今日吃瓜

Newman News Term 2 Week 8: From the Leader of Early Childhood

One of the great joys of being a teacher is seeing those 鈥榣ight bulb鈥 moments, when students successfully grasp a new concept, overcome a challenge or achieve a difficult skill. Teachers are constantly thinking of new, exciting and innovative ways to engage students and allow them to let their light shine. Speak to any teacher and they will tell you stories of students that have struggled relentlessly in a particular subject but who show a huge talent and dedication to another learning area. Our College鈥檚 vision for learning speaks to this; we strive to provide a range of activities so that all students can capitalise on their gifts and talents and for them to Shine through Discovery. Whether our students shine in literacy, numeracy, sports, music, dance or science 鈥 the range of learning experiences aims to cater to all of these talents and allows us to celebrate each child鈥檚 individual potential.

This Term, our Year 2 students have undertaken a learning project titled 鈥淎ll kids can be Scientists鈥 which integrated the learning areas of Science, Mathematics, English and Health and Year 1 students undertook an integrated project based on Earth and Space. The Year 2 students were encouraged to come up with their own experiments, which they mixed in our IDEAs Lab. Celebrating their successes in creating science experiments and watching their joy and excitement is what our school鈥檚 pedagogical pillars (Celebrate, Create, Collaborate and Challenge) are striving to achieve. Year 1 students were surveyed as to what they were most interested in and this led the learning around this topic. We continue to strive and reflect on the ways that we can best offer child-centred learning experiences that integrate student agency.

Champagnat Week

This week the College has been very active in celebrating Champagnat Week. Marcellin Champagnat was a man who saw a need not just for the education of young people in his community, but also to love them. Click here to read a full overview from Simon鈥 Martino, Leader of Mission and Catholic Identity.

Marcellin Award

Congratulations to the following students who received a Marcellin Award in Weeks 7 and 8.

  • Jesse Hadfield, Year 2: For being an enthusiastic and dedicated learner who always works hard and is always helpful to teachers and classmates. Jesse is a responsible class member who we can rely upon to offer assistance. Jesse represents so many of St Marcellin鈥檚 characteristics.
  • Pippa Key, Year 1: For always displaying the Marist characteristic of 鈥淟ove of Work鈥. Pippa always gives 100% to everything that she undertakes at school. She is a great role model for her peers.

The Marcellin Award at Marian Campus is drawn from submitted nominations each Wednesday morning at Prayer Assembly.

Thank You

Thank you to Ms Jordan Day-Perkins who completes her final teaching practice in Year 1 Blue on Monday. Ms Day has been a fantastic addition to the Year 1 Blue classroom and the Marian Campus over the past five weeks. Her enthusiasm and dedication to teaching excellence is bound to stand her in very good stead for her future teaching career.

Newman News Term 2 Week 6: From the Principal

Feast Day of St Marcellin Champagnat

In a school where students ‘Shine through Discovery’- Let Your Light Shine (Matthew 5:16), the development of critical thinking, creativity and reflective practice is paramount to the culture of our College. To that end, we aspire for our young people to engage and participate in society where our founder St Marcellin Champagnat contended that 鈥渢hey will be good Christians and Citizens.

This Saturday 6 June, we celebrate the life of our Marist founder; St Marcellin Champagnat. As a Marist Community we acknowledge his life and the impact his actions and words have had on the world we live in. St Marcellin Champagnat was an extraordinary man. Born in France at the end of the 18th Century at time of great change, Marcellin responded to God鈥檚 call to work with and educate young people. The people of the town of La Valla France, and the young men whom he gathered around him to be the first Marist Brothers, found his way of being Christian to be compelling. He won their hearts. They sought to develop in their own lives, the same deep faith and trust in God that Marcellin had; the same mix of strength of will and warmness of heart, the same generosity and giving spirit. His educational philosophy was a simple one: “to teach children, one must love them”. His life is a witness to the truth that the actions of one man can make a difference.

Today, Marcellin Champagnat鈥檚 vision for change and transformation inspires us to break new ground, forge new pathways and build better futures. We have a chance to enliven our community with a new way, a new pathway of hope, with our founder St Marcellin Champagnat at the heart of our growth and sustainability for generations to come.

Our Champagnat Celebrations will be held in Week 8 which will include our support of the work of our Marist International Non Government Organisation. Click on the link below to access a letter outlining the K-12 Champagnat Week celebrations occurring in Week 8.

Download Champagnat Day Letter to Families 2020

Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)

Last week we launched our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 鈥 an example of living out the vision of St Marcellin Champagnat. Significantly, this plan has been the sum of 18 months collaboration with staff, students, the Catholic Education WA Aboriginal Team, with the support of facilitator Christine Sindley of Waangara Marra Consulting.

As a Marist School we strive to embed our Marist characteristics everyday; Family Spirit, In the Way of Mary, Simplicity, Presence and a Love of Work. At the core of these characteristics is the developing of relationships that are imbued by our family spirit, united in Christ鈥檚 love. To this end, we want our staff, students and families to increase their understanding, value and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples cultures, histories, knowledge and rights through cultural learning. We strive to create a culturally supportive environment so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other Australian families build a community of respectful and right relationships. Please to watch the video launch of the plan.

Community Presence

From next Monday, we welcome all families back onto College grounds. I recognise it has been a challenging few months but our students have been resilient in their learning. There have been many learnings from COVID-19 in how we collaborate and function as a school. Our first onsite parent function will be our NPCC Meeting this Monday, 7.00pm in the College Chapel Ministry Space. We will welcome the new NPCC Executive and discuss Reporting, COVID-19 Learnings and an update on our Capital Development Program.

Finally I would like to acknowledge our Marist Brothers (Churchlands Community). To Brs. John, Paul, Terry and Noel; thank you for your presence and symbol of hope that you bring to our College Community. Happy Feast Day!

Newman News Term 2 Week 6: From the Leader of Mission and Catholic Identity

Reconciliation Week Highlights

Our College had a beautiful launch of our Reconciliation Action Plan to celebrate Reconciliation Week. Our plan is centered around building relationships with our local community and equipping our students to have a better understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and culture. The event was live streamed to over 2,000 people which included students, staff and many families from our broader College community. to watch the launch.

Students engaged in a symbolic bridge walk from the Lavalla Campus to the Marcellin Campus in remembrance of the event that took place 20 years ago when over 250,000 Indigenous and Non-Indigenous People walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. During class students were introduced to Aboriginal art and the story of Stuart McMinn who crossed the bridge as a 15 year old boy. Mr McMinn, now 30 years old, recorded a message for our students that explained the significance of Reconciliation and used the analogy of a watch to explain how all Australians have a role to play in building positive, respectful relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and other Australians. to watch a highlights video from Reconciliation Week.

Feast of St Marcellin Champagnat Celebrations

Saturday 6 June is the Feast of St Marcellin Champagnat. This year, our College community will be celebrating the Feast Day with a range of activities throughout Week 8. Please click on the link below to access the letter that outlines all of the details for the week. Our community will be fundraising for Australian Marist Solidarity and specifically, the Kuya Centre for Street Children. Families are being asked to donate $5-$10 to support this organisation that our students visit on the Philippines Immersion.

Download Champagnat Day Letter to Families 2020

Thursday Morning Community Mass

This week saw the commencement of our Thursday morning Community Mass. The College is committed to offering the Eucharist for our students during this time. This week saw students from the Lavalla and Marcellin Campuses celebrate the Feast of St Marcellin Champagnat. Next week, students in Years 8 and Years 4 will be hosting our morning mass.

Newman News Term 2 Week 6: From the Leader of Early Childhood

One of the greatest strengths of our College is the ability for our students to share celebrations across the breadth of all year levels. This past week saw students from Pre Kindergarten through to Year 12 recognise Australia鈥檚 first peoples and celebrate the rich culture that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples bring to our country. Throughout the celebration of National Reconciliation Week 2020 we focused on the theme 鈥淲e are all in this together鈥 to learn more about the stolen generations and the impact that this has had on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Our College鈥檚 Reconciliation Action Plan was launched with a special smoking ceremony that was attended by students across the three campuses; Isabella Battersby and Stella Parelli attended on behalf of Marian students. All classes watched the ceremony via live stream and discussed the important role that they can play in understanding, learning and celebrating the culture of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Other activities included a College wide 鈥楢cknowledgement of Country鈥 where students used artwork of hands to represent our connection and solidarity with the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation.

Assembly

Pre Primary Blue hosted a fantastic and engaging assembly last Friday that showed us their learning around Julia Donaldson鈥檚 story 鈥淪tick Man鈥 and the role that each member within their family plays. They also sang a beautiful song thanking God for making them just as they are.

Merit Award winners very excitedly received their awards which focused on our Pedagogical Pillar 鈥淐reate鈥. It was great to see that there are so many students across the campus putting this pillar into daily action.

Marcellin Award

Congratulations to the following students who received a Marcellin Award in Weeks 5 and 6.

  • Ella Jones, Year 1 Red: For always displaying a positive attitude. Ella, you are a role model of reliability, kindness and maturity to your peers and teachers and display the Marist characteristics of 鈥楶resence鈥 and 鈥楲ove of Work鈥 in everything you do.
  • Zak Martinovich, Year 2 Red: For welcoming new members to our community and always going above and beyond to make others feel included and part of the 今日吃瓜 family.

The Marcellin Award at Marian Campus is drawn from submitted nominations each Wednesday morning at Prayer Assembly.

National Simultaneous Storytime

National Simultaneous Storytime is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. 2020 marked its 20th year.

Our involvement in this event aims to:

  • promote the value of reading and literacy
  • promote the value and fun of books
  • demonstrate the enjoyment of reading across all ages
  • support our whole school strategic focus on literacy

This year, Mr Finneran read the story 鈥淲hitney and Britney Chicken Divas鈥, written and illustrated by Lucinda Gifford to our Primary students. Pre Primary Green students were lucky enough to join Mr Finneran live in the library for the reading, whilst other students joined the reading via an online meeting from their classrooms.

Kindergarten Enrolments 鈥 2021/2022

We are currently finalising our enrolments for Kindergarten students in 2021 and 2022. There are a limited number of places available, so we strongly encourage any families who have not submitted an enrolment form for younger siblings, to please do so as soon as possible.

Furthermore, if you have friends or family members who are interested in pursuing an education at 今日吃瓜 for their child, please advise them to complete an enrolment application promptly. Click here for more information about our Kindergarten program or contact the College Registrar via registrar@newman.wa.edu.au

Newman News Term 2 Week 6: From the Vice Principal

Covid-19 Update

Thank you to all families for their support as we work towards reinstating sport, arts events and other co-curricular opportunities with careful consideration and due diligence. The College calendar will be updated as events are confirmed. Please note, there are still restrictions on large group gatherings (for example, assemblies) and interschool opportunities.

If you are concerned about your own family situation, you are invited to contact Lisa Fogliani, Vice Principal for additional clarity and advice lisa.fogliani@newman.wa.edu.au

If Students are Unwell鈥

The College asks that students who are presenting with a fever or flu like symptoms stay at home until their symptoms are clear. 鈥It is the responsibility of all families to ensure they support the wider College community.

Parents and Caregivers

From Monday 8 June, parents and caregivers are allowed onto school grounds to drop off and collect their children. To ensure the 2 metre rule is adhered to, parents are asked not to enter classrooms at the beginning or end of the school day.

NPCC Meeting – Monday 8 June

With restrictions lifted, we are so pleased to welcome parents to our first NPCC meeting for the year, on Monday 8 June at 7.00pm in the Champagnat Chapel Ministry Space. The agenda will cover:

  1. Intro Parent NPCC Executive
  2. Capital Development 鈥 Learning Hub Update
  3. Reporting, Semester 1
  4. COVID Learnings
  5. Parent feedback/ Q&A (Please to submit your question / concern / feedback)

The NPCC meetings, convened by the Principal, and attended by various members of the College Leadership Team, is a representative group, voice and forum to gain insight into our school improvement plan and to discuss school concerns. The NPCC serves to help advance the best interests of those within our College Community. Whilst policy is determined and set by the College Executive and supported by the Advisory Council, the NPCC is a critically important group in providing input and feedback.

Staffing

Mrs Amy Raveendrakumar, Arts Specialist Teacher on the Lavalla Campus, commenced parental leave this week. We warmly welcome Mrs Laura Talbott to the role for the remainder of the 2020 school year.

Mrs Jenny Miraudo, Leader of Learning English on the Marcellin Campus, has also commenced parental leave. Mrs Narelle Cochran and Mrs Amanda Mariotti have been appointed to the Leader of Learning role and will share this responsibility.

All the very best to Mrs Raveendrakumar and Mrs Miraudo as they prepare for this special time.

Reporting

To ensure student progress is fair, valid and supported by evidence, the College has adapted its reporting protocols for Semester 1 2020 in response to the disruption caused by our COVID-19 response. We recognise there has been variation in the disruption experienced between students, and the validity of assessment across developmental age groups.

Our reporting expectations are aligned to directives provided by both CEWA (Catholic Education Western Australia) and SCSA (School Curriculum Standards Authority). It is very important to note, student achievement is based on judging standards that articulate student achievement at the end of the school year.

We believe these minor changes to the Semester 1 reports ensures that:

  • Students are fairly assessed
  • The professional judgement of the teacher can be supported by evidence, and
  • Parents and students are given accurate 鈥榩oint in time鈥 feedback

Marian Campus (Pre Primary – Year 2)

Student achievement in Religious Education, English, Mathematics, Physical Education, Arts and Italian will be reported on using a three-point scale (Above Expectation, At Expectation and Below Expectation). Teachers will provide a written comment and provide feedback on the personal and social development of students.

Kindy reports will formatively assess and provide feedback on the five outcomes from the Early Years Learning Framework. The five areas are Identity, Connecting and Contributing, Wellbeing, Learning and Thinking, and Communicating.

Lavalla Campus (Years 3-6)

Student achievement in all learning areas will be reported on using a three-point scale (Above Expectation, At Expectation and Below Expectation). Teachers will provide a written comment and provide feedback on the personal and social development of students.

Marcellin Campus (Years 7-12)

Secondary students will receive a grade that aligns to the judging standards as described in the Australian Curriculum. Learning attributes that reflect our Vision for Learning will serve as formative feedback for parents.

Student marks per assessment item are available on SEQTA. It is important to note the student assessment program has been modified to navigate our remote learning response. Years 11 and 12 exam marks can also be accessed on SEQTA.

Pastoral Care Teachers will also provide a report that reflects student engagement in College and wellbeing activities.

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD)

Teaching staff across the College participated in professional learning to increase their knowledge and understanding of the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with a Disability. This ensures that all students have access to a quality learning experience at school and teachers can provide adjustments for students based on professional judgement, together with medical and professional diagnoses. I extend my thanks to Mrs Allison McCartan, Leader of Learning Diversity, and the Diverse Learning Team for supporting staff in understanding this important resource and process.

to access a resource for parents.

Parent Teacher Interviews 鈥 Term 3

The College will host Parent Teacher Interviews for all students K-12 (except Year 7) on Tuesday 21 July from 10.00am – 7.00pm. With restrictions lifting we are pleased to give parents the option to meet with their child鈥檚 teacher at the College.

Parent Teacher Online (PTO) details and details of locations, timing and 鈥楥ovid Safe鈥 protocols will be shared with families before the end of Term.

For families on the Marcellin Campus please note that Year 10 students, together with their parents, will meet for a course counselling interview BEFORE the end of Term.

We are very mindful that secondary teachers teach more students than available time slots for interviews and as such, priority will be given for students in Years 11 and 12. We hope that student results and comments available to families on SEQTA, together with the Semester 1 report will give parents a level of feedback and academic progress information.

Year 7 families will have an opportunity to meet teachers on Thursday 30 July, from 3.30pm – 7.00pm in the Marist Auditorium.

Term 3 Pupil Free Days- Save the Dates

The following dates have been calendared for staff professional learning and parent engagement opportunities.

  • Monday 20 July – Staff Faith Formation Day
  • Tuesday 21 July – Parent Teacher Interviews
  • Friday 14 August – Staff Wellbeing Conference
  • Monday 17 August – COLLEGE CLOSED

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. Postings on social media platforms that identify the College or College events are also bound 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.

Parent Facebook Groups

A reminder to parents that are members of the Parent Facebook groups that there are a Terms of Reference for the groups so that the intent of the group is understood by all parents. If you have concerns about College decisions and processes, teaching or learning, I strongly encourage you to direct your concern to your child鈥檚 Leader of Wellbeing or classroom teacher. Ensuring the parent community is accurately informed is important to us and College staff are best placed to resolve any queries.