Primary Update – Term 4 Week 9

Jenni Vile on 06/12/2024

Year 3 Blue Assembly

Last Friday Year 3 Blue presented an amazing assembly focusing on the spirit of Christmas. The students shared how it is important to spread love and kindness throughout the season of Christmas and that it was about giving to others. 3 Blue shared some great examples of how we can give to others (donating to charity Christmas appeals) in a very entertaining and engaging way! Thank you 3 Blue for your wonderful assembly!

Christmas Carols & Primary Awards Night

Thank you to all of our Primary families for attending our Primary Carols and Awards Evening. It was a wonderful celebration of Christmas Music, and a celebration of the year, with recognition of those K-5 students who received awards on the night. A special thank you to Ms Laura van Rijn for her preparation, and coordination of the event – a huge task!

Year 6 Graduation Mass & Awards Night

On Tuesday night we celebrated a huge milestone for our Year 6 graduating class of 2024. Our Year 6 students, families and College staff celebrated a beautiful Mass, followed by our annual Year 6 Awards. It was a beautiful occasion and a fantastic celebration of our Year 6 cohort. We wish our Year 6’s every success as they move into our secondary campus here at Newman College, or move onto another secondary school. We know they all have bright futures ahead of them.

Transition Days

Last Friday was a fantastic day for all of our K-5 students as they met their new 2025 teachers and classmates and participated in fun activities as a new class. All students came home with a ‘Meet the Teacher’ page to learn more about their 2025 classroom teacher.

Newman Norms / Medals of Marcellin

As it is the end of term, our winning faction (with the most ‘medals’) has been revealed at each campus! The results were very close amongst the factions. Our winning factions were:

Marian: Brigid

Lavalla: Knox

Students in these factions received a prize of wearing free dress on Monday. Congratulations to these students.

Our Newman Norms have been a great success this year and will return next year, with our token system adapted to suit our new Guilds.

Newman Norms – Newman College

Headphones in 2025

All students in Pre-Primary to Year 6 are asked to bring in headphones/earphones for the start of the 2025 school year, to be stored in the classroom, utilised with devices and for other purposes when required.

Stationery Items for 2025 Lavalla Students

There are no booklists for students in Years 3/4/5/6.  Supplies will be provisioned by the classroom teachers. Students will however require the following items (teachers may have already provided your child with a specific list during the transition afternoon):

  • pencil case  
  • ruler 
  • sharpener 
  • highlighters x2 
  • eraser x 2 
  • coloured pencils 
  • coloured textas 
  • lead pencils x 8 
  • scissors 
  • glue sticks x 5 
  • whiteboard markers x 5 
  • 5 x blue pens & 5 x red pens (Year 5 & 6 only) 

iPad Program 2025

The College will continue with its rollout of College-owned and managed iPads. In 2025, students in Years 2 – 5 will have a College owned and managed iPad. Students in Years 6 will continue to use their BYOD iPad. 

Sacramental Program – Years 3, 4 & 6

Students in Years 3, 4 and 6 in 2025 will be preparing to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation.

If your child is preparing to receive a sacrament you will need to contact your Parish and complete the enrolment process.  Further information regarding the Sacramental Program can be found via the links below and the 2025 information should be available before the beginning of the 2025 school year.

 Sacramental Program – Floreat Wembley Catholic Parish

Sacramental Program – Immaculate Heart of Mary Scarborough

Sacramental Schedule – Doubleview Parish

Sacramental Program – St Joseph’s Subiaco

Sacramental Program – Holy Spirit City Beach

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Jane Short, jane.short@newman.wa.edu.au

URSTRONG

A reminder, parents continue to have access to a FREE URSTRONG parent membership. We hope that as a URSTRONG Family, you will reinforce the important messages of empowerment, self-compassion, & kindness at home.

Reports

Primary reports are available to view via SEQTA Engage.

Should your child not be returning to Newman College in 2024, we remind parents of the requirement to download all reports from SEQTA Engage by 31 December.  After this time the student record is archived.

SWIMMING

2025 Primary Staffing

Please see below for 2025 Primary Classroom Staffing

 BlueGreenRed
PKColomba Iannitelli
EA: Helen Cawley		 Megan Bankes
EA: Julie Topini
KindySarah Francia
EA: Lisa Matthews
EA: Helen Cawley		Lisa Carbone
EA: Suzanne Pluske
EA: Kate Bartlett		Kelly Simpson
EA: Elliana Celisano EA: Meegan Seaborn
Pre-PrimarySarah Isherwood
EA: Naomi Fisher		Amy Donnelly
EA: Lisa Matthews (M) EA: Lucinda Hope (T-F)		Rebecca Rose
EA: Lisa Johns
1Tess McKennaLauren GuarinoHolly Cooper
2Alessia ChieraCatherine NicolauAmy Dawson
3Melissa HeaverJuliet FerrisSharon McAuliffe
4Sarah DaltonDrew ElliottErica Horn
5Delia KretzmannJosh HouwenLucy Zambonetti (M-T) Robyn Hatchett (W-F)
6Imogen CrostellaAdam ReadLara Gray
 MarianLavalla
GeneralMaria Franklyn, Trish Eindorf, Julie RomanoPauline Tutungis, Rosa Testa, Arden Lavelle
Special NeedsKathy Biancuzzo, Alicia Salvati, Kate McMahon, Danae Florias, Siena Parrisis, Hannah Volleman

Please see below for 2025 Primary Specialist Staffing

 MarianLavalla
Performing ArtsKellie Thwaites
MusicLaura van Rijn
Visual ArtSarah SpencerMelissa Corbett
Physical EducationLara VlahovTasha Richards
Languages (Italian) Maria Lynch
TechnologiesJustin Kirry 
LibraryAlison Le Dan
Technicians: Tania Bailey & Catherine Hall
SHINE (Y1-6)Clare Cole-Carter
Maths Extension (Y1-2)Edwina Battersby
Maths Extension (Y3-6)Clare Cole-Carter
Maths SupportEdwina BattersbyJane Short
Literacy SupportEducation AssistantsAnne-Marie Terry
Education Assistants
Social WorkerCaryl Gioia
  • Please note that Languages are only compulsory (as per SCSA requirements) for students in Year 3 and above. Next year, Marian students will participate in a new Technologies specialist subject, and Lavalla students will continue with Italian.

Primary Admin Staff

Lavalla: Amanda Johnson

Marian: Jess Wiedermann (M-W) & Jen Scott (Th-F)

Primary Leadership Team

Head of Primary: Ryan von Bergheim

Leader of Learning Primary: Catherine Young

Leader of Wellbeing Primary (PK-1): Edwina Battersby

Leader of Wellbeing Primary (Y2&3) & Religious Education Coordinator: Jane Short

Leader of Wellbeing (Y4-6): Justin Kirry

Merry Christmas

As we wrap up the 2024 school year, on behalf of the entire Primary staff, I want to thank all Primary families for their support throughout 2024. It has been a wonderful year, with plenty to reflect upon and celebrate. I wish all families a very Merry Christmas and hope you enjoy a relaxing and special time together as a family over the Christmas holiday period. I look forward to seeing students return to school for Term 1, 2025. 2025 is shaping up to be Newman College’s biggest year yet!

Ryan von Bergheim

HEAD OF PRIMARY