Learning and Teaching News

Year 12 Gold Optimus Breakfast  

Last week our 41 out of our 50 Year 12 Gold Optimus Awardees and their parents/carers came together for the Annual Optimus Breakfast. This year we were fortunate to welcome Dr Bill Donnolly as our keynote speaker. Dr Donnolly gave a magnificent speech to parents, boys and staff about embracing the journey – connecting his experience at MCA as an Old Boy of 1979 to his journey of becoming one of Brisbane’s most pioneering Orthopaedic surgeons; connecting interests, growth and school experience and remembering to always ‘Viriliter Age’ - Act Courageously and  ‘Carpe Diem’ – Seize the Day. 

A massive thank you to Alicia Lee for organising the event and Samantha La-Chiusa for assisting to make it special for all. An extended thank you to Sue Going, Robyn Gooley and the Year 11 and 12 Hospitality students, the Nathan Ayre and the kitchen staff for the meals and Callum Clarke, Dane Rowe and our services team for the set-up, Phill Holding for being our MC for the event and to all our parents and staff for their attendance. 

Congratulations to the following young men on this monumental achievement:

Thomas Barron, Jack Boyd, George Collyer, Jacob Cook, Joshua Dale, Hammish Darr, Maximillian Davis, Remi de Nino, Isaac Deem, Kian Dickman, Cullen Fitzgerald, Kian Flynn, Charlie Garton, Thomas Gahan, Max Gallagher, Sebastian Gardiner, Lachlan Harney, Benjamin Hartfiel, Joshua Heinrich, Harry Hogan, Maxwell James, Max Jones, Finlay Keogan, Thomas Kerridge, George Kettle, Bailey Lawrence, Elias Madden, Kian Malton, Samuel Moloney, Jack Montocchio, Conor Morahan, Cooper McGinn, Benjamin Mead, Tom Mellare, Hamish Munro, Micah Netzler, Joshua Newman, Aidan Phillips, Ben Player, Maxwell Reibelt, Matthew Rowston, Elliot Schanzl, Francis Schutt, Van Sanders, Christian Weston-Kelly, Harry Wood, Andrew Woodward, James Woolaston, Zachariah Watts.

Welcome to our new Curriculum Leader – Senior Years

A very warm welcome this week to our new Curriculum Leader – Senior Years, Mr Adrian Brown. Adrian comes to us from St Patrick’s College where he has held numerous roles, including Director of Pedagogy and Learning Innovation, and Director of Senior School. Adrian will primarily focus on student tracking across the senior school (Years 10-12). This includes the Year 10 preparation programs and subject selections. 

He will assist boys in subject selection and with their many pathway options in senior schooling. He is also an Old Boy of the college and an avid AFL fan. Welcome, Adrian! 

Adrian can be contacted at browna@marash.qld.edu.au.

Student Monitoring Week – Years 9-12 

This week all students in Years 9-12 will have an opportunity to sit down in Pastoral Group and discuss their goals for Semester 2, 2025.   

It is a great opportunity for you to ask your son about his goals and to also reflect on his learning across Semester 1.   

Boys in years 7 to 9 have also started working through effective goal setting through the ASH program.

Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews – Week 6 

We believe that education is a collaborative effort, and we are grateful for the unwavering support of our parents and the wider community. Parent/Teacher/Student (PTS) interviews are an important part of your son’s educational journey.  One that allows for time to reflect on his strengths but also discuss opportunities for areas of growth and improvement.  To ensure timely feedback and discussion we will be offering PTS interviews online on Monday 18thAugust (Week 6).  Please keep an eye out for when booking times open in the coming weeks.  

Year 11 – Music Extension and English/Literature Extension 

Any Year 11 student who may be interested in undertaking an Extension subject in either Music or English/Literature in Term 4 (Unit 3 & 4) must attend the information Thursday 31st July in Period 6. Please check the daily notices for location. 

Registering for my QCE - Competition 

The myQCE competition opens on Monday 14 July 2025 and closes on Friday 19 September 2025. It offers Years 10–12 students a chance to win one of three prizes: a MacBook Air, an iPad Air with Magic Keyboard, or a pair of AirPods Max headphones. To enter the competition students must:

• follow the myQCE Instagram account 
• like the myQCE competition Instagram post 
• tag three friends in the comments 
• register for the Student Portal (if they haven’t already), log in and check/update their information such as their personal email address and phone number. 

Students can enter the competition and find more information at: https://myqce.qcaa.qld.edu.au/get-motivated/get-involved The QCAA will contact the three winners by email, and their names will be published on the myQCE website, myQCE Instagram account and in the Term 4 myQCE update

Marist Subject Support 

Marist Subject support tutoring is off and running. 

Tutoring is offered by old boys and takes place in the from Tuesday to Thursday. 0730 to 0830 am and 0330 to 0430 pm. 

Old Boys Tutoring List

Please find here a list of Old Boys who are available to tutor your son outside of school hours. This list can also be located on the parent portal or via this link. Please note it is the parent’s responsibility to organise and liaise tutoring times with the Old Boys.

Year 12 Night Study Sessions    

Year 12 Night Study Session will commence again this week - Wednesday night between 5pm and 8pm. As usual, students will need to sign in and out. They can arrive and leave at any time between 5 – 8pm; but they are not able to keep coming and leaving during the night. 

Academic Bootcamps 2025 - Griffith University

We’re excited to share that Griffith’s popular Academic Bootcamps are back for the September holidays!

These four-day courses help Year 12 students boost their final exam results with support from experienced teachers currently delivering these subjects in schools.

Students will:

• Improve exam confidence
• Learn effective study strategies
• Revise and consolidate knowledge
• Explore university pathways at Griffith

Available in-person or online. Subjects include General Maths, Maths Methods, Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Psychology.

Students can attend up to two bootcamps across consecutive weeks.

Spots are limited – help your students make the most of their break! Learn more here: griffith.edu.au/griffith-sciences/science-on-the-go/stem-pathways/academic-bootcamps.

Information about the Academic Bootcamp can be found via this link - 2025 Bootcamp Flyer.pdf).

Study Tip