Recently Boarding Coordinators along with representatives from the Health Centre attended a Youth Mental Health First Aid Course held at the Queensland Rugby League Headquarters. Hosted and led by the CEO of the Wellbeing Code, David Shillington, staff walked away with a greater knowledge of their own current practice, along with further knowledge to ensure we maintain our highly level of duty of care and wellbeing.

David took great pride in supporting the wellbeing, performance, and leadership development of the group he worked with over the two days. Engagement and relatability were his strength’s as he drew on his experience as a former NRL player, QLD Maroon, Australian Kangaroo and mental health knowledge to leave a practical and long-lasting impact on staff.

The course itself focused on the following key areas:

Skills in how to recognise the signs and symptoms of mental health problems;
Knowledge of the possible risk factors for these mental health problems;
Awareness of the evidenced-based medical, psychological and alternative treatments available;
Skills in how to give appropriate initial help and support someone experiencing a mental health problem.

In a boarding context looking after the mental health and wellbeing of school students has never been more important. It’s our duty to ensure we are supporting our students beyond the classroom as we establish the foundations of their home away from home.

For staff key messages that resonated from the course were:

Mental health education demystifies mental health and builds resilience;
Learning more about mental health helps people to feel confident that they know what to do;
A greater understanding of mental health leads to more positive action.

Pushing Our Boundaries

William Harry McRaven (born 6 November 6 1955) is a retired United States Navy four-star admiral who served as the ninth commander of the United States Special Operations Command from 8 August 2011 to August 28, 2014. From 2015 to 2018, he was the chancellor of The University of Texas System. At the University of Texas commencement in 2014, UT alumnus Admiral William H. McRaven gave an incredible speech to the graduates. In it, he used his Navy SEAL training and experience to help prepare the outgoing students for their next step. Whilst his address was aimed at graduating College students, the key themes (see below) are still very relevant and applicable to our young men that call MCA home. As we celebrate National Anti-Bullying Week I encourage boys and families to continue to have a conversation about setting and maintaining high standards in all that we do.

Start the day with a task completed;
Find someone to help you through life;
Respect everyone;
Life is not always fair, move forward;
Don’t be afraid to fail often;
Take risks;
Step up when times are toughest;
Facedown the bullies;
Lift up the downtrodden;
Never give up.

National Day Against Bullying

As a College, we take a strong stance against bullying. Friday 19 March marks the official National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. This week coordinators are taking the opportunity to provide education and opportunities as to what this means in a Marist context. Further to this our boarding captains Clancy Clemson and Hayden Lammon have also taken the initiative to facilitate a debate to create further awareness on the topic within the boarding school. Both boys have overseen team selection and provided material to team captains in preparation. More on this debate next week.

Secondary School Cyberbullying Fact Sheet

Social Justice

As highlighted last in last weeks newsletter a group of Year 11 Boarders have led the charge in raising awareness for cancer, by joining the World's Greatest Shave for the Leukaemia Foundation. Connor Lyons was instrumental in leading this fundraising feat. With an initial target of $3000.00, the boys (and sponsors) have well and truly exceeded this amassing a total in excess of $10,000.00. Most pleasing has been not only the awareness raised but the willingness of boys from Year 10 (led by Harry Thompson) who have also jumped on board this important cause. The boys are to be congratulated on not only raising awareness but also enacting that wonderful Marist charism of putting others first.

Uniform

As we look to Term 2 I encourage parents to touch base with their sons to ensure they have all necessary Winter uniform items. It is an expectation that boys are wearing a slimline black leather belt and appropriate College hat. These reminders are coming consistently from relevant Heads of House, Boarding Coordinators, Head of Students, Deputy Head of College, Head of College and myself. Your support with the uniform has been greatly appreciated.

Communication

A friendly reminder that your son's Boarding Coordinator is your first point of call. If you need to discuss your son or you have questions about your Son, please contact his Boarding Coordinator firstly. This is especially important on weekends when our Boarding Reception is unattended.

Br Terence Residence (Year 11 & 12)

Anthony Mathison - 0419 762 186 - brterence@marash.qld.edu.au

Fourviere Residence (Year 10 & 11)

Ben Maddox - 0409 425 584 - fourviere@marash.qld.edu.au

Hermitage Residence (Year 9)

Jamie Morgan - 0402 124 194 - hermitage@marash.qld.edu.au

Montagne Residence (Year 8)

Josh Mulligan - 0407 161 984 - montagne@marash.qld.edu.au

La Valla Residence (Year 6 & 7)

Tim Sedgwick - 0430 924 805

Camilla Sedgwick - 0438 080 928 - lavalla@marash.qld.edu.au

When contacting Boarding Reception, please email boardingreception@marash.qld.edu.au. This email address will reach both Renae Lewis and Erin Livingstone.

End of Term Transport

We are now looking forward to the end of Term 1 and would like to ask for ‘Expressions of Interest’ for the end of term bus transport out to the following destinations. The bus usually departs the College on the last day of school, this term that is Thursday 1 April. Please contact Boarding Reception at boardingreception@marash.qld.edu.au to register your interest, including where your son will be getting off the bus and if he has sisters who would be interested to join the trip.

Toowoomba - Info Centre, 86 James Street
Dalby - Info Centre, Drayton Street
Moonie - Moonie Crossroads
Goondiwindi - McDonald’s/BP Truck Stop

Academic Focus

Clubs

Boarding clubs have been in full swing for the last few weeks, the boys working with Mr Gary Keown doing cooking have been very popular!

From the Health Centre

PLEASE NOTE

The Health Centre can be contacted via - healthcentre@marash.qld.edu.au. Families should use this email address, unless it contains information of a sensitive nature, to ensure the Health Centre Nurses can follow up.

As part of our duty of care to the boarders, and to the boarding community as a whole, we need to be aware of any medications the boarders may be taking.

We would request that at the beginning of each term (or as changes occur) you make sure that the Health Centre has up-to-date information on your son and that any required medication is stored safely in the Health Centre. It is not an acceptable practice for boys to keep medication in the dorm areas, nor is it reasonable for boys to be on medication, prescribed or not, that we are not aware of whilst they are living on campus.

In the coming weeks, flu vaccinations will be made available to boarders through the Health Centre. Also, with Rugby/Football season upon we are currently looking into providing options for families to have their son fitted onsite for a mouthguard through the Health Centre. More information will be sent to families shortly on both of these items.

We thank you in advance for ensuring this becomes practice, and in doing so, helping to make sure we can provide the best care for your sons.

Warm regards, Jane O’Shea Nurse Manager, Health Centre

Around the Grounds

La Valla Residence

As each week rolls on we are seeing the boys improve their organisational skills. Most are now taking significant responsibility for their school equipment, uniforms and sports kit, Noah Beck was even found polishing his school shoes without prompting! Whilst there are occasional lapses where we are left with only one football sock or unwashed cricket whites, we are pleased to say that there has been a significant improvement over the course of the term. The boys have learnt so much in such a short time and much of this can be attributed to the opportunities co-curricular offers the young men of the boarding school. Many of the La Valla boys have not had the opportunity to play team sports before due to living in a remote location and there have been many highlights this term; Joe Murphy took 3 wickets in one game, Braydon Creek kicked all of his teams points in the last game of the season, Ewan Wood was Captain of the 7A AFL team, Charlie Cobb found out he had skill as a wicket-keeper and Makenzie Bowen was selected in the Met North Rugby League Team. There are countless personal achievements that go alongside those that have been listed here. Congratulations to all players, coaches and managers.

Montagne Residence

Boys finished the final round of AIC Cricket and Volleyball off well with many victories of the final weekend. It has been really positive hearing reports from the tutors and staff about the positive study habits of boys over the past few weeks. Hopefully, this translates into great outcomes in the upcoming assessments. With many exams instead of assignments this term, boys are being constantly reminded to plan their week and study. Hopefully, this will help reduce stress levels. With the technology ban in full swing, you wouldn’t believe it, but boys are being more talkative and spending more time together in the Common Room – who would have thought?

Hermitage Residence

This week saw the conclusion of Term 1 sports and activities with the Boarder Free Weekend. This means the mighty 9E cricketers are calling it 'stumps' for another year with the boys well and truly ready for the offseason. In addition to this, the Aussie Rules footballers also hang up their boots (just their AFL ones!) for another season and it can be said Hermitage was well represented in the Year 8/9 team with Dan Goddard, Alex McNamara, Dom Forbes and Harry Laing all playing their part. Special mention must go to Alex McNamara and Harry Laing for their willingness to join this team as new students to the College, with Harry Laing gaining his first start of the campaign in the final match of the season. Well done Harry! In a similar fashion, well done to Kyran Bryant who was not only new to the College but also new to Volleyball. Kyran went from the 9D Volleyball team to join Oscar McVey in the 9A's within the space of a short AIC season! Well done Kyran and all of the boys who represented the College this season!

Fourviere Residence

Another action-packed week for the Fourviere lads has passed culminating in a well-earned break for the Boarders free weekend. Seventeen of our Year 10 lads enjoyed some time out as they took part in the Certificate II Outdoor Recreation experience. While some of the boys who went early in the week enjoyed the sunshine and pleasant conditions Noosa had to offer (myself included), the lads at the back end of the week learned to brave the elements enduring a rather heavy downpour on Wednesday evening and a wet Thursday. Despite the circumstances, all returned with smiles and great memories of an enjoyable and engaging time away.

Meanwhile, the Year 11 boys enjoyed a visit from a few of the local mums of the community as part of the pastoral and life skills program. The ladies kindly offered their time to share some valuable ironing tips with the lads. With a number of the boys proud of their handiwork, they now look forward to the prospect of the next social occasion where they may be able to show off these new-found skills.

Br Terence Residence

Following the Senior Formal, the boys have been able to settle back into the normal routines of the residence this week. The life skills component of our residence wellbeing program commenced last Thursday evening with our Year 11 boys learning how to iron a shirt. Additionally, a group of our Year 12 boarders have been busy rehearsing their performance for the much-anticipated Harmony Day assembly this week. It was also pleasing to see that many of the boys were able to spend some time with their families over the boarders free weekend.

Recreation Report

It was a very quiet weekend on the recreation front with the majority of boys heading off-site on leave for the Boarders Free Weekend. With final assignments and exams on the horizon, it was great to see many of the boys using the weekend to get ahead on their academic work and prepare for a positive finish to the term. Week 7 was also the final round of the AIC Term 1 Championships with many teams looking to take out their respective competitions. The ‘Swarm’ was in full force on Friday night as we dusted off the drums and Bumblebee suit and headed out to Sandgate as the AFL boys looked to finish with a win against St Pats Shorncliffe. Our lads made their presence felt behind the goal as a very close game played out. At full-time we thought St Pats had knicked the win, however, a countback revealed a difference in the sideline & field referees scorecards and after plenty of deliberation, MCA was awarded a 47-45 win! Our boys went nuts and flooded the field to celebrate with their AFL mates. It was a great way to finish the season and the players thanked their coach, Mr Johns, by emptying an icy cold Powerade esky on his head!

We were back on the bus to Shorncliffe on Saturday morning as the Volleyball 1st & 2nd VI looked to complete an undefeated season at St Pats. Once again, the boys provided rowdy support as both teams picked up dominant wins to take out the AIC. The boys support was greatly appreciated by both teams and we look forward to supporting the Term 2 codes once their seasons begin.

We had a very relaxed Sunday with a morning mass and bacon butties to start the day. Most of the school facilities were opened up throughout the day and the young boys made the most of the pool as it was a scorching day. A few of the boys tried jousting on stand-up paddleboards while Talis Mark preferred using his for a quick snooze! Some of the boys started returning from leave in the afternoon on what was a quiet day in the boarding houses.

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