Newman News Term 3 Week 2: From the Vice Principal
Welcome Back
A warm welcome back to school for all our Newman families. I hope you found some time over the holidays to relax and enjoy being together away from the busyness of the normal school routine.
On day one of the term, our staff engaged in Faith Formation Professional Learning. We spent time together learning about aspects of inclusion relevant to our theme for 2022, ‘Known and Loved dignity for all’. This learning included an examination with Marist Brother, Br Tony Leon of what love actually is, and how it manifests as a choice or commitment to the wellbeing of the other, in line with the wellbeing of self. Staff engaged in workshop style high impact learning sessions that explored topics such as first nations people, gender and gender diversity, mental health, cry of the earth, living in poverty, displaced people and invisible in a digital age.
The start of this term was particularly challenging due to the technical difficulties we experienced during the first couple of days. I would like to express our gratitude to parents and students for the patience and understanding that was shown during this time, especially with regard to the Parent Teacher interviews. It was fortunate that these difficulties did not significantly impact the student learning.
New Staff
We welcome the following new staff to the College Community and Marist family
Secondary Science Teacher: Gina Thornberry
Secondary Science Teacher: Helen Williamson
College Events Coordinator: Karla Nessfield-Thomas
Part-time Pre-Kindy Teacher: Delia Kretzmann
Digital Innovation Coordinator: Joel Kandiah
Italian Teacher: Maria Famiano
Leader of People and Culture: Nicole Luckman
Food Science and Technology Secondary Teacher: Emily Mincherton
Ongoing Leader of Wellbeing: Scott Smith
Staff Concluding
Primary School Music Teacher Annette Grayden has resigned this term. We thank Annette for her contribution and wish her well in her future endeavours.
Wellbeing Week
During Week 4, teachers and students will come together to engage in activities, lessons and professional learning designed to support the wellbeing of the College community.
We recognise the importance of education, raising awareness and providing opportunities for students to develop their own wellbeing and to contribute to and participate in our flourishing community. We look forward to working together to enhance our individual and collective wellbeing. We are calling for parents or students to submit appreciation or gratitude messages to our staff to be delivered on our Staff Wellbeing Day. To enter a message please complete this online form.
College Production
The Charlie and the Chocolate Factory company are excited to have begun rehearsals and preparation for five fabulous performances this September. Our cast of students from Years 4 to 12, will treat you to a wonderful night of entertainment, with something for the whole family!
The world-famous Willy Wonka is opening the gates to his mysterious factory…but only to a lucky few. Young Charlie Bucket and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a life-changing journey through Wonka’s world of pure imagination, including chocolate waterfalls, nutty squirrels and the great glass elevator, all to be revealed by Wonka’s army of curious Oompa-Loompas.
Based on the famous novel by Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory features an original score composed by Marc Shaiman with lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray) and a book by David Greig. The score also pays homage to the Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley score from the 1971 film with songs from the motion picture including “Candy Man,” “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket,” “Oompa Loompa Song,” and “Pure Imagination.”
Tickets are going fast, with over 50% sold. So be sure to secure your tickets to a night of pure imagination! Click here to purchase your tickets
15/09/22 Opening night: 6.30pm
16/09/22 Performance 2: 6.30pm
17/05/22 Performance 3: 11.00am
17/09/22 Performance 4: 6.30pm
18/09/22 Performance 5: 11.00am
Catholic Performing Arts Festival
Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Opening Mass of the Catholic Performing Arts Festival. The Festival offers both primary and secondary school students the opportunity to perform in front of a public audience and receive some very useful feedback from experienced adjudicators. Categories include choral, instrumental, drama, musical, vocal and dance. Newman College supports this event to ensure our students have a platform where they can demonstrate the fruits of their hard work and showcase their talents. We wish all the performers well for their upcoming events.
Christmas in July Evening
On July 22 over 100 parents joined us for our Christmas in July gathering held in the transformed winter wonderland of the St John Henry Newman Learning Hub. It was a very enjoyable evening and gave parents the opportunity to socialise with each other and staff members in a relaxed setting.
Assumption Day Activities 11 August
The Feast Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Feast Day chosen for the Patronal Feast of the Marist Brothers is Monday 15 August. To mark the significance of these events, our K-12 Community will come together in celebration on Thursday 11 August. As one of 54 Marist schools across Australia, the Feast Day of the Assumption is an opportunity to gather, give thanks to the Marist Brothers, and celebrate our shared Marist identity.
Information about this important event was emailed to parents on Monday July 25. Please see a copy here.
PISA is coming to our school!
Our school is participating in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), which is taking place in Australian between 18 July and 9 September 2022. Our PISA will occur on Thursday 25 August and will include a collection of Year 10 and 11 students.
PISA is an important part of the National Assessment Program in Australia, which is the measure through which governments, education authorities and schools can determine whether young Australians are meeting important educational outcomes. All Australian Education Ministers have agreed to Australian schools’ participation in PISA, which is reflected in the Australian Education Act 2013.
Students Who Have Participated in State and National Representation
The College would like to recognise and celebrate the achievements of those students who have represented their team, sport, or activity at a state or national level. If your child has participated in an activity that falls within that category, we would love to hear from you. Please complete this form to let us know of your child’s achievement.
Newman Parents Committee (NPC)
All parents are invited to our next NPC meeting on Wednesday August 10 from 5.45pm – 7pm in the Marcellin St John Henry Newman Learning Hub. We will be finalising our Executive Parent Committee in the coming weeks, and we thank all those parents who submitted an expression of interest. The Executive Committee will be announced at the next NPC.
Parent Teacher Communication Protocols
Parents are reminded that the most efficient and effective method for contacting teachers and support staff is through the staff member’s email address. In most cases, our staff will respond to the communication as appropriate, within 48 hours.
Nationally Consistent Collection of Data
Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).
Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:
- year of schooling
- category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
- level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.
This information assists schools to:
- formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools
- consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
- develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.
The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability.
The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information. To find out more about these matters, please refer to the Australian Government’s Privacy Policy (https://www.dese.gov.au/about-us/resources/department-education-skills-and-employment-complete-privacy-policy-0). Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal (https://www.nccd.edu.au). If you have any questions about the NCCD at Newman, please contact the Vice Principal, Dr Lucie McCrory on lucie.mccrory@newman.wa.edu.au
Key Dates
Y7-12 Guild Athletics Carnival: Thursday August 4
Bishop’s Religious Literacy Assessments: Monday August 1 to Thursday August 4
Wellbeing Week: Monday August 8 to Thursday August 11
Winter Music Night: Monday August 8
Newman Parents Committee Meeting: Wednesday August 8
Assumption/Buddy Day: Thursday August 11
Pupil Free Days: Friday August 12 and Monday August 15