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High Achievers Assembly

Jo Dunn on 10/02/2021

Today our Years 3-12 community gathered virtually together for our first Principal’s Assembly for the year.

The assembly focused on the College’s pedagogical pillar Celebrate and saw our 2020 High Achievers, Year 6 and Year 12 Student Leaders presented and commissioned.

In his Principal’s address, Mr Finneran reflected on the inspirational words of the youngest inaugural US poet, Amanda Gorman.

‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure’. Amanda’s message should inspire us to come together not just as a global community but for us here at Newman College.

Download Principal’s Assembly Address

Well done to Tatenda Markova, Class of 2020 who gave a motivational speech to our current students, providing tips and advice for all students to excel not only in their studies but on the sporting field, stage and friendship circles.

Click here to watch the full assembly.

Capital Development Project

Jo Dunn on 28/01/2021

Capital Development Project

I am delighted to confirm that our Capital Development Project, the St John Henry Newman Learning Hub, as well as modifications to S Block, are finished and ready for the commencement of students on Monday and Tuesday. The completion of this Project realises the College’s commitment to contemporary and relevant pedagogy where learning programs are increasingly differentiated and individualised, as inspired through the pedagogical pillars of our Vision for Learning – Challenge, Collaborate, Create, Celebrate.

It has been a very challenging time for the school over the last 12 months and I again thank students and staff for their patience in the disruptions that occurred in 2020. As practical completion only occurred in the last week it has been a massive effort to bring to fruition our learning spaces for the commencement of the school year. There are still minor works to be completed over the next fortnight with limited disruption to the College timetable. We will be showcasing these spaces at our forthcoming information evening and throughout the year. I am sure our students across Years 3-12 will enjoy these wonderful contemporary learning spaces.

Repairs and Maintenance

Across Lavalla and Marian Campuses respectively there are gazetted improvement that will occur during the course of Term 1. These include a new playground at Lavalla, along with flexible glass dividing walls between classrooms. At Marian over the holidays new grass was laid in the Pre-Primary playground and there was also a major turf renovation on the Marian oval. In addition, there was programmed painting across different parts of all campuses.

Newman College Bus

We are delighted to haven taken ownership of a brand new 27 seater bus for our College. This is a great resource for our entire school and will assist with transporting our students.

From the Principal – Welcome to 2021

Jo Dunn on 28/01/2021

Dear Parents and Guardians

Welcome to the start of the 2021 academic year. In particular, we welcome new families and staff to our Marist Community. I hope all have enjoyed the family time that Christmas and the extended break bring. Across the world many families are still suffering as a consequence of the Covid-19 Pandemic and the challenges it presents. We have been graced in our own State, moreover our country, by the way in which our leaders have been able to manage this crisis.

Pope Francis in his Fratelli Tutti Encyclical Letter on Fraternity and Social Friendship (#55) says this of hope….“I invite everyone to renewed hope, for hope speaks to us of something deeply rooted in every human heart, independently of our circumstances and historical conditioning.”

It is this hope that we take into our new year at Newman College as we seek to build community and the experiences of our young people.

The gift of our Marist community is our family spirit and that space we create to nurture, support and inspire our children. The vision of St Marcellin Champagnat – that we make Jesus known and loved – is the foundation of our faith and learning community. We are strengthened as a Marist school by our characteristics of Presence, Love of Work, Simplicity, In the Way of Mary and Family Spirit. These characteristics drive the cultural elements that shape who we are, what we represent and what we are going to become and, ultimately, the legacy that will define who we are.

In 2021 the College is launching its new Strategic Directions 2021-2023 – Commitment to Excellence. The inspiration for our Strategic Directions 2021-2023 is based on St John Henry Newman’s words:

“To live is to change, to be perfect is to have changed often.”

Our community has undergone significant renewal in the last five years, exemplified by agility and innovation as a PK-12 Community. We have pursued St John Henry Newman’s commitment to academic excellence and critical thinking that is animated through our Vision for Learning ‘Shine through discovery’ – Let your light shine. This Vision inspires our faith and learning community to Challenge, Collaborate, Create and Celebrate who we are and what we seek to achieve.

Our Strategic Directions – a Commitment to Excellence – will set the tone for our year. We are a great school and our goal is that every child continues to strive to do their best in all endeavours. Our cultural imperative is to create a space for our students to flourish individually and collectively.

This Plan will be launched in Term 1.

College Expectations

In 2021, we will continue to grow our Vision for Learning – Shine through discovery Let your light shine (Mat 5:16). It is my hope that all students at Newman College are able to set clear and achievable goals that will allow them to be challenged as learners and to succeed in their endeavours. To achieve individual success, it is the responsibility of each student to take ownership of their learning and to seek support from their teachers. Across the College, our Leaders of Wellbeing, Leaders of Learning, Co-ordinators and Teachers are committed to supporting each individual student and year group collectively. Critical to each student’s ongoing success will be the collaboration with families in adhering to expectations. To that end, each leader of wellbeing will be writing to families this week outlining the expectations for each student as a member of the College community. As a whole community, our collective commitment to growing our culture of excellence in all facets of College life will ensure a successful, engaged learning experience for our students.

In 2021 I am pleased to inform you that we have reframed our grooming expectations reflecting the voice of our students. Our expectation is that these standards are adhered to across the life of the school.

2021 College Leadership and New and Returning Staff

Outlined below are the members of the 2021 College Leadership Team:

John Finneran: Principal (Executive)

Lucie McCrory: Vice Principal (Executive)

Steve Halley-Wright: Director Finance and Administration (Executive)

Thomas Wagner: Director Operations and Engagement (Executive)

Carla Pastorelli: Deputy Principal Secondary

Simon Martino: Director Mission and Catholic Identity

Lisa McClue: Leader of Early Childhood

Stuart McClorey: Leader of Primary

Bernie Roberts: PK-12 Curriculum Coordinator

Our Positions of Responsibility can be found by clicking here.

Marian Campus, PK-Year 2

In Early Childhood, Leader of Early Childhood Lisa McClue will be the initial contact person for all matters pertaining to the Marian Campus and will be supported by Katya Anderson, Leader of Learning.

Lavalla Campus, Years 3-6

The day to day leadership and contacts will be distributed to the following team:

Stuart McClorey, Leader of Wellbeing
Renae Zelich, Leader of Learning
Jane Short, Religious Education Coordinator

Marcellin Campus, Years 7-12

Pastoral care teachers are the daily point of contact for students and families. leaders of wellbeing and leaders of learning, together with Deputy Principal Secondary, Carla Pastorelli, will manage and coordinate the Marcellin Campus.

New Staff
Please click here to view staff new to Newman College.

Staff Returning to the College
Please click here to view staff who have been on leave and are returning this Term.

I thank all parents and guardians as they prepare their children for the return to school. We look forward to welcoming all students back to school on Monday and Tuesday next week and seeing families at the forthcoming Family Mass on Thursday 11 February.

John Finneran
Principal

Vice Principal – Dr Lucie McCrory

Jo Dunn on 28/01/2021

It is with great excitement that I begin as Vice Principal of Newman College this year. The Marists have an inspiring tradition and I look forward to learning about the history of the school, its students, staff, parents, and distinct culture. I am particularly excited to be back working in the Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12 space. It is a privilege and a blessing to see the full spectrum of student growth, from entry to graduation. I look forward to developing relationships with this wide variety of learners and teachers.

I have a passion for the craft of teaching and learning and a keen interest in the ‘future of education’. I consider myself to be a lifelong learner in the school of life, and plan to actively encourage those around me to find their unique gifts, untapped potential and ‘let their light shine’ (Matthew 5 : 16).

A school is a learning organisation that should inspire a curiosity for learning, it is a place of growth. The underlying mechanism to enable this growth lies in some form of actualisation of the human potential. Pursuits in this realm require a Christ-centred and improvement focused approach to life, an understanding of the value in failure and the provision of experiences that are developmentally appropriate to the journey-point of the individual.

I look forward to playing an important collaborative role in leading the learning at Newman, for its next phase of life. We will shine through discovery, towards excellence and innovation. On that note…have you seen the new Learning Hub on the Marcellin campus? Impressive. Opportunities galore. Watch that space.

Dr Lucie McCrory

VICE PRINCIPAL

Newman News Term 4 Week 9 2020: From the Leader of Wellbeing Primary

Jo Dunn on 10/12/2020

As we begin to wrap up our time on campus for 2020, there is much anticipation amongst our students for Christmas and all the joy that the festive season brings. The Christmas period is a time of tremendous hope as we wait the birth of Jesus Christ, someone who has, and continues to, give hope to hundreds of millions of people around the world. If ever there is a time to be hopeful, it is as we reflect on the end of one year and prepare for the beginning of another; the new opportunities and moments especially that it might bring. This year, we should take time over the break to simply be with our loved ones, whether they be friends or family, and celebrate in Christ’s love the way God intended. I hope all families have a safe and peaceful break, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2021.

Lavalla Awards Ceremonies

On Tuesday, students from Years 3-6 came together to celebrate our end of year Awards Ceremonies. This is a significant event in the life of the College, as we recognise the outstanding efforts, achievement, and character of our students. It is important to recognise these students as leaders both in their classrooms, and amongst their peers. Click here to see all award winners and photos from the day.

Year 6 Celebrations

This week has been a special week for our Year 6 students, as they complete their Primary schooling and begin their journey into Secondary School. To celebrate, students visited the Marian Campus on Tuesday and spent some time with their Kindergarten buddies, doing some reading with them, and enjoying lunch together. It was certainly a beautiful way for many students to reconnect with their early childhood origins in the sandpits of Marian. Students also had the chance to celebrate today at Adventure World. Students had a wonderful time and it was a great way to cap off their year. We wish our Year 6 students all the best as they continue their journey into Secondary School and thank them for their contributions here on the Lavalla Campus.

2021 Student Leaders

This week we officially recognised our 2021 Student Leaders. At the beginning of this term, students undertook two workshops in preparation for the nomination of the student leader positions, as well as committing to a letter of application and presenting a speech to their peers. I was most impressed with how many students spoke in their letters about how leadership is about others; it not about being in charge, or being most important, it is simply about helping others in small but meaningful ways. I am very much looking forward to working with not only our student leaders, but all of our students who nominated for these positions. We wish them all the best in 2021.

Student names: Nikita Aylmore, Madelyn Bertolini, Isabella Crisona, Benji Davies, Xavier Dunstan, Brayden Lim, Jaspar Martin-Booth, Michael Ng, Anabel Raguseo, Tahlia Thayer, Benji Thompson, Aaron Stannard.

Staff Farewells

There are a number of staff who we farewell from the Lavalla Campus at the conclusion of this year.

Firstly, Mrs Therese Le Sanders will be leaving us for a little while, as she begins her maternity leave, eagerly awaiting the birth of her second child. Mrs Natasha Penny, who works for Telethon Speech & Hearing and has been working in Year 3 Green this year, will also be commencing her maternity leave.

We also have Ms Melissa Foss and Mrs Laura Talbott whose contracts end at the end of this term. Ms Foss has been a welcome addition to our campus as our Music teacher in Term 4, while Mrs Talbott has been our Performing Arts teacher for Semester 2. We wish them both all the best in their future endeavours and thank them for the positive contributions they have made to our campus.

Pizza Pool Parties

This week, students from Years 3-5 have celebrated their final week of the year with a Pizza Pool Party!

In some very hot conditions, students braved the heat for the short walk to the pool where they were able to indulge in some well timed and relaxing water play, as well as a pizza lunch. We must thank all students and families for supporting the College’s SunSmart practices this week and helping to keep each other as safe as possible in this hot weather. We would also like to thank Mrs Donna McFadden who organised all of our pizzas, drinks and ice creams this year. Thank you Donna!

Year 3 2021 Transition Day

On Friday 27 November, we welcomed our Year 2 students from the Marian Campus for an orientation day. I was very impressed with how the Year 2 students presented themselves on the day and the positive way in which they listened to instructions and took part in the activities. We are very much looking forward to having them join us on a permanent basis next year and hope that they enjoy their time with us as much as our current Year 3 students have this year!

ACC Inclusion Ambassador

Last Thursday, the College was privileged to welcome Madison Heady (ex-Sacred Heart student) who delivered a talk to Year 6 students as part of the International Day of Persons with Disability. Madison is an ambassador for the ACC and Inclusion Sport and shared her journey with disability. Madison’s story was delivered with grace, articulation and good humour. The passionate way in which she spoke about inclusion in sport was clear to everyone. Madison also participated in a PE lesson with our Year 4 Blue class and shared a part of her story with them also. We are very grateful for her visit and the message she was able to deliver to our students.

Swimming Lessons

In Weeks 6 and 7, students took part in swimming lessons to finish off the year. We were blessed with some beautiful (not too hot) weather which made swimming over the two weeks very enjoyable for all students.

We would like to thank Mrs Jane Short for her hard work in organising our lessons, as well as our fabulous swim instructors who supported the two-week period.

Families should have received their child’s swimming certificate via email. If you have not received it as yet, please contact the Newman Swim Club via lessons.nchswimming@gmail.com

Booklists

Last week the 2021 booklists were shared with families. If you would like to order your books for 2021 now and beat the rush, you can do so by clicking the following link here.

Parents will find booklists for all classes via this link and orders can be placed now, ready for delivery in the new year. All instructions on how to place the orders are contained within the lists.

Lost Property

There are lots of items still to be found in our lost property – everything from hats and jackets, to even some College blazers. Teachers are always reiterating to students the importance of looking after their belongings as we know the cost of replacing items cannot be cheap for families! The lost property is located in the Library.