For the past two weeks, Mr Will Hofman has been in the position of Acting Leader of Wellbeing Year 7 whilst Mr Scott Smith has been away on leave. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Will Hofman for the effortless way in which he has assumed responsibility for this cohort which has included the Year 7 Retreat in Week 6 and the Information Evening in Week 5. We look forward to welcoming back Mr Scott Smith in Week 7.
Information Evenings
Week 5 was the last of our Information Evenings for our cohorts on Marcellin Campus for this term. The Year 7 Information Evening had an incredible turnout with many parents and guardians attending along with their children. Our Year 7 students had the opportunity to sit with a parent/guardian and write a letter to their future self that they will have the opportunity to read in 2028 when they graduate. It was a heartwarming experience to witness animated and supportive discussions between our Year 7 students and their caregivers at such a significant transition point in their lives.
If you were unable to attend this event, please click the link below to access this presentation:
Year 12 Ball
Our Year 12 Ball is scheduled for this evening at Fraser鈥檚 Restaurant. It is a highlight of the Year 12 calendar and a wonderful way for our Class of 2023 to gather together and celebrate their achievements thus far with their Pastoral Care Group teachers and members of the College Leadership team. We look forward to sharing photos with the College Community via the College’s Facebook page and the next newsletter.
STEM School Holiday Program
Following successful programs held in the previous school holidays, we are pleased to announce the ECU School of Engineering STEM School Holiday Program 鈥� CREATE will be offered in April 2023. The one day workshops will be held on 11, 12 & 13 April. This program is offered at no cost to participating students.
CREATE is designed to support the teaching and learning of STEM subjects for students interested in STEM studies, and is suitable for students who will be enrolled in Years 9 to 12 in 2023.
Enclosed is a flyer outlining the program details along with the link to Trybooking. We kindly request you pass this to parents and/or students who will find this program beneficial. Places are still available and registration closes on 4 April 2023.
More information about this program can be obtained from the Administration Team, School of Engineering by email at se-create@ecu.edu.au or by telephone on 6304 2924.
Kind regards Fiona Hassell
Leader of Learning Science
Year 9 and Year 10 Students 鈥� Clearing the Air presentation
On Wednesday 15 March during Extended Pastoral Care Time, Azelene Williams will deliver a presentation to our Year 9 and Year 10 students. Azelene Williams is a registered Holistic Counsellor and Social Worker. Azelene will discuss key concepts and theories around vaping and nicotine addiction, connecting them to her own lived experience. The Vaping Clear the Air Presentation will cover areas such as:
Vape and E-cigarettes anatomy
Nicotine
Peer pressure and social norms
Lung disease
What you can do about vaping and e-cigarette issues, and
How to quit vaping.
Azelene will return to our College in Term 3 via Zoom to speak with our Year 7 and Year 8 students about the same topic. Further information about this presentation and the presenter can be accessed via this website:
Transperth 鈥� 83 Bus
We are aware of ongoing issues with the 83 bus that heads to City Beach which has been impacted by a change of times for another school. In our conversations with Transperth, they have reinstated the 83 bus which heads to the Perth Busport; however, have not reinstated the 83 bus that heads to City Beach. We have been informed by Transperth that they are conducting a review of the timetables and routes in May, and we have requested that the 83 bus to City Beach be reinstated or brought forward to an early time. Please be aware that this bus is currently not running and may impact students and their ability to get home.
Senior Student Blazers听
Students in Years 10 to 12 are required to have their blazers braided.听 The cost for this service is $25.00 payable at the time of drop off. The Uniform Shop will only accept blazers that have been听drycleaned with the drycleaning tag still attached.听听The last day for drop-off will be Friday 24 March.
The Lenten Season commenced this week. It is a season for honest reflection, repentance and commitment towards greater intimacy with God, and hence towards a more virtuous version of self. The Lenten experience has the power to transform our lives through this deeper and more intimate relationship with our Creator, God. At the heart of intimacy is the essence of truly knowing and being known by another (in-to-me-see). We often choose measurement language to describe the space in our intimacy levels. An intimate friend is one that we feel very 鈥榗lose鈥� to. They know us on a true and 鈥榙eep鈥� level. If the relationship diminishes in intimacy, we say our friend has become more 鈥榙istant鈥�. A relationship with a person who we do not know well can be described as having 鈥榮urface鈥� or 鈥榮hallow鈥� intimacy.
Intimacy is not about distance or depth, it is relational. We can feel distant from the person sitting right next to us, similarly we can feel close to a person living in a different country. Being present to someone in our Marist way, promotes intimacy and is based on trust. The quality of trust is at the heart of intimacy with God. The greater the trust, the closer we allow the relationship to be. When trust is undermined, intimacy suffers. Sacred scripture teaches that God is intimate with those who trust in Him. The more we trust in God, the more intimately we come to know His presence in our lives. When we feel disconnected and distant from God it is frequently linked to a breakdown in trust, such as sin, grief or disappointment. When we repent or repair and heal in a relationship, the intimacy returns. During lent, we take the time to grow our intimacy with God. We do this through honest reflection in prayer (the Latin root word for prayer is 鈥榓sk earnestly鈥�), repentance, giving to those in need, exercising detachment through various forms of fasting and a commitment to be better.
As a community we celebrated Shrove Tuesday in Marian, Lavalla, and Marcellin with pancake sales before school and at recess. Ash Wednesday liturgies occurred on 22 February in St Cecilia鈥檚 Church for our early year students, the Champagnat Chapel for students in Years 3 to 6, our College gymnasium for students in Years 7 to 11 and at the camping grounds in Serpentine for our Year 12 students who are on retreat. We are committed to supporting the work of Caritas Australia this lent through their largest fundraising drive, Project Compassion. Caritas is the Catholic Church鈥檚 international aid and development organisation. Project Compassion through Caritas 鈥渕obilises Australians to raise much-needed funds to help alleviate poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity in the most vulnerable and marginalised communities in the world鈥�.
Newman students in the Game Changers group and students from Years 10 and 11 have experienced international immersions into the third world countries, like the countries Project Compassion supports. These experiences open their eyes and hearts to the needs of those in the developing world. Project Compassion has been launched at school and we encourage families to support this worthy cause.
High Achievers Assembly听听
We congratulate the Class of 2022 on their achievements as a graduating class. Their successes are evident not only in their results, but in their contribution to the College. We had an opportunity to celebrate our top achieving students last week, who returned for our High Achievement Assembly. Alumni and High Achiever, Max Hobson delivered an authentic and insightful speech at the Assembly. He acknowledged the challenges associated with the pressures of final year of school and reiterated the importance of each person finding their own pathway to graduation, one that aligns with both passion and area of skill.
Marist Association Gathering
The Marist Association gathered last Wednesday in the Champagnat Chapel.听 There were discussions and a survey about the future of the Association. It was a time to reconnect as a companion group.听 The Marist theme for 2023 鈥淐reated and Called: A revolution of love and tenderness鈥� was introduced with prayer sessions and reflection.
KG -Year 6, 8, 9 and 10 Information Evenings
Thank you to students and parents for attending the Information Evenings over the last two weeks. The Information Evenings are important occasions for parents and students to attend. We take the opportunity to introduce the classroom and PCG teachers and leaders and share information about the journey ahead. These nights set the tone for a productive year.
Lion King Cast
Primary students were invited to audition for the College Junior School Production the Lion King. Congratulations to all the students who auditioned and thank you for your wonderfully positive attitudes during the audition process. Thank you to the staff who undertook the rehearsals and discernment process for selection. Congratulations to the students who have been chosen to be part of the cast. It is promising to be an amazing show. Rehearsals will commence in Term 2. Thank you specifically to Producer, Yvonne Wiese and Director, Ava Bilton.听
Fame Rehearsals
鈥淔ame鈥� is the Senior School Production for this year. Auditions will take place on Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 March at the Marist Auditorium. Documentation has been released outlining the Audition process in more detail.
Rehearsals commence Tuesday 2 May followed by a compulsory parent meeting which will detail technical and dress rehearsals.听All rehearsals and performances will be held at 今日吃瓜 in the Marist Auditorium.听
Year 7 to 12 Swimming Carnival
The Swimming Carnival showcases the talents of many students, there is fierce competition and much enjoyment and novelty. This year eight records were broken, and many special moments occurred on the day. I am told one such moment was the spontaneous singing of the whole Year 12 cohort in the novelty pool. They renditioned the crowd with a verse of the Sub Tuum, our College song.
Many thanks to all the staff and parents who attended to support the students. A special thanks to the Health and Physical Education, Guild, PCG and Leader of Wellbeing staff. It was the first carnival for the new Leader of Sport, Mrs Marnie Barrett, supported by our new Sporting Administration Assistant, Ms Kate Thayer and Deputy Principal (Acting), Mrs Sarah Ellam. They did a magnificent role in organising the day.
School Curriculum and Standards Authority Exhibition and Awards Ceremony
On Friday 17 February, the School Curriculum and Standards Authority held a ceremony in recognition of students who achieved General, Subject and VET Exhibition Awards. Saskia Wigley from the Class of 2022 was invited to receive recognition for Outdoor Education ATAR. We congratulate Saskia on this significant award.
Year 12 Retreat
The Year 12 Retreat was this week, and I had the pleasure visiting the students and staff in Serpentine for the Ash Wednesday liturgy.听 I thank the students for the way in which they immersed themselves in this very significant and reflective opportunity. Year on year in the exit survey, Year 12 students note that the retreat was the highlight of the final year of school life.听 For many students, this will be their last opportunity to take the time to reflect on their place in the world, their connection to God and to each other.听 In many ways, Retreat is a significant rite of passage for our students as they prepare to conclude their secondary education and go off to carve a life for themselves in the world beyond Newman.听听
今日吃瓜 Advisory Council
The College Advisory Council convened its first meeting of the year on Thursday evening. Our Advisory Council is integral to the governance of our College. Our Advisory Council provides advice and support to me as Principal (Acting) and the College Executive Leadership Team in the governance of our school. Each member of our Advisory Council is appointed by Marist Schools Australia and comprises both parents and community members with diverse experience in a variety of disciplines.
The members of the College Advisory Council for 2023 are, from left in the photograph.
Br Terry Orrell
Ms Christine Antoine (Minute Secretary)
Mr Stephen Lee (Chair)
Ms Kim Boekeman
Ms Nerreda Hillier
Dr Lucie McCrory (Principal, Term 1)
Mr Joseph Burke
Mr Steve Halley-Wright (Director of Finance)
Mr Greg Wheeler (Deputy Chair; Chair of Finance Committee)
** Absent Andrew Watson (Principal, Term 2)
Events Ahead
We look forward to the significant events occurring in the next two weeks, which include the Newman Parents Year Group Representative and Executive Induction on Monday 27 February, continuation of NAS Sports, the Year 7 Information Evening on Wednesday 1 March, Year 10 Allwell Testing on Tuesday 7 March, IPSHA Swimming Carnival for Primary on Thursday 9 March, Reconciliation for Year 5 and Year 6, and the Year 12 Ball on Friday 10 March.
Wishing our families every blessing for the weeks ahead.
Thank you to our families for the wonderful start we have made to 2023. There have been many events and so much learning happening across the PK-12 Community. Our community continues to exude our Marist characteristics of Family Spirit and Love of work in everything that we do.听
As previously communicated, we are using the Newsletter as our main form of communication for our families regarding upcoming College events and key dates. Please refer to the Key Events/Dates section for important information scheduled to occur over the next two weeks.
Lent
Lent is an important part of the Church鈥檚 calendar, and as such, 今日吃瓜 celebrated the beginning of lent through a range of activities. I encourage you to read our Ministry & Catholic Identity pod to see images and read about what occurred.听
Parent Information Evenings
It has been a pleasure to welcome families to the College to give them important information regarding the year ahead. Classroom teachers, Leaders of Wellbeing and College Leadership have enjoyed being able to share our vision and hopes for your children in 2023. The evenings have undertaken a renewal with our Pastoral Care Teachers having the opportunity to engage in goal-setting with families. We hope you have enjoyed this partnership and collaboration.听
Year 7鈥檚 parent information evening is on Wednesday 1 March. Refer to the details found in the Key Events/Dates or Deputy Principal Secondary sections
Youth Ministry and Advocacy 2023
The College is committed to engagement with the mission and expression of the Church through opportunities for reflection and practical works of outreach rounded in catholic social teaching. With a large range of activities occurring across the College and different agencies, every year we provide information to our families about areas where students can become involved. Please click to read about the opportunities available to our students and families.听
NAPLAN
There have been significant changes in the reporting of NAPLAN results for 2023 onwards. New proficiency standards with 4 levels of achievement for each year level will replace the previous 10-band structure. NAPLAN will continue to measure student achievement in numeracy, reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and punctuation in years 3,5,7 & 9.听
NAPLAN Individual Student Report
The numerical NAPLAN bands and the national minimum standard will be replaced by the following 4 levels of achievement:
鈥� Exceeding
鈥� Strong
鈥� Developing
鈥� Needs additional support.
Each category will have descriptors aimed to assist parents in understanding what their child鈥檚 literacy and numeracy skills are at the time of NAPLAN testing.
If your child is in the Strong or Exceeding category, it means they have demonstrated proficiency and that their literacy or numeracy skills are where they should be at this stage of their schooling. If your child has not yet achieved proficiency, then they will either be in the Developing category or the Needs additional support category.
These changes in the NAPLAN measurement scale will mean that 2023 NAPLAN results will no longer be able to be directly compared to previous NAPLAN results.
Year 9 Students
Previously in Western Australia, Band 8 data has been used to determine if students have met the minimum literacy and numeracy requirements, and informed parents, students and schools whether the student would be required to sit the Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (OLNA), which is required for achievement of the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) at the end of Year 12. With the changes in the reporting of NAPLAN, the School Curriculum and Standards Authority will now report to the College to indicate whether a student has or has met the minimum literacy and numeracy requirements and whether they are required to sit the components of OLNA (reading, writing and numeracy). This information will in turn, be provided to parents.
Beth Murphy 听 DEPUTY PRINCIPAL TEACHING AND LEARNING PK-12
Marist Football Club 鈥� Auskick to Year 12
Registrations for Marist Football Club are now open.听 Please click 听for further information on how to register.
The High Achiever鈥檚 Assembly, held on Wednesday 15 February, saw the return of 27 students from the Class of 2022 who achieved success in their studies across Year 11 and Year 12. We celebrated some outstanding results as we acknowledged those students who achieved a Certificate of Distinction, a Certificate of Merit and/or an ATAR of 90+, which placed them in the top 10% of students in Western Australia. We celebrated our top-performing VET student, our Principal鈥檚 Award winner for the highest ATAR in the graduating class of 2023 and acknowledged exceptional achievement by Saskia Wigley in the Outdoor Education ATAR Examination. Max Hobson (Class of 2022) was invited to address the current students and staff of 今日吃瓜; he spoke with authenticity and honesty as he shared his journey on an ATAR pathway.听听
Guild Swimming Carnival
The Guild Swimming Carnival was a successful occasion with much credit owed to our hard-working and dedicated Health and Physical Education staff, and our enthusiastic and passionate Guild Coordinators. Many records were broken on this day by some incredible athletes. We look forward to their continued success as they approach the ACC A Division Athletics Carnival.听听
Year 8 and Year 9 Information Evenings
Our Year 8 and Year 9 Information evenings were held on Monday 20 February. Our incoming principal Mr Andrew Watson, who officially commences his time at the College in Term 2, was in attendance. It was a wonderful opportunity for our Year 8 and Year 9 families to come together, and meet their child鈥檚 Pastoral Care Group teachers. Both cohorts participated in sessions with their Pastoral Care Group teachers; Year 8 focused on growth mindset and Year 9 worked on articulating their own SMART goals.
Year 7 Information Evening
Our Year 7 Information Evening is scheduled for Wednesday 1 March and commences at 6.00pm in the Auditorium. After the presentation, students and parents/guardians will move into the John Henry Newman Learning Hub for a session with their PCG teachers.听 Click for details.听
Year 10 Information Session (Video Link)听
Thank you Year 10 Parents for your patience. Please find below the link to the Year 10 Information Session. Click
Please direct any queries to either; David Husband, Leader of Wellbeing Year 10
This week I have had the great pleasure of spending the week at Serpentine Camping Centre on retreat with our Year 12 students. The theme of the retreat has been Who am I? Who do I want to be? and Who are those sharing in my journey? Students have spent time together in fellowship, reflection, and prayer as they considered these questions and more. The participation and enthusiasm shown by students throughout the retreat has been excellent, and for many students, it has been an emotional and deeply reflective experience. We look forward to welcoming our Year 12 students back to school next week, where we hope they will continue to grow and develop in the fullness of who God intends them to be.
Shrove Tuesday
On Tuesday, we celebrated Shrove Tuesday across all three of our campuses with pancakes on sale. Students were able to purchase pancakes to enjoy in the morning and at recess, with all proceeds going towards Project Compassion. The tradition of pancakes for Shrove Tuesday comes from a time when families would seek to purify themselves in the lead-up to the beginning of Lent and remove from their homes any of the food they were foregoing for Lent. Traditionally this included eggs, fats, milk, and sugar 鈥� all the ingredients we use to make pancakes today.
Although Shrove Tuesday is a great day to enjoy pancakes, it has another, more significant meaning too. Shrove Tuesday comes from the word shrive meaning 鈥榓bsolve鈥� which means to be declared free of guilt or punishment. As the last day before the start of Lent, Shrove Tuesday is a day of self-examination where we can consider what sins we needed to repent of and what changes we can make to our lives so we can live more according to the teachings of Jesus.
Ash Wednesday
On Wednesday, students across the College gathered in their respective campuses to celebrate Ash Wednesday with a Liturgy that reflected the significance of this day. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent 鈥� a time when we can focus on our spiritual lives, as well as deepening our relationship with God through the practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Students received ashes as a symbol of our mortality, and also our desire to repent and turn away from sin.
The Gospel message of the day (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18) recalls Jesus鈥� call to us to go out and do good quietly in this world 鈥� not to parade our good deeds in front of others, or only commit to acts of generosity because of the way it might help us be perceived. This is a beautiful message for our students to take on; to act with a gentle strength and a humble nature in fulfilling the teachings of Jesus.
Project Compassion Launch
This year, Caritas Australia鈥檚 launch of Project Compassion for Western Australian schools was conducted online. It was led by Servite College and St Kieran鈥檚 Catholic Primary School students, with the support of Deacon Paul Reid, Community Engagement Animator WA/SA for Caritas Australia.
The event was live-streamed and was attended by 20 of our students across the Lavalla & Marcellin Campus. The program was designed to be interactive which enabled our students to interact with others across Western Australia. The launch commenced with a Liturgy and concluded with a traditional 鈥榩ancake tea鈥� which gave our students an opportunity to reflect on the morning. During the workshops, our students created an action plan which they will drive as leaders of the College to support the mission and works of Caritas.
Our Vision for Mission calls us to serve humanity and raise up those experiencing poverty. At 今日吃瓜, we commit to supporting Caritas鈥� Project Compassion every year during Lent. This is an opportunity for our school to raise funds to support underprivileged societies around the world.
The theme of Project Compassion 2023 is 鈥楩or All Future Generations鈥�. Together, we can create lasting change for people living in some of the most vulnerable and low-income regions in the world.
You can read more about Project Compassion for 2023
Upcoming Events
There are a number of important events coming up over these next few weeks in the Ministry calendar:
Tuesday 28 February: Year 11 World Religions Excursion
Tuesday 28 March: Game Changers Launch
Wednesday 1 March: First Marist Connect Night
Thursday 2 March: Year 6 Confirmation Retreat
Thursday 9 March: Year 7 Retreat
Community Mass
It was wonderful to see everyone at our first Thursday morning Community Mass or 2023 this week, which was hosted by Brigid Guild and Year 6 Red.
The whole College community is warmly invited to join us in the Champagnat Chapel at 8.10am on Thursday mornings for Mass celebrated by one of our local Parish Priests and hosted by our students from Marcellin and Lavalla.
