Primary Update – Term 2 Week 7

Jenni Vile on 05/06/2026

This fortnight has been a wonderful celebration of the diverse talents and achievements of our students, from champion runners to shining stars on the stage.

The Wizard of Oz

Our Newman community was truly dazzled by the outstanding performances in The Wizard of Oz musical. With 115 primary students involved, the production was a remarkable showcase of creativity, confidence and teamwork. The excitement leading up to the performance was evident and an extraordinary amount of effort went into preparation by both students and staff. A sincere thank you to Mrs Wynne, as well as the dedicated staff and supportive parents who made this production possible. It was a joyous experience watching our students shine and delight in their success as the curtain fell.

Cross Country

On the sporting field, a number of our Year 3–6 students represented Newman at the Junior ACC Cross Country. They again demonstrated the depth of talent within our school, alongside exemplary sportsmanship. Many of our runners achieved top 20 finishes, with special congratulations to Jack Macri (1st, Year 4), Harry Bluff (3rd, Year 4), Archer Johnson (1st, Year 3) and Nicolas Cameron (3rd, Year 3). We also celebrate the success of both our Year 3 and Year 4 boys’ relay teams, who placed first. Overall, Newman College achieved an impressive 2nd place shield, an outstanding result.

National Simultaneous Storytime

Our ECE classes also enjoyed National Simultaneous Story-time, where they were engaged by special guest readers sharing this year’s book, Luna Roo. This annual event is an important part of promoting literacy and a love of reading, bringing children across the country together to share the same story at the same time. The story of Luna Roo reinforced the importance of self-belief and perseverance, messages that strongly support the growth of our young learners.

As always, we appreciate your support in helping keep our students safe, two of everyone’s favourite topics, playgrounds and parking. A reminder that students are not permitted to use the playground or swings before or after school, even when supervised by parents, as this ensures the safety of all students. Parking continues to require our attention. Please avoid parking on verges or in undesignated bays and remember that patience is essential during busy times. We have had instances of cars being blocked in and some near misses, so your cooperation in keeping our community safe is greatly appreciated.

Mrs Laura Christopher

HEAD OF PRIMARY

From the Vice Principal – Term 2 Week 7

Jenni Vile on 05/06/2026

2027 Term Dates

Earlier this year we provided families with the school holiday break between Term 2 and Term 3, which from 2027 onwards will be 3 weeks. We have now finalised all Term Dates for 2027 and we are pleased to provide these to families for their planning. To view click here.

Traffic Warden – Mantua Crescent/ Tuscany Way

The Traffic Warden who works at the Children’s Crossing on Tuscany Way, near Manutua Crescent is unable to work between Monday 8 June, and Thursday 2 July (remainder of the term).  The crossing unit have been unable to find relief staff to cover this absence.

If your child using this crossing, please remind them to take care, and if you use this road in the mornings and afternoons please be vigilant and allow students to cross.

Newman Parents Forum – Monday 8 June

The Term 2 Newman Parents Forum (NPF) is scheduled to take place this Monday 8 June in the John Henry Newman Hub. All families are invited to attend in person or online via this TEAMs link. The agenda for the evening is available here.

Champagnat Day

Saturday 6 June marks the Feast Day of St Marcellin Champagnat, the founder of the Marist Brothers and of Marist Education. The Feast Day of St Marcellin Champagnat is an opportunity to gather with other Marist schools across Australia and throughout the world to give thanks, and to celebrate our shared Marist identity. Our Kindergarten to Year 12 College community will celebrate Champagnat Day on Friday 19 June with Mass/Liturgy, our annual Champagnat Day Awards, Fete activities and the inaugural “Rhythm of Guilds” competition.

Attendance on this day is compulsory for all students, and active participation in all aspects of the day is expected. Students are required to attend Mass in order to participate in the Fete. Students arriving to school during or after Mass will not be permitted to attend the Fete and will be supervised for private study. Should your child have an appointment on the day it is recommended that this is rescheduled.

Further information on the day is available here.

Mrs Beth Murphy

VICE PRINCIPAL

Mission Update – Term 2 Week 7

Jenni Vile on 05/06/2026

This Saturday, 6 June, Marists around the world will celebrate the Feast Day of St Marcellin Champagnat, the founder of the Marist Brothers and the inspiration behind the mission we continue today.

When we hear stories of saints, it can sometimes be difficult to relate to them. We may imagine them as extraordinary people whose holiness places them somehow beyond the experiences of ordinary life. Yet the saints were, first and foremost, people just like us. They faced challenges, doubts, and limitations. What made them remarkable was not perfection, but their willingness to love God and to love others.

Marcellin Champagnat was one such person. Born in rural France in 1789, he was not a man of wealth, influence, or exceptional academic ability. Rather, he was a priest who saw a need in his community and chose to respond. He noticed the young people who were overlooked, forgotten, and lacking access to education and faith formation. Seeing their needs, he acted with humility, courage, and determination.

I often wonder whether Marcellin could ever have imagined what would grow from those simple beginnings. Could he have envisioned Marist schools on the other side of the world in Australia? Could he have imagined the thousands of students, families, staff, and communities who would one day be touched by his vision? I suspect that he would be genuinely surprised. Yet perhaps that is the beauty of his story. He did not set out to change the world; he simply responded faithfully to the needs he saw before him.

As we celebrate his feast day, we are reminded that the call to holiness is not reserved for a select few. Each of us is invited to be part of the communion of saints by continuing their work in our own time and place. Like Marcellin, we are called to notice those who may be overlooked, to respond with compassion, and to bring the love of God to others through our words and actions.

I wish all members of our community a wonderful weekend as we reflect on the life and example of St Marcellin Champagnat. While his feast day falls this Saturday, we are very much looking forward to celebrating together as a College community on Friday 19 June, once our senior students have completed their exams.

Mr Stuart McClorey

DIRECTOR OF MISSION & CATHOLIC IDENTITY

Primary Update – Term 3 Week 5

Jenni Vile on 22/05/2026

It has been another busy and rewarding period in our school, with students engaging in a wide range of academic, sporting and creative pursuits. It is wonderful to see our students’ embracing opportunities, striving for excellence and representing our school community with pride.

We are pleased to share several recent highlights that reflect the talent, dedication and enthusiasm of our students.

Da Vinci Decathlon

A number of our Year 5 and Year 6 students recently participated in the Da Vinci Decathlon, an academic competition inspired by the multidisciplinary work of Leonardo da Vinci. This challenging event encourages both creativity and critical thinking across a variety of disciplines. We are delighted to announce that our Year 6 team achieved First Place in the Creative Producers category, an outstanding accomplishment that showcases their collaboration and innovation.

School Sports WA Cross Country

This week, a number of our Year 3 to Year 6 students competed in the School Sport WA Cross Country Competition. Our runners performed exceptionally well, and it was clear that their training through Run Club has had a positive impact. A special congratulations to Archer Johnson (Year 3), who won the Year 3 race at an impressive pace. We are incredibly proud of all students who participated, particularly for the determination and sportsmanship they demonstrated throughout the event.

Looking ahead, we are excited for next week’s Primary Musical performances. A significant amount of time, effort and enthusiasm has gone into this production from both staff and students, and we are very much looking forward to celebrating their hard work with our community.

Over the past two weeks, we have also enjoyed two engaging and lively assemblies. Year 2 Red entertained us with a vibrant performance of George’s Marvellous Medicine, while Year 1 Green delighted the audience by showcasing their learning through The Gruffalo. These presentations highlight the confidence and creativity of our students and are always a valued part of our school program.

Thank you for your continued support as we celebrate these achievements together.

Mrs Laura Christopher

HEAD OF PRIMARY

From the Vice Principal – Term 2 Week 5

Jenni Vile on 22/05/2026

Around the College

This week provided another wonderful opportunity to reflect on the enduring legacy of Saint Marcellin Champagnat, who was born on 20 May 1789 in Marlhes, France. Through his vision for education and his commitment to young people, particularly those most in need, Marcellin established the Marist Brothers in 1817. His values of family spirit, service and presence continue to shape life at Newman College today. A beautiful example of this spirit can be seen in the legacy gift left by our graduating Year 6 Class of 2025. We are delighted to now see that vision beginning to flourish through the development of our new student garden space. The current Year 6 students collaborated to research, design and plan what would be planted in each space, while our Kindergarten and Pre-Primary students joyfully began planting seeds and seedlings, learning valuable lessons about sustainability, teamwork, responsibility and caring for the environment.

Our students have also been busy embracing academic challenges beyond the classroom through their participation in the Da Vinci Decathlon. Students from Years 5–10 competed across a range of disciplines including Engineering, Mathematics, Science, English, Art and Poetry, Cartography, Chess, Creative Producers and Code Breaking. The competition provided students with an opportunity to showcase creativity, collaboration and critical thinking while working together in teams under pressure. We congratulate all students involved for the enthusiasm and determination they demonstrated throughout the event. A special congratulations goes to our Year 6 team, who achieved first place in Creative Producers, and to our Year 7 team, who placed third in Cartography.

Over the past few weeks, our Year 11 Outdoor Education students have undertaken their hiking expedition in Denmark. Throughout the experience, students were challenged both physically and mentally as they developed their navigation, campcraft, teamwork and resilience skills in an authentic outdoor environment. Our Year 12 ATAR Outdoor Education students also recently completed a four-day paddling expedition through the stunning waters of Shark Bay and Cape Peron. The expedition provided students with the opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge in a real-world setting while building independence, perseverance and collaboration.

Experiential learning opportunities such as these are a vital part of the Outdoor Education program, allowing students to grow through challenge, connection and reflection beyond the classroom. We thank our Outdoor Education staff for their dedication, expertise and care in providing these rich and memorable learning experiences for our students.

Newman Parents Forum

The Newman Parents Forum for Term 2 is scheduled to take place on Monday 8 June in the John Henry Newman Learning Hub. Parents and guardians are invited to join online or in person from 6.00pm. Click here to view the Agenda and Teams Link for the meeting.

Parking Regulations

A reminder that the City of Stirling is active in monitoring parking compliance surrounding the College and will issue infringements where these regulations are not met. Families are asked to utilise the established parking and pick up and drop off points within the College. As always, active and public transport is encouraged.

Champagnat Day – Friday 19th June

On 6 June, Marist schools across Australia and around the world will mark the Feast Day of St Marcellin Champagnat, founder of the Marist Brothers and of Marist Education. It is a wonderful opportunity to give thanks and celebrate our shared Marist identity alongside schools from our global network.

Newman College will come together to celebrate Champagnat Day on Friday 19 June — and in a special first, this will be the first year we celebrate as a K–12 community. The day will begin with Mass, followed by an assembly where we will present the Champagnat Awards, recognising staff and students who live out our Marist characteristics each day through their words, actions, leadership, service, and care for others. These awards are a significant honour within our College community. The assembly will be followed by a fete, which will raise funds for Australian Marist Solidarity (AMS) and other local agencies that support those who are poor and marginalised. Students will also take part in a guild activity to round out the day.

Attendance on this day is compulsory for all students. A detailed letter will be sent to all families outlining the day, events, and expectations.

We look forward to coming together as one College community to celebrate this very special day.

Mrs Beth Murphy

VICE PRINCIPAL