From the Vice Principal – Term 4 Week 2

Grandparents’ Day Mass

We are excited to welcome all grandparents to our upcoming Grandparents’ Day celebration on Thursday, 24 October. This special occasion offers a wonderful opportunity for students to share their school experiences with their grandparents, fostering intergenerational connections and celebrating the significant role grandparents play in our lives.

The day will begin at 8.10am with Mass in the Champagnat Chapel for Lavalla and Marcellin families, which will be followed by light refreshments. At Marian Campus there will be a liturgy at 9am at St Cecilia’s Church. Following the Liturgy, grandparents are warmly invited to visit their grandchild’s classroom. Students from Pre-Kindy to Year 2 will proudly showcase their work and learning environments, offering a glimpse into their daily school life.

We look forward to celebrating the invaluable contributions that grandparents make to our Newman College community.

Arts Week

From Monday 21 October to Friday 25 October, we will be celebrating Arts Week, a vibrant celebration of creativity. Throughout the week, students will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of activities designed to showcase their artistic talents.

Our Arts Department will provide students with the opportunity to participate in daily quizzes covering themes such as Movie Quotes, Album Covers, Music, Visual Art, and Musicals. Lunchtime will be filled with fun interactive events, including Charades, Taskmaster challenges, a Silent Disco, Colouring-In Competitions, and an Art Exhibition featuring student artwork. Additionally, special after-school events will highlight the diverse talents of our students, including a Music Collective and a Dance Showcase.

Arts Week promises to be a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and appreciation for the arts within our College community. We encourage all students to get involved and celebrate their artistic expression.

Kaleidoscope – Newman College Arts Festival

The Newman College Arts Festival is a Term 4 highlight, showcasing the creativity and talent of our students. We invite families and friends to join us for a range of performances and exhibitions from Wednesday, 23 October, to Friday, 25 October.

The festival kicks off with the Visual Arts & Technologies Exhibition Opening Night on Wednesday, 23 October, from 4-7pm in the Marist Auditorium. Students from Kindy to Year 12 will have their artwork on display, including pieces from every primary student. There will also be music, dance, and drama performances every 15 minutes, along with food trucks, face painting, and fairy floss on the oval to create a festive atmosphere. The exhibition will be open for public viewing on 24-25 October, from 8am-4pm.

On Thursday night, join us for the Music Collective from 6-8pm in the Marist Auditorium, featuring vocal and instrumental ensembles from Lavalla and Marcellin, along with solos from our talented Marcellin Scholarship students. No tickets are required—just come and enjoy the music!

The festival wraps up on Friday, 25 October, with the Dance Showcase from 6:30-8:30pm, showcasing performances from our primary and secondary dance troupes. Tickets are required for this event: $12.50 (concession) and $17.50 (adults). You can purchase tickets here.

We hope to see you at the festival to celebrate the incredible work of our students!

WACE Examinations

Many of our Year 12 students will soon be sitting their final WACE Examinations commencing on Monday 28 October. Please remember them in your prayers, asking for focus, confidence, and peace during this important time. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication and look forward to seeing each of them achieve their personal best.

World Teachers’ Day – Friday 25 October

World Teachers’ Day acknowledges the significant role our teachers play in shaping the future through education. This day shines a spotlight on the dedication, hard work, and profound impact of teachers around the globe, offering us a chance to honour their invaluable contributions to society.

At Newman College, we are truly blessed to have such committed and passionate educators who go above and beyond in their roles. Our teachers are deeply invested in helping our students “Let their Light Shine” and guiding them to become Good Christians and Good Citizens. Their dedication to living out the Marist characteristics of Family Spirit and Presence, not only in the classroom but across all aspects of College life, is inspiring.

On this special day, I encourage you to take a moment to thank your child’s teachers. I am confident you would agree that we are fortunate to have such devoted and selfless individuals serving our College community.

Year 5 Retreat

The Year 5 retreat focuses on providing formation for our students as they prepare to nominate for the positions of Student Council and Sports Captains in 2025. Facilitated by 24:7 Youth Ministry, students will have the chance to explore what it means to be a leader, and the example Jesus provides to us. Students will also explore the Fruits of the Holy Spirit – the qualities and attributes we can demonstrate to live as the Holy Spirit guides us. The day will include the opportunity for games, collaborative learning, and individual reflection. We hope your students enjoy a wonderful day!

Game Changers

Next Tuesday afternoon, our Game Changers students will come together to celebrate another great year of Youth Ministry, taking part in some games and other collaborative activities as they bring their year to a close. Students will enjoy some pizza and drinks, as they reflect on the relationships they have built throughout the year, as well as the learning and development that has taken place. We hope it is a fitting end to what has been a wonderful year for these students and their mentors.

Uniform Changes

We would like to inform you about some important updates regarding the College uniform, particularly in response to inquiries from parents about the availability of the new skirts arriving later in the term. These skirts will be available for purchase during orientation appointments for new students.

In addition, the Uniform Shop will be reducing the price of current skirts, skorts, and girls’ trousers to $45. Please note that these items, sold at the reduced price, can only be worn for the next two years.

Students currently in Year 6 at Newman College, transitioning into Year 7, will be permitted to continue wearing the old grey skirt for two years. All new students to the College will be required to purchase the new skirt.

We are also excited to announce that, starting in 2025, the Guild system will be expanded to include all students from PK-12. This means that Marian and Lavalla students will also be placed into one of the eight Guilds. To allow for a smooth transition, we will be phasing out the current faction shirts at Marian and Lavalla over the next two years, replacing them with Guild shirts for all students from PK-12. For more details about this change, please refer to the Primary section of the newsletter

Maggie Dent Presentation: From the Sandpit to Adulthood

We are thrilled to announce that Newman College will be hosting renowned author, educator, and parenting expert, Maggie Dent, on Monday, 28 October 2024. Known for her down-to-earth, practical advice, Maggie’s presentations are always a favourite among parents. In fact, this event has proven so popular that it is already sold out!

During her talk, Maggie will share her invaluable insights on the “10 keys to parenting”—essential tools to help raise happy, healthy, resilient children who are ready to reach their full potential.

We look forward to welcoming Maggie and our Newman College community for what promises to be a fantastic evening.

Child Safeguarding Policy

Marist Child Safe Adult Code of Conduct

Code of Conduct for Parents and Adults