As a Marist school, we are guided by the core value of Family Spirit – a commitment to welcoming, supporting, and respecting one another. Neurodiversity and Harmony Week is an opportunity to live out this characteristic, celebrating the diversity that makes up our school community and nurturing an environment where everyone feels valued and included. Just as a family embraces its members with love and understanding, we embrace the diverse backgrounds, traditions, experiences, and ways of thinking, including neurodiversity, that enrich our school.
Over the course of the week, students from PK to 12 will partake in a range of activities focusing on shifting perceptions, challenging stereotypes, and fostering inclusive environments where difference is celebrated, and individuals are valued for their unique perspectives and contributions. Further details on these activities can be found in the Primary and Secondary school updates of this newsletter.
Newman Parents Forum
The Newman Parent Forum is an opportunity for parents to connect with College leadership and contribute to the life of the school. Held once per term, the Newman Parent Forum is led by the Principal and Vice Principal in collaboration with the Newman Parent K-12 Executive Committee.
The Newman Parent Forum works in partnership with the College Executive to support key events, advance the Strategic Plan, and advocate for both the College and its families within the school and wider community.
We encourage all parents to take part in these forums to stay informed and engaged in the ongoing growth of Newman College.
The next Newman Parents Forum is taking place this Monday 17 March at 6pm in the JHN Learning Hub or you can join online on Teams, just click here. We hope to see you there!
Student Planned Absence during Term Time
At Newman College, we value the role of family time and shared experiences, but we also emphasise the importance of regular school attendance to ensure the best educational outcomes for our students. As part of our commitment to academic integrity and fairness, the College has a strict Assessment Policy regarding absences for holidays during term time, which may result in students being penalised on assessments if the absence is not approved.
Under the Education Act 1999 (WA), parents have a legal responsibility to ensure their child attends school unless there is a valid reason, such as illness or exceptional circumstances. Extended absences for holidays disrupt learning and place students at a disadvantage, especially when assessments and coursework cannot be replicated outside the classroom without compromising the assessment validity.
Classroom assessments are carefully designed to measure a student’s understanding and progress within the curriculum. When students miss these key learning opportunities, it becomes challenging to ensure they meet academic expectations. Additionally, teachers are unable to provide alternative assessments or replicate the in-class experience, reinforcing the importance of attendance.
We strongly encourage families to plan holidays during designated school breaks to support their child’s academic success. If extenuating circumstances arise, parents must seek approval from the College in advance.
We have been advised that the Traffic Warden, who supervises the pedestrian crossing on Hale Road, near Lombardy Street, will be absent on Wednesday 19 March 2025. The Children’s Crossing Unit (WA Police) has confirmed that a replacement will not be available during this time.
We kindly ask all families to exercise extra caution when using the crossing during this period.
In Week 7, Newman College will be celebrating Neurodiversity & Harmony Week. Through discussions, prayers and activities, we aim to raise awareness and challenge misconceptions about neurological differences and promote Harmony throughout our community.
Neurodiversity is an umbrella term used to describe alternative thinking styles, such as Dyslexia, DCD (Dyspraxia), Dyscalculia, Tourette Syndrome, Autism and ADHD. Newman College will focus on understanding, valuing, and celebrating the talents of neurodiverse minds through our activities during the week. Parents can find more information: Neurodiversity Celebration Week (neurodiversityweek.com).
Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. Parents can find more information: Harmony Week – Everyone belongs
On Friday 21 March, as a way of showing support for Harmony Week, students are encouraged to come to school dressed in their own traditional cultural top or full clothing for the day (e.g. Sari, Kimono, Boubou). If students do not have any cultural clothing, they can show support by wearing an item of orange clothing: orange being the official colour symbolising Harmony Week.
Students are asked to bring in a gold coin donation and hand it to their classroom teacher on Friday 21 March. This donation will go towards supporting Caritas’ Project Compassion appeal.
To create an environment that is comfortable and pleasing for all students, please see below the guidelines for what is permitted on Friday 21 March.
Students may attend school in smart, neat, casual clothes.
Short skirts and shorts are not permitted (the usual length of the school skirt is the minimum length for skirts and shorts).
Students are not permitted to wear low-cut, backless, singlet tops or tops that show their midriff. Students are not permitted to wear clothing with inappropriate slogans or logos.
Leggings should only be worn under skirts or shorts.
College Standards regarding grooming, jewellery and makeup will apply. Hair that touches the collar must be tied up at all times. No additional jewellery is permitted.
Year 1 & 2 Genesis Dance Troupe
We are excited to introduce a new Dance Troupe for Years 1 and 2, adding to our thriving Dance programme. The troupe, named Genesis, will perform at the Catholic Performing Arts Festival, Schools to Stage, and the Dance Showcase. The date for CPAF is to be confirmed but is usually Term 3 Week 6/7. Schools to Stage is Term 3 Saturday 20 September and Dance Showcase is 23 and 24 October.
Rehearsals will take place on Tuesday mornings from 8:00 to 8:30am. Your child may not have to attend every Tuesday morning rehearsal, but needs to be available at this time and for all the performances to be involved in the Troupe.
An information session will be held for parents on Thursday 20 March at 2:40pm in Marian Hall to answer any questions. At this stage, we are seeking expressions of interest – please complete this form by Friday 21 March.
KISS N DRIVE – Marian Family Name Tags
As we continue preparations for the move of Marian Campus to the Main Primary Campus in the coming months, we look to prepare for the new cars that will utilise the Lavalla Kiss N Drive once our Marian families move across. To prepare ahead of time, if you will utilise (or think you might) the Lavalla Kiss N Drive option once Marian families move across, please complete this form so that we can prepare a family name tag for you which you can place on your dashboard to assist us with smooth and efficient collection procedures once the move is complete. We are hoping to do this now, ahead of time, so all families are ready when the move occurs.
All Lavalla families should now have their family name tags if ordered. If Lavalla families still require one, please email Amanda.johnson@newman.wa.edu.au
The name tag system saves considerable time when collecting students, so your support and use of these name tags is greatly appreciated.
Parking
Earlier this week I wrote to both Primary families about parking and safety, asking parents to be vigilant and take extra care when arriving at, and departing from the College. As a follow up to this, I ask all parents to ensure they are adhering to local road instructions regarding parking, including being polite and respectful to the community members who have houses neighbouring our College. We have recently had some reports of our neighbours experiencing unpleasant interactions with some members of our community, which do not align with our values. As a Catholic Marist community, I ask that all parents be aware and considerate of local parking signage, as well as our neighbours.
Community Mass
When your child’s Guild is invited to Community Mass on Thursday mornings at 8:00am, it would be wonderful if they could be there to support. To build Guild spirit, students that attend the Mass are able to wear their Guild sports top for the entire day. The Guild Masses for the remainder of the term are listed below for parents to mark in their calendars:
Week 7: Thursday 20 March – Marcellin
Week 8: Thursday 27 March – MacKillop
Week 9: Thursday 3 April – Romero
Week 10: Thursday 10 April – Camara
Easter Raffle
As we journey through this Lenten season, we continue to encourage all students to donate to Project Compassion to raise money for Caritas Australia, who provide vital aid to communities in Australia and developing nations.
In continuing our support for Caritas’ Project Compassion appeal, the Primary school will be hosting its annual Easter Raffle Fundraiser. This fundraiser relies on the generous donation of Easter eggs by our Newman College families. The donated eggs are then assembled into beautiful hampers as prizes for the raffle.
We would also greatly appreciate the donation of any baskets or appropriate containers that can be used in assembling the prizes. Donations of eggs and baskets can be handed in at the Marian or Lavalla Administration office.
Separate raffle draws will be conducted at both the Lavalla and Marian campuses on Friday 11 April. Tickets will be distributed to students this Friday and additional tickets will be available from the office on both campuses. Tickets will be 50c each or 6 for $2.50.
If any parents can assist in assembling and wrapping the prize baskets, during the last week of school, please let me know via email, jane.short@newman.wa.edu.au
Thank you for your kindness and generosity.
Yours sincerely
Jane Short RE COORDINATOR PRIMARY
IPSHA Primary Swimming Carnival (Y3-6)
Congratulations to the Newman College Interschool Swim Team (Years 4-6 students) who competed in the Interschool Carnival last week. It was wonderful to see our Newman College team demonstrate their commitment to their passion of swimming. All students tried their hardest and should be proud of their efforts. A big congratulations to the team who collectively produced outstanding results! Special thanks to Mrs Tash Richards for preparing our students for this fantastic event!
Newman Norms / Medals of Marcellin
Each fortnight at each Primary campus, one person will be drawn out of the raffle and receive a small prize for living out our Newman Norms. Congratulations to River (Marian Campus) who was the winner of our raffle in Week 5! Each raffle ticket received is swapped for a token and the Guild with the highest number of tokens at the end of the term wins a prize for the whole Guild!
URSTRONG
A reminder parents continue to have access to a FREE URSTRONG parent membership. We hope that as a URSTRONG Family, you will reinforce the important messages of empowerment, self-compassion, & kindness at home.
If you are a little like me, you are probably wondering where these first five weeks of term have gone. It only seems like yesterday students were coming in for their first lessons, and yet we’ve already got some students who are preparing for their second assessment. Life moves fast. We’re constantly juggling school, friendships, social media, sports, work, and everything in between. And when you’re busy, it’s easy to get caught up in it all and forget to take a step back…to reflect or think about the things that are happening.
That’s why the season of Lent is so important – it’s this great invitation to pause, to slow down, and to refocus on what truly matters.
Lent is a time of spiritual renewal – in other words it’s a chance to check in with ourselves and with God. It’s a time to ask:
Am I living in a way that reflects who I really want to be?
Am I making time for the things that truly matter?
Am I being the best person God has called me to be?
The reality is, we all get distracted – students, teachers, parents, families…everyone. We also all make mistakes. We say things we shouldn’t, act selfishly, and sometimes put ourselves first at the expense of others.
But God doesn’t hold onto our failures – he invites us to recognise them, learn from them, and start again. Lent gives us a way to do this through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Prayer is really interesting. When we hear of prayer, many of us might imagine someone sitting down to read the bible or perhaps going to the chapel where we make the sign of the cross. But prayer is just about connecting with God. For you, that might simply mean a small reflection, where you consider how you were kind that day. Or it could be a commitment you make each morning, to go out of your way to really make someone’s day. Or it could be the decision to reflect on the Gospel reading each day. It’s very simply about giving thought to the person you choose to be each day. You might ask yourself, perhaps, how God working in your life?
When we think of fasting, we might think back to our primary school days – the bold decision to give up chocolate for 40 days, only to gorge ourselves on Easter morning. But fasting isn’t just about giving up chocolate or social media, or whatever else you might choose. It’s about making space for what really matters. It’s about trying to reduce the distractions, or negativity, or things that pull us away from being our best selves in our lives, so we have time perhaps for prayer, or very simply, to connect with and be present to those around us.
And finally, Almsgiving. Very simply, almsgiving is about looking beyond ourselves. It’s about generosity – not just with our money, but with our time, our kindness, and our willingness to help others, especially to those who are vulnerable or in need.
In the Gospel for Ash Wednesday, Jesus talks to his followers about doing each of these things. But there is an important caveat he places on them too – that when we do these things, we should do it for the right reasons. Not to show off, or to virtue signal, or to appear better than others…. but because it is the right thing to do…it is what God wants us to do.
If we make a commitment to these practices, however small or large, in our own lives or household, Lent becomes more than just something that happens to finish the term – it becomes a time of real change. A time where we let go of what’s not important, strengthen our faith, and come out on the other side renewed – closer to God, more aware of His love, and more like the people we are called to be.
So, the invitation to the community is ours – make the most of this time. Let’s step back from the busyness, refocus our hearts, and use this season of Lent to grow in faith, love, and purpose.
Family Mass
It was great to celebrate our Family Mass last week, in what must be said, was some very favourable February weather (though I wouldn’t have minded a little less wind blowing everything off the altar!).
I would love for any families who are able, to provide us with some feedback on the Family Mass, so we can be better prepared to meet the needs of our community in our planning for next year too. You can click on the link to leave your feedback here .
‘Your Move’: Promoting Active Travel at Newman College
We are excited to re-engage with the ‘Your Move’ program to encourage active and sustainable travel for our PK-12 community. This award-winning initiative supports students and families in healthy activity, including walking, wheeling, and riding to school, while helping to reduce traffic congestion and promote sustainability.
Through student-led activities, travel surveys, and curriculum-aligned lessons, we will track progress and celebrate achievements. Stay tuned for opportunities to get involved and help make active travel a part of everyday school life! More information on the initiative can be found at https://yourmove.org.au/schools.
Traffic Warden Absence & Road Safety Reminder
We have been advised that our Traffic Warden, who supervises the pedestrian crossing on Tuscany Way, will be absent from Tuesday 4 March to Friday 11 April 2025 (inclusive). The Children’s Crossing Unit (WA Police) has confirmed that a replacement will not be available during this time.
We kindly ask all families to exercise extra caution when using the crossing during this period. While our duty teachers will be present to support students, they are not authorised to perform the role of a Traffic Warden.
Traffic Safety Concern
Additionally, we have been informed that some motorists are stopping on the pedestrian crossing instead of at the designated stop line, particularly during peak drop-off and pick-up times. This congestion is making it difficult for the Traffic Warden to assist students safely.
To help resolve this issue, the Children’s Crossing Unit has asked Newman College to remind families to:
Be mindful of the crossing location and ensure vehicles do not obstruct it.
Stop only at the designated stop line to allow safe passage for pedestrians.
Always follow the Traffic Warden’s instructions.
We appreciate your support in ensuring the safety of all students and families in our community.
The Season of Lent
Next week we celebrate Shrove Tuesday; a day for us to pause, and consider how we are living our lives as we prepare for the season of Lent. Traditionally, people would eat pancakes on this day as a way of using up their rich ingredients prior to Lent. Our students will certainly have the opportunity to do the same, with pancakes on sale in Marcellin for $2, and also in the primary school for a gold coin donation, with all proceeds going to Caritas.
The following day, Ash Wednesday, will see liturgies taking place across the College for all of our students. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season of repentance and renewal, where the ashes remind us of our need to turn back to God and live as Jesus taught. It is certainly a special and significant time in our College calendar, and I encourage all students, over the course of next week, to consider the small but meaningful changes they can make in their own lives to make Jesus known and loved in our community.
Community Mass
Join us every Thursday at 8.00am in the Champagnat Chapel for our Community Mass. Open to all members of our community, this student-led celebration is a wonderful opportunity to gather in faith, with a different Guild hosting each week. It is also a great chance to connect with others as we strengthen family spirit. We look forward to seeing you there!
Communicable Disease Policy and Procedures
Parents/guardians are required to inform the College of any communicable illness or disease that their child is diagnosed with and not allow them to attend school while infectious. Further information can be found in the Communicable Disease (Student) Policy and Procedures.
Our Targeted OLNA Support Workshops, offered at Newman College’s Homework Club, provide students with the focused preparation they need to succeed in OLNA. These workshops, offered in the lead up to the assessment, are specifically designed to expose students to a variety of practice questions across reading, writing, and numeracy, allowing them to familiarise themselves with the types of challenges they will face during the actual assessments.
In addition to practicing questions, students will also learn effective test strategies and time management skills crucial for performing well under exam conditions. The workshops offer a supportive environment where students can build confidence, refine their skills, and receive guidance from experienced teachers who understand the demands of OLNA. Whether students need to strengthen their understanding of specific concepts or develop strategies to maximise their performance, these workshops provide the tools and support necessary to help every student achieve their best possible outcome.
These workshops will have a focus on Year 11 and 12s who will be sitting OLNA in May. Further OLNA workshops will be offered later in the year in preparation for the September testing period including Year 10.
OLNA.com.au
In addition to OLNA Support Workshops, the College has purchased OLNA.com.au subscriptions for all students requiring to sit their OLNA assessment in 2025.
Login: Student Newman College email
Password: Student first name, eg Sarah
If you encounter any issues accessing your olna.com.au account, please contact Mrs Nicky Winterbourn, Leader of Learning Support (Acting), on nicola.winterbourn@newman.wa.edu.au.
Marcellin Homework Club
Just a friendly reminder to parents collecting their child from the Marcellin Homework Club to please check in with a staff member at the library desk and they will advise your child of your arrival. Please refrain from accessing the JHN Learning Hub as this can pose a duty of care issue for our students.
NAPLAN
NAPLAN will be held for Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 from 12 –24 March. Further information will be shared to families in the coming days.
