From the Vice Principal – Term 3 Week 2

Jenni Vile on 01/08/2025

Catholic Performing Arts Festival

Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of joining Ms La Brooy, Leader of Learning – The Arts, and a group of students at the Opening Mass for the 2025 Performing Arts Festival, held at St Mary’s Cathedral. This Mass marks the beginning of a vibrant celebration of the arts within Catholic education.

Now in its 36th year, the Performing Arts Festival brings together more than 20,000 students from 162 Catholic schools across Western Australia. The Festival runs from 25 July to 5 September, with a wide variety of live and recorded performances taking place across multiple venues. We are excited to be hosting the Final Concert on Tuesday 16 September in our Marist Auditorium.

The Performing Arts Festival is a significant event in our College calendar, showcasing the creativity, talent and dedication of our students and staff. We look forward to seeing many of our students participate again this year.

Assumption Day Mass and Fete

Friday 15 August marks the Feast Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is also the patronal feast of the Institute of the Marist Brothers. 

Our College community will celebrate Assumption Day with Mass, followed by Fete Day activities. Attendance on this day is compulsory for all students.  

The Assumption Day Fete will raise funds for Australian Marist Solidarity (AMS). AMS is the international agency for aid and development work of the Marist Province of Australia throughout Asia and the Pacific Islands. All funds raised go towards supporting the projects of AMS, including the organisations our Year 11 Philippines Immersion students will visit later this year. Families can learn more about the work of Australian Marist Solidarity online: http://www.australianmaristsolidarity.net.au/

Further information regarding the day will be provided to families in due course.

We look forward to our students joining with the Marist Brothers Community and Marists in celebration this special Feast Day.

Lavalla Carpark

As many of you know, we have been working to ensure a safe, smooth and efficient drop-off and pick-up experience for families. Thank you for your ongoing feedback and patience as we continue to refine this process.

We are still assessing whether the current left-turn only exit from the Lavalla carpark is effectively improving traffic flow, especially in the afternoons. To assist with this, we will trial allowing right turns from the carpark next week. During this period, we will closely monitor the impact on both safety and traffic movement.

Based on our observations, we will make a more permanent decision about exit directions by the end of the week.

Child Safeguarding

All children and young people who come to Newman College have the right to feel and be safe. We are committed to providing a child-safe and child-friendly environment, one where they are protected, feel secure, and are empowered to actively participate in decisions that affect their lives.

The College places the highest importance on its child safeguarding responsibilities and is committed to providing the resources needed to uphold a child-safe culture and comply with all relevant child protection laws and regulations.

We have recently displayed posters in both the Marcellin and Primary reception areas to reaffirm our commitment to Child Safeguarding. These posters also include links to the College’s Child Safeguarding resources. All our information and policies concerning Child Safeguarding can be found here.

Mr Michael Chiera

VICE PRINCIPAL