Newman News Term 1 Week 4: From the Vice Principal
Welcome to another busy week at Newman. The Primary Swimming Carnival, Year 12 Retreat, Parent Information Evenings, Year 7 Retreat, and the start of NAS inter-school sporting competitions were just some of the activities that depict the thriving and flourishing nature of the Newman Community.
Thank you to our Newman College families and staff members for your support and participation in the Parent and Student Information Evenings for 2021. The Kindergarten to Year 7 presentation evenings occurred face to face in our classrooms and Marist Auditorium, and included the option of a student-led tour of our fabulous new St John Henry Newman Learning Hub. The presentations were well attended. In 2021, our Years 8–9 and 11–12 Parent Information Evenings were conducted online and can be reviewed anytime at your convenience.
Parent Teacher Student Interviews
On Thursday 11 March, from 3.30pm – 8.00pm, families with children in Years 7, 11 and 12 will be invited to meet with teachers to discuss the learning journey of their children. Years 8, 9 and 10 will have their Parent Teacher Student interviews on Thursday 29 April, also from 3.30pm – 8.00pm.
These evenings present a great opportunity for partnership and collaboration between families and teachers. Appointments can be made through Parent Teacher Online (PTO), which will be opening shortly. Further details will be shared via an email from the College.
OLNA
The OLNA is an online literacy and numeracy assessment linked to secondary school graduation. It is designed to enable students to successfully meet the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) requirement of demonstrating the minimum standard of literacy and numeracy. Various students in Years 10, 11 and 12 will be undertaking the OLNA on Tuesday 2 March. Information will be sent home to those individuals who are impacted.
Homework Club
Homework Club runs every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoon between 3.15pm and 5.00pm in the St John Henry Newman Learning Hub. The Homework Club is an afterschool resource available to all students on the Marcellin Campus. Supervising teachers are available to assist students with tutoring needs. There will also be a provision of weekly, targeted tutorials, tailored to specific learning areas. Once finalised, a roster of these tutorials will be shared with both students and parents.
Research shows that small, additional periods of purposeful study and deliberate practice have a large impact on learning over time. If our students understand the concept and power of enacting study and practice rituals, the motivation to learn will be heightened, and the mastery of any skill (academic, physical, creative, relational social or emotional) will appear more achievable.
Ms Jordan Day-Perkins is our Homework Club Supervisor. For any questions, concerns or suggestions please contact her via email at jordan.dayperkins@newman.wa.edu.au
IDEAs
On Tuesday 2 March, 20 creative and inspired staff members will commence their 2021 journey on the IDEAs working party. Newman has partnered with academics from the University of Southern Queensland to form this IDEAs group. The participants will undergo a process that enables ideas to be discovered, shaped, prioritised and acted upon, which in turn shapes our College culture and moves us forward as an organisation. This year, the group will focus on the power of technology as an accelerator and will also examine how we connect our pedagogy, resources, and school-wide practice with our new and evolving learning spaces.
Happy Families Online Resource
The College extends complimentary membership to Dr Justin Coulson’s Happy Families online resource to our entire school community.
Dr Coulson is one of Australia’s most respected and popular Positive Psychology & relationships speaker, facilitator, author, and researcher particularly in family life).
Happy Families membership has an extensive library of resources to offer calm assurance, vision, direction and parenting solutions.
“Connection is at the core of what Justin does and he is passionate about helping others to transform their relationships, and their lives, for the better.”
Launch your free membership today HERE
Pupil Free Days
Parent Teacher Communication Protocols
Parents and carers are reminded that all communication between the child and home needs to come through Administration once the child has arrived at the College. Administration staff can facilitate a phone call or relay any messages and information. Students should not be contacting parents during the day, especially if they are unwell or wanting to leave the College. Primary parents must not use messaging functions via the iPad to communicate with their children. This disrupts their learning and does not reflect responsible management of student devices during school time. Thank you for supporting the College in this manner.
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, ensure confidentiality and accountability and supports professional boundaries. Events held during school hours, and those College associated events outside of school hours are also supported by the Code of Conduct. Additionally, postings on social media platforms that identify the College or College events are bound by the Code of Conduct.
Any perceived breaches of the Code can be discussed with a member of the Senior Leadership Team. We thank you in advance for your understanding and look forward to a positive partnership that supports our students, your children.