From the Head of College

Mr Michael Newman

Recalibrating Post COVID-19

Well, it’s happening – Australia is taking steps to move out of the COVID-19 lockdown and restrictions. This has been an incredibly difficult time for all Australians, especially those who have lost loved ones. More specifically, our southern neighbours have borne the brunt of the lockdown restrictions over a long period of time. The negative side effects on all Australians and especially our young people, have been immense and may never, really, be fully known.

On Tuesday 12 October, the Australian Government launched the world’s first National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy. It provides suggestions to assist our young people, post COVID-19 lockdown, to improve their long-term outcomes and to reach their potential. It states that half of all adult mental health challenges emerge before the age of 14, yet, few children below the age of 12 receive professional help. Further, 7 out of 10 young people who are presenting to a paediatrician, do so for mental health reasons. The COVID-19 challenges have been attributed to the fast-tracking of this new mental health and wellbeing strategy launch.

Sunday’s Psalm (126:1-6), without trying to trivialise its message, can provide us with some inkling into God’s response as we take steps out of lockdown…“When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage, it seemed like a dream …… I will comfort them as I lead them back.” Out of this lockdown, and this suffering and hardship, God will be with us. We pray for God’s comfort upon all Australians suffering at the hands of the COVID-19 pandemic, this day.

I share with you a talk by Fr Tony Percy VG, Canberra and Goulburn Archdiocese. In this presentation, Fr Tony provides a few practical tips for our lives as we come out of the COVID-19 restrictions – a balanced approach, restoring friendships, a recalibration. It only takes a few minutes to watch – enjoy!

God of comfort, may we recalibrate and rejuvenate our minds, hearts, and relationships as we come out of the COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions. Amen.

Marist Years 5-11 Prizegiving Evening

All parents, friends and boys are invited to the Year 5 - 11 Prizegiving Evening to be held in the Champagnat Centre, tomorrow night, Wednesday 27 October. This event is an opportunity to acknowledge, as a College, those students who have excelled in their respective fields: academic, spiritual, sport, culture, boarding and leadership. As a College, having watched all the activities and undertakings of the year to date, we have much to celebrate and acknowledge. This Prizegiving Evening is our opportunity to recognise your sons on these many achievements. The evening will also enable us to review the year and be entertained by our boys in the arts. I do hope you are able to attend on Wednesday night.

To make a booking, please go to: https://events.humanitix.com/2021-marist-college-ashgrove-year-12-prizegiving-8phvbdmc

I look forward to joining you to congratulate the boys on Wednesday.

College Leaders 2021/22

My sincere congratulations and support to our newly elected Marist College Ashgrove student leaders for 2021 (Term 4) to 2022 (Term 3 end). These boys have now been presented to the College and their House groups. I wish them every blessing and our full support as they, with their Year 12 peers, encourage and lead our student body throughout the upcoming academic year. Well done and good luck, gentlemen.

College Captain: Ethen Tsiamalili – Gilroy

Vice-Captain Academic: Douglas Cowlishaw – Ignatius

Vice-Captain Cultural: Jeremy Vanderbyl – Harold

Vice-Captain Mission: Samuel Mead – Harold

Vice-Captain Sport: Connor Lyons - Ignatius

Ridley House Leader Academic: Zac Apelt

Ridley House Leader Cultural: Thomas Dempsey

Ridley House Leader Mission: Hugh McCann

Ridley House Leader Sport: Patrick Tierney

Ephrem House Leader Academic: Patrick Gilbert

Ephrem House Leader Cultural: Jack Cuddihy

Ephrem House Leader Mission: Ben Adams

Ephrem House Leader Sport: Aidan O’Connell

Foley House Leader Academic: Thomas Reed

Foley House Leader Cultural: Luka Wilde

Foley House Leader Mission: Ryan Watts

Foley House Leader Sport: Andrew Crook

Gilroy House Leader Academic: Sam Allpass

Gilroy House Leader Cultural: Jim McCall

Gilroy House Leader Mission: Harry Masel

Gilroy House Leader Sport: Paul Strachotta

Harold House Leader Academic: Frank Baker

Harold House Leader Cultural: Reggie McMillan

Harold House Leader Mission: Angus Bathe

Harold House Leader Sport: Josh Pegg

Ignatius House Leader Academic: Jack Mestric

Ignatius House Leader Cultural: Dylan Nona

Ignatius House Leader Mission: Spencer Sharman

Ignatius House Leader Sport: Chastyn Creek

Rush House Leader Academic: Sam Patterson

Rush House Leader Cultural: Sam Schmidhauser

Rush House Leader Mission: Marcus Zipf

Rush House Leader Sport: Mason Houlihan

Slattery House Leader Academic: James Gurr

Slattery House Leader Cultural: Spencer Hollett

Slattery House Leader Mission: Braden Querido

Slattery House Leader Sport: Thomas Prole

Boarding Captain: Sam Miller

Boarding Captain: Connor Lyons

Year 12 External ATAR Examinations

Best wishes and prayers to our Year 12 boys who are continuing their all-important External Examinations, concluding Wednesday 17 November. We wish all Year 12 boys well with their important studies at this time and thank their teachers who are preparing and assisting with these exams. The boys are reminded that their teachers can be contacted right up until their final exam, via email, for last minute help and assistance.

1:1 All-inclusive Laptop Program

As stated in the newsletter dated 14 September 2021, Marist College Ashgrove will be rolling out a free of charge laptop valued at approximately $1200.00, for each boy in Years 7 and 10 over the next three years and Years 5 and 6 in 2023. This program will not only ease the financial costs of IT for each Marist family, but will provide a tool for the classroom which is uniform, enabling all boys to access the necessary programs required for his study. This program will also notably assist teachers to monitor each individual boy’s activity more thoroughly in the classroom. This new initiative originated from a request at the P&F Association meeting. I thank our focus group of teachers and IT Staff who are finalising the rollout of this program which includes an information evening (week 1 each year), contracts of engagement, insurance ($100 pa), storage, charging, maintenance and staff training. The IT levy amount traditionally paid annually, will remain. I trust that this new program improves your son’s learning and assists with the financial bottom line of families in the long run.

Debating and Public Speaking

Well done to our Year 9 Debating team members who have placed 3rd in the Queensland Debating Union (QDU) Competition. Having won their way through the various rounds before defeating Brisbane Girls Grammar in the first semi-final, the boys unfortunately lost a very close second semi-final, resulting in a 3rd placing. Congratulations to Patrick Jewell, Remy Versace, Dominic Forbes, Jack Shay and Daniel Cusack. Well done on a great season gentlemen and thanks to their coach, Kathryn Badini and co-ordinator, Mary Stirling.

Congratulations to our Marist Public Speaking team who retained the Laracy Plate after defeating St Margaret Mary’s College, Townsville. Well done to the following boys: James AllPass (Year 9), Joseph Lewis & Isaac Lynn (Year 10), Sam AllPass (Year 11), Leo Barbieri-Yates and Daniel Lynn (Year 12). I thank their coach, Majella Stevens.

Marist College Ashgrove Christmas Appeal

The Marist College Ashgrove Christmas Appeal, which supports St Vincent de Paul and the Downs & West Community is running from Monday 25 October until Friday 12 November. Students and staff are encouraged to donate to this appeal by providing a gift card or donating via ‘Monitor’. Preferred gift cards are Coles (not Coles-Myer), Woolworths Essentials (not Wish), IGA and Bunnings.

To donate via ‘Monitor’ please follow this link: http://bit.ly/MCA-FR

Your generous donations are appreciated to support those less fortunate. All money and gift cards will be distributed to our local conference St Vincent de Paul Charities who will distribute to those people most in need. In anticipation, thank you.

Marist Student Leader Summit

Best wishes to our newly elected Year 11 student leaders who will be participating in the Marist Student Leader Summit this weekend, 30-31 October. This summit will see the leaders from all Marist Schools in Queensland and Northern Territory gather for a weekend of Marist education and leadership development. The gathering will include a formal Mass and dinner with their Principals and teachers. Enjoy what promises to be an informative and social weekend, leaders. This summit will be held in the Marist Centre, just inside the Moola Road entrance.

Cybersafe Presentation

Last week, Marist College Ashgrove parents had the opportunity to attend an excellent presentation by Kirra Pendergast from ‘Safe on Social’ regarding internet safety for your child. It was certainly worth listening to and is something I hear annually, and learn more about each year due to such an ever-changing platform. The world of the internet and social media is constantly transforming. The video of this presentation will be available via the Parent Portal from Wednesday 3 November. I encourage all parents to view this presentation by Kirra. We thank Kirra for generously granting us permission to post this presentation for those parents who were unable to make the evening.

Touch Football and Water Polo

Well done to our boys who competed in the AIC Invitational Touch Football and Water Polo Carnivals on the weekend. I congratulate the boys for their enthusiasm and good sportsmanship demonstrated. Well done to the primary and Year 9 team who made the grand final of their respective Touch Football games on Saturday. Congratulations to the Year 7 and Year 8-9 teams who were undefeated in the AIC Invitational Water Polo Tournament on Sunday.

My thanks are extended to their generous coaches, namely: James Furminger, Liam Beatty, John Lambourne, Tim Sedgwick, Bruce McPhee, Kathryn Badini, Sam Priddis, Simon Price, Melissa Orcher, Ben Webb and Ryans Apps. Thank you also to parents, Mai Peregrina and Brett Head for your assistance.

May our loving God with Mary our good mother and St Marcellin Champagnat walk with all members of the Marist College Ashgrove Family.