Category: Primary

Marist Theme 2020

The Marist theme for 2021 is Breathe: The Spirit of Life.

Anthony Clarke, Director of Mission and Life Formation for Marist Australia, reflects:

“In this moment of history, we could not be more aware of how connected we are. An unknown virus spread from a largely unheard-of city to affect every human being on the planet. Pope Francis has been repeatedly reminding us that everything is connected (Laudato Si). I think we can say this realisation is now evident.”
Nothing connects us more intimately than the air we breathe. Life depends upon the exchange of breath between human beings and creation. The average person takes an average of 20,000 breaths each day, this subconscious activity can be easy to forget. Our breathing gives us life. We read in Scripture that God “breathed the breath of life” and created humanity, it is God’s breath, God’s Spirit that gives us life and connects us.

The Marist Theme is depicted in the image by Sharon Williams an Australian Aboriginal woman from the traditional land of the Eastern Arrente people. Ms Williams reflects:
“Creation is bigger than just our planet earth, Creation is about everything in the universe – everything Ngkarte (God) had put there and all those things have Ngkartele Utnenge (God’s Spirit) in them. We are all connected because we all have Ngkartele Utnenge in us. We humans hare very blest because we are able to share in Ngkarte’s creating – when I paint, it is Ngkartele Utnenge who guides me to create something that has never been before, and then Ngkartele Utnenge is that painting. When I care for my children in our families and help them grow – that is the being part of Ngkarte’s creating too. It is very precious to be able to share in Ngkarte’s creating in our Universe.”

As we journey in 2021, let us not forget our relationship to one another, our connection through the air we breathe. Let us make the choice to be a be a spirit of fresh air to one another, where we bring joy, peace, forgiveness and love to the people we encounter.

As we make this journey together in 2021 as a PK-12 community, let us remember God’s Spirit, the Spirit of Life, is walking with us as we strive to be the person God has called us to be. When we are feeling overwhelmed and stress, remember to breathe and recall the words of Jesus who said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Looking forward to a great year in 2021.

Shrove Tuesday

On Tuesday the 16th of February in week 3, we will be celebrating Shrove Tuesday. Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, observed in many Christian countries through participating in confession and absolution, the ritual burning of the previous year’s Holy Week palms, finalising one’s Lenten sacrifice, as well as eating pancakes! As such on Tuesday the 16th of February we will be selling pancakes to raise money for the College appeals. Students will be able to purchase pancakes from 8.15am on both the Marcellin and Lavalla Campus. Marian students will be making pancakes in their classrooms and are encouraged to bring a gold coin donation.

Ash Wednesday

As a PK-12 Catholic community, we will be holding a number of celebrations on Wednesday 17 February for Ash Wednesday. This is a significant day in the life of the Church and as such, Liturgies will be celebrated across Marian, Lavalla and Marcellin Campuses. This year ashes will be distribute by a sprinkling over the head of students. This is following the directives and mandate from the Vatican and CEWA.

Ash Wednesday signifies the beginning of Lent which is a 40-day season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days. Lent is marked by fasting, almsgiving and prayer. The colour purple is used for all liturgical events during Lent to remind us of Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection. We look forward to recognising and commemorating this sacred occasion in Week 3.

Project Compassion: Caritas Launch

Ash Wednesday is also the day that Caritas Launch their annual fundraising and awareness appeal – Project Compassion. Project Compassion brings together millions of Australians in solidarity with the world’s poor to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.

This year’s Project Compassion theme is: “Aspire not to have more, but to BE MORE”. Each week of Lent, Caritas profiles a person who is involved in a Caritas project and always gives 100%. These stories will be viewed across the College with students being invited to understand the challenges others are facing around the world. In a fundraising effort for this appeal there will be several activities across the College, we ask families to please support generously to this worthy cause.

Thursday Morning Community Mass

Our community Mass will commence once more in Week 4 of Term 1. All families, staff and students are invited to attend this community event that is at the very heart of our Catholic story. Mass begins at 8.10am every week and will be hosted by different Year groups and Guilds throughout the year. Week 4 Thursday 26 February will be hosted by Catherine Guild and Year 5 students.

Year of St Joseph 

Pope Francis on December 8, 2020 published an Apostolic Letter Patris corde (With a Father’s Heart), commemorating the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To mark the occasion, the Holy Father has proclaimed a “Year of St Joseph”, running from December 8, 2020 to December 8, 2021. Resources and information about the Year of St Joseph can be found at the Australian Catholic Bishop’s website here 

200 Years of Catholic Education

Catholic Education is celebrating 200 years in Australia, marking the bicentenary of the first Catholic school established in Parramatta in October 1820.

Over 200 years, Catholic schools have grown to become the largest provider of schooling in Australia (outside government) with one in five school age students attending a Catholic school. This represents some 768,000 students in 1,751 schools across the country and employing 98,000 teachers and staff. Nearly 40 per cent of Catholic schools are located outside of metropolitan cities in regional, rural and remote communities.

Marist’s arrived 50 years after the first Catholic school was established and began educating students in NSW before coming to WA in 1913. This year as part of Catholic Education we will look to celebrate this important milestone and reflect on the part we have played in growing people of faith for the future.

Resources and more information can be found here.

 

 

Dear Parents and Guardians

We thoroughly enjoyed welcoming everyone back to school this week.  I take this opportunity to thank all students and parents for preparing well in terms of COVID for our return to school.  The students have responded extremely well under the restrictions that have been put in place across the school.

Mask wearing, particularly on the Marcellin campus, has been done really well.  On all campuses, students’ commitment to hand hygiene has been excellent and respective signage and reminders are placed in many areas across the College.

Further to these restrictions has been the reframing of our High Achievers and parent information events to an online forum which, going forward, is a viable means for future meetings.

The PK-12 Mass was postponed and we are looking at another time for families to gather on the grass later this year.  Student Leaders will receive a blessing at an upcoming Thursday morning Community Mass, at a date to be advised.  Parents of Student Leaders will be invited to attend the Mass and hospitality afterwards.

COVID-19

It is anticipated that restrictions will be lifted this Sunday.  However, should any further COVID-19 related information be forthcoming, Newman College families will be advised immediately.  (Information circulated previously can be viewed on our COVID-19 web page.)

St John Henry Newman Learning Hub – Marcellin Campus

This week, it was wonderful to see, at long last, our students in Years 3-12 enjoying this superb facility.  These spaces are a reflection of our Vision for Learning – Shine through Discovery, Let your light shine (Matt 5:16) which hopes to engender a sense of collaboration, creativity and innovation.  These spaces, put simply, de-privatise learning allowing for visibility, flexibility and accessibility.  We are still working through some of the arrangements in terms of Homework Club and supervision.  This will be communicated to families through the Deputy Principal Secondary, Ms Carla Pastorelli, in the coming weeks.

High Achievers and Student Leaders Commissioning

It was unfortunate that two of our larger events to commence the school year, the High Achievers Assembly and the PK-12 Family Mass, could not go ahead in the usual way due to the COVID-19 restrictions imposed on Western Australia.

However, we were able to compromise and combine the acknowledging of our High Achievers and Years 6 and 12 Student Leaders during an online assembly on Wednesday.  Both these events are highlights in our College calendar as they represent the very best of students and their commitment to excellence.

I thank all those who contributed to the organisation of this event and for those who attended ‘online’.

In my Principal’s Address I spoke of the complexity and challenges that have pervaded the world over the last 12 months with the advent of the COVID Pandemic becoming very real for us here in WA.  In a local context, the COVID crisis here has been compounded by fires and floods across the State. For each crisis there have been many who have risen to the challenge, responded with courage, acted with conviction and sought to animate others to do the same.

How we respond to challenges and how we overcome adversity is the mark of a society.

On 20 January this year we witnessed the inauguration of the new USA President Joseph R Biden.  This event is a significant pivot point in the world in light of the unrest that has permeated that country …..and many would argue in other parts of the world.  For example, two weeks earlier the Capitol Building in Washington DC, in which the inauguration was held, was stormed by protestors exemplifying in some ways the duress the USA has endured.

The highlight of this ceremony for me was the inspirational words – not from the newly elected president – but from a young woman, Amanda Gorman…….. the youngest inaugural poet in US History who recited her poem “The Hill We Climb”.

An excerpt from her poem:

But while democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated. In this truth, in this faith we trust, for while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us.  This is the era of just redemption. We feared it at its inception. We did not feel prepared to be the heirs of such a terrifying hour, but within it, we found the power to author a new chapter, to offer hope and laughter to ourselves so while once we asked, how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe? Now we assert, how could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?

Amanda’s message draws upon one’s individual (yours) intent as a citizen, a member of a society who has the power to make a difference.  It is incumbent upon every member of our community – for students, teachers and alumni – to know that they have the power to be the author of a new chapter, to proffer hope, to prevail over the challenges and the complexities and the opportunities that are now inherently a part of the world in which we live.

Her concluding statement draws us to our Vision for Learning – Shine through Discovery, Let your light shine (Matt 5:16) where she focuses on the power of light.  She says:

“There is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. 

If only we’re brave enough to be it.”

Please click here to view the full speech.

Lent

Next week we commence our Lenten journey.  The College will again be supporting Caritas Project Compassion which seeks to support communities across the world in most need.  I encourage all students to get behind this campaign whilst at the same time continue to develop their own faith.

There are many events and opportunities for our students to let their light shine and I encourage all students to take advantage of what is on offer.

I wish all students, staff and families well for the start of Term 1.

John Finneran
Principal

Welcome back to the 2021 academic year.

As you are aware, the PK-12 Family Mass was cancelled due to the current restrictions imposed by COVID-19.  It was also necessary to reformat our Class of 2020 High Achievers Principal’s Assembly on Wednesday 10 February, which was live streamed and can be viewed online.

We Commissioned our Year 6 and Year 12 student leaders at the assembly, congratulations to these fine young women and men. We look forward to supporting you as leaders of our community.

2021 High Achievers Assembly

Regrettably, we were unable to invite our 2020 High Achievers to return to the College in person to celebrate their impressive efforts. Students were acknowledged at the assembly for their achievements, and the community was blessed to hear about their inspiring plans for life beyond Newman College.

We extend our sincere congratulations to all the graduates in the Class of 2020, to the teachers that supported them in their senior secondary schooling, and to all teachers who fuelled a love of learning in them over their time at Newman.

Please Click Here to view 2020 College results.

Staff Professional Learning

Staff members have been busily preparing for the commencement of the school year. Teachers prepared both face-to-face and virtual learning for this week just in case unforeseen circumstance eventuated in remote learning. Should such a situation arise in the future, we will be well-placed to ‘flick the switch’ into the remote schooling mode.

As a staff, we looked at our Annual School Improvement Plan and have started to assemble teams to work on strategies and actions to deliver results across our four priority areas of; A Catholic school in the Marist Tradition; Transformational Learning; A Culture of Innovation and Excellence; Sustainability.

Seven learning areas relocated into our collective Staff Study area over the last couple of weeks. The transition is nearly finished, and we hope that the space provides a collegial, supportive, and collaborative learning environment for teachers to converse and work. Our new learning spaces in the St John Henry Learning Hub and the S Block are also now operational. We will all be on a learning journey to discover how best to use these fantastic new-age spaces.

Parent Information Evenings

The Year 11 and Year 12  Parent Information Evenings were reformatted to go online. Both events were broadcast to the parent community on the afternoon of Wednesday 10 February. Parents were emailed a link to the respective videos.

We hope to be able to meet with our Year 11 and 12 Parent community at other College events as the year progresses; such as the Parent Teacher Interview Evening scheduled for Week 6.

Next week we hope to welcome our K- Year 6 (Tuesday 16 February) and Year 7 (Monday 15 February) communities to attend their Parent Information Evenings.

Our Year 8 and Year 9 Parent Information Evenings will be held virtually on Monday 22 February and our Year 10 Parent Information Night will occur later in the year, in conjunction with the subject selection process.

Parent Teacher Communication Protocols

Parents are reminded that the most efficient and effective method for contacting teachers and support staff is through the staff member’s CEWA email address. In most cases, our staff will respond to the communication as appropriate, within 48 hours.

Updating Family Contact Details

If there are any changes to your contact details (ie phone number, email address or home address) please ensure you advise the College Registrar via registrar@newman.wa.edu.au

This will ensure your child’s enrolment record contains the most up to date details.

Download Advice of Family Change Form

Code of Conduct

A reminder to all families that the Code of Conduct can be accessed via the College website. The Code is mandated by Catholic Education Western Australia and the application of the code extends to all staff, students, parents, guardians, caregivers and volunteers.

The Code seeks to value the dignity of every person, foster positive relationships, ensuring confidentiality and accountability and supports professional boundaries. Events held during school hours AND those events outside of school hours that are associated with the College are also supported by the Code of Conduct. Additionally, postings on social media platforms that identify the College or College events are bound by the Code of Conduct.

Any perceived breaches of the Code can be discussed with a member of the Senior Leadership Team. We thank you in advance for your understanding and look forward to a positive partnership that supports our students, your children.

The Code of Conduct will be spoken to at Campus and Year Group Information Evenings in the weeks ahead.

Food Allergy Reminder

Newman College would like to offer a reminder to all families that we are a ‘Nut Aware’ school. It is NOT nut free.

Families should be advised that the College cannot guarantee the absence of all nut products or traces of nuts within food across the College. Parents are strongly encouraged to speak with their child and encourage them not to share food with others. We ask parents to please refrain from including any items in their child’s lunchbox that contains nuts (eg. Nut bars, peanut butter or Nutella sandwiches). We also ask that parents do not provide food items to celebrate their child’s birthday. Parents are welcome to provide small novelty items if they like, but it is not necessary. Our classroom teachers are very good at making all birthday children feel special and celebrated.

It is pertinent that any child with an identified allergy has completed a Medical Management Plan and discussed this with their child’s teacher.

The College Canteen does provide a ‘Nut Aware’ service, but cannot guarantee that food and beverages served from the Canteen do not contain traces of Nuts, Crustaceans, Fish, Milk, Eggs, Sesame, Soybean and Wheat. If families are reliant on the Canteen for the provision of food and beverages to a child WITH an allergy, they are advised to contact the Canteen Manager, Donna McFadden donna.mcfadden@newman.wa.edu.au

The Canteen is available daily for children of the College. Click here for further details.