Newman News Term 1 Week 10: From the Vice Principal
I extend my congratulations and gratitude to all staff and students for their commitment to our Vision for Learning, Shine through Discovery, this term. We have witnessed creativity, challenge and collaboration through our learning and wellbeing programs and through our engagement beyond the classroom.
Fitness Friday and the IDEAS Lab at Marian, STEM thinking and Solar Car Challenges at Lavalla through to our College Production, Interschool and Guild carnivals all gives us many reasons to celebrate!
I hope that the Easter break gives all families an opportunity for renewal as we take time to reflect on the journey of Christ and the hope he brings to us all.
Staff Movements
We wish Joanne Karagiannis every success in her new position at the Catholic Library WA along with Shaunna Kilcullen who commences parental leave. Aaron Richards is welcomed back after his LSL.
New staff commencing in Term 2 are Bridgeen McDermott, Michelle Wells, Davina Sankar and Katie Closey. We look forward to welcoming you to our College community.
During the holidays Clare Cole will marry Sam and Simon Martino will marry Kirsten. God bless you on this day with a lifetime of shared love and joy.
Uniform Options Review
Student leaders will participate in a workshop early next term regarding the introduction of trousers and shorts as formal uniform options available to girls across the College. This feedback will be shared with the Newman Parent Consultative Committee (NPCC) meeting scheduled for next term on Monday 13 May. I welcome any feedback from our parent community at the NPCC meeting or via email lisa.fogliani@newman.wa.edu.au
Code of Conduct
A reminder to all families that the Code of Conduct can be accessed via the College website. The Code is mandated by Catholic Education Western Australia and the application of the code extends to all staff, students, parents, guardians, caregivers and volunteers. The Code seeks to value the dignity of every person, foster positive relationships, ensuring confidentiality and accountability and supports professional boundaries. Events held during school hours AND outside of school hours that are associated with the College are also supported by the Code of Conduct. Any perceived breaches of the Code can be discussed with any member of the Senior Leadership Team. We thank you in advance for your understanding and support of how we strive to partner positively with one another.
Professional Standards for the Safety and Protection of Children
In addition to writing to the College community about our Code of Conduct, we feel it is also appropriate to communicate the processes, policies and frameworks the College applies to ensure our school is a safe place for all children and that our staff are informed, assessed and cognisant of their responsibilities to this commitment.
The College uses Complispace, a risk and assurance platform, to ensure staff access professional learning, knowledge and assessment relating to policy and procedures. On a cyclic nature, all staff, teaching and non-teaching, are required to undertake the learning and assessment associated with topics including, but not limited to, mandatory reporting, professional boundaries and the meaning of child abuse and key risk indicators. The assessment of each learning module is monitored by the senior leadership team, and staff must complete each module and assessment in a timely manner.
Important processes, such as Mandatory Reporting, are required of all staff annually. This is one strategy of many, applied to all staff, to support child protection standards.
If you would like any further clarity or information regarding professional standards at Newman College, please phone or email me so I can provide you with further support.
Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD)
What is the NCCD?
Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) and the Disability Standards for Education 2005 (the Standards), Australian students with disability must be able to access and participate in education on the same basis as their peers. To ensure this, students with disability may receive adjustments to access education, based on the professional judgement of teachers, in consultation with the student and/or their parents, guardians or carers.
The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD) gives Australian schools, parents, guardians and carers, education authorities and the community information about the number of students with disability in schools and the adjustments they receive. The Australian Education Regulation 2013 requires all schools to report the data collected for the NCCD to the Australian Government on an annual basis.
Save the Date – Newman Parents, Wednesday 12 June
Newman Parents is pleased to host Susan McLean, Cybersafety expert.
Responsible digital citizenship is a priority across all wellbeing programs for our students. Parent education is essential as we seek to partner together for the safety of our children. This session is designed to cater for all parents from Early Childhood through to upper Secondary. Keeping up with the latest online trends, apps, games and safety measures can be overwhelming, however, with guidance and education, keeping safe online can be done. Click here for more information on this topic.