with our 2022 Marist Theme ‘Known and Loved – Dignity for all’, may we remember God’s perfect love for all humans, in their richness and diversity, and may that love fill us with hope and a growing realisation of our unity, as one human-kind. Happy Easter.

Key Dates

College Calendar Link – In recent times, our school calendar has changed regularly. Incursions, Excursions, Retreats, Carnivals, Year 12 Ball, to name a few, have all had to be cancelled/postponed or delivered in a different format. We sincerely thank you for your understanding and support. We encourage you to continue to look at the online College calendar as entries are updated daily.

Staffing

The following staff are leaving our College community to pursue other endeavours for which we wish them every success. We thank them for the support they have given to both students and staff during their time here.

Cristina Guzzomi

Melissa Gordon

Remmi Missell

Kelly Fitzpatrick, Leader of Wellbeing Year 8, will be commencing maternity leave at the end of Week Two, Term Two, and Hannah Parker, Leader of Learning Science will be taking maternity leave from the end of Week 4. We wish both Kelly and Hannah well with their first journeys into motherhood.

We look forward to welcoming Scott Smith into our College community and Marist family, in the role of Leader of Wellbeing Year 8. We are also welcoming Giorgia Bakeberg to our community as a Science and Mathematics teacher from the start of Term 2 and Olivia Biasin in the capacity of Art Technician PK-12.

Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews – Years 8-10

Parent, Teacher, and Student interviews for students in Years 8-10 are being held online on Thursday 28 April from 4.00pm-8.00pm via TEAMS. Details have already been emailed to relevant families.

Uniform Shop

All stock of bathers and rash vests have been delivered to the uniform shop. A reminder to families that from the start of next year (delayed by a year) these items are compulsory for students in Years 3 to 10. Students will be engaged in swimming for the following periods of time.

Aquatics summary

All Years 3 – 6 students swim in Term 1 during HPE and at the carnival and engage in swimming lessons during Term 4.
All Year 7-10 students swim for the duration of Term 1 approximately 22-27 lessons.
Year 9 students swim for an additional 4 weeks in Term 3 as they complete a lifesaving module (approximately 12 lessons).
Year 10 students complete a 4-week water polo module that will start in week 9 of Term 3 (approximately 12 lessons).

Term 2 Information

All students will return on Tuesday 26 April. Monday 25 April is ANZAC Day, which is a public holiday.

Uniform Expectations

All students are reminded of the expectations relating to their personal presentation. Please Click Here  to access uniform requirements and guidelines.  If you need to purchase new uniform items, please ensure you give yourself adequate time.

COVID 19

There will be no COVID-19 reporting completed over the holiday period by our staff. However, if your child is required to isolate from the second week, please complete the online form to alert us to the absentee, and the positive case or household contact. All forms and information regarding COVID can be found on the Website.

Code of Conduct

Please click here to download the Newman College Code of Conduct for Parents.

Newman News Term 1 Week 10 : From the Principal

Jenni Vile on 07/04/2022

Term 1 has presented many challenges for families and the College with the COVID-19 Omicron variant permeating Western Australia. As the State’s borders have opened we have seen numbers of infections steadily increase, impacting the wider community and our school. Thank you to families for responding to the many changes that have taken place throughout the term. We are hoping for a more settled College environment in Term 2 as some restrictions for schools are lifted.

Last week I spent time in Victoria visiting three Marist schools. Each school is different but all connected by our Marist family and shared mission. Speaking with students and teachers was an eye opener for me as they told of their experiences living in lockdown for the most part of the last two years. Year 9 students, for example, have not yet completed a full term of high school. This term will be the first. Year 9 students have never been to a College Mass, Assembly, a secondary school camp, excursion, incursion or any other whole school event. Only in the last few weeks has co-curricular recommenced for these schools. It has been a challenging road but they are on the journey together. Their resilience is marked by their aspirations; aspirations that we all have – to live life and live it to the full.

As we journey together towards the end of term, perhaps it is timely that we reflect on our local context. How we engaged in our learning this term, how we sought support, how agile and flexible have we been? The COVID-19 Pandemic is now a major disruption in our State and now our school. The uncertainty and the complexity of the road ahead can and is causing anxiety for teachers, students and families. Where we draw support and how we build resilience will be critical as we move towards Term 2.

150 Years of Marist Education in Australia

This year, we celebrate 150 years of Marist education in Australia. 56 schools will gather today at a Mass held in Sydney to celebrate our Marist Project – one where our Founder, St Marcellin Champagnat, championed the education and aspirations of dislocated youth. This hope and this mission is ever present today.

End of Term

So, as we reflect on the term, thank you for your presence and contribution to the life of our community. We have achieved much this term across curricular and co-curricular pursuits. Congratulations to all students for your resilience and commitment to your learning.

Easter Message

In many ways it is a blessing that Easter is upon us. Our Christianity is predicated on this story; the death and resurrection of Christ and the new life and the hope that emerges from the despair and dislocation that forever permeates our world. If anything, we need to draw on this hope that lies within us and those around us. This Marist community is founded on our family spirit and that presence that values relationships.

I encourage all families to attend the Easter services over Holy Week. Take a moment and give thanks with the hope that Easter brings.

Newman News Term 1 Week 8: From the Director of Mission and Catholic Identity

Jo Dunn on 25/03/2022

Key Dates – 2022

Click here to view the College Calendar.

Trinity College Lismore Appeal

Thank you to everyone who generously donated to our Appeal to support Trinity College after the recent devasting floods in Queensland. Although it will be a long road to recovery for the community in Lismore, the College has already adapted to provide online learning and is also using classroom facilities at Southern Cross University to ensure their students’ education can continue.

As fellow Marists we trust our prayers and financial contributions will help support the students and staff at Trinity College as they recover and rebuild their community. As a community we have been able to make a contribution to the rebuilding of the community of $5000. Thank you to everyone who dontated, if you still wish to donate, you can using the details below.

Caritas Fast

Each year during Lent, we commit to supporting Caritas’ Project Compassion which gives our school community the opportunity to raise awareness and funds to support under privileged societies. This is underpinned by our Vision for Mission, calling us to serve humanity and raise up those in poverty.

As part of Project Compassion for 2022 over 50 of our students participated in the Caritas Fast. By only eating a barley sugar at recess and a cup of cold rice at lunch these students began to appreciate how little some people in the world have available to eat. The students also raised valuable funds towards our target of reaching $15,000 to support Project Compassion.

Year 5 Feed the Poor

On Wednesday the 23 March 2022 Year 5 students had to participate in a challenge which was called feed the poor. Everyone had to bring a donation of $2 or more and we donated to project compassion. The total amount of money we raised was $171.90, some students forgot to bring their donation so that’s not the final amount of money we raised. We sat under the tree and enjoyed the rice that was cooked. It was interesting to only have a plain portion of rice for lunch. It helped us to understand and sympathise with what it felt like not to have the luxury of food choices and flavours.

Why Did We Do It?

We did it because it taught us to be grateful for what we have instead of being greedy about what we don’t have. We got to learn how lucky we are and what it feels like for people across the world that don’t have choices for their food and what they have to eat. We will also be using this as a topic in writing and this experience will help us. Also we did this to raise money for Caritas. Overall, the experience was amazing, and we have learnt so much, we hope that other years to come get to share the experience and learn what we learnt.

BY MAELEE, ELLA T AND MAVRICK.

Game Changers Retreat

On March 29, our Year 11 Game Changers will take part in their annual Retreat Day. These days are facilitated by Marist Youth Ministry and offer an opportunity for Game Changers to connect and build community with each other. The program features 3 main sessions, with an opportunity for large and small group discussion. The aim is to energise students in their ongoing journey as well as allow space and time to gather and plan for their leadership and service opportunities within and beyond the school context.

We look forward to sharing this exciting and rewarding experience with our Year 11 Game Changers.

Sacramental Retreat Facilitation Training

In 2022, Newman College is partnering up with 24/7 Youth Mininstry, to train a group of Year 10 students in the art of youth ministry. This intensive program will see students engage in 3 workshops with Mario Borg, the Director of 24/7 Youth Ministry. At the conclusion of this program, students will support 24/7 Youth Mininstry with Sacramental Retreats with students in Year 3 and 4.

This is a great opportunity for students to grow in their own understanding of their faith and seek to foster the faith of others through their retreat facilitation.

Thank you to Mario Borg and the students for their commitment to this program.

Staff Lenten Prayer Meetings

Newman College is actively committed to broadening the opportunities for the faith formation of staff members, which naturally flows through to the formation of our students. Supported by our Vision for Mission: to form “good Christians and good citizens”, staff have access to a variety of formation experiences from prayers to liturgical celebrations.

Each week during Lent, the Marist Association of St Marcellin Champagnat has offered staff the opportunity to meet online, reflecting on scripture, praying and sharing, using a resource from the Diocese of Wollongong. This has been a fantastic opportunity for staff to pause and be still and to put into practise this message we give to our students daily. As a College we are committed to the ongoing formation of our staff and students as we continue to live out the dream of St Marcellin Champagnat, “to make Jesus Christ known and loved.”

Sacrament of Reconciliation

On Tuesday our Year 11 students had the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This Sacrament encourages students to reflect on their lives, their relationships with God, self, others and creation and to seek forgiveness and healing. Students were invited to judge less and build more authentic relationships. Thanks to Fr Mark from the Redemptorist Monastery for guiding our students and leading the celebration of the sacrament.

Thursday Morning Mass

Thursday Morning Mass continues for students across the College. Mass begins at 8.10 am in the Champagnat Chapel and is celebrated by our local priests.

Week 9, Thursday 31 March; Year 4 Students
Week 10, Thursday 7 April; Year 7 Students

Newman News Term 1 Week 8 : From the Vice Principal

Jo Dunn on 25/03/2022

Last Friday was the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. The theme for 2022 is Kindness Culture. By building a Kindness Culture together, we can promote inclusion, respect and community belonging for all students in schools across Australia. This week we celebrated Harmony week, the theme is Everyone Belongs. Funds raised will be donated to Project Compassion.

This theme of Everyone Belongs has a striking alignment with our Marist theme for 2022. ‘Known and Love, Dignity for All’

This week also saw students competing in the reformatted Associated and Catholic Colleges (ACC) A Division Swimming Carnival at the HBF Stadium. Congratulations and thanks to staff and our Year 7 to 12 Swimming Team, who under COVID-19 constraints, managed to continue with their training in preparation for the wonderful efforts they displayed in the pool.

Key Dates

Newman Parents Consultative Committee

Thank you to those parents who were able to join the online NPCC meeting held on Monday 14 March. We are calling for expressions of interest from those parents who wish to join the NPCC Executive for 2022

The NPCC provided information about the College’s ASIP Plan for 2022 and provided a response to the WA Health guidelines for COVID-19. The main points discussed were:

COVID-19 mitigation actions implemented by the College
– Ventilation
– Hygiene
– Protocols
– Cleaning
COVID-19 administrative processes undertaken by staff
– Communication
– Contact tracing
– Remote learning

The College’s COVID-19 response section of the meeting can be viewed by clicking here.

Our priority continues to be the health and safety of students and staff. The College appreciates the opportunity to work alongside parents in meeting the needs of students within our community.

End of Term 1 Information

All students finish on Friday 8 April. Holy week will be celebrated with an online Easter Liturgy for Kindergarten to Year 6 students on Thursday 7 April, and an online Principal’s Assembly and Easter Liturgy for Year 7 to 12 students on Wednesday 6 April.

Term 2 Information

All students will return on Tuesday 26 April. Monday 25 April is ANZAC Day, which is a public holiday. Parent Student Teacher Online Interviews for Years 8, 9 and 10 are due to occur next term on 28 April. These interviews will be held online via Teams. Further information will follow via email.

Code of Conduct for Parents

Please click here to download the Newman College Code of Conduct for Parents.