Secondary Update – Term 1 Week 4

WELLBEING PROGRAM

Our Wellbeing Program officially commenced this week with activities across Years 7-11. Our Year 7 students spent time with their PCG teachers setting some goals. Our Year 8 students heard from the Community Engagement Officer at HeadSpace. The Year 9 students had conversations about setting themselves up for success in Year 9. Our Year 10 cohort heard from two guest presenters from the Workplace Respect Project, and our Year 11 students also focused on how to be successful in Year 11.

YEAR 12 RETREAT

Our Class of 2024 embarked upon their Year 12 Retreat at two locations. Our students were supported by Mr Stuart McClorey (Director of Mission and Catholic Identity) and Mr Nathan Pereira (Leader of Wellbeing Year 12) who challenged them to reflect on the person that they currently are and who they want to become. All students participated in a quiet and reflective liturgy and wrote affirmation letters to their peers and staff. Additionally, our Year 12 students had the opportunity to read their parent or guardian affirmation letters on Thursday afternoon. Our Year 12 students returned to the College on Friday 23 February and gathered in the Champagnat Chapel for a mass before departing the College. We would like to extend our gratitude to the students for their participation and reverence in activities throughout this experience. A special thank you to our Year 12 PCG teachers and additional support staff for walking with our students across these three days.

GUILD SWIMMING CARNIVAL

The Marcellin students braved the hot weather on Thursday 15 February at the Guild Swimming Carnival. It was wonderful to witness the Guild spirit that continues to grow from year to year under the guidance of our Guild Coordinators. We had some incredible achievements by individual students and relay teams on the day which bodes well for our participation in the ACC A Division Swimming Carnival later this term. This week, we had the opportunity to come together to acknowledge these achievements. Catherine Guild were awarded first place for the Swimming Carnival achieving an incredible 3911 points, and Mackillop Guild were awarded the Guild Spirit award.

STEM WORKSHOP FOR GIRLS

UNIFORM SHOP

The Uniform Shop is now accepting Year 9 Blazers that would like to have the trim attached from Tuesday 27/2/24 until 13/3/24

Please note Blazers MUST be drycleaned and presented with the drycleaning tag attached.

Cost for this service is $30 – we do not accept cash or American Express as payment.

We also have a large range of New Blazers with the trim already attached if you prefer.

Pathways and Careers Information 

Contact details: 

Justin Farley 

Leader of Pathways and Partnerships 

justin.farley@newman.wa.edu.au 

Tel. 9204 9457 

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 at /careers-transition/#choosing-and-changing-school-subjects  

YEAR 11 

Changing subjects 

Year 11 students may request a subject change until Term 1 Week 8. After this time, the timetable is locked and it will not be possible to make subject changes. 

If you would like to request a subject change, it is best to contact me via email first and then we can see what is possible and start the process. Please note that subject changes are requests and still require permission from Leaders of Learning and parents / guardians before it can be swapped. 

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 sport. 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. You can find them here:  
  • Are you thinking of attending a University Open Day? Dates are below. This blog might help you:   

YEAR 12 

Changing subjects and study lessons 

Year 12 students may request a subject change until Term 1 Week 8. After this time, the timetable is locked and it will not be possible to make subject changes. This is a deadline for all schools in WA. 

If you would like to request a subject change, it is best to contact me via email first and then we can see what is possible and start the process. Please note that subject changes are requests and still require permission from Leaders of Learning and parents / guardians before it can be swapped. 

For students wanting to apply for a study period, applications for these will open in Week 6 and students will be advised at this time. 

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 Early Offers for University in 2025 will open on 1 May of this year. Further information will be provided at that time, when available. 

Information about University entry 

  • TISC has a series of videos explaining things like ATAR calculation, prerequisite subjects, scaling, and preferences. You can find them here:  
  • Are you thinking of attending a University Open Day? Dates are below. This blog might help you:  
  • 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:   
  • Finally, here are some gap year ideas:  

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 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:  

UWA Medical entry handbook here (for Assured Pathway):  

Curtin Medical entry handbook here:   

University scholarships 

Curtin University   
Edith Cowan University (ECU)   
Murdoch University   
Notre Dame University   
University of Western Australia (UWA)   
Women of STEM Australian scholarships    
Other scholarships  Scholarship       

UPCOMING CAREERS EVENTS 

EVENT DATE LINK 
UWA Open Day 17 March  
Murdoch University Open Day 23 March  
Curtin University Open Day 24 March  
Year 11 and 12 Exploration Day (Murdoch) 3 April  
ECU Open Day Joondalup 14 April   
Perth Open Evening (SAE Institute) 18 April  
ECU Engineering Information Evening 24 April  
ECU and WAAPA Information Day 28 April  
ECU Open Day Mt Lawley 28 April   
Notre Dame University Open Day 5 May  
Careers Expo & VET Expo 16 May to 19 May  
Parent and Student Information Evening (Murdoch) 22 May  
Engineering Information Evening (ECU) 6 June  
Perth Skills West Careers & Employment Expo 25 July to 27 July  
Health and Education Information Evening (Murdoch) 28 August  
Science, IT, Engineering Information Evening (Murdoch) 29 August  
Business and Law Information Evening (Murdoch) 4 September  
Science and Maths Information Evening (ECU) 4 September  
Engineering Information Evening (ECU) 6 September  
Health Sciences Information Evening (ECU) 11 September  
Teacher Education Information Evening (ECU) 12 September  
Computing and Cybersecurity Information Evening (ECU) 17 September  
Year 12 Online Information Evening (Murdoch) 15 October  
Future Students Information Evening (ECU) 20 November  

OPPORTUNITIES 

Employment opportunities 

Text 

Work experience opportunities 

Army 

A Day in the Life of a Solider, March 21 2024. 

Apply here: applications close 11 February 2024 

Air Force  

An Aerial View: Air Force Careers Day, March 19 2024. 

Apply here: applications close 11 February 2024  

Navy  

Naval Gazing: Navy Careers Experience, 8-10 April 2024. 

Apply here: applications close 25 February 2024  

There will be more opportunities coming throughout the year for both students and teachers so we encourage students to keep an eye on our website for other opportunities