Newman News Term 1 Week 8: From the Deputy Principal Secondary

Developing life skills through sport

There is great value in sport and exercise; but it is not just for your body, it’s good for your mind as well.

Physical activity has a positive effect on concentration as well as memory and classroom behaviour. Students who spend more time participating in sport and physical education also have increased academic performance. More importantly, studies show that kids are happier, healthier, and more successful, with greater purpose and self-esteem.

Being part of a team, participating with your peers and working with adults can also teach students important life skills – it helps build our children for a full and active life. Encouraging children to play and maintain their sporting commitments, even in our busy scheduled lives, is so important.

Exercise is great for mental health and building emotional resilience.  Here are the 5 biggest mental health benefits from exercise.

  1. Exercise releases endorphins, the body’s ‘feel good’ chemical produced by the brain that produces feelings of happiness and euphoria.
  2. Exercise decreases stress, it forces the body’s central and sympathetic nervous systems to communicate, improving the body’s ability to respond to stress.
  3. Exercise increases self-esteem and self-confidence, from improving endurance to losing weight and increasing muscle tone.
  4. Better sleep, exercise helps regulate your circadian rhythm, our bodies built in alarm clock that controls when we feel tired and when we feel alert.
  5. Brain boost, from building intelligence to strengthening memory, exercise boosts brainpower in several ways, including boosting creativity and mental energy.

If you are wanting to help your child build emotional resilience, be better prepared for the stresses of school and life – keep them in sport. The experience will teach them about emotions and character, how to be resolute in a crisis and how to fight back from the brink of defeat.

The ability to work cohesively with others and develop trust and belief in your teammates are crucial in life and underlines how School sport and in particular Newman College Sport can impact a young person – building self-confidence and providing a sense of belonging.

Through our long-standing partnership with the Newman Sporting Association (NSA) the College is also very fortunate to have eight linked community clubs (Football, Cricket, Hockey, Junior Netball, Senior Netball, Basketball, Water Polo and Swimming). This provides a seamless pathway for our students to enjoy the stability and continuity of playing with school mates all at our amazing Campus.

Newman College has an extensive co-curricular sporting program and solid community links resulting in so many opportunities for engagement. Whether it be for participation and fun through NAS Sport, or the challenges of elite competition in ACC A Division Carnivals there is something for everyone.

Matt Connell 
Head of Sport

Y11 ATAR, OED Abseiling/Caving expedition 

The Year 11 ATAR Outdoor Education students took part in their first expedition of the year in the South West region of Western Australia.  Students were practically tested by abseiling remote locations through the beautiful Leeuwin Naturalist National Park. The camp started with a 40 meter abseil at the beautiful Willyabrup Sea Cliffs which tested students mental and physical strength. Students then enjoyed a day exploring various caving systems in Giants cave and abseiling into Brides cave. The final day had students leading a 12km hike along the coastal cliffs to Redgate Beach. This was a major component of our students practical assessment with students developing their hard skills in abseiling and interpersonal skills whilst leading a component of the expedition.

Newman Parents ySafe

On Monday evening, Taryn Wren from ySafe presented to Newman Parents on Cyber Safety Education. Taryn was informative and engaging, giving parents age-appropriate app reviews and recommendations from experts about apps our students are currently using, such as Instagram, TikTok and Among Us. Taryn provide practical ways that families can implement cyber-safe practices at home and how set up a screen time routine. Taryn has provided all families at Newman College access to the ySafe Cyber Safety Hub. Further information, advice, app and game reviews can be found here.

Careers and Pathways Update

Contact details:

Justin Farley
Pathways  Coordinator 
pathways@newman.wa.edu.au 
Tel. 9204 9457

Alastair MacNeill
VET Coordinator
vet@newman.wa.edu.au
Tel. 9204 9415

Year 10 Subject Selection

On Monday, Year 10 students participated in a Pathways afternoon in preparation for their subject selection process. Students were shown the three pathways available in Year 11-12 (ATAR Pathway, General Pathway, UniReady Pathway), and Year 10s also had the opportunity to hear the experiences of several Year 12s studying the different pathways.

Please see here for a link to the presentation from the afternoon.

Further information to parents and students will follow early in Term 2.

Year 12’s: Thinking of studying Medicine or Dentistry next year? 

If you are in Year 12 and thinking of studying Medicine or Dentistry next year (either at Curtin, or via direct pathway to UWA) you must sit the Undergraduate Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) this year.

The dates for UCAT testing 2021 are:

  • 17 May: Bookings close
  • 1 July: Testing begins
  • 11 August: Last test date

You can find out more about the UCAT at https://www.ucat.edu.au/ or you are welcome to book an appointment to talk to me.

There are many different ways into Medicine and Dentistry so come and ask if unsure.

Upcoming Careers Events

Upcoming Careers Events

Academic Update

Homework Club Week 9:

Homework Club is open Monday – Wednesday from 3.15pm – 5.00pm during Week 9.

WACE Revision Courses: 

There are a number of revision workshops throughout the course of the year held by external providers. These workshops include ATAR & Middle School Revsion Courses, OLNA & NAPLAN Preparation Classes, Study Skills and Tutoring. For further information visit the following websites:

WACE Plus Education 

ATARGET 

Sport Update 

Read about the latest Sport news by clicking here.

Wellbeing Update 

Eating Well for a Healthy Headspace: 

Teenagers need extra nutrition to fuel the significant physical and mental changes that they are undergoing. Eating well gives teens more energy, helps them sleep better, improves their concentration, and helps maintain a healthy headspace. There is a strong link between what we eat and how we feel and eating a healthy diet can actually improve mental health.

Healthy foods for teens include a wide variety of fresh foods from the five food groups: vegetables, fruit, grain foods, reduced-fat dairy (or dairy-free alternatives) and protein. It is important that teenagers eat a range of foods from each of these groups, as they each continue different nutrients, which your child needs in order for their body to grow and function properly. Protein-rich foods also contain omega-3 fatty acids which help your child’s brain development and learning.

Breakfast is known as the most important meal of the day as it can help with memory and concentration at school and give teens energy for study and leisure activities. Encourage your child to eat breakfast cereals that are high in fibre and low in fat, with not too much added sugar or salt. If your teen does not look forward to lunch at school, talk to them about what they would like to take and find out what their favourite healthy snacks are.

For more information, please visit:

Year 10 RAC Driver Presentation: 

Wednesday March 17 saw the Year 10 cohort engage in a presentation from the RAC entitled, Back Seat Driver, during our Extended PCG assembly time.

RAC provides road safety education events, presentations, and resources for secondary schools across Western Australia. Presentations and resources are specifically tailored to suit each year group and cover a range of road safety topics, designed to educate the next generation of drivers on how to stay safe as a passenger or driver on the roads.

The ‘On the Roads’ program is suited to Year 10 to 12 students and is designed to help keep students safe on the roads by influencing risk reduction, increasing resilience and encouraging responsible behaviour. This presentation links directly to the ‘Personal, Social and Community Health’ strand of the Health and Physical Education learning area of the WA curriculum. The Back Seat Driver presentation was a perfect introduction to safe driving which will then be supported by the Newman College Health and PE program, where the Keys4Life program will be facilitated. This will commence in Term 2.

This engaging and interactive presentation focussed on the Fatal Five, encouraging our students to be aware of how the following 5 factors are major risk factors for accidence and fatalities: speed, fatigue, seatbelts, alcohol, drugs, and distractions. As young people who are not only beginning their driving journey, but are also passengers in the car, it is important that they understand the role they play in making good choices not only for themselves but for others.

Our Wellbeing Program will continue to focus on this area of their lives to support their growth and development around the responsibility that comes with having a driver’s licence. It is my hope that this group of young men and women remember these life lessons and make informed, good, and responsible choices going forward.

Uniform Expectations

All students are reminded of the expectations relating to their personal presentation. Please click here to access uniform requirements and guidelines. Some changes were made at the end of 2020 and are reflected in this document.  If you need to purchase new uniform items, please ensure you give yourself adequate time.

Uniform Shop – School Holiday Opening Hours

  • Tuesday 13/4/21, 10.00am – 5.00pm
  • Wednesday 14/4/21, 12.00pm – 6.00pm
  • Friday 16/4/21, 12.00pm – 5.00pm

Thank you in advance to all families for your partnership in ensuring College guidelines are upheld along with your support of our Leaders of Wellbeing in the application of this expectation.