News Archives - Page 134 of 191

Newman News Term 3 Week 8: From the Leader of Wellbeing Early Childhood

Jo Dunn on 13/09/2019

As a College community, we seek to foster the development of the whole child. We work to nurture children’s educational, social, emotional, faith and physical attributes in pursuit of fostering well-balanced graduates who will be positive contributors to a global society. At an early childhood level, the development of a child’s character is achieved through a strong focus on the child’s physical and mental development. Resilience, moral conscience and values are important attributes in the growth journey of each child. Research tells us that healthy, active lifestyles in children are more likely to result in a positive overall well-being.

This past week on the Marian Campus, we have facilitated a range of events that have aimed to promote healthy, active lifestyles.

Great Vegie Crunch

Today we participated in the Cancer Council WA “Great Vegie Crunch” event, joining schools from across Western Australia to simultaneously crunch on fresh vegetables. The Great Vegie Crunch aims to increase the number of school aged children who eat the recommended daily intake of vegetables and educate students on the importance of eating vegetables.

The school provided students in Kindy – Year 2 with a vegetable snack and the ‘Crunch-o-meter’ measured that together they crunched as loud as a crocodile. The students also enjoyed a fun quiz about vegetables and had the chance to win some fantastic prizes!

National Health and Physical Education Day

Thursday 12 September was ACHPER’s nationwide initiative to highlight the importance of health and physical education in the Australian Curriculum, and its influence on the learning and development of children. Our Physical Education Teacher, Mrs Stella Northey coordinated a range of activities at lunchtime for our children to participate in. These included tug-of-war, hopper balls, hula hoops and egg and spoon relays. Research indicates that students’ participation in physical activity leads to better engagement and improved academic achievement.

Pre Primary Liturgy

I extend my thanks to the Pre Primary staff who prepared their students for a beautiful liturgical celebration at St Cecilia’s Church on Thursday. The liturgy spoke to the importance of coming together as a faith community like Jesus did with his disciples. The children read and sung beautifully, and their liturgical dance was a reverent addition to the celebration. Fr Kaz talked to the students about the importance of our soul, and how our connection to our Catholic faith allows us to nourish our spiritual wellbeing.

Latest Library News

The Indigenous Literacy Book Swap
Kindy Better Beginnings Incursion
Kylie Howarth Incursion

Save the Date: Pre Primary – Year 2 Athletics Carnival – Thursday 26 September

Students will enjoy a fun filled day of competition and faction spirit at their Athletics Carnival.

Download PP-Y2 Athletics Carnival Parent Information

Marcellin Award

Congratulations to the following student who has received a Marcellin Award in Week 7:

Sophie Parry Year 2 Red: For her hard work and commitment to keep our school clean by helping to clean up the undercover area.

The Marcellin Award at Marian Campus is drawn from submitted nominations each Wednesday morning at Prayer Assembly.

Newman News Term 3 Week 8 – Latest Library News

Jo Dunn on 13/09/2019

The Indigenous Literacy Book Swap

National Indigenous Literacy Day was celebrated on Wednesday 4 September in Australia, and this year at Newman we supported the Indigenous Literacy Foundation by holding a Book Swap at both Marian and Lavalla to raise funds for literacy resources for children in remote indigenous communities. The event was a wonderful opportunity to promote the importance of books and it was a fun occasion for our students to enjoy selecting a new book to take home to read, while at the same time promoting sustainability.

Thank you to our Librarian Mrs Alison Le Dan for coordinating this important initiative.

Better Beginnings Incursion

During Week 7, the Kindy students took part in the wonderful Better Beginnings Incursion at the Marian Library with Melissa Payne from the Cambridge Library. Better Beginnings is a State funded program which aims to promote literacy and reading. All the children received a free Better Beginnings gift bag during the incursion which contained a quality picture book and lots of reading ideas & activities.

Kylie Howarth Incursion

On Wednesday 4 September, the students at Marian Campus were lucky to be visited by award winning author Kylie Howarth. The students discovered how Kylie draws her inspiration from her underwater adventures when creating her book characters and they were very excited to have the opportunity to be illustrators with Kylie. It was a very exciting incursion that was interactive and lots of fun for the students.

James Foley Incursion

On Friday 6 September, the Year 3 students enjoyed a visit by award winning author and illustrator James Foley. James was a huge hit with the students who were enthralled by his engaging performance. He explained the creative process of writing and illustrating picture books and graphic novels and he demonstrated his amazing drawing skills.

Newman News Term 3 Week 8: From the Leader of Wellbeing Primary

Jo Dunn on 13/09/2019

At Newman College, we endeavour to support our students in both their academic and social-emotional development. As a community of faith, we look to Jesus Christ as a model of values and morals, and we reflect on how we can emulate his loving actions in our daily lives.

Fathers Day Celebrations

Dads, Grandads and special male figures were warmly welcomed to the Lavalla Campus on Monday 2 September to celebrate Fathers Day with a complimentary coffee and a special Prayer Assembly led by Year 5 Red.

Year 5 Leadership Workshops

This week concluded the final of three Leadership Workshops for Year 5 students hoping to be considered for nomination to Year 6 Student Council in 2020. The sessions were themed as follows:

Vision for Learning
Wellbeing and Team building
Servant Leadership and Faith Formation

The student leadership process will continue moving into Term 4 as we work towards the election of the Year 6 Student Council in 2020.

It has been wonderful to see the students embrace this extra-curricular opportunity, attending before school weekly and participating with enthusiasm. I am very excited about the prospects for student leadership into 2020.

Life Education Van

This week, all classes have enjoyed visiting the Life Education Van in support of their classroom learning in Health Education. Students have explored the following modules:

Year 3 – Bcyberwise – focusing on cybersafety and exploring issues around security, sharing information and communicating respectfully.
Year 4 – Mind Your Medicine – developing students’ understanding of medicines and their safe use, as well as strategies for dealing with stress and conflict.
Year 5 – Decisions – exploring the decision-making process by looking at choices, consequences, responsibility, facts and influences; particularly in preparing for making decisions about the use of drugs and alcohol and their health impacts.
Year 6 – Relate Respect Connect – exploring the importance of building positive, safe and respectful relationships both online and offline, as well as strategies for responding to unsafe or disrespectful situations.

Our annual visit from the Life Education Van is an invaluable inclusion to the Health curriculum and social-emotional learning taking place in classrooms. I hope that parents took-up the opportunity to visit the Open Van Session on Monday 9 September to discuss the programs with the visiting educators and have a look at the student workbooks, information sheets and pamphlets made available.

Latest Sport News

Years 3-6 Athletics Carnival Results and Highlights
Individual Accomplishments – Annabel Lynch Year 3 Green

The Indigenous Literacy Book Swap
James Foley Incursion

Save the Date: Grandparents Day – Wednesday 25 September

Our annual Grandparents Day event will take place on Wednesday 25 September (Week 10). Click here for more information.

If there are any parents able to support the Primary Social Committee in the set-up and serving of morning tea on the day, please contact Anna Stefanovski on 0407 101 178

Remar Blue Solidarity Camp

Jo Dunn on 12/09/2019

Remar seeks to form Christian leaders who are prepared to stand in solidarity with those experiencing disadvantage and injustice, and who are motivated to take action.

To this end, 21 Year 11 Remar Blue rowers (students) embarked on a week-long Solidarity Camp. As one student explains: “During the camp I learnt more about solidarity. Solidarity is not only giving out a hand to help others but to experience life with others, side by side. Having compassion and serving others.”

The Remar Blue Solidarity camp ran from Wednesday 28 August to Tuesday 3 September in Mullewa, Western Australia, a small farming town 470km North-East of Perth. Following preparation sessions, the students lived and worked alongside the community of Mullewa, where they had a packed itinerary that involved various services to the Mullewa community including helping to host their annual Agriculture and Wildflower Shows, working with the students at Our Lady of Mount Carmel primary school and hosting their school disco.

The Remar students slept on the floor of the school, cooked their own meals and worked as a group to provide each service to the community all of which helped to deepen their experience of communal living and form deeper relationships with each other.

“I learnt that service is necessary for any community to work and that good leaders aren’t necessarily those who delegate the work, but those who just help to get it done. I also gained a sense of community and family within my own caravel.” (Reflection from a student).

Ultimately, the camp was successful in helping the rowers understand solidarity through lived experience and helping them to realise that they have the capacity to be the ‘hands and feet of Christ’.

A huge thank you goes out to Miss Genna Spadaccini (Blue Helm), Miss Jamie Pedler, Mr Matthew Wilson and Br Paul Murphy for giving up their time to accompany our students on this special journey. We also thank Mrs Jill Hollands (Principal of Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Mullewa) and the Mullewa community for their hospitality and hosting our students during their time away.

Clare Cole Carter, Leader of Youth Ministry and Advocacy PK-12

Newman News Term 3 Week 8: From the Vice Principal

Jo Dunn on 11/09/2019

Learning happens in a variety of spaces; places where our interactions with one another shift from the formality of the classroom to the sporting field, playground or workplace learning experience. The great strength of our PK-12 College community, is how students come together to support learning and Wellbeing initiatives. This term, students from Marcellin Campus have supported the Years 3-6 Athletics Carnival, Marian Campus Early Childhood initiatives and our very successful STEM Festival. The collaboration the students encounter during these opportunities reflects the intent of our Vision for Learning, Shine through Discovery and how we seek to develop skills of communication and conversation between students and peers. I extend my sincere thanks to our teaching staff who plan and prepare for these authentic and meaningful experiences.

2020 Term Dates

Term 1 – Monday 3 February – Thursday 9 April

Monday 3 February: K-6, 7 & 12 return
Tuesday 4 February: Years 8-11 return
Thursday 13 February: PK-12 Family Mass

Term 2 – Tuesday 28 April – Friday 3 July

Tuesday 28 April: All PK-Y12 staff and students return
Friday 19 June: Champagnat Day (TBC)

Term 3 – Wednesday 22 July- Friday 25 September

Monday 20 July: Staff Faith Formation / Pupil Free Day
Tuesday 21 July: K-12 Parent Teacher Interviews / Pupil Free Day
Wednesday 22 July: All PK-Y12 students return
Friday 14 August: Staff Wellbeing Day/ Pupil Free Day
Monday 17 August: CEWA Faith Day (College Closed)

Term 4 – Tuesday 13 October – Friday 4 December

Monday 12 October: Staff Professional Learning/ Pupil Free Day
Tuesday 13 October: All PK-Y11 students return
PK-Y9 Final Day (TBC)

CDP Update

The College has entered the final stage of planning prior to the commencement of the Learning Hub building project. Five organisations have accepted the opportunity to tender for the building contract, with the tender closing next Thursday 19 September. Following approval of the preferred builder to proceed, it is likely that possession of the site will be handed to the contractor at or around the commencement of Term 4.

In addition to the Learning Hub project, the footings for the new Lavalla / Marcellin bridge were installed this week. The bridge will be completed during October, with associated upgrades to pedestrian paths taking place shortly after. It is expected that the bridge will be in use by late October / early November.

Furthermore, the major upgrade to the artificial cricket wicket practice area and storage shed is now complete. This will see the College cricketers enjoy new facilities, with wonderful access to equipment which is now housed directly adjacent to the practice area. The shed also delivers upgraded storage facilities for the Outdoor Education program, replacing the older Sea Containers.

The College is very excited about the current program of works which will see all students benefit from the investment into these areas. For further information on the Learning Hub Project please click here.

Catholic Performing Arts Festival

The closing concert for the Catholic Performing Arts Festival will be held on Monday September 16 at the Perth Concert Hall. Newman College has the honour of performing the Acknowledgement of Country song, Koort Doodjarak Yewool (Heart Song) in collaboration with the Madjitil Moorna Choir accompanied by James Web. We acknowledge Music Teacher, Nicole Boddy who wrote the lyrics and melody. This is a unique opportunity for the College, and I acknowledge the efforts of the staff and students involved in this initiative, in particular the leadership and creativity of Mrs Maree Grayden, Leader of Learning Arts PK-12. Congratulations to all students who performed during the festival and for the support of their families. Click here to see a full list of all awards.

Newman Arts Festival Parent Support / Volunteers Required

The 2019 Newman Arts Festival is taking place in Term 4 Week 1 (Wednesday 16 – Friday 18 October). The three-day event will showcase 2D and 3D artworks produced by our PK-12 students, performances by our dance, drama and music students, free activities and a Parent Soiree.

This event would not be possible without the support from our entire PK-12 College community. We are in need of a number of parent volunteers to assist in the following roles:

Volunteers to hang student art, Monday 14 October (non-school day) and Tuesday 15 October, between 9.00am and 3.00pm
Require 3 – 6 volunteers each day to help the Art Teachers hang numerous pieces of student art. We understand it may be difficult to commit to a full day, so 2 – 3 hours would be fantastic.

Volunteers to serve food, Friday 18 October, 6.00pm – 9.00pm
Assist with serving food at the Parent Soiree (no experience necessary).

Volunteers to serve drinks, Friday 18 October, 6.00pm – 9.00pm
Assist with serving drinks at the Parent Soiree (RSA required).

Your help would be greatly appreciated, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Janine Gatto if you are able to assist thegatts@iinet.net.au | Phone/Text 0418 935 122

Newman Parents Evening – Monday 16 September

Newman Parents is honoured to host Paul Dillon at Newman College. Paul is the Director and Founder of DARTA and is passionate about ensuring that the community has access to accurate and up-to-date alcohol and other drug information.

Topic: ‘Risk taking’: Why do teens do the things they do? What can parents do to keep them as safe as possible?

RSVP to Jo Dunn, Marketing and Communications Officer jo.dunn@newman.wa.edu.au

Pupil Free Day – Monday 14 October

A reminder to all families that Monday 14 October is a Pupil Free Day with the exception of Year 12 students sitting exams and all students in Year 10 who will depart for their camp on this day.

Year 7 2020 Orientation Day – Monday 14 October

The Year 7 2020 Orientation Day will take place on Monday 14 October.

Download Year 7 2020 Transition and Guild Letter

The College will also host the Year 7 2020 Parent Information Evening on Monday 14 October commencing at 6.30pm in the Marist Auditorium.

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.