Term 3 Week 6: From the Dean of Wellbeing
Integration of hands-on learning and unconventional learning materials.
The College has an extensive elective curriculum which complements compulsory curriculum. Elective curriculum can give teachers more flexibility in assessment and pedagogy. Fostering soft skills is becoming increasingly important for employers, adult learning and for high functioning teams. Across the life of the school, students are challenged to be creative within the classroom and beyond; animating our Vision for Learning – Shine through Discovery, in many different learning environments.
STEM
One of our major goals in education is to prepare the next generation to succeed in life. One of the corner stones of this preparation is to teach children how to think critically and solve problems. Educating students in STEM subjects prepares them for life regardless of the profession they choose to follow. Critical thinking and problem solving skills can be used throughout life to help them get through tough times and take advantage of opportunities whenever they present themselves.
Problem solving activities tend to excite students about education whilst teaching them how to cope better with the world around them, and how they can change and shape a better future for the planet. We want to ensure that our children are equipped to succeed in a changing world. As we are constantly being made aware that many of the jobs our children will undertake in the future do not exist today. This is why students need exposure to a broad array of disciplines so that they are exposed to the problem solving skills required in each area. Critical thinking is a skill that is impossible to teach directly but must be intertwined with content. Greater exposure and experiences that students receive in problem solving should develop and enhance their critical thinking skills.
At Newman College we are identifying existing and creating new areas of curriculum where STEM thinking regularly occurs. We are also creating co-curricular and extra curricular opportunities through clubs and special events where students can participate, and we are fostering community and industry partnerships with the school to provide more STEM experiences and opportunities for our students to Shine Through Discovery.
Please click here to see photos from Science Week activities on the Marcellin Campus.
ASDAN
The Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network (ASDAN) provides flexible and engaging programs. Qualifications are endorsed by SCSA and help young people develop skills for learning, work and life. This year the Year 9 Education Support Students have been working on the ASDAN Key Steps Program, creating a webpage about themselves showcasing their talents and skills. They have also discussed different subjects they would like to study and made a podcast about this discussion. This week they are using these skills from the unit to look up possible jobs and careers they would like to work towards.
The Year 10 Education Support Centre students are also working on an ASDAN program, Work Awareness giving them skills and knowledge to align with their introduction to the work experience program at school. Year 11 and 12 students are currently working towards a certificate in Personal Safety. This program is giving them the tools to keep themselves safe both now and after they have completed their schooling. ASDAN certificates contribute to a student’s portfolio of evidence and may be used towards future study and/or training.
RUOK? (Are you OK?) Day
On Wednesday 28 August the College will be participating in RUOK Day. RUOK Day is a national day of action dedicated to reminding everyone that any day is the day to ask “Are you ok?” and support those who may be struggling with emotional problems and mental issues. Students are asked to accessorise with the colour ‘yellow’ on the day.
Guest Speaker, Glen Gerber will be addressing the Year 10 and 11 cohorts and there will be a lunchtime concert for all students to raise awareness.
Academic Achievement Awards
There have been some outstanding results from our Semester One Academic Reports.
This week many students received Academic Excellence Certificates from various courses. The criteria for receiving a certificate is to gain an ‘A’ grade and being in the top 10% of the course.
A very special mention to the following students who received the highest number of certificates in their respective Year groups:
Year 7: Benjamin Borgas – 8 certificates
Year 8: Makenzie Williams – 10 certificates
Year 9: Isabelle Hu – 7 certificates
Year 10: Kate Broderick, Tatenda Makova, Joshua Timmings – 7 certificates
Year 11: Alexandra Cavanagh, Isabelle Pang – 6 certificates
Year 12: Siena Monterosso – 5 certificates
We congratulate all the students who were awarded Academic Excellence Certificates. It is a significant achievement! Please see a full list of the recipients Academic Excellence Awards.
Just Start IT
Just Start IT is an entrepreneurial competition that puts Year 10 students in the driving seat to create and launch a mobile app that solves a problem that faces our world today. Students are placed into teams consisting of hackers (the programmers who have the technical ability to execute ideas), hawkers (the business people who know how to best pitch the project) and hipsters (the people with outstanding design skills who keep a close eye on what is “cool” in the market) and work together to make their technology startup a reality in a niche of their choice.
This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to delve into the world of business and to develop their team management, partnership negotiation and break-even analysis skills; everything a successful contestant on Shark Tank would need to demonstrate! We cannot wait for what our creative students will come up with as their exciting journey begins!
Uniform Expectations
Students are reminded that tour jackets (Marist Carnivals) are not part of the College uniform. Details of the College Sport Uniform can be found here . Black socks are not part of the uniform and I ask for the support of all families to ensure students are correctly attired.
Newman College New York Arts Tour 2019
Newman College Arts students in Years 10,11,12 are invited to join us on the Newman College New York Arts tour 2019.
This invitation is extended to year 10,11, 12 visual art, music, drama and dance students enrolling in Arts courses for 2019.
An information meeting will be conducted on Monday 3 September in the Martist Auditorium Studios 1 & 2, 7.00pm to 8.00pm. The tour company and our Tour Director will present the proposed itinerary, costs and all organisational details associated with our proposed Tour. Confirmation of the tour will be dependent on the level of interest expressed by the Newman College community. Students will be invited to apply for a limited number of positions.
Arts curriculum will be the focus of our tour. This Arts learning will be realised through practical workshops and Arts experiences, in conjunction with participation in iconic New York tourist experiences. The tour will conclude with a retreat experience at the Marist Brothers retreat in Esopus.
The tour departs Perth on 3 July returning on 17 July 2019. The approximate cost of the tour is $7,000. This is all inclusive; food, travel, accommodation, workshops, Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, tourist experiences, Arts events and Marist retreat.
Parents and students are invited to come along to listen to the proposal, ask questions and express an interest in attending the tour.
If you are unable to attend this meeting but would like to receive an electronic copy of the tour proposal please email maree.grayden@newman.wa.edu.au Any queries regarding to tour may be directed to Maree Grayden Leader of Learning Arts PK-12.
Year 12 – Important Dates
Term 3 – Week 1
Wednesday 19 Sepember – last day of normal classes
Thursday 20 September, Year 12 Celebration Day, Year 12 Celebration Assembly and final day of school activities – No normal classes.
Semester 2 ATAR Exams
The Semester 2 ATAR Exams begin in the second week of school holidays – Monday 1 October through to Friday 12 October.
Term 4 – Week 2
Monday 15 October – no Year 12’s at school
Tuesday 16 October – ATAR Feedback Day (No school for General students)
Wednesday 17 October. – ATAR Feedback Day (No school for General students)
Thursday 18 October – Graduation Ceremony Day – includes Graduation Assembly, Graduation Rehearsal and Graduation Ceremony.
VET Completion Dates
Year 12 students completing a Certificate II or III must submit all work by Thursday 20 September. Students who need to make up work, due to their workbooks not being 100% correct will need to come back during the second week of the holidays from Wednesday 3 to Friday 5 October.
Year 11 Leadership Program
This week marks the last leadership formation session for Year 11 Leadership participants. Over the past four weeks students have engaged with a number of topics such as the benefits of a growth mindset, leadership in a Catholic context and as a calling, leadership for learning and leadership for overcoming challenges. Applications for leadership positions close on the 31st of August with an interview process to follow.
Year 10 – Pathways (Onsite Applications and Interviews)
All year 10 students undertaking the general pathway must complete a portion of work experience. Application forms for the Onsite program were handed out during subject selection interviews. Students wishing to participate in the Onsite program must attend a selection interview with the team at Onsite. These interviews will take place on Monday 3 September here at the College. Students wishing to apply and sit a selection interview must complete and submit an application to Mrs Fink no later than Thursday 30 August. Once application forms have been received students will be allocated an interview time. If students need another application form, these can be collected from the Pathways office.
Year 10 Camp
The Year 10 students had a wonderful time at Nanga Bush Camp in Dwellingup. While the weather was wet and stormy most of the time, students were still able to be challenged with activities such as rock climbing, riding a zip line and bush walking. The students also participated in a variety of trust games.
I commend the students for being so resilient with the changes that occurred as a result of the changing weather conditions and thank all staff who attended.
Click here for more photos and student reflections.
Year 10 Peer Mentoring
This week Year 10 students have been encouraged to get involved with the very successful Peer Mentoring Program. Students ‘buddy up’ with the incoming Year 7 2019 students of the same guild with the aim to make them feel welcome and safe in their new surroundings. Year 7 2019 students will come to three Orientation events before the end of this year. Monday 8 October is the Orientation Day and Tuesday 30 October and Tuesday 13 November are the two workshop afternoons where our Year 10 students have organised ‘Getting to Know You’ activities and fun games. More information on the Mentoring Program will be sent out in the near future.
Years 8 and 9 Electives
Year 8 elective subject selection forms are due to be completed no later than this Friday (Week 6) 24 August. If you have not already done this, please ensure you complete the online form. Please refer to the message sent to all parents in Week 4, Wednesday 8 August, which outlined the procedure.
Year 9 subject elective selection forms will be sent out to parents on Friday (Week 6) 24 August. Forms are to be completed online and submitted by Friday (Week 7) 31 August.
Years 8 and 9 return of Laptops
To assist with the update process and to carry out warranty repairs, students in Years 8 and 9 are required to return their Macbooks on the final day of school in Term 3, Thursday 20 September. Mr Simon Martino, LOWB Year 8 and Mr Mat Puljiz, LOWB Year 9, will oversee the collection of the laptops. Laptops will be returned to students on the first two days of Term 4.
Year 7 Gratitude Program
Our focus this term in Year 7, and across the School, has been on developing Resilience. The ability to cope through life’s challenges is a necessary skill, and no more important than in your first year of high school. Our goal and focus is to build our student’s ability to work through the inevitable challenges that they face in order to function well and have the ability to overcome difficulties, take risks, and connect to other people.
Resilience is centred around three key concepts; Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness. This term we have focused on building positive habits around Gratitude. On a weekly basis, students have explored the concept of Gratitude and complete a weekly Journal to record experiences/moments/people that they are thankful for. The Journaling does not have to be overly significant in order to have meaning, it could be as simple as a sunny day, the bus coming on time, or the moment a friend made them laugh. It is in the simplicity of recognising what we have to be thankful for that helps build their resilience.
Homework Club
WACE Wednesdays: Throughout Weeks 7 and 8, WACE Wednesdays will continue running during Homework Club. There are a range of workshops on offer for Year 12 students to help them in their preparation for their upcoming Semester Two and ATAR examinations. The timetable is included below:
