Charism
As a Marist School, Newman College derives its charism from the founder of the Marist Brothers, Saint Marcellin Champagnat (1789 - 1840). A priest of the Society of Mary, St Marcellin was a man of warm personality, deep faith and great vision. The Christian education of youth, particularly those of rural areas, was his first love, following the terrible religious persecutions of the French Revolution. That is why he founded the Marist Brothers in 1817 at La Valla, a little village in the Loire region of France.
In speaking to the first Marist Brothers, St Marcellin outlined his pastoral approach to students:
“WE MUST LOVE THEM AND LOVE THEM ALL EQUALLY.”
From this derives Newman College’s approach to its students: We welcome young people. We listen to them, we challenge them. We see in each one the image and likeness of God, worthy of our respect and love, no matter what his or her circumstances.
History
Newman College traces its origins to 1913 when the Benedictine Monks at New Norcia invited the Marist Brothers to Western Australia to staff their newly established boarding college, St Ildephonsus.
A more direct link also exists with a later Marist foundation, St Joseph’s - Subiaco, which opened in February 1954. It was due to the rapid growth of this latter College that the move to Churchlands was first discussed.
In 1965, when the move eventually took place, the Benedictines resumed responsibility for St Ildephonsus, changing its name to Salvado College. Many of the Brothers and senior boarders from New Norcia transferred to the new Marist College, as it was then called.
In 1977, the Newman System of schools was established to restructure Catholic education in the area by bringing together the schools administered by the Brigidine and Dominican Sisters and the Marist Brothers.
The name of Newman was chosen in recognition of the great religious thinker and leader of the Nineteenth Century, John Henry Newman, who was a Cardinal of the Catholic Church. It is from his epitaph that the College motto, “Through shadows and images to truth”, is drawn.
After several more changes, the Primary and Secondary schools were amalgamated in 2005 to form the Newman College we know today. This involved the relocation of Years 8 and 9 students to the Churchlands Campus and the appointment of one Principal for the Kindergarten to Year 12 College entity.
In The Marist Tradition
The Marist tradition of education has evolved over 200 years and forms the basis of Marist schools which operate in 75 countries across the globe.
Foundational characteristics of Marist Education are:
Family Spirit
Newman College is a School community built on the relationships and principles of a loving Christian family. This means the needs of each student are addressed in a spirit of partnership, shared responsibility and mutual support.
There is a sense of life being shared across the School community, with successes and limitations being readily acknowledged. There is a commitment to the development of the ideals of mutual trust, forgiveness and reconciliation.
The College family spirit respects the dignity and recognises the needs of the young people who attend the School, particularly those who are most vulnerable. Where special needs of any type are identified, these become a particular focus of care and concern.
Newman College reinforces the values children learn from their loving families – values we believe are an essential part of Christian education and of every child’s healthy development.
Presence
The approach at Newman College is to educate by being present to young people in ways that show all students are cared for personally.
Relationships built on care, trust and respect foster a positive environment for the development within students of a commitment to the living out of Christian values within their lives.
Teachers make time to get to know their students and their presence to them extends beyond the classroom in a multitude of activities and experiences. In this way relationships of openness and trust are established and developed.
Within such an environment students receive the social and emotional support they require to continue to grow into the fullness of their humanity as desired for them by Jesus Christ.
“I have come that you may have life and have it to the full” John, 10:10
Love of Work
The Marist Brothers follow the example of their Founder, St Marcellin Champagnat, who came from a hardworking rural background. He gave himself wholeheartedly to every undertaking whether it was personal studies, building houses and schools, visiting established schools, training and forming the Brothers or communicating with church and government authorities.
Newman College approaches the concept of love of work in a similar way. Students and staff are encouraged to set high standards and apply themselves in the pursuit of excellence commensurate with their ability.
Through love of work, students develop strength of character and solid values on which to base their lives. They are also guided in discovering the dignity of work and the satisfaction that comes from achievements reached through genuine effort.
In the K-12 teaching environment, love of work means many things – but essentially to give of one’s best effort to any task which is undertaken.
For Newman College’s teaching staff, love of work ensures they strive to be innovative, flexible and creative when responding to the needs of students, thus assisting them to reach their God-given potential.
Simplicity
In a Marist school, simplicity is expressed primarily through interaction with young people that is genuine and undertaken without pretence or dishonesty.
Newman College recognises that while education is about literacy and numeracy it is also about teaching young people to be sincere and to maintain their integrity in all that they do.
Classroom activities focus on the individual as well as the group. The way of educating is personal, practical and based on real life examples and experiences.
Students are encouraged to retain a sense of humility and modesty in all that they do, to accept success with dignity and to learn and grow from their mistakes.
Newman College believes that encouraging students to be open, truthful and to have the strength of their convictions will assist them to develop into individuals who value themselves and others.
Through the practice of simplicity, our students achieve an integrated, balanced and loving approach to life.
In The Way of Mary
St Marcellin had a profound confidence in Mary, the Mother of Jesus, entrusting all his projects to her and looking to her for guidance and support. He joined the newly established Order of Marist priests and founded a group of teaching Brothers under the name “Marist”. In the language of the time he referred to Mary as “our Good Mother and Ordinary Resource.”
The Newman College community endeavours to imitate Mary’s tenderness and concern for others, particularly the manner in which she lived out her faith with courage in the face of great pain and adversity.
With Mary as the model the spiritual life of the students is developed through, and finds expression in, their daily school life. The school day commences with prayer and liturgies of various types are a natural part of the flow of life within the School.
Students are encouraged to reflect upon local, national and world events and other issues from the perspective of Gospel values, social justice and the God given dignity of human beings.
Such reflection leads to a deepening of the spiritual dimension of students’ lives and is reflected in their personal relationships, their commitment to the support of fund raising drives for appropriate causes, involvement in service learning and mission immersion experiences as well as deep involvement in the Marist Christian Leadership program called REMAR.