Teaching and Learning – Term 1 Week 9

Jenni Vile on 28/03/2024

Newman College: Driving an Explicit Improvement Agenda. 

Newman College is a learning environment buzzing with energy and bursting with opportunities for students and staff, driven by a clear, focused desire for continual improvement in student outcomes. At the heart of this journey for improvement lies an explicit, coherent, and contextually relevant school improvement agenda, meticulously crafted and passionately pursued by the College leadership and teaching staff.  

The school improvement agenda is about crafting a game plan that is not a vague wish list but an unyielding agenda tailored to our College’s needs. We are not just shooting in the dark; the agenda is grounded in evidence-based research and analysis of school data and expressed in terms of improvements in measurable student outcomes, focused on long-term sustainable solutions rather than quick fixes.  

The 2024 School Improvement Agenda intents are not floating out there in the ether; they are tangible and measurable. Through a systematic analysis of the College’s Vision, Mission, DISA data, staff reviews of the strategic intents of the last Strategic Plan (2021-2023) and guided by research, the College executive has set challenging yet achievable, clear, and measurable goals against short and long-term timelines for 2024.  

To drive an explicit agenda successfully, a collective commitment must be facilitated by all staff.  High expectations for student learning progress, levels of engagement, and wellbeing underpin the College’s approach to improvement. This is enabled through: 

  • Student Leadership groups, Guild representatives, Year 12 Leaders 
  • Teacher Development and Growth Plans 
  • The Wellbeing Committee 
  • Wellbeing days for students and staff 
  • Targeted Pastoral Care programs Y7-12 
  • Positive Behaviour and Friendship Programs PK-6 
  • Data analysis working parties 
  • WACE and Learning Area Plan meetings with the Executive 
  • Targeted data checkpoints with Leaders of Learning and Leaders of Wellbeing
  • Teaching and Learning Carousels that showcase the outstanding work the staff is doing at Newman College  
  • PK-12 staff meetings and planning days to review our achievements and areas of growth. 
  • Termly reviews being conducted at the middle leadership and teaching levels in learning areas or unit group meetings  
  • Newman Parent Forums  
  • Parent participation in surveys like the Report Review, DISA and Leuven Tools. 
    This is crucial for creating a supportive and effective learning environment. By providing feedback through surveys like the Report Review, DISA, and Leuven Tool, parents offer valuable insights that help school leaders understand families’ needs and preferences. Actively engaging in these initiatives demonstrates a commitment to their child’s education.   
  • The College Advisory Council 
  • Senior Leadership meetings with College Captains 
  • The collaboration through the School Cycle of Inquiry with Marist Schools  
  • At the Executive level, during Strategic meetings 

Through these touch points with our College community, continuous monitoring of progress towards our articulated goals and targets is completed to evaluate the effectiveness of school improvement strategies, which is a critical component of the school improvement cycle. These touch points allow the Executive members to rigorously scrutinise the progress towards the articulated goals, enabling the College to implement course corrections, ensuring that strategies remain agile and responsive to the evolving needs of the College and ensuring student improvement. It is through this iterative process of reflection and refinement that the true efficacy of school improvement efforts is measured. 

Research has identified that promoting a positive school culture allows for a successful school improvement agenda, which involves fostering an environment where continuous improvement is valued, successes are celebrated, and challenges are embraced as opportunities for growth. Opportunities for students to ‘Shine through Discovery’ are seen through communication home from the Principal to families of high-achieving students and those students having the most significant growth in learning areas, recognition of all years’ high achievers at assemblies, and teacher contact via commendations sent home. By encouraging open communication, collaboration, and a shared commitment to excellence, students are empowered to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.  In such a culture, students feel supported and motivated to set and achieve goals, reflect on their progress, and take ownership of their learning journey.  

Driving an explicit school improvement agenda is a testament to the unwavering commitment of the Newman College staff to sculpt a future where every student is empowered to soar to new heights of excellence as we illuminate the path towards brighter tomorrows for generations of Newman College students to come. 

Beth Murphy
Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning

Pathways and Careers Information: Year 10

Prerequisites for Year 11, 2025

Students and families are advised that prerequisites for Year 11 subjects (for 2025) are now available via the College website.

Commencing in Term 2, Year 10 students will begin the process of guided reflection, leading to their subject selections at the end of Term 2.

Careers Expo and Year 10 Parent Evening

Students and families are reminded that the Newman College Careers Expo and Year 10 Parent Evening will occur later in Term 2. At this event, students and families will be able to speak to teachers about each subject, and also seek information from Universities, TAFEs and training providers about possible courses and careers.

It is expected that all Year 10 students will attend this event. Details are below:

Tuesday 18 June, 2024
Marist Auditorium
Careers Expo commences at 5.00pm
Parent Information evening commences at 6.00pm

Pathways and Careers Information: Year 11

WACE (secondary graduation) requirements

In Year 11 and 12, students are progressing towards their Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE), otherwise known as their secondary graduation.

In order to achieve their WACE, students need to meet certain academic targets across Year 11 and 12. These are:

  • Demonstrate the minimum standard of literacy and numeracy (either in Year 9 NAPLAN or in Year 10-12 OLNA).
  • Be enrolled in English / Literature in Year 11 and 12.
  • Be enrolled in at least 1 ‘List B’ (Maths / Science / Sport / Technology) subject.
  • Achieve at least 14 C grades, with at least 6 C grades in Year 12 subjects.

For students considering UniReady / UniPath in Year 12

A reminder to students on the General Pathway who are considering UniReady / UniPath in Year 12 next year. It is expected that students from the General Pathway would have participated in extra-curricular activities such as work experience, VET Certificates, Leadership, Service, and/or College sports. General Pathway students who have not participated in any of these extra-curricular activities may not be eligible for UniReady / UniPath.

For students thinking of attending University

  • TISC has a series of videos explaining things like ATAR calculation, prerequisite subjects, scaling, and preferences. To find out more click here.
  • Are you thinking of attending a University Open Day? Dates are below. This blog might help you: Year 11 – How to approach University Open Days.

Pathways and Careers Information:Year 12

WACE (secondary graduation) requirements

In Year 11 and 12, students are progressing towards their Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE), otherwise known as their secondary graduation.

In order to achieve their WACE, students need to meet certain academic targets across Year 11 and 12. These are:

  • Demonstrate the minimum standard of literacy and numeracy (either in Year 9 NAPLAN or in Year 10-12 OLNA).
  • Be enrolled in English / Literature in Year 11 and 12.
  • Be enrolled in at least 1 ‘List B’ (Maths / Science / Sport / Technology) subject.
  • Achieve at least 14 C grades, with at least 6 C grades in Year 12 subjects.

University Information

Early Offers

Students and families are advised that applications for University in 2025 will open on 1 May 2024. Early Offers for University in 2025 will not be made to students until 2 September 2024. The currently available information about Early Offers is in the table below.

UniversityEarly Offer Information
Edith Cowan University (ECU)Early Offer calculated from your most recent school results including exams.Must achieve WACE and meet any prerequisites. Early Offers for Certificate IV and UniReady/UniPath students will be conditional on passing. Submit your application via TISC, putting your Early Offer course as your first preference. Offers will be made on 2 September, 23 September, 14 October, 18 November and 2 December. Allow around 2 weeks for us to assess your application. A list of courses available for Early Offers is at: https://www.ecu.edu.au/degrees/early-offer-program  

Information about University entry

Thinking of studying Medicine or Dentistry in 2025?

All students who wish to enrol in Medicine or Dentistry in 2025 (including Assured Pathway at UWA) will need to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) this year.

Please see below for some important dates:

  • 5 March 2024: UCAT bookings open
  • 17 May 2024: Deadline to book your UCAT for 2024
  • 10 June 2024: Deadline if you need to cancel your UCAT booking
  • 1 July 2024: UCAT testing begins
  • 9 August 2024: Last test date
  • September 2024: Results available

You can check https://www.ucat.edu.au/ for more information, tips and practice tests.

Also, students applying for Medicine at Curtin University are required to sit the CASPER Test. You can find more information about this, and book your test, here: https://acuityinsights.app/casper/

UWA Medical entry handbook (for Assured Pathway):

Curtin Medical entry handbook

Entry to Medicine handbook (Australia-wide)