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Champagnat Day

Today we celebrated the ideals and dreams of our Founder St Marcellin Champagnat and who we are as a Marist community. Right across the school today, from our Kindergarten to Year 6 to Year 12, we came to the table to celebrate who we are and our shared purpose. At the heart of our Gospel message is the notion that we can be faith-filled, we can be hope-filled and we do that by how we love one another. Marist education is premised on the notion that we can be present to each other, that we can form relationships and think of the other person, particularly that person most in need.

Congratulations to those Marist award winners in each year group in the Secondary school and those in the Primary who have won the Marist award every week. This award sets the exemplar of what we want for this community. A commitment to excellence, a commitment to service, a commitment to the other person. Congratulations also to those teachers for their Marist service awards.

The proceeds of funds raised today will go to Australian Marist Solidarity, the international agency for the aid and development work of the Marist Province of Australia, which supports those throughout Asia and the Pacific Islands. Our fundraising today raises awareness of issues that afflict the minority, the marginalised, the person without a home, without food on the table or a country they can call their own. We need to ask ourselves the question – ‘what would we do if we had no home, had no country, no education?’ In our faith and learning community the people we become, the questions we ask and the actions we take will define our future.

We were indeed fortunate that the weather held. Students and staff participated in all events with great enthusiasm and joy. Further reports of the day can be found in other parts of this newsletter.

Opening and Blessing of the St John Henry Newman Learning Hub, Tuesday 1 June

Thank you to all staff, students and members of our Community for ensuring that last week’s Opening and Blessing of the St John Henry Newman Learning Hub was the great success it was.

This event not only showcased our beautiful new facility, but also provided an opportunity to celebrate our Vision for Learning Shine Through Discovery – Let your light shine…..

This new learning space was designed to animate staff and students to reflect our vision to be flexible, agile and innovative in their learning. The Hub reflects the pedagogical pillar, Collaborate, in our Vision for Learning that will enhance the skills of critical thinking, innovation and a culture of presentation for both students and staff.

We were indeed fortunate to have had special guests contribute to the formalities of the Opening, including:

• The Most Reverend Timothy Costelloe, Archbishop of Perth
• Br Peter Carroll, Provincial of the Marist Brothers and the Leader of the Marist Association of St Marcellin Champagnat
• Dr Frank Malloy, National Director Marist Schools Australia (online)

Primary Schools Lifelink Launch

On Tuesday 2 June, Newman College was delighted to once again host the Archbishop of Perth’s Lifelink Launch for Primary Schools, the aim of which is to help raise funds for people in need in our community. We welcomed the following special guests to our College:

• The Most Rev Timothy Costello, Archbishop of Perth
• The Most Rev Donald Sproxton, Auxiliary Bishop of Perth
• Dr Debra Sayce, Executive Director, CEWA
• Br Peter Carroll, Provincial Leader of the Marist Brothers
• Dr Frank Malloy, National Director Marist Schools Australia

Year 7 2024 Interviews

As indicated in last week’s Newsletter, the interview enrolment process for Year 7 2024 has commenced and continues over this weekend into next week. Members of the Senior Leadership Team have thoroughly enjoyed meeting prospective students who are showing so much enthusiasm for starting secondary school.

College Canteen Provision of Service

In recent months the College has undertaken a review of the canteen services provided at Newman College to evaluate the efficacy of resources and facilities. The outcome of this review indicated the need for consolidation of provisions across the College. As a result, several changes to the delivery of service will come into effect from the commencement of Term 3 2021. These include:

• All food and drink will be provisioned through the Marcellin Canteen.
• Canteen orders for recess and lunch will be delivered to the Marian and Lavalla campuses at the appropriate time. (This recess option for the Marian Campus is new.)
• All Canteen orders, for both recess and lunch will now shift to the Flexischools online system. Walk up purchases will no longer be available at the Marian and Lavalla campuses.
• Forgotten or missing lunches will now be reported to the relevant Student Administration where appropriate measures will be taken to support individual students.
• Canteen services for Marcellin students remain unchanged.

Primary families would have received communication this week about how to access Flexischools and set up an account.

John Finneran
PRINCIPAL

 

Lifelink

Newman College welcomed the Archbishop Timothy Costelloe and Bishop Donald Sproxton to launch the archdiocesan fundraiser Lifelink. Our Junior Dance Troupe opened the launch with an inspiring performance to “You Raise Me Up”. The challenge to the students was to consider “How is God calling us to be a Christ-centred Church in Australia that is a joyful, hope filled and servant community?”

It was a wonderful celebration and collaboration between all primary schools in the archdioeces. We look forward to supporting the lifelink agencies in 2021 with our annual fundraiser scheduled for Term 3. More information about Lifelink can be found here.

Student Led Prayer 

Friday Week 9 our Faith and Liturgy Captains return to lead students in quiet prayers and reflection. All are welcome from 8.25am in the Champagnat Chapel every Friday.

Thursday morning Community Mass – 8.10am every Thursday

Thank you to Marcellin Guild and Year 6 students  hosted our Thursday morning community Mass in Week 7 and MacKillop Guild and Year 6 who hosted in Week 8. Romero Guild and Year 4 will be hosting in Week 9.

Our community Mass is the perfect way to start your day where students can gather with staff and their parents to begin the day. All parents are invited to attend with their students at least once a term.

On Tuesday evening of this week, Newman College hosted parenting expert Maggie Dent who gave a presentation on building children’s resilience. As is her way, Maggie presented in her typically good humoured fashion, connecting with many families over the challenges we see in raising children today. One of the things she spoke about that really stuck with me is that there is no parenting book written about your child. Each child is so unique and so different in their own way, that there is never really a solution or approach that works for all children. The message I took from this is that as parents, we need to be kind to ourselves. It is so easy to draw comparisons between our own child and others; it is so easy to look at the achievements of one child and have concern or worry for why our child is not doing the same. If there is one thing I have learned in my years in education, it’s that it all balances out in the end.

Students will always grow and develop at different rates, and where one child shows strength or talent, another may do so in something completely different. I think the parents of our community should know that it’s ok to be kind to ourselves (in fact I strongly encourage it!)  – to actually stop and pause and reflect on the great things we have done as parents and as families, rather than be hard on ourselves for any perceived deficiencies. Celebrate the beautiful young person your child is becoming! Being a parent is hard – there’s no manual on how to get it done, and we learn on the job as we go. I hope that as we move towards the conclusion of this term, families can take some time to reflect on the great things that have occurred for them and their children this year and celebrate that in some special or meaningful way. Remember, no matter how we might feel about ourselves some days, our children love us just the way we are 😊

Incidentally, Maggie’s website is packed with information covering all sorts of topics from helping children with anxiety, to connecting with grandparents who live far away, to how to plan for a road trip minus screen time. I would encourage all families if they are interested to check out some of her resources and take advantage of here years of wisdom. You can find all of her materials here.

Highlights from Past Two Weeks

Year 6 Parliament House 

Last Monday our year 6 students took a trip to Parliament House to explore our local state government and how it works. Students were able to learn about how bills are debated and passed through parliament, as well as gain an understanding of the roles of some of the different members of the Legislative Assembly. Students also had the chance to visit the Electoral Education Centre as part of their trip learning about how our preferential voting system works within a democracy. Thank you to our Year 6 teachers for organising this event, as well as the parent volunteers from our Year 6 families who were able to attend in support.

Year 6 Tinkering Day 

Last Thursday, students from Year 6 took part in a ‘Tinkering Day’ as part of their Digital and Design Technologies curriculum. Students worked with their parents and grandparents to take apart an old electronic device or gadget, which was then repurposed into a device that would warn others of an impending natural disaster. The hall was alive with lots of noise and discussion as students worked together to complete their devices. A personal highlight for me was watching Mr Hunt teach his students about tape cassettes – something I thought I would never see! It was a great day, and we are so grateful to the large numbers of parents (especially Dads) who were able to come down and support.

Homework Club & Coder Dojo  

It has been wonderful to see so many of our families take advantage of the offerings of our Homework Club and Coder Dojo this term. Families should note the following for the remainder of this term:

• Coder Dojo has now finished for Term 2 and will recommence early in Term 3. Families will be advised of the date of commencement in Term 3 in future newsletters.
• Homework Club will continue to run until Week 10 of this term each Monday from 3.30pm to 4.30pm. All students are welcome to attend.

Important Information For The Next Two Weeks

There are several important events coming up in the calendar over the next few weeks. These include:

• Wednesday 16 June – Year 4 Unit mass (9.00am in the Chapel)
• Thursday 17 June – Year 6 IPSHA Interschool carnival (to be held at John XXIII)
• Thursday 24 June – Speak Up Awards Finals
• Friday 25 June – Lavalla Cross Country Carnival
• Friday 25 June – Student Leaders breakfast
• Friday 2 July – Semester One reports released

UWA Research Project

The University of Western Australia (UWA) has an exciting opportunity for Newman College to participate in research.

The overall aim of the research project is to examine first impressions towards children with and without autism to better understand the social experiences of children and help understand the stigma towards children on the autism spectrum. Experiencing social rejection at an early age can be very difficult for children, and research suggests that one factor that may impact children’s social lives are first impressions.

First impressions can influence how we respond to unfamiliar people, and so understanding the factors that impact how first impressions are formed can be very valuable information in developing programs that foster social inclusivity. This study also investigates how adults form impressions of children because adults who work with children, such as parents and teachers, can have great influence on children’s social decisions.

The project encourages children to learn about first impressions with the message of inclusivity and acceptance of other children’s differences.

At this stage, they are inviting parents and their children aged 6-11 years to participate in this study and would appreciate any help from Newman College families on this project. The results of this current study will be used to inform the design of a later study involving children who are on the autism spectrum.

If you and your child are interested in participating, please follow this link to provide your consent and answer some questions regarding your child’s development: http://uwa.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eJ83cMkCNuTJBZA

The link will also provide you with further information and guidance on how you and your child may participate in this exciting project.

As we enter Week 7, there are many different events occurring across the life of the College that speaks to the identity of Newman College.

Official opening and blessing of the St John Henry Newman Learning Hub

Tuesday 1 June 2021 is the official opening and blessing of the St John Henry Newman Learning Hub. To mark this significant occasion in the life of our PK-12 College community we will be celebrating with a formal gathering commencing at 9.00am.  We are delighted to be able to welcome to our College the Most Reverend Timothy Costelloe, Archbishop of Perth, and Dr Frank Malloy, National Director Marist Schools Australia, to perform official duties at this significant event.

The Opening and Blessing of the St John Henry Learning Hub is the culmination of six years of planning which commenced with the development of our Vision for Learning – ‘Shine through Discovery’, Let Your Light Shine (Matthew 5:16) in 2016. Our environment reflects our learning intent which is to create spaces where we can collaborate and challenge our students. The St John Henry Newman Learning Hub sets the tone for our future master planning.

Lifelink

On Wednesday 2 June, we will host over 60 primary schools in the Marist Auditorium for the Launch of Lifelink. There are celebrations of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the Mass and Retreat Days that nurture the faith of our staff and students alike.

Feast Day of St Marcellin Champagnat

Sunday 6 June is the Feast Day of St Marcellin Champagnat. This is another important event in the life of the College, where K-12 students gather for a range of activities and Mass to honour the Marist Brothers and raise money for Australian Marist Solidarity. More information about this exciting event will be shared with the community next week.

Thursday morning Community Mass – 8.10am every Thursday

Thank you to Chisholm Guild and Year 4 students and Camara Guild and Year 3 students who hosted our Thursday morning community Mass in Weeks 5 and 6. Marcellin Guild and Year 6 will be hosting in Week 7 and MacKillop Guild and Year 6 in Week 8.

Our community Mass is the perfect way to start your day where students can gather with staff and their parents to begin the day. All parents are invited to attend with their students at least once a term.

Earlier this week, our student leaders in Year 6 attended a Youth UN consultation where the theme for the day was, “What would Australia look like if young people were the key driver of decision making?” This is such a great theme to consider, as every day I am amazed at the brilliant talent and thoughts our students can offer. I shared this with students at one of our morning gatherings this week, discussing their futures. I let them know that even though they may only be in Years 3-6 now, I often look at our group of students and imagine them as our Years 9-12 leaders which they will become in just a few short years.

The young leaders that students become in the future is all to do with the young people they seek to become now. I spoke with students this week about the importance of setting positive habits – that the actions and behaviours we commit to today will be reflected in our future selves. At a previous school, I once met with a parent at the beginning of Term 4 when I was teaching in Year 6. She wanted to know how to bring her child to a ‘C’ grade standard in one of his subjects before he commenced high school; dismissing the advice we gave earlier in the year. Unfortunately, learning doesn’t work like this. We can’t always just ‘flick a switch’ at a certain point in time and expect everything to work perfectly. It takes years of positive habits and behaviours to build success and this is the message I had for students this week.

At home, I would encourage all families to chat with their child about their future – what sort of person do they hope to be? What type of student do they want to be? Do they already have a career in mind? As part of that discussion speak with them about the behaviours and attitudes that they will need to arrive at their goal. The earlier they can adopt these, the better their chances of success are in the long term.

Highlights from Past Two Weeks

Assemblies

Last week we celebrated our assembly with Year 6 Blue presenting an original piece about both bullying and Maths! Students presented a story through a poem, which highlighted the dangers of bullying and the importance of supporting one another. This is such an important message as there really is nothing more important than the way we treat others! We are very grateful to Mrs Horn and the Year 6 Blue class for being able to share with us such a positive message.

This morning we celebrated assembly with an item prepared by Year 5 Green and Miss Sankar. They presented a fantastic assembly based around the importance of having a growth mindset, with a very futuristic theme. I even got to meet another version of myself – thanks Niamh! A growth mindset is all about having the belief that your skills and talents can be developed through hard work, grit, and perseverance – a terrific message for all our students to hear. Well done to Miss Sankar, Mr Howard, Mrs Biancuzzo, and of the course the Year 5 Green class for an excellent performance!

Marcellin Award 

Last week we were very proud to present Declan Robinson in Year 6 the Marcellin Award. Declan was nominated by his teachers for all the small but very meaningful things he does for his class and classmates. He is the first to help others, includes other students in play and will hold the door open for the next student passing through. His respectful and good-mannered nature makes him a delight to be around and his actions perfectly model the Marist values of Newman College.  He can be very proud of his efforts and the impact he is having in his class. Great job Declan!

This morning we also presented a Marcellin Award to William Nyirongo in Year 5. William has taken it upon himself over these past few weeks to rid our school of excess rubbish and has often been spotted picking up rubbish in his own time in order to improve the look and feel of our grounds. I hope that his selfless act is an inspiration to other students, as this is a fine example of student leadership – making the choice to do something positive that benefits others. Congratulations Will on your outstanding efforts!

Student Expectations 

This week I wrote to all families in Year 6 to share some discussions we have been having in school about the standards and expectations of our students, particularly in relation to behaviour. It is important that families of students across all year levels understand that there is a level of expectation students, families and staff have for our community, and that it is the responsibility of everyone within that community to meet those standards. We frequently use our morning meeting time to set a positive tone or thought for the day, or sometimes to remind students about one of these expectations. We will continue this practice into the second half of our year, with teachers meeting in their classes to reiterate and support these points also.

UN Youth Conference 

Earlier this week, our Year 6 students, along with Mrs Horn and Mrs Biancuzzo, took the opportunity to travel to Loreto Nedlands with other schools to take part in a Youth UN consultation. The theme of the day was, “What would Australia look like if young people were the key driver of decision making?” Students listened to a presentation and took part in some activities and discussions around the theme. Students enjoyed the experience and certainly came back with lots to think about!

Culture of Excellence

I was so pleased to come across some fine examples of excellence in our classrooms this week.

In Year 3 Red, Joel Costley and Leo Goggin combined to achieve more than 50,000 points last week in Mathletics. This means that together, they answered more than 5000 Maths questions correctly. Amazing! I love seeing students setting a goal for themselves and working to achieve it and then inspiring others to do the same. Great efforts from Joel and especially Leo, who has been leading the charge in Year 3 Red for some weeks!

In Year 5 Blue, Kaydee Van Deventer recently took part in the School Sport WA State selection Cross Country race. Racing against girls from all over the state, Kaydee ran an amazing race to finish 2nd overall. This is an outstanding result and one that Kaydee can be really proud of. Kaydee was busy smashing swimming records in Term 1 and is now excelling in the world of athletics too! Well done Kaydee!

In Year 3 Green, Charlotte Nolan has been instrumental in a great example of student leadership. Along with some of her classmates, Charlotte has started a ‘study club’ where students from Year 3 Green go to the library each Monday and Thursday at lunch. Students use this time to finish off some work from class or complete some activities together with a goal of everyone helping others to succeed. Mr Finneran even proposed that Charlotte come and speak to our Year 12 students about it! Well done to her, and the rest of the Year 3 Green team for their dedication to improvement and excellence!

Years 5 and 6 Art Extension Program 

Last week our Art Extension students in Years 5 and 6 took part in a workshop with West Australian textile artist, Tanya Cain Abbs. Tanya worked with students, along with Mrs Grayden and Mrs Farrell, to create a traditional Japanese textile art called ‘Shibori’. Students will use their fabric design as part of a cushion they are designing and will display these artworks in the PK-12 Art exhibition later in the year. Students really enjoyed the opportunity to take part and expand their horizons with something new.

Year 3 Welcomes Mr Bailey 

Last week our Year 3 students were very glad to welcome Mr Bailey who came and spoke to them about his time in the armed services and the importance of ANZAC Day. Mr Bailey brought in some photos and medals (both real and replica) that he was able to share with students. He spoke about his journey through the armed services and some of the different jobs and tasks he undertook during this time, reflecting on some important qualities he was able to share with students such as determination, perseverance and friendship. We are very grateful to Mr Bailey for his time and the wonderful experience he was able to give our students.

Important Information For The Next Two Weeks

There are several upcoming events over the next two weeks at school that we look forward to sharing in with our students and the community. These include:

• Monday 31 May – Year 6 excursion to Parliament House
• Tuesday 1 June – Opening of the Saint John Henry Newman Learning Hub
• Wednesday 2 June – LifeLink launch day for primary schools
• Thursday 3 June – Year 6 Interschool sport (hosted here at Newman)
• Friday 11 June – Champagnat Feast Day celebrations (including buddy day!)