Newman News Term 2 Week 4: From the Vice Principal
The College’s pastoral and educational response to COVID-19 has demonstrated the strength of our Vision for Learning, our commitment to the wellbeing of the young people in our care and the absolute privilege and responsibility our vocation holds on the hearts and minds of others. As we navigate, plan and discern the return to a busy College life, we continue to prioritise collaboration in learning by ensuring goals, intentions and outcomes are shared between school and the home. This is particularly important for our graduating students of the class of 2020. Your individual and collective success, as you overcome the disruption of this year, will be your legacy… Let Your Light Shine!
COVID-19 Update
Thank you to all families for their support as we transition back to compulsory schooling this week. The students have responded very well despite there still being restrictions in place for large group gathering and some activities. The College is preparing to reinstate sport, arts events and other co-curricular opportunities with careful consideration and due diligence.
If you are concerned about your own family situation, you are invited to contact Lisa Fogliani, Vice Principal, for additional clarity and advice lisa.fogliani@newman.wa.edu.au
If Students are Unwell
The College asks that students who are presenting with a fever or flu like symptoms stay at home until their symptoms are clear. It is of the responsibility of all families to ensure they support the wider College community.
Parents and Visitors to the College
We thank all parents and caregivers for their support and understanding by utilizing the kiss and ride processes in place to ensure adults are not congregating on College grounds. As restrictions ease and the advice from Catholic Education Western Australia changes, we will communicate any respective changes with our parent community.
The College is planning to continue with our gazetted Parent Teacher Interview day on Tuesday 21 July. Details regarding the format, either remote or face to face for this day, will be shared closer to the date.
College Calendar
As restrictions ease, many co-curricular activities, groups and events will return. The details of these activities will be added to the College Calendar as well as a communication from the staff responsible for coordinating the activity. In some instances, there will be additional protective measure and guidelines to adhere to, to ensure the safety of staff and students.
Save the Date – NPCC Meeting – Monday 8 June, 7.00pm
The Newman Parents Consultative Committee will meet online on Monday 8 June at 7.00pm. A link to the meeting will be sent to families, with a call for questions in the next newsletter. This will help to facilitate collaboration in an online environment.
Newman Parents Presentation with Justin Coulson – Thanks
Many thanks to the parents and staff that joined Mr Finneran and I in welcoming Dr Justin Coulson to work with our community. Justin had planned to be at the College last Term and we are very grateful that he was able to adapt his presentation to be online. It was very successful and we look forward to welcoming him back to the College in 2021.
Reporting and Assessment
Secondary
Semester 1 reports will include a learning attributes and a progress grade that is aligned to judging standards. The judging standards describe the standard of achievement students should attain by the end of the school year. More information regarding reporting and judging standards will be shared with families in the weeks ahead.
Primary
Details regarding Semester 1 reports will be communicated from each campus in due course. It is important that we provide feedback and progress on each student, mindful on how teachers and students have adjusted to different modes of learning delivery.
Parent Facebook Groups
A reminder to parents that are members of the Parent Facebook groups that there is a Terms of Reference for the groups so that the intent of the group is understood by all parents. If you have concerns about College decisions, processes, teaching or learning, I strongly encourage you to direct your concern to your child’s Leader of Wellbeing or classroom teacher. Ensuring the parent community is accurately informed is important to us and College staff are best placed to resolve any queries.
The Terms of Reference can be found below:
This forum is intended to assist in building stronger communities and better relationships. Use the Facebook Group to:
- Organise year group social gatherings (parents)
- Ask for assistance in drop off / pick up of your child when needed
- Arrange carpooling
- Lost property
- Provide pertinent year group information such as assembly dates / times
- Remind parents of key dates relating to their child’s year group
- Sharing key information or posts from the Newman College website and social media pages
- Sharing relevant College photos (not personal/family photos)
This is NOT a forum to discuss teaching and learning issues. This is a community group to connect parents of your child’s year group. Questions relating to your child’s education should be directed to the relevant teacher and/or Leader(s) of Wellbeing. You should not comment on teaching and learning or other College related matters in this group.
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. Postings on social media platforms that identify the College or College events are also bound 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.