When I speak to students or families about our Marist characteristic ‘In the Way of Mary‘, I often reflect on service; Mary鈥檚 response of saying 鈥榶es鈥� to God鈥檚 call. If we look around, we can see that same 鈥榶es鈥� in many quiet ways across our community: Mrs La Brooy and Mrs Simpson giving up their Wednesday mornings to run the junior dance troupe, the office staff arriving early to set up morning tea, or a student who notices their teacher struggling and offers to carry their bag.
I found myself reflecting on this on Wednesday night at our Game Changers Year 12 graduation dinner. As part of the acknowledgements, I spoke about Fr. Hyginus and Fr. Emmanuel, two of our priests who do so much to support our community, who were both in attendance. Whenever they are asked to celebrate Mass with us, whether months in advance or even the day before, they respond with a generous 鈥榶es鈥�. This is the same for Fr. Kaz, who supports our primary school. At first, I was inspired simply by their willingness to answer the call. But more recently, I have noticed something deeper: not just that they say yes, but how they serve. At the end of Mass, they often thank us for the opportunity to celebrate together or express how much they enjoy being part of our community. You can feel that their service is not out of duty, but out of joy.
As Catholics, we often say 鈥榶es鈥� to service because we want to be good people who follow in Christ鈥檚 footsteps. But sometimes, in the busyness of life, service can feel like an obligation. The example of our priests challenges us to consider: Do we serve only because we feel we should, or do we embrace service as a gift, a joyful sharing in God鈥檚 love?
The week prior, we saw the same spirit at our Father鈥檚 Day breakfast in the primary school. Mums, teachers, maintenance staff, and school leaders cooked a sausage sizzle together. The chatter, laughter, and smiles made it clear that everyone genuinely wanted to be part of the day. How many of us may have started feeling an obligation to serve, only to be transformed by the joy of the moment?
When Mary said 鈥榶es,鈥� she was not reluctant or half-hearted. She was filled with trust and joy. When we seek to serve with the same spirit, we go beyond simply meeting a need鈥e share in the joy of Christ himself.
As St Paul reminds us: 鈥淕od loves a cheerful giver.鈥� (2 Corinthians 9:7)
Like Mary, my great hope for our community is that we may respond to the call to serve with generous hearts, finding joy in service and bringing Christ鈥檚 love to those we meet.
Performing Arts Scripture Reading Shield Winners
I would like to give a special shout out to three of our students who recently competed (yes, you read that right) in the Catholic Performing Arts Scripture Reading.
Many families would be surprised to know that this is even a category in the Performing Arts Festival, but it is a great opportunity to introduce students to the some of the finer points and techniques for delivering the Word of God to an audience in a clear, articulate, and reverend manner that fully conveys the meaning and emotions of the words that are being read. As my previous parish priest, Fr Thai Vu so beautifully shared with me one day, when you read Scripture aloud, you should prepare 鈥�like it鈥檚 your first, last, and only time鈥�.
I would like to acknowledge and congratulate our Year 11 students for their hard work and preparation leading up to this event: Sam Cousins, Jack Polain, and Annie Clark. Each of them read beautifully and did a wonderful job representing themselves, their families, and the College.
I would like to offer a special congratulations to Annie Clark, who was judged best in the competition, being awarded the Performing Arts Scripture Reading Shield. Her reading of 1 Corinthians 13, about the joy of love, was shared with such warmth and gentleness, and the comments from the adjudicator said, 鈥榊ou have breathed new life into this reading. 鈥� Well done to Annie on her achievement! I would also like to thank Mrs LaBrooy for her support and hard work in preparing students for this competition. It will be lovely to enter again next year and defend our title!
Do you know what made my whole week this week? Two simple anonymous messages. I was sitting at my keyboard, wondering what I should write in this Newsletter editorial. Yes, let’s cover the great learning and commitment inside and outside the class by students and staff, with the ever-present support of families! What else, though? The anonymous messages gave me the theme on which to write. This week is Wellbeing Week at 秀秀直播. Naming one week as Wellbeing Week is both educational and a bit clich茅d. We want to focus on what ingredients and actions support wellbeing, but not condense it into just one week of focused activity and awareness. Nor do we want to suggest that there are no significant challenges to mental health faced by many on a daily basis or at times in one鈥檚 life, that require professional resources and support. How do we make every week a week of exercising towards balanced wellbeing? Not a construct of expecting to be in a constant and heightened state of happiness, but the mindset and ability to manage the ups and downs, and the awareness of how to seek help. It has been a superb few days led by our Wellbeing Captains, Leyla Do and Jasmin Afflick, senior students and staff. Balance, gratitude, mindfulness and flow have been discussed and shown alongside emotional regulation, perspective, setback, grit and reframing 鈥� the really hard bits to handle. Short, heartfelt Gratitude Assemblies were held in each year group at Marcellin, where representatives from each Pastoral Care Group expressed gratitude to their PCG teacher (the block of Cadburys helped too!). A range of wellbeing focused activities were held during the week, including wellness, mindfulness and fitness sessions, messages of gratitude between students and a staff v student soccer game.
Much of the Equip Guide Thrive programs at Marcellin and the U R Strong 鈥� Zones of Regulation at Lavalla that are being delivered to students are about balancing life and deepening the toolkit to manage life鈥檚 ups and downs. On Wednesday evening in the Marist Auditorium, the event adjudicator for the CPAF Concert Band-Symphonic Orchestra performance spoke of the importance music and playing musical instruments have in wellbeing. Music, dance, dramatic performance, sport and physical activity are great animators of wellbeing. So is connection.
You may be wondering about the two written messages that I mentioned earlier? Twenty-six precious words that just said thanks from a parent and hoped I was having a good day from a student. Very grateful for these words and even more grateful to know that many more expressions of simple gratitude flowed to our staff from families and students.
Book Week and Celebrating Story Telling
There are few better weeks in the school calendar than Book Week. I know, as a parent who has gone through Book Week planning, that you might groan at the thought of meeting your child鈥檚 expectation for a flash costume to conjure for the Parade. 鈥楤ook an Adventure鈥� was this year鈥檚 theme, and Lavalla students dived into celebrating and exploring the land of stories. In Year 7, the students dived into reading time for the week, while our Pre-Kindergarten classes began the initiative of Celebrating Storytelling- the invitation to parents and grandparents to share the magic of storytelling at school. Families connecting through culture and language.
Mullewa Immersion
Finally, our annual visit to Mullewa took place this week. This is a long-standing relationship between the Mullewa community and 秀秀直播, with our Year 11 Game Changers and staff deeply involved in acts of service to the local primary school, parish and shire.
Wishing you a great weekend and fortnight ahead (Go Dockers!)
Today, we celebrated our first PP-2 assembly on our new campus in the auditorium. Pre-Primary Red performed their assembly about living and sharing this amazing land we live on. With understanding of our First Nations People, we care for country with our heart – our Koort in Noongar. Pre-Primary Red taught us some Noongar words, and ways of telling stories through symbols, song and dance. Aboriginal culture is one of the oldest living cultures and as true Marists, we show respect and we share the land we walk together hand in hand. A huge thank you to Pre-Primary Red, Mrs Rebecca Rose, and Mrs Lisa Johns.
Athletics Carnival
The Guild Athletics Carnival is taking place on Friday 12 September.聽 A reminder that Pre-Primary finish the Carnival at 12.30pm. Pre-Primary students who are not being picked up at this time will return to Pre-Primary, where they will be supervised by their teachers.
The Athletics Carnival is a compulsory event for Years 1-6, with all students expected to attend the entire day. If your child is unable to attend or needs to leave throughout the day, please email me sarah.pagett@newman.wa.edu.au ahead of time.
Book Week
Last Tuesday, we celebrated Book Week in style with two fabulous parades. Thank you to all staff and students for their amazing efforts in ensuring our most loved book characters came to life. A huge thank you to Ms Nikki Cresp for her work is organising the parade and various incursions that have occurred over the past week.
I am aware that the gap between parades was not ideal for some families who were waiting in between. We have taken on this feedback and will modify the layout in 2026. These events look different now that we are on one campus, so your patience is appreciated while we fine tune.
Father鈥檚 Day
We would like to invite all the Dads, Grandfathers, father figures and special men in our children鈥檚 lives to join us in celebrating Father鈥檚 Day. Join us for a Sausage Sizzle on Friday 5 September from 7.30am on the grassed area near the Basketball Courts. Followed by a K-6 Father鈥檚 Day Liturgy at 8.45am in the Undercover Area. Please RSVP your attendance
We are also calling out for some Mum helpers to support us in cooking and serving the sausages. If you can help, please register
PP to Year 6 Disco
Get your dancing shoes ready! Our School Disco will be held on Friday 19 September.
PP to Y2: 4:00pm 鈥� 5:00pm
Y3 to Y6: 5:15pm 鈥� 6:30pm
Tickets can be purchased
Hands off
As you know, the College has a hands-off policy to help ensure that everyone feels safe and respected at school. The Primary Leadership Team and staff regularly talk with students about the importance of keeping hands and bodies to ourselves. While some children see play fighting as fun, it can quickly escalate and result in someone being hurt or friendships being damaged.
We would appreciate your support in reinforcing with your child the importance of showing care for others by keeping hands off. Together, we can help all students enjoy positive, safe playtimes and strong friendships.
The College has celebrated Wellbeing Week this week, with each day focusing of a different aspect of wellbeing. Our focus for Tuesday was Together Tuesday, highlighting the importance of relationships for our own wellbeing. Students participated in a team building activities during EGT.
On Wellness Wednesday, we explored the power of mindfulness, and students completed a meditation in PCG. Cohorts gathered for Thankful Thursday and had an opportunity to give thanks to other members in the College community, and were reminded of how practising gratitude can have a positive impact on our wellbeing. Guild Representatives acknowledged their PCG teachers and Leaders of Wellbeing. In the Year 10 Gratitude Assembly, we acknowledged Austin Wyeth, who was awarded the Bronze Medallion for Courage Youth Awards at Surf Life Saving WA鈥檚 Coastal Bravery Awards earlier this month. This honour is awarded to young people under 16 who show courage and use their surf lifesaving skills. Austin received the award for his incredible bravery at Scarborough Beach, where he came to the assistance of two men struggling in a rip. His quick thinking and decisive action helped bring one of the men safely back to shore before lifeguards arrived to assist the second. Well done, Austin. We are so proud of you! Students were invited to participate in various service activities at lunch, such as a community clean up and letter writing to young people in war-torn countries.
Fitness Friday highlights the importance of an active and healthy lifestyle for our overall wellbeing. Staff were encouraged to use various movement breaks during classes, and at lunch there was a staff vs student soccer match on the oval.
Wellbeing Week provides an opportunity for staff and students to focus on various aspects of wellbeing by building habits, awareness, and a community that supports long-term health and happiness.
Transperth:
As representatives of our College community, it is important that all students demonstrate respect and responsibility while travelling on public transport. The way we conduct ourselves reflects not only on our own character but also on the wider school community.
We remind students to always uphold the 秀秀直播 Norms by:
Using polite and respectful language at all times.
Offering seats to those in need, including elderly passengers, parents with young children, and people with disabilities.
Keeping noise to a considerate level and avoid disruptive behaviour.
Respecting the property of others and leave buses and trains clean and tidy.
Following the directions of transport staff promptly and courteously.
By showing kindness, courtesy, and maturity, we contribute to a safe and positive experience for everyone travelling. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain the high standards expected of our students, both at school and in the wider community.
Recognition of State Representation
Congratulations to the following students for selection in the Western Australian teams in their respective sports:
Julian Cameron and Michael Moschopoulos from Year 7 who have been selected to represent Western Australia in the 2025 Football (Soccer) 12s Boys Championship. This team will be competing at the School Sport Australia National Championships in Ballarat, VIC from 25 October – 30 October 2025.
Leo Prinsloo, Year 8, who has been selected to represent Australia at the Asian Youth Open Championships & Training Camp in Hangzhou, China, from Friday 8 August to Sunday 17 August 2025.
Ana Mainstone in Year 11 and James Barnard in Year 12 who have been selected in the ACC All Star AFL Team. They will represent the ACC against a All Stars AFL Competition on Friday 29 August.
State Representation is an honour and an important stepping stone in an athlete鈥檚 journey. We commend these students for their dedication and commitment to their sport.
If your child has achieved state or national recognition in their sport or extra-curricular activity, we would love to hear about it so we can celebrate their success. Please let us know the details by filling out this form.
Pathways and Careers Information: Year 10
Subject selection for Year 11, 2026
Thank you to all the students and families who have now completed their subject requests for Year 11, 2026. The College is now in the process of constructing the timetable for next year, and after this process students and families will be advised of their allocated subjects for Year 11.
Apprenticeship Opportunities 2025
The March 2025 edition of the Apprenticeship Intake Guide has been published recently. This has details of dozens of apprenticeship opportunities with many major employers. You can access it here:
Pathways and Careers Information: Year 11
Re-selecting subjects for Year 12, 2026
Thank you to all the students and families who have now completed their subject requests for Year 12, 2026. The College is now in the process of constructing the timetable for next year, and after this process students and families will be advised of their allocated subjects for Year 12.
For students thinking of attending University
TISC has a series of videos explaining things like ATAR calculation, prerequisite subjects, scaling, and preferences. You can find them here:
Here is a parents guide to University:
And here is the 鈥淔irst in Family鈥� resource, for students who might be the first in their family to attend University:
Are you thinking of attending a University Open Day? Dates are below. This blog might help you:
Apprenticeship Opportunities 2025
The March 2025 edition of the Apprenticeship Intake Guide has been published recently. This has details of dozens of apprenticeship opportunities with many major employers. You can access it here:
Pathways and Careers Information: Year 12
University Early Offer information
Please see below for the latest available Early Offer information.
Early Offers are now open, and all Year 12 students have been provided with information about how to access the TISC system and enter preferences.
Students and families can find this information here:
Curtin University
Early Offers are available for ATAR and non-ATAR students. Must achieve WACE and meet any prerequisites. Submit your application via TISC, putting your Curtin Early Offer course as your first preference. Full information and list of eligible courses at:
Edith Cowan University
Full information and list of eligible courses at: Open to ATAR, Certificate IV, and UniReady students. Submit your Early Offer application by placing an eligible ECU course as your first TISC preference. First offers released to students on 2 September 2025.
Murdoch University
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 desired Murdoch Early Offer course as your first preference.
Notre Dame University
Full information and list of eligible courses at: Opens 1 May 2025. First offers released to students on 1 September 2025. Apply via the Notre Dame online portal or via TISC. Open to ATAR Pathway students only. All offers are conditional offers.
University of WA
Submit your application via TISC, putting your desired UWA Early Offer course as your first preference. Open to ATAR Pathway students only. Students can apply for an Early Offer for all degrees excluding Assured Pathways to Medicine, Dental Medicine, Podiatric Medicine or the Bachelor of Biomedicine (specialised). Students must satisfy UWA鈥檚 English requirements and any subject prerequisite requirements. Further information at:
University information
TISC has a series of videos explaining things like ATAR calculation, prerequisite subjects, scaling, and preferences. You can find them here:
Are you the first person in your family to attend University? This might assist:
Here are some useful tools to prepare students for the transition to University:
Here is a parents guide to University:
This resource is a place where you can ask current University students questions about their University courses:
University scholarships
Curtin University
Edith Cowan University (ECU)
Murdoch University
Notre Dame University
University of Western Australia (UWA)
Christian Leaders Scholarship
Gap year information
Students interested in taking a gap year in 2026 might find the following interesting:
Defence Force Gap Year:
Other gap year ideas:
And:
Also this Marist volunteering opportunity:
TAFE applications open for 2026
Please note the opening and closing dates for TAFE applications for 2026:
Thursday 4 September: TAFE applications for 2026 open
Friday 31 October: TAFE applications for 2026 close
Students and families can find information on all available TAFE courses here:
Apprenticeship Opportunities 2025
The March 2025 edition of the Apprenticeship Intake Guide has been published recently. This has details of dozens of apprenticeship opportunities with many major employers. You can access it here:
UPCOMING CAREERS EVENTS
EVENT
DATE
LINK
Defence Force Engineering Careers Information Session
28 August
Science and Maths Information Evening (ECU)
28 August
Hospitality Industry: Behing the Scenes Tour(Ritz Carlton, Perth)
30 August
Health and Education Information Evening (Murdoch)
2 September
Computing and Cybersecurity Information Evening (ECU)
2 September
Calm and Conquer: Surviving your Exams (for families and students)
2 September
Science, IT, Engineering Information Evening (Murdoch)
3 September
Defence Force: Combat and Security Information Session
3 September
Business and Law Information Evening (Murdoch)
4 September
Curtin Degree Expo
4 September
Engineering Information Evening (ECU)
5 September
Nursing and Midwifery Information Evening (ECU)
5 September
Teacher Education Information Evening (ECU)
9 September
Defence Force Careers Information Session
9 September
Business and Law Information Evening (ECU)
10 September
Army Careers Information Session
11 September
Medicine Information Evening (UWA)
11 September
Calm and Conquer: Surviving your Exams (for families and students)
15 September
Defence Force: Special Forces Information Session
16 September
Law and Criminology Information Evening (UWA)
16 September
Medical and Health Information Evening (ECU)
17 September
Future Student Information Evening (ECU)
19 November
Army Reserve Information Session
23 September
Defence Force: Officer and Management Information Session
25 September
Entry pathways to Medicine (Notre Dame)
30 September
Calm and Conquer: Surviving your Exams (for families and students)
30 September
If you are thinking of attending a University Open Day, this blog might help you get the most out of it:
The Term 3 秀秀直播 Parents Forum will take place on Monday 1 September. This term, parents and guardians are invited to attend two sessions on some key topics relevant to our College Community. Please register your attendance
New Social Media Legislation and support for Parents and Students: This session will guide parents through the implications of the new Social Media Legislation, prohibiting the use of platforms for children under the age of 16 from December onwards. The session will give parents a forum to guide the College in how they can tailor information and strategies for parents and families as they manage this transition.
The Marist Mission Today: Parents will have the opportunity to understand how the vision of St Marcellin Champagnat is alive in our College community today, and explore further the Marist Charism, which is so unique to 秀秀直播. Suitable for all families.
Reframing Failure: Teaching Resilience Through Setbacks: A practical session to explore ways to support your child from early primary to senior school when things don鈥檛 go as planned. You鈥檒l learn simple strategies for building resilience, reframing setbacks as opportunities, and shifting from 鈥淚 can鈥檛鈥� to 鈥淚 can鈥檛 yet.鈥� We鈥檒l also look at responding to disappointment without rushing to fix it, nurturing a healthy mindset, and encouraging self-compassion. Suitable for all families.
Equip, Guide Thrive, Program Overview: The session will provide parents with a deeper understanding of the EGT Program, a holistic initiative that extends the foundations of the U R Strong and Zones of Regulation programs in the primary school. This program integrates academics, faith, and wellbeing, ensuring that students are supported to grow as confident learners, compassionate people, and resilient individuals. Parents will explore the framework and its key elements, connections to the 2024 DISA data and Strategic Improvement Plan and the programs from years 7-12. The session will also provide practical points on how you can support your child at home with what they are learning in the EGT.
Guild Activities Year 1 to 12
On Tuesday 9 September students in Year 1 to 12 will be participating in Guild activities. This is the first time that we will celebrate Guild Spirit since the College has come together on one campus. Students will be buddied up with another year group and will participate in team and spirit building activities, with the purpose of creating connections across the Lavalla and Marcellin campuses. We are looking forward to this opportunity to build community. Students are permitted to wear their Guild Uniform on this day.
