Newman News Term 4 Week 9 2020: From the Principal
Advent
In our final weeks we celebrated 2020 through our Christmas liturgies across the College. The significance of these liturgies is at the very heart of our Christian journey with the impending arrival of the birth of Christ. The preparation period of Advent invites us to reflect on the year and to give thanks for our lives and our relationships with each other.
Advent also reminds us that the birth of Christ heralds a new beginning, a fresh start, a renewal for new life and new opportunities.
PK-12 Christmas Carols and Marian Campus Christmas Nativity
We have enjoyed our annual celebrations; the Marian Campus Nativity and the PK-12 Christmas Carols. Many thanks to all involved in these respective celebrations.
The Season for Giving
Thank you to all students and families who have been generous in their support of the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. Our contribution of items will go a long way to bring joy to many families who are doing it tough this Christmas.
Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
On Saturday I attended the matinee session of Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical with my family. This was an outstanding College production which showcased the extraordinary skills and talents of our students and staff – an excellent example of our students letting their light shine.
Significant challenges were presented to the cast and crew this year in their preparation for this event; they have been accepted and overcome. The extraordinary efforts and patience of each and every person involved in Matilda, over such an extended period of time, are so very highly valued and appreciated. With the unprecedented year we have had, we are indeed fortunate to have been able to stage Matilda last week.
There has been significant and very positive feedback both from industry and our local community including surrounding Catholic primary schools. All were fulsome in their praise of the students and this magnificent production, brought to life at Newman College.
I take this opportunity to thank all our families who supported their children in ensuring they attended rehearsals and assisted with costumes. Without this support, such an event could not have been staged.
Congratulations to all involved in this wonderful production.
International Day of Persons with Disability
Last Thursday 3 December was International Day of Persons with Disability. The day has been an international day of observance and celebration promoted by the United Nations since 1992. The aim of the day is to promote understanding and create awareness about persons with an impairment and our College environment is a perfect vehicle for this message. Our thanks to Madison Heady (ex-Sacred Heart student) who delivered an inspirational speech to our Year 6 students about her journey with disability, as ambassador for the ACC and Inclusion Sport. Madison also participated in a PE lesson with Year 4 Blue.
Marist Cricket Carnival
On Monday, our 1st XI Cricket Team travelled to Bunbury to play Bunbury Catholic College in a series of games. In 2020 we inaugurated the WA Champagnat Cup in which these fixtures will be part of the overall Shield which will be contested in 2021.
In a Pre-COVID-19 world, our cricket team would normally have travelled to the Eastern States to play other Marist schools. To negate that disappointment, this Carnival has been an opportunity for our cricketers to play at a similar level of competition here in our own State.
Congratulations to both schools for the spirit in which the games were played.
2021 PK-12 Family Mass – Save the Date
Our PK-12 Family Mass will be held on Thursday 11 February, commencing 5.00pm, on the College oval. This Mass is a compulsory event for students as we celebrate the commencement of our school year. We will also commission our students for Years 6 and Year 12 on this occasion.
Detailed correspondence will be circulated to families early in the new year.
We look forward to celebrating the commencement of the 2021 school year with our College Community.
PK-12 Awards
Marcellin Campus Awards
On 26 November we celebrated our Marcellin Campus prize giving assembly. We recognised the achievements of those who have excelled in their academic, sporting and cultural pursuits. Our Awards celebrate our Vision for Learning – Shine through Discovery, let your light shine, and what it represents – that we in our PK-12 College value learning, value education and the impact it will have on our destiny.
Click here to see photos from the Awards and Principals speech.
Lavalla Campus Celebrations
The Lavalla Campus celebrated its Year 6 students finishing their formal years of Primary School on Tuesday 8 December. It was a beautiful assembly highlighted by a moving liturgy and Year 6 dance item. Academic Achievement and Major Awards were also presented. I wish our Year 6 students every success and blessing, both to those moving on to other schools and to those who will continue their journey across the bridge to Marcellin Campus.
We also celebrated our Lavalla Campus Award Ceremony which again showcased our Years 3-5 students who have excelled in their learning this year.
Congratulations to all students.
Click here to see photos from the Awards Ceremony.
Sister Mary Assumpta OP, RIP
Sr Assumpta was a much-loved member of the Dominican Sisters for 70 years, who taught in Scarborough, Doubleview, Innaloo, Bedford and Dongara. She was loved and respected by many past pupils and staff for her leadership and fine scholarship.
We are grateful for her Congregational leadership over many years. She will be sadly missed by her Dominican Sisters.
Christmas and Holidays
At the Marcellin and Lavalla final gatherings I asked students to consider those children around the world who will not have the opportunity to gather with loved ones this Christmas as many countries are still battling to overcome the challenges that the COVID-19 Pandemic have presented.
How fortunate we are here in Australia to have the opportunity this Christmas to attend Mass, family celebrations and to even consider an interstate holiday.
My best wishes to all our families for a wonderful Christmas celebration with families and friends. We look forward to seeing all our families, current and new, at the commencement of the 2021 school year.