Newman News Term 2 Week 2: From the Deputy Principal Secondary

A warm welcome to all students and families to Term 2. I hope that students enjoyed their holidays and had the opportunity to rest and recharge ready for the term ahead!

As Mother’s Day approaches, I would like to wish all the Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunts, Sisters and Mother figures in our lives who nurture us, support us, care for us and love us unconditionally a very Happy Mother’s Day!

Key Dates

College Calendar Link – In recent times, our school calendar has changed regularly.

ANZAC Day Ceremony

Anzac Day was reverently acknowledged on the first day back for Term Two. Students across the three campuses joined together to commemorate all Australians and New Zealander service men and women who have served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. As part of the proceedings, we reflected on the efforts and the values lived out by the young men who left Perth to fight at Gallipoli.

In particular, the story of the Harper boys from the suburb of Guildford, whose courage and endurance despite their imminent death at the hands of the Turks, became the inspiration for the final scene in Peter Weir’s film Gallipoli.

Year 9 HaSS students were involved in the proceedings, having spent a Term learning about World War One. The Hub held their recently completed museum displays of famous battles where Australians fought. Students also provided the backdrop of decorated poppies for the service and recited some of the prayers and readings.

As we reflect on the occasion, we are reminded of the many great qualities and characteristics that all our service men and women have displayed in the many conflicts Australia has participated in, over the years. Each of these characteristics should act as a reminder of all that is good in our lives and all that we should be thankful for.

Belinda McCagh – Leader of Learning Humanities

Years 8–10 Parent Teacher Interviews

Thank you to all families who were involved in the Years 8–10 Parent Teacher Interviews last Thursday. It is my hope that students will take feedback from these interviews and in collaboration with their teachers and parents, set new learning goals for the upcoming term.

Year 7 Camp

The Year 7 Camp took place this week at Swan Valley Adventure Camp. This camp aims to give the students a chance to come together as a cohort and build on the connections that they have made with their peers, while giving students an opportunity to challenge themselves and build their independence. A big thank you to Mrs Rebecca Bramanto, Leader of Wellbeing – Year 7 and all staff who attended the camp this week. We look forward to hearing about the Year 7 Camp adventures in our next newsletter.

Big Science Competition

On Monday 2 May, eight students from Years 7–10 participated in the Big Science Competition. The Big Science Competition is a 50-minute, multiple choice competition testing science knowledge, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. Questions are set in real-life, contemporary contexts, making them relatable (and interesting)! The Big Science Competition is an easy way to challenge students from Years 7-10 and track their performance against state or national averages. Competition questions are aligned with the Australian Curriculum – Science.

Well done to the following students for participating – Bastian Dominguez Rubina, Archer Lawrence, Liam O’Halloran, Stella Strbac, Prince Teo, Ruby Hankinson, Kobe Lawrence and Itsuki Tomita. We look forward to seeing their results.

Hannah Parker, Leader of Learning Science

Important Information Over the Next Two Weeks

Principal’s Assembly

On Wednesday 11 May, the Years 7–12 students will gather in the Gymnasium for our first whole school assembly of 2022. Please note: All students will require a mask for this assembly.

Years 11 and 12 Semester 1 Exams

Senior School exams are fast approaching. Exams can be stressful for many students, and it can be difficult for parents to know how best to support their teenagers at this time. The Raising Children Network has some tips below for looking after the wellbeing of the whole family during these times.

Parents can support their young people through exams by encouraging the following healthy habits:

Sleep. Good quality sleep helps your child to concentrate and remember information for exams and during exam prep. Poor sleep, or not getting enough sleep, affects concentration, memory and behaviour, making it harder for your child to learn. Encourage a regular bedtime routine, turning off electronic devices an hour before. This includes loud music, mobile phones, computer screens and TV. Switching off mobiles can be hard for young people, but late night phone conversations and messages can lead to broken sleep.

Exercise. Physical activity has numerous benefits, including assisting with stress and helping sleep patterns in the evening. Encourage your teenager to keep up with their usual sporting/exercise activities where possible during the exam period – even a walk around the block in the fresh air can help!

Nutrition. One of the most nurturing ways you can help your teenager through the study and exam period is to provide nutritious meals and healthy snacks during the day. A healthy diet includes lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy, nuts and grains and proteins such as eggs, meat, legumes and fish. Try to avoid processed foods high in fat, sugar and salt.

Caffeine. Ensure your teenager avoids caffeine (found in energy drinks, coffee, tea, chocolate and cola) in the later afternoon and evening, as it can disrupt their sleep cycles, causing insomnia.

Wind-down time. Encourage ‘wind-down’ time to provide a relaxing buffer between studying and bedtime. Relaxing activities might include a warm shower, writing in a journal, reading a book or magazine, or listening to quiet music.

Support. Your teenager still needs a strong relationship with you to feel confident as they meet the challenges of studying and exams. You can build this relationship by working on open communication and staying connected.

Additional stress can arise when teenagers experience difficulties with time-management, unhelpful thoughts or managing distractions in the lead up and during exam periods. This article has more information about how you can support your teenager to overcome these and other exam-related challenges: How to Support Your Child during Exams | Focus on the Family Australia (families.org.au). Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s Leader of Wellbeing if your child requires further support in the lead up to exams.

Year 12 General Courses commence Externally Set Tasks (EST) during class this week. The EST Timetable, Year 11 and 12 Exam Timetables and the Examination Rules and Procedures can be found at the links below:

Year 12 SCSA Student Declaration & Permission

All Year 12 Students are required to complete the SCSA Student Declaration and Permission in the online student learning portal. Year 12 PCG Teachers will complete this with all Year 12 students on Monday 9 May.

Parents of Year 12 students were sent further information about this during the week. This information can be found here.

NAPLAN

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. NAPLAN results allow families and educators to see how students are progressing in literacy and numeracy over time – individually, as part of their school community, and against national standards.

The 2022 NAPLAN tests will provide useful external learning progress data for parents, teachers, and students to reflect upon in a manner that is proportionate with all other rich formative, summative and professional observational assessments that occur in our schools each day.

The NAPLAN Testing Schedule for Year 7 and 9 can be found below. All students in Year 7 and 9 will need to ensure that their device is fully charged each morning and are required to bring headphones to each assessment.

Tuesday 10 MayReading
Wednesday 11 MayWriting
Friday 13 MayLanguage Conventions
Monday 16 MayNumeracy

NAS

NAS Sports commences in Week 4. Students participating in the various sports will be provided with fixtures and further information. Thanks to all staff who have volunteered to coach a NAS Team.

Student Belongings Left on School Grounds

Please be aware that parents and students are not covered for losses caused by theft or damage to their personal items on school grounds. It is encouraged that students ensure that all items are locked in their lockers and no valuable items are left in lockers over the school holidays.