½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï

Child Safeguarding

Catholic schools are entrusted in partnership with parents/guardians, with the total education of the child. In our College, every aspect of the child’s experience should reflect exemplary pastoral care which prioritises the best interests of the child or young person. Our staff hold this responsibility as an integral part of their vocation and overall commitment to the lives of all young people in their care.

In recent weeks, our Child Protection processes and procedures were affirmed by relevant regulatory authorities.

At ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï this imperative underpins the faith and learning experiences that we provide for our students. Under the governance of Marist Schools Australia and working with Catholic Education WA, our College is strategically focused on ensuring that all staff and community groups have undergone specific Child Protection training. Supporting and embedding this training has included the following strategies:

• Whole school approach to compliance, safeguarding and professional learning
• Fortnightly communication via the College newsletter
• Newman Parents Consultative Committee / Newman Parent information seminars
• Delivery of the Keeping Safe Child Protection curriculum, K-12
• Student Wellbeing Programs facilitated by Leaders of Wellbeing and College Counselling Team
• Promotion of student wellbeing and student voice

In response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the Catholic Professional Standards Limited (CPSL) were created and reflect the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

Marist Schools Australia has adopted these Standards and, as such, ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï will launch its Child Safeguarding suite of policies at the commencement of 2021, replacing the current Child Protection Policy and associated procedures.

½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï is committed to the effective implementation of the Child Safeguarding Program and ensuring that it is appropriately reviewed and updated. We adopt a risk management approach by identifying key risk indicators and assessing child safety risks based on a range of factors including the nature of our College’s activities, physical and online environments and the characteristics of the student body.

Our Child Safeguarding Program relates to all aspects of child safety and protecting children from abuse, grooming and other harm; and establishes work systems, practices, policies and procedures to protect children from abuse and to create and maintain a child safe environment and culture at the College.

Tuition Fees 2021

Following a detailed review of our income and expenditure, ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï Council has made several important decisions relating to fees and charges across the PK-12 school in 2021.

Our priority is to ensure every child can enjoy a comprehensive Catholic education. I recognise that 2020 has been a difficult year for many families with the advent of the Covid-19 Pandemic. This crisis has given us the opportunity to reflect on how we are best able to support families in the ongoing enrolment of their children at ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï. Through feedback and consultation, 2021 will see the implementation of a number of important changes that will provide security and surety for families. This includes the significant decision not to increase tuition fees in 2021. In addition, a 10% discount has been extended to the second child of each family, along with further changes to our family fee structure. Please click here to view.

Art Festival Highlights

Our annual Arts Festival has been conducted over the past two weeks. It was an amazing showcase of the creative talents and gifts of our students and staff.  The festival (danced off) with our Dance Showcase Divergence which was an outstanding success. In the week that followed, we held two open days that saw hundreds of families come through to view the exemplary visual and creative arts of our students across the College. Thank you to our Arts Festival Committee and our staff for creating a truly memorable experience.

Year 6 Camp

Year 6 students were finally able to attend their camp at Forest Edge Recreation Camp in Waroona. It was a jam-packed three days for our students in a variety of activities that challenged them to go outside their comfort zone and to work as a team. The problem-solving skills that emerged, let alone the courage and resilience, truly exemplified our Vision for Learning, Shine through Discovery.

Most pleasing was the way the cohort came together and the enjoyment that was obvious in their participation and respect they had for each other.

Leadership

Leadership development is integral to building student confidence, self-worth, resilience and the capacity to bring people together. At ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï, our leadership is inspired by the Gospel imperatives of faith, love and hope, exemplified in the words of Christ… I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

As a community we seek to serve others, to be transformative and engage in relationships that respect the dignity of each person. We ask our students to look beyond the boundaries of the school and to consider our local, national and world contexts in determining what actions we take and to an extent how we lead.

This week I was pleased to be present to our Year 5 Leadership Retreat which challenged our students to reflect on what it means to be a leader on our Lavalla Campus. The response of our students has been immense and many have risen to the challenges that leadership brings to the table.

This has also been evident at our Marcellin Campus, exemplified by our first Principal’s Assembly, led by our newly minted Student Leaders for 2021. Our first assembly for Term 4 not only reflected on the wonderful gifts and talents of our students but on the responsibility our whole community has to support people in need. Please click here to view my Assembly speech.

In our community, a group of Year 11 Remar students spent last Friday night on the streets of Perth serving meals and supporting the most vulnerable in our community. Significantly for our students, was the reality of actually being present to homeless people whose lives have been compromised by mental illness, unemployment, disability, addiction and stories very different to our own.

We are very privileged in our community to be able to have many choices. To that end, it is incumbent upon us as a Marist school to seek the opportunities that will empower us to make a difference in the world and to support people in need.

As we move towards Christmas, our school will again commit to supporting the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. I urge you to give generously. I urge you to become aware of the social issues that affect families this Christmas, as many people will go without.  It is our responsibility, with what we have to give, and serve and support others.

The Sunset Vibes Vocal Showcase is being held at the Marist Auditorium at 5.00pm – 6.30pm, Sunday 8 November 2020. You will be entertained by solo and ensemble choral performances in a range of styles including folk, contemporary, jazz and gospel by vocal students in Years 7-11. Register for the free event .

 

Sing and String Showcase is being held on Wednesday 18 November 2020 in the Marist Auditorium, 4.00pm – 5.30pm. The showcase will feature solo and groups performances by the vocal and strings students from Lavalla Campus. Ensembles performing at this event include the Lavalla Choir, the Year 3 String Ensemble, Scherzando Strings and Vivace Strings as well as a guest performance by the Marcellin Chamber String Ensemble. Register for the free event .

 

The Year 7 Music Collective is being held on Wednesday 18 November 2020 in the Marist Auditorium, 6.30pm – 8.00pm. The concert showcases the musical talents of ½ñÈճԹϒs Year 7 students, many of whom have only studied their instrument for a year. The evening will consist of performances in a range of musical styles by the Year 7 Rock Band, Choir, Concert Band and selected soloists and small groups. Register for the free event

 

Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. She’s unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. Over the course of her first term at school, Matilda and Miss Honey have a profound effect on each other’s lives, as Miss Honey begins not only to recognize but also appreciate Matilda’s extraordinary personality.
Matilda’s school life isn’t completely smooth sailing, however – the school’s mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don’t abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils’ saving grace! Packed with high-energy dance numbers, catchy songs and an unforgettable star turn for a young actress, Matilda the Musical is a joyous girl power romp. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.
This play will be brought to life by ½ñÈճԹϒs students across Years 5-12, in the stunning Neman College Marist Auditorium.

November is a time where we remember the people in our life who have passed away. The month begins with the Feast of All Saints Day and followed by All Souls Day. Staff, students and families are invited to write the names of loved ones and place it in the glass bowl in the Chapel foyer during November and the names will be brought forward and remembered during Community Mass.

A common prayer prayed at this time and one you are invited to pray during this month is:

Eternal rest grant unto them,
O Lord, and let perpetual light
shine upon them. May the souls
of all the faithful departed, through
the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Remar Blue Solidarity Retreat Day

On Friday 30 October our Remar Blue students participated in a full day of education and opportunities to provide assistance to people experiencing homelessness in Perth and learn about how we can be practice caretakers of people and the planet.

We went to Vinnies Stirling, most us of us know that this is an op shop that sells cheap clothing. What we did not know was that if people find themselves in situation like their house burning down, Vinnies gives vouches to those affected to obtain clothes for free.

We also went to Passages, a youth stay where young people ages 13-25 can come in to rest and sort out situations they might find themselves in. Everyday there are professionals like doctors, Centrelink workers, lawyers and mental health professionals that come and help the young people. What struck me the most was that young people are able to come back and be themselves; all the staff ask is that they be respectful, even if they act up they are allowed back in after a walk outside to calm down.

We were given a talk in which we learnt about the operations and key details about Tom Fisher House, a shelter for people experiencing long term homelessness and were excited to learn that the people who use the service are able to bring in their pets, no other shelter allows this to occur.

We ended the experience by going into the city to meet people who are suffering from homelessness and handing out fruit bags we had made. This was a challenging experience but the most impactful as we had learnt more and more about the issue of homelessness and the people affected by it.

Student Reflection:

“Last Friday, the Year 11 Remar students experienced an eye opening retreat focusing on the stewardship of creation. During the excursion, we looked at ways to care for our world, specifically in relation to upholding the dignity of the human person, which is particularly compromised when people suffer from homelessness.

One of the organisations that we were lucky enough to visit was Passages, a day-service which offers youth experiencing homelessness with legal, financial and health support, as well as assisting them in finding safe accommodation for the night. With the service’s particular focus on helping youth aged 13-25, it was particularly confronting learning of the struggles which children our own age battle with daily. Passages also provides simple assistance in every-day skills, such as washing dishes, cooking and cleaning, as well as offering a free pantry, showers and a washing machine. This not only provides these young people with the basic necessities, but also allows them the dignity of having clean clothes and a choice of food. The experience was extremely educational, challenging stereotypes that many of us held around the issue. We learned how drug and alcohol abuse are usually symptoms of homelessness rather than causes and usually manifest as coping mechanisms for past trauma.

Neeve, the lovely manager, along with the rest of the staff, were kind and accommodating, as well as extremely knowledgeable and the passion and love they have for their work was clear for all to see. It was inspiring for us to see how just small acts of kindness can make such a big difference. The simplicity of providing a can of beans or veggies can help one person get through a long weekend, especially if they are fighting to survive on the street.

It was an exhilarating experience and the knowledge that organisations, such as Passagers, exist in Western Australia to help those experiencing homelessness was a comfort to us all and I’m sure we are all now more motivated to work in fighting and promoting awareness of such an important issue.

Thank you to Vinnies for supporting us by taking us on tours and Felicity Keet (ex-Newman student) for her eye-opening presentation. ” Taylah Sadgrove

Game Changers Launch

In the coming weeks, the current Years 9 and 10 students will participate in a Game Changers recruitment session during extended PCG. We hope they look forward to learning more about the program and getting engaged in the activities. Students will be able to join up next year with a greater understanding of the program.

Archbishops Christmas Appeal for Lifelink 2020 video Launch

On Tuesday 3 November, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe launched the annual Christmas Appeal for the Archdiocese. This year’s launch included a new video introducing Lifelink and the services this organisation provides across WA. ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï was fortunate to be part of the new video, where our 2020 College Captain, Mitchell Harris and Social Justice Captain, Charlotte Easden, participated in and helped create the final product.  to watch the video. Congratulations to all schools and students involved in creating this important video that encourages us all to remember the most vulnerable.

Thursday morning Community Mass

A reminder to all families to please join our College community in celebrating Mass on Thursday mornings from 8.10am (concludes at 8.40am).

Student-Led Prayer

Today our 2021 Faith and Liturgy Captains led the students at Marcellin Campus in a reflection for the final time in 2020.