From the Vice Principal – Term 1 Week 9

Parent Teacher Interviews (Year 7-12), Tuesday 16 April

To commence Term Two, we are pleased to offer parents the opportunity to meet with teachers at our secondary school to discuss their child’s academic progress. To accommodate the different availabilities of parents, we are once again providing both face-to-face and online meeting options. This ensures that parents can choose the mode of communication that best suits their schedule and preferences.

9.00am – 11.45amOnline Interviews via Teams
12.45pm – 5.30pmIn-person Interviews in the Marist Auditorium

Parents are encouraged to arrange meetings with teachers to discuss the student’s progress, particularly where the teacher has requested a meeting in the Parent Teacher Online system.

Students are required to be present for the interviews and are to wear the Full College Winter Uniform for in-person interviews.

Additional information and instructions for Teams Interviews will be emailed to parents a few days prior to the interviews.

Please feel free to contact Flora Hughes via email flora.hughes@newman.wa.edu.au should you experience any difficulty with logging in to the Parent Teacher Online system.

Student Winter Uniform from Term Two

We recognise the importance of collaboration between the school and parents/guardians in cultivating a culture of pride in students wearing the College uniform. Our staff is dedicated to improving the consistency of our student uniform standards, and we kindly seek your support in this effort.

Starting from Term Two, students are expected to wear the College winter uniform. We encourage students to prepare early to ensure their winter uniform is complete and fits properly, ready for the first day of Term Two. Additionally, we remind students and parents to use discretion regarding haircuts and permanent cosmetic enhancements, such as eyelash extensions, tattooed eyebrows, and facial piercings, during the holidays. These changes may not be easily reversed and likely go against our Uniform Requirements and Personal Appearance Guidelines. In extreme cases, students may be required to rectify their uniform discrepancies before they are permitted to commence classes.

We appreciate your ongoing support. I wish you and your family a happy and holy Easter, and a wonderful holiday break.

From the Principal – Term 1 Week 9

Our final week of term coincides with Holy Week. Holy Week is the most important week in the Church and it is ushered in by Palm Sunday last weekend. In effect, Holy Week traces the final week in Christ’s life leading to his resurrection on Easter Sunday. The Easter Triduum is the final lead of three days to Easter Sunday, beginning with Holy Thursday – the time of the Last Supper, Good Friday – the trial and crucifixion of Jesus and Holy Saturday – that time of reflection and pensive waiting the disciples of Jesus undertook before his resurrection. Easter signifies the victory of good over evil, eternal life over death. Easter Sunday is about hope, renewal and God’s love. Families celebrate Easter in many ways. For some it is the thrill of an Easter hunt, for others, it is the sharing of hot cross buns, or a meal together. Family spirit is central to all the traditions of Easter, and over the Easter break I encourage all in our community to: 

  • Make time for family, enjoy activities together and show each other how much they are appreciated, 
  • Re-connect with God’s creation by being a part of our natural environment, stop and appreciate the beauty if you are travelling, as we live in such a privileged place and, 
  • Build your relationship with God by being a part of services in yours or another parish. 

I wish all of you a Happy Easter and a Holy Easter. 

This is the final Newsletter for the term and what a busy time it has been since the beginning of the year! So much has been achieved by our students and staff. The welcoming of our new students in all year groups across the College in January. The beautiful celebration of the Family Mass as a full community in February. The weekly ‘Celebration’ assemblies in Marian and Lavalla, showcasing the work and talents of our primary classes, the recognition of International Women’s Day and Harmony Day. The Year 12 Retreat and Ball, Lavalla Faction and Marcelin Guild Swimming carnivals, the IPSHA Year 6 Basketball Carnival, the Marist Basketball Carnival at Trinity College Beenleigh, Queensland and this week’s Easter Liturgies. What strikes me about these events and the learning program in the classrooms is the level of engagement and effort students are putting in to work to their personal best.  There has been great work and initiative shown by students, and our staff have been so supportive in bringing this full program to life during the term.   

Our School Improvement Journey – Enlisting your help for the next Strategic Plan 

Each year, we create our School Improvement Plan, which derives from our Newman College Strategic Directions. This year, we are focusing on our Marist Association development as an expression of our community of faith as Marists. Under the priority of Transformational Learning, we are moving deeper into creating pathway partnerships with universities and training providers for senior secondary students, while embedding our whole school Literacy and Numeracy approach. The final area under this priority is developing the wellbeing approach from the recently launched directional document “Vision for Wellbeing”. In this week’s newsletter, Mrs Beth Murphy, Deputy Principal, Teaching & Learning PK-12 discusses our approach to driving an explicit improvement agenda.  

As we prepare to create our new Strategic School Improvement Directions 2025 to 2028, I invite parents to be involved in the first step. This week, I sent you a link to complete the two surveys, the DISA and the Leuven. Please take the time to complete these surveys, as the data forms an important part in identifying what our new directional document will reveal as areas of focus.  We have had a pleasing early response to the DISA survey but not many people have completed the Leuven survey.  

Click HERE for the DISA Survey and HERE for the Leuven survey. To access the Leuven survey, enter the case-sensitive password Ghj654 and click login.  The survey access code is qs89xV.  

Both surveys are important in capturing your input. 

Commencement of Term 2  

Classes recommence on Wednesday, 17 April. On Monday, April 15, staff will be completing their DISA and Leuven surveys after a faith formation session with our Marist Life and Formation team.  

Scheduled on Tuesday, 16 April are Parent/Student/Teacher meetings for Marcellin, and the Primary staff will be completing more professional learning.  It is very important that families support a smooth start by ensuring their children are at school from day 1. The relevant Winter uniform is expected to be worn from this date.  Please read the Vice Principal’s section regarding the standards for Winter uniforms and personal presentation. 

I will be attending the Marist Pilgrimage at the start of the term and then I will be taking some Principal Renewal Leave. Mr Michael Chiera will be Acting Principal, Mrs Beth Murphy, Acting Vice Principal and Mrs Sarah Pagett, Acting Deputy Principal Teaching & Learning, until Tuesday 4 June.  

I wish all families a restful break and, again, hope that your Easter is a time of peace and safety. 

Wishing you every blessing. 

ANDREW WATSON 
PRINCIPAL 

Teaching and Learning – Term 1 Week 9

Newman College: Driving an Explicit Improvement Agenda. 

Newman College is a learning environment buzzing with energy and bursting with opportunities for students and staff, driven by a clear, focused desire for continual improvement in student outcomes. At the heart of this journey for improvement lies an explicit, coherent, and contextually relevant school improvement agenda, meticulously crafted and passionately pursued by the College leadership and teaching staff.  

The school improvement agenda is about crafting a game plan that is not a vague wish list but an unyielding agenda tailored to our College’s needs. We are not just shooting in the dark; the agenda is grounded in evidence-based research and analysis of school data and expressed in terms of improvements in measurable student outcomes, focused on long-term sustainable solutions rather than quick fixes.  

The 2024 School Improvement Agenda intents are not floating out there in the ether; they are tangible and measurable. Through a systematic analysis of the College’s Vision, Mission, DISA data, staff reviews of the strategic intents of the last Strategic Plan (2021-2023) and guided by research, the College executive has set challenging yet achievable, clear, and measurable goals against short and long-term timelines for 2024.  

To drive an explicit agenda successfully, a collective commitment must be facilitated by all staff.  High expectations for student learning progress, levels of engagement, and wellbeing underpin the College’s approach to improvement. This is enabled through: 

  • Student Leadership groups, Guild representatives, Year 12 Leaders 
  • Teacher Development and Growth Plans 
  • The Wellbeing Committee 
  • Wellbeing days for students and staff 
  • Targeted Pastoral Care programs Y7-12 
  • Positive Behaviour and Friendship Programs PK-6 
  • Data analysis working parties 
  • WACE and Learning Area Plan meetings with the Executive 
  • Targeted data checkpoints with Leaders of Learning and Leaders of Wellbeing
  • Teaching and Learning Carousels that showcase the outstanding work the staff is doing at Newman College  
  • PK-12 staff meetings and planning days to review our achievements and areas of growth. 
  • Termly reviews being conducted at the middle leadership and teaching levels in learning areas or unit group meetings  
  • Newman Parent Forums  
  • Parent participation in surveys like the Report Review, DISA and Leuven Tools. 
    This is crucial for creating a supportive and effective learning environment. By providing feedback through surveys like the Report Review, DISA, and Leuven Tool, parents offer valuable insights that help school leaders understand families’ needs and preferences. Actively engaging in these initiatives demonstrates a commitment to their child’s education.   
  • The College Advisory Council 
  • Senior Leadership meetings with College Captains 
  • The collaboration through the School Cycle of Inquiry with Marist Schools  
  • At the Executive level, during Strategic meetings 

Through these touch points with our College community, continuous monitoring of progress towards our articulated goals and targets is completed to evaluate the effectiveness of school improvement strategies, which is a critical component of the school improvement cycle. These touch points allow the Executive members to rigorously scrutinise the progress towards the articulated goals, enabling the College to implement course corrections, ensuring that strategies remain agile and responsive to the evolving needs of the College and ensuring student improvement. It is through this iterative process of reflection and refinement that the true efficacy of school improvement efforts is measured. 

Research has identified that promoting a positive school culture allows for a successful school improvement agenda, which involves fostering an environment where continuous improvement is valued, successes are celebrated, and challenges are embraced as opportunities for growth. Opportunities for students to ‘Shine through Discovery’ are seen through communication home from the Principal to families of high-achieving students and those students having the most significant growth in learning areas, recognition of all years’ high achievers at assemblies, and teacher contact via commendations sent home. By encouraging open communication, collaboration, and a shared commitment to excellence, students are empowered to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.  In such a culture, students feel supported and motivated to set and achieve goals, reflect on their progress, and take ownership of their learning journey.  

Driving an explicit school improvement agenda is a testament to the unwavering commitment of the Newman College staff to sculpt a future where every student is empowered to soar to new heights of excellence as we illuminate the path towards brighter tomorrows for generations of Newman College students to come. 

Beth Murphy
Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning

Pathways and Careers Information: Year 10

Prerequisites for Year 11, 2025

Students and families are advised that prerequisites for Year 11 subjects (for 2025) are now available via the College website.

Commencing in Term 2, Year 10 students will begin the process of guided reflection, leading to their subject selections at the end of Term 2.

Careers Expo and Year 10 Parent Evening

Students and families are reminded that the Newman College Careers Expo and Year 10 Parent Evening will occur later in Term 2. At this event, students and families will be able to speak to teachers about each subject, and also seek information from Universities, TAFEs and training providers about possible courses and careers.

It is expected that all Year 10 students will attend this event. Details are below:

Tuesday 18 June, 2024
Marist Auditorium
Careers Expo commences at 5.00pm
Parent Information evening commences at 6.00pm

Pathways and Careers Information: Year 11

WACE (secondary graduation) requirements

In Year 11 and 12, students are progressing towards their Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE), otherwise known as their secondary graduation.

In order to achieve their WACE, students need to meet certain academic targets across Year 11 and 12. These are:

  • Demonstrate the minimum standard of literacy and numeracy (either in Year 9 NAPLAN or in Year 10-12 OLNA).
  • Be enrolled in English / Literature in Year 11 and 12.
  • Be enrolled in at least 1 ‘List B’ (Maths / Science / Sport / Technology) subject.
  • Achieve at least 14 C grades, with at least 6 C grades in Year 12 subjects.

For students considering UniReady / UniPath in Year 12

A reminder to students on the General Pathway who are considering UniReady / UniPath in Year 12 next year. It is expected that students from the General Pathway would have participated in extra-curricular activities such as work experience, VET Certificates, Leadership, Service, and/or College sports. General Pathway students who have not participated in any of these extra-curricular activities may not be eligible for UniReady / UniPath.

For students thinking of attending University

  • TISC has a series of videos explaining things like ATAR calculation, prerequisite subjects, scaling, and preferences. To find out more click here.
  • Are you thinking of attending a University Open Day? Dates are below. This blog might help you: Year 11 – How to approach University Open Days.

Pathways and Careers Information:Year 12

WACE (secondary graduation) requirements

In Year 11 and 12, students are progressing towards their Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE), otherwise known as their secondary graduation.

In order to achieve their WACE, students need to meet certain academic targets across Year 11 and 12. These are:

  • Demonstrate the minimum standard of literacy and numeracy (either in Year 9 NAPLAN or in Year 10-12 OLNA).
  • Be enrolled in English / Literature in Year 11 and 12.
  • Be enrolled in at least 1 ‘List B’ (Maths / Science / Sport / Technology) subject.
  • Achieve at least 14 C grades, with at least 6 C grades in Year 12 subjects.

University Information

Early Offers

Students and families are advised that applications for University in 2025 will open on 1 May 2024. Early Offers for University in 2025 will not be made to students until 2 September 2024. The currently available information about Early Offers is in the table below.

UniversityEarly Offer Information
Edith Cowan University (ECU)Early Offer calculated from your most recent school results including exams.Must achieve WACE and meet any prerequisites. Early Offers for Certificate IV and UniReady/UniPath students will be conditional on passing. Submit your application via TISC, putting your Early Offer course as your first preference. Offers will be made on 2 September, 23 September, 14 October, 18 November and 2 December. Allow around 2 weeks for us to assess your application. A list of courses available for Early Offers is at: https://www.ecu.edu.au/degrees/early-offer-program  

Information about University entry

Thinking of studying Medicine or Dentistry in 2025?

All students who wish to enrol in Medicine or Dentistry in 2025 (including Assured Pathway at UWA) will need to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) this year.

Please see below for some important dates:

  • 5 March 2024: UCAT bookings open
  • 17 May 2024: Deadline to book your UCAT for 2024
  • 10 June 2024: Deadline if you need to cancel your UCAT booking
  • 1 July 2024: UCAT testing begins
  • 9 August 2024: Last test date
  • September 2024: Results available

You can check https://www.ucat.edu.au/ for more information, tips and practice tests.

Also, students applying for Medicine at Curtin University are required to sit the CASPER Test. You can find more information about this, and book your test, here: https://acuityinsights.app/casper/

UWA Medical entry handbook (for Assured Pathway):

Curtin Medical entry handbook

Entry to Medicine handbook (Australia-wide)