今日吃瓜

It is a great pleasure to welcome back all families to the beginning of another term, though if you are like me, you might be scratching your head wondering how we found ourselves in the middle of another year so quickly!

One of the most important things we speak with students about when beginning a new term is the聽expectations聽we have for聽them. This includes聽not only聽the ways we want students to engage in class and the聽approach聽they take to their learning,聽but also the expectations we have for students in how they treat聽each other and聽interact in the classroom and playground.聽This year, the College has been working to develop some important norms and聽non-negotiables聽around both the teaching and learning of students, and the behaviours and actions of students. These have been designed with one thing in mind聽鈥撀燾ommunity. It is about creating a safe, consistent experience for all students and staff within our school, and makes clear and visible the things that are most important聽when it comes to creating an effective learning environment.聽These norms will become an important focus for students over the course of this term, and聽the year ahead. It is聽my聽hope that all students can achieve the behaviours and actions that have been set out, and work to help build a strong community of聽learners that reflect the Marist values of our College.

Click here to view the 今日吃瓜 Norms.

Highlights from Past Two Weeks

Parent Teacher Interviews聽

I would like to thank all of the students, families, and teachers for the positive way they engaged in the parent-teacher interview process. It was great聽to walk around the campus and see lots of conversations taking place, goals being discussed, and plans put in place for another semester聽of learning. Parents should know that even though we offer a formal meeting period throughout the year, they are welcome to be in touch聽with their child鈥檚 teacher聽at any time聽to discuss聽the learning or progress of their child.聽We look forward to building on the positive parent-teacher relationships over the second half of the year.

Cross Country聽

Last week we ran the final race of our Cross Country Carnival 鈥� a re-racing of our Year 5 boys race! We were fortunate to enjoy聽some beautiful weather, and it was great to see students enjoying the event so much. A big congratulations to Luke聽Rombouts, Dylan聽Hookway, and Mitchell Short who were crowned as our winners for the day. The final results of the carnival will be announced at next week鈥檚 assembly.聽Meanwhile, students have been busy聽preparing聽in the cool early mornings聽before school聽for the Interschool Cross Country聽Carnival聽which takes place in a couple of聽weeks time聽in Bunbury.聽We are sure all of our runners will do us proud!聽

Dance Troupe聽

Students in the聽Lavalla聽Dance troupe have been very busy lately rehearsing for the聽Wakakirri聽Festival聽鈥� a national competition that invites schools to present a story-dance that reflects students鈥� thoughts, ideas, and aspirations. Our students will have one of their final rehearsals for this event on Monday 2 August, with a community performance taking place in the Marist Auditorium at 2.45pm which all families are welcome to attend. Students will then perform at the聽Wakakirri聽concert later that week at the聽Parth聽Concert Hall on Thursday 5 August. We wish our students all the best as they compete, and recognise the efforts of students, families, and especially our Performing Arts teacher Amy聽Raveendrakumar, in helping students be ready for the day!

Arts Club

We have been very fortunate this year to have an Arts Club running each lunchtime on Tuesdays under the guidance of some of our Year 6 students. I am very proud of the lengths these girls have gone to, to provide an experience for many of our younger students, and their dedication to giving back to their school community. Their actions this year are the best example yet of how leadership is not about wearing a badge, it is about actions and they example we set for others. This term, students attending Arts Club will be working on designing a puppet for a competition, with winning entries having the chance to have their puppet constructed by a team of professionals. We are very grateful to the Year 6 girls who have taken this venture on, and also to our Visual Arts teacher Amy Farrell who has helped guide the girls this year too.

Parent messaging

It has come to our attention that towards the end of last term, and this term also, some parents have been messaging their children directly during class time via the iPad, and students messaging parents directly also. I cannot explain how distracting this can be in the day of a student and the interruptions it can cause to learning. It can also create problems in the office when parents arrive unexpectedly to collect their children. If students or parents need to contact each other during the day, it is to occur through a phone call to the office where we can deliver any messages to students. Students will be reminded next week that any messaging during class time falls outside the appropriate use of ICT and a consequence will be put in place as per the school鈥檚 ICT policy. If you are concerned for your child during the day, please just let you child鈥檚 teacher know and we can be in touch to offer support.

Coder Dojo

Coder Dojo will recommence in Week 3 on Tuesdays from 3.30pm – 4.30pm. All students are welcome to attend, if they would like to take part in coding activities

Lost Property

In the school holidays, I visited my Mum and was telling her about the large amount of lost property we seem to accumulate at the school. We can have a laugh about it now, but when I was at school, coming home without your jumper or school blazer meant you might as well start packing your bags and hit the road! My Mum, who grew up in Ireland as a young girl, told me how they had one jumper in school, and if you lost it there was no replacing it. She can even remember as a child taking knitting and sewing lessons as a Year 4 student, where they would make their jumper for the following school year! I wonder what would happen if made kids do that today! In all seriousness though, many of our lost property issues can be solved if students or parents label their child鈥檚 clothes and hats. While teachers encourage students to look after their things as much as possible, it is the responsibility of the student to care for and look after their things. Hopefully this term, we will see a reduction in the number of school blazers, hats, and sports jackets especially which seem to make up the bulk of our items.

Important Information For The Next Two Weeks

There are a very busy couple of weeks ahead in the聽Lavalla聽calendar. Look out for the following events on the horizon:

• Wakakirri Dance Troupe Community Performance – Monday 2 August
• BRLA Testing Year 5 – Wednesday 4 August
• BRLA Testing Year 3 鈥� Thursday 5 August
• Wakakirri Dance Concert – Thursday 5 August
• 3 Green Assembly 鈥� Friday 6 August
• Wellbeing Week 鈥� Monday 9 August 鈥� Thursday 12 August
• Assumption Buddy Day – Tuesday 10 August
• IPSHA Cross Country – Thursday 12 August
• Pupil Free Day 鈥� Friday 13 August

Return to Term 3聽

A warm welcome back to all our聽Newman聽families.聽聽I am very聽grateful that聽our state was able to聽return to聽post lockdown聽freedoms聽to enjoy the holiday聽period,聽and聽to聽return to school聽as normal.聽聽I trust that all families enjoyed the break聽from the daily聽routine and聽hope聽that you聽had the opportunity to聽relax,聽be present聽to each other聽and聽spend time together.聽I would like to reassure families聽that should another聽lockdown聽event occur, the College is聽well-prepared to move to聽our聽Remote Learning聽Plan聽at short notice.

College Production 鈥� Little Shop of Horrors聽

The Little Shop of Horrors was hugely entertaining. I enjoyed the pure spunk of all the actors, the amazing set and of course the music, dancing, lighting and costumes. What a show! Angela and Fraser beautifully depicted the ingenious mix of sweetness and dangerous naivety. Mr聽Mushnik鈥檚聽presence was strong and Doctor Orin Scrivello owned his evil character with pizazz. My favourite scene, besides the closing surprise (ssssh) was the wicked but humorous musical number 鈥楤e a Dentist鈥�. Massive congrats to all the cast, crew and staff who have dedicated their time and energy to put together a thoroughly entertaining masterpiece.

I highly recommend getting a group together and making a night聽of it聽(or day聽–聽matinee!).聽My聽11 year old daughter,聽Zoe,聽absolutely聽loved it.聽So perfect for families聽with upper Primary kids聽and聽older.

To purchase you ticket please

贰惫别苍迟蝉听

• Catholic Schools Performing Arts Festival聽– I was delighted to attend the official opening ceremony of the Catholic Performing Arts Festival program on 22 July at St Mary鈥檚 Cathedral.聽 Our students will be involved in a number of events throughout August, and we look forward to being present at their performances to enjoy the fruits of their hard work and dedication.
• Athletics Carnival, Marcellin Campus – The Secondary school community looks forward to participating and competing at the Athletics Carnival at Challenge Stadium on Thursday 5 August.聽 We hope that all students engage with the day鈥檚 events to support their Guild and year group.

Newman Parents Consultative Committee Meeting (NPCC)聽

Parents and guardians are encouraged to attend聽our next meeting on Monday 9 August, commencing聽7.00pm聽in the Marist Auditorium.聽 This forum provides an opportunity to hear from members of the College leadership, to聽learn聽about the strategic directions of the College and聽to seek聽feedback about concerns聽parents聽may have.聽聽 We look forward to seeing our families represented.

Fourviere Day聽聽

Last Friday marked the 205-year anniversary聽of聽Fourviere聽Day, when the first twelve aspiring Marists climbed the hill in Lyon, France, to pledge聽their聽intent to found a Society of Mary. They聽made聽this聽promise聽in聽the shrine of Our Lady of聽Fourviere.聽Their unwavering聽commitment and intent to bring about a better world by making Christ known and loved by students, has resulted in, today,聽over 600 000 students being educated under the Marist charism. St Marcellin Champagnat, along with the other eleven priests and seminarians, have shown us what is possible with聽an聽intent, presence, simplicity聽and a desire to love God in the way of Mary.聽Marist Colleges around the globe are renowned for their ethos founded on a sense of 鈥榝amily spirit鈥櫬燼nd a 鈥榣ove of work鈥�.

Looking to the Horizon聽

We are facing unprecedented challenges on a worldwide scale; social, economic, technological and environmental. These forces are providing society with multiple new opportunities and avenues for human advancement. It has been said many times that the future remains uncertain, we cannot predict what is normal or next, we need to be open and ready for whatever tomorrow brings. The children entering education in 2022 will be young adults in the early to mid 2030s. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development鈥檚 Learning Framework 2030 stated that schools must prepare students 鈥渇or jobs that have not yet been created, for technologies that have not yet been invented, to solve problems that have not yet been anticipated. It will be a shared responsibility to seize opportunities and find solutions. To navigate through such uncertainty, students will need to develop curiosity, imagination, resilience and self-regulation; they will need to respect and appreciate the ideas, perspectives and values of others; and they will need to cope with failure and rejection, and to move forward in the face of adversity. Their motivation will extend beyond getting a good job and a high income; they will also need to care about the well-being of their friends and families, their communities and the planet.鈥�

Future Initiatives聽聽

• In order to stay at the forefront of educational innovation and to promote future focussed student engagement, the College is committed to ongoing partnerships with industry, student and teacher feedback and professional learning and growth planning for our staff, who are the key force behind student learning and engagement. Among other initiatives, next year the College will be moving to Teams and OneNote for the delivery of teaching and learning. The Primary years will continue to integrate Seesaw as an additional learning and engagement platform.
• New Roles 2022:聽聽This week, the College will advertise for a Director of Learning Technology and Spaces and a Director of Transformational Learning. These two PK-12 leaders will work closely with the Senior Leadership Team to keep the College looking to the horizons, to upskill our staff and renew our learning spaces, for improved student outcomes.
• Kindergarten Flexibility:聽聽We understand that a number of families in our community would benefit from greater flexibility when entering children into our Kindergarten Program. Therefore, from 2022 and beyond we will be expanding our offering to include a five-day and a four-day Kindergarten Program, alongside our three-day offering. Impacted families will be contacted by email and telephone in the coming week, which will provide an opportunity to indicate their family鈥檚 preferences.

Storm Damage, Update

As communicated during the holidays, the unprecedented storm that moved across Perth on Friday 9 July caused damage to the St John Henry Learning Hub.聽 We are continuing to work with our insurance company, builder and associated contractors to complete the repairs in a timely manner.

We were delighted to聽have been able to聽identify聽the聽Good Samaritan聽who stepped in聽to assist聽staff with reducing the聽flooding and聽resultant聽damage in the Marian Campus Hall.聽聽It was聽none other聽than our聽very own parent聽Mr Chris聽Hazebroek. We聽acknowledged聽and thanked聽him at the聽Marian Campus assembly聽today.

狈别飞尘补苍听础濒耻尘苍颈听

One of our intents at Newman in the coming year, is to reconnect with our growing Alumni body. These connections will enable the Marist charism to be celebrated and passed down through the generations as one Newman family.

Wishing you all a fantastic start to the term.

Dr Lucie McCrory
笔搁滨狈颁滨笔础尝听(础颁罢滨狈骋)听

颁翱痴滨顿-19听

Thank you to families and students for your support over the past week in conforming with the West Australian聽restrictions imposed on Perth and Peel regions last Sunday 27 June聽and Monday 28 June.聽 We are extremely grateful that schools聽have聽remained聽open during this time聽so as聽to聽ensure that the teaching and learning program for Term 2 could be completed smoothly.

For those events that have been postponed this week,聽respective families聽and groups聽will be advised of new dates once re-scheduled.

We hope that Term 3 brings a return 鈥榯o normal鈥�.聽聽In the event that聽this does not occur, Vice Principal, Dr McCrory, has outlined the College鈥檚 contingency plans in her Newsletter article today.

Families are asked to monitor thewebsite for updates and聽exposure sites.

Marcellin Campus Assembly聽

On Wednesday at the Principal鈥檚 Assembly at the Marcellin Campus we 鈥榞athered鈥� via online means to give thanks for the term and the efforts of so many during what has been a very long Term 2.

My聽address to secondary students included an analogy of the television show, MasterChef, and聽the application and endeavour required to reach聽a particular聽goal.
In MasterChef, other cooks are in the galleries looking down on the contestants, generally being very supportive and encouraging聽–聽much like our students聽having聽the support of their teachers, their聽peers聽and their families.

I also challenged each student to consider what respect means to them, how we would like to be treated, how we would like to be spoken to, how we would like to live.聽 At the beginning of Term 3 we will focus on the non-negotiables that will strengthen how we build a culture of excellence in this school which, put simply, is underpinned by what it means to be part of a respectful Marist community.聽 Each year group across the school, from the sandpit of Early Childhood to Year 12 will focus on this central element in the new term.

To view a recording of this Assembly

Acting Principal Term 3 (Weeks 1-5)聽

I will be taking a period of leave for the first five weeks of Term 3聽with the intention聽to聽travel through the north-west of WA with my family.聽聽That is of course聽if the current聽COVID-19 restrictions聽are聽lifted.

During聽Weeks 1-5 of Term 3, Dr Lucie McCrory will be Acting Principal and Mr Simon Martino will be Acting Vice Principal.

I wish Dr McCrory and Mr Martino all the best in their new聽roles聽and聽I look forward to returning to the College at the commencement of Week 6.

Upcoming Holidays聽

Understandably, there will be many families disappointed about the possibility of cancelling interstate holidays.聽 However, I trust聽everyone enjoys聽the break in routine that school holidays provides聽and the opportunity to enjoy some family time.

John Finneran
PRINCIPAL

This week our semester one reports will be released to families聽via SEQTA. There is a lot of time and effort that goes into preparing student reports, and I hope families can take some time over the holiday break to discuss the report with their child, and even set some goals or areas of focus for next semester.聽If I could, I would especially encourage parents to look at the 鈥榚ffort鈥� mark in the report聽as well as the values on the final page. This is the indicator of how much your child is working to their potential, and for many students, can often mean more than a letter grade.聽It is in indication of the effort, commitment, and聽attitude they have towards their learning聽鈥� things that will matter long after the C鈥檚 & B鈥檚 are forgotten.

I will never forget in my first year of teaching in Kalgoorlie, a time when I was聽sitting with a family who opened their child鈥檚 report. After a quick scan of the letter grades,聽they聽quickly admonished聽their child for not doing better聽鈥� a child who,聽although had struggled at times, had always given his best in class.聽While I聽am聽sure this came from a place of love and only wanting their child to succeed, it was heartbreaking to see all the hard work and efforts of this聽boy聽evaporate in a single moment.聽I really hope that families can find something to celebrate for their child this semester 鈥� to find something they are proud of and to be able to celebrate that pride and achievement with their child.聽Sometimes we need to remember聽that there are many ways聽children聽can let their light shine, and it is our job to聽try and see that too. Once you have celebrated, you can focus on the goals or areas for improvement 鈥� seeking to encourage our children to be the best learners and young people they can be.

I would like to thank all students for their efforts in the classroom this semester, and wish them all a safe, relaxing, and restful break.

Highlights from Past Two Weeks

Speak Up Awards聽

Last week, students across the campus gathered in the hall to observe the six amazing finalists in our Speak Up Awards competition.聽Students in Year 5 and 6 have been hard at work this term devising four-minute speeches with the purpose to inform, entertain, or persuade an audience. Students delivered these speeches in their classes, and for some students, again in front of their year level. Six students were then selected across both year group to compete in the final. A big聽congratulations聽must go to聽Thomas Van, Hamish MacGregor, Isabella聽Crisona, Liam White, Annabelle聽Adamini, and Harry Dolan聽for all their hard work and efforts in taking part.

Three students were awarded places on the day and will head through to the next round of the competition where they will compete against other schools. Congratulations to聽Harry, Isabella, and Liam聽on their success and we wish them all the best as the move forward into the next round of the competition!

Cross Country聽

Last Friday we were blessed with beautiful weather for our聽Cross-Country聽carnival. Students raced with great enthusiasm, and it was so pleasing to see so many students encouraging of on another. There were some fantastic displays if athletic ability on the day, and we were grateful to聽be able to welcome our parent community to attend too. Our winner of the Cross Country Carnival will be announced at our first assembly in Term 3. In the meantime, I hope you will join me in congratulating our age聽champions and runners up!

Year 3 boys

• 1st place: David Van der Walt
• 2nd place: Julian Cameron
• 3rd聽place:聽Hunter Bailey

Year 3 girls聽

• 1st place: Demi Boyce
• 2nd place: Amelie Santoro
• 3rd place: Amelia Scott

Year 4 boys

• 1st place: Stefan Moschopoulos
• 2nd place: Otis Keane
• 3rd place: Austin Cumberworth

Year 4 girls聽

• 1st place: Allegra Clark
• 2nd place: Jessica Avins
• 3rd聽place:聽Layla Bornmann

Year 5 boys聽

• 1st place: Luke Rombouts
• 2nd place: Dylan Hookway
• 3rd聽place: TBA

Year 5 girls聽

• 1st place: Kaydee Van Deventer
• 2nd place: Annabelle Adamini
• 3rd place: Livia Bogdanov

Year 6 boys

• 1st place: Jaspar Martin-Booth
• 2nd place: Liam Murphy
• 3rd聽place:聽Xavier Dunstan

Year 6 girls聽

• 1st place: Clancy Boss
• 2nd place: Chloe Rear
• 3rd聽place:聽Madelyn Bertolini

Reports

Please see update regarding reports from our Vice Principal here.

Important Information For The Next Two Weeks

Parent Teacher Interviews聽

Just a reminder to all families that our Parent-Teacher interviews will take place on Tuesday 20 July. The interviews are 3-way interviews and your child is invited to attend.聽These interviews are a valuable part of the collaboration process between teachers and聽families,聽and we encourage all parents to be in touch with their teachers. Students will return to school on Wednesday 21 July to commence Term 3.

Grooming & Uniform聽

At the beginning of this term, I spoke about the importance of wearing our uniform correctly and students being appropriately groomed coming to school, especially when it comes to our haircuts. I have since noticed around the school there are some very smartly dressed and well-groomed young men and women on our campus! I would like to extend my thanks to these students and their families for their support of our community, and to others who have been making an effort to wear their uniform with pride each day. With school holidays approaching, it is a good time to remind our boys especially of the standards for haircuts. Students returning to school in Term 3 must make sure that:

• hairstyles must be clean, neat and tidy
• hair should not be long enough that the fringe falls over the eyebrows
• hair should be of a consistent length all over (eg no undercuts, no long sweeps)聽
• hair must be of blade length number 3 or longer
• extreme hair styles and extreme changes of hair colour are unacceptable.

We really appreciate the support of students and families in helping to create a consistent, smart, and professional look for our school community.

UWA Research Project

The University of Western Australia (UWA) has an exciting opportunity for 今日吃瓜 to participate in research.

The overall aim of the research project is to examine first impressions towards children with and without autism to better understand the social experiences of children and help understand the stigma towards children on the autism spectrum.聽Experiencing social rejection at an early age can be very difficult for children, and research suggests that one factor that may impact children’s social lives are first impressions.

First impressions can influence how we respond to unfamiliar people, and so understanding the factors that impact how first impressions are formed can be very valuable information in developing programs that foster social inclusivity.聽This study also investigates how adults form impressions of children because adults who work with children, such as parents and teachers, can have great influence on children鈥檚 social decisions.

The project encourages children to learn about first impressions with the message of inclusivity and acceptance of other children鈥檚 differences.

At this stage, they are inviting parents and their children aged 6-11 years to participate in this study and would appreciate any help from 今日吃瓜 families on this project.聽The results of this current study will be used to inform the design of a later study involving children who are on the autism spectrum.

If you and your child are interested in participating, please follow this link to provide your consent and answer some questions regarding your child鈥檚 development:

The link will also provide you with further information and guidance on how you and your child may participate in this exciting project.