Secondary Update – Term 1 Week 2

Jenni Vile on 14/02/2025

Year 12 Ball

On Wednesday 29 January, the Class of 2025 gathered at the State Reception Centre, Kings Park for the Year 12 Ball. It is a momentous occasion in the Year 12 calendar, filled with celebration and hope for the year ahead. Students had a wonderful evening and are to be congratulated on the way they represented the values of our College throughout the evening. Thank you to Mr David Husband, Leader of Wellbeing Year 12 and the Year 12 PCG teachers for their help in organising this fantastic event.

Year 7 – 12 Welcome Gathering

On Friday 7 January all students in Year 7 – 12 gathered on Founders Court for a welcome gathering and prayer, led by our College Captains, Amelia Ng and Liam Stannard. Amelia and Liam officially welcomed our Year 7 cohort, new students and staff to our Marist Family. After hearing from Mr Watson, our Year 7 – 12 students gave a heartfelt Happy Birthday message to Br Noel who turned 100 on the weekend!

The Rite Journey

Throughout 2025, Year 9 students will participate in the Rite Journey. The Rite Journey is a rite of passage program that will see students engaging in conversations about what it means to be a thriving citizen while completing challenges along the journey that will build and expand their social and emotional toolkit.

The Rite Journey began with a Calling Ceremony at Trigg Beach across two evenings in Week 1. This Ceremony is an important part of the rite of passage program as they begin their journey into adulthood. Students, with their families, gathered in their Rite Journey groups with their mentor teachers and were given a memento to symbolise the occasion. Families were then invited to sit with their children on the beach and talk to them about their experiences as a child moving into adulthood and offered advice before leaving. It was a moving experience and an amazing way to begin such an important program. Thank you to Mr Scott Smith, Leader of Wellbeing Year 9 and the Rite Journey Mentor Teachers for their organisation and support of the Rite Journey.

Year 7 Transition & Camp

Our Year 7 students began their high school journey on the 30 January. Guided by their PCG teachers and Year 11 mentors, they began a Transition Program which aims to promote connection and set students up for success as a Newman College student. Throughout the last two weeks, students have participated in a variety of activities and presentations from learning about what it means to be a student at Newman College to how to ensure they are using resources such as devices and College diaries to assist their learning. Students were excited to begin their classes upon return from Camp.

The Year 7 Transition Program finished with a three-day camp at Ern Halliday Recreation Camp. Students embraced the various activities and challenges and this gave students an opportunity to further develop friendships within the cohort. A heartfelt thanks to all Year 7 PCG teachers and camp staff, led by Mr Nathan Pereira, Leader of Wellbeing Year 7 for all their efforts in the last two weeks.

Upcoming Events:

Swimming Carnival

Our 2025 Guild Swimming Carnival will take place on Thursday 20 February at HBC Stadium. It is a compulsory school day and all students are expected to be in attendance.

Students are asked to make their own way to the Carnival, entering through the McGillivray Oval gate. Students may arrive as early as 8:00am and by 8:30am at the latest. There will be buses for any students who are not able to make their way to and from the venue. If your child requires a spot on the hired buses, please complete this form by Monday 17 February.

Students should wear their Guild shirt with their PE uniform. Students must wear only College bathers/quick dry shorts and Guild swimming caps during competitive swimming events. Swim caps will be provided by their Guild Co-ordinator on the day. Students incorrectly dressed will not be allowed to compete. Year 12s ONLY have permission to dress up. No streamers, face paint or anything that might run in the pool. Students will need to provide their own food/drinks for the day. The kiosk will not be available to students. Any Uber Eats orders will be confiscated.

We look forward to a great day in the pool filled with Guild Spirit.

2025 Equip, Guide, Thrive and Pastoral Care Group Program

This year we are excited to launch our Equip, Guide, Thrive (EGT) Program for students in Years 7 – 12. Our Vision for Mission, Wellbeing, and Learning complement each other and aim to create a holistic and cohesive educational experience for all students, helping them to become “good Christians and good citizens” (Matthew 5:16). The EGT program aims to provide an integrated and rigorous education that supports our students in becoming their best selves by giving them opportunities to build their spiritual, wellbeing and academic toolkits. An overview of the Term One Program can be found here.

The Extended Pastoral Care Program will continue this year in a slightly different format. It will allow for more flexibility in meeting the needs of our individual cohorts as well as providing more time for building connections and pastoral care support.

Carla Pastorelli

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL SECONDARY

Pathways and Careers Information: Year 11

WACE (secondary graduation) requirements

In Year 11 and 12, students are progressing towards their Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE), otherwise known as their secondary graduation.

In order to achieve their WACE, students need to meet certain academic targets across Year 11 and 12. These are:

  • Demonstrate the minimum standard of literacy and numeracy (either in Year 9 NAPLAN or in Year 10-12 OLNA).
  • Be enrolled in English / Literature in Year 11 and 12.
  • Be enrolled in at least 1 ‘List B’ (Maths / Science / Sport / Technology) subject.
  • Achieve at least 14 C grades, with at least 6 C grades in Year 12 subjects.

For students considering UniReady / UniPath in Year 12

A reminder to students on the General Pathway who are considering UniReady / UniPath in Year 12 next year. It is expected that students from the General Pathway would have participated in extra-curricular activities such as work experience, VET Certificates, Leadership, Service, and/or College sport. General Pathway students who have not participated in any of these extra-curricular activities may not be eligible for UniReady / UniPath.

For students thinking of attending University

Bricklaying free course

The Bricklaying Job Ready Program is a FREE 4-week course designed for students eager to begin their journey in bricklaying. It offers the students a white card and experience in the bricklaying industry.

Course Dates: 1st Semester 2025:

Start date 10 March – South Metropolitan TAFE Rockingham
Start date 17 March – North Metropolitan TAFE Balga
Start date 5 May – North Metro TAFE Clarkson
Start date 2 June – South Metropolitan TAFE Thornlie

Apply NOW: Bricklaying job ready program | HIA

Defence Force Work Experience Opportunities

Army

Navy

Air Force

Pathways and Careers Information: Year 12

WACE (secondary graduation) requirements

In Year 11 and 12, students are progressing towards their Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE), otherwise known as their secondary graduation.

In order to achieve their WACE, students need to meet certain academic targets across Year 11 and 12. These are:

  • Demonstrate the minimum standard of literacy and numeracy (either in Year 9 NAPLAN or in Year 10-12 OLNA).
  • Be enrolled in English / Literature in Year 11 and 12.
  • Be enrolled in at least 1 ‘List B’ (Maths / Science / Sport / Technology) subject.
  • Achieve at least 14 C grades, with at least 6 C grades in Year 12 subjects.

Gap year information

Students interested in taking a gap year in 2026 might find the following interesting:

Bricklaying free course

The Bricklaying Job Ready Program is a FREE 4-week course designed for students eager to begin their journey in bricklaying. It offers the students a white card and experience in the bricklaying industry.

Course Dates: 1st Semester 2025:

Start date 10 March – South Metropolitan TAFE Rockingham
Start date 17 March – North Metropolitan TAFE Balga
Start date 5 May – North Metro TAFE Clarkson
Start date 2 June – South Metropolitan TAFE Thornlie

Apply NOW: Bricklaying job ready program | HIA

University Information

Thinking of studying Medicine or Dentistry in 2026?

All students who wish to enrol in Medicine or Dentistry in 2025 (including Assured Pathway at UWA) will need to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) this year.

Please see below for some important dates:

  • 4 March 2025:            UCAT bookings open
  • 16 May 2025:              Deadline to book your UCAT for 2024
  • 11 June 2025: Deadline if you need to cancel your UCAT booking
  • 1 July 2025:                UCAT testing begins
  • 5 August 2025:          Last test date
  • September 2025:       Results available

You can check https://www.ucat.edu.au/ for more information, tips and practice tests.

Also, students applying for Medicine at Curtin University are required to sit the CASPER Test. CASPER scores are valid only for the next available admissions year, so applicants should only complete the test in the year immediately preceding their planned year of admission.

The CASPER Test is held nationally and is sat online from home. Applicants are responsible for making their own arrangements to register for the CASPER Test.

You can find more information about this, and book your test, here: https://acuityinsights.app/casper/

UWA Medical entry handbook here (for Assured Pathway): https://www.uwa.edu.au/study/courses/doctor-of-medicine#admission-requirements

Curtin Medical entry handbook here: https://s30991.pcdn.co/study/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/07/Medicine-domestic-admissions-guide-2024.pdf

Entry to Medicine handbook (Australia-wide) is here: https://ncwa.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/8191-PathwaysandVET/ETjw34qlL3JItUN0ZODOMmkBAYwaFrwfJdQIzJuBgCDnLw?e=LrJcAu

University scholarships

Curtin UniversitySearch scholarships | Curtin University, Perth, Australia  
Edith Cowan University (ECU)ECU | Overview : Scholarships  
Murdoch UniversityScholarship finder (murdoch.edu.au)  
Notre Dame UniversityFind a Scholarship | Notre Dame  
University of Western Australia (UWA)The University of Western Australia : Scholarships (uwa.edu.au)  
Christian Leaders Scholarshiphttps://ichthys.org.au/christian-leaders-scholarship/

Defence Force Work Experience Opportunities

Army

Navy

Air Force

UPCOMING CAREERS EVENTS

EVENTDATELINK
ECU Open Day (Joondalup)23 Marchhttps://www.ecu.edu.au/open-day/overview
UWA Open Day30 Marchhttps://www.uwa.edu.au/open-day
Murdoch University Open Day5 Aprilhttps://www.murdoch.edu.au/study/open-day
Curtin University Open Day6 Aprilhttps://www.curtin.edu.au/open-day/
ECU Open Day (Mt Lawley)4 Mayhttps://www.ecu.edu.au/open-day/overview