From the Principal – Term 3 Week 4
The Feast of the Assumption
‘Mary, our Good Mother – Pray for us’. In our litany for prayer, we are very used to saying this as a Marist community. Today, Friday 15 August, marks the Church’s celebration of the Feast of the Assumption. In the very early years, post the Ascencion of Jesus, the Church we now know was in its infancy and better described as the Jesus movement. The next few hundred years saw the successors of St Peter and the missionary disciples discern and capture our beliefs. While a few hundred years sounds like a long time, it is relatively short considering the nature of the times in communication and evangelisation. From the 400s-600s, the Christian communities became quite clear on the position of Mary and Marian devotion in our faith. It was then in 1950 that Pope Pius XII declared that the Assumption of Mary into heaven was a solemnity to be celebrated in the liturgical calendar.
This brings us to our celebration of the Feast of the Assumption. We know that St Marcellin Champagnat entrusted the Marist project to Mary, and it was through Mary that Marists were to make Jesus Christ known and loved in the educational and pastoral work of Marists. This is why the Feast of the Assumption holds such an important place in the lives of our Marist community at Newman College. It is on Mary that we model our way of being present to one another.
It was an absolute joy to bring our Lavalla and Marcellin communities together in the celebration of Mass today on the Assumption. The joy of a community modelled on Mary continued in the fete activities, Lavalla Buddy time and family spirit which followed Mass today. Well done to the Guild Co-ordinators, Guild Student Leaders, Primary and Secondary staff and students for a great day!
Catholic Performing Arts Festival
We are in the second-half of the Catholic Performing Arts Festival and Newman College students have shone in performance across music and dance. Just this week, 5 of our Dance Troupes performed at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre for a Dance Showcase and excelled. Last weekend, our Dance groups performed in the School to Stage Dance Competition and were placed:
1st – Liturgical Dance
2nd – Hip Hop
2nd – Senior Contemporary
2nd – Senior Jazz
3rd – Year 7 Jazz
3rd – Senior Jazz
Plus, a spectacular performance from our Year 8/9 Jazz troupe.
Great things are happening with our whole Arts program, which includes our Music, Drama and Visual Arts alongside Dance.
Year 9 Parent Information Evening
We were pleased to host the Year 9 parents and students at the College on Tuesday evening. This is the first time that we have brought the discussion of Year 10 and senior years’ studies to Year 9 in such detail. It is so important to build the understanding with students of applying yourself to your studies and understanding the requirements ahead with subject selection and pathway selection. Partnering with our parents to share the conversation can only lead to better support of our students working towards their personal best. Thank you to Beth Murphy, Deputy Principal Teaching & Learning PK-12, for designing the evening, and to Scott Smith, Leader of Year 9 Wellbeing and Justin Farley, Leader of Pathways for their work in the presentation. A key part of being in Year 9 this year is The Rite Journey and this program is about building the understanding and skills to start leaving childhood and preparing for adolescence and early adulthood.
Wishing you a wonderful fortnight ahead.
Mr Andrew Watson
PRINCIPAL
