Tag: Secondary

‘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.

• Child Safeguarding Policy
• Marist Child Safe Adult Code of Conduct
• Code of Conduct for Parents and Adults

Go Primary! 

This week has seen the first Primary assembly for the year and it was a delight to present merit certificates to our Marian students and watch Year 1 Red perform about their way of ‘Shining’ and the many ways we are smart. Primary continued their big week with the successful running of the Year 6 Camp at Waroona and the Lavalla Swimming Carnival. The week’s events saw our students shining through class work, adventure and teamwork, and sporting endeavour. Tonight, we celebrate the Primary Family Picnic at Lavalla and the response from families has been great, even with a long-weekend backing onto the event. Thank you for your strong support of Family Spirit.  

Primary Build  

The Primary build continues to go well and we will ensure we provide the community with good notice as to when, in Term 2, the move from Marian to Lavalla Campus will occur.  

Student Voice and Agency – Your children leading the way 

There’s so much importance in nurturing the voice and involvement of students in their own education and formation. In our new Strategic School Improvement Plan 2025-2027, initiatives of student-adult partnership feature heavily.

Student voice and agency happens in the classroom through empowering young people to give feedback to teachers, feedback to others and feedback about their own learning. Their agency is promoted in providing the opportunity to be responsible and own what is happening in their lives. It is the nurture of partnership and was described within the Australian government-endorsed Through Growth to Achievement: Report of the Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools 2018.  Projects underway in 2025 across the whole College that nurture voice and agency include:

• The building of Guild spirit and identity;
• Involvement in planning transition programs to secondary school, feeding back the successes and challenges of the program, and
• Co-designing a student recognition system (colours and honours in Christian Service Learning, Academic, Cultural and Sport participation).

In Term 2, we will highlight ‘My Learning,’ which is our approach to further voice and agency in each student’s learning journey. One project just about to finish began with the Year 6 group from 2024 who planned and presented to the school a ‘friendship bench’. This will shortly be installed on the  Lavalla Campus. We are blessed with caring, considerate and community concerned children and it is heartening to see the work they are leading at Newman College.  

Active Transport – My Way 

Another exciting initiative we will be developing in the next few months, that has the leadership of students and involvement of parents, is our plan to encourage walking and riding to school. In today’s edition, Mr Michael Chiera, Vice Principal, writes about our plan in partnership with the City of Stirling to encourage alternative ways of coming to school. This always needs to be considered in context of the individual’s age and journey from home to school and back, but it is important in so many ways to encourage active transport.  

I wish all Newman College families a wonderful long weekend. It is hard to believe that we are at a mid-way point of Term 1.  

Andrew Watson

PRINCIPAL

Welcome

The 2025 school year is off to a fantastic start, filled with engaging activities and events that have brought our community together.

A special welcome to our new families – I hope you are settling in well and embracing the opportunities to connect with others. We look forward to sharing this journey with you.

Wishing all parents and students a year of growth, success, and meaningful experiences!

Family Mass

Next Tuesday 18 February, our Newman College community comes together for the Family Mass, an event that holds great significance in reinforcing our identity as a Catholic school in the Marist educational tradition. The occasion is made even more special as we will celebrate the commissioning of our Year 6 and Year 12 Student Leaders.

I remind parents and students that participation in all aspects of College life, including events like the Community Mass, are an integral part of our shared commitment upon enrolling in the College. As a Catholic school, there are few occasions more significant than coming together for a Community Mass, where we not only share in the Eucharist but also celebrate our unique charism as one united community.

We sincerely thank all our families, students, and staff for joining us for this special event.

College Family Mass Parent Letter

A Reminder of Our Shared Values

I would like to remind parents that at Newman College, we deeply value our collaboration with families and caregivers in nurturing a supportive and respectful community. Our relationships are built on courtesy, mutual trust, and open communication.

To support this, we ask all parents and caregivers to familiarise themselves with the Code of Conduct for Parents and Adults. Understanding these expectations ensures we can continue working together with respect and appreciation for one another.

Newman Norms

At Newman College, we are committed to creating a learning environment where every student feels safe, supported, and empowered to succeed. To achieve this, we have established the Newman Norms – a set of non-negotiable expectations for student behaviour and conduct in the classroom. These norms provide clarity and consistency, ensuring that both students and teachers understand the standards that guide our interactions and learning.

The Newman Norms are not just rules; they are the foundation of a respectful and productive classroom culture. By upholding these expectations, students take responsibility for their learning, demonstrate respect for their peers and teachers, and contribute to an environment where everyone can thrive.

By embracing the Newman Norms, we create a community where learning is the priority, respect is non-negotiable, and every student can reach their full potential.

The Newman Norms are displayed in every classroom and can also be accessed on the College Website.

Transperth Updates

412 and 719 – Route Disruptions

Due to ongoing road closures, Stop 19068 (Huntriss Rd before Williamstown Rd, Woodlands) is currently out of service. This disruption will remain in effect until further notice. Please refer to the Transperth Service Update for details on the nearest alternative stops.

Bus Arrival Times

We acknowledge concerns regarding the morning arrival times of School Special Buses. The College has reported these issues to Transperth and assures parents that all services should arrive by 8:35am.

If your child experiences ongoing issues with bus arrival times, we encourage you to notify both the College and Transperth. Contact details for Transperth can be found here.

• Child Safeguarding Policy
• Marist Child Safe Adult Code of Conduct
• Code of Conduct for Parents and Adults

We thank you for your continued support.

Michael Chiera

VICE PRINCIPAL