From the Principal – Term 1 Week 5
Milestone Moments
The term ‘milestone’ seems to have its origin in Ancient Roman society. In building their extensive road system, the Romans placed stones along the way to mark a distance in travel and to give a sense of how far to the next destination. It appears that in the 17th Century, the term milestone came into use to mark a significant moment in life. Two important milestones in the Newman College journey were celebrated in the past fortnight. The Year 9 The Rite Journey Calling and Departure Ceremony and the Year 12 Ball.
The Rite Journey Calling and Departure
This simple but beautiful event was shared with Year 9 students and their parents and caregivers at City Beach recently. The event is timed for the end of the day, as the sun sets across our beautiful coast and it marks the symbolic departure from childhood to the road of adulthood for our Year 9 students in the Rites of Passage program. In recognising that our students have begun to depart from childhood, we pay respect to, and show gratitude for, the forming moments that childhood have provided; and we do this as family and Newman College family. As we moved through the Calling and Departure, watching our parents stand behind their children with a hand on their shoulder was a moving experience. It was a symbol and sign of total love and a commitment to gently pushing their daughter or son towards the next stage of life. The number of families who then took the time to sit and chat with their child showed the gift of presence that a parent is to their young one.
Year 12 Ball
The Class of 2026 and staff gathered at Fraser’s in Kings Park last week for the Ball. Congratulations to all involved! The students certainly enjoyed this time of celebration and connection. They talked and danced the night through, taking the opportunity to capture the moment in Guild and friendship photos. I think they take from the night a cherished moment in their final year of schooling. In this proud milestone moment, I am sure the families of the Year 12 students would have also reminisced about the speed at which it seems life has brought each of them from that little, dependent child to the point of young independent adulthood.
The Season of Swimming
Swim carnivals continued to dominate our sports program in recent weeks, with the Lavalla Swimming Carnival and the NAS Year 7-10 Swim Meet. In the second year of Guild competition, students from Year 3 to 6 gave their all for their Guild. Congratulations to all who competed, the staff for their organisation, the families for their support and our volunteer mums and dads on the barbecue. The NAS meet is the warm-up event for the Division A ACC Carnival in the final week of the term, and we had great competition against Sacred Heart, John XXIII, Chisholm and Servite Colleges.
International Women’s Day Breakfast
We were delighted to host 180 parent guests and their children at the inaugural Newman College International Women’s Day Breakfast this morning. Over the past three years, we have made it our aim to grow our celebration and recognition of International Women’s Day. The breakfast was a new addition in 2026, as well as an organising committee of Year 12 students who worked with key staff to plan and run this event. This year’s theme is ‘Balance the Scales,’ and we were treated to guest speakers from three Newman College families, whose journeys through life, career and sport provided great food for thought in addressing action to support the theme.
Our Year 12 students sold purple ribbons, and proceeds will be directed to Dress for Success, an organisation that supports women advancing in the workplace. If you would like to donate, please follow this link https://give-aus.keela.co/newman-college-x-dfswa
Thank you to our three guest speakers, Newman College parents
- Anna Snodgrass (Class of 97), HSE Business Partner Rio Tinto,
- Lisa Webb (past staff member) Fremantle Football Club AFLW Senior Coach, and
- Jayne Taylor, Director and Owner, Taylor HR Consulting.
Congratulations to the IWD Committee on their fabulous work:
- Students:
- Grace Bradshaw
- Evie Brennan
- Lulu Brickland
- Harrison Burrows
- Oliver Groughan
- Ruby Hankinson
- Mia Harris
- Ella Hills
- Alice Humbert
- Alessia Infirri
- Isabel Jimenez-Fuentes
- Olivia McMahon
- Scarlett Sharp
- Poppy Vogl
- Staff:
- Beth Murphy
- Anna Scanlan
- Jenni Vile
- Donna McFadden
- Tara Gray
- Lara Ognenis
- Megan Guglielmana
- Kassandra Conway
A Conversation about Communication
In our opening presentations at parent evenings this year, our leaders and I have touched on the importance of respectful communication in our community. It is an opportune time to revisit the messaging and the ‘why’ behind the message of respectful communication in partnership between home and school.
From time to time, there may be challenges that emerge in a child’s schooling life that require parent advocacy. We all want the best for each young person in our care. Some of those challenging moments will come with a great deal of emotion and concern, and the College staff are here to address them in partnership with parents.
What I do ask of each parent is what I expect of myself and our staff, that we communicate concern with respect. We all have a right to be heard. As Leaders of Wellbeing, the College Executive and I mentioned in parent sessions earlier in the term, a short, respectful request to be contacted about an issue or concern will always get our time and attention. There will be occasions where parents are aggrieved and play the important advocacy role. What cannot be accepted is communication that does not meet a standard of how grievances or concerns should be made.
I extend my thanks to the great majority of families who approach communicating in email with respect and courtesy as the basis of raising an issue. What concerns me is what we all, unfortunately, experience in modern life – the communication that does not fit with societal norms and expectations. For us, this commitment to one another is expressed in our Parent and Adult Code of Conduct.
The why. I hold two important duties of care at once. I have a responsibility not only for the education and safety of children but also, under workplace health and safety legislation, to maintain a safe workplace for staff.
I provide these template examples that can be used to start these very important conversations we necessarily have for the benefit of children and students. Again, I stress that our community, in vast numbers, support respectful and constructive communication, and this piece of information sharing is a topic we are all exposed to in the various community settings in which we live and work.
Mr Andrew Watson
PRINCIPAL
