今日吃瓜

Newman News Term 1 Week 10 : From the Vice Principal

Jenni Vile on 07/04/2022

The end of term has come, and the celebration of Easter is nearly upon us. I am confident that most of our community members are welcoming the much-needed rest, relaxation of routine and time with family and friends. Despite the constraints around gathering as a community, students in PK-12 were able to celebrate the Easter story at reformatted liturgies, which included online presentations and small class gatherings. Throughout the Lenten period, we asked students and families to support fundraisers for Project Compassion and Caritas. Thank you for your generosity.  

Next term will see the winter uniform return for our students. Can I please take this opportunity to remind you to check clothing sizes for fit and ensure hair styles are in line with the expectations of our community prior to the start of term. We are hoping to recommence the term with a clear focus on learning and we do not wish for unnecessary distractions to take us away from our core business.  

As we celebrate Easter, in keeping with our 2022 Marist Theme 鈥楰nown and Loved – Dignity for all鈥�, may we remember God鈥檚 perfect love for all humans, in their richness and diversity, and may that love fill us with hope and a growing realisation of our unity, as one human-kind.  Happy Easter. 

Key Dates 

鈥� In recent times, our school calendar has changed regularly.  Incursions, Excursions, Retreats, Carnivals, Year 12 Ball, to name a few, have all had to be cancelled/postponed or delivered in a different format.  We sincerely thank you for your understanding and support. We encourage you to continue to look at the online College calendar as entries are updated daily.

Staffing 

The following staff are leaving our College community to pursue other endeavours for which we wish them every success.  We thank them for the support they have given to both students and staff during their time here. 

Cristina Guzzomi

Melissa Gordon 

Remmi Missell 

Kelly Fitzpatrick, Leader of Wellbeing Year 8, will be commencing maternity leave at the end of Week Two, Term Two, and Hannah Parker, Leader of Learning Science will be taking maternity leave from the end of Week 4. We wish both Kelly and Hannah well with their first journeys into motherhood.  

We look forward to welcoming Scott Smith into our College community and Marist family, in the role of Leader of Wellbeing Year 8. We are also welcoming Giorgia Bakeberg to our community as a Science and Mathematics teacher from the start of Term 2 and Olivia Biasin in the capacity of Art Technician PK-12.     

Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews 鈥� Years 8-10 

Parent, Teacher, and Student interviews for students in Years 8-10 are being held online on Thursday 28 April from 4.00pm-8.00pm via TEAMS. Details have already been emailed to relevant families.   

Uniform Shop 

All stock of bathers and rash vests have been delivered to the uniform shop. A reminder to families that from the start of next year (delayed by a year) these items are compulsory for students in Years 3 to 10. Students will be engaged in swimming for the following periods of time.  

Aquatics summary听

  • All Years 3 鈥� 6 students swim in Term 1 during HPE and at the carnival and engage in swimming lessons during Term 4. 
  • All Year 7-10 students swim for the duration of Term 1 approximately 22-27 lessons. 
  • Year 9 students swim for an additional 4 weeks in Term 3 as they complete a lifesaving module (approximately 12 lessons). 
  • Year 10 students complete a 4-week water polo module that will start in week 9 of Term 3 (approximately 12 lessons). 

Term 2 Information 

All students will return on Tuesday 26 April. Monday 25 April is ANZAC Day, which is a public holiday.  

  • Uniform Expectations 

All students are reminded of the expectations relating to their personal presentation.鈥疨lease Click Here 鈥痶o access uniform requirements and guidelines.鈥� If you need to purchase new uniform items,鈥痯lease ensure you give yourself adequate time. 

COVID 19 

There will be no COVID-19 reporting completed over the holiday period by our staff. However, if your child is required to isolate from the second week, please complete the online form to alert us to the absentee, and the positive case or household contact. All forms and information regarding COVID can be found on the Website. 

Code of Conduct

Please click here to download the 今日吃瓜 Code of Conduct for Parents.

Newman News Term 1 Week 10 : From the Principal

Jenni Vile on 07/04/2022

Term 1 has presented many challenges for families and the College with the COVID-19 Omicron variant permeating Western Australia.听 As the State鈥檚 borders have opened we have seen numbers of infections steadily increase, impacting the wider community and our school.听 Thank you to families for responding to the many changes that have taken place throughout the term.听 We are hoping for a more settled College environment in Term 2 as some restrictions for schools are lifted.

Last week I spent time in Victoria visiting three Marist schools. Each school is different but all connected by our Marist family and shared mission. Speaking with students and teachers was an eye opener for me as they told of their experiences living in lockdown for the most part of the last two years.  Year 9 students, for example, have not yet completed a full term of high school. This term will be the first. Year 9 students have never been to a College Mass, Assembly, a secondary school camp, excursion, incursion or any other whole school event. Only in the last few weeks has co-curricular recommenced for these schools. It has been a challenging road but they are on the journey together. Their resilience is marked by their aspirations; aspirations that we all have – to live life and live it to the full.

As we journey together towards the end of term, perhaps it is timely that we reflect on our local context.  How we engaged in our learning this term, how we sought support, how agile and flexible have we been?  The COVID-19 Pandemic is now a major disruption in our State and now our school.  The uncertainty and the complexity of the road ahead can and is causing anxiety for teachers, students and families.  Where we draw support and how we build resilience will be critical as we move towards Term 2. 

150 Years of Marist Education in Australia

This year, we celebrate 150 years of Marist education in Australia.  56 schools will gather today at a Mass held in Sydney to celebrate our Marist Project 鈥� one where our Founder, St Marcellin Champagnat, championed the education and aspirations of dislocated youth.  This hope and this mission is ever present today.

End of Term

So, as we reflect on the term, thank you for your presence and contribution to the life of our community.  We have achieved much this term across curricular and co-curricular pursuits.  Congratulations to all students for your resilience and commitment to your learning. 

Easter Message

Marcellin Easter Liturgy

In many ways it is a blessing that Easter is upon us.  Our Christianity is predicated on this story; the death and resurrection of Christ and the new life and the hope that emerges from the despair and dislocation that forever permeates our world.  If anything, we need to draw on this hope that lies within us and those around us.  This Marist community is founded on our family spirit and that presence that values relationships. 

I encourage all families to attend the Easter services over Holy Week.  Take a moment and give thanks with the hope that Easter brings.

Newman News Term 1 Week 8 : From the Vice Principal

Jo Dunn on 25/03/2022

Last Friday was the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence.  The theme for 2022 is Kindness Culture. By building a Kindness Culture together, we can promote inclusion, respect and community belonging for all students in schools across Australia.  This week we celebrated Harmony week, the theme is Everyone Belongs.  Funds raised will be donated to Project Compassion.

This theme of Everyone Belongs has a striking alignment with our Marist theme for 2022. 鈥楰nown and Love, Dignity for All鈥�

Marist Theme 2022

This week also saw students competing in the reformatted Associated and Catholic Colleges (ACC) A Division Swimming Carnival at the HBF Stadium. Congratulations and thanks to staff and our Year 7 to 12 Swimming Team, who under COVID-19 constraints, managed to continue with their training in preparation for the wonderful efforts they displayed in the pool.

Key Dates 

鈥� In recent times, our school calendar has changed regularly.  Incursions, Excursions, Retreats, Carnivals, Year 12 Ball, to name a few, have all had to be cancelled/postponed or delivered in a different format.  We sincerely thank you for your understanding and support. We encourage you to continue to look at the online College calendar as entries are updated daily.

Newman Parents Consultative Committee  

Thank you to those parents who were able to join the online NPCC meeting held on Monday 14 March.  We are calling for expressions of interest from those parents who wish to join the NPCC Executive for 2022

The NPCC provided information about the College鈥檚 ASIP Plan for 2022 and provided a response to the WA Health guidelines for COVID-19. The main points discussed were:

  • COVID-19 mitigation actions implemented by the College
    – Ventilation
    – Hygiene
    – Protocols
    – Cleaning
  • COVID-19 administrative processes undertaken by staff
    – Communication
    – Contact tracing
    – Remote learning

The College鈥檚 COVID-19 response section of the meeting can be viewed by .

Our priority continues to be the health and safety of students and staff. The College appreciates the opportunity to work alongside parents in meeting the needs of students within our community.

End of Term 1 Information 

All students finish on Friday 8 April.  Holy week will be celebrated with an online Easter Liturgy for Kindergarten to Year 6 students on Thursday 7 April, and an online Principal鈥檚 Assembly and Easter Liturgy for Year 7 to 12 students on Wednesday 6 April.

Term 2 Information

All students will return on Tuesday 26 April. Monday 25 April is ANZAC Day, which is a public holiday. Parent Student Teacher Online Interviews for Years 8, 9 and 10 are due to occur next term on 28 April. These interviews will be held online via Teams. Further information will follow via email.

Code of Conduct for Parents

Please click here to download the 今日吃瓜 Code of Conduct for Parents.

Newman News Term 1 Week 6 : From the Vice Principal

Jo Dunn on 11/03/2022

Welcome to autumn! Thinking about autumn can bring about enjoyable thoughts of amber leaves, cooler temperatures, and pretty scenery. Autumn, more than any other season, is a season of change and transformation. The symbolic associations of the leaves falling alongside the temperature, hints to us that letting go is an inevitable process in the seasons of life. The symbolic associations of autumn are a strong reminder that mother mature has an enormous influence on our lives. The disruptions of the last two weeks have continued to challenge our entire community. The constant change and impermanence of the situation are stark reminders of the importance of embracing the Marist characteristics of family spirit, presence, and simplicity.

I have been amazed by the resilience of our students, staff and families in responding to change.  Resilience can be defined as the capacity to recover from difficulties. Resilience is not a bobo doll, where you are pushed down one minute and spring up the next. Rather, resilience is more like climbing a mountain trail, without necessarily knowing the direction. It takes endurance, time, faith, patience and most importantly, support from the people that surround you. Setbacks are inevitable, but the joy of reaching the top of the mountain and celebrating together by looking back, makes the journey worthwhile.

As we reflect on what has been the first half of Term One, for our school, WA and the world, we have a sense that our resilience is being developed and stretched. Through collaboration and challenge, we do have faith that we will be able to celebrate our journey and the gifts of resilience at a future point. This week was a turning point for the schooling guidelines for those identified as close contacts of COVID cases, whereby staff and students who are not household close contacts can return to school under certain conditions. The College will continue to provide online learning options for those students who are household close contacts remaining in isolation.

Please check our website regularly for our COVID updates.

Key Dates 

鈥� In recent times, our school calendar has changed regularly.  Incursions, Excursions, Retreats, Carnivals, Year 12 Ball, to name a few, have all had to be cancelled/postponed or delivered in a different format.  We sincerely thank you for your understanding and support. We encourage you to continue to look at the online College calendar as entries are updated daily.

Parent Teacher Interviews Y7/11/12 

Online interviews took place last night for students in Years 7, 11 and 12.  A big thank you to our parents, students, and staff for adapting to this different mode of delivery. We will be reviewing the process and format with the view to continually improve in our flexible offerings to families and teachers. If you have any suggestions on the format, please email lucie.mccrory@newman.wa.edu.au.

NPCC (online) Meeting 鈥� Monday 14 March @ 4.45pm 

Parents are reminded and encouraged to join John Finneran, Principal, and myself at this online meeting on Monday.  The agenda will speak to our ASIP, School COVID-19 response, along with offering a Q & A session at the end.  A SMS will be sent out on Monday including the link, or you can join by

Code of Conduct for Parents

Please click here to download the 今日吃瓜 Code of Conduct for Parents.