Category: Secondary

Creative solutions to complex problems is the mantra of our students as they navigate their learning in the 21st century. As educators, we support students to collaborate with their peers to design solutions and options to demonstrate knowledge and understanding. STEM skills that promote processes of design, prototyping and experimenting challenge students to review and improve their ideas and refine their thinking. Across the College, from the Marian Makerspace, to the Coder Dojo at Lavalla and the entrepreneurship program on Marcellin, exploring ideas supports our students to Shine through Discovery!

NAPLAN Analysis

2018 NAPLAN results have been released and it is pleasing to note that Newman College performed above the national average in many outcomes. Spelling and Numeracy were areas of relative strength for most cohorts and reflects some of the different strategies utilised in both primary and secondary contexts. Writing persuasively and imaginatively is an area of growth for most groups of students and will be an area of focus in 2019.

Primary staff have been working with NAPLAN data to review areas of relative strength and areas for focus with current and future year groups. Staff meeting time has been allocated to data literacy and access to bespoke resourcing depending on cohort needs through an external group Best Performance. Extensive time has also been allocated to scope and sequencing of writing across the primary years to better target student areas of need.

Secondary staff have been engaged in productive projects and discussions this year to reflect on the way a range of data sources can be used to personalise the learning experience and activate growth for all students. NAPLAN data is one set of information which also helps target our literacy and numeracy intervention strategies along with Allwell Testing and class-based assessments and observations.
NAPLAN also assists us in providing data informed teaching and learning, which is in line with the College’s annual school improvement plan.

2019 Parent Funded BYODD

Next year Newman College will continue the parent funded, designated device model that commenced in 2016.

• All students in Years 3 – 6 will require an Apple iPad. A summary can be found here  BYODD 2019 3-6 Summary
• All students in Years 7 – 11 will require a Microsoft Surface Pro. A summary can be found here. BYODD 2019 7-11 Summary

Parents will be required to purchase a device for students entering Year 7, current Year 8 and current Year 9 cohorts. 2019 will be the last year for the College funded MacBook program for students in Year 12. Please refer any queries to your relevant Leader of Wellbeing.

Gratitude Program

Year 11 students continue to affirm each other through the writing of Gratitude notes that are distributed through PCG.
All families are reminded that if they have a concern about the education or Wellbeing of their child, they should contact the College directly. We are always willing to support families, but school matters must be managed by the College. It is not appropriate to contact other families about concerns you have about their child. Please direct these matters to the classroom teacher, Leaders of Wellbeing or any member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Social Media

The College recognises the convenience of year group Facebook pages that are moderated by parents. This is an excellent platform for sharing information involving College events and requirements. It is not appropriate to use social media platforms to seek clarity on teaching and learning or to debate College policies. Please refer these matters to your child’s classroom or PCG Teachers, or a member of the Senior Leadership Team. We thank you in advance for your understanding and support of how we strive to partner positively with each other.

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 and extends to all forums including social media and email forms of communication. The Code seeks to value the dignity of every person, foster positive relationships, ensure confidentiality and accountability and support professional boundaries. Events held during school hours AND outside of school hours that are associated with the College are also supported by the Code. Any perceived breaches of the Code can be discussed with any member of the Senior Leadership Team.

 

One of the key strategic intents of our Vision for Learning Shine Through Discovery – Let you light shine Matt 5:16 is to foster creativity. To love learning and be engaged in the process is fundamental to animating our students’ talents, thus enabling creativity to flourish. A recent article in the online magazine Entrepreneur identified a series of guiding principles for future education. These included, but not limited to storytelling, passion, curiosity and experimentation, persistence, technology exposure, empathy, reading, writing and arithmetic and creativity. Every single one of us is creative. It is human nature to be creative – the thing is that we each might have different ways of expressing our creativity. We must encourage kids to discover and to develop their creative outlets early.

To this end it is incumbent on the College to afford these opportunities. An example of this has been the development of the IDEAS lab on Marian campus. This is a space that brings students together enabling them to design, prototype and create. It is a place where we allow students to further explore and enhance what they are learning in the classroom. In 2019 we are entering into a partnership with Republic Polytechnic School in Singapore. The aim here is to provide select students in Years 9 and 10 an opportunity to test their problem-solving skills in an industry-based environment. Supporting this learning immersion will be a new elective course in design thinking and problem-based learning.

These two initiatives are indicative of the intent of our whole Vision. Underpinning its success will be the capacity of teachers to respond to the future. It is important that we seek to create challenging tasks that are matched to student ability and interest, that connect learning to students’ strengths, gifts and talents. These opportunities must imbue students with opportunities for critical thinking, problem solving and personal reflection. Commensurate to this intent will be the refurbishment of our learning spaces that will allow greater flexibility and agility for learning. We look forward to the future as a College committed to improvement; moreover, a place that allows creativity to flourish.

Solid Gold

Last week’s Solid Gold Dance Showcase was a great exemplar of the spirit, energy, creativity and commitment of our students and teachers. The Marist Auditorium was alive with our Dance Troupe that is two years young. The feedback from parents and students was so pleasing to hear and witness. The passion of our students is reflected in the leadership of Ms Stephanie Crothers who is to be commended for her work. Click here to see more photos from the night.

As we move to the final five weeks of Term 4, I would like to emphasise to all students that it is imperative to remain committed and focused on their learning. We at this point pray for Year 12 students as they complete their WACE exams.

A New Way To Learn: Five Guiding Principles For Future Education: A change in how we educate is necessary to realize the radical future we see for the world.
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/322158

‘We are already the children of God but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed; all we know is, that when it is revealed we shall be like God, because we shall see Go as God really is’.
1 John 3: 1 – 3
All Saints (Thursday 1 November) and All Souls (Friday 2 November)

For me to be a saint means to be myself. – Thomas Merton

All Saints and All Souls, are living proof that God never gives up on us no matter what, God loves us all so much! We are spiritual beings becoming more human. This is sainthood.

During November we reconnect with our loved ones who have gone to God. We keep the ‘faithful departed’ in our memory and ask them to keep us in their sight, as they long for or have come to see God as God really is.

‘Christ has died, Christ is risen, and Christ will come again.’ This daily pattern of living, dying and rising – the ups and downs of our life infused by the Spirit of love – sweeps us (yes, us!) – up into the life of Christ, the life of his Saints. Thank God every saint has a soul for that soul is God’s homing device while we work for the Kingdom and enjoy some of heaven here on earth!

Who in my life do I know to be humble?
Who in my life has grieved or mourned and who have comforted them?
Who do I know is kind and gentle?
Who do I know wants to put right the wrongs of others?
Who do I know believes in the unconditional love of God and because of that shows mercy to all?
Who do I know are pure in heart and radiate God’s goodness?
Who do I know are makers of peace wherever they are?
Who do I know turns the other cheek when they are insulted or ridiculed?
Who do I know, no matter what confronts them in life, knows that God carries them and is always with them?

This is the stuff ‘saints’ are made of. These are our living Saints

‘Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven’
~ Matthew 5: 1-12 ~

Reflection adapted from Gospel Brief

Philippines Free Dress Day – Gold Coin Donation

On Friday 2 November, all students at the Marcellin Campus wore Free Dress to raise both funds and awareness for the Kuya Centre in the Philippines which will be visited by the Year 11 Philippines Immersion group. Every dollar raised on this day has been directed to young people supported by the Kuya Centre. This money does not support the costs of Year 11 students travelling on the immersion. The Kuya Centre is a project of Australian Marist Solidarity. You can read more about the Kuya Centre and the work of Australian Marist Solidarity by clicking here.

Congratulations to Years’ 7-11 who raised $1100.

Parish Youth Connect: St Joseph’s, Subiaco

TEENS PIZZA AND GAMES NIGHT
Friday 9 November, 6.30pm – 8.30pm, Upper Room
St Joey’s Pizza and Games is happening again! Come along. Get involved. Bring a friend or bro/sis. Eat dinner while playing games and socialising. Games may not be your jam, but there’s free food and great company on offer. It’s going to be a fun filled night with good times all round! Pizza, soft drink and water provided. Bring: Age-appropriate games of your choice.
For catering, RSVP to youth@stjosephssubiaco.org.au by Friday 2 November at 5.00pm. Hope to see you there! #InfoForYourTransport/Communications.

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.

24/7 Floreat Youth Group

Last week’s youth group was a fantastic night with 29 people attending. Thank you to everyone who came and made it possible. On the night the group played two games and learnt about the story of Samson and Delilah by acting the story out and re-writing ‘Hey There Delilah’ by The Plain White T’s to fit the bible story.

Next week is going to be bigger and better than ever with more new games and a talk on one of the greatest of all, the Old School Heroes! The group will also be getting ready for The Big Talent Show on Sunday 11 November. If you wish to take part, then please put your name down at youth group next week! 24/7 Floreat Youth Group meets on Sunday evenings from 6.00pm – 8.00pm in the Floreat/Wembley Parish Centre and is open to all young people in Years 6-12.  Call the Youth Leaders Angela 0455 960 174 or Sebastian 0403 230 395 for more information.

Remar Red Recruit Afternoon

Last week, on Wednesday 24 October, 62 Year 9 students gathered together to learn more about the Remar program offered at Newman College. The afternoon was facilitated by Young Marist Volunteer and ex-Newman College student, Daniel Litjens. A number of the Remar Blue Rowers (Year 11 students) assisted Daniel in teaching the Year 9 students about the Remar Program through games and interactive activities. At the end of the afternoon, participants were invited to take an information pack and application form to attend the Red Embarkation Camp held at the end of November. Those who apply will be contacted via direct message about the camp.

Anti-Poverty Mass

Catholic school students, staff and Church agencies gathered together on Tuesday 16 October to celebrate the Anti-Poverty Mass, held in recognition of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and as part the Year of Youth. The Mass was run by Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM) and held at Good Shepherd Church, Lockridge Parish in collaboration with Catholic Mission, Caritas, St Vincent De Paul Society, LifeLink, and the Liturgy Office. Four Year 10 students from Newman College attended the Mass which was designed to inspire, encourage, support, and affirm the actions and efforts of young leaders in schools, parishes and university communities, in working towards ending poverty at home and abroad. For the second year running, Newman College supplied and carried the Anti-poverty Cross bearing positive messages from students who attended the Mass last year. Click here to access the article about the Mass in this month’s ‘The Record’.

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

 

In 2018, Newman College will be supporting the St Vincent de Paul Society Christmas Appeal at both St Cecilia’s Church in the Parish of Floreat/Wembley, as well as at Our Lady of the Rosary, Doubleview. Items for the St Vincent de Paul Society Christmas Appeal will be collected across the College’s three campuses at Marian, Lavalla and Marcellin.

• Marian and Lavalla Campuses – The Parish of Floreat/Wembley
• Marcellin Campus – Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Doubleview

A letter is attached outlining the items requested for each campus, as well as details about collection points St VDP Christmas Appeal Letter 2018. Please note that St Vincent de Paul can only distribute non-perishable food items that are unopened, and preferably have a long expiry / best before date. We thank you in advance for your generous support of this appeal which will help some families in need this Christmas.

Shopfront

Last week, Newman College Marist Association members, Br Terry Orrell and Louise O’Mahony, joined MYM representative Michael Heelan, at the MYM group’s chosen avenue of outreach, Shopfront, in Maylands, Perth. The focus of Shopfront is the preparation and serving of meals for disadvantaged and homeless people. On this particular evening, some forty people visited the venue, enjoyed a meal and the company of others who came. For Br Terry, Louise and Michael, it was a privilege and a pleasure to join other volunteers in meeting and attending to the needs of those who were present.

College Receives Vote of Thanks – Mullewa Wildflower Show

A vote of thanks was received by the College from the organisers of the Mullewa Wildflower Show. A copy of the letter can be accessed here WFS Thankyou Newman College

Wanted: Pre-loved Books and Clothes

Perth Clean NRG Solar are collecting new or pre-loved children’s clothes, books, toys, hats, paper, stationery, shoes and tinned food for a local community on Cebu Island in the Philippines. Clean NRG Solar Managing Director, Craig Donohue, explains how this venture came about: “Following a trip to the Philippines to visit my son Sam in Cebu, I noticed local kids had only 3 books (yes 3!) to share among the community. Shortly after returning back to Perth we started collecting donations of books, clothing, paper, toys, shoes, hats, stationery for the kids.”

If you are able to assist in this appeal, please bring boxed donations (not taped up) to the Clean NRG Solar premises, 1/7 Leeway Court, Osborne Park, Monday to Friday between 9.00am – 5.00pm. Donations can be accepted until Friday 16 November. For more information please click here.

Remar Blue Solidarity Camp

Remar Blue Solidarity Camp took place between 22 August and 28 August in Mullewa, a small country town 500km north east of Perth. This camp was a “live in” experience where we were able to be the ‘hands and feet of Christ’. It gave us the opportunity to experience ‘service’ in a prolonged context, whilst deepening our experience of communal living within a Christian context. Click here to read more and see more photos and a video from the camp.