Mission Update – Term 2 Week 6

Over the past few weeks, I have had the pleasure of meeting many families during enrolment interviews for our Year 7 cohort of 2028. It is one of my favourite parts of the year. Hearing what matters most to families, and what they hope for their children. So often, I hear hopes that their children will feel safe, grow in confidence, succeed in their learning, and become good young people. These hopes echo the same vision that St Marcellin Champagnat held for the young people in his care – ‘to form good Christians and good citizens’.

Today, 6 June, marks the Feast Day of St Marcellin Champagnat. While we will celebrate this occasion with mass and our annual Champagnat Awards following our Year 11 and 12 Exams, it is worth pausing to remember the mission of the Marist Brothers – to make Jesus Christ known and loved.

When I speak to my Year 7 students, I often say there are two ways you can accomplish this. One way is to talk about him, to attend mass, to reflect on the scriptures, and to learn the stories of his life. The other, is in how we live, and how we choose to treat each other, how we choose to build a community of faith and love. Marcellin Champagnat saw Jesus not only in churches or classrooms, but in every young person. He believed that to truly love Jesus meant making sure others experienced that love through kindness, encouragement, and presence in the small, every day moments.

We see that same mission alive in our College today. When teachers go the extra mile for their students, when students include someone who is feeling left out, or when families come together in faith and service. It is in our relationships, in our values, and in our culture. This week, I saw a perfect example of this in action.

I was doing a tour of our Marcellin campus with the family of a Year 4 girl, when we visited one of the Food Tech classes. We popped in to say hello to two Year 8 students, Eva and Grace, who had waved at us enthusiastically through the window, welcoming us in. They spent time speaking with the young girl on tour, laughing with her, sharing what they had been doing, and even offering her some of the food they had just prepared. In their brief interaction, Eva and Grace displayed something really beautiful – kindness without being asked, joy without hesitation, and a genuine welcome to someone new to our community. In that moment, perhaps without even knowing it, they made Jesus known and loved. Not through words, or a lesson from the stories of his life, but through their actions; how they made someone feel seen, included, and valued.

Often, people think that the mission of making Jesus known and loved is beyond them. That they don’t have the knowledge, or the expertise, or the required level of ‘holiness’ needed to do such a task. But the reality is, the mission of making Jesus known and loved is within the grasp of every member of our community – students, staff, and families. We are all capable of being good and loving, and sharing this with others. As we celebrate the Feast Day of St Marcellin Champagnat this week, I invite you to ask yourself:

  • How am I helping to make Jesus known and loved in my own way?
  • What small, but meaningful thing(s) can I do in our community to make a difference to someone else?

In the Marist spirit, it’s not about grand gestures. It’s about the quiet faithfulness of people who choose, again and again, to care – and we are lucky to have students like Eva and Grace who choose to do that. That’s the legacy of St Marcellin, and one that we are invited each day to be a part of.

Marist Parent Formation Evening

Have you ever wanted to understand a little bit more about the Marist story?

Or to better understand the roots and values of our Newman College community?

We warmly invite you to join us for a special evening of conversation, connection, and reflection as we explore the heart of our Marist story while enjoying some food and drink together.

This is an opportunity to learn more about the values that shape our College – simplicity, presence, family spirit, love of work, and following the way of Mary – and how these continue to guide our community today.

Whether you’re new to the College or have been with us for years, we’d love for you to be part of this relaxed and welcoming evening. Come and discover how the spirit of St Marcellin Champagnat lives on in our shared mission to form young people as good Christians and good citizens.

To register your interest, click here.

Finance & Operations – Term 2 Week 4

Lavalla Build – Update

As mentioned in the Vice Principal’s update, the recent removal of site sheds by our builder, Badge Constructions, indicates that the construction of our new PK – Year 2 facilities are nearly complete. Some aerial photos below show the ongoing development of the site. We are anticipating the handover of the facilities next month. The process of relocating from the Marian campus is underway, and we will provide further updates in due course.

Bus Survey

Thank you to those parents who expressed interest through our recent survey, with a view to evaluating the possibility of chartered bus services to and from the College. Unfortunately, the level of interest required to provide a sustainable service was not received. I have included a small table below showing the data from the survey. It was noted that the cost of the service was a likely reason for the less than expected response. Concerns were also raised about committing to the required number of weekly journeys.

Total responses received:16
Glendalough Station5
Karrinyup Bus Station9
Other Areas2

As you know, Transperth have declined our request for additional services to/from the areas mentioned. Families seeking increased bus services from Karrinyup & Stirling are suggested to continue to liaise with Transperth regarding possible increases to their services.

City of Stirling – Parking

We have received notification from the City of Stirling regarding parking infringements and the resulting impact on our neighbours, particularly around the areas of Tuscany Way, Mantua Crescent & Dolomite Court. Parking rangers have asked us to convey their requests for drivers to adhere to the signage and restrictions marked. In the event that breaches continue, they are likely to resort to issuing infringement notices without further warning.

Thank you for your understanding and respect for our neighbours.

Mission Update – Term 2 Week 4

This week, I had the joy of taking some families on a tour of our College. One of the highlights of these moments is being able to introduce families to what it means to be part of a Marist school community – to speak about our Marist charism, the characteristics that underpin our way of being, and of course, the story of our founder, Saint Marcellin Champagnat. 

In establishing his vision for the education and formation of young people, Marcellin said: 

“To educate children, you must first love them and love them all equally.” 

It sounds so simple, and something we might hope to take for granted, but I find myself reflecting on this call often. To not just love children… but to love all children. 

Loving all children equally means seeing the dignity, worth, and value in every child, not just those who are well-behaved or high-achieving. It also includes those who may challenge us. It means recognising the quiet child, the restless child, the upset child, and the child who carries wounds from a story we may not yet know or fully understand. 

In our Marist community, ‘all children’ includes every young person in our care. But as we approach National Reconciliation Week, it’s an opportunity to widen our lens – to include children and families from communities we may not yet fully know or understand. This includes our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters. Loving them equally means listening to their stories, honouring their experiences, and walking alongside them toward healing. 

This is the heart of reconciliation. 

At its core, reconciliation is about healing relationships. Not only between individuals, but also with the truth of our shared history, and with those whose voices have often gone unheard. It asks us to take the first step: to listen with humility, to reflect with honesty, and to approach one another with the Marian qualities of simplicity, gentleness, and presence. 

In the Gospels, we see Jesus reach out to those who were hurting or excluded. He met people where they were and reminded them of their worth. As Marists, we hope to follow his example by how we live, how we treat others, and how we respond with compassion. 

This year’s theme for National Reconciliation Week, ‘Bridging Now to Next,’ encourages us to honour the past, including the pain and injustice experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, while working together to build a more just and united future. It reminds us that reconciliation isn’t a one-off event, but an ongoing journey. 

It’s natural to wonder, in the face of something so significant, whether our small actions make a difference. 

But it is easy if we begin with something simple. 

We can begin by listening to the call of St. Marcellin and simply loving all children, even those we don’t yet fully understand. We can honour the dignity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by continuing to walk with them, to learn from them, and to commit ourselves to truth and healing. 

Next week especially, we are invited to be bridge-builders: people who listen, who learn, and who choose to lead with love. 

Mr Stuart McClorey

DIRECTOR OF MISSION & CATHOLIC IDENTITY

Primary Update – Term 2 Week 4

1 Blue Assembly 

On Friday of last week, Year 1 Blue entertained us with the assembly dedicated to their Mums, sharing the many reasons they love their Mums and acknowledging all the many balls that the Mums in our community juggle while always having the time to stop and have a cuddle. Thank you, 1 Blue, Miss Tess McKenna and Mrs Julie Romano for such a well-performed, heart-warming assembly.  

Year 2 Green Assembly 

This morning, 2 Green entertained and educated us with their love of Science, experiments and potions! They even performed experiments on stage! Massive thank you to 2 Green, Mrs Catherine Nicolaou, Mrs Trish Eindorf and Ms Aishlin Fritz, for highlighting not only is Chemistry fun and exciting, but it is also important in improving our world.  

Year 3-6 Guild Cross Country  

Last Friday, we celebrated our inaugural Year 3-6 Guild Cross Country, showcasing the incredible spirit and perseverance of our students. From the first stride to the final finish line, each participant demonstrated remarkable grit, determination, and sportsmanship. The energy was palpable as students cheered on their peers, embodying the true essence of our school community. A special thank you to Mrs Hannah Barnsley for all of her organisation and coordination of the event.  

Congratulations to our medal winners: 

  Girls Boys 
Year 3 1st  Lucy Summerfield (Camara) Harry Bluff (Chishom) 
 2nd  Finley Shephard (MacKillop) Tom Atkinson (Thomas More) 
 3rd  Frankie Baily (Camara) Noah Steens (Camara) 
Year 4 1st  Zoe Harris (MacKillop) Donovan Johnson (Catherine) 
 2nd  Indiana Dutton (Thomas More) Austin Houlahan (Camara) 
 3rd  Sophie Magee (Camara) Cristian Cameron (Brigid) 
Year 5 1st  Sicily Moschopoulos (Romero) Nikhil Nair (Brigid) 
 2nd  Lucy Cumberworth (Chisholm) Izei Goldaracena Zubiri (Chisholm) 
 3rd  Clara Schlitter (Brigid) Julian Posselt (Chisholm) 
Year 6 1st  Isabelle Hobson (Romero) Blake Martin (Catherine) 
 2nd  Samantha Glyde (Thomas More) Rohan Shephard (MacKillop) 
 3rd  Maya Martin-Booth (Thomas More) Samuel Baily (Camara) 
    

Homework Club 

A friendly reminder that Homework Club for Years 3–6 takes place every Tuesday from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm in the 3–6 Building (Ground Floor). 

To ensure the safety and accountability of all students: 

  • Teachers will sign in students upon their arrival. 
  • Parents or guardians are required to present themselves to sign their child out at the conclusion of the session. 
  • If you wish for your child to be dismissed without parent collection, please inform us by emailing primary.admin@newman.wa.edu.au no later than the Friday prior to the Homework Club session. 
  • We kindly ask that all students are collected promptly at 4:30 pm to ensure staff can conclude the session on time. 

We appreciate your cooperation in maintaining a secure and supportive environment for our students. 

Marian Photos  

Just a friendly reminder that photos at the Marian campus will take place on 29 and 30 May. Uniform requirements for these two days are: 

  • Y1-Y2:                  Winter Uniform with jumper   
  • Pre-Primary:      Sport Uniform (no guild shirt) 
  • Kindy:                  No uniform (kindy top an option) 

Mrs Sarah Pagett

ACTING HEAD OF PRIMARY

From the Vice Principal – Term 2 Week 4

National Reconciliation Week – 27 May – 3 June

Reconciliation is an ongoing journey focused on strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the wider community, for the benefit of all Australians. It reminds us of the generations who have worked tirelessly for meaningful change and calls us to continue striving for a just and equitable society – one where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have the same life opportunities as non-Indigenous children, with improved outcomes in education, health, and economic wellbeing.

Throughout the week, Newman College students from Pre-Kindy to Year 12 will engage in a variety of activities designed to deepen their understanding of our shared histories, cultures, and achievements. These experiences will also encourage students to reflect on how each of us can contribute to reconciliation in Australia. We look forward to sharing highlights with you in our next newsletter.

Newman College Community Quiz Night

The Newman College Community Quiz Night will be held on Friday 20 June.  

Parents of the College are invited to come together for a fun night of friendly competition and community spirit, in support of two worth causes; Youth Focus, an organisation that works to improve the mental health and wellbeing of Western Australians between the ages of 12 and 25, and Marist Solidarity, an aid agency that provides education to young people in communities in our province. As a Marist school, these are important causes that are close to our hearts.  

The link for booking can be accessed here.

Lavalla Campus Carpark – Updated Traffic Guidelines

With the recent removal of the Badge Site Offices from the Lavalla Carpark, we ask for your continued support in maintaining safe and efficient traffic flow during pick-up times.

To help avoid congestion at the entrance and exit points, we kindly request the following:

  • Please continue to clearly display your family names on the car dashboard if you are using the Kiss ‘N’ Drive service.
  • If your child is not ready for collection in the Kiss ‘N’ Drive zone, please continue through the loop and either rejoin the circuit or park in the Eastern section of the carpark.
  • Parents wishing to park should remain in the right lane and use the main carpark bays.
  • Please keep the left lane clear and moving to ensure traffic flows smoothly and to prevent cars from backing up onto Empire Avenue.

Your cooperation in following these guidelines will help create a safer, more efficient environment for all members of our community. Thank you for your ongoing support.

Mr Michael Chiera

VICE PRINCIPAL