From the Head of College

Mr Michael Newman

Exploring the Relationship

Claire Bowditch is an Australian musician, author and occasional actress. Her accolades include an ARIA award (2006) for best female artist, a Logie award nomination (2012) for her acting in the TV series Offspring and an ABIA (2020) for best new Australian author award. In an interview on the ABC with Scott Stephens, Claire talks about the importance and normality of religion in her family home. So much so, that as a young girl, she didn't even realise her family was religious. She explains that it was a whole family affair to go along to mass every Sunday together. Claire also spoke about her parents keeping their faith at a level that their children could understand – “I think my parents based their faith on simple courtesies and ideas of beauty really. So, the sunset, the blade of grass, the lovely meal.” In fact, her relationship with God, she says, became ongoing and a conversation. When asked if she still believed in God, Claire responded – “I do. I'm one of those radical people in my generation who actually still uses the term ‘God’. And for me, God really represents a kind of unnamable, it's a mystery, it's a creative electricity. It's a really useful description for many feelings and thoughts. It's a framework within which to discuss meaning, really. God is a mystery and is the source of longing and question and compassion, and this impulse in us to want to do good, to want to be kind to our fellow human, to protect and to nurture. So, I don't have a definitive image of God. It could be anything.” When asked what she believes is the purpose of life, Claire replied – “The purpose of life is different for everyone. The purpose of my life is probably to learn how to love better and how to improve on past performances, just in terms of my relationships with other people.”

Like Claire Bowditch, an exploration of a relationship with God is the real point of this Sunday’s Gospel reading which was quite divisive for the disciples and still is for Catholics today. The words of Jesus in Sunday’s Gospel are direct, with a shock effect, with the intention to challenge us fully – “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood, lives in me and I Iive in him” (John 6: 51-58). A normal person reading this may say, that’s all too much – eating flesh! But what Jesus was really trying to do was jolt his disciples, talking about a level of commitment and unification with him that is required from all his followers. We really need to “eat” Jesus – fully consume him and his teachings – and become what we eat, to be more Christ-like and transformed anew. We can’t just follow and believe bits and pieces of his teachings, pray when we feel like it, be nice to people when it suits, only treat those that we like with dignity, only love others when we get something in return, or have values and morals that meet our lifestyles. No, we need to be 100% committed to the values and beliefs of Jesus’ teaching. With these dramatic words from Jesus is the challenge to be totally ‘in’ with Jesus in faith and hope. As Claire Bowditch explains, God is a mystery, a longing, compassion, an impulse to do good, to be kind and nurture and the meaning it presents is love and better relationships. Let us take up the challenge to be ‘in’ with exploring our relationship with God.

God of the journey, may the young men and all members of this Marist College Ashgrove family take up the challenge to be more in relationship with you in action, deed and word. Amen.

AIEF Year 12 Graduation

Congratulations to our Year 12 boys who on Monday evening travelled to Sydney for their graduation as students from the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF) program. This program offers educational assistance and support to our Indigenous students to enable them to gain a quality education and to achieve their goals and success for life. Congratulations: Paddy Bassani, Landon Law-Palm and Braith Crossingham. My thanks to Mr Jim Noble, Assistant Head of College – Boarding who accompanied the boys to this graduation ceremony. Well done, boys.

Queensland Catholic Schools and Colleges Music Festival

During the Ekka break, Thursday 15 – Sunday 18 August, our talented music students performed at the Queensland Catholic Schools and Colleges Music Festival hosted by Villanova College, Coorparoo. Our musicians performed over an action-packed 4 days and nights with some outstanding performances from the MCA groups and other musicians from across Australia. There was a wonderful spirit of Catholic identity across the whole festival. Ensemble results are as follows: Symphony Orchestra / Gold (Andrew Butt), Chamber Strings / Gold (Catherine Wasserman), Chamber Choir / Gold (Alison Braidwood), Big Band 1 / Gold (Andrew Butt), Wind Orchestra 1 / Silver (Megan Harmston), Performance Choir / Silver (Samantha Blakeney) and Percussion Ensembles 1 & 2 / Silver (Zac Moynihan). My thanks are extended to the Music department for their thorough preparation, organisation, expertise and generosity towards our students over these days. Special congratulations to Liam Bourke (Year 12) and Baxter Jordan (Year 9) who were both awarded certificates of excellence in this festival, playing the Oboe and Bass respectively.

Father-Son Activities and Reflection Day

My thanks are extended to Mr Peter Serone, Assistant Head of College – Students, who organised an activity day for the boys and their fathers on the Wednesday Ekka Show Holiday. The day was a great success and a good bonding day for the boys and their fathers completing such activities as kayaking in the Brisbane river, laser tag and archery. The day concluded with a delicious BBQ lunch and some reflection time together between the boys and their fathers. Despite the gloomy skies and some rain, the day was bright and positive and enjoyed by all involved.

Year 12 Mock Examinations

The Year 12 mock exams will be held from Tuesday 27th August – Friday 6th September. Best wishes to all our Year 12 students as they revise and undertake these mock exams. These are in preparation for the ATAR external examinations in term 4 to be held from Monday 21st October commencing with English and concluding on Friday 8th November with Mathematical Methods. Following these mock exams, the boys will be moving into their final revision lessons for Term 3, followed by masterclass revision lessons early in Term 4. Good luck in this important period of study and preparation, gentlemen. Timetable details can be found on the Parent Lounge under the exam and assessment tile and were also emailed to Year 12 parents last week.

Please Update

MCEECDYA (Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs) collects data to support the development of policies and programs that aim to improve educational outcomes and ensure equity in education across Australia. The data collected includes information on students’ backgrounds, such as their socio-economic status, language spoken at home, and parents’ education levels.

At enrolment, all Marist College Ashgrove families complete this information. This information affects our levels of funding as a college and essentially the school fees you pay. Please revise your details in time and ensure they are accurately presented. I will send out a letter in the coming days with more information on how to update your details. In anticipation, thank you.

Year 9 and 10 Retreat Days 2024

Best wishes to all boys in Years 9 and 10 who will undertake their annual retreat day at the Champagnat Centre this Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd August. This is an important compulsory event for all the boys as we explore their relationships, social interactions and spirituality. The Year 9 retreat will have as the theme ‘transitioning into their final years of high school’. The Year 10 retreat will explore ‘leadership’ and all that it entails over their next three years of schooling. My thanks are extended to the highly skilled, popular and evergreen Michael Fitzpatrick, who will facilitate both retreat days. You are most welcome back to Marist College Ashgrove, Michael. Enjoy gentlemen.

Year 9 Examination Block

The Year 9 examination block will be held from Monday 26th August – Thursday 29th August. During this time, all Year 9 students are to attend school as per normal. Their exam schedules were released last week to parents and students via the staff and student portals. My thanks are extended to Ms Alicia Lee, Mrs Emma Hilton, Mrs Roxanne Rosenberg, Mrs Jessica Turschwell, Ms Jen Smeed and Mr Adam Knight for the scheduling and distribution of the schedules and to Mrs Lisa Gleeson for the rooming and staffing of the exams. Thanks also to Mrs Amy Lukritz for the printing of the exams. Good luck gentlemen with your upcoming revision and exams.

Annual Interschool Karting Challenge Day

This Friday 23rd August, Marist College Ashgrove Years 11 and 12 Certificate II Engineering Pathways students have the opportunity to participate in the annual Interschool Karting Challenge Day at the Ipswich City Dirt Kart Club – Willowbank. The day allows students to race the karts they have built in class in a controlled environment, competing against their peers and students from other schools. It provides an incredible opportunity for students to see how the principles they have learned in class apply in real life. The students will depart from the Marist College bus stop at 7:00am and return by 4.30pm. My thanks are extended to Mr Andrew Devoy, Curriculum Leader - Technologies for his organisation and facilitation of this event, along with Mr Adrian Gray, Mr Peter Gaiter and Mr Blair Whitlock. We thank the staff for their knowledge, instruction, encouragement and supervision of the boys. Best of luck, gentlemen!

Alive 2032+ Youth Speaking Event

Six of our Marist College Ashgrove Students attended the Alive 2032+ Youth Speaking Event at Brisbane City Hall. The event was designed to generate ideas from Brisbane’s youth to help shape the City of Brisbane Legacy Strategy. Our students contributed excellent ideas and encouraged their peers to do the same via a ‘world café’ activity and on ideas speech bubbles. Their contribution will ensure the City of Brisbane’s Legacy Strategy reflects the aspirations and ideas of Brisbane’s youth. My thanks are extended to Mr Peter Serone, Assistant Head of College – Students for accompanying our boys to this valuable experience.

Environment Group Activity

This Friday afternoon, 23rd August, our Marist College Ashgrove Environment Group is combining with the Mt St Michael’s Environment Group. They will be sorting donated shoes into two groups: to be reused by homeless/vulnerable peoples (through the Micah Project) or to recycle (through TreadLightly). If you have any old or rarely worn shoes, you can donate these to the Mission Office this week. My thanks are extended to Ms Kathryn Badini and the Mission Team for their organisation of this charitable project.

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