今日吃瓜

Sing and Strings + Year 7 Music Collective

The 鈥淪ing and Strings鈥� vocal and string showcase and 鈥淵ear 7 Music Collective鈥� were both held on Wednesday 18 November in the Marist Auditorium. Each concert featured solo, small group and large ensemble performances, demonstrating the hard work our musicians have put into developing their skills on their instrument or voice. Congratulations to all students for their wonderful performances and thank you to parents and staff for their support.

College Production – Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical

Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. She鈥檚 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鈥檚 lives, as Miss Honey begins not only to recognize but also appreciate Matilda鈥檚 extraordinary personality.

Matilda鈥檚 school life isn鈥檛 completely smooth sailing, however the school鈥檚 mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don鈥檛 abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils鈥� saving grace!

Packed with high-energy dance numbers, catchy songs and an unforgettable star turn for a young actress, Roald Dahl’s 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 今日吃瓜 students across Years 5-12, in the stunning Neman College Marist Auditorium.

Save the Date – K-12 Christmas Carols, Marcellin Oval Wednesday 9 December

• 4.30pm – 5.00pm: Family Picnic and School Concert Band
• 5.00pm – 6.30pm: Carols by Perth Fortress Brass Band & Chamber Choir

Families can set up picnic blankets and chairs in the designated area from 4.30pm onwards. Seating is unreserved, all family and friends are welcome.

In keeping with the College鈥檚 compliance with Duty of Care and Risk Mitigation parents please be aware that this function is an alcohol free event.

Advent

The Season of Advent commences next week. In the life of the Catholic Church, it is a time for preparing for the pending celebration of the birth of Christ at Christmas. Within our own community we will attend Christmas liturgies during the remaining weeks of Term across all Campuses. During this time we are invited to deepen our personal encounter with Jesus Christ.

I encourage families in the weeks ahead to take the time to reflect on this invitation and perhaps make the time to attend one of our remaining Community Masses which are held each Thursday morning at 8.10am.

NAIDOC Week

Over the course of last week, NAIDOC celebrations were held across Australia. In our community, students actively participated in celebrating the history, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at our respective Campus assemblies.聽 This occasion again reminds all of us of the importance of Reconciliation in our country. Through our Reconciliation Action Plan, we are committed to strategically and practically building a culture which acknowledges, affirms and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

As a Marist School, we strive to embed our Marist characteristics every day; Family Spirit, In the Way of Mary, Simplicity, Presence and a Love of Work. At the core of these characteristics is the developing of relationships that are imbued by our family spirit, united in Christ鈥檚 love.

To this end, we want our staff, students and families to increase their understanding, value and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, knowledge and rights through cultural learning. We strive to create a culturally supportive environment so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australian families build a community of respectful relationships.

Capital Development 鈥� Learning Hub Marcellin Campus

This week saw additional restrictions to the movement of staff and students across the Marcellin Campus. Due to landscaping works commencing this week until the end of year, many access paths have been cut off.

I take this opportunity to thank staff and students for their ongoing patience as we move to the end of the building program. We are confident that the significant inconvenience experienced during 2020 will be rewarded when we commence operating out of the new state-of-the-art facility from the commencement of 2021.

Examinations

Today marks the end of WACE and Year 11 Examinations for our Senior Students. We trust they are satisfied with their efforts leading up to this period and that their results are commensurate with their efforts.

GATE Showcase

Last week, I attended the at the Lavalla Campus which was well supported by parents. The focus of the Showcase was the students鈥� Project for Homeless. I commend the students for their high level of critical thinking and reflection that went into their presentations.聽 This Showcase exemplified the strategic direction the College is taking in building opportunities for students in our Gifted and Talented Program.

In 2021 a strategic priority area of Transformational Learning identifies GATE as an area of development across the College. To that end, we have appointed a GATE Teacher K-10 who will commence developing a plan to provide:

• Implementing learning and teaching programs for students identified as gifted and talented for K-6 and co-curricular programs for students Years 7-10
• Professional Learning for teaching staff
• Leading parent and community engagement opportunities that promote the College鈥檚 gifted and talented offering

College Production – Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical

We are looking forward to attending our much anticipated Production, Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical, later this month. Students and staff have been working tirelessly to ensure an enjoyable and engaging event. Due to COVID-19 restrictions for seating, further sessions have been scheduled. If families have not yet organised their tickets, I encourage all to do so by

Memorial for Mrs Caroline Payne, Principal Corpus Christi College Bateman

Last Friday, WA principals were provided the opportunity to attend a Memorial Mass for Caroline Payne. Caroline passed away earlier in the year following a long illness. However, the COVID-19 situation did not allow such a Memorial to take place at the time.

Caroline was an outstanding leader and educator exemplified by a long and successful career in Catholic Education. She spoke fondly of her time with the Marist Brothers in Bunbury as an early career teacher and the impact the charism had on her formation as a person. She took that 鈥楲ove of Mary鈥� everywhere she went and we at Newman had the good fortune of her being a member and Chair of Council for three years.

Caroline has had a significant and wonderful impact on many students and their families. During her career, she has reached out and touched many lives and leaves a very special legacy both within Catholic Education and 今日吃瓜.