Tag: News

Gospel for Sunday 31 March
– Luke 15: 1 – 3, 11-32

Sunday 31 March is Laetare Sunday, the halfway mark of Lent, and we pause for a breather. It is on this Sunday that our Gospel offers to us this most consoling image of God’s love in the Gospel of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15: 1 – 3, 11-32). “Prodigal” can mean lavish, even wasteful. We employ the term usually on the returning son, but it better depicts attitude of the boy’s father to his son.

I offer the following reflection from Fr Sean Cullen (Trust Lenten Program, Catholic Diocese of Wollongong) as we prepare for this Sunday:

This Gospel contains arguably the best known and loved story that Jesus told. Those who hear it and read it can find in it their own story. It is called the parable of the prodigal son, but could easily be called the parable of the merciful father. We can identify with all three characters in the parable. The father – who clearly represents an all loving and forgiving God – can be for us a model of selfless love. The younger brother is someone we can easily relate to, as he runs away to search for life and learns from his mistakes along the way. But it is the elder brother who we need to turn our attention to, because it was his blind-spot which Jesus was trying to highlight. The father loved both sons with all his heart, no matter what they did with their lives. Nothing they did could diminish his love for them.

As we reflect on the words of this Gospel, may we continue to be abundant, even ‘prodigal’ in the care, support and love we extend to one another.

Weekly Thursday Morning Community Mass (Champagnat Chapel – 8.10am – 8.35am)

All parents, guardians and families across our PK-12 College are invited to attend the weekly Thursday morning Mass. Our weekly Newman College Community Mass is an important way that we as a Catholic community seek to nourish and live-out our faith in community with one another.

May we return to the words of Blessed John Henry Newman as we continue our Lenten journey:

There is nothing stable
but you O my God.
And you are the centre and life of all,
who change,
who trust you as their Father.
who look to you
and are content to put themselves
into your hands. Amen.
(John Henry Newman)

Project Compassion Update

To date, our College community has raised $5893.70.

Caritas Ks

On Wednesday 27 March, the Year 8 students participated in a Caritas Ks event, where they walked in solidarity with those who walk many kilometres for water. The students participated in two activities:

• Students walked laps of the oval carrying water buckets of different sizes to understand that some people travel long distances for a minimal amount of water and that some people have to carry a heavier load.
• Students participated in a relay where they had a bucket containing 6L of water. Students had to soak a sponge and pass it down their PCG line and empty it into an empty bucket. Once they had completed the task, we measured the amount of water that they had salvaged and discussed water scarcity.

The Year 8 students worked well together to complete these activities and showed some real consideration in their answers to the discussion questions. Money is still coming in, however at this stage they have raised over $350.

24:7 Youth Group

• For all youth in Years 6-12
• St Joseph’s Subiaco every Friday 6.30pm – 8.30pm in the Parish Upper room
• Call Aidan Walsh 0487 403 456 or Angela Firth 0455 960 174 for more information

Floreat Youth Group

• St Cecilia’s Parish Centre, 47 Peebles Road, Floreat
• Every Sunday from 6.00pm – 8.00pm
• Call Sebastian on 0403230395 or Emma on 0412310019 for more information.

Slavery-free Easter Chocolate

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

It is estimated that up to 40 million people are trapped in slavery globally – 1 in 4 of these are children. They will never get an education and they will never taste the chocolate produced from the cocoa beans they pick. But people around the world are making decisions that could change this tragedy.

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. Click here for more information and resources.

Thank you

The strength, resilience and support that pervades our College community has marked the tenor of the last week. Shock, confusion and uncertainty have been felt by many regarding the passing of Fr Joe Tran and the surrounding circumstances. Over the last few days our students, staff and families have been magnificent in their sensitivity and understanding. Our Years 7- 12 Assembly on Monday morning was as difficult and challenging a moment as I have ever experienced in school leadership. As I spoke to the students and staff, the question of why and how permeated my every thought. We do not have the answers to what has happened, but what we can do is seek to support each other and provide a space, a school, a community where every person is valued, trusted, supported, and protected.

The dignity of each human being is a critical tenet in our Christian story. The respect for the dignity of all people underpins our Marist charism, identified through the characteristics of presence and family spirit. As a College this can been seen in our relationships, in what we say and ultimately what we do. We will continue to develop, grow and nurture our young people to be respectful of each other, to be loving, and to be hope-filled.

Thank you to families for not only your words of encouragement and reflection but also for the questions of uncertainty and clarification. These have been welcomed and acknowledged. Thank you to Fr Mark Baumgarten, Assistant Priest Our Lady of Grace North Beach, for the beautiful way he celebrated our PK-12 Community Mass on Thursday morning. The prayerful nature of the Mass, coupled with the beautiful singing, truly reflected the very best of our College.

I would like to restate that Newman College, as a member of Marist Schools Australia and Catholic Education Western Australia, upholds the highest possible standards in relation to the safety and protection of children. Ms Lisa Fogliani, Vice Principal, outlines the specifics in her newsletter article today.

Our prayer over the last few days – used with our students, staff and at our Newman Parents evening on Monday – was the peace prayer from St Francis of Assisi. I urge you to take the time to reflect on these words:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

Newman Parents

We were delighted to have Dr Justin Coulson attend Newman College last Monday to facilitate two parent sessions. Over 70 parents attended the morning session for parents of Early Education students, ‘9 Ways to a Resilient Child’, and 220 parents attended the Newman Parents evening session, ‘Respectful Relationships: Love at Home’.

Newman Parents is part of the College’s commitment to parent partnership and being active participants in the education of their children, in collaboration with the College. Our next event is taking place on Wednesday 12 June – Cybersafety.

ACC Swimming Carnival

Congratulations to all members of the ACC Swimming Team who performed well in the A Division Carnival on Wednesday. The good story is that we were competing in A Division for the first time in five years. Our placement of 5th out of 7 teams ensures we stay in this Division, thus providing a great platform for the future. Thank you to all coaches and staff for supporting our swimmers.

Capital Development

Parents would have received a letter from me yesterday advising of the approval to commence a major Capital Development Project on the Marcellin Campus – The Learning Hub, in Term 3 2019. Please click here to view the architectural ‘Fly Through’ of the proposed development.

Marist Basketball Carnival

The Marist Basketball Carnival commences in Bendigo Victoria on Sunday 7 April.

Our Open Marist Boys and Girls Basketball teams will travel to Bendigo Victoria next week to compete. This elite national competition brings together the very best Marist Schools across Australia for this prestigious Carnival. Our students have spent many months in preparation and we are hopeful of great results. The strength of the Carnival is in the Marist family spirit within each school and the relationships that are formed aside from the fierce competition. We wish them every success!

Over the past couple of weeks, many of our students had the opportunity to participate in the IPSHA Swimming Carnival, ACC Swimming Carnival and other sporting events, teams and seasons. When students are involved, they are committed to rigorous training, they accept feedback from coaches and teachers and challenge themselves to personal excellence. We often see positive levels of engagement in all levels of sport; from class sport to community club sport and onto elite levels. Kids collaborating positively with one another, taking turns, celebrating wins and coming together in times of disappointment. I have no doubt that students achieve their best when they are physically well. I encourage all families and students to support physical wellbeing and to develop their gifts and talents by participating in the many sporting options available at the College.

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.

Professional Standards for the Safety and Protection of Children

In addition to writing to the College community about our Code of Conduct, we feel it is also appropriate to communicate the processes, policies and framework the College applies to ensure our school is a safe place for all children and that our staff are informed, assessed and cognisant of their responsibilities to this commitment.

If you would like any further clarity or information regarding professional standards at Newman College, please phone or email me so I can provide further support lisa.fogliani@newman.wa.edu.au or 9204 9482

The College adheres to the following frameworks to inform our policy, practice and procedures. In the next newsletter, I will write to the staff training process and assessment.

Catholic Education Western Australia Child Safe Framework

Catholic Education Western Australia Child Safe Framework supports leaders to develop a child safe culture in our school. The Framework emphasises situational prevention to reduce risk, promotes professional behaviours and healthy, respectful relationships, and is aimed at meeting and exceeding regulatory obligations and standards. At Newman College, staff participate in regular and rigourous training, evaluation and assessment to ensure our knowledge and practice is of the highest standard. Click here to view the Catholic Education Western Australia Child Safe Framework.

Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum

As presented at all Parent Information Evenings this term, the College is committed to delivering the learning outcomes as described by the Keeping Safe framework.

Click here to access information for parents or download the relevant parent fact sheet or please arrange a time to discuss with your child’s teacher.

Download Years R-2 Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum Parent Fact Sheet

Download Years 3-5 Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum Parent Fact Sheet

Download Years 6-9 Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum Parent Fact Sheet

Download Years 10-12 Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum Parent Fact Sheet

Wellbeing and Counselling Team

The College is pleased to announce our newly formed Wellbeing and Counselling Team. The Wellbeing and Counselling team supports teachers, students and families from Kindy to Year 12. Mr Alan Fitzpatrick Deputy Principal Wellbeing Secondary, and Mitch Bristow Head of Primary lead the team which consists of:

• Amber Newsome, Psychologist
• Jessica Bouquet, Counsellor
• Siobhan Quirke, Counsellor and
• Caryl Gioia, Social Worker

Accessing support from this team is done via Leaders of Wellbeing. The Wellbeing program for Years 7-12 can be accessed via the College website. Click here

Program details and support materials from guest speakers will be shared by your child’s Leader of Wellbeing. Resources available to families and students will be shared and published to the College community via the notices and newsletter.