Secondary Archives - Page 143 of 191

Year 11 Earth and Environmental Science and Geography Excursion

Jo Dunn on 14/03/2019

On Tuesday 12 March, at a very early hour, students in both ATAR Geography and Earth and Environmental Studies ventured off on a field excursion to Cunderdin and Meckering. The towns are located 200km east of Perth, and are the sites of the 1968 Meckering earthquake. The students were able to experience what it felt like during the earthquake in the ‘earthquake house’ at the Cunderdin museum and were honoured to be able to listen to Mrs Ann Williams recall the day.

Students then headed back to Meckering and were further fascinated to learn more about the earthquake by exploring the bent railway track, crushed water pipe and the old town site. Throughout our time in Meckering we were guided by Mr Doug Kelly, another resident of Meckering who was only 9 years old but has vivid memories of the earthquake. Mr Kelly described how he was home from school as it was a public holiday and had to make his way through the rubble of his house after the earthquake struck. Mr Kelly’s house was permanently damaged and it remains as a memorial on his farm.

Finally, before heading back to Perth, the students developed their field skills and took measurements at the fault line, where the uplift of the land is still evident. We were all amazed to be standing on rock, the Yilgarn Craton, that is 2.8 billion years old.

Janet March, Humanities Teacher

Newman News Term 1 Week 6: From the Deputy Principal Mission and Catholic Identity

Jo Dunn on 14/03/2019

‘Trusting in God is both the most difficult and the easiest thing we are invited to do. It is the most difficult, because we always want to be in control, driven, in part, by the expectations of others, or ourselves. We are created by God. We are made in God’s image’ – Sean Cullen

Lent is a precious time of retreat for Catholics across the world. We know that Lent is a time of renewal in faith, hope and love so that we can enter more fully into the celebration of the Sacred Triduum of Jesus’ last supper, his suffering and death on the cross, and his glorious resurrection. As a PK-12 College community, our recognition of Shrove Tuesday, and the commencement of our Lenten journey on Ash Wednesday with liturgies across our three campuses serve to invite each of us to walk with one another during this time of renewal and refocus.

Year 10 Damascus Day, Wednesday 6 March

The Newman College Ministry Plan seeks to invite all students into an experience of prayer and ongoing Christian discipleship. Across Years 3–10, all students are afforded an opportunity to experience an annual retreat day. The Year 10 Damascus Day is an opportunity provided to all students in Year 10 to stop, withdraw and reflect on the opportunities and abundance they are called into on their own personal journey, and the collective journey of the cohort. We thank the Perth-based Youth Mission Team for again facilitating this day, and for the inspiring witness to a faith filled life they give to all our students to ‘come, follow me’.

PROJECT COMPASSION UPDATE

Shrove Tuesday

Students from the Blue and Gold Remar Caravels sold pancakes on the Marcellin and Lavalla Campuses on Shrove Tuesday (5 March) in support of Project Compassion. Students at the Marian campus also received pancakes, with the Kindy and Pre Primary students making theirs with the help of their teachers. A total of $816.85 was raised across the three campuses. A huge thank you and congratulation to those who participated in this fundraising event for Project Compassion.

Walk for Water @ Marian

On Tuesday, students on the Marian Campus took part in the Walk for Water initiative to help them understand how some children around the world walk for many kilometres just to get water each day. Students watched the story of Thandolwayo who risks her life each day just to bring water back for her family? Click here to hear her story. We ask all families to support Caritas this Lent by donating their spare change to Project Compassion.

Caritas Fast @ Marcellin

Project Compassion brings thousands of Australians together in solidarity with the world’s poor to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. This year, in support of Project Compassion, students were invited to participate in the Caritas Fast held on Wednesday 13 March. Over 150 students participated in the Fast which saw them forgo their usual meals throughout the school day. The students were given barley sugars at recess and a handful of cold, cooked rice at lunch and a muffin at the end of the day. This small amount of food aimed at helping students appreciate how little some people in our world have to eat. It was a fantastic day which helped raise $3630.95 for Project Compassion. Thank you to all those who participated and a special thank you to the Ministry Team, Guild Coordinators, Guild Captains, Mrs McFadden and Mr Jones for their support in the lead up to and on the day of the event.

Year 6 Reconciliation

On Thursday we welcomed Fr Chinh from the Doubleview Parish of Holy Rosary to Newman College. Fr Chinh provided Reconciliation for our Year 6 students and we are blessed to have his support. We look forward to working with Fr Chinh in the future as he supports the Lavalla Campus.

Reconciliation

The Sacrament of Reconciliation allows us to repair our relationship with God by asking forgiveness for our misgivings. Students in Years 4-6 will take part in Reconciliation over the next few weeks. We welcome Fr Chinh from the Doubleview Parish who will be offering this for our community. Parents are welcome to join their child in this healing process.

Weekly Thursday Morning Community Mass (Champagnat Chapel – 8.10am – 8.35am)

All parents, guardians and families across our PK-12 College are invited to attend the weekly Thursday morning Mass celebrated by Fr Joseph Tran and Fr Mark Baumgarten. Our weekly Newman College Community Mass is an important way that we as a Catholic community seek to nourish and live-out our faith in community with one another.

At Mass on Thursday 21 March, we will commission seven Year 12 students who have recently completed their formation as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. We congratulate these students on this milestone in their journey.

Sacrament Reminder

Families are reminded to visit their relevant parish website for all information regarding 2019 Sacrament dates and registration. Alternatively please click here to access parish website addresses via the College website. The enrolment dates vary, so please take the time to clearly understand the process for your parish. Students in Years 3, 4 and 6 will undertake the preparatory work in class so they are able to receive the Sacrament in their local parish.

24:7 Youth Group

For all youth in Years 6-12
St Joseph’s Subiaco every Friday 6.30pm – 8.30pm in the Parish Upper room
Call Aidan Walsh 0487 403 456 or Angela Firth 0455 960 174 for more information

Floreat Youth Group

St Cecilia’s Parish Centre, 47 Peebles Rd, Floreat
Every Sunday 6.00pm – 8.00pm
Call Sebastian on 0403230395 or Emma on 0412310019 for more information

Year 12 Biology Excursion

Jo Dunn on 12/03/2019

On Thursday 7 March, the Year 12 Biology students visited the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. After a short lecture (and a fun game) on the processes involved, students had the opportunity to conduct a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Gel Electrophoresis. PCR is used in medical research to amplify small quantities of DNA while Gel Electrophoresis is used to analyse and compare this DNA to other samples. These methods are used regularly at the Institute to help in the diagnosis of diseases such as skin cancer.

Krystal Skelin, Science Co-Ordinator

Student Reflections

“The trip to Harry Perkins was a very beneficial excursion. It was very enjoyable to be able to tour and learn in a premier science lab in Perth. My favourite part was being able to carry out our own Gel Electrophoresis experiment using all of the facility’s expensive equipment. I’d like to thank Ms Skelin and the Science Department for organising this excursion for us.”

“I really enjoyed being able to work in a lab first-hand and get an idea of what it would be like to work there. This was a really valuable experience as all of us are going to be applying for university soon. The people there were really easy to talk to and provided lots of useful information and it really helped me figure out what I would like to do with my future!”

Year 10 Damascus Day Retreat

Jo Dunn on 07/03/2019

On Wednesday 6 March, the Year 10 cohort enjoyed their Damascus Day Retreat, with the keen focus being on servant leadership. The retreat was hosted by the Youth Mission Team, a group of young adults who give up a year of their life to minister to high school aged youth all around the country. It was a fantastic day filled with high energy games to get the Year 10’s moving but also thinking about the deeper meaning behind each of the activities that they were led through.

Some of the key focal points for the day were:

For students to appreciate their own worth as a starting point of their leadership journey; for students to understand what leadership looks like and the relationship between leadership and service
That students would encounter the core Gospel values that drive true servant leadership and
That students would recognise that it is both possible and desirable to develop a personal relationship with Jesus, only to help them serve as He served.

Each session had a particular theme following the trait of Integrity, helping students to identify integrity as the most valuable quality in a leader, but also the capacity to be true to themselves and their own beliefs and values, regardless of the pressure that others may place on them. It was a great way to be able to spend time as a cohort, to build relationships and community, but also to engage on a more personal level by inviting Jesus to empower us as leaders and to pray for the grace to be instruments of His love.

The day ended with an Ash Wednesday Liturgy led by the students and the launch of Project Compassion for 2019. Overall a truly memorable experience.

Year 12 Earth & Environmental Science Excursion

Jo Dunn on 01/03/2019

The Year 12 ATAR Earth & Environmental Science students investigated the metamorphic rocks of the Western Gneiss Terrane last week at the picturesque Bells Rapids Park, where the Swan River crosses the Darling Escarpment. The investigation included structural and geological mapping, geological modelling and interpretation of a complex geological sequence. The experience was a highlight of Term 1 and the team displayed excellent enthusiasm and geological skill. The experience allowed each student to apply all the theory that they have learned in class to a fantastic field environment. Well done to our young geologists!