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From the Principal – Term 1 Week 3

Jenni Vile on 20/02/2026

College Family Mass

“Give without remembering, receive without forgetting”. This was one of several messages in the homily of Fr Michael Twigg OMI to our whole gathered College and families at the Family Mass last Tuesday evening. As well as celebrating the opening of the year and praying for the success of all in our community in 2026, the Mass provided the opportunity to present and bless our Year 12 and Year 6 Leaders as they begin their service to Newman College in these important roles. Family means so much to us, and we were delighted to have parents present the badges to their daughters and sons.  Our Marist theme for 2026 is “Full of Grace – Transform the World with God’s Love”. Fr Michael urged us to see Grace and be the Grace that God gifts us. This simple example of being people for others who give to anyone in need of love, recognition and time is a moment of Grace when we do so freely and without reward. One simple message from a family the day after the Mass captures the blessing that we are as the Newman College community:

“Last night I attended our first opening school mass with our granddaughter …What a beautiful Eucharistic Celebration bringing the whole Community together … The students were so reverent and so respectful when applauding their peers chosen to take on leadership roles. I felt a real sense of Community. Please give our thanks to the many staff that it would’ve taken to organise. We look forward to attending many more Eucharistic Celebrations and other functions as part of the Newman College Community.”

High Achiever’s Assembly

Our first Celebration Assembly on Marcellin was a time to celebrate the Academic Excellence of the Class of 2025 and our current Year 8-12 Academic Excellence from Semester 2, 2025. Another highlight of this gathering was the guard of honour Year 12 gave to the incoming Year 7 group. During the assembly, our Academic Captains announced the new Colours and Honours system of recognising excellence in Academics, Mission, Sport and The Arts. The first Colours Assembly will happen later this term, where the awards will be presented across these four pillars.

Daniel Miniello, Class of 2025, gave the occasional address to the assembly and spoke so well about working towards personal excellence. His message was one of perseverance, determination and gratitude for the support of family and teachers. Thank you to the parents and grandparents who joined us for this milestone celebration. Let’s all keep encouraging our young people to pursue personal excellence.

Ash Wednesday

The Season of Lent has begun and we recognised this with respectful Ash Wednesday liturgies at Lavalla and Marcellin. In each liturgy, we unpacked how we can embrace Lent through prayer, giving and moderating our lives. Ms Cole-Carter spoke in our Lavalla liturgy about her experience of serving a community in Kenya as a teacher in a village with few material resources but plentiful riches in community, and the aim to make better lives through education. Mr Box and Mr McClorey spoke to the Marcellin liturgy about how we can contemporise the traditional elements of Lent – alms giving, prayer and abstinence in our lives today. Please join us in supporting the raising of funds to Caritas Australia as they support education, dignity and health in impoverished communities.

Guild Swimming Carnival – Secondary

We are taking Guild Spirit to a new level this year and this was on display at the Guild Swimming Carnival at High Performance Centre this week. Pride and Excellence in Guild! Each Guild participated with great effort and commitment and the Class of 2026 led the way with passionate involvement and the fun of delivering the inaugural synchronised swimming event to open the Carnival. The quality of swimming was excellent throughout all years and 10 records tumbled in the pool. Our new Year 7 group gave it their all in their first Carnival. 

To view the record breakers, click here.

Congratulations to all students, Guild Coordinators and Guild staff, Physical Education Team and Ms Sara Kononen who led the Carnival. Well done to Marcellin Guild for taking out the Champion Shield and the Chisholm Guild for winning the Spirit Shield. A fine win by both Guilds!



Mr Andrew Watson

PRINCIPAL

From the Vice Principal – Term 1, Week 3

Jenni Vile on 20/02/2026

2027 Three Week Break

In 2027 the College will implement a three-week Semester break between Term 2 and Term 3. The confirmed dates for this break are as follows:

  • Term 2 Concludes – Friday, 25 June 2027
  • Semester Break – Saturday 26, June to Sunday, 18 July 2027
  • Term 3 Begins – Monday, 19 July 2027

We are providing this advance notice to assist families with forward planning for 2027. The full 2027 College Calendar, including all term dates and key events, will be published once finalised.

CrossSafe Survey

We encourage all families to complete this short survey to assist in the establishment of the CrossSafe initiative, designed to keep our student and young people safe.

Our College has a pedestrian crossing on Tuscany Way that is manned through the Traffic Warden Program. When there is an absence that cannot be covered, through this program, this puts our students at risk.  Your insight is critical to ensuring the work of the CrossSafe initiative delivers meaningful outcomes for students and school communities.

Transperth Bus Services

The College has been made aware of issues with some School Special bus services arriving late. These have been reported to Transperth when we are made aware, and we ask that families also report the issues.

Students who arrive late due to buses will not be penalised as long as they are sign in at Student Reception or Primary Reception.

Newman Parents Forum – Save the Date

The Newman Parent Forum (NPF) occurs once a term and is open to all parents/guardians. It is a parent community gathering led by the Principal and Vice Principal, in collaboration with a nominated Newman Parent K-12 Executive Committee.

The NPF for Term 1 is scheduled for Monday 9 March at 6.00pm. Parents are invited and encouraged to attend in person in the JHN Learning Hub or via TEAMs. An agenda will be emailed to families closer to the evening.

International Women’s Day

On Friday 6 March we will celebrate International Women’s Day, a special time to recognise the incredible women in our community and continue to bring awareness to gender inequality.

Families were invited to a breakfast and panel discussion. The response has been overwhelming and the event is now sold out. Students will lead the discussion with our panellists:

  • Anna Snodgrass, Rio Tinto,
  • Lisa Webb, Fremantle Dockers, and
  • Jayne Taylor, Taylor HR.

We look forward to welcoming everyone to the event. If you have a ticket but are unable to attend, please contact communications@newman.wa.edu.au so that the opportunity can be made available to others.

Mrs Beth Murphy

VICE PRINCIPAL

Primary Update – Term 1 Week 3

Jenni Vile on 20/02/2026

The first few weeks of term have been full of energy, enthusiasm, and achievement across the Primary School. It has been wonderful to see students settling confidently into routines and embracing the many opportunities available to them both in and out of the classroom.

Swim Trials and Upcoming Swimming Carnival

Over the past two weeks, all students from Years 3–6 have participated in our annual Swim Trials. These sessions have been extremely successful, with students demonstrating not only their swimming skills but also admirable perseverance, sportsmanship, and a willingness to challenge themselves. Many students pushed beyond their comfort zones, tried new events, and encouraged their peers throughout the trial process. The positive atmosphere around the pool has been a highlight of the term so far.

We are now looking forward to the Primary Swimming Carnival on Friday, 27 February. Due to planned upgrades to our pool facilities later in the year, our carnival will be running in a split format to ensure all students have ample time to compete and enjoy the day:

  • Years 3 and 5: 9:15am – 11:30am
  • Years 4 and 6: 12:00pm – 2:30pm

At 2:30pm, all year groups will gather back at the pool to watch the highly anticipated Year 6 relays, always a favourite event for students and families alike. We will then conclude the day with the announcement of the Champion Guild and the Guild Spirit Award, recognising not only athletic achievement but also teamwork, encouragement, and positive participation.

Families are warmly invited to join us throughout the day. A sausage sizzle will be available for parents to purchase with money raised going to Caritas.

Run Club off to a Flying Start

Our Run Club for Years 3–6 has started the term with excellent momentum. Held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, the program is already attracting a strong group of enthusiastic students.

Run Club focuses on fitness, stamina, and on building confidence and creating healthy habits. The sense of camaraderie among students has been noticeable, and we look forward to seeing their progress over the coming weeks.

The Wizard of Oz – Musical Rehearsals Begin

Rehearsals for our 2026 Primary production, The Wizard of Oz, have officially commenced, and the excitement is building. This year’s audition process saw an impressive number of students stepping forward to showcase their singing, acting, and dancing talents. Their courage, creativity, and willingness to try something new were truly inspiring.

With the cast now finalised, students have begun working with Mrs Wynne on character development, choreography, vocal work, and staging. The early enthusiasm from the cast promises an outstanding production for our community in Term 2. We are delighted to see students embracing the arts and committing to a collaborative project that will stretch their skills and spark their imagination.

Lavalla Carpark

The car park has presented a number of challenges throughout the first few weeks of term, and we appreciate the patience families have shown during this busy period. While traffic does clear quickly once students begin arriving at the pick‑up area, we are still experiencing congestion earlier in the afternoon that is impacting the smooth flow of vehicles.

A reminder that Kiss and Ride does not begin moving until 3:00pm, once the school day has officially ended. However, we are seeing a significant line of cars forming on Empire Avenue well before this time. When this occurs, it prevents families who wish to park from being able to enter the car park, causing further delays and frustration.

To help ease congestion, we kindly ask that families using Kiss and Ride aim to arrive closer to 3:00pm, rather than significantly earlier. This small adjustment would greatly improve access for those who need to park and reduce the queue extending onto Empire Avenue.

For families who arrive and are unable to join the drive-through line, please remember that you will need to loop around again. Waiting or stopping in ways that block the car park entry affects visibility, access, and overall safety.

In addition, we ask that families avoid parking on the grass or in areas that are not designated parking bays. Vehicles in these spaces not only block sight lines for moving cars but also create difficulties when attempting to exit.

There is, unfortunately, no quick fix for a car park that many families are trying to access at the same time. However, these small adjustments will make a noticeable difference. Ultimately, a smoother and safer car park experience relies on everyone doing the right thing, showing patience, and working together.

Mindful Mornings 

As an extension to our Mindful Mornings initiative, students who arrive at school between 8:15am and 8:35am are welcomed into our undercover area, where they are supported by staff in a calm and supervised environment. It has been wonderful to see students engaging in board games, card games, construction and colouring. These purposeful activities foster positive social interactions while creating a settled atmosphere. This structured start to the day supports student wellbeing and ensures everyone feels focused, connected, and ready to learn.

Save the Date – Primary Family Picnic

We are delighted to announce that our Annual Family Picnic will be held on Friday, 6 March. This is always a much-loved community event and a wonderful opportunity for families to come together, relax, and enjoy an evening of fun and connection.

This year, we will have two food vans on site offering a variety of meal options for purchase, along with a dedicated ice cream van for a sweet treat. Families are welcome to bring picnic rugs, chairs, and any additional food they wish to enjoy.

We are delighted to announce that our Annual Family Picnic will be held on Friday, 6 March. This is always a much-loved community event and a wonderful opportunity for families to come together, relax, and enjoy an evening of fun and connection.

This year, we will have two food vans on site offering a variety of meal options for purchase, along with a dedicated ice cream van for a sweet treat. Families are welcome to bring picnic rugs, chairs, and any additional food they wish to enjoy.

We are also excited to welcome back the bush band The Pioneers, who will once again provide lively musical entertainment throughout the evening. In addition, some of our talented music students will be performing, showcasing the skills they have been developing through our Music program.

We look forward to sharing this special evening with our school community, please mark the date in your calendar.

State Sporting Representation

Congratulations to the following students for selection in the Western Australian teams in their respective sports:

  • Zoe Harris, Year 5, in December represented the UWA Little Athletics Club, competed in the 4 x 100m relay final, winning a bronze medal at the Athletics West State Relay Championships at the WA Athletics Stadium.

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 Laura Christopher

HEAD OF PRIMARY

Secondary Update – Term 1 Week 3

Jenni Vile on 20/02/2026

Uniform and Personal Presentation

I would like to thank parents and guardians for their continued support of the Colleges Uniform and Personal Presentation Policy.

During uniform checks this week, we identified a number of students who were not meeting the College’s expectations. The uniform guidelines that were most commonly not being met were:

Shoes

  • Black business style school shoes (not boot-style, sports, skate, suede, platform soles or non-black stitching).

If a student has a medical condition that prevents them from wearing the correct footwear, a letter from a medical specialist must be provided. Please be aware that the Ascent Footwear range—available at many retailers that sell school shoes—offers options suitable for students who require additional support or who need to fit orthotics in their shoes. Ascent shoes look like traditional school shoes but have the built‑in innovation and support found in a sneaker.

Shorts

  • A reminder that College shorts must be the correct size for the student — oversized shorts are not permitted. Shorts are to be worn at the waist and not below. Students who are not wearing the correct sized shorts will be asked to have these altered to fit correctly.

Grooming

  • Makeup is not permitted.
  • Students must be clean‑shaven.

Jewellery

  • Earrings: one pair of plain studs (max 5mm) or sleepers (max 12mm) in the lower lobe only – “Plain” = silver or gold; clear diamantes or small white pearls accepted if within size limits. No retainers, clears or spacers are allowed.

College staff have been instructed to send notifications home when students are in breach of these expectations, and your support in consistently reinforcing them is greatly appreciated.

Social Media Age Restrictions — Supporting Our Students

Late last year, the Australian Government introduced new rules restricting social media use for anyone under the age of 16, aiming to reduce online risks and give young people more time to develop safe digital habits.

The response has been mixed — some families feel relieved, while others remain uncertain. We also recognise that for some students, these restrictions have not been straightforward or effective, and we understand this presents its own challenges for families.

At Newman College, we will continue to support all students through our Equip, Guide and Thrive program, which provides education around social media use, online safety, and digital wellbeing.

For further guidance, we recommend this practical resource from the Black Dog Institute: Social media age restrictions: What families need to know

Upcoming Events

Year 9: The Rite Journey — Calling Ceremony

We are excited to share that The Rite Journey, our Year 9 program supporting students through the transition into young adulthood, is now underway!

One of the most important events of the program is the Calling Ceremony — a compulsory milestone that marks the beginning of this journey. All students must attend with a parent or caregiver.

Ceremonies will be held at City Beach Oval (upper oval), with parking available between the oval and City Beach. Each ceremony runs from 5:00pm – 5:45pm. Please attend on the date that corresponds with your child’s class:

  • Monday 23 February – Mrs Beth Murphy, Mrs Sharee Hart, Mrs Courtney Clark, Mr Ned Shannon, Mr Scott McCallum, Mr Michael Van Der Heever
  • Tuesday 24 February – Miss Jorja Clark, Miss Jade Nicotra, Mrs Anna Owen, Mr Stuart McClorey, Mr Ben Goldie

We look forward to seeing you there for this special evening.

Year 12: Ball

The Year 12 Ball is one of the most cherished events for our Year 12’s at Newman College, and we are thrilled to celebrate this special milestone with our Class of 2026.

The Ball will be held on Wednesday, 25 February 2026 at the stunning Fraser’s Restaurant, Kings Park, from 6:30pm to 10:30pm.

Attendance at school on the day of the Ball is compulsory until EGT, where students will be briefed on the Code of Conduct expected for the evening. Tickets will be distributed at 12:30pm during EGT. Students who are not at school on the day will not receive their ticket and will be unable to attend. To minimise disruption to learning, students will be permitted to wear false or coloured nails on this day. We ask that any beauty appointments are arranged around these requirements, and we appreciate your support in making this a special evening with minimal impact on school time.

To support students following the Ball, a late start has been arranged. Students are not required to arrive at school until 10:30am. We kindly ask both students and parents/caregivers to adhere to this arrangement.

This is a wonderful occasion for our Year 12 students to come together and celebrate the year ahead in style. We look forward to seeing them dressed beautifully for what is sure to be a magical and memorable evening.

Mrs Anna Scanlan

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL SECONDARY

Pathways and Careers Information: Year 11 

For students thinking of attending University 

  • 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/ 

Pathways and Careers Information: Year 12 

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/ 

Applying for Medicine or Dentistry 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 
 

University information 

University scholarships 

Here is new scholarship at UWA: 

  • Engineering Excellence Scholarship. 
  • Must have an ATAR of 90+ and accepted an offer into Engineering at UWA. 
  • This scholarship is worth $10,000 and will be automatically awarded if you fit the above criteria. 
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 2026 might find the following interesting: 

UPCOMING CAREERS EVENTS 

EVENT HOSTED BY DATE LINK 
Defence Careers Info Session Defence Force 5 March https://www.adfcareers.gov.au/events/events-detail/p2dw5nb 
Defence Gap Year Info Session Defence Force 11 March https://www.adfcareers.gov.au/events/events-detail/mnvf4zb 
Open Day ECU Joondalup 15 March https://www.ecu.edu.au/open-day/overview 
Course Information Evening Notre Dame 17 March https://events.nd.edu.au/Course_Information_Evening 
ADFA Information Session Defence Force 17 March https://www.adfcareers.gov.au/events/events-detail/nl19bng 
Defence IT and Intelligence Session Defence Force 19 March https://www.adfcareers.gov.au/events/events-detail/mzloovu 
Navy Careers Info Session Defence Force 24 March https://www.adfcareers.gov.au/events/events-detail/7sfokya 
Open Day Murdoch University 28 March https://www.murdoch.edu.au/study/open-day 
Open Day Curtin University 29 March https://www.curtin.edu.au/open-day/ 
Army Reserve Info Session Defence Force 31 March https://www.adfcareers.gov.au/events/events-detail/kkqojry 
Defence Careers Defence Force 8 April https://www.adfcareers.gov.au/events/events-detail/h1rykss 
Submarine Careers Defence Force 22 April https://www.adfcareers.gov.au/events/events-detail/l8f2cyr 
Information Evening SAE University College 23 April https://sae.edu.au/event/info-night-perth/  
Army Reserve Info Session Defence Force 28 April https://www.adfcareers.gov.au/events/events-detail/on4bvau 
Year 10 Parent Information Evening ECU Joondalup 2 June https://www.trybooking.com/DJEBI 
Year 11 and 12 Information Evening Murdoch University 3 June https://www.murdoch.edu.au/events/all-events/2026/06/03/information-evenings/year-11—12-parent—supporters-information-evening 
Engineering Open Evening ECU Joondalup 11 June https://www.trybooking.com/DJEAR 
Year 12 Information Session ECU 30 June https://www.trybooking.com/DJELT 
Year 12 Application Support Session Murdoch University 28 July https://www.murdoch.edu.au/events/all-events/2026/07/28/information-evenings/year-12-university-application-support-session 
Open Day ECU City Campus 9 August https://www.ecu.edu.au/open-day/overview 
Year 12 Information Evening Murdoch University 28 October https://www.murdoch.edu.au/events/all-events/2026/10/20/information-evenings/year-12-online-information-evening 
Open Day SAE University College 15 August https://sae.edu.au/event/open-day-perth/ 
    

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  

From the Principal – Term 1 Week 1

Jenni Vile on 06/02/2026

Dear Newman College Families,

Welcome back to the 2026 Academic Year. We have enjoyed a great start to the year and it is so good to have our students returning to continue their Newman College journey. The start of the year is about so many ‘firsts’. The first day of compulsory schooling for our Pre-Primary children; the first day of Pre-Kindy and Kindy for our smallest little people; the beginning of Secondary school for Year 7, the Class of 2031, and the start for a group of students who have joined us for the first time in other year groups. The new beginnings along with our returning students, families and staff bring great joy to our Newman College community. We welcome new families and staff to our community and look forward to the contribution they will make to our College.

2026 Marist Theme

The beginning of a new year also allows us to refocus on our Marist way of being and learning. This year’s Marist Theme is, again, a beautiful invitation to live and learn. In 2026 the theme is Full of Grace- Transform the World with God’s Love. Pope Leo wrote last year “Now is the hour of love”. What if the world’s peace and flourishing began not with grand gestures, but a humble yes? Grace is that yes. It is God’s love, freely given, undeserved, unmeasured, and without conditions. It is offered to everyone. Once accepted, it overflows from our hearts and radiates outward, moving us to share God’s love with others. Grace is not abstract or distant; it is the living presence of God in the ordinary: a word of encouragement, listening with patience, a hand extended in peace. Abbot Jamison captures its power beautifully: “Grace is God’s way of restoring our trust in the goodness of life.”

We look forward to unpacking and understanding this most beautiful Marist theme with our community in 2026 – the small moments, the awareness of Grace and the sharing of Grace.

College Events

Thank you to families for their presence at the Lavalla Primary Information Evening and we look forward to the Parent Sundowner tonight and the upcoming Marcellin Secondary Information Night and College Family Mass. These events and further opportunities like the Lavalla and Marcellin Guild Swimming Carnivals, Lavalla Primary Picnic, the launch of the Year 9 Rite Journey 2026, the High Achievers Assembly and Lavalla assemblies are great moments to share with you in partnership and presence.

E-Scooter, E-Bikes and E-rideables

As outlined in our 2026 Welcome Pack Newman College is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all students. We recognise that eRideable devices such as eScooters and eBikes have become a popular mode of transport. However, these devices are subject to legislation that prohibit children under the age of 16 from using them.

Government Regulations

 Under the Road Traffic Code 2000 (s228):

  • A person under 16 years of age must not ride a power-assisted pedal cycle with the power assistance engaged.
  • A person under 16 years of age must not ride an electric rideable device with its motor engaged.

College Regulations

Newman College students are not permitted to use or store an eRideable or eBike on school premises. Examples of eRideables include:

  • eScooters
  • eSkateboards
  • Hoverboards
  • eSkates
  • eUnicycles

If brought to school, they will be held and must be collected by a parent or caregiver.

For more information about eRideable regulations, please visit the Road Safety Commission website.
We appreciate your support in implementing these measures to ensure the safety of our students and the wider community.

I wish everyone a great year ahead.

Mr Andrew Watson

PRINCIPAL