Tag: News

Parent Engagement

Many thanks to parents and staff who attended and supported the Parent Information Evenings. These evenings are important to ensure parents have an opportunity to meet teachers, hear from the College Leadership Team and are informed about school-wide programs such as the Sacramental Program, Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum and Campus Wellbeing Programs. Leaders of Wellbeing are to be commended for their planning, preparations and presentation to our parent community.

I look forward to meeting parents each week at the Marian Campus for Fitness Friday, 8.20am – 8.45am. This is a wonderful way to start the day, where students can participate in a number of wellness activities while parents can enjoy a coffee (as part of Coffee at the College) and meet with the College’s Senior Leadership Team. I extend my sincere gratitude to staff from the Marian Campus for supporting this initiative and engaging our learners!

The next opportunity for families will be to attend parent, teacher, student interviews with classroom and subject teachers. The College uses PTO (Parent Teacher Online) for bookings and interview times. A notification will be sent to families leading up to these dates.

Save the Date – Parent Teacher Interviews

Family engagement is critical to a child’s academic success. By connecting with your child’s teachers, talking about school matters at home and being involved in school events promotes positive partnerships between home and school can support success at school.

• Years 11/12 Parent Teacher Interviews: Wednesday 13 March, 3.40pm – 7.00pm
• Years 8, 9 and 10 Parent Teacher Interviews: Wednesday 20 March, 3.40pm – 7.00pm
• Year 7 Parent Teacher Interviews: Wednesday 27 March, 3.40pm – 7.00pm

Newman Parents Information Sessions with Dr Justin Coulson

9 Ways to a Resilient Child (content is most suited for Early Childhood parents)

Parents will learn the psychological secrets that build their child’s sense of identity, strengths and growth mindset in order to perform better, be happier and build resilience. 9 Ways to a Resilient Child is based on Dr Justin Coulson’s best-selling book and shows parents how to help their children cope powerfully and positively with the challenges that life throws at them.

• When: Monday 25 March, 9.00am – 10.30am
• Where: Marist Auditorium
• RSVP: jo.dunn@newman.wa.edu.au
  

Respectful Relationships; Love at Home

How to get along with your kids and help them get along with you (and their siblings)

We all say we get along just fine at home… but there are those uncomfortable niggles. There’s the eye-rolling, the disrespect, the lack of motivation to help out, and the sibling warfare. If we’re honest, most adults have been known to shout a bit too, and let’s face it, we don’t always listen that well to our kids. Conflict and friction at home cause more trouble than we need, and interfere with everyone’s wellbeing. Wouldn’t it be great if there were some simple, practical things we could do to help everyone get along better – starting right now?

Parents will learn the best ‘relationship rules’ for a happier family so home life really does feel loving… most of the time!

The presentation will be followed by a Question and Answer session.

• When: Monday 25 March, 7.00pm – 8.30pm
• Where: Marist Auditorium
• RSVP: jo.dunn@newman.wa.edu.au
  

eSafety Commissioner

The Office of the eSafety Commissioner is committed to empowering all Australians to have safer, more positive experiences online. The College’s Annual School Improvement plan identified eSafety as a focus area for the wellbeing of students. Key themes and ideas from the Keeping Safe curriculum and Wellbeing program will be presented to students and parents later this year. Newman Parents will host a Cybersafety information session to educate and empower parents to support their children in managing their online profiles and behaviour.

The Office of eSafety Commissioner website has excellent resources for families and children and I encourage parents to subscribe to the eSafety newsletter for additional information and education. Click here to visit their website.

Code of Conduct

A reminder to all families that the Code of Conduct can be accessed via the College website. The Code is mandated by Catholic Education Western Australia and the application of the code extends to all staff, students, parents, guardians, caregivers and volunteers.

The Code seeks to value the dignity of every person, foster positive relationships, ensuring confidentiality and accountability and supports professional boundaries. Events held during school hours AND outside of school hours that are associated with the College are also supported by the Code of Conduct. Any perceived breaches of the Code can be discussed with any member of the Senior Leadership Team. We thank you in advance for your understanding and support of how we strive to partner positively with one another.

Thank you to the Parent Representatives that have volunteered to oversee Facebook pages for the parents in their cohort. The Code of Conduct applies to all social media platforms and parents are reminded that if they have any concerns, they should direct them to the most appropriate member of staff that can respond to the concern.

Year 12 Retreat

During this important time of quiet reflection and time away from the usual school routines whilst on Retreat, the Year 12 students had an opportunity to seriously reflect upon their lives. Several aspects of personal growth and awareness were considered such as self-esteem, relationships and responsibilities, as well as developing a broader sense of community. While on Retreat students had opportunities to explore and deepen their spirituality and faith experiences through small group sharing, reflective prayer and celebrating the Eucharist.

Student Reflections

“This retreat has been a valuable experience to me as you get to hang out more with people you didn’t realise you would get along with so much, while still having the time to be with your mates too”.

“I came to Year 12 Retreat with the intention of just relaxing for a few days and to get away from schoolwork, but I ended up being able to really open up and get so much more out of it than I expected”.

“Year 12 Retreat encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone and get a richer understanding of my year group, it was an amazing experience”.

“Year 12 Retreat was an excellent experience, where I was able to bond with my friends and affirm the great qualities about each other”.

“Year 12 Retreat was a great experience, not only did I bond with many of my friends, but made new friends too. I also found that the Retreat was a place to lay back and just enjoy the trip”.

“Year 12 Retreat was a really nice experience, we got to get to know people you may not know very well and have a lot of fun”.

“I really loved being a part of the Year 12 Retreat. It was so nice bonding with people you don’t usually bond with and was a real eye opening and heart warming experience. I’ll never forget the fun I had and the things I learned on Year 12 Retreat”.

“Year 12 Retreat has opened our eyes into the individual lives of others and allowed us to grow closer together and understand the importance of loving and caring for one another”.

2019 Project Compassion Launch

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (Wednesday 6 March) in Week 5. This is also the day that Caritas launch their annual fundraising and awareness appeal – Project Compassion. Project Compassion brings together millions of Australians in solidarity with the world’s poor to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. This year’s Project Compassion theme is: GIVE LENT 100%. Each week of Lent, Caritas profiles a person who is involved in a Caritas project and always gives 100%. Click here to view these stories.

We encourage families to watch the videos and discuss them as a family. Students on all three campuses will have the opportunity to learn more about Project Compassion and the work of Caritas. They will also be encouraged to think of creative ways in their classes and PCGs to fundraise for Project Compassion.

Shrove Tuesday

To celebrate Shrove Tuesday (Tuesday 5 March), the Marian, Lavalla and Marcellin Campuses will be selling pancakes to students in support of Project Compassion.

• Marian students: Students are asked to bring in a gold coin donation as all students will receive a pancake. The College cannot provide for students with allergies, however you are welcome to send them with a pancake of their own if you wish.
• Lavalla students: Pancakes will be sold for a gold coin donation between 8.00am – 8.30am outside the canteen.
• Marcellin students: Pancakes will be sold for $2 each between 8.00am – 8.30am outside the canteen.

Blue and Gold Embarkation Camps

On Friday 15 February, the Blue and Gold Caravels attended their 3-day Remar Embarkation Camps at Serpentine Camping Centre. The program focused on peer support, role modelling and community formation. Click here to read a number of student reflections from the camps.

Sacrament Reminder

Families are reminded to visit their relevant parish website for all information regarding 2019 Sacrament dates and registration. Alternatively please click here to access parish website addresses via the College website. The enrolment dates vary, so please take the time to clearly understand the process for your parish. Students in Years 3, 4 and 6 will undertake the preparatory work in class so they are able to receive the Sacrament in their local parish.

Floreat Youth Group

Thanks so much to everyone who came down to Floreat last Sunday night! We had an awesome time playing games on the oval and hearing an interactive talk about the young Jesus! Next week we’ll be continuing the story and hearing about his ministry and life as an adult as well as playing some puzzle games that will really get you thinking. Youth Group is open to all students in Years 6-12, taking place every Sunday from 6.00pm – 8.00pm at St Cecilia’s Parish Centre, 47 Peebles Road, Floreat. Call Sebastian on 0403230395 or Emma on 0412310019 for more information.

Slavery-free Easter Chocolate

Pope Francis said that “every person ought to have the awareness that purchasing is always a moral – and not simply an economic – act.” Click here to watch the Pope’s video.

Cocoa is a key ingredient of chocolate and many children in West Africa are enslaved to pick the cocoa beans. They will never taste the delicious chocolate their slavery helps produce. Buy only slavery-free chocolate to ensure no enslaved children were involved in the production.

To buy slavery-free Easter chocolate look for any of these three certification symbols on the wrappers: FAIRTRADE, Rainforest Alliance and UTZ. It’s delicious and you can buy it at ALDI, Haigh’s, Oxfam and other leading supermarkets and shops.

Late in 2018 the Federal Government passed the Modern Slavery Act, which will ask big companies to report on their efforts to introduce slavery-free goods and services.

Click here for information and resources.