As a Marist school, we are guided by the core value of Family Spirit – a commitment to welcoming, supporting, and respecting one another. Neurodiversity and Harmony Week is an opportunity to live out this characteristic, celebrating the diversity that makes up our school community and nurturing an environment where everyone feels valued and included. Just as a family embraces its members with love and understanding, we embrace the diverse backgrounds, traditions, experiences, and ways of thinking, including neurodiversity, that enrich our school.
Over the course of the week, students from PK to 12 will partake in a range of activities focusing on shifting perceptions, challenging stereotypes, and fostering inclusive environments where difference is celebrated, and individuals are valued for their unique perspectives and contributions. Further details on these activities can be found in the Primary and Secondary school updates of this newsletter.
ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ Parents Forum
The ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ Parent Forum is an opportunity for parents to connect with College leadership and contribute to the life of the school. Held once per term, the ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ Parent Forum is led by the Principal and Vice Principal in collaboration with the ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ Parent K-12 Executive Committee.
The ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ Parent Forum works in partnership with the College Executive to support key events, advance the Strategic Plan, and advocate for both the College and its families within the school and wider community.
We encourage all parents to take part in these forums to stay informed and engaged in the ongoing growth of ÐãÐãÖ±²¥.
The next ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ Parents Forum is taking place this Monday 17 March at 6pm in the JHN Learning Hub or you can join online on Teams, just . We hope to see you there!
Student Planned Absence during Term Time
At ÐãÐãÖ±²¥, we value the role of family time and shared experiences, but we also emphasise the importance of regular school attendance to ensure the best educational outcomes for our students. As part of our commitment to academic integrity and fairness, the College has a strict Assessment Policy regarding absences for holidays during term time, which may result in students being penalised on assessments if the absence is not approved.
Under the Education Act 1999 (WA), parents have a legal responsibility to ensure their child attends school unless there is a valid reason, such as illness or exceptional circumstances. Extended absences for holidays disrupt learning and place students at a disadvantage, especially when assessments and coursework cannot be replicated outside the classroom without compromising the assessment validity.
Classroom assessments are carefully designed to measure a student’s understanding and progress within the curriculum. When students miss these key learning opportunities, it becomes challenging to ensure they meet academic expectations. Additionally, teachers are unable to provide alternative assessments or replicate the in-class experience, reinforcing the importance of attendance.
We strongly encourage families to plan holidays during designated school breaks to support their child’s academic success. If extenuating circumstances arise, parents must seek approval from the College in advance.
Please refer to the Assessment Guidelines and Procedures for further information:
Traffic Warden Absence
We have been advised that the Traffic Warden, who supervises the pedestrian crossing on Hale Road, near Lombardy Street, will be absent on Wednesday 19 March 2025. The Children’s Crossing Unit (WA Police) has confirmed that a replacement will not be available during this time.
We kindly ask all families to exercise extra caution when using the crossing during this period.
Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. The purpose of the week is to help others understand, value, and celebrate the talents of neurodiverse minds. During the week, secondary students will have an opportunity to learn more about neurodiversity with the aim to increase acceptance and understanding and to celebrate neurodiversity.
HarmonyWeek is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds.
It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background. Australia’s cultural diversity is one of our greatest strengths and makes Australia a great place to live. Building on over 65 000 years of First Nations cultures, Australia has become home to migrants from nearly 300 different ancestries.
All people who migrate to Australia bring with them some of their own cultural and religious traditions. They also take on many new traditions. Collectively, these traditions have enriched our nation.
While Harmony Week celebrates Australia’s rich cultural diversity, it is also important to focus on the urgency of combatting racism wherever and whenever it arises. Whilst Harmony Day is celebrated on Friday 21 March, it also coincides with the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD).
To show support for cultural diversity and an inclusive Australia, students are invited to wear orange accessories such as a hair ribbon, socks or scarf or an accessory that recognises their own cultural heritage such as a scarf or piece of jewellery with their Academic Uniform on Friday 21 May. Your child is welcome to check with their Leader of Wellbeing prior to Friday if they are unsure about their accessory.
Year 7 & 11 EGT Programs:
As part of the Year 7 EGT program, Year 7s will be participating in physical activities on Tuesday 18 March. Year 7 students are permitted to wear their Guild Uniform to and from school on this day.
On Tuesday 25 March, 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.
Please be reminded that all students are required to adhere to the Uniform Requirements and Personal Appearance Guidelines. Students who do not meet the College’s uniform expectations will be required to address the issue before attending classes. Students are required to wear full academic uniform on all days, unless parents have been notified.
Marching Forward: UN Women’s International Women’s Day at Optus Stadium
On March 7th, Optus Stadium hosted the UN Women’s International Women’s Day event, a powerful gathering focused on gender equality, leadership, and change. With a stark gender pay gap of 21.8% and 1 in 3 Australian women experiencing violence, the event served as both a celebration and a call to action.
Speakers included Minister for Women Sue Ellery, highlighted the need for systemic change, particularly in leadership, where only 1 in 5 CEOs are women. Discussions explored how shifting cultural expectations—especially in traditionally nurturing and service roles—can create a more balanced future.
Dr. Carmen Lawrence emphasized that true collaboration depends on trust, while Suzy Urbaniak of Core Learning Foundation promoted reverse mentoring, encouraging young women to guide seasoned professionals in today’s evolving workforce. Lyn Beazley and June Oscar AO championed First Nations gender justice, aligning with Beijing +30’s global goals.
A key theme was the intersection of climate change and gender, with projections indicating that by 2050, 158 million girls could be pushed into extreme poverty.
Celeste Barber, known for her impact on social media, shared insights on using digital platforms for advocacy. She also spoke on ADHD diagnosis, choosing resilience over insecurity, and forging ahead despite obstacles.
The event also emphasised financial empowerment, mentorship, and advocacy, reinforcing the four essential pillars of change—government, industry, community, and business.
Mrs Delia Kretzmann, Miss Tiyana Kerimi and Mrs Lara Ognenis attended the event on behalf of the College.
Year 7 – 12 Guild Swimming Champions Assembly:
On Monday, 10 March, the entire secondary College community gathered to celebrate our 2025 Guild Swimming Champions. Our Sports Captains, Amy Wilson and William Gilbert, reflected on the hard work and dedication of all our swimmers, whether they were chasing personal bests or competing to represent their Guild, the energy was incredible. A heartfelt thanks was extended to the many supporters whose cheers created an atmosphere of excitement that drove every race.
We also had four impressive records broken of the day.
Owen Wright broke the 50m Breaststroke record in a time of 32.98 seconds!
Jackson Paynter broke an incredible three records on the day:
50m Freestyle – 26.05 seconds
50m Breaststroke – 33.23 seconds
50m Butterfly – 28.27 seconds
We are thrilled to announce our 2025 Guild Swimming Champions.
Jackson Paynter (Records – 50m Freestyle – 26.05 sec, 50m Breaststroke – 33.23 sec and 50m Butterfly – 28.27 sec)
Aaron Dines
James Bornmann
Year 12
Girls
Abi Fowler
Madie Turnbull
Jasin Afflick
Boys
Caleb McMahon
Jack Borgas
Flynn Morison
Year 7 Immunisations
Earlier this week families were sent an email regarding the Year 7 Immunisations taking place on Monday 31 March and Tuesday 1 April. The School-Based Immunisation team will be visiting ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ 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 needs to be given by no later than Wednesday 26 March. All vaccines provided will be recorded in the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
If you have not yet completed a consent, please complete the consent via as soon as possible. Alternatively, you can download the and return it to the College.
Mrs Carla Pastorelli
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL SECONDARY
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:
Are you thinking of attending a University Open Day? Dates are below. This blog might help you:
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 10 March – South Metropolitan TAFE Rockingham
Start date 17 March – North Metropolitan TAFE Balga
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 – 22 May 2025
Applications close: 06 April 2025
Apply here:
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.
Curtin University
No details as yet.
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
No details as yet.
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
No 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:
And here is a Parents’ Guide for University students:
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:
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 10 March – South Metropolitan TAFE Rockingham
Start date 17 March – North Metropolitan TAFE Balga
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 – 22 May 2025
Applications close: 06 April 2025
Apply here:
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
EVENT
DATE
LINK
Murdoch University Careers Fair
19 March
Engineering Institute of Technology: Careers in Engineering webinar
19 March
ECU Open Day (Joondalup)
23 March
Career Conversations: Free WA Government events for students and families
25 March (Joondalup)
https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1353765
UWA Open Day
30 March
Career Conversations: Free WA Government events for students and families
1 April (Wembley)
Career Conversations: Free WA Government events for students and families
2 April (Bentley)
Murdoch University Open Day
5 April
Curtin University Open Day
6 April
Sound and Engineering College Information Night
16 April
Engineering Open Evening (ECU Joondalup)
1 May
ECU Open Day (Mt Lawley)
4 May
Perth Careers Expo
15-18 May
Notre Dame Open Day
24 May
Year 9 and 10 Parent Information Evening (Murdoch University)
4 June
Year 11 and 12 Parent Information Evening (Murdoch University)
4 June
ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ Careers Expo and Year 10 Parent Evening
24 June Marist Auditorium
3.30pm 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
If you are thinking of attending a University Open Day, this blog might help you get the most out of it:
In Week 7, ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ will be celebrating Neurodiversity & Harmony Week. Through discussions, prayers and activities, we aim to raise awareness and challenge misconceptions about neurological differences and promote Harmony throughout our community.
Neurodiversity is an umbrella term used to describe alternative thinking styles, such as Dyslexia, DCD (Dyspraxia), Dyscalculia, Tourette Syndrome, Autism and ADHD. ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ will focus on understanding, valuing, and celebrating the talents of neurodiverse minds through our activities during the week. Parents can find more information: .
Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. Parents can find more information:
On Friday 21 March, as a way of showing support for Harmony Week, students are encouraged to come to school dressed in their own traditional cultural top or full clothing for the day (e.g. Sari, Kimono, Boubou). If students do not have any cultural clothing, they can show support by wearing an item of orange clothing: orange being the official colour symbolising Harmony Week.
Students are asked to bring in a gold coin donation and hand it to their classroom teacher on Friday 21 March. This donation will go towards supporting Caritas’ Project Compassion appeal.
To create an environment that is comfortable and pleasing for all students, please see below the guidelines for what is permitted on Friday 21 March.
Students may attend school in smart, neat, casual clothes.
Short skirts and shorts are not permitted (the usual length of the school skirt is the minimum length for skirts and shorts).
Students are not permitted to wear low-cut, backless, singlet tops or tops that show their midriff. Students are not permitted to wear clothing with inappropriate slogans or logos.
Leggings should only be worn under skirts or shorts.
College Standards regarding grooming, jewellery and makeup will apply. Hair that touches the collar must be tied up at all times. No additional jewellery is permitted.
Year 1 & 2 Genesis Dance Troupe
We are excited to introduce a new Dance Troupe for Years 1 and 2, adding to our thriving Dance programme. The troupe, named Genesis, will perform at the Catholic Performing Arts Festival, Schools to Stage, and the Dance Showcase. The date for CPAF is to be confirmed but is usually Term 3 Week 6/7. Schools to Stage is Term 3 Saturday 20 September and Dance Showcase is 23 and 24 October.
Rehearsals will take place on Tuesday mornings from 8:00 to 8:30am. Your child may not have to attend every Tuesday morning rehearsal, but needs to be available at this time and for all the performances to be involved in the Troupe.
An information session will be held for parents on Thursday 20 March at 2:40pm in Marian Hall to answer any questions. At this stage, we are seeking expressions of interest – please complete by Friday 21 March.
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.
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.
Parking
Earlier this week I wrote to both Primary families about parking and safety, asking parents to be vigilant and take extra care when arriving at, and departing from the College. As a follow up to this, I ask all parents to ensure they are adhering to local road instructions regarding parking, including being polite and respectful to the community members who have houses neighbouring our College. We have recently had some reports of our neighbours experiencing unpleasant interactions with some members of our community, which do not align with our values. As a Catholic Marist community, I ask that all parents be aware and considerate of local parking signage, as well as our neighbours.
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 Guild Masses for the remainder of the term are listed below for parents to mark in their calendars:
Week 7: Thursday 20 March – Marcellin
Week 8: Thursday 27 March – MacKillop
Week 9: Thursday 3 April – Romero
Week 10: Thursday 10 April – Camara
Easter Raffle
As we journey through this Lenten season, we continue to encourage all students to donate to Project Compassion to raise money for Caritas Australia, who provide vital aid to communities in Australia and developing nations. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
In continuing our support for Caritas’ Project Compassion appeal, the Primary school will be hosting its annual Easter Raffle Fundraiser. This fundraiser relies on the generous donation of Easter eggs by our ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ families. The donated eggs are then assembled into beautiful hampers as prizes for the raffle.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
We would also greatly appreciate the donation of any baskets or appropriate containers that can be used in assembling the prizes. Donations of eggs and baskets can be handed in at the Marian or Lavalla Administration office.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Separate raffle draws will be conducted at both the Lavalla and Marian campuses on Friday 11 April. Tickets will be distributed to students this Friday and additional tickets will be available from the office on both campuses. Tickets will be 50c each or 6 for $2.50.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
If any parents can assist in assembling and wrapping the prize baskets, during the last week of school, please let me know via email, jane.short@newman.wa.edu.au &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Thank you for your kindness and generosity.
Yours sincerely  
Jane Short  &²Ô²ú²õ±è; RE COORDINATOR PRIMARY
IPSHA Primary Swimming Carnival (Y3-6)
Congratulations to the ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ Interschool Swim Team (Years 4-6 students) who competed in the Interschool Carnival last week. It was wonderful to see our ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ team demonstrate their commitment to their passion of swimming. All students tried their hardest and should be proud of their efforts. A big congratulations to the team who collectively produced outstanding results! Special thanks to Mrs Tash Richards for preparing our students for this fantastic event!
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 River (Marian Campus) who was the winner of our raffle in Week 5! 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 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.
‘Your Move’: Promoting Active Travel at ÐãÐãÖ±²¥
We are excited to re-engage with the ‘Your Move’ program to encourage active and sustainable travel for our PK-12 community. This award-winning initiative supports students and families in healthy activity, including walking, wheeling, and riding to school, while helping to reduce traffic congestion and promote sustainability.
Through student-led activities, travel surveys, and curriculum-aligned lessons, we will track progress and celebrate achievements. Stay tuned for opportunities to get involved and help make active travel a part of everyday school life! More information on the initiative can be found at .
Traffic Warden Absence & Road Safety Reminder
We have been advised that our Traffic Warden, who supervises the pedestrian crossing on Tuscany Way, will be absent from Tuesday 4 March to Friday 11 April 2025 (inclusive). The Children’s Crossing Unit (WA Police) has confirmed that a replacement will not be available during this time.
We kindly ask all families to exercise extra caution when using the crossing during this period. While our duty teachers will be present to support students, they are not authorised to perform the role of a Traffic Warden.
Traffic Safety Concern
Additionally, we have been informed that some motorists are stopping on the pedestrian crossing instead of at the designated stop line, particularly during peak drop-off and pick-up times. This congestion is making it difficult for the Traffic Warden to assist students safely.
To help resolve this issue, the Children’s Crossing Unit has asked ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ to remind families to:
Be mindful of the crossing location and ensure vehicles do not obstruct it.
Stop only at the designated stop line to allow safe passage for pedestrians.
Always follow the Traffic Warden’s instructions.
We appreciate your support in ensuring the safety of all students and families in our community.
The Season of Lent
Next week we celebrate Shrove Tuesday; a day for us to pause, and consider how we are living our lives as we prepare for the season of Lent. Traditionally, people would eat pancakes on this day as a way of using up their rich ingredients prior to Lent. Our students will certainly have the opportunity to do the same, with pancakes on sale in Marcellin for $2, and also in the primary school for a gold coin donation, with all proceeds going to Caritas.
The following day, Ash Wednesday, will see liturgies taking place across the College for all of our students. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season of repentance and renewal, where the ashes remind us of our need to turn back to God and live as Jesus taught. It is certainly a special and significant time in our College calendar, and I encourage all students, over the course of next week, to consider the small but meaningful changes they can make in their own lives to make Jesus known and loved in our community.Â
Community Mass
Join us every Thursday at 8.00am in the Champagnat Chapel for our Community Mass. Open to all members of our community, this student-led celebration is a wonderful opportunity to gather in faith, with a different Guild hosting each week. It is also a great chance to connect with others as we strengthen family spirit. We look forward to seeing you there!
Communicable Disease Policy and Procedures
Parents/guardians are required to inform the College of any communicable illness or disease that their child is diagnosed with and not allow them to attend school while infectious. Further information can be found in the
Our Year 1 Red class were the first to share their learning with us in 2025, presenting their class assembly this morning. 1 Red started their assembly with a beautiful song, reminding us all to ‘let our light shine’. The focus of the assembly was on highlighting how we are all special in our own individual ways. Year 1 Red students shared the different ways they are ‘clever’ and let their light shine each and every day. To finish the assembly, the class shared a wonderful song about being special. Thank you 1 Red!
Primary Swimming Carnival (Y3-6)
Our Years 3-6 Swimming Carnival was a huge success today! We were blessed with beautiful weather for what was a sensational day of sportsmanship, athleticism and joy! A huge congratulations to all of our students for trying their best in their races and events! Our Guild shirts looked brilliant throughout the day at our first-ever Primary ‘Guild Carnival’ and a huge congratulations to Thomas More for winning the Swimming Championship Shield, and Brigid for winning the Spirit Shield. Thank you to all Primary staff involved in the day, with special mention to Mrs Tash Richards for her planning, coordination and running of this huge event!
Year 6 Camp
Our Year 6’s spent a wonderful three days at Forrest Edge Campsite in Waroona. Over the three days they participated in activities such as flying fox, pamper pole, kayaking, rafting, crate climbing, screen printing and so much more! It was so wonderful to see our students engaged with the activities and pushing themselves to try new things and forge new relationships with their peers. A huge thanks to our Year 6 teachers for their work in preparing the camp, and our supporting staff who also attended. The camp ran smoothly thanks to the collective efforts of our staff and a heartfelt thanks for the time they gave up away from their own families to be able to provide our Year 6 students with a camp they will always remember.
Community Mass
It has been wonderful to see so many Lavalla students at our first two Community Masses in 2025. Catherine Guild had a wonderful turn out at our first Community Mass, with Brigid Guild having smaller numbers yesterday. 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 in their calendars:
Week 5: Thursday 6 March – Thomas More
Week 6: Thursday 13 March – Chisolm
Week 7: Thursday 20 March – Marcellin
Week 8: Thursday 27 March – MacKillop
Week 9: Thursday 3 April – Romero
Week 10: Thursday 10 April – Camara
Primary Extension Opportunities
We wanted to share with our families an explanation of the approach to extension within the primary school. We use a three-tiered system, similar to our support structures (outlined in the previous newsletter). At ÐãÐãÖ±²¥, we believe in nurturing the unique gifts of each child and providing experiences that encourage growth, curiosity, and critical thinking across all learning areas. The diagrams below outline the key components of each tier of extension and the criteria used for withdrawn small group activities. We hope this gives you a clearer understanding of what extension looks like on a day-to-day basis.
Catherine Young
Leader of Learning Primary
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, and kindness at home.
ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ Norms / Medals of Marcellin
Our Medals of Marcellin are back in 2025! 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 Niall, Ivy and Leo (Lavalla Campus) who were the winners in Week 2, and Charlotte (Marian Campus) who was the Week 3 winner of our raffle! 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!
Lavalla Homework Club
A reminder that children attending Homework Club must be collected by a parent/guardian from the bottom floor of the 3-6 Building at the end of Homework Club. If your child will be getting home another way (i.e. walking) then it is essential you email our Library Teacher (Sam Wynne) so we have this on record – samantha.wynne@newman.wa.edu.au
If you completed the form in the previous Newsletter, you are confirmed for Homework Club for the remainder of the year. If you did not complete the form but would like your child to join anytime from now until the remainder of the term, please email samantha.wynne@newman.wa.edu.au
Primary Library News
Congratulations to every single student who is participating in our Library competitions. Miss Hall, Mrs Bailey and Mrs Wynne are very proud of you all. Wait until Mrs Le Dan hears our news too!!!
Our Marian Campus Winners for the “Library Bear Needs A Name” competition were: Lachlan, 1R and Kiana, PPG. Lavalla winners were Emily, 4G and Lucius, 6G.
Student Sporting News
Congratulations to Lilah, who won the CBC Green Busselton Junior Tennis Tournament for singles and doubles in the girls division over the Australia Day weekend. Over the summer holidays she also came second in the Applecross Head Junior Open and the City of Joondalup and XCeed Sorrento Open, and also came first in the doubles in the WA Junior Open! What a sensational achievement Lilah!
If your child has achieved state or national recognition in their sport or extra-curricular activity, please email us at communications@newman.wa.edu.au, so we can celebrate their success.
ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ App
It would be beneficial if parents could ensure they have the ÐãÐãÖ±²¥ App, as this will be utilised more in 2025 as one of the main modes of communication. To download the app in the (Apple Devices) or (Android Devices), simply type in ÐãÐãÖ±²¥.
3D Printer
In the bottom floor of our Years 3-6 building we have received a generous donation of a 3D Printer from the Zafiropoulos family. This will be utilised throughout the year by some classes as part of their Digital Technologies programs. A big thank you to the Zafiropoulos family for their time and donation of the printer.
