Secondary Update – Term 2 Week 3
Examination Timetables
As we progress through Term 2 are Year 10, 11 and 12 students prepare for their first set of Examinations for the year. Exam timetables are linked below:
Secondary Student Learning Conversations
At the start of Term 2, we welcomed students and families for our Secondary Student Learning Conversations — a valuable opportunity for students, parents, and teachers to come together in meaningful dialogue around learning and growth.
At the heart of these conversations was student voice and advocacy, with our secondary students taking an active role in reflecting on and discussing their own learning journey. We were proud to see so many students arrive prepared and ready to engage in these important discussions.
We are proud of our students for the maturity and preparation they brought to these conversations and thank our parents for their ongoing commitment to working in partnership with us as we move into Term 2.
Lest We Forget – Newman College Anzac Day Service
On Friday 24 April, the Newman College community gathered to honour the courage, mateship, and sacrifice of the ANZACs — pausing to remember all Australian and New Zealand men and women who served, suffered, and gave their lives in the great tragedy of war. Among those we remembered were the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander soldiers who served alongside their fellow Australians with equal courage and dedication, and whose sacrifice is honoured as part of our shared story.
Grounded in remembrance and reflection, our Anzac Day service invited students to consider the events of 25th April 1915, when Australian and New Zealand troops landed under fire at Gallipoli — the moment the Anzac tradition was born. From that day forward, the values of courage, resilience, and compassion have defined and inspired generations of Australians.
In the stillness of our commemoration, we were reminded of the immense cost of war and the profound gratitude we owe to all those who have served in defence of freedom and peace — not only the original Anzacs, but all who have fallen in battle, endured as prisoners of war, or had their lives shaped by conflict.
We commend our students for the thoughtful and respectful way in which they honoured this important occasion.
Marcellin Guild Cross Country Carnival – A Standout Performance
Last week’s Marcellin Guild Cross Country Carnival proved to be one of the most memorable in recent years, with Newman College’s secondary students delivering an exceptional collective effort.
Participation was a standout feature of the day, with every Year 7 and 8 student completing the course within the cut-off time — a testament to the dedication and preparation students brought to the event. Across the senior year groups, the overwhelming majority of students also finished within the time, with commitment and guild pride visible from the first step to the final stride.
The standard of competition was equally impressive, with a number of outstanding individual times recorded on the course
Adding to the spirit of the day was the enthusiastic participation of teaching and support staff, whose involvement contributed meaningfully to the carnival atmosphere and set a positive example for students.
In the final results, Camara Guild was recognised with the Spirit Award for their enthusiasm and encouragement throughout the day. Marcellin Guild claimed the overall Championship, placing them in strong contention to replicate last year’s clean sweep of the Guild Carnivals.
The college congratulates all students and staff who participated and looks forward to continued success at the ACC Cross Country Carnival.
Uniform
Thank you to our families for supporting our uniform standards — the difference in how proudly students wear their uniform has been wonderful to see. The addition of the belt to the trousers, in particular, has made for a very neat appearance.
Please be reminded that all students are required to adhere to the Uniform Requirements and Personal Appearance Guidelines. Students who do not meet the College’s uniform expectations will be required to address the issue before attending classes. Full academic uniform is to be worn on all days, unless families have been notified otherwise.
Can I please ask parents to remind their children of the following:
Blazers are a compulsory part of the uniform in Terms 2 and 3. Students must wear their blazer to and from the College, as well as during PCG and Periods 1 and 2. Blazers may also be required for special occasions throughout the year. Blazers must be collected from lockers at the end of lunch and carried with them during Periods 5 and 6.
State Sporting Representation
Congratulations to the following student for the state achievement in their sport:
- Valentino Giorella, (Year 8) is competing in the Australian Karting Championships. He came 3rd in the first round in Coffs Harbour in March and will be competing in Queensland in May.
- Hannah Seaborn (Year 12) has been chosen in the WA AFLW 18 & Under team playing in the National Championships in Perth in June and in Melbourne in July.
- Kaydee van Deventer (Year 10) competed at the Australian Age Nationals Swimming Championships over the April school holidays. She won a bronze medal in the Girls 15 years 50 fly and missed the podium by 0.02 seconds in the Girls 15 years 50 free. She also won a bronze medal as part of the WA State relay team in the Girls 15 to 16 years 4 x 50m free relay.
- Isla Kalebic (Year 9) represented WA at the Australian Youth Women’s Baseball Championships in Melbourne during the holidays. Her team were undefeated and won the gold medal.
- Gianni Germano (Year 12) has been selected in the School Sports WA 18 & Under Football (Soccer) team to compete in Victoria in July.
State and National Representation is an honour and an important stepping stone in an athlete’s journey. We commend these students for their dedication and commitment to their sport. If your child has achieved state or national recognition in their sport or extra-curricular activity, we would love to hear about it so we can celebrate their success. Please let us know the details by filling out this form. https://forms.office.com/r/qaCxCYLNX6
Mrs Anna Scanlan
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL SECONDARY
Pathways and Careers Information: Year 10
Year 11 prerequisites for 2027
Year 10 students and families have now received the prerequisites for Year 11 subjects at Newman College for 2027. This is to allow for goal-setting in time for the Semester 1 Year 10 report. Prerequisites for Year 11 2027 can be found here.
A summary of the different pathway options for Year 11 and 12 can be found here.
In Term 2, all Year 10 students will commence their subject selection research, in preparation for Year 11 2027.
Future Doctors Program
The Future Doctors Program is a 4-day program that provides young people with an opportunity to gain medical work experience in a safe and structured environment. Participants will have the opportunity to spend time with current junior and senior medical students. They will also have the opportunity to spend time with more senior clinicians and various medical specialists. You will learn about clinical specialist’s relevant fields of work, ask them questions, and learn some hands-on skills from them.
Perth sessions are available in July 2026 and January 2027.
More information and costs here: https://www.niecareers.com.au/future-doctors-australia
Career conversations for parents
The WA Government offers a suite of free resources to assist parents and guardians with starting career-related conversations. Families can access them here:
Pathways and Careers Information: Year 11
Selecting Year 12 subjects
Please see below a summary of the rules for selecting subjects in Year 12, 2027:
- Students who select a Year 12 ATAR subject must have achieved at least 50% in that ATAR subject in Year 11.
- Students who select a new Year 12 ATAR subject in Year 12 (not having studied that subject in Year 11) will be required to seek permission.
- Students with a predicted ATAR of less than 70 will not be permitted to continue the ATAR Pathway in Year 12.
- Students who have an ‘E’ grade in a Year 11 General subject will not be permitted to re-select that General subject in Year 12.
- For students wishing to enter the UniReady or UniPath Programs in Year 12:
- If coming from the ATAR Pathway in Year 11, students must have passed at least 4 Year 11 subjects.
- If coming from the General Pathway in Year 11, students must have a ‘B’ grade or better in at least 4 Year 11 subjects, including English.
Future Doctors Program
The Future Doctors Program is a 4-day program that provides young people with an opportunity to gain medical work experience in a safe and structured environment. Participants will have the opportunity to spend time with current junior and senior medical students. They will also have the opportunity to spend time with more senior clinicians and various medical specialists. You will learn about clinical specialist’s relevant fields of work, ask them questions, and learn some hands-on skills from them.
Perth sessions are available in July 2026 and January 2027.
More information and costs here: https://www.niecareers.com.au/future-doctors-australia
Alternatives to University
Did you know that University is not the only place you can obtain a degree? There are several alternatives here in Perth:
- SAE: Offers degrees in things like Animation, Audio, Game Development, Creative Industries. https://sae.edu.au/
- ACAP: Offers degrees in things like Psychology, Criminology, Social Work. https://www.acap.edu.au/
- EIT: Offers degrees in Engineering, IT, and Renewable Energy. https://www.eit.edu.au/
For students thinking of attending University
- TISC has a series of videos explaining things like ATAR calculation, prerequisite subjects, scaling, and preferences. You can find them here: https://www.tisc.edu.au/static/guide/video.tisc
- Here is a parents guide to University: https://www.ecu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1099446/ECU-Parents-Guide.pdf
- And here is the “First in Family” resource, for students who might be the first in their family to attend University: http://firstinfamily.com.au/
- Are you thinking of attending a University Open Day? Dates are below. This blog might help you: https://infocus-careers.com.au/2024/02/20/year-11-how-to-approach-university-open-days/ or this one: https://myfuture.edu.au/assist-others/open-days
Pathways and Careers Information: Year 12
Key dates for TAFE and University applications for 2027
For those students applying for TAFE for 2027, applications will open in September of this year and close in November of this year. You will be advised of this at the time.
For those students applying for University for 2027, early applications (early offers) will open in June and you will have until mid-December to lodge your application. Closer to the time you will be provided with instructions and further information about applying.
Year 12s are welcome to come and collect (and keep) any of the University handbooks that are on the table near my office. These can be very helpful in making your choice.
Alternatives to University
Did you know that University is not the only place you can obtain a degree? There are several alternatives here in Perth:
- SAE: Offers degrees in things like Animation, Audio, Game Development, Creative Industries. https://sae.edu.au/
- ACAP: Offers degrees in things like Psychology, Criminology, Social Work. https://www.acap.edu.au/
- EIT: Offers degrees in Engineering, IT, and Renewable Energy. https://www.eit.edu.au/
Applying for Medicine or Dentistry or Veterinary Science for 2027
All students who wish to enrol in Medicine or Dentistry in 2027 (including Assured Pathway at UWA and Notre Dame) will need to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) this year.
Please see below for some important dates:
- 3 March 2026: UCAT bookings open
- 15 May 2026: Deadline to book your UCAT for 2026
- 12 June 2026: Deadline if you need to cancel your UCAT booking
- 1 July 2026: UCAT testing begins
- 5 August 2026: Last test date
- September 2026: Results available
You can check https://www.ucat.edu.au/ for further information, practice tests, and tips to succeed. It is recommended to book a UCAT as early as possible as demand for testing places is high.
UWA
The official handbook for entry to Medicine at UWA can be found at this link and Dentistry at this link. Please note that Medicine and Dentistry at UWA are postgraduate courses and require completion of a relevant Bachelor degree prior to entry.
Curtin
Curtin University offers the only direct entry medical program in Western Australia. In 2025, the cutoff ATAR for this course was 93.
In addition to the UCAT, students considering applying for Medicine at Curtin University are also required to sit the CASPER Test. Further information about CASPER can be found here: https://acuityinsights.app/ and here: https://www.nie.edu.au/products-listing/category/56-casper-test-preparation
The official handbook for entry to Medicine at Curtin can be found at this link.
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame offers a small number of places in postgraduate Medicine via an assured pathway for school leavers. Information about this option can be found here:
https://www.notredame.edu.au/programs/school-of-medicine/postgraduate/doctor-of-medicine-wa
Veterinary Science
Students wishing to enter Veterinary Science at Murdoch will need to undertake the Casper testing during 2026, by June at the latest. Further information can be found here: https://www.murdoch.edu.au/schools/veterinary-medicine/study/admissions/casper-situational-judgement-assessment
Applying for Notre Dame UniPath for Semester 2, 2026
Notre Dame runs an entry program called UniPath. Completing UniPath will give you an ATAR of 70, which can then be used for entry to University courses at Curtin / ECU / Murdoch / Notre Dame. Students doing UniPath attend Notre Dame’s Fremantle campus one day per week for 12 weeks.
If you would like to enrol in UniPath for Semester 2, you can do so here in the “How to apply – UniPath” section: https://www.notredame.edu.au/study/applications-and-admissions/how-to-apply
Future Doctors Program
The Future Doctors Program is a 4-day program that provides young people with an opportunity to gain medical work experience in a safe and structured environment. Participants will have the opportunity to spend time with current junior and senior medical students. They will also have the opportunity to spend time with more senior clinicians and various medical specialists. You will learn about clinical specialist’s relevant fields of work, ask them questions, and learn some hands-on skills from them.
Perth sessions are available in July 2026 and January 2027.
More information and costs here: https://www.niecareers.com.au/future-doctors-australia
University information
- TISC has a series of videos explaining things like ATAR calculation, prerequisite subjects, scaling, and preferences. You can find them here: https://www.tisc.edu.au/static/guide/video.tisc
- Are you the first person in your family to attend University? This might assist: http://www.firstinfamily.com.au/
- Here are some useful tools to prepare students for the transition to University: https://unireadytoolkit.com.au/
- Here is a parents guide to University: https://www.ecu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1099446/ECU-Parents-Guide.pdf
- This resource is a place where you can ask current University students questions about their University courses:
https://course-consultants.com/
University scholarships
| Curtin University | Search scholarships | Curtin University, Perth, Australia |
| Edith Cowan University (ECU) | ECU | Overview : Scholarships |
| Murdoch University | Scholarship finder (murdoch.edu.au) |
| Notre Dame University | Find a Scholarship | Notre Dame |
| University of Western Australia (UWA) | The University of Western Australia : Scholarships (uwa.edu.au) |
| Christian Leaders Scholarship | https://ichthys.org.au/christian-leaders-scholarship/ |
Gap year information
Students interested in taking a gap year in 2027 might find the following interesting:
- Defence Force Gap Year: https://www.adfcareers.gov.au/careers/gap-year?page=2&perPage=21&query=
- And: https://infocus-careers.com.au/2022/07/13/leaving-year-12-these-gap-year-ideas-may-interest-you/
- Also this Marist volunteering opportunity: https://maristyouthministry.com/bridge-builders
UPCOMING CAREERS EVENTS
If you are thinking of attending a University Open Day, this link might help you get the most out of it: https://myfuture.edu.au/assist-others/open-days