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ֱ News Term 3 Week 6: From the Leader of Mission and Catholic Identity

Living Marist: Good Christians and Good Citizens Service Learning Program 

ֱ has launched its Christian Service Learning Program, Living Marist, with Year 7 and 8 students. The purpose is to engage students in service activities that challenge them to reflect, discern and act in the community. Students have participated in a range of activities across, recently supporting Lavalla and Marian students. Congratulations to our students and keep up the good work. There actions espouse the Marist values of Family Spirit and Love of Work.

Thursday morning Community Mass 

Every Thursday our PK-12 community are invited to attend Mass in the Champagnat Chapel, commencing at 8.10am. Mass is celebrated by our local clergy who support the College. Next week, Thursday 2 September, Marcellin Guild and Year 6 students will be hosting with Fr Ruben. We look forward to welcoming you to our weekly celebration.

Sacramental Preparation 

Across our Parish’s sacramental preparation programs are taking place. Our Lady of Grace is offering Family Faith Formation on Tuesday 31 August.  Fr. Greg Donovan will lead us in this session beginning at 7.00pm in the MPA at the school.  Please arrive 5 mins early to register your attendance. I encourage you to check your parish website to find out about sacramental preparation programs for your child.

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Our Gamechangers students across Years 7 –12 continue to gather, learn about community, and gain a sense of who God is calling us to be. In an obvious way, our students in Year 11 Ҳ𳦳󲹲Բhave travelled to the regional community of Mullewa. This was an opportunity to learn about solidarity and serve in an authentic way. Read some of the student reflections below. Thank you to Br Paul, Paul Cranley and Hannah Parker who gave up time from their families to offer this experience for our students.

14 year 11 students embarked on an immersive journey to the country town of Mullewa, an out of the way town with not many people. Despite being such an exclusive community, our group was welcomed with open arms and hearts. We were given the opportunities to spend time with the children of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the local primary school as well as a variety of others through our time at the Youth Recreational Centre and the Agricultural Show.

On Tuesday, we first met with the OLMC students, a group of only 60 students from Pre-K to 6, who quickly grew in friendship with everyone from ֱ. We spent the morning learning about the history of the town at the local cemetery, while simultaneously cleaning the graves, followed by a ֱ led mass. After the mass, we ventured to the local district high school and planted trees with the younger students, before returning to the school grounds to help run a practice for the school’s sport carnival. Afterwards, we joined some of the kids from the district high school at the youth recreational centre for games of basketball and chasey, particular favourites of the students.

On Wednesday, we spent most of the day in the town hall, helping the various members of the Agricultural society prepare for the wildflower show. While we were helping, we managed to find a banner made by the ֱ REMAR group back in 2005. Halfway through the day, we gave ourselves the time to spend lunch with the OLMC students. We then returned to the town hall for the wildflower set up. After we were finished helping, we then made another trip to the youth centre, this being the last time we would be able to.

On Thursday, we spent the day helping the members of the community in setting up the displays for the agricultural festival, a Royal Show equivalent for the people of Mullewa. Yet again, we went to have lunch with the OLMC kids, everybody was excited for the disco that night, but before the disco, the ֱ students had to continue their help with the agricultural festival. After we were finished helping, we had a bit of a break, then we set out to set up the much-anticipated disco. ֱ students had set up balloons, streamers and other decorations for the OLMC students. We all had fun at the disco, with a soundtrack full of good songs and some pretty cool dance moves. At the conclusion of the disco, we had some heartfelt goodbyes with the OLMC students, and after some clean up, the ֱ students made their way back to the rec centre, excited to have their last sleep before returning home.

What really stood out to all of us through all this was hearing the impact ֱ has on the community. Everywhere we went we heard of everyone’s past experiences with the college from previous visits, we even met Holly, who said she remembered the ֱ visit to Mullewa she experienced back when she was in Kindy. In reflection, we are so grateful for Fr Rob, Holly and all of the students from both OLMC and the district high school, as well as the greater Mullewa community for being so welcoming to us all, we hope we have made as much of a memorable impact in your lives as you all have in ours. Mrs Parker, Br Paul, Liam, Mr Cranley, Mr Martino, thank you for organizing this event for us.  We all enjoyed this incredible experience and the chance to move forwards in our Marist journey.

Leila Arnold and Josh Lee 
Year 11 Students 

Perth Launch of the 2021/22 ACBC Social Justice Statement.

ֱ hosted the Justice, Ecology & Development Office (JEDO) within the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth, Western Australia to launch the Social Justice Statement for 2021/22 “Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor”.  We welcomed Bishop Don Sproxton who shared with those gathered what this statement means in the lives of our community. As we reflect on this statement, a reminder for all of us is the importance of listening with a spirit of understanding, responding with a heart of compassion and love that starts with Christ at the center of our own lives and permeates through those we encounter.

 to read the full statement from the Bishops.

Capital Development Project

Capital Development Project

I am delighted to confirm that our Capital Development Project, the St John Henry ֱ Learning Hub, as well as modifications to S Block, are finished and ready for the commencement of students on Monday and Tuesday.  The completion of this Project realises the College’s commitment to contemporary and relevant pedagogy where learning programs are increasingly differentiated and individualised, as inspired through the pedagogical pillars of our Vision for Learning – Challenge, Collaborate, Create, Celebrate.

It has been a very challenging time for the school over the last 12 months and I again thank students and staff for their patience in the disruptions that occurred in 2020.  As practical completion only occurred in the last week it has been a massive effort to bring to fruition our learning spaces for the commencement of the school year.  There are still minor works to be completed over the next fortnight with limited disruption to the College timetable.  We will be showcasing these spaces at our forthcoming information evening and throughout the year.  I am sure our students across Years 3-12 will enjoy these wonderful contemporary learning spaces.

ֱ Learning Hub

Repairs and Maintenance

Across Lavalla and Marian Campuses respectively there are gazetted improvement that will occur during the course of Term 1.  These include a new playground at Lavalla, along with flexible glass dividing walls between classrooms.  At Marian over the holidays new grass was laid in the Pre-Primary playground and there was also a major turf renovation on the Marian oval.  In addition, there was programmed painting across different parts of all campuses.

Marian Campus ֱ

ֱ Bus

We are delighted to haven taken ownership of a brand new 27 seater bus for our College. This is a great resource for our entire school and will assist with transporting our students.

Vice Principal – Dr Lucie McCrory

Lucie McCrory ֱIt is with great excitement that I begin as Vice Principal of ֱ this year. The Marists have an inspiring tradition and I look forward to learning about the history of the school, its students, staff, parents, and distinct culture. I am particularly excited to be back working in the Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12 space. It is a privilege and a blessing to see the full spectrum of student growth, from entry to graduation. I look forward to developing relationships with this wide variety of learners and teachers.

I have a passion for the craft of teaching and learning and a keen interest in the ‘future of education’. I consider myself to be a lifelong learner in the school of life, and plan to actively encourage those around me to find their unique gifts, untapped potential and ‘let their light shine’ (Matthew 5 : 16).

A school is a learning organisation that should inspire a curiosity for learning, it is a place of growth. The underlying mechanism to enable this growth lies in some form of actualisation of the human potential. Pursuits in this realm require a Christ-centred and improvement focused approach to life, an understanding of the value in failure and the provision of experiences that are developmentally appropriate to the journey-point of the individual.

I look forward to playing an important collaborative role in leading the learning at ֱ, for its next phase of life. We will shine through discovery, towards excellence and innovation. On that note…have you seen the new Learning Hub on the Marcellin campus? Impressive. Opportunities galore. Watch that space.

Dr Lucie McCrory

VICE PRINCIPAL

Capital Development Update

Never has the momentum of change been as evident as in 2020. As the Learning Hub Development nears completion, ֱ has embarked upon a significant renewal process that will deliver ongoing benefits to students for years to come.  The formal commissioning of the Learning Hub will take place early next year.

The year has seen three other significant and long-term planning decisions approved, with work currently being executed.

  • Marist Schools Australia approved the expansion of the Learning Hub Development Project to include W Block. This decision will see two new classrooms developed in W Block, along with the creation of a new Education Support Centre including life skills area.
  • S Block has been included in the scope of work for the Learning Hub. The central spaces will be refurbished, providing a learning experience that is consistent with the new Learning Hub. This includes the creation of new breakout areas, entrances to classrooms, lecture theatre, soft furnishings, meeting rooms, office, and main entries.
  • The approval of an exciting landscape design to accompany the major building program has also been approved. The magnificent design draws from the recent collaborative artwork created by students alongside local Noongar artists during our 2019 Artist in Residence program. This reflective space draws together the history of our Marist origins and our location on traditional Whadjuk land.

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These projects have commenced and will run in conjunction with the Learning Hub Development, due for completion ahead of the commencement of the 2021 school year.

Accompanying the new built environments is the commitment to appoint the spaces with new furniture. A significant furniture program has now been completed and will see new furniture installed throughout the Learning Hub, W Block and S Block. Further upgrades will be made to classrooms in B Block and T Block concurrently.

On Wednesday 4 November, Leaders or Learning and Leaders of Wellbeing were taken on a guided tour of the new Learning Hub. The excitement was evident in all, as the realisation of the significance and grandeur of the project was realised. We are now just a short journey to the finish line, with students and staff set to experience a learning environment that will be the envy of the State.

 

2021 Pre Kindergarten Parent Information Session

We invite Pre Kindergarten parents to join us for a Parent Information Session.

Orientation packs will be provided during this session.

Please contact the Marian Campus on 9387 9900 should you require any further information or assistance. We look forward to seeing you then.