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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

From the Vice Principal – Term 1 Week 1

Jenni Vile on 06/02/2026

Welcome back to all our students and families as we begin a new academic year. It has been a fantastic start, filled with energy, optimism, and a strong sense of connection across the College.

From our youngest students starting pre-kindergarten, year-level assemblies and transition days for our Year 7 students, to meeting new teachers and reconnecting with peers, the opening week has set a positive tone for the year ahead. We look forward to building on this momentum as students continue to learn, grow, and thrive throughout 2026.

2026 Parent Information Handbook

The Newman College 2026 Information Handbook outlines and summarises key information for 2026 families who have students in Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12. This publication provides the essential information needed for daily life at Newman College. We encourage families to bookmark this and use it as a reference throughout the year.  This includes:

  • Key Dates
  • College Leadership
  • Absentees
  • Uniform
  • Communications

Communication – General Queries

Please see Contact Us Page on our website for a list of emails to direct enquiries to.

Communication – Parent Concerns

We strongly value the partnership we share between families and the College to best support our young people. We understand concerns may arise throughout the year and we are here to address these together.  The best results come from respectful and courteous written and verbal communication when raising these matters with staff. The Parent Code of Conduct outlines our shared responsibility in maintaining a safe, supportive, and respectful community for all.

As advocates for your children, it is important that concerns are raised in a timely and constructive manner, working in partnership with the College to seek positive outcomes. Open, respectful communication enables staff to respond thoughtfully and ensures that concerns are addressed in a way that supports student wellbeing, learning, and the strong relationships that underpin our community.

Sun Safety

As a SunSmart College, we ask that parents and caregivers remind students to apply sunscreen prior to the start of the school day. This supports our ongoing commitment to student health and wellbeing, particularly during outdoor learning, sport, and break times.

Extended Absences

Families are reminded that extended periods of leave, including holidays, should be taken during the gazetted school holidays. We understand that there may be occasions when parents/guardians need to make decisions regarding their child’s absence for important yet unapproved reasons. We want to highlight that such decisions may negatively impact your child’s learning and possibly result in a zero mark for assessments conducted during the absence, as per our College Assessment Policies. While we acknowledge that there may be unavoidable situations, we encourage you to consider the broader impact on your child’s learning journey.

There are special circumstances where extended absences may be approved and families should email beth.murphy@newman.wa.edu with as much notice as possible so that these may be considered.

Colours and Honours

In 2026 the College is excited to be introducing a colours and honours system to recognise student contribution in the Mission, Academic, Arts and Sport Pillars.

Students will be awarded points over their time in Years 7 to 12, students who earn over 50 points in a Pillar, will be awarded the Colours Badge for that Pillar, and students who earn over 100 points will be awarded the Honours Badge.

The College has collated existing student records and these will be distributed to parents and students via SEQTA this term.

Students who have achieved their Colours and Honours will be acknowledged at the end of term Celebration Assembly on Thursday, 2 April.

The College will work to implement a student recognition system for Primary students in 2027.

College Family Mass

Tuesday 17 February, our Newman College community comes together for the Family Mass, an event that holds great significance in reinforcing our identity as a Catholic school in the Marist educational tradition. The occasion is made even more special as we will celebrate the commissioning of our Year 6 and Year 12 Student Leaders.

I remind parents and students that participation in all aspects of College life, including events like the Family Mass, are an integral part of our shared commitment upon enrolling in the College. This is a compulsory attendance event for students in PP-Y12, and families are asked to ensure that students are present on this evening.

Communication has been sent to all families today from the Principal, Mr Andrew Waston, which can be found here.

We sincerely thank all our families, students, and staff for their support this special event.

Mrs Beth Murphy

VICE PRINCIPAL

Secondary Update – Term 1 Week 1

Jenni Vile on 06/02/2026

Uniform and Personal Presentation

I’d 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:

Hair

  • Must be clean, neat, and tidy.
  • Kept off the face; fringes no longer than eyebrow length.
  • Hair longer than the bottom of the collar must be tied back.
  • No extreme contrasts or styles (e.g., mullets, extreme fades, undercuts, mohawks).
  • Minimum blade length: #3.

Grooming

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

Jewellery

  • Only a discreet cross or religious medal on a fine chain is allowed.
  • 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 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.

Punctuality

A reminder to students that they should be on campus no later than 8.30am. Students who are late to school for appointments must be signed in by a parent or guardian, or have their parent notify the Student Reception (secondary.admin@newman.wa.edu), ahead of the appointment.

Students are given time between periods to ensure they have adequate time to make it to their next class. Students should not be arriving late to class or visiting their lockers between periods.         

Instilling punctuality in our young people reinforces the sense of responsibility and commitment that will be integral to their success in life.

Locks

A reminder that all students are required to purchase a coded lock for their child’s locker. These are available at the College Uniform shop. Padlocks and other variations are not permitted.

Leaders of Wellbeing will be doing an audit on Wednesday of Week 2 and will be in contact with parents if their child does not yet have a lock.

Year 7 Transition Week

Today marks the end of the Year 7 transition program, and the students have had a fantastic start. The transition program focused on equipping students with the practical knowledge and tools needed for secondary schooling, and students had the opportunity to form social connections through their team building day.

A big thank you to Mrs Lara Vlahov, the Year 7 Team, Guild Coordinators, and all Year 7 teaching staff for your work this week. It’s been a calm and smooth beginning.

As students move to their full timetable next week, we encourage you to reach out to your child’s PCG teacher if you have any queries or concerns.

State Sporting Representation

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

  • Stella Ferguson, Year 11, represented Western Australia at the Women’s Second XI Series in Perth in November, Under 19 Female National Cricket Championships in Newcastle in December, and Under 16 Female National Cricket Championships in Launceston in January. What a busy summer!

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 

Contact details: 

Justin Farley 

Leader of Pathways and Partnerships 

justin.farley@newman.wa.edu.au 

Tel. 9204 9457 

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/ 

University information 

University scholarships 

Here is a 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 
School Leavers, Parents and Teachers Information Session Defence Force 12 February https://www.adfcareers.gov.au/events/events-detail/4kwc899 
Gap Year Information Session Defence Force 17 February https://www.adfcareers.gov.au/events/events-detail/2azful3 
Officers & Management Information Session Defence Force 19 February https://www.adfcareers.gov.au/events/events-detail/82c97fk 
Open Day ECU Joondalup 15 March https://www.ecu.edu.au/open-day/overview 
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/ 
Open Day ECU City Campus 9 August https://www.ecu.edu.au/open-day/overview 
    

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  

Primary Update – Term 1 Week 1

Jenni Vile on 06/02/2026

Welcome back to what promises to be a meaningful and rewarding year of learning. I hope the holiday break allowed time for rest, renewal and connection with family and friends. It has been a pleasure to welcome our students back to school and see our community come to life once again with energy, optimism and purpose.

The year has begun very positively. Students have settled into routines with confidence and have returned eager to engage in their learning. Across the school, classrooms are calm, focused and purposeful, reflecting our shared commitment to high expectations, personalised learning and student wellbeing. It is encouraging to see students already demonstrating independence, curiosity and a willingness to challenge themselves as learners.

At Newman College, our approach to learning is grounded in faith and shaped by the Marist tradition, placing relationships, care, and growth at the heart of all that we do. We seek to create learning environments where each child feels known, supported, and encouraged to strive for their personal best. This is achieved most effectively through strong partnerships between school and home, and we greatly value the role families play in supporting their child’s learning journey.

It was wonderful to see so many families attend the Parent Information Sessions on Thursday evening. These sessions provided an opportunity to meet your child’s teacher, gain insight into class expectations, and develop a shared understanding of learning priorities for the year ahead. Thank you to all parents and carers who were able to attend and engage in these important conversations.

We look forward to a year of learning, growth, and collaboration as we continue to work together, guided by our shared values and the spirit of Marcellin Champagnat, to ensure the best possible outcomes for every student.

Support and Extension for Students

At Newman College, we follow the Tiered support for Support and Extension for students. The following diagram demonstrates how the three levels target support. In both support and extension, the most critical and impactful level is Tier 1. The classroom teacher spends the most time with the children and knows them best. They differentiate tasks and supports in the classrooms so all students can succeed and achieve their best.

Gifted Education Plans are developed for students who have been formally identified as gifted through assessment and reporting. Our Gifted and Talented teacher works with classroom teachers in preparing these plans before sharing them with families for feedback.

Curriculum Adjustment Plans are prepared for students with a diagnosis so we can track and target their needs in the classroom. Classroom teachers prepare these plans and will share them with families for their feedback once a year.

Individual Education Plans are prepared for students who are not able to access the year level curriculum. They have individual learning goals that are targeted at each students level. These are prepared by the classroom teacher and shared in a meeting with the Leader of Learning in Term 1 and again in Term 2. Collaborating with families is so important in creating effective and impactful plans for our students.

To ensure students receive timely and targeted support, our school follows a clear and consistent timeline for screening, intervention, and planning. Below is an outline of how support structures operate across the semester.

TERM 1

  • Week 1-2: Students are screened and grouping is determined.
  • Week 3: Withdrawn support and extension groups begin.
  • Week 1-4: IEP, CAP and GEP plans are updated and developed.
  • Week 5: IEP Meetings are organised by the Leader of Learning.
  • Week 5-9: CAP and GEP meetings are organised by classroom teachers.

TERM 3

  • Week 1-2: IEP plans are updated.
  • Week 3: IEP meetings are organised by the Leader of Learning.

This structured approach ensures support is responsive, collaborative, and aligned with each student’s learning needs throughout the year. More information about the types of support and extension is available in the presentation from the Parent Information Evening.

Keeping Our Students Safe at School

A friendly reminder that all toys and sporting equipment from home should stay at home. We are fortunate to have a wide range of sports and play equipment provided at school, and students are encouraged to enjoy these at recess and lunch.

Importantly, students have had opportunities to share what sporting equipment they enjoy using or would like to see more of at school. We have listened to their feedback, and where possible, additional equipment has been added or purchased to support their interests.

Morning Drop‑Off Update
To further support the safety and wellbeing of our students, there will be a small change to our morning drop‑off routine. Students in Years 1–6 will now sit and wait in the undercover area, where they will be supervised by staff. This allows us to closely monitor students and ensure a safe and calm start to the day for all.

Mrs Laura Christopher

HEAD OF PRIMARY

Teaching & Learning – Term1 Week 1

Jenni Vile on 06/02/2026

Secondary Parent Information Evening

On Monday 9 February, Secondary parents and students will gather for the Parent Information Evening. This is a key event that allows families to begin the year well-informed. Each year group session is compulsory, and families may then attend a range of other sessions on offer. The full schedule of events is available here.

YouTube at School

At the College, we are always looking for ways to support student learning, wellbeing, and online safety. With this in mind, we have made the decision to block direct student access to YouTube for all students during the school day.

While YouTube is an age-restricted platform for students under 16, our decision goes beyond age alone. We know that open access to YouTube during the school day can sometimes make it harder for students to stay focused and can create challenges around learning time and online safety. Taking a consistent, whole-school approach helps set clear expectations for students and supports staff in managing digital learning spaces effectively.

Importantly, students will still benefit from YouTube as a learning resource:

  • Teachers will continue to use carefully selected and previewed YouTube content as part of classroom learning.
  • YouTube videos embedded in OneNote will remain available at home, so students can revisit learning when needed.
  • In some cases, specific YouTube links may be temporarily enabled to support approved learning activities or research tasks.

This approach allows us to strike a balance, ensuring students can access high-quality digital resources while keeping learning time focused and safe.

Thank you for your continued support as we work together to create a positive, engaging, and safe learning environment for all students.

Physical Education Curriculum Variation

At Newman College, we are committed to providing a well-rounded education that supports students’ academic, physical, emotional, and social development. Our Physical Education program plays a vital role in this holistic formation, aligning with our mission to nurture the whole person in the context of faith, learning, and community.

Where students are unable to participate in Physical Education (PE) classes due to injury, illness, or medical conditions, a curriculum variation must be granted by the Deputy Principal, Teaching and Learning and the Leader of Learning. All curriculum variation applications are to be supported by specialist medical documentation. Students must submit their curriculum variation and accompanying documentation prior to the commencement of their swimming unit. Students who have been granted a curriculum variation must remain in the PE class for the duration of the lesson and be under the direction of their PE teacher. This ensures the College’s duty of care and ensures students are present for important lesson content and do not fall behind.  Students are not permitted to use this time to study in the library or complete homework. In some cases, students may be asked to complete a theory-based task related to the lesson. This approach ensures continued learning while supporting our core values of excellence, integrity, and respect.

To ensure all students feel comfortable in the pool, the uniform policy was updated last year to allow all students in Years 7-12 to purchase school board shorts for swimming lessons.

We appreciate your cooperation in supporting Physical Education at Newman College.

Mrs Sarah Pagett

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL OF TEACHING & LEARNING PK-12