News Archives - Page 44 of 193

Newman News Term 2 Week 4: From the Director of Mission and Catholic Identity

Jo Dunn on 19/05/2023

‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.’ Matthew 28:18-20

This month we have been celebrating May as the month of Mary. Earlier this week, Mr Nelson’s Year 11 PCG team led us in a crowning ceremony of Mary, to recognise her special place in our community. You can watch the ceremony here.

Here is a short prayer that you might like to pray or share with others over the week.

Dear God,

As we gather together in this month of May, we ask for the intercession of Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our spiritual mother. We thank you for the gift of her love, compassion, and guidance, which continues to inspire us and lead us closer to you.

We pray for ourselves and each other, that we may be blessed with wisdom, strength, and grace as we seek lead and serve our school community. May we be guided by Mary’s example of humility, obedience, and faith, and may we always seek to put the needs of others before our own.

We ask that Mary intercede for us in all our endeavours. May she help us to be faithful witnesses to your love and mercy, and may she guide us towards a deeper relationship with you.

We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

Amen.

Year 3 and Year 4 Retreats

Over the past two weeks, students in Year 3 and Year 4 have had the opportunity to participate in a Sacramental Retreat, presented by 24:7 Youth Ministry. The students have been learning about the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist in their classrooms, and the retreats were a fantastic opportunity to deepen their understanding of the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. We keep our Year 3 and Year 4 students in our prayers as they receive the sacraments this year. Some of our students have prepared reflections on their day.

I loved all the activities, especially the one when we cut the paper cup into pieces and we had to put them back together. This helped show us that it is hard when we break the rules, but we can say sorry and make friends again. – Leo Andrezejewski

I learnt that sometimes your decisions can affect people around you and Reconciliation is a time when you say sorry for the mistakes you make. I loved the game which helped us learn about Reconciliation and the games where we linked arms. – Emily Anderson

The Reconciliation Retreat was a fantastic day and we all had lots of fun. I learnt that you can always become friends with people again if you are kind and caring and say sorry. – Chanel Italiano

Marist Connect Night

Last night, some of our senior students joined students from St Joseph’s School in Northam for our Marist Connect night. These are held once every term and are a good chance for the young people of our College to connect with other students from Marist communities. The theme of the evening was perspectives, and how we can take the time to be more aware of ourselves and those around us. This helps lead us to be curious about others rather than judgemental and to try and understand others rather than enter into conflict. It was also a good time for students to take some time out from the very busy and sometimes stressful time of exam preparation and instead just connect with their friends while forming new relationships. A big thanks to our Izzy from Marist Youth Ministry for her support in coordinating and leading the evening.

LifeLink Launch

Yesterday, Mrs Peters and I travelled with a group of students to Aranmore Catholic College for the launch of the Archbishop’s LifeLink Appeal for 2023. Led by the Archbishop of Perth, Timothy Costelloe, and Director of Catholic Education Western Australia Dr. Debra Sayce, the day was a great opportunity to better understand some of the work of LifeLink, as well as engage in some conversation about what it means to be part of the Church today. Students had the chance to discuss a number of contemporary issues including how we can make the Church inviting to those living on the margins of society, and the example we can draw from the words and actions of Pope Francis. It was a wonderful event, and we are looking forward to hosting the Primary Schools Launch here at Newman College in just a few weeks time.

Year 8 Game Changers Retreat

On the 9th of May, the Year 8 game changers group had the opportunity to take a day away from school to develop their leadership and team-building skills, and also to reflect on the importance of relationships in their lives. We kicked the day off with a few games to help the students get to know each other, then their teamwork skills were put to the test when they were challenged with 3 mini-workshops, including one that required them to build a tower from marshmallows and pasta! After lunch, and a reminder of Mother Mary’s relationship with her friend Elizabeth, the Game Changers group were given the opportunity to reflect on their own relationships with their family and friends and the importance of such relationships throughout their lives. Thus, by the end of the retreat, this small group of students had some huge ambitions to work together and create a better school environment for the year ahead! – Izzy Ochtman (Marist Youth Ministry & Youth Chaplain)

Upcoming Events

Thursday 25 May – Year 5 & 6 Liturgy

Tuesday 30 May – Game Changers Meeting (Years 7-10)

Wednesday 31 May – Year 10 Mass

Thursday 1 June – Marian Campus Liturgy (St. Cecilia’s Church 9.00am)

Community Mass

A reminder that the whole College community is warmly invited to join us in the Champagnat Chapel at 8.10am on Thursday mornings for Mass celebrated by one of our local Parish Priests and hosted by our students from Marcellin and Lavalla.

Please see the upcoming schedule for the next two weeks:

Thursday 25 May, Romero and 3 Red

Thursday 1 June , MacKillop and 6 Green

We look forward to seeing you there.

Newman News Term 2 Week 2: From the Deputy Principal Primary

Jo Dunn on 05/05/2023

Welcome back to Term 2. I hope all families enjoyed a relaxing and restful school holiday break. It has been wonderful to see the smiling faces of students and staff as they return to school. It has been a wonderful start to the term, and it is shaping up to be an exciting term full of fun activities and wonderful learning opportunities.

Camp

Year 6 Camp was held from Wednesday to Friday of this week and was a huge success. The Year 6’s were blessed with beautiful weather over the three days and had a wonderful time participating in a range of fun activities including flying fox, kayaking and billy carts. I was able to spend last night and today at camp with the cohort and can report that our students represented our school with pride and are to be commended for their enthusiasm, participation and effort throughout the camp, including the way they challenged themselves with the activities. A big thank you to the Year 6 staff, as well as the extra support teachers who spent countless hours organising the camp, as well as attending camp over the three days. It is a big ask for teaching staff to take on this role and spend time away from their families during the camp period. I’m sure all Year 6 students (and staff) will sleep well tonight!

Homework

The Primary staff have been reviewing the Homework Guidelines and below is the suggested time per night for each year level. Homework will continue to be shared in each classes weekly seesaw post.

‘Mindful Mornings’ – Updated Morning Routine

I would like to remind parents that even with our updated morning routine, the official start of the school day (when lessons formally commence) has not changed and remains at 8:45am. Our updated morning routine caters for those students who get dropped to school before 8:45am. Students who arrive at 8:20am, when supervision by a duty teacher begins, can play outside until 8:30am. At 8:30am the first bell rings to let students know that classrooms are open, at which time they make their way to the classrooms. If students are not at school at 8:30am this is no issue, and parents should certainly not feel rushed to arrive at school by 8:30am. Most students arrive anytime between 8:30-8:45am and when they arrive, they make their way up to the classroom. The duty teacher is still around to ensure students get to class safely. Arriving by 8:45am the latest is key in ensuring your child is ready for the day and can begin the start of the day session with their teacher and class.

Our Mindful Mornings morning routine commenced at the start of this week, with students being welcomed into the classrooms from 8:30am. This update has come about from a wellbeing viewpoint, tying in with our fantastic new Social Emotional Program Zones of Regulation which our Primary Leaders of Wellbeing have written about further on in this Newsletter. When I shared information about this program at the Zero to Hero parent night last term, one of the presenters who is an Occupational Therapist shared her delight in knowing we were introducing this program into the Primary school as it is research-based, highly effective and was originally developed by an Occupational Therapist.

The update to 8:30-8:45am in classrooms is not an extension of the academic school day. It has been made to implement Mindful Mornings, linking with our new Zones of Regulation Program, to allow our students to start their day in a calm and positive way, setting them up to achieve success across all domains of their education each and every day.

A member of the Primary Leadership Team was speaking with a parent in the Marian playground this week before school. This mother shared positive feedback about the new routine and so eloquently summed up some of the reasoning for this change. She said, ‘we can’t expect kids to run around for 20-25 minutes each morning and then flick a switch and suddenly be calm and ready to learn as soon as they walk in the classroom door.’

Research has shown that starting the day in a calm and mindful manner can lessen anxiety, dysregulation, and negative thinking in children. This has a flow-on effect for the remainder of the day, allowing students to be ready to learn when the second bell goes at 8:45am and learning begins – creating the optimum environment for students to reach their potential.

The mindful morning activities involve a wide range of activities for students to participate in when they enter the classrooms from 8:30am. These may include (dependent on age); puzzles, Lego, building blocks, reading, mindfulness colouring in, construction, trucks, home corner role plays, games, craft, and drawing, amongst a wide variety of other activities, as well as the opportunity for older students to finish off any work as part of developing positive independent learning habits. This time also provides students the chance to further build relationships with their teachers by spending this informal time with them before the school day begins.

This style of morning routine is commonplace amongst most Catholic schools in Perth and has been widely successful in achieving the intended outcomes for student wellbeing and school readiness.

Our morning routine is supplemented with Run Club, which occurs Friday mornings at Marian and Wednesday mornings at Lavalla, for those who are interested. This is a wonderful opportunity to build fitness and prepare for the upcoming Cross Country Carnival. My thanks to Tasha Richards and Lara Vlahov for their work in organising and running these events.

This updated morning routine brings both Marian and Lavalla campuses into alignment. As we near the consolidation of the Primary, it is important that we align across a wide range of areas to ensure the smoothest transition possible for students, parents, and staff on that exciting day where we become one campus for the very first time. The leadership team are strategically planning ahead to lessen the anxiety and stresses that a move like this can have on a community in the most holistic way possible, emotionally, academically and logistically.

As with any change, it will take time for students to get used to the updated routine but over the first week we have already seen students settle into this in an impressive way.

Parents in Classrooms

As mentioned in my welcome letter to parents posted on SeeSaw on Wednesday 26 April, the updated morning routine will tie in with welcoming parents back into classrooms. Our Kindy classes have already commenced parent rosters, and our Pre-Primary classes will commence in Week 4. These are wonderful opportunities for parents to spend time assisting in these early childhood classrooms. Our Year 1 classes have now also commenced parent reading rosters, which is important in this particular year level as the opportunity to read aloud to adults is crucial in helping our early readers to develop positive reading skills and behaviours. A reminder that parents who are volunteering on roster are required to sign in and out at the front office.

The next stage of our plan will be to welcome parents into the Year 1-6 classrooms during the 8:30-8:45am morning time. We will allow our students two more weeks to settle into the new morning routine, and from Week 5 onwards parents will be able to spend time in classrooms in the morning to view the classroom environment.

I will provide further information on how this will work in Week 4’s Newsletter, in preparation for parents being welcomed into classrooms in the morning between 8:30am-8:45am, commencing in Week 5.

Wellbeing

The Zones of Regulation

This term, we are very excited to be implementing The Zones of Regulation throughout the Primary School from Pre-Kindy to Year 6. The Zones of Regulation is a curriculum designed to foster self-regulation and emotional control and links to the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework.

The Zones of Regulation Framework provides a simple way to think about, talk, and care for our feelings. It uses easy language, a visual structure and is systematic in its approach. It uses four colours (red, blue, green, and yellow) to help us identify how we are feeling on the inside and allows us to explore the tools that support us with emotional regulation.

The Zones of Regulation provides a common language and compassionate framework to support mental health and skill development for all, while also serving as an inclusion strategy for neurodiverse learners, or those who have specific social, emotional, and behavioural needs. The benefits of using this framework in schools include improved self-regulation skills, better social interactions, and increased academic success.

As part of our implementation of this new program, you will have noticed we have amended the morning routine and children are now provided the opportunity to prepare themselves in their classroom from 8.30am onwards during Mindful Mornings. Children are participating in mindful activities such as reading for enjoyment, Lego, mindful colouring and spending valuable time with their teachers and friends. Evidence suggests that allowing students the chance to start their day calmly and in a more mindful manner, leads to better organisation and a readiness to learn. This promotes and supports effective teaching and learning.

Throughout the year, we will be sharing some more of The Zones of Regulation tips, tools, and techniques that you can share with your children at home. Stay tuned!

Edwina Battersby & Justin Kirry (Leaders of Wellbeing)

Mother’s Day

Next week we will be joining together to celebrate and give thanks for our Mothers, Grandmothers and all mother-figures. We would like to invite all in our community to join us in these celebrations. Marcellin & Lavalla – Thursday 11 May, and Marian – Friday 12 May

Click HERE for details

Year 3 – 6 Faction Cross Country – Friday 19 May 2023 

The Year 3 – 6 Cross Country will be held on Friday 19 May.  We encourage all students to participate to the best of their ability and enjoy the team spirit of this event. Click HERE for details.

Lost Property

There is a large number of items in lost property at both campuses. If you are missing items please visit lost property to check if any of the items belong to you. Please be reminded to label all items with your child’s name.

Newman News Term 2 Week 2: From the Principal

Jo Dunn on 05/05/2023

Dear Parents and Guardians

Welcome to our first newsletter for Term Two, I hope that you had a safe and restful break with family and friends over Easter.

It is with great excitement that I write this newsletter as the new Principal of Newman. I am honoured to become part of this community which has already given me such a warm welcome. I am looking forward to becoming acquainted with students, families and getting to know the diverse Newman Community, finding out the strengths and talents of our students and helping our teachers to support our students in their learning journeys.

I would like to thank Dr Lucie McCrory who was acting Principal in Term One. Her professionalism and leadership was exemplary and to be commended as it was a very challenging term. Mr Simon Martino supported Dr McCrory as acting Vice Principal and also showed exceptional leadership.

I would also like to welcome new staff members and families to the College Community. Best wishes for the term ahead and I trust the Marist experience will be a rewarding one.

Formation Day

Staff from Newman College, Bunbury Catholic College and St Joseph’s Northam gathered at Newman College on Monday 24 April for a joint Marist Formation Day.

In 2023, we are invited by our Marist theme – Created and Called: a revolution of love and tenderness, to look at our lives and to see how we might better be the people that God has created and called us to be, the Marist Formation Team focused on this on the day.

Anzac Service

ANZAC ceremonies were held on Wednesday 26 April at each of the campuses. Each of the ceremonies highlighting the significance and importance of ANZAC day. We remembered and gave thanks for those women and men who served and for those they left behind. The students led a respectful and reverent service and I sincerely thank the staff and students who were involved. I also had the opportunity to speak with the students briefly and share my support of them in their Newman journey. One message that I want them to hear is that their personal best in whatever they do is always good enough, and it should be shared and celebrated

Y7-Y9 Parent Teacher Interviews

Parent, Teacher, Student interviews provide a formal opportunity for teachers and parents to discuss student achievements and progress. Feedback was given along with actionable steps for students to meet their goals. The hybrid model of both face-to face and online via Teams was well received by families

Y7-Y12 Guild Cross Country Carnival

Our annual Year 7 to Year 12 Cross Country was completed on Friday, it was fantastic to see so many enthusiastic runners on the day. Congratulations to all the students who participated,there were some superb performances. Thank you to the PE staff who organised the day and the students for their participation and efforts. It was a fantastic day.

Year 12 Tie Ceremony

On Monday, Year 12 gathered in the Champagnat Chapel to receive their ties. This was another milestone moment in their Newman Journey and we took a moment to consider the significance of this event.

Year 6 Camp

The camp is a milestone event in the life of a Year 6 and both the students and staff entered into the adventure with great spirit and unity. I am sure Year 6 will have many stories to share and cherish from the great learning and community experiences they encountered on camp. Thank you to our staff, Delia Kretzman, Robyn Hatchett, Sarah Dalton, Justin Kirry, Marnie Fitzpatrick, Stuart McClorey, Marnie Fitzpatrick, Kathy Biancuzzo and Ryan von Bergheim who attended and for the work they did to make this a truly memorable event for all.

Events Ahead

We look forward to significant events occurring within the next few weeks which include Years 9-10 Singapore Immersion Trip departing this Saturday, Mother’s Day celebrations on Thursday 11 May and Friday 12 May, Years 7-12 Principal’s Assembly on Wednesday 17 May and Years 11-12 Marist Connect Night scheduled on Thursday 18 May.

Wishing our families all the best for the weeks ahead.

Andrew Watson

PRINCIPAL

Newman News Term 2 Week 2: From the Vice Principal

Jo Dunn on 05/05/2023

I trust that students and families were able to enjoy down time during the Term 1 holidays and that students returned to school with a renewed sense of vitality, ready to embrace both the joys and the challenges of Term 2.

Over the break I had the absolute pleasure and privilege of attending the Marist Pilgrimage 2023. The experience saw 30 Marists from across the country spend three weeks overseas retracing the stories of the Old and New Testament in Jerusalem surrounds, the Old City, Jordan, Palestine and Bethlehem. We then followed in Marcellin’s footsteps across Rome and France. Each place and space had its own unique energy and emotion associated with it, which opened a deeper insight into my Christian faith, the Marist heart, and our spiritual stories. A pilgrimage of this nature can be experienced as the fifth Gospel, completing the spiritual understanding, and that was certainly the case for me.

Highlights of the first part of the pilgrimage included visiting the town of Magdala, where Mary Magdalene is suggested to have come from. The presence in the Chapel of the Encounter was particularly moving, as was celebrating the eucharist in Jesus’ tomb. Visiting Marcellin’s hometown and sitting at the Marist table in Lavalla were powerful experiences.

We had an audience with the Pope and enjoyed our time learning about the future Marist global intuitions with the Brothers in the Marist General House in Rome, led by Brother Ernesto Sanchez, Superior General. The pilgrims spent a week in the first official Marist home of L’Hermitage in
St-Chamond, France, which felt like home away from home. The Brothers’ welcoming hospitality across the three countries was warm and inviting.

The pilgrimage was a spiritually nurturing experience that will no doubt lead to sustained friendships and significant encounters that will stay with me for life.

Singapore Immersion 6 to 13 May

Newman College recognises the challenge and importance of creating resilient, global thinkers; students who are agile, collaborative, and embracing of the demands of our modern world. I am delighted the College are once again able to facilitate this Project Based Immersion in collaboration with Republic Polytechnic Singapore. We have 18 students across Years 9 and 10 who will be immersed in classes facilitated at the Polytechnic where their learning and metacognition (thinking about thinking) will be challenged. This experience will ultimately provide the participants with skills they can apply to their learning within the setting of Newman College and beyond the College walls.

We wish the students and accompanying teachers a safe journey and look forward to sharing their experiences upon their return. Thank you to Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning Mrs Beth Murphy for leading the immersion and to Digital Innovator Mr Joel Kandiah, Digital Integrator Cate McKnight and teacher Adeline Hendriks for your efforts in attending the immersion.

Uniform Review and Alignment Committee – Expression of Interest

Expressions of Interest (EOI) are being sought to join the Uniform Review and Alignment Committee. By 2025 all students PK-12 will be on one site, and it is important to have alignment of our uniform. The College will therefore be auditing our current uniform items across the College. It is essential we receive EOI’s from a broad range of parents, PK-12, to form this committee. We encourage you to express your interest by Friday 12 May. The committee will be announced as soon as possible after this day.

School Photos

Please ensure students are well-groomed and ready for their Year Group’s scheduled photo days. Order envelopes with details on ordering procedures have been distributed to students. Students are required to bring their envelopes to school on their scheduled photo day, regardless of whether an order has been made.

Staffing

We welcome the following new staff to the College, Matthew Brown – Arts Technician and Joaquin Connelly – Education Assistant. And welcome back Janet March and Rosalia Testa as they return after their time away.

Catholic Performing Arts Festival

We have a very exciting performance opportunity this year and we invite our Newman Music Students Years 4 – 12 to participate.

Catholic Performing Arts Festival is an annual event which provides Year 4 – 12 students an opportunity to perform on any instrument they have been learning and be provided with feedback from a professional musician in the industry. They can perform as a soloist or duet, attached is the calendar details outlining the dates for each available section to enter. The Newman College ensembles will be entered at the discretion of the ensemble director.

We have a very short timeline to enter these applications, and therefore if you would like to participate, please:

Notify your tutor and they will complete your online entry form (if you are receiving Music Tuition from Newman College)

Email Selena Barrett or Aleisha Dows our Music administrator, by Tuesday May 2^nd with the following details:

Solo Performers Name
Teachers Name
Teachers Email
Student Year Levels
Item Name
Item Duration (MM:SS)
Item Composer/Arranger

We encourage all students from Years 4 – 12 to participate, as it is a wonderful opportunity to grow and develop as a performer. Click here for a draft calendar.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Newman News Term 2 Week 2: From the Deputy Principal Secondary

Jo Dunn on 05/05/2023

It has been an excellent start to Term 2. Students have returned in good spirts with an eagerness to return to class and their learning. Term 2 is a busy term academically for our senior students who undertake their first round of exams for the year. It is important that students in this time look to take a balanced approach to their studies, making healthy choices in relation to eating, sleeping and social activities. I encourage all students to reach out to their PCG teacher or Leader of Wellbeing if they need support in managing their study routines.

We continue to encourage our students to attend school in their correct uniform and ask our families to support this messaging. Our focus has been wearing the winter uniform with blazer to and from school. It has been pleasing to see students being consistent in the first two weeks.

Attendance at school is important for students to perform well. Research shows that missing school can have a negative impact on students’ academic performance. Over the next fortnight, Leaders of Wellbeing will be communicating with students and families where there are concerns about attendance. This is our commitment to ensuring the best outcomes for all students.

Pastoral Care Program

Over the next 2 weeks, students will be participating in a variety of activities during Extended Pastoral Care program. The purpose is to support students in their wellbeing and address issues that impact students at their appropriate age level. The extended PCG period occurs weekly on a Wednesday.

Year 7 Camp

Information relating to Year 7 Camp has been distributed last term. All instructions on what to bring and the details of what will be occurring has also been communicated to students. Please contact Mr Smith, Leader of Wellbeing Year 7, if you have further questions.

Celebrate

Newman College students Mathew Hyndes, Charlotte, Mollie and Matilda Sullivan, participated in the 24hr Charity Swim for Ocean Heroes Australia. Our students were part of a team who helped raise money by swimming with their team 80000kms in 24hrs. An incredible achievement and something we love to see from our students who share their generosity for the wider community. Congratulations to the students and their families.

Year 11 and 12- Assessments/Examinations

Examination Timetables

Year 11 Semester 1

Year 12 Semester 1

Examinations Rules and Procedures

Absentees

Illness
In the event of illness on the day of an exam, parents are required to notify the College prior to the commencement of the exam and promptly provide a medical certificate via secondaryabsentees@newman.wa.edu.au  for the day of the missed examination. Once a medical certificate has been received a time for the student to complete the exam as a formative exercise will be arranged. The student is required to genuinely attempt the task as their performance will be used to validate a standardised score.
Positive for COVID-19

In the event that a student tests positive for COVID-19, guardians must register a positive rapid antigen test result with the WA Department of Health Here and forward the received confirmation notification to secondaryabsentees@newman.wa.edu.au. Upon receival this will be an approved absence and the calculation of standardised scores for assessments missed during approved periods of illness will be given.

Externally Set Tasks
Students who miss an EST due to illness must provide a medical certificate upon their return to be eligible to complete the missed EST in the missed assessment sessions run Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. The College is required to submit the EST results to the School Curriculum and Standards Authority.
Students who do not sit their missed EST by Wednesday of Week 5 will receive a 0 score for the assessment.
Students on a full General pathway who have not completed their EST by the end of week 4 will be required to attend the makeup sessions in Week 5 to complete their ESTs.
The following dates and times are available for students to choose when they will complete their missed EST. If they have missed more than 1 EST, students will be required to complete all ESTs, sitting them across multiple sessions in JHN 3.2.

These sessions will be run in:

Date Week 5	Start Time
Monday 22 of May	Period 1 – 9:05 Period 3 – 11:10am
Tuesday 23 May	Period 1 – 9:05am Period 3- 11:10 am
Wednesday 24 May	Period 1- 8:50am

College Weights Room

Being physically active is a way in which we can support and improve our mental and physical wellbeing.

Training in the College Weights Room is one-way students could increase their weekly activity time.

The Weights Room is open on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday morning from 7.30am-8.15am. All students in Year 9-12 are invited to use the facility. Students who wish to use this venue will need to complete an induction and get a parent/guardian permission form signed to gain access.

HPE staff supervise each session and are available to write programs and offer training advice as required.

Girls Fitness Class

A new initiative being trialled in Term Two is a girls fitness class. Conducted on Thursday mornings, this class will begin in week 3, running from 7.15am-8.15am.

Students in the program will complete a gym induction and learn the basics of weightlifting and fitness training. Run by a qualified fitness instructor, this is a fantastic opportunity for girls to develop their confidence in the gym setting as they build their fitness and have fun in a safe and supportive environment.

Offered to girls in Years 9-12, the class will be capped at twenty students. Female students are asked to register for their interest by emailing Miss Thayer, kate.thayer@newman.wa.edu.au by the end of week 2.

2023 Year 9 Excursion Herdsman Lake

In the last week of Term 1 all Year 9 students walked to Herdsman Lake to learn about the adaptations, features and living needs of the organisms within its ecosystem. How they interact together and with us, how are they classified and how energy flows through these systems.

The students undertook hands-on, outdoor learning discovering the aquatic, bird, animal and plant life, which live in and around Herdsman’s Lake. We started with some introductions and background on the lake and then split into 3 groups to rotate through each of the following activities.

Biotic sampling – students were outside using scoop-nets to sample macro invertebrates. Then they identify, sort and classify their catches, before we put the critters back in the lake.

Abiotic Study – Students then test sites at the lake and drain, to measure water quality including pH, Turbidity, Temperature and Salinity.

Biotic Study – Students undertook a short walk along the lake edge to explore the diversity of birds and other creatures around the lake, to develop an overall snapshot of the quality of the lake at that particular time.

We finished with some time in the Wildlife Centre where students can explore the displays.

The excursion was enjoyed by all and we are very fortunate to have access to a world class wetland area in our own backyard.

Fiona Hassell

Leader of Learning Science

Newman College Surfing Competition

On Monday 1 May 65 students participated in this competition at Trigg Beach assisted by Surfing WA. Thank you to Tom Williams and Michael Van der Heever for their organisation of the event. Students and staff paid tribute to Duncan Pugh with a paddle out at the commencement of the competition. The weather was perfect and we all enjoyed being part of this wonderful event.

Champagnat Cup

On Tuesday 02 May our 1^st XV111 Football team, Marist Basketball Boys and Girls teams and four Marist Netball teams travelled to St Josephs in Northam where they participated in the Champagnat Cup. Bunbury Catholic College were unfortunately unable to join us this year. It was a great day of competition. Our students participated wholeheartedly, demonstrating their skills, and supporting their teammates, to achieve some exceptional results.

Wednesday 10 May Extended PCG time – Year 11 and Year 12

Azelene Williams will be returning to the College on Wednesday 10 May to speak to our Year 11 and Year 12 students. Azelene will speak to our senior school students about her own lived experience: being caught up in a physically and emotionally abusive relationship.

Azelene’s presentation aligns with our Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum. The Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum (KS:CPC) aims to help children and students to recognise abuse and develop ways of protecting themselves from abuse. It also extends to covering rights, relationships, responsibilities and ethical behaviour. This curriculum is delivered across our Health and Physical Education lessons and our Wellbeing Program.

If you have any concerns about your child attending this session, please contact the relevant Leader of Wellbeing. For further information about Azelene Williams, her experience and topics of discussion, please visit her website: https://azelenewilliams.com/just-for-teens/