ÐãÐãÖ±²¥

Secondary Update – Term 1 Week 7

Neurodiversity & Harmony Week: 16–22 March 2026

Neurodiversity Celebration Week

This week, ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ joined schools and communities around the world in celebrating Neurodiversity Celebration Week — a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences, and helps us all understand, value, and celebrate the talents of neurodiverse minds.

This year’s theme, “Working together to create a world that understands it takes all kinds of different minds,” reflects our commitment as a Marist community to welcoming every person and the unique gifts each one brings.

During the week, our secondary students had the opportunity to explore what neurodiversity means through a range of engaging activities in Founders Court. Students took part in Walk in My Shoes, stepping into the experience of others and sharing their reflections on our dedicated reflection wall. They also tackled Unlock the Puzzle — a dyslexia-style letter scramble challenge designed to give students a firsthand sense of how text can appear differently to neurodiverse readers. Our Memory Madness games rounded out the week with fun, thought-provoking activities exploring how different minds process and retain information.

Harmony Week

Every year, the third week of March invites Australians to pause and reflect on what makes this country truly special. Harmony Week is about more than just celebration. It is a reminder that inclusiveness, respect, and a genuine sense of belonging are values we must actively live out — not just acknowledge. Every culture represented in our community adds something irreplaceable to who we are as a people.

This week, our students engaged with these ideas in meaningful and age-appropriate ways through our Equip, Guide, and Thrive lessons. Students were invited to explore important topics including racism, microaggression, and diversity within our own community — not as uncomfortable subjects to shy away from, but as conversations that empower young people to become more aware and courageous members of society. We are proud of the thoughtfulness and maturity our students brought to these discussions.

Harmony Day falls on 21 March, which also coincides with the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It is a powerful reminder that celebrating diversity must go hand in hand with a firm and ongoing commitment to standing against racism in all its forms — in our classrooms, our corridors, and our wider community.

We encourage our families to continue these conversations at home, celebrating the cultures and stories that make your family unique, and affirming in your children that difference is always something to be embraced.

Year 11 EGT Programs: RAC bstreetsmart

On Wednesday 1 April, Year 11 students will be attending the RAC bstreetsmart event at RAC Arena. This event aims to demonstrate the consequences of distracted driving, speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and informs students on how to reduce risk taking behaviours. Further information has been communicated with families via Consent2Go.

Student Early Departures:

If your child needs to be collected prior to the end of the school day for a scheduled appointment or another approved reason, please ensure that you have contacted the College beforehand. As students do not have their mobile phones on them during the school day to receive reminder messages, it is imperative that they know what time they are to meet you at Student Reception in order to minimise disruptions to classes. Thank you for your support.

Absentees can be contacted via email absenteesecondary@newman.wa.edu.au or on 9204 9445.

Mrs Anna Scanlan

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL SECONDARY

Pathways and Careers Information:ÌýYearÌý10Ìý

Year 11 prerequisites for 2027 

Year 10 students and families have now received the prerequisites for Year 11 subjects at ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ for 2027. This is to allow forÌýgoal-settingÌýin time for the Semester 1 Year 10 report. Prerequisites for Year 11 2027 can found HERE.

A summary of the different pathway options for Year 11 and 12 can be found HERE.Ìý

In Term 2, all Year 10 students will commence their subject selection research, in preparation for Year 11 2027. 

Pathways and Careers Information: YearÌý11Ìý

Selecting Year 12 subjects 

Please see below a summary of the rules for selecting subjects in Year 12, 2027: 

  • Students who select a Year 12 ATAR subject must have achieved at least 50% in that ATAR subject in Year 11.Ìý
  • Students who select a new Year 12 ATAR subject in Year 12 (not having studied that subject in Year 11) willÌýbe requiredÌýto seek permission.Ìý
  • Students with a predicted ATAR of less than 70 will not beÌýpermittedÌýto continue the ATAR Pathway in Year 12.Ìý
  • Students who have an ‘E’ grade in a Year 11 General subject will not beÌýpermittedÌýto re-select that General subject in Year 12.Ìý
  • For students wishing to enter the UniReadyÌýorÌýUniPathÌýPrograms in Year 12:Ìý
  • If coming from the ATAR Pathway in Year 11, students must have passed at least 4 Year 11 subjects.Ìý
  • If coming from the General Pathway in Year 11, students must have a ‘B’ grade or better in at least 4 Year 11 subjects, including English.Ìý

Alternatives to University 

Did you know that University is not the only place you can obtain a degree? There are several alternatives here in Perth: 

  • SAE:ÌýOffersÌýdegrees in things like Animation, Audio, Game Development, Creative Industries.ÌýÌý
  • ACAP: Offers degrees in things like Psychology, Criminology, Social Work.ÌýÌý
  • EIT: Offers degrees in Engineering, IT, and Renewable Energy.ÌýÌýÌý

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:ÌýÌý
  • Here is aÌýparentsÌýguide toÌýUniversity:ÌýÌý
  • And here is the “First in Family†resource, for students who might be the first in their family to attend University:ÌýÌý
  • Are you thinking of attending a University Open Day? Dates are below. This blog might help you:ÌýÌýor this one:ÌýÌýÌý

Pathways and Careers Information:ÌýYearÌý12Ìý

Key dates for TAFE and University applications for 2027 

For those students applying for TAFE for 2027, applications will open in September of this year and close in November of this year. You will be advised of this at the time. 

For those students applying for University for 2027, early applications (early offers) will open in June and you will have until mid-December to lodge your application. Closer to the time you will be provided with instructions and further information about applying. 

Year 12s are welcome to come and collect (and keep) any of the University handbooks that are on the table near my office. These can be very helpful in making your choice. 

Alternatives to University 

Did you know that University is not the only place you can obtain a degree? There are several alternatives here in Perth: 

  • SAE:ÌýOffersÌýdegrees in things like Animation, Audio, Game Development, Creative Industries.ÌýÌý
  • ACAP: Offers degrees in things like Psychology, Criminology, Social Work.ÌýÌý
  • EIT: Offers degrees in Engineering, IT, and Renewable Energy.ÌýÌýÌý

Applying for Medicine or Dentistry or Veterinary Science for 2027 

All students who wish to enrol in Medicine or Dentistry in 2027 (including Assured Pathway at UWA and Notre Dame) will need to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) this year. 
 
Please see below for some important dates: 

  • 3 March 2026:  UCAT bookings openÌý
  • 15 May 2026:  Deadline to book your UCAT for 2026Ìý
  • 12 June 2026:  Deadline if you need to cancel your UCAT bookingÌý
  • 1 July 2026:  UCAT testing beginsÌý
  • 5 August 2026:  Last test dateÌý
  • September 2026:  Results availableÌý

You can check  for further information, practice tests, and tips to succeed. It is recommended to book a UCAT as early as possible as demand for testing places is high. 
 

UWA 
The official handbook for entry to Medicine at UWA can be found  and Dentistry . Please note that Medicine and Dentistry at UWA are postgraduate courses and require completion of a relevant Bachelor degree prior to entry. 

Ìý
CurtinÌý
Curtin University offers the only direct entry medical program in Western Australia. In 2025, the cutoff ATAR for this course was 93.Ìý
Ìý
In addition to the UCAT, students considering applying for Medicine at Curtin UniversityÌýare also required toÌýsit the CASPER Test. Further information about CASPER can be found here:  and here: Ìý
Ìý
The official handbook for entry to Medicine at Curtin can be found Ìý
Ìý
Ìý
University of Notre DameÌý
The University of Notre Dame offers a small number of places in postgraduate Medicine via an assured pathway for school leavers. Information about thisÌýoptionÌýcan be found here: Ìý
Ìý
Ìý

Veterinary Science 

Students wishing to enter Veterinary Science at Murdoch will need to undertake the Casper testing during 2026, by June at the latest. Further information can be found here:  

University information 

  • TISC has a series of videos explaining things like ATAR calculation, prerequisite subjects, scaling, and preferences. You can find them here:ÌýÌý
  • Are you the first person in your family to attend University? This mightÌýassist:ÌýÌý
  • Here are some useful tools to prepare students for the transition toÌýUniversity:ÌýÌýÌý
  • Here is aÌýparentsÌýguide toÌýUniversity:ÌýÌý
  • This resource is a place where you can ask current University students questions about theirÌýUniversityÌýcourses:Ìý
    ÌýÌý

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 2027 might find the following interesting: 

  • Defence Force Gap Year:ÌýÌý
  • And:ÌýÌý
  • AlsoÌýthis Marist volunteering opportunity:ÌýÌý

UPCOMING CAREERS EVENTS 

EVENT HOSTED BY DATE LINK 
Navy Careers Info Session Defence Force 24 March  
Open Day Murdoch University 28 March  
Open Day Curtin University 29 March  
Army Reserve Info Session Defence Force 31 March  
Defence Careers Defence Force 8 April  
Submarine Careers Defence Force 22 April  
Information Evening SAE University College 23 April   
Army Reserve Info Session Defence Force 28 April  
Open Day Notre Dame University 2 May  
Year 10 Parent Information Evening ECU Joondalup 2 June  
Year 11 and 12 Information Evening Murdoch University 3 June  
Engineering Open Evening ECU Joondalup 11 June  
Year 12 Information Session ECU 30 June  
Year 12 Application Support Session Murdoch University 28 July  
Open Day ECU City Campus 9 August  
Year 12 Information Evening Murdoch University 20 October  
Open Day SAE University College 15 August  
    

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

Primary Update – Term 1 Week 7

Neurodiversity & Harmony Week

This week we celebrated Harmony Day and Neurodivsity Week. Neurodiversity Week is a special time for ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ to celebrate the many different ways our brains work and learn. It highlights the idea that differences such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia and other learning variations are a natural and valuable part of human diversity. We watched movies, wrote poems, and learnt about all the famous people in the world with neurodiversity. Our students shared some thoughts about their learning and experiences:

  • “Everyone is different.â€
  • “I have Autism. It’s special because it gives me really good ideas and helps me listen.â€
  • “There are different types of learning barriers.â€
  • “I have ADHD and I hyperfocus and can do hard things.â€
  • “The brain is the most complex organ.â€

By celebrating Neurodiversity Week, we are fostering a culture where every student feels seen, respected and valued for who they are. It’s an opportunity to remind our community that different ways of thinking make our school stronger.

Harmony Day was joyfully celebrated with a wonderful assembly presented by Year 4 Blue, who shared a meaningful message about diversity, inclusion and belonging. Their thoughtful performance reminded us of the importance of respecting and valuing one another, and it was a fitting way to recognise the rich cultural diversity within our college community.

Year 2 Blue Assembly

Last Friday, Year 2 Blue truly wowed us with their out-of-this-world assembly all about the planets. Their confidence, creativity and enthusiasm shone through as they shared their learning about our solar system. It was delightful to see the students so engaged and proud of their work.

Year 3 & 5 NAPLAN

We are extremely proud of our Year 3 and Year 5 students, who approached their NAPLAN testing with focus, resilience and a positive attitude. They demonstrated excellent effort and perseverance throughout the week, and we commend them for giving their very best.

Year 3 Excursion – Fremantle Prison

This week, our Year 3 students enjoyed a fantastic excursion to Fremantle Prison, where they deepened their understanding of local history through hands-on learning experiences. The students were exemplary representatives of the college, displaying respectful behaviour and enthusiasm throughout the day. Teachers were very impressed with the beautiful way students represented the college, and we are sincerely grateful to our parent helpers for their support in making this excursion such a success.

Year 6 Camp

Next week, our Year 6 students will be heading off to camp at Forest Edge, Waroona. This exciting experience will provide valuable opportunities for teamwork, independence and personal growth, while creating lasting memories with their peers. We know they will have a wonderful time and look forward to hearing all about their adventures on their return.

Primary Family Picnic

Finally, our Family Picnic was a beautiful celebration, allowing a large number of our community to come together and enjoy each other’s company. The relaxed atmosphere, combined with the opportunity to take advantage of the food trucks, made for a memorable and enjoyable event for all.

School Dental Service

Every year Dental Health Services (DHS) offers parents and carers the chance to register their kids for free dental care at the School Dental Service (SDS). The offer is open to every student from the year they turn 5 until their 17th birthday and includes check-ups, fillings, and simple extractions.

Your child will soon bring home an envelope with an enrolment form, Frequently Asked Questions, and reply-paid envelope from DHS. Just fill in the enrolment form, pop it in the reply-paid envelope, and put it in your nearest post box.

Once we receive your form at DHS our team will register your child and arrange for you to receive an appointment in the mail.

If you would like further information on DHS services and the SDS please visit our website:

Mrs Laura Christopher

HEAD OF PRIMARY

From the Principal – Term 1 Week 7

While many of us are familiar with St Patrick’s Day and the celebration of St Patrick on March 17, the Feast of St Joseph can sometimes go unnoticed. Celebrated on March 19, this day honours Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, within the Holy Family of Nazareth, whose model inspires us. Pope Leo XIV in an address on March 12 this year spoke of how we can learn hospitality from St Joseph and the Holy Family. He wrote that in St Joseph ‘we recognise that welcoming is not only presence but also guardianship. Guardianship means being attentive to others, respecting their choices and caring for them’.

We experience many forms of encounter and welcome in a school community and one of the many highlights of the past fortnight has been the Year 12 Careers Breakfast. As with our recent International Women’s Day Breakfast, the ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ Alumni, parents, staff and past staff joined our students to share their experiences of careers and industry opportunity. As this was being celebrated, we also enjoyed expressing our version of Harmony Day and Neurodiversity Week in the College. Again, these expressions speak to a commitment of encounter, welcome and belonging at ÐãÐãÖ±²¥.

Ride to School with the Principal Day

I can think of no better way to end a week than to have ridden to school today with so many of our students and parents. Joined by a few of our staff, we all met at a nearby park and made for a great convoy of bikes and little scooters along the local footpaths. ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ students from Kindy, early years, upper primary and Year 7 all looked after one another and shared a beautiful moment of Marist Presence and Family Spirit. Just the sound of the bike bells as we took off was enough to announce the ride to school as a great success. The sound of excited chatter, trainer wheels rolling along and the whirring of tyres punctuated the bright morning conditions. Thank you parents who either rode with us, or dropped off their children to join in. We all enjoyed some breakfast treats at the end and our parents went off with a coffee voucher to relax at their time of choice.

Marist Basketball Carnival

It’s arrived and begins on Sunday afternoon at the College! I’m sure we all send our best to all Marist teams and visitors for a hugely successful Carnival throughout next week.

Mr Andrew Watson

PRINCIPAL

Teaching & Learning Update – Term 1 Week 5

NAPLAN

NAPLAN (National Literacy and Numeracy Assessment) is undertaken each year by students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9. NAPLAN will take place in Week 6 and 7 of Term 1. Please see the schedule below:

Further information for Year 3-7 is available and for Year 9,

From the Principal – Term 1 Week 5

Milestone Moments

The term ‘milestone’ seems to have its origin in Ancient Roman society. In building their extensive road system, the Romans placed stones along the way to mark a distance in travel and to give a sense of how far to the next destination. It appears that in the 17th Century, the term milestone came into use to mark a significant moment in life. Two important milestones in the ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ journey were celebrated in the past fortnight. The Year 9 The Rite Journey Calling and Departure Ceremony and the Year 12 Ball.

The Rite Journey Calling and Departure

This simple but beautiful event was shared with Year 9 students and their parents and caregivers at City Beach recently. The event is timed for the end of the day, as the sun sets across our beautiful coast and it marks the symbolic departure from childhood to the road of adulthood for our Year 9 students in the Rites of Passage program. In recognising that our students have begun to depart from childhood, we pay respect to, and show gratitude for, the forming moments that childhood have provided; and we do this as family and ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ family. As we moved through the Calling and Departure, watching our parents stand behind their children with a hand on their shoulder was a moving experience. It was a symbol and sign of total love and a commitment to gently pushing their daughter or son towards the next stage of life. The number of families who then took the time to sit and chat with their child showed the gift of presence that a parent is to their young one.

Year 12 Ball

The Class of 2026 and staff gathered at Fraser’s in Kings Park last week for the Ball. Congratulations to all involved! The students certainly enjoyed this time of celebration and connection. They talked and danced the night through, taking the opportunity to capture the moment in Guild and friendship photos. I think they take from the night a cherished moment in their final year of schooling. In this proud milestone moment, I am sure the families of the Year 12 students would have also reminisced about the speed at which it seems life has brought each of them from that little, dependent child to the point of young independent adulthood.

The Season of Swimming

Swim carnivals continued to dominate our sports program in recent weeks, with the Lavalla Swimming Carnival and the NAS Year 7-10 Swim Meet. In the second year of Guild competition, students from Year 3 to 6 gave their all for their Guild. Congratulations to all who competed, the staff for their organisation, the families for their support and our volunteer mums and dads on the barbecue. The NAS meet is the warm-up event for the Division A ACC Carnival in the final week of the term, and we had great competition against Sacred Heart, John XXIII, Chisholm and Servite Colleges.

International Women’s Day Breakfast

We were delighted to host 180 parent guests and their children at the inaugural ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ International Women’s Day Breakfast this morning. Over the past three years, we have made it our aim to grow our celebration and recognition of International Women’s Day. The breakfast was a new addition in 2026, as well as an organising committee of Year 12 students who worked with key staff to plan and run this event. This year’s theme is ‘Balance the Scales,’ and we were treated to guest speakers from three ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ families, whose journeys through life, career and sport provided great food for thought in addressing action to support the theme.

Our Year 12 students sold purple ribbons, and proceeds will be directed to Dress for Success, an organisation that supports women advancing in the workplace. If you would like to donate, please follow this link Ìý

 Thank you to our three guest speakers, ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ parents

  • Anna Snodgrass (Class of 97), HSE Business Partner Rio Tinto,
  • Lisa Webb (past staff member) Fremantle Football Club AFLW Senior Coach, and
  • Jayne Taylor, Director and Owner, Taylor HR Consulting.

Congratulations to the IWD Committee on their fabulous work:

  • Students:
    • Grace Bradshaw
    • Evie Brennan
    • Lulu Brickland
    • Harrison Burrows
    • Oliver Groughan
    • Ruby Hankinson
    • Mia Harris
    • Ella Hills
    • Alice Humbert
    • Alessia Infirri
    • Isabel Jimenez-Fuentes 
    • Olivia McMahon
    • Scarlett Sharp
    • Poppy Vogl
  • Staff:
    • Beth Murphy
    • Anna Scanlan
    • Jenni Vile
    • Donna McFadden
    • Tara Gray
    • Lara Ognenis
    • Megan Guglielmana
    • Kassandra Conway

A Conversation about Communication

In our opening presentations at parent evenings this year, our leaders and I have touched on the importance of respectful communication in our community. It is an opportune time to revisit the messaging and the ‘why’ behind the message of respectful communication in partnership between home and school.

From time to time, there may be challenges that emerge in a child’s schooling life that require parent advocacy. We all want the best for each young person in our care. Some of those challenging moments will come with a great deal of emotion and concern, and the College staff are here to address them in partnership with parents.

What I do ask of each parent is what I expect of myself and our staff, that we communicate concern with respect. We all have a right to be heard. As Leaders of Wellbeing, the College Executive and I mentioned in parent sessions earlier in the term, a short, respectful request to be contacted about an issue or concern will always get our time and attention. There will be occasions where parents are aggrieved and play the important advocacy role. What cannot be accepted is communication that does not meet a standard of how grievances or concerns should be made.

I extend my thanks to the great majority of families who approach communicating in email with respect and courtesy as the basis of raising an issue. What concerns me is what we all, unfortunately, experience in modern life – the communication that does not fit with societal norms and expectations. For us, this commitment to one another is expressed in our .

The why. I hold two important duties of care at once. I have a responsibility not only for the education and safety of children but also, under workplace health and safety legislation, to maintain a safe workplace for staff.

I provide these that can be used to start these very important conversations we necessarily have for the benefit of children and students. Again, I stress that our community, in vast numbers, support respectful and constructive communication, and this piece of information sharing is a topic we are all exposed to in the various community settings in which we live and work.

Mr Andrew Watson

PRINCIPAL