Newman News Term 2 Week 8: From the Principal
Champagnat Day
Our K-12 College community celebrated Champagnat Day today, Friday 17 June, with Mass and annual Fete Day activities. As one of 52 Marist schools across Australia, the Feast Day of St Marcellin Champagnat is an opportunity to gather, give thanks, and to celebrate our shared Marist identity.
In 2022 we celebrate 150 years of Marist education in Australia. An international group of four brothers (a Scot, 2 Irishmen, led by a French man, Br Ludovic) arrived in Sydney in March 1872 to establish a school, St Patricks, in the Church Hill Parish conducted by the Marist Fathers. In Western Australia the Marist Brothers arrived in 1913 and commenced the school of St Ildephonsus in New Norcia followed soon after by Marist Brothers Subiaco (1954). The Marist Brothers commenced on the Churchlands campus in 1965 becoming Newman College in 1977. In 2004, we commenced as a PK-12 community and in 2024 we will finally be one College on one site.
The significance of this brief history is to recognise the remarkable contribution the Marist Brothers have made across Australia. The words of our founder St Marcellin Champagnat, “may their life be an echo of what you have taught them”, was the same vision that inspired Br Ludovic all those years ago. Today, Newman College is a thriving Catholic community of 1830 students where this vision is at the heart of our pursuit of excellence. Our community is predicated on a charism that values family, presence and where relationships are cultivated to build a better society.
Br Peter Carroll fms, Principal of the Marist Brothers, spoke this week at our Marist Brothers Churchlands Family Day about the Marist legacy over the last 150 years in launching the book, Sub Tuum Praesidium. He stated that our Sesquicentenary of 150 years is an opportunity to look back with admiration and gratitude and look forward in hope and expectation.
Br Peter said, “For 150 years, Marist schools in Australia have sought to nurture, educate and evangelise young people. If we have failed to know and love then, then we have failed. When we have done as St Marcellin instructed, then I’m confident we’ve succeeded in our mission. As we face the future, let’s all commit to advancing the dignity of all our students and, in fact, all people. Let’s start with our own though, by knowing and loving them – all of them – equally.”
Thank you to all members of our community for your commitment and contribution to our community. Particular thanks to Mr Simon Martino, Director Operations and Engagement, for his organisation of Champagnat Day. We recognise our fundraising efforts which support our long term partner, the Kuya Centre in Manila, through Australian Marist Solidarity.
Champagnat Global Network
On Tuesday evening I attended the international webinar for international principals for IG – what makes a school Marist. 130 principals from across the globe gathered in four languages as we discussed the growth of our Marist charism both locally and internationally. This was an incredibly inspiriting meeting as we witnessed examples of Marist schools in Africa, Europe, Asia, South America and here in Australia. An international gathering of school leaders and teachers will be held in Mexico city at the end of the year.
Lavalla Campus Cross Country Carnival
On Thursday our Years 3-6 students competed in their Lavalla Campus Cross Country Carnival. We were so fortunate to have beautiful weather and the students participated with great enthusiasm and enjoyment. Thank you to the staff who ensured that this event was so successful.
Results of the Carnival can be found in this week’s newsletter here
Newman Parents Consultative Committee (NPCC)
Our NPCC meeting has been rescheduled, to be held on Monday 20 June. Agenda items will be:
- Reframing of the Newman Parents Consultative Committee
- Christmas in July event will be held early in Term 3
- Revitalisation of the Homework Club
I encourage as many parents and guardians as possible to attend this meeting.
COVID-19 Update
The WA government announced that from 10 June 2022, the mandatory vaccination policy would be updated in line with health advice. This means that staff in schools and residential facilities will no longer need to be vaccinated.
The triple dose vaccination requirements only remain in place for those working in healthcare and health support, workers in residential aged care, and workers in residential disability settings. As you know students are not required to be vaccinated, however if your child is on a work placement at one of these settings, they will need to continue to comply with the industry/business requirements at that workplace.
The change also means that parents and carers who regularly visit, volunteers, third party providers and contractors are not required to be vaccinated to enter a school or residential facility.
It is also important to remember that the removal of the vaccine mandate does not mean the pandemic is over. We continue to follow health advice and COVID-19 safe protocols, such as staying home when sick, wearing a mask as required, taking a daily RAT when identified as a close contact, and having good hand hygiene. I encourage you to visit the HealthyWA website for further information about COVID-19.
Thank you for your support.