From the Principal – Term 3 Week 4
Dear Parents and Guardians
Feast of St Mary of the Cross
Yesterday, we celebrated the Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop in our Community Mass with MacKillop Guild and Year 5. Mary MacKillop is our first Australian saint and a woman of great vision, determination and passion for education. Mary paved the way for the education of poor children, especially in rural and remote parts of Australia. She was born in the year that St Marcellin Champagnat died and there is much similarity in the work of both Mary and Marcellin to bring the Good News of the Gospel and education to young people.
Feast of the Assumption
Next Thursday we celebrate one of the most important feast days in the Church, the Assumption. The Assumption of Our Lady into heaven has been accepted from back to the earliest of Christian times. The Assumption signals the end of Mary’s earthly life and marks her return to heaven to be reunited with Jesus. As Marists, we believe that Mary is the first disciple of Jesus, and that we will come to know better Christ’s love for us by following her example of faith, strength, care and compassion. In the Way of Mary is central to how we live our faith as a Newman College community.
Marist Schools Australia Cyclic Inquiry at Newman
Next week we host a panel from Marist Schools Australia whose role is to meet with the College Executive, sample groups of students, staff and parents to help the College form its next School Strategic Improvement Plan for 2025 to 2027. The community was so helpful in completing the Diagnostic Inventory for School Alignment and Leuven Catholic Identity surveys. This information will also have its place alongside the feedback from the panel in shaping our direction for improvement over the next 3 years.
In the upcoming Newman Parent Forum, held on Monday 19 August commencing at 6.00pm, the College Executive will be sharing a summary of our perceptive data with parents. We will be outlining the celebrations and commendations that flowed from the school improvement process of our last Plan. We will also be highlighting the areas we are seeing for the work ahead. If you are available, please join us.
Year 10 Rites of Passage Camp
On Monday evening, Secondary Deputy, Sarah Ellam and I joined Year 10 Leader of Wellbeing, Mrs Lara Ognenis and Year 10 parents in an information session on the upcoming Year 10 Camp. At Newman College, we are developing a very intentional program of formation for young people as they move through adolescence and begin the journey towards adulthood that links to rites of passage. As parents and school, we are all very keen to ensure that our young people develop in a holistic way, feeling that life isn’t just all pace with no space. We want them to feel confident that they have an extensive toolbox to draw from when navigating their own unique identity and place in the community on the journey from adolescence to adulthood.
Across the campuses in Wellbeing Week
During this week, we have focused on the wellbeing approaches that are present in our programs across the College. Our Marian and Lavalla students recognised Zones of Regulation on Thursday by dressing in the colours of the zones. Each day of the week has had a theme that we are following throughout the College. Our Wellbeing Captains, Ava and Jordan, have worked alongside students and staff to highlight the importance of wellbeing.
As the staff have been involved in wellbeing activities today, and there is a mid-term break for students today and Monday, I take the opportunity to wish families a good break. We will see everyone return next Tuesday.
ANDREW WATSON
PRINCIPAL