From the Principal – Term 1 Week 2
A big thank you to our Newman College families for your support in getting the academic year underway. The term has begun well and it has been heartening to see the joy and engagement that our young people have brought to the new year. As parents and guardians, your presence at the Parent Sundowner, the Information Evenings and the High Achievers Assembly is such a strong show of our Marist characteristics, Family Spirit and Presence. Again, a warm welcome to all our families and a special welcome to the families who have joined us this year.
2025 is shaping to be a pivotal year in our community. It is a year of celebration with Brother Noel Hickey’s recent 100th birthday celebration, the 60th year anniversary of our Marist presence at Churchlands, 20 years as a composite school of primary and secondary and the completion of our Primary build project. The year also holds significance as a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church, signified through many making a pilgrimage to Rome. Our 2025 Marist theme picks up the notion of journeys through ‘Pilgrims of Hope – Look Beyond’.
We are also energised and focused in our Strategic School Improvement Plan 2025-2027, with our focus on deepening our identity in the Marist tradition, forging ahead with new approaches to student involvement and voice in our school, and learning gains and growth for our students.
The Equip Guide Thrive program in secondary has launched in the past two weeks. Designed with student, parent and staff input, EGT further responds to student needs in learning preparation, organisation, personal formation, wellbeing and faith. In Year 7, this program has been rolled out with extra planned time for transition into secondary schooling. Year 9 students have experienced EGT with the launch of The Rite Journey. Other year groups are experiencing their new EGT programs to assist their confidence, belonging, preparation for future learning and life beyond school. We now have an age and stage approach from PK-12 with the focus on URStrong, Zones of Regulation and the EGT programs.
Yesterday, we welcomed back the Class of 2024 to the High Achievers Assembly. We celebrated their achievements alongside the academic excellence of our current students. A beautiful moment we have built into our tradition of welcome was the guard of honour given by the Year 12 students to our Year 7 group.
I look forward to sharing with you further developments from our school improvement priorities and wish everyone a great 2025.
Andrew Watson
PRINCIPAL