Today, we gathered as a College community to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary which is a day of great significance for the Catholic Church and for the Marist family. The Assumption reminds us of our belief that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was taken body and soul into heaven at the end of her earthly life. It is a celebration of the hope we have in Christ, and the promise of eternal life. For Marists, this feast is particularly special, as it is our own feast day 鈥� a time to honour Mary, who is our model of faith, humility, and service.
Our celebrations began with three beautiful Masses across the College, celebrated by Fr Kaz, Fr Emmanuel, and Fr Edmond. These moments of prayer brought us together to give thanks for Mary鈥檚 life and her ongoing presence in our journey of faith. Following mass, the day continued with our annual fete, filled with delicious food, exciting activities, and a joyful atmosphere. All money raised from today鈥檚 fete goes towards supporting Australian Marist Solidarity 鈥� the international aid agency of the Marists. We then concluded the day with a special episode of Taskmaster filmed and edited by our talented Media Studies students, featuring our Leaders of Wellbeing under the creative direction of Mr Lang.
It was such a beautiful day of community and celebration, and one that could not be possible without the support of our students, families, and staff, especially our guild coordinators who led the many activities and food stalls at the fete. Their hard work and efforts really helped make today wonderful.
Our Guild Athletics Carnival took place on Thursday 7 August. The weather was perfect and the students displayed great enthusiasm, healthy competition, and strong participation throughout the day. Our Year 12 students set the tone for the day as they opened the carnival with a costume parade, the traditional Year 12 200m race and led the inaugural Guild Battle. MacKillop Guild took out both the Guild Spirit and Guild Battle awards.
Congratulations to Marcellin Guild who won the overall Athletics Carnival! Marcellin Guild have won all three major carnivals in 2025!
Thank you to the PE Team, the Guild Coordinators and staff for making the day a success. We look forward to acknowledging individual achievements at an assembly in Week 7.
High Achievers Assembly:
On Monday 4 August we celebrated the Year 7 鈥� 12 Semester One High Achievers Assembly. We are proud to acknowledge our high-achieving students whose dedication, perseverance, and passion for learning have led to outstanding results. Their achievements throughout Semester One are a credit to their hard work, the support of their families, and the encouragement of our College community. Families of the High Achievers were invited to share in a morning tea with their children and staff. Congratulations to all students who were acknowledged.
Mrs Carla Pastorelli
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL SECONDARY
Pathways and Careers Information:听Year 10听
Subject selection for Year 11, 2026
Thank you to all the students and families who have now completed their subject requests for Year 11, 2026. The College is now in the process of constructing the timetable for next year, and after this process students and families will be advised of their allocated subjects for Year 11.
Apprenticeship Opportunities 2025
The March 2025 edition of the Apprenticeship Intake Guide has been published recently. This has details of dozens of apprenticeship opportunities with many major employers. You can access it here:
Pathways and Careers Information:听Year 11听
Re-selecting subjects for Year 12, 2026
Thank you to all the students and families who have now completed their subject requests for Year 12, 2026. The College is now in the process of constructing the timetable for next year, and after this process students and families will be advised of their allocated subjects for Year 12.
For students thinking of attending University
TISC has a series of videos explaining things like ATAR calculation, prerequisite subjects, scaling, and preferences. You can find them here: 听
Here is a parents guide to University: 听
And here is the 鈥淔irst in Family鈥� resource, for students who might be the first in their family to attend University: 听
Are you thinking of attending a University Open Day? Dates are below. This blog might help you: 听听
Apprenticeship Opportunities 2025
The March 2025 edition of the Apprenticeship Intake Guide has been published recently. This has details of dozens of apprenticeship opportunities with many major employers. You can access it here:
Pathways and Careers Information:听Year 12听
University Early Offer information
Please see below for the latest available Early Offer information.
Early Offers are now open, and all Year 12 students have been provided with information about how to access the TISC system and enter preferences.
Students and families can find this information here:
Curtin University
Early Offers are available for ATAR and non-ATAR students. Must achieve WACE and meet any prerequisites. Submit your application via TISC, putting your Curtin Early Offer course as your first preference. Full information and list of eligible courses at:
Edith Cowan University
Full information and list of eligible courses at: Open to ATAR, Certificate IV, and UniReady students. Submit your Early Offer application by placing an eligible ECU course as your first TISC preference. First offers released to students on 2 September 2025.
Murdoch University
Must achieve WACE and meet any prerequisites. Early Offers for Certificate IV and UniReady/UniPath students will be conditional on passing. Submit your application via TISC, putting your desired Murdoch Early Offer course as your first preference.
Notre Dame University
Full information and list of eligible courses at: Opens 1 May 2025. First offers released to students on 1 September 2025. Apply via the Notre Dame online portal or via TISC. Open to ATAR Pathway students only. All offers are conditional offers.
University of WA
Submit your application via TISC, putting your desired UWA Early Offer course as your first preference. Open to ATAR Pathway students only. Students can apply for an Early Offer for all degrees excluding Assured Pathways to Medicine, Dental Medicine, Podiatric Medicine or the Bachelor of Biomedicine (specialised). Students must satisfy UWA鈥檚 English requirements and any subject prerequisite requirements. Further information at:
University information
TISC has a series of videos explaining things like ATAR calculation, prerequisite subjects, scaling, and preferences. You can find them here: 听
Are you the first person in your family to attend University? This might assist: 听
Here are some useful tools to prepare students for the transition to University: 听听
Here is a parents guide to University: 听
This resource is a place where you can ask current University students questions about their University courses:听 听听
University scholarships
Curtin University
Edith Cowan University (ECU)
Murdoch University
Notre Dame University
University of Western Australia (UWA)
Christian Leaders Scholarship
Gap year information
Students interested in taking a gap year in 2026 might find the following interesting:
Defence Force Gap Year: 听
Other gap year ideas: 听
And: 听
Also this Marist volunteering opportunity: 听
Apprenticeship Opportunities 2025
The March 2025 edition of the Apprenticeship Intake Guide has been published recently. This has details of dozens of apprenticeship opportunities with many major employers. You can access it here:
UPCOMING CAREERS EVENTS
EVENT
DATE
LINK
Defence Force Careers Information Session
21 August
Army Reserve Information Session
26 August
Nursing Information Evening (Murdoch)
27 August
Defence Force Engineering Careers Information Session
28 August
Science and Maths Information Evening (ECU)
28 August
Health and Education Information Evening (Murdoch)
2 September
Computing and Cybersecurity Information Evening (ECU)
2 September
Science, IT, Engineering Information Evening (Murdoch)
3 September
Defence Force: Combat and Security Information Session
3 September
Business and Law Information Evening (Murdoch)
4 September
Curtin Degree Expo
4 September
Engineering Information Evening (ECU)
5 September
Nursing and Midwifery Information Evening (ECU)
5 September
Teacher Education Information Evening (ECU)
9 September
Defence Force Careers Information Session
9 September
Business and Law Information Evening (ECU)
10 September
Army Careers Information Session
11 September
Defence Force: Special Forces Information Session
16 September
Medical and Health Information Evening (ECU)
17 September
Future Student Information Evening (ECU)
19 November
Army Reserve Information Session
23 September
Defence Force: Officer and Management Information Session
25 September
Entry pathways to Medicine (Notre Dame)
30 September
If you are thinking of attending a University Open Day, this blog might help you get the most out of it:
Welcome back to Term 3! A great occasion as our PK to Year 2 students, staff and parents moved over to the Lavalla campus on the first day of this term. Thank you to all staff for the work they achieved over the break to have everything ready and running for our students. I also thank parents for their support of the move. So many families commented on the facilities and the warmth of the welcome. New students and families started their 今日吃瓜 journey this term and I hope they are feeling settled and a part of the Family Spirit.
Emil and The Detectives plus Catholic Performing Arts Festival
Congratulations to the Arts team, Marist Auditorium team and the talented students who performed Emil and the Detectives on Thursday. Their last performance is tonight, Friday. The opening performance was fantastic and showcased the further development of the Arts at 今日吃瓜.
We are in the season of the Catholic Performing Arts Festival and Over 400 students are performing from our College over the next 6 weeks. Best of luck to our orchestras, ensembles, soloists, artists, dancers and actors. Following the Catholic Performing Arts season, we will host fellow Marist School, Sacred Heart College, Adelaide, for the Marist Music Exchange. What a great term to celebrate everything to do with our Arts and then lead into Term 4 events with Arts Week and the Dance Showcase, Art Exhibition and the final Music Night.
Celebrating Academic Success
On the Marcellin Campus (Secondary), we will be holding our first Celebration Assembly for Term 3. This assembly focuses on Semester 1 academic high achievement and sits with the beginning of Year Academic Assembly and end of Year Awards Night, as the most prestigious of academic celebrations in the College. We are really looking forward to recognising this achievement alongside the students鈥� parents who have been invited to the event.
Planting for the Future
Today, a group of Year 6 and Year 12 Student Leaders planted over 200 native plants and trees on the Tuscany Way embankment. This is the next stage of the planting program that began in 2023, and we thank the City of Stirling for the donation of such important plants and trees to support corridors of green for native animal habitats. In a few weeks, staff will also be planting another 300 plants as a part of their service program.
100 Days of School
What a great delight to visit Pre-Primary on Thursday to celebrate the fun of 100 days at school. We all enjoyed dressing up like Centenarians to celebrate their 100th day. Pre-Primary students kindly reminded me that I was closer to 100 than them, as I paraded my 鈥榓ged鈥� attire. A great laugh with the students and staff!
Newman Hearts Winter Edition
The second edition of Newman Hearts has been distributed electronically to families and the community. This publication is growing and doing a great job of providing more stories and photos of the great engagement of 今日吃瓜 students and alumni. I hope you enjoy the read.
Your Support
We have significant College events coming up in the weeks ahead. Assumption Day Mass and Fete, Marcellin (Secondary) Guild Athletics Carnival and Lavalla (Primary) Athletics Carnival. While I do not really need to remind primary students that they need to attend these events, I do have to remind secondary students that these are compulsory days to attend (excluding those Year 11-12 students who are required at TAFE for these days). With a few weeks to go before the events, I ask you to discuss at home the compulsory nature of such days. Thank you in advance.
Wishing all 今日吃瓜 Families a great fortnight ahead.
Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of joining Ms La Brooy, Leader of Learning 鈥� The Arts, and a group of students at the Opening Mass for the 2025 Performing Arts Festival, held at St Mary鈥檚 Cathedral. This Mass marks the beginning of a vibrant celebration of the arts within Catholic education.
Now in its 36th year, the Performing Arts Festival brings together more than 20,000 students from 162 Catholic schools across Western Australia. The Festival runs from 25 July to 5 September, with a wide variety of live and recorded performances taking place across multiple venues. We are excited to be hosting the Final Concert on Tuesday 16 September in our Marist Auditorium.
The Performing Arts Festival is a significant event in our College calendar, showcasing the creativity, talent and dedication of our students and staff. We look forward to seeing many of our students participate again this year.
Assumption Day Mass and Fete
Friday 15 August marks the Feast Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is also the patronal feast of the Institute of the Marist Brothers.
Our College community will celebrate Assumption Day with Mass, followed by Fete Day activities. Attendance on this day is compulsory for all students.
The Assumption Day Fete will raise funds for Australian Marist Solidarity (AMS). AMS is the international agency for aid and development work of the Marist Province of Australia throughout Asia and the Pacific Islands. All funds raised go towards supporting the projects of AMS, including the organisations our Year 11 Philippines Immersion students will visit later this year. Families can learn more about the work of Australian Marist Solidarity online:
Further information regarding the day will be provided to families in due course.
We look forward to our students joining with the Marist Brothers Community and Marists in celebration this special Feast Day.
Lavalla Carpark
As many of you know, we have been working to ensure a safe, smooth and efficient drop-off and pick-up experience for families. Thank you for your ongoing feedback and patience as we continue to refine this process.
We are still assessing whether the current left-turn only exit from the Lavalla carpark is effectively improving traffic flow, especially in the afternoons. To assist with this, we will trial allowing right turns from the carpark next week. During this period, we will closely monitor the impact on both safety and traffic movement.
Based on our observations, we will make a more permanent decision about exit directions by the end of the week.
Child Safeguarding
All children and young people who come to 今日吃瓜 have the right to feel and be safe. We are committed to providing a child-safe and child-friendly environment, one where they are protected, feel secure, and are empowered to actively participate in decisions that affect their lives.
The College places the highest importance on its child safeguarding responsibilities and is committed to providing the resources needed to uphold a child-safe culture and comply with all relevant child protection laws and regulations.
We have recently displayed posters in both the Marcellin and Primary reception areas to reaffirm our commitment to Child Safeguarding. These posters also include links to the College鈥檚 Child Safeguarding resources. All our information and policies concerning Child Safeguarding can be found here.
I was very fortunate last night to attend the Middle School production of Emil & The Detectives. I really enjoy these shows, and it is so heartwarming to see how well the students come together to produce something so amazing. One of the things I really enjoyed in the lead up to the show was reading the short biographies of all the students taking part. In their reflections on the show, many students spoke to the strong sense of belonging and connection opportunities like this bring. This is something that is so important to recognise.
For many students involved in the arts, shows like Emil & the Detectives are more than just giving a performance, they are moments to share their gifts, form strong friendships, and express themselves. Shows like this also help students build confidence and allow them to feel seen and valued for who they are, as well as the talents they bring to our community. Just as heartening for me, however, is the sight of so many students in the audience supporting and cheering on their peers. Their presence to each other reminds me of our great Marist sense of family spirit. In relating to each other in the same way as we would a loving family, it is a good reminder that we all have a part to play in building an inclusive, encouraging environment, where the value and worth of students can be uplifted as we share in each other’s successes and efforts.
As we come to the end of these first weeks of Term 3, I find myself in a space of deep gratitude for those staff, students, and families who support these endeavours. The P.E. staff preparing for a busy Athletics Carnival, our Game Changers mentors preparing for retreats, and of course our Arts team, who are constantly seeking new opportunities to build that sense of presence, family spirit, and love of work across our community. These are just some of the groups hard at work in our College, helping to shape our 鈥楳arist heart鈥�. These experiences remind us of the importance of a holistic education that is not just about learning outcomes, but also about forming young people who are confident, connected, and compassionate. My sincere thanks to everyone who continues to bring this spirit to life in so many meaningful ways.
Assumption Day
On Friday 15 August, we will come together to celebrate Assumption Day, a significant day in the life of the Church, and especially for us as a Marist school. The Feast of the Assumption is also the Feast Day of the Marist Brothers, and it holds deep meaning for those of us seeking to walk in the footsteps of Marcellin Champagnat.
We will celebrate with mass across our primary and secondary campuses, before celebrating the afternoon with our annual fete day. Students will be able to pre-order their lunch for the fete this year and have the chance to buy tickets in $5, $10 and $20 denominations so they can take part in the fete activities. Links for preordering lunches and purchasing tickets will be provided closer to the date. Importantly, all funds raised on the day will be going toward Australian Marist Solidarity, an organisation that supports vulnerable communities across Asia and the Pacific through education. This includes some of the organisations we visit as part of our Philippines Immersion, which will occur in late November again this year.
We look forward to welcoming students to what should be a beautiful day.
