From the Head of College

Mr Michael Newman

We Remember

Remembrance Day is a significant day for many countries around the world, including Australia. It is a day when we acknowledge those who died or suffered while serving in war, conflict and peace operations. Specifically, Remembrance Day is held on 11th November each year, to mark the anniversary of the Armistice in 2018 that ended fighting in World War I. As we join many other countries around the world, we observe a one-minute silence at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month because that is when the Armistice came into effect. It is a time to honour our service personnel who died or suffered for us so that we can enjoy the peace and freedom that is Australia today.

On Remembrance Day, Marist College Ashgrove will mark this occasion with education for the boys, one minute of silence and a commemorative prayer at this exact moment in time.

Together, with all members of the Marist College family, we pray for those who served and lost their lives at war. Amen.

Assistant Head of College – Learning and Teaching

Over the past few weeks, Marist College Ashgrove has undertaken a comprehensive advertising and recruitment process in search of a new leadership team member in charge of the Teaching and Learning portfolio. I thank our interview panel consisting of Mr Mark Elliot (Regional Director - Marist Schools Australia), Mrs Kim Wickham (Principal – Loreto College, Coorparoo), and Mr Charles Brauer (Deputy Head of College) who joined myself for the interview process. I have the great pleasure of announcing the news that Mr Adam Knight has been appointed as the Assistant Head of College – Learning and Teaching at Marist College Ashgrove from 2025.

Adam has extensive leadership experiences. He is currently Curriculum Leader – Senior Years Academic Care at Marist College Ashgrove. This followed the Acting College Leadership roles of Assistant Head of College Learning and Teaching - Middle Years, and Assistant Head of College Learning and Teaching - Senior Years, Assistant Head of College – Students and Head of House and Literacy Coordinator at Marist College Ashgrove. Prior to this, Adam has undertaken the roles of Housemaster, Subject Coordinator (Recreation Studies) and Acting Assistant Head of English at Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie). Adam also held the position of PE Coordinator and Sports Coordinator at Shalom Christian College, Townsville.

Adam brings with him a comprehensive experience in many wide-ranging areas of education. He has been highly involved in social justice co-curricular activities including the coordinator of Sony Camps at Churchie, Rosies, Ronald McDonald House, Special School education and more recently at Marist, immersions to Cambodia in 2018 and 2019 and Timor Leste in 2024. Adam has also been very involved in a number of sports, most notably volleyball where he was both coach of the 1st VI and Coordinator of Volleyball at both Churchie and Marist College Ashgrove over some 19 years combined.

Adam holds a Master of Educational Leadership, a Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Movement – Education) and a Graduate Certificate in Theology. We are excited to welcome Adam as a full-time member of the College Leadership Team. Adam has been working with our Academic Team at Marist which has enabled the significant improvement in academic outcomes of the boys in recent years.

Adam is a most capable, diligent, and professional role model for the boys. We acknowledge and offer our support to Adam and his wife Judith and children - Addison (Old Boy of Marist College Ashgrove), Riley and Isabel.

My sincere gratitude is extended to Ms Jennifer Smeed for her four years of excellent leadership and direction of the academic program at the college. Jen will be missed by students, staff, parents and colleagues not only for her expertise in the teaching and learning domain where our boys’ results have risen sharply but also for her collaborative manner and the kind and generous person she is. We wish you well in the future Jen.

Assignments and Examinations

As we commence Week 6, the academic program reaches the business end of the term. All boys should be completing assignments as we speak. Our Primary boys are undertaking exams, and our Secondary boys are preparing for their upcoming exam block and competencies. You will find communication regarding the assignment details for your son on the parent portal and the exam calendar via a notification from the Parent Orbit and an email. I wish all boys the best of luck in this important time of term.

Formal Hat

My thanks are extended to our professional uniform supplier Noone for generously exchanging any faded old formal hats for a new formal hat throughout the year. Noone recognised the problem immediately and responded with this offer for all families accordingly. To Noone, we are very grateful for this act of generosity. To this end, from January 2025, boys who come to school with a faded or disfigured hat will be expected to purchase a new hat from the uniform shop.

Acts of Generosity

I continue to be impressed by our boys who volunteer to help those less fortunate in our community. I congratulate the boys who will be involved in the All-Abilities Cricket Program at the Valleys Cricket Club from next Friday 8 November, 4:00pm-5:00pm. Thank you to Mikael Pitot (Youth Minister) and Mr Damian Nelson who will be accompanying the boys. Well done also to the boys involved in the Fairshare Charity Kitchen cooking meals for the homeless, next Tuesday 12 November, 5:00pm-9:30pm. I thank Kathryn Badini (Curriculum Leader – Middle School Academic Care) who has organised and will join the boys for this charitable activity.

Year 5 Final Music Concert 2024

Well done to all Year 5 students who have learnt to play a musical instrument in their first year at Marist College Ashgrove. With these lessons comes the ability to perform as part of a concert band. This Thursday, 7th November, all boys will perform in the Draney Theatre for their culminating performance. We trust that family members will come along in support.

Next year, the boys can continue to learn a musical instrument and be part of this outstanding musical program if they so desire. The extensive Instrumental Music Program for 2025 involves more than 730 boys from Years 5 to 12 and over 20 small and large ensembles.

Enrolment involves weekly individual or small group lessons where your son would learn from a specialist teacher on his particular instrument and attend a one-hour ensemble rehearsal each week before school. Lessons and rehearsals commence in Week 2 of Term 1, 2025. All Year 5 families should have received an email with the opportunity to sign up for this program.

My thanks are extended to all the music staff involved in this Year 5 music program throughout 2024, namely: Dr Andrew Butt (Program Leader – Co-curricular Arts), Catherine Wasserman, Jamie Kennedy, Melanie Stewart, Enrico Le Mura, Megan Harmston, Samantha Blakeney, Janelle Lee Long, and Alex Hides. Good luck with your performances on Thursday night, gentlemen.

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