Welcome to our first newsletter for Term Two, I hope that you had a safe and restful break with family and friends over Easter.
It is with great excitement that I write this newsletter as the new Principal of Newman. I am honoured to become part of this community which has already given me such a warm welcome. I am looking forward to becoming acquainted with students, families and getting to know the diverse Newman Community, finding out the strengths and talents of our students and helping our teachers to support our students in their learning journeys.
I would like to thank Dr Lucie McCrory who was acting Principal in Term One. Her professionalism and leadership was exemplary and to be commended as it was a very challenging term. Mr Simon Martino supported Dr McCrory as acting Vice Principal and also showed exceptional leadership.
I would also like to welcome new staff members and families to the College Community. Best wishes for the term ahead and I trust the Marist experience will be a rewarding one.
Formation Day
Staff from Newman College, Bunbury Catholic College and St Joseph’s Northam gathered at Newman College on Monday 24 April for a joint Marist Formation Day.
In 2023, we are invited by our Marist theme – Created and Called: a revolution of love and tenderness, to look at our lives and to see how we might better be the people that God has created and called us to be, the Marist Formation Team focused on this on the day.
Anzac Service
ANZAC ceremonies were held on Wednesday 26 April at each of the campuses. Each of the ceremonies highlighting the significance and importance of ANZAC day. We remembered and gave thanks for those women and men who served and for those they left behind. The students led a respectful and reverent service and I sincerely thank the staff and students who were involved. I also had the opportunity to speak with the students briefly and share my support of them in their Newman journey. One message that I want them to hear is that their personal best in whatever they do is always good enough, and it should be shared and celebrated
Y7-Y9 Parent Teacher Interviews
Parent, Teacher, Student interviews provide a formal opportunity for teachers and parents to discuss student achievements and progress. Feedback was given along with actionable steps for students to meet their goals. The hybrid model of both face-to face and online via Teams was well received by families
Y7-Y12 Guild Cross Country Carnival
Our annual Year 7 to Year 12 Cross Country was completed on Friday, it was fantastic to see so many enthusiastic runners on the day. Congratulations to all the students who participated,there were some superb performances. Thank you to the PE staff who organised the day and the students for their participation and efforts. It was a fantastic day.
Year 12 Tie Ceremony
On Monday, Year 12 gathered in the Champagnat Chapel to receive their ties. This was another milestone moment in their Newman Journey and we took a moment to consider the significance of this event.
Year 6 Camp
The camp is a milestone event in the life of a Year 6 and both the students and staff entered into the adventure with great spirit and unity. I am sure Year 6 will have many stories to share and cherish from the great learning and community experiences they encountered on camp. Thank you to our staff, Delia Kretzman, Robyn Hatchett, Sarah Dalton, Justin Kirry, Marnie Fitzpatrick, Stuart McClorey, Marnie Fitzpatrick, Kathy Biancuzzo and Ryan von Bergheim who attended and for the work they did to make this a truly memorable event for all.
Events Ahead
We look forward to significant events occurring within the next few weeks which include Years 9-10 Singapore Immersion Trip departing this Saturday, Mother’s Day celebrations on Thursday 11 May and Friday 12 May, Years 7-12 Principal’s Assembly on Wednesday 17 May and Years 11-12 Marist Connect Night scheduled on Thursday 18 May.
Wishing our families all the best for the weeks ahead.
I trust that students and families were able to enjoy down time during the Term 1 holidays and that students returned to school with a renewed sense of vitality, ready to embrace both the joys and the challenges of Term 2.
Over the break I had the absolute pleasure and privilege of attending the Marist Pilgrimage 2023. The experience saw 30 Marists from across the country spend three weeks overseas retracing the stories of the Old and New Testament in Jerusalem surrounds, the Old City, Jordan, Palestine and Bethlehem. We then followed in Marcellin’s footsteps across Rome and France. Each place and space had its own unique energy and emotion associated with it, which opened a deeper insight into my Christian faith, the Marist heart, and our spiritual stories. A pilgrimage of this nature can be experienced as the fifth Gospel, completing the spiritual understanding, and that was certainly the case for me.
Highlights of the first part of the pilgrimage included visiting the town of Magdala, where Mary Magdalene is suggested to have come from. The presence in the Chapel of the Encounter was particularly moving, as was celebrating the eucharist in Jesus’ tomb. Visiting Marcellin’s hometown and sitting at the Marist table in Lavalla were powerful experiences.
We had an audience with the Pope and enjoyed our time learning about the future Marist global intuitions with the Brothers in the Marist General House in Rome, led by Brother Ernesto Sanchez, Superior General. The pilgrims spent a week in the first official Marist home of L’Hermitage in St-Chamond, France, which felt like home away from home. The Brothers’ welcoming hospitality across the three countries was warm and inviting.
The pilgrimage was a spiritually nurturing experience that will no doubt lead to sustained friendships and significant encounters that will stay with me for life.
Singapore Immersion 6 to 13 May
Newman College recognises the challenge and importance of creating resilient, global thinkers; students who are agile, collaborative, and embracing of the demands of our modern world. I am delighted the College are once again able to facilitate this Project Based Immersion in collaboration with Republic Polytechnic Singapore. We have 18 students across Years 9 and 10 who will be immersed in classes facilitated at the Polytechnic where their learning and metacognition (thinking about thinking) will be challenged. This experience will ultimately provide the participants with skills they can apply to their learning within the setting of Newman College and beyond the College walls.
We wish the students and accompanying teachers a safe journey and look forward to sharing their experiences upon their return. Thank you to Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning Mrs Beth Murphy for leading the immersion and to Digital Innovator Mr Joel Kandiah, Digital Integrator Cate McKnight and teacher Adeline Hendriks for your efforts in attending the immersion.
Uniform Review and Alignment Committee – Expression of Interest
Expressions of Interest (EOI) are being sought to join the Uniform Review and Alignment Committee. By 2025 all students PK-12 will be on one site, and it is important to have alignment of our uniform. The College will therefore be auditing our current uniform items across the College. It is essential we receive EOI’s from a broad range of parents, PK-12, to form this committee. We encourage you to express your interest by Friday 12 May. The committee will be announced as soon as possible after this day.
School Photos
Please ensure students are well-groomed and ready for their Year Group’s scheduled photo days. Order envelopes with details on ordering procedures have been distributed to students. Students are required to bring their envelopes to school on their scheduled photo day, regardless of whether an order has been made.
Staffing
We welcome the following new staff to the College, Matthew Brown – Arts Technician and Joaquin Connelly – Education Assistant. And welcome back Janet March and Rosalia Testa as they return after their time away.
Catholic Performing Arts Festival
We have a very exciting performance opportunity this year and we invite our Newman Music Students Years 4 – 12 to participate.
Catholic Performing Arts Festival is an annual event which provides Year 4 – 12 students an opportunity to perform on any instrument they have been learning and be provided with feedback from a professional musician in the industry. They can perform as a soloist or duet, attached is the calendar details outlining the dates for each available section to enter. The Newman College ensembles will be entered at the discretion of the ensemble director.
We have a very short timeline to enter these applications, and therefore if you would like to participate, please:
Notify your tutor and they will complete your online entry form (if you are receiving Music Tuition from Newman College)
OR
Email Selena Barrett or Aleisha Dows our Music administrator, by Tuesday May 2nd with the following details:
Solo Performers Name
Teachers Name
Teachers Email
Student Year Levels
Item Name
Item Duration (MM:SS)
Item Composer/Arranger
We encourage all students from Years 4 – 12 to participate, as it is a wonderful opportunity to grow and develop as a performer. Click here for a draft calendar.
It has been an excellent start to Term 2. Students have returned in good spirts with an eagerness to return to class and their learning. Term 2 is a busy term academically for our senior students who undertake their first round of exams for the year. It is important that students in this time look to take a balanced approach to their studies, making healthy choices in relation to eating, sleeping and social activities. I encourage all students to reach out to their PCG teacher or Leader of Wellbeing if they need support in managing their study routines.
We continue to encourage our students to attend school in their correct uniform and ask our families to support this messaging. Our focus has been wearing the winter uniform with blazer to and from school. It has been pleasing to see students being consistent in the first two weeks.
Attendance at school is important for students to perform well. Research shows that missing school can have a negative impact on students’ academic performance. Over the next fortnight, Leaders of Wellbeing will be communicating with students and families where there are concerns about attendance. This is our commitment to ensuring the best outcomes for all students.
Pastoral Care Program
Over the next 2 weeks, students will be participating in a variety of activities during Extended Pastoral Care program. The purpose is to support students in their wellbeing and address issues that impact students at their appropriate age level. The extended PCG period occurs weekly on a Wednesday.
Year 7 Camp
Information relating to Year 7 Camp has been distributed last term. All instructions on what to bring and the details of what will be occurring has also been communicated to students. Please contact Mr Smith, Leader of Wellbeing Year 7, if you have further questions.
Celebrate
Newman College students Mathew Hyndes, Charlotte, Mollie and Matilda Sullivan, participated in the 24hr Charity Swim for Ocean Heroes Australia. Our students were part of a team who helped raise money by swimming with their team 80000kms in 24hrs. An incredible achievement and something we love to see from our students who share their generosity for the wider community. Congratulations to the students and their families.
Illness In the event of illness on the day of an exam, parents are required to notify the College prior to the commencement of the exam and promptly provide a medical certificate via secondaryabsentees@newman.wa.edu.au for the day of the missed examination. Once a medical certificate has been received a time for the student to complete the exam as a formative exercise will be arranged. The student is required to genuinely attempt the task as their performance will be used to validate a standardised score.
Positive for COVID-19
In the event that a student tests positive for COVID-19, guardians must register a positive rapid antigen test result with the WA Department of Health Here and forward the received confirmation notification to secondaryabsentees@newman.wa.edu.au. Upon receival this will be an approved absence and the calculation of standardised scores for assessments missed during approved periods of illness will be given.
Externally Set Tasks Students who miss an EST due to illness must provide a medical certificate upon their return to be eligible to complete the missed EST in the missed assessment sessions run Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. The College is required to submit the EST results to the School Curriculum and Standards Authority.
Students who do not sit their missed EST by Wednesday of Week 5 will receive a 0 score for the assessment.
Students on a full General pathway who have not completed their EST by the end of week 4 will be required to attend the makeup sessions in Week 5 to complete their ESTs.
The following dates and times are available for students to choose when they will complete their missed EST. If they have missed more than 1 EST, students will be required to complete all ESTs, sitting them across multiple sessions in JHN 3.2.
These sessions will be run in:
Date Week 5
Start Time
Monday 22 of May
Period 1 – 9:05 Period 3 – 11:10am
Tuesday 23 May
Period 1 – 9:05am Period 3- 11:10 am
Wednesday 24 May
Period 1- 8:50am
College Weights Room
Being physically active is a way in which we can support and improve our mental and physical wellbeing.
Training in the College Weights Room is one-way students could increase their weekly activity time.
The Weights Room is open on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday morning from 7.30am-8.15am. All students in Year 9-12 are invited to use the facility. Students who wish to use this venue will need to complete an induction and get a parent/guardian permission form signed to gain access.
HPE staff supervise each session and are available to write programs and offer training advice as required.
Girls Fitness Class
A new initiative being trialled in Term Two is a girls fitness class. Conducted on Thursday mornings, this class will begin in week 3, running from 7.15am-8.15am.
Students in the program will complete a gym induction and learn the basics of weightlifting and fitness training. Run by a qualified fitness instructor, this is a fantastic opportunity for girls to develop their confidence in the gym setting as they build their fitness and have fun in a safe and supportive environment.
Offered to girls in Years 9-12, the class will be capped at twenty students. Female students are asked to register for their interest by emailing Miss Thayer, kate.thayer@newman.wa.edu.au by the end of week 2.
2023 Year 9 Excursion Herdsman Lake
In the last week of Term 1 all Year 9 students walked to Herdsman Lake to learn about the adaptations, features and living needs of the organisms within its ecosystem. How they interact together and with us, how are they classified and how energy flows through these systems.
The students undertook hands-on, outdoor learning discovering the aquatic, bird, animal and plant life, which live in and around Herdsman’s Lake. We started with some introductions and background on the lake and then split into 3 groups to rotate through each of the following activities.
Biotic sampling – students were outside using scoop-nets to sample macro invertebrates. Then they identify, sort and classify their catches, before we put the critters back in the lake.
Abiotic Study – Students then test sites at the lake and drain, to measure water quality including pH, Turbidity, Temperature and Salinity.
Biotic Study – Students undertook a short walk along the lake edge to explore the diversity of birds and other creatures around the lake, to develop an overall snapshot of the quality of the lake at that particular time.
We finished with some time in the Wildlife Centre where students can explore the displays.
The excursion was enjoyed by all and we are very fortunate to have access to a world class wetland area in our own backyard.
Fiona Hassell
Leader of Learning Science
Newman College Surfing Competition
On Monday 1 May 65 students participated in this competition at Trigg Beach assisted by Surfing WA. Thank you to Tom Williams and Michael Van der Heever for their organisation of the event. Students and staff paid tribute to Duncan Pugh with a paddle out at the commencement of the competition. The weather was perfect and we all enjoyed being part of this wonderful event.
Champagnat Cup
On Tuesday 02 May our 1st XV111 Football team, Marist Basketball Boys and Girls teams and four Marist Netball teams travelled to St Josephs in Northam where they participated in the Champagnat Cup. Bunbury Catholic College were unfortunately unable to join us this year. It was a great day of competition. Our students participated wholeheartedly, demonstrating their skills, and supporting their teammates, to achieve some exceptional results.
Wednesday 10 May Extended PCG time – Year 11 and Year 12
Azelene Williams will be returning to the College on Wednesday 10 May to speak to our Year 11 and Year 12 students. Azelene will speak to our senior school students about her own lived experience: being caught up in a physically and emotionally abusive relationship.
Azelene’s presentation aligns with our Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum. The Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum (KS:CPC) aims to help children and students to recognise abuse and develop ways of protecting themselves from abuse. It also extends to covering rights, relationships, responsibilities and ethical behaviour. This curriculum is delivered across our Health and Physical Education lessons and our Wellbeing Program.
If you have any concerns about your child attending this session, please contact the relevant Leader of Wellbeing. For further information about Azelene Williams, her experience and topics of discussion, please visit her website: https://azelenewilliams.com/just-for-teens/
I hope everyone has had a wonderful first two weeks to begin the term. We were very fortunate as a staff to commence our term with the Marist Life Formation team where we undertook a faith formation day alongside our other Marist communities from Western Australia – Bunbury Catholic College and St. Joseph’s School Northam. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to reflect on our Marist theme for 2023 and to gather together as one Marist Community.
May the month of Mary
This week marks the beginning of May, the month of Mary. This is an especially important time for our Marist community, with Mary playing such a pivotal role in the formation of the Marist Brothers.
Many people may be unaware, but when Marcellin Champagnat first went to school as a child, he only stayed one day due to the cruel nature of his teachers. He left to work at home with his Dad instead and was able to do some learning with his mother.
Years later, when Champagnat was ordained as a priest, he knew that he wanted to make Jesus Christ known and loved to young people everywhere and to provide an education to those in his community. However, having remembered his own time at school, Champagnat was determined to create a different experience for his students. Following his ordination, Champagnat travelled with a group of his friends to Fourvière in Lyon where at the feet of Mary, they promised to establish the Society of Mary (which later became the ‘Little Brothers of Mary’ or the ‘Mary-ists’ and eventually the Marists). Champagnat and his brothers dedicated themselves and all their good works to Mary. They wanted to educate children in the way of Mary – showing compassion and gentleness to the young people in their community. In this way, to be Marist means to be a disciple of Mary. The month of May is the perfect time to remember this and reflect on this throughout the month. I hope everyone can take some time to reflect on where they see Mary working in their lives.
2023 Marian Lecture
Each year, the Marist Association hosts a Marian Lectue – an opportunity for the community to come together to share in a message of hope and share in conversation around a particular theme or topic.
The 2023 Marian Lecture features a conversation with Dr. Medi Volpe about our Marist theme for 2023: A revolution of love and tenderness. This 1-hour lecture is a great opportunity to understand our Marist theme and to better understand how we can bring to life a revolution of love and tenderness in our own lives. This lecture is a live-streamed event and is open to all members of our community, including the general public.
Participants can enrol via the form below, and have the option of watching from home, or gathering together with other participants at the Newman College Auditorium.
You can register your intent to attend via the Microsoft Form below, which in turn will be registered with the Marist Association.
We look forward to sharing in this event very soon!
Mother’s Day Mass
Families are warmly welcome to attend our Mother’s Day mass celebrations next week. We look forward to welcoming all of our mothers and mother figures and celebrating their contributions to our community.
Marist Theme Art Competition
Students and families should keep an eye out for information coming shortly about an upcoming Art competition based on our Marist Theme for 2023.
Students will be invited to submit a piece of artwork that reflects the Marist theme for 2023 – Created & Called: A revolution of love and tenderness. There will be categories for students from PK–12 with prizes for award winners. Winning entries and honourable mentions will be showcased at our PK-12 Arts Festival later in the year.
We are looking forward to sharing details soon and seeing lots of excellent entries!
Year 9 Game Changers Retreat
On the 28th of May, a wonderful group of Year 9 Game Changers students assembled at St Joseph’s Church in Subiaco for their Regional Retreat Day. The students chose to begin the day with a beautiful Mass led by Monsignor Kevin, before meeting up with Issy, their Marist Youth Ministry MC for the day. From there, the group discussed the meaning and role of simplicity in their lives and how we, as Marists, are encouraged to live in the present. As Albus Dumbledore once said, “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live!” The students then explored the importance of solidarity and how they can contribute to this in not only their own communities but also the wider global community, even if it’s just in small steps. In summary, the Year 9 Game Changers had a fun yet reflective day and, by the end, had bonded closer as a youth group and become excited to ‘change the game’ for the year ahead.
This morning, the Year 10 Game Changers students set off to St. Joseph’s Subiaco to take part in their final La Valla Retreat Day. In the spirit of embracing our journey, students studied the symbol of the compass, and reflected on their personal North’s, East/West’s, and South’s (Goals, distractions, and significant past experiences). This symbol will be used to remind the Year 10’s that it is the compasses needle (people whom we can look to for guidance) that will make it a lot easier to find our True North. The day provided a safe and relaxing space for the students to reflect deeply on their lives moving forward, as we know many big decisions lie ahead for them!
Thursday 18 May – Year 11 & 12 Marist Connect Evening
Community Mass
A reminder that the whole College community is warmly invited to join us in the Champagnat Chapel at 8.10am on Thursday mornings for Mass celebrated by one of our local Parish Priests and hosted by our students from Marcellin and Lavalla.
Please see the upcoming schedule for the next two weeks:
Thursday 11 May, Chisolm and Year 3 Blue (Mother’s Day)
Thank you for a wonderful term. It has been a fantastic start with so much to celebrate as we head into the holiday period.
Term two students are to return to school wearing winter uniform. The first day of school for all students is Wednesday 26 April. Please take this opportunity to check your child’s clothing sizes to make sure they fit. Students in Years 4 – 12 are required to wear their blazer.
Students are to be reminded of the expectations relating to their personal presentation and they must return to school with correct hair (styles and colour), nails, and jewellery.
On Monday 24 April we welcome Andrew Watson, the new Principal to the College. We are also hosting Bunbury Catholic College and St Joseph’s Northam will join with Newman College staff for a faith formation professional development opportunity with the Marist Life Formation Team. This day will see the three Marist communities come together to reflect on our 2023 Marist Theme, Created and Called.
Newman College Assessment Policy 10-12
The College Assessment policy outlines the requirement that students in Years 10-12 must have a medical certificate for being absent for in-class assessments due to illness. Where students miss an in-class assessment and cannot provide a medical certificate they will be awarded a zero as per the College Assessment Policy.
The integrity of assessments in Senior School is important and as such the assessment policy requirements allows the College to invigilate assessments for all students that are valid, explicit, fair, equitable, publicly accountable, reliable and in adherence with statutory requirements, including those required by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority.
The Assessment Policy and these requirements have been communicated to parents by the Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning at the 2023 Year 11 and 12 Information Evenings for parents and students and via recording sent out for Year 10s. Further communication has been provided in the fortnightly newsletter and students have been briefed on the requirement. Medical certificates can be obtained in person with your GP, via online medical GP services or at your local pharmacy. When students have obtained a medical certificate, these can be forwarded onto absenteesecondary@newman.wa.edu.au
Extended Absences
Parents are reminded that all extended absences must be referred to the Vice Principal.
