Newman News Term 2 Week 6: From the Principal
Feast Day of St Marcellin Champagnat
In a school where students ‘Shine through Discovery’- Let Your Light Shine (Matthew 5:16), the development of critical thinking, creativity and reflective practice is paramount to the culture of our College. To that end, we aspire for our young people to engage and participate in society where our founder St Marcellin Champagnat contended that “they will be good Christians and Citizens.
This Saturday 6 June, we celebrate the life of our Marist founder; St Marcellin Champagnat. As a Marist Community we acknowledge his life and the impact his actions and words have had on the world we live in. St Marcellin Champagnat was an extraordinary man. Born in France at the end of the 18th Century at time of great change, Marcellin responded to God’s call to work with and educate young people. The people of the town of La Valla France, and the young men whom he gathered around him to be the first Marist Brothers, found his way of being Christian to be compelling. He won their hearts. They sought to develop in their own lives, the same deep faith and trust in God that Marcellin had; the same mix of strength of will and warmness of heart, the same generosity and giving spirit. His educational philosophy was a simple one: “to teach children, one must love them”. His life is a witness to the truth that the actions of one man can make a difference.
Today, Marcellin Champagnat’s vision for change and transformation inspires us to break new ground, forge new pathways and build better futures. We have a chance to enliven our community with a new way, a new pathway of hope, with our founder St Marcellin Champagnat at the heart of our growth and sustainability for generations to come.
Our Champagnat Celebrations will be held in Week 8 which will include our support of the work of Australian Marist Solidarity, our Marist International Non Government Organisation. Click on the link below to access a letter outlining the K-12 Champagnat Week celebrations occurring in Week 8.
Download Champagnat Day Letter to Families 2020
Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)
Last week we launched our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) – an example of living out the vision of St Marcellin Champagnat. Significantly, this plan has been the sum of 18 months collaboration with staff, students, the Catholic Education WA Aboriginal Team, with the support of facilitator Christine Sindley of Waangara Marra Consulting.
As a Marist School we strive to embed our Marist characteristics everyday; Family Spirit, In the Way of Mary, Simplicity, Presence and a Love of Work. At the core of these characteristics is the developing of relationships that are imbued by our family spirit, united in Christ’s love. To this end, we want our staff, students and families to increase their understanding, value and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples cultures, histories, knowledge and rights through cultural learning. We strive to create a culturally supportive environment so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other Australian families build a community of respectful and right relationships. Please click here to watch the video launch of the plan.
Community Presence
From next Monday, we welcome all families back onto College grounds. I recognise it has been a challenging few months but our students have been resilient in their learning. There have been many learnings from COVID-19 in how we collaborate and function as a school. Our first onsite parent function will be our NPCC Meeting this Monday, 7.00pm in the College Chapel Ministry Space. We will welcome the new NPCC Executive and discuss Reporting, COVID-19 Learnings and an update on our Capital Development Program.
Finally I would like to acknowledge our Marist Brothers (Churchlands Community). To Brs. John, Paul, Terry and Noel; thank you for your presence and symbol of hope that you bring to our College Community. Happy Feast Day!