From the Head of College

Mr Michael Newman

Re-Launching our Book

Over the holidays, there is a little more time to read and watch television. I watched an interview on a morning show about a new book being launched by a world-renowned and respected psychologist and celebrity. The book fell under the self-help category offering advice on how to achieve happiness, a natural state of being that seems to have become unnatural for so many in our modern society. In previewing the book, they spoke about this idea - that to be happy people need to want less and be satisfied with what they already have in life as this leads to a greater sense of acceptance, peace, gratitude, and contentment. The book definitely promoted some helpful ideas and advice for all people about how to approach life and enjoy each moment. Yet, as they discussed this book with great enthusiasm, and its idea and message as a new and exciting revelation, it dawned on me that this idea was not in fact new or a revelation; it merely espoused the basic principles and teachings of various religions that have been around for eons. In fact, the whole essence of the book is the Christian, Buddhist and Islamic message.

For example, a basic teaching of Buddhism is that humans experience suffering because of their earthly desires—various cravings, attachments, illusions and destructive impulses. Based on this premise, the logical solution to be happier would mean to get rid of all earthly desires. Put simply, to want less. Similarly, Christianity states “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). This essentially encourages people to desire little and to live simply. Not desiring more and more possessions allows us to focus more sincerely on being for others which in turn leads to happiness with God – allowing the Kingdom to come here on earth as it is in heaven.

Our world has become more secular over recent decades, so maybe we need to return to a focus on fundamental scriptures so as to lead us to happiness today. Possibly, society needs to refocus on this. It seems that with the loss of religion in society, more self-help books are appearing on our shelves but possibly the tips we need are already in print and have been for thousands of years. It would seem that people without faith, religion or a spirituality are only just discovering what religions have known and espoused for years.

Sundays second reading from 2 Philippians 4:6-9 essentially summarises this well:

“Never worry about anything; but tell God all your desires of every kind in prayer and petition with gratitude and the peace of God which is beyond our understanding will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Finally, let your minds be filled with everything that is true, everything that is honourable, everything that is upright and pure, everything that we love and admire – with whatever is good and praiseworthy. Keep doing everything you learnt from me and were told by me and have heard or seen me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”

God of the journey, may all members of the Marist College family and all our young men, be enriched and fulfilled by your word in their lives. Amen.

Awards Night

Congratulations to all students and staff for a memorable Awards Night held last night at QPAC. This was a wonderful opportunity to recognise the achievements of many boys across all year groups and areas of the College. The entertainment by the students, leadership of the seniors and audio-visuals were very well done. My thanks are extended to a wonderful team of staff for their planning and facilitation of this evening, namely: Charles Brauer, Madeleine Tong, Anna Nasr, Jenna Harding and the Mission Team, Phillipe Sanders-Agius, Alicia Lee and the Academic Care Team, Jack Johnson, Dylan Gower and the Tech Crew, Andrew Butt and the entire Music Department, Bethany Halpin and the Marketing and Events Team and Rachel Rainbird.

Congratulations to the following boys who took out the major awards for the night:

Matthew O’Keefe – The Fr Tom Moloney Medal for Marist Ministry and Service
Joshua Foxon – The Fr Walter Cain Memorial Prize for Contribution to Religious Tone of the College
Sebastian Harman – The Marist Brothers Service Award
Zac Wright – The P&F Creative Arts Award
Jude Knapp – Sportsman of the Year
Isaac Lynn – The John Batty Trophy for Consistent All-round Effort
Harrison Barratt – The Thomas Foley Memorial Prize for Second Aggregate in Year 12 (based on internal assessment results)
Joseph Lewis – The Sam Brassington Cup for Leadership
Eoin Paznikov – The Dr Alban J Lynch Character Cup
Oliver Lee – The Br Terence Heinrich Memorial Prize for Dux Aggregate in Year 12 (again, based on internal assessment results).

Well done, Marist!

AIC Track and Field Championships

Congratulations to all our track and field athletes who took out the AIC Championships last Thursday and Friday. Winning age groups were Year 5, Year 6, 13 years, 14 years, 15 years and 16 years. Overall secondary winners – Marist by 183 points. Overall Primary winners were Marist by some 99 points. This is the ninth straight Secondary Track and Field Championship and the third straight Primary Track and Field Championship. Congratulations to the Head Coach - Rob Martin and Director of Track and Field - Richard Graham and all our generous coaches and assistants (pictured below). Well done boys!

Marist Old Boys and Mother’s Retreat Days

A final reminder to all old boys and mothers of the retreat experience to be held at the College this Saturday and Sunday 14th and 15th October. These retreats will be a wonderful opportunity to catch your breath, share good company and reflect a little, away from the hustle and bustle of life. We welcome back to the College past Headmasters - Br Neville Solomon and Br Robert O’Conor who will be facilitating these retreats. To make a booking, please go to the following links in the advertisements below.

Year 12 Boarder-Staff Dinner 2023

On Tuesday 17 October, we celebrate the Year 12 Boarders and staff end of year dinner to be held in the Boarders dining room. The purpose of this evening is for the Year 12 boys and staff to offer their thanks, to celebrate this time where Marist was their “home” and to acknowledge their achievements as boarders at the College. My thanks are extended to Mr Jim Noble (Assistant Head of College – Boarding) Renae Lewis, Anthony Mathison, and our wonderful catering team for organising and facilitating this event. Enjoy, gentlemen.

Parent-Teacher Interviews (Online)

The second day of parent-teacher Interviews will be held this Thursday 12 October online. I thank all our generous staff who will facilitate these interviews online following our face-to-face interviews last Tuesday. These online interviews will be held from 3:30pm-8:00pm after school. I trust that all parents have now had the opportunity to communicate with their teacher so as to enable the best possible academic outcomes for their sons. For any further communication requests, contact your son’s teacher directly at surnamefirstinitial@marash.qld.edu.au.

Mobile Phones

With numerous state schools now implementing their new Mobile Phone Policy, I wish to reiterate the Marist College Ashgrove long-standing policy regarding mobile phone usage while at the College.

Phone Policy

Primary School – when students arrive at the College – they are to place their phone in their student locker.

Secondary School – phones are to be placed in a student’s locker by 8:35am – boys can retrieve their phone for Period 6, but it must be placed in their bags allowing for a quicker getaway to buses at the final bell.

If a student is caught with a phone – the phone will be confiscated and taken to student administration for collection at the end of the day.

For a second misdemeanour, a student will be issued an internal suspension for 1 day.

For a third misdemeanour, a conversation with families will be had regarding the usage of a phone at the College.

Students are to hand over phones immediately if asked by a teacher.

Boys can be contacted through the main office during the day.

I trust that this policy, which has been in place for many years at the College, continues to work adequately.

New Toilet Refurbishments

Student Voice is an important element in the operation of a good school. Having listened to students, many are concerned with the toilet facilities. Toilets are set out in such a way that students can congregate and are unsupervised. As a result, the College will be refreshing and changing the design of our toilet facilities to make them more user-friendly for all students, over the Christmas holidays. We trust that the changes we are designing will rectify the concerns of our student body moving forward.

Formula Student Race Day

The pinnacle event of the year for the Certificate II Engineering Pathways - Formula Student Program was held on Thursday and Friday. Our Marist College Year 12 team competed in an endurance race against twenty other schools in the QLD. Preceding the race, a scrutineering day took place on Thursday, during which the car underwent meticulous inspection to ensure compliance and strict adherence to safety regulations. Our team overcame some mechanical challenges which took them off the track for two hours and still managed to come back and finish 16th. All students enrolled in the program had the opportunity to drive the car. It was a very enjoyable and great-spirited learning day for all the boys involved. My thanks are extended to Mr Andrew Devoy (Curriculum Leader Technology) and Adrian Gray for the preparation and facilitation of this event.

CyberTaipan National Finals

CyberTaipan is an Australian Youth Cyber Defence Competition modelled on the US Air Force Association's CyberPatriot program. Throughout the competition rounds, teams of students are provided with a set of virtual images that represent different operating systems. Over a four-hour period, each team receives points for finding and fixing cybersecurity vulnerabilities, strengthening systems, and maintaining critical services. Teams compete for a chance to represent their school or community group in the CyberTaipan National Final.

The Marist College Ashgrove Year 10 Team has successfully made the National Finals of this competition. They are placed 6th out of 163 teams thus far. The National Finals will be held next Saturday online. My thanks are extended to Tara Franklin (Careers Counsellor) and our industry experts and teachers Adam Graham, Kevin Berry (Director of IT), Forster Yip, Alison Barlow and Colleen Robertson who are coaching the boys. Good luck to our Year 10 Team members - Ben Hartfiel, James Larme, Max Gallagher, Cullen Fitzgerald and Dean Graham.