ÐãÐãÖ±²¥

From the Principal – Term 1 Week 10

The end of Term 1 and so much has been achieved by our students, guided in their learning and care by our staff and supported through our families. In the week just gone, our community was enthralled by the performance of the cast and crew of the College production – Bugsy Malone. ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ has a rich history of the highest quality performances and I can say that Bugsy Malone was up there with the best school musical events that I have seen. The immersive experience of the audience as guests in the nightclub within the performance, the visual presentation of the Marist Auditorium and the clever adaptations created to make this a family-friendly production, supported by outstanding acting, dancing, music and singing. Congratulations to Mrs Kathy La Brooy, her team, our students and parent helpers. This from a family who just recently joined ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ highlights the Family Spirit shown by all involved:

“We wanted to extend our heartfelt gratitude and congratulations, for a fantastic performance of Bugsy Malone. The time and effort it takes to go into making this special, not only for the students but also for the family and friends surrounding them is truly appreciated. I would also like to make special mention to all the lovely students who encouraged my daughter and made her feel a part of a team and through their own unique contributions, made this experience one to remember. The talent and team work of everyone shone through and created a memorable experience for all of us.â€

ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ First XI Win Graeme Wood Shield

Last week, we posted the exciting news of the First XI Cricket team’s win over Mazenod College at the WACA. The game showcased great teamwork, sportsmanship and individual talents of players on both sides. The ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ Cricket program has gone from strength to strength with recent successes at the Marist Cricket Carnival and now this Shield. Congratulations to the students, Mr John Lucas and Mr Jake Goncalves.

Marist Basketball Carnival

Last week, our senior girls and boys basketball teams played in the Marist Basketball Carnival in Melbourne. Hosted by Marcellin College, both teams were a credit to ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ and played great competitive games. Overall, we improved our positions in the final standings significantly from 2024. Congratulations to the players and thank you to our managers Mr Ben Goldie and Ms Jade Nicotra, and to our coaches Nick Vlahov and Brendan Gaunson.

A Milestone in Year 6

This week, College Captains Amelia Ng and Liam Stannard, along with the Year 6 Guild Captains, joined me in handing the Year 6 students their Celebration polo. This is another milestone in the Year 6 journey that culminates in our Mass and recognition of the end of the Primary journey in December. The students told me that the privilege of being able to wear the polos once a week, comes with the responsibility of being great leaders in the ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ Norms and demonstration of the Marist Characteristics.

Mid-Year Break – Parent Survey 

In recent years, momentum has developed in looking at the spread of school holidays across the year.  This would not mean much adjustment to the length of the summer break and would have a similar pattern to the 2025 first days of term we experienced this year. The important consideration is to maintain the number of teaching days and hours that we need to meet our registration as a school. The reasons to entertain a change in break are communicated in the below survey, and it is most likely that we would look at any change for 2027. The staff and students will also be consulted for their view on any proposed change. We would appreciate you and encourage you to take the time to complete the below survey as your feedback is an integral part of this consultation process 

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I will keep families informed as we progress through this consideration. 

Marcellin Celebration Assembly – When the ground trembles, character stands still

To end the term, Secondary gathered for a Celebration Assembly. We highlighted achievements of the term and I spoke to the students about a connection between the tragedy of the Myanmar earthquake recently and their everyday lives. I opened my talk with this quote that I read recently.

When the ground trembles, character stands still.

Many of us have seen the footage of hospital staff protecting newborn babies in the hospital nursery as the building shook and rubble fell. They did not run, they did not take a moment to consider any other action than to place their bodies across the basinets to hold and protect the babies in their care. Courage, leadership, presence. Victor Frankl, prominent in psychology and a survivor of the concentration camps of World War II referred to the space between stimulus and response. Frankl wrote: Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. Faced with adversity or a wrong situation, what occupies that space in our thinking before we respond? Mr Stuart McClorey writes about it in his Ministry section.  How can that relate to ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ students today and in our context? There are many ways we can stand still, be present and act in the right way while facing something that is wrong, unkind, undignified or diminishing. I put to our students that I had seen in many of them this term their character standing still and firm, acting with the care of others as their first thought. I also put the challenge to them that they start Term 2 afresh with the desire to be steadfast, courageous and selfless in going out of their way to think of another, whether at school or elsewhere, in person or online, when the situation could easily be dismissed as too hard to face.

 Easter

We are in the final stages of Lent and we look forward to Holy Week next week. The Easter Triduum extends from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday. Treated separately, they are liturgically one day unfolding the final time of Jesus’ early life and to his resurrection.  I hope you have the chance to be involved in these moments of the Holy Week.

Winter uniforms will be worn from the beginning of next term unless we have an unseasonal hot spell. There will be communication with families and students if this is the case. Wishing all families a restful break together over Easter

Mr Andrew Watson

PRINCIPAL

Secondary Update – Term 1 Week 10

Walk for Water

In Week 9, the Year 11 Guild Representatives organised a joint Walk for Water event with Year 11 and Year 4 students. Congratulations to Catherine Guild for winning the relay by efficiently and effectively moving water without any waste. This event highlighted the reality that some people face when they need to travel up to 6 kilometres daily to collect clean water. The Year 11 students thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with the enthusiastic Year 4s on this meaningful challenge.

Paramedic Presentation

In Week 10, Jane Jennings from St John of God delivered an insightful presentation on key aspects of First Aid, focusing on the DRSABCD process. She encouraged students to reflect on various real-life scenarios and apply the DRSABCD steps accordingly. Ms Jennings also introduced several useful apps designed to facilitate access to health and emergency services, such as the St John First Responder App and Emergency Plus, both featuring GPS functionality, and Health Direct (1800 022 222). Families are encouraged to discuss these scenarios and apps with their children to empower them in handling health or safety concerns effectively.

  • St John First Responder App: This app helps users learn and provide first aid, locate nearby defibrillators.
  • Emergency Plus: Developed by Australia’s emergency services, this app uses GPS functionality to help users call Triple Zero (000) quickly and accurately communicate their location. It also includes SES and Police Assistance Line numbers for non-emergency situations
  • Health Direct (1800 022 222): A government-funded service providing 24-hour health advice from registered nurses. The app includes a symptom checker and access to trusted health information

Recognition of State Representation:

Congratulations to Year 12 student Caitlin, who, with her partner Kaia, won GOLD at the 2025 Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships in Coolangatta in March!

A special shout out to Caitlin on receiving her third medal in three years at the AYBVC, including back-to-back Gold, and being named the MVP!

Congratulations to Year 11 student Koby, who last week captained the WA Under 16 State Team at the Australian Hockey Championships, taking out the bronze medal.  Koby was also named Player of the Tournament.

State Representation is an honour and an important stepping stone in an athlete’s 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.

ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ Japan Tour: A Journey of Discovery, Culture, and Adventure

The ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ Japan Tour is off to an exciting start, with students and staff diving straight into the colour, energy, and rich culture of Japan.

Exploring Tokyo:
 After a slightly delayed start organising train tickets, the group wasted no time exploring Tokyo’s vibrant streets. The first stop was the famous Shibuya Crossing—reputedly the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world, with hundreds of people moving in every direction (and just as many tourists taking selfies!). Students enjoyed the view from above while sipping on a traditional Japanese Starbucks coffee.

From there, they strolled through Yoyogi Park to the peaceful Meiji Shrine, where the cherry blossoms were just beginning to bloom, creating a serene and reflective atmosphere. Harajuku and Takeshita Street brought a dramatic change of pace, with colourful shopfronts, quirky animal cafés (featuring everything from cats and dogs to pigs and otters!), and an assortment of unique street food. Culinary highlights included rainbow cheese-infused pancakes, chicken curry crepes, the longest swirled potato chips imaginable, and a wild assortment of sweets and toys.

The afternoon took them to Akihabara, the bustling hub of anime and manga culture, where students soaked up the atmosphere before enjoying a traditional Japanese dinner together. The day ended on a literal high—with an elevator ride 350 metres up the Sky Tree Tower, offering dazzling views of the Tokyo skyline at night.

A Magical Day at Disney Sea:
 The following day was nothing short of epic. Leaving the hotel at 7:15am and returning at 11pm, the group navigated Tokyo’s intricate underground transport system (even managing the peak-hour crowds at 10:30pm!) to spend the day at Disney Sea.

Each group carved their own path through the themed areas, enjoying rides that matched their interests. Favourites included the thrilling Tower of Terror and Journey to the Centre of the Earth. The day concluded with a spectacular light show, featuring dancing, music, and dazzling effects choreographed to beloved Disney films. It was a long day, but one that left lasting memories.

Mt Fuji – A Lesson in Resilience and Natural Wonder:
 The group’s journey to Mt Fuji tested both patience and flexibility, as unexpected train cancellations meant reworking the entire travel plan. Instead of a direct express service, the group navigated multiple local trains to reach the Hakone region, showcasing impressive adaptability and teamwork.

Their efforts were rewarded with a breathtaking cable car ride over the mountain ridges. From the crest of the hill, Mt Fuji emerged—snow-capped and majestic, blending into the surrounding landscape. At the summit, the vivid hues of sulphur vents (greens and yellows) stood out against the rich reds and oranges of the rocks and the clear blue sky. After a bit of souvenir shopping, the group made their way back—tired but inspired after nearly 12 hours on the move.

2025 Year 7 Guild Representatives:

 The following Year 7 students were elected Guild Representatives through a process of student voting and staff endorsement. Students elected to Student Leadership is an acknowledgement of their outstanding commitment to the College values. Congratulations!

BRIGID – Iaasha Ahearn and Joel Costley

CAMARA – Lucy Hayes and Alex Martinovich

CATHERINE – Hunter Popovsky and Oliver Slavicek

CHISHOLM – Claudia Fleming and Rita Kirk

MACKILLOP – Harper Chatfield and Luke Mathews

MARCELLIN – Olivia Gordon and Olive Mollet

ROMERO – Angus Kerns and Madison Stein-Frankel

THOMAS MORE – Eowyn Bishop and Henry Dudumas

Term 2 EGT Program:

The Term 2 Year 7 – 12 Equip, Guide, Thrive (EGT) program can be found here.

Term 1 Thanks:

This term has been filled which so much learning, growth and memorable moments. Throughout the term, I have had the privilege of seeing students step up in many ways – through the way in which they have approached their studies with curiosity, showing resilience during challenging times, or simply supporting one another throughout the term.

One of the highlights for me was the College Production of Bugsy Malone! It is so wonderful to witness the range of talent within our College community. What a pleasure it was to watch our students doing something they love with such determination and passion!

I would like to thank our students, staff and families for making this term such a rewarding one. I hope everyone has a wonderful break and finds time to rest, recharge and spend time with loved ones. I look forward to welcoming the students back to school on Wednesday 30 April. Students are asked to go directly to PCG and should be in their correct Winter Uniform.

Wishing all our families and students a happy Easter.

Mrs Carla Pastorelli

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL SECONDARY

Pathways and Careers Information: Year 10

Subject handbook open

Current Year 10 students and families can now access information about Year 11 subjects for 2026, using this link:

A reminder about the major subject selection event coming up in Term 2. It is expected that all students attend this event, accompanied by at least one parent or guardian.

  • Tuesday 24 June
  • Marist Auditorium, ÐãÐãÖ±²¥
  • 5pm to 6pm: Careers and Year 11 Subjects Expo.
  • 6pm to 6.45pm: Year 10 Family Information Evening.

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 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:
  • Here is a parents guide to University:
  • And here is the “First in Family†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:

New Electrical pre-apprenticeship course

The College of Electrical Training is offering an Electrical pre-apprenticeship course (Certificate II Electrotechnology), commencing Semester 2. To be successful in your application, students will need good grades in Maths, Science, English and also NAPLAN.

Further information is available , and please contact me if you wish to apply.

Future Female Health Leaders Program

The Future Health Leaders Program is designed to inspire female high school students to enter a career in health and medical research, innovation and life sciences. The program will bring together twelve Year 11 science students from across Australia for a full-day event in Canberra in August 2025 to:

  • Showcase the diversity of career pathways in health and medical research
  • Inspire a passion for a career in health and medical research
  • Meet with exceptional female leaders in research, education, industry and government
  • Get some hands-on experience in world-class science facilities

Information and applications here:

Defence Force Work Experience Opportunities

Army

  • A Day in the Life of a Soldier – Irwin Barracks – 19 June 2025
  • Applications close: 04 May 2025
  • Apply here:

Navy

  • Navy Careers Experience – HMAS Stirling – 30 June – 02 July 2025
  • Applications close: 18 May 2025
  • Apply here:

Air Force

  • Air Force Careers Day – RAAF Base Pearce – 24 June 2025
  • Applications close 11 May 2025
  • Apply here:

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 Early Offer information

Please see below for the latest available Early Offer information.

Early Offers will open on 3 June 2025. Prior to this date, all Year 12 students will be provided with information about how to access the TISC system and enter preferences.

Curtin UniversityNo details as yet.  
Edith Cowan UniversityFull 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 UniversityNo details as yet.  
Notre Dame UniversityFull 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 WANo details as yet.  

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:

Thinking of studying Medicine or Dentistry in 2026?

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:

  • 4 March 2025:            UCAT bookings open
  • 16 May 2025:              Deadline to book your UCAT for 2024
  • 11 June 2025: Deadline if you need to cancel your UCAT booking
  • 1 July 2025:                UCAT testing begins
  • 5 August 2025:          Last test date
  • September 2025:       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. CASPER scores are valid only for the next available admissions year, so applicants should only complete the test in the year immediately preceding their planned year of admission.

The CASPER Test is held nationally and is sat online from home. Applicants are responsible for making their own arrangements to register for 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:

Notre Dame Medicine program information is here:

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:

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:

Bricklaying free course

The Bricklaying Job Ready Program is a FREE 4-week course designed for students eager to begin their journey in bricklaying. It offers the students a white card and experience in the bricklaying industry.

  • Course Dates: 1st Semester 2025:
  • Start date 5 May – North Metro TAFE Clarkson
  • Start date 2 June – South Metropolitan TAFE Thornlie

Apply NOW:

Defence Force Work Experience Opportunities

Army

  • A Day in the Life of a Soldier – Irwin Barracks – 19 June 2025
  • Applications close: 04 May 2025
  • Apply here:

Navy

  • Navy Careers Experience – HMAS Stirling – 30 June – 02 July 2025
  • Applications close: 18 May 2025
  • Apply here:

Air Force

  • Air Force Careers Day – RAAF Base Pearce – 24 June 2025
  • Applications close 11 May 2025
  • Apply here:

UPCOMING CAREERS EVENTS

EVENTDATELINK
Sound and Engineering College Information Night16 April
Engineering Open Evening (ECU Joondalup)1 May
ECU Open Day (Mt Lawley)4 May
Perth Careers Expo15-18 May
Notre Dame Open Day24 May
Year 10 Information Evening (ECU Joondalup)27 May
Teaching degrees information evening (ECU)3 June
Engineering Information Evening (ECU)4 June
Year 9 and 10 Parent Information Evening (Murdoch University)4 June
Year 11 and 12 Parent Information Evening (Murdoch University)4 June
Parent Information Evening for Year 12 students (ECU)5 June
Psychology Information Evening (ECU)10 June
ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ Careers Expo and Year 10 Parent Evening24 June Marist Auditorium3.30pm to 4.30pm:         Yr 11/12 Careers Expo 5.00pm to 6.00pm:         Yr 10 Careers & Subject Expo 6.00pm to 6.45pm:         Yr 10 Family Info Session
WAAPA Information Evening 29 July
Engineering Information Evening (ECU)5 September
   

If you are thinking of attending a University Open Day, this blog might help you get the most out of it:

From the Vice Principal – Term 1 Week 8

Marist Basketball Carnival

This morning, our Marist Basketball Teams departed for Marcellin College, Bulleen, Victoria, to compete in the Marist Basketball Carnival. Led by Ms Jade Nicotra and Mr Ben Goldie as well as coaches Nic Vlahov and Brendan Gaunson, our teams will take on fellow Marist schools from across the country in an exciting showcase of skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

We wish them safe travels and a fantastic experience competing alongside our Marist friends.

Walk For Water

On Tuesday 1 April, our Year 4 and Year 11 students will take part in the Walk for Water, a meaningful initiative that highlights the challenges many children around the world face in accessing clean drinking water.

Students in Year 4 and Year 11 are encouraged to wear their Guild Uniform for the day. As an added incentive, the Guild that raises the most funds will earn the opportunity to wear their Guild Uniform on an additional chosen day.

All funds raised will be donated to Caritas Australia, supporting their vital work in providing water taps near homes and schools. This initiative helps reduce the burden on children who would otherwise walk over 6km daily to access clean water.

College Production Bugsy Malone

Excitement is building as we approach next Thursday’s opening night of our College Production, Bugsy Malone! This production has given students with a passion for the Arts a chance to ‘let their light shine’, showcasing their dedication and hard work in what promises to be a spectacular performance.

A huge thank you to Kathy La Brooy and the many staff members whose generosity of time, enthusiasm, and commitment have made this possible. Their dedication ensures that students have opportunities to grow, perform, and shine on stage.

With all four shows completely sold out, those lucky enough to have secured tickets are in for a fantastic night of entertainment. We can’t wait to share the magic of Bugsy Malone with you!

Your Move Update

On Thursday, 20 March, students from Pre-Kindy to Year 12 took part in our inaugural “Hands Up†survey, an initiative of the program. This survey helps the College understand how students travel to school, providing valuable data to guide future initiatives.

With over 1,500 students participating, the results will serve as a baseline to measure the impact of programs aimed at promoting active travel, reducing traffic congestion, and supporting sustainability. We look forward to conducting the survey again at the end of the year to track our progress.

Year 2 Blue were excited to compare their results to the secondary school, to see if and how movement changes through schooling.

Carpark Flow Improvement at Lavalla Carpark

We are pleased to see a noticeable improvement in the afternoon traffic flow in and out of the Lavalla car park over the past few weeks. This has been made possible through the cooperation and patience of our parents, and we sincerely thank you for your efforts.

Some of the key behaviours contributing to this positive change include:

• Arriving 5–10 minutes after the final bell so students are ready for collection
• Following the no standing or parking rule in the left ‘Kiss N Drive’ lane
• Moving forward promptly in the ‘Kiss N Drive’ lane as spaces become available
• Clearly displaying family names on dashboards for quick identification
• Encouraging children to enter the car independently (where appropriate) without parents needing to exit their vehicle
• Practising courteous and safe driving at all times

Your continued support in following these guidelines helps ensure a safer and more efficient pick-up experience for everyone. Thank you!

Mr Michael Chiera

VICE PRINCIPAL

Secondary Update – Term 1 Week 8

School Specials – Transperth Bus Update

The College is still monitoring the arrival times of school specials and communicating with Transperth in the instance of late arrivals. Transperth is working on measures to prevent these instances. We appreciate the undue stress that this causes students and would like to assure parents and caregivers that their child should not be receiving penalisation if they arrive late due to the school special running late.

So that we may capture the specific days and routes that are arriving late, students are asked to present to the Student Reception if their bus arrives late. They will be asked to provide their bus route number and arrival time.

Year 12 Business Management & Enterprise

Our Year 12 Business Management and Enterprise students had an exciting opportunity to attend the Curtin Business School Challenge Day, applying their learning to real-world business scenarios. Through interactive activities and competitions, they developed critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. This hands-on experience enriched their understanding of business strategy while offering insights into university life and future career pathways.

Year 11 RAC bStreetsmart Road Safety Demonstration

On Tuesday 25 March, our Year 11 students, along with their EGT teachers, participated in a powerful and thought-provoking road safety event in collaboration with RAC, WA Police, Royal Perth Hospital, and St John of God.

The centrepiece of the program was a confronting car crash re-enactment, vividly illustrating the devastating consequences of risky driving behaviours such as alcohol consumption, distractions, and speeding. The scenario followed multiple perspectives, from the drivers and passengers to the first responders – including paramedics, police officers, and firefighters.

Students witnessed the harrowing reality of emergency response efforts, gaining insight into the critical work of surgeons and trauma teams who fight to repair the damage caused in just a few reckless moments. The re-enactment was designed to leave a lasting impression, reinforcing the message that road safety is a shared responsibility.

The event also featured deeply moving stories from individuals whose lives have been irrevocably changed by road trauma. Hearing first-hand from survivors added a personal and emotional layer to the experience. This immersive learning experience was an invaluable opportunity for our students to reflect on their own responsibilities as future drivers and passengers.

We encourage our students to take these lessons to heart, making safe choices every time they step into a vehicle.

Year 7 Immunisations

The School-Based Immunisation team will be visiting ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ on Monday 31 March and Tuesday 1 April to administer the dTpa vaccine booster (diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough) and the HPV vaccination (human Papillomavirus) to all Year 7 students.

For this to occur, parental consent must be given. Please complete this as soon as possible to ensure that your child is able to receive their immunisation.

How to Give Consent

The preferred method of consent is via the VaccinateWA digital consent form, which can be accessed

If you are unable to provide consent using the digital form, please complete a Please sign and return to the School, even if consent is declined. Please note, Paper-based consent forms will be entered onto VaccinateWA and you will receive an email confirming this.

Schedule

Monday 31 March – Brigid, Camara, Catherine and Chisholm

Tuesday 1 April – MacKillop, Marcellin, Romero and Thomas More

Uniforms           

Students are permitted to wear their Guild uniform on their scheduled immunisation day.

Year 7 – 12 Guild Activities

Year 7 – 12 students will be participating in guild activities on Wednesday 2 April. Students are permitted to wear their Guild uniform to and from school on this day.

Primary Update – Term 1 Week 8

Here we are at the end of Week 8 and with only 2 weeks to go of Term 1! Our Term so far has been a wonderful celebration of learning across so many domains.

Update to Front Office Procedures – Affecting All Parents

The Primary Leadership Team and Primary Administration have recently been reviewing our procedures within the front office, considering feedback from our teachers and students.

Currently, there are a large number of PA System announcements in our classrooms for reasons such as early collections and to pass on messages to students. These interruptions are having an unfavourable impact on our teaching and learning programs. As such, the following changes will now take place as of Monday 31 March.

  • If parents need to collect their child before the 3.00pm school bell, parents will need to sign themselves in at the front office, wear the print-out visitor sticker, and follow the below:
    • At Marian Campus: sign your child out as normal and be given a Signed Out card from Mrs Wiedermann/Mrs Scott and then head to the relevant classroom to collect your child and hand over the Signed Out card to the classroom teacher.At Lavalla Campus: sign your child out using the SEQTA Kiosk iPad, take the automatic printed Sign Out Sticker and head to the relevant classroom to collect their child and hand over the Sign Out Sticker to the classroom teacher.
    • After you have collected your child, return to the front office to sign yourself out.
  • Please note: Parents presenting to classrooms without the Signed Out Slip will be re-directed to the front office before taking their child home.
  • If dropping something urgent to your child (i.e. lunch/forgotten uniform), front office staff will ask parents to take the item to the child’s classroom – please note you must go through the front office and sign in before going to the classroom, then return to the office to sign out once complete.
  • Marian Campus only: When students are dropped off at school late, parents will need to sign themselves in first and wear the print-out visitor sticker. Please then sign your child in as normal and collect a Signed In slip from Mrs Wiedermann/Mrs Scott, and then take your child to their classroom yourself, handing over the Signed In slip to the classroom teacher. Parents will then need to exit through the front office and sign themselves out.

It is essential that parents go through the front office and sign in/out as part of our Child Safeguarding procedures, as well as ensuring we know who is on-campus at all times, which is particularly important during emergencies. Please ensure you wear your visitor sticker so staff can easily identify that you have signed in. We will trial this updated process for the coming weeks. Your support in reducing the interruptions to our teaching and learning programs is greatly appreciated.

Neurodiversity & Harmony Week 2025

Neurodiversity and Harmony Week was a huge success at ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ last week. Throughout the week, students learnt all about neurodiversity and harmony, and participated in a wide range of activities to understand each of these concepts at a deeper level. I hope your children came home talking about all the things they learnt last week.

Neurodiversity is a relatively new term that many parents would not have been exposed to in their own schooling. It is so fantastic that this generation of children are growing up learning about neurodiversity and celebrating the neurodiversity that exists amongst our community.

Hugh van Cuylenburg (founder of The Resilience Project) has recently shared a very thought-provoking reflection on what it is like to be the parent of a neurodiverse child. I encourage all parents to watch , to understand more about neurodiversity, what neurodiverse students experience and what it feels like as a parent. I would say this is essential viewing for all in our community.

4B and 2B Assembly

In the last fortnight, we have had 2 fantastic assemblies, where 4 Blue and 2 Blue shared their learning with us. Last week, 4 Blue shared a beautiful assembly all about celebrating our diversity as a multicultural Australian community. 4 Blue shared information about each of their cultural backgrounds and then presented a fun dance to the song ‘Absolutely Everybody’ – highlighting the importance of coming together as one community in a kind and respectful way.

This morning, 2 Blue started their assembly by sharing their beautiful singing voices with us, singing the beautiful hymn Way Maker. They then shared with us their recent Literacy learnings about parts of speech. Our 2 Blue students used the book If You Were an Adjective as a base for their assembly, adapting the text and creating their own fantastic work and sharing many brilliant adjectives with us, helping us to learn all about these important parts of speech!

College Swimming Boardshorts

Please be advised that alongside the College Jammers, College boardshorts will soon be available for purchase by Primary families from the Uniform Shop for use during swimming at school.

KISS N DRIVE – Marian Family Name Tags

As we continue preparations for the move of Marian Campus to the Main Primary Campus in the coming months, we look to prepare for the new cars that will utilise the Lavalla Kiss N Drive once our Marian families move across. To prepare ahead of time, if you will utilise (or think you might) the Lavalla Kiss N Drive option once Marian families move across, please complete so that we can prepare a family name tag for you which you can place on your dashboard to assist us with smooth and efficient collection procedures once the move is complete. We are hoping to do this now, ahead of time, so all families are ready when the move occurs. Thanks to those families who have already completed this. Your family name tags will be sent home with one of your children in the coming weeks.

All Lavalla families should now have their family name tags if ordered. If Lavalla families still require one, please email Amanda.johnson@newman.wa.edu.au

The name tag system saves considerable time when collecting students so your support and use of these name tags is greatly appreciated.

Marian Playground After School

A reminder that we ask parents to move off-site quickly after school with their children. Children are not permitted to play in the playgrounds before or after school when there is no teacher supervision. OSHClub utilise the outdoor play spaces after school and cannot go outside whilst there are parents on-site. As such, we ask for your support and cooperation in moving off-site quickly (and when asked by staff) and keeping your children off the equipment. We encourage parents to visit a local park to socialise and allow children to play together.

Community Mass

When your child’s Guild is invited to Community Mass on Thursday mornings at 8:00am, it would be wonderful if they could be there to support. To build Guild spirit, students that attend the Mass are able to wear their Guild sports top for the entire day. The remainder of the Guild Masses for Term 1 are listed below for Lavalla parents to mark on their calendars:

Week 9: Thursday 3 April – Romero

Week 10: Thursday 10 April – Camara

Easter Raffle

Our annual Easter Raffle will be held on Friday, 11 April. Thank you to all families who have generously donated Easter eggs and have returned their tickets and money. Please send all Easter egg donations to the administration by Monday 7 April.

If any parents are able to assist with the wrapping at Marian, we will be gathering in the hall immediately after the assembly on Friday, 4 April, to wrap the prizes.

Thank you for your kindness and generosity.  

ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ Norms / Medals of Marcellin

Each fortnight at each Primary campus, one person will be drawn out of the raffle and receive a small prize for living out our ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ Norms. Congratulations to Taylor, Eva and Katelyn (Week 6 Lavalla) and James (Week 7 Marian), who were our recent winners! Each raffle ticket received is swapped for a token, and the Guild with the highest number of tokens at the end of the term wins a prize for the whole Guild!

URSTRONG

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

Homework Club – Lavalla

A reminder that Week 9 (Tuesday 1 April) is the final Homework Club for Term 1. Homework Club resumes in Term 2, in Week 2 on Tuesday 6 May.

Smartphones

Recently, one of our Primary parents drew my attention to an initiative called .

Wait Mate is a not-for-profit Australian movement empowering parents to hit pause on smartphones until at least high school. The website connects parents with like-minded families in your child’s school and year level and encourages you to take the pledge to ‘sign the pledge’. The aim of the initiative is to ‘create a world where kids can be kids for longer’.

Why wait? Smartphones:

  • are addictive,
  • are changing childhood,
  • increase the risk of anxiety and depression,
  • put your child at risk of cyber bullying,
  • may expose children to inappropriate content,
  • interfere with relationships, and
  • can impair sleep.

I strongly encourage all parents to at least visit to explore how it works. It sounds like a brilliant movement to support our children.

Primary Staffing

We have had some recent staffing changes, which we can now share with our community.

Miss Arden Lavelle (Lavalla Education Assistant) has resigned to pursue her studies in Secondary English teaching. Miss Lavelle developed a wonderful connection with our Years 3-6 students and was a valuable member of the support team.

Mrs Kellie Thwaites will be heading off on Maternity Leave at the start of Term 2. Kellie has transformed the Primary Performing Arts Program over the past 2 years and her contributions are truly appreciated. We wish Kellie and her husband well for the upcoming birth of their first child.

Mrs Tasha Richards has been successful in gaining a position at Prendiville Catholic College as a Secondary Physical Education teacher. Mrs Richards has been a brilliant Primary Sport teacher throughout her time at ÐãÐãÖ±²¥, implementing a number of initiatives and bringing such passion and commitment to her role in promoting physical education to our Years 3-6 students.

Mrs Alison Le Dan, who is currently on Long Service Leave for Term 1, will be concluding her time at ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ after her Long Service Leave comes to an end. Mrs Le Dan has been an outstanding Teacher-Librarian, sharing her absolute passion and love of books and literature, and her gentle nature, with our Pre-Kindy to Year 6 students over the past 11 years, leaving a lasting imprint of the importance of literature on so many of our students.

We thank all of these Primary staff members for their time, dedication and commitment to ÐãÐãÖ±²¥. Whilst they will certainly be missed, we wish them well for the exciting new chapters in front of each of them.

As we say farewell to these members of staff, we look to the future and welcome some new members of staff.

Miss Holly Drinkwater (a fairly recent ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ graduate) has been appointed and has commenced in her role as Years 3-6 Education Assistant.

Mrs Samantha Wynne, who has a wide and varied background in the Performing Arts, has been appointed to teach Performing Arts when Kellie Thwaites starts Maternity Leave. Mrs Wynne has been our Library Teacher throughout term 1, so she already knows our students very well.

The process to appoint new Physical Education and Library Teachers is underway and will be shared in the final Newsletter of the term.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

Mr Ryan von Bergheim

HEAD OF PRIMARY