From the Head of College

Change for the Better

This week, Marist College Ashgrove enjoyed two important events that emphasised change. On Friday, we celebrated the Champagnat Trust Sports Lunch. This lunch raises money to provide young boys with the opportunity to benefit from a Marist education. All monies raised goes towards bursaries which are means tested to ensure those young people most in need get an opportunity to experience a Marist education. It is essentially about changing lives and providing opportunities. On Wednesday, we celebrated National Reconciliation Week at the College assembly. We were privileged to have the presence of Indigenous elders, Uncle Val and Auntie Rhonda. They spoke about their difficult and discriminatory experiences growing up, in turn asking all present to ensure that Indigenous people are treated with respect and dignity into the future. They were calling for us to have a change in heart and were met with a spontaneous and touching standing ovation from the boys. 

On Sunday, the Catholic Church celebrated the feast of the most holy body and blood of Christ. This feast and readings remember Jesus at the last supper changing the bread and wine into his presence – his body and blood. This change in substance and sharing of his presence is experienced at Holy Communion. When we receive the holy body and blood which has changed, we too are called to change. As we now carry Jesus, his presence is all consuming. We are called to change – to be better people and Christians, dignified and respectful of all. Yes, change is hard – but change for the better is our calling each time we receive Jesus in the Eucharist.

God of the journey, may all the young men at Marist and all members of the Marist College family change in communion with your presence, to become better people. Amen. 

Brilliant Job!

Regarding the wonderful events of the weekend - the Champagnat Trust Sports Lunch and Super Saturday – a gathering of Old Boys, Boarding parents and associates and various sporting fixtures - may I say a huge thank you on behalf of the Marist College family. A sincere thank you to those who tirelessly organised and facilitated the Champagnat Trust Sports Lunch: Ellen Kassulke, Bethany Halpin, Antonia Svenson, Dominique Hall, Lesley Grahame, Damien Zoomers, Kath Brassington, Rose Raynor, Richard Graham, Brett Gillett, Jack Johnson, Denver Jensen and our College Theatre Students; and Super Saturday: Ellen Kassulke, Bethany Halpin, Derek Lennon, Richard Graham, Blair Whitlock, Matt Millward, Corey Robinson, Jim Noble, Antonia Svenson, Damien Zoomers, Denver Jensen, Matt Tarlinton, Dane Rowe, Callum Clark, Nathan Ayre and the Catering Team, Peter Jackson, Matt Darch, Blake Mackay, Kevin Carr, Michael Graham and Kyle Gardner, and the Marist College Ashgrove Old Boys Association led by Tim Slack, Dom Melrose and Bret Ambrose and to our amazing P&F led by Donna Lynn, Adam Bennett, Paula Vetter, Jane Wilcox and  Stephen Ball and their generous parent volunteers. We even celebrated wins in all three Open Firsts competitions versus St Laurence’s College in Rugby Union, Football and Chess. Congratulations Marist Ashgrove!

Years 7-10 Exam Block 

As we enter the final few weeks of semester one, boys are completing important assignments and approaching their examination period. The Semester 1 Years 7-10 examination block will commence this Friday 7 June. To view this exam block, please go to the parent portal. An email was also sent to parents with a copy of the examination schedule attached. I wish all boys the best of luck as they complete their final assignments and study for these examinations. 

Following these examinations and the completion of the boy’s final assessment tasks, reports will be distributed the afternoon of Friday 21 June. A reminder also that during the course of the year, continuous reporting and feedback of assessments can be found on the Parent Portal.

Year 12 Mother-Son Luncheon

We are pleased to invite all Year 12 boys and their mothers to the 2024 Mother-Son Luncheon to be held at the Hilton Hotel, Elizabeth Street Brisbane City, on Tuesday 18 June. In the Marist tradition, the luncheon is an opportunity for the boys to express gratitude towards and share some special time together with their mums prior to the completion of their final year at the college. We are honoured to have as our special guest at this luncheon, Kate Jones – former politician, Minister and Australian Rugby League Commissioner who will give the occasional address to the boys and their mothers. This is always a special rite of passage on the Year 12 calendar of events and I warmly invite all Year 12s and their mothers to attend. To purchase tickets, please open this link.

AIC Cross-Country Champions 2024

Congratulations are extended to both our Secondary and Primary Cross-Country teams who were victorious in the 2024 AIC Cross-Country Championships last Wednesday. In front of our encouraging Year 11 students, the boys performed consistently all day either winning or runners-up in each age group throughout the day. The age divisions performed as follows: 

Year 5 – 2nd 

Year 6 – 1st

Under 12 – 2nd 

Under 13 – 1st 

Under 14 – 2nd

Under 15 – 1st

Under 16 – 2nd 

Opens – 2nd

Well done to their dedicated and expert coaches and managers namely: Brendan Saunders, Fergal Apps, Tom Prole, Brendan Jansons, Matthew Pimm, Sasha Sofronoff and Ben Adams. Congratulations Marist College Ashgrove Cross Country team 2024.

Optimus Award Presentations 

This Wednesday, at the College assembly, we look forward to acknowledging our Year 12 boys who have achieved excellence in their academic results so far this year. Our Optimus Award winners will be presented at the College assembly. This year we are pleased to announce 122 award recipients. The presentation will be followed by an Optimus Breakfast on the 23rd of July. More details will be provided at a later date. Congratulations, gentlemen. 

25th Anniversary of the Canonisation of St Marcellin Champagnat

Marist College Ashgrove celebrates the 25th anniversary of St Marcellin Champagnat’s (founder of the Marist Brothers) recognition as a saint by Pope John Paul II in Rome. I was fortunate enough to attend this wonderful event in Rome and it was a joyous and faith-filled experience by all in attendance. On Thursday 6 June we will recognise this occasion with a Mass, the opening of the new Primary building (The St Marcellin Centre), a free lunch for all the boys and staff, a tour of the new building and a light lunch for all our guests, the gift of a Champagnat badge to all students, and house games – tug of war, push up challenge and theatre sports. Parents are welcome to attend the Champagnat Mass, opening of the new Primary building, tour and light lunch by clicking on the advertisement below to secure your seat. I hope you can join us for this special event. Happy Champagnat Day!

2024 Science and Engineering Challenge Discovery Days 

On Friday 7 June, some of our Year 5 and 6 boys will be partaking in the 2024 Science and Engineering Challenge Discovery Days at Park Ridge State High School. The Challenge is a day-long competition designed to provide our Primary students with a positive experience and thought-provoking exercises in the subjects of science and engineering.  Students will compete in small teams on various STEM challenges throughout the day. My thanks are extended to Ms Jen Little and Mrs Kylie Tippins. Good luck, gentlemen. 

Isolated Children Parents Association Conference

The Isolated Children Parents Association (ICPA) Conference is presently being held (Monday - Wednesday 3rd - 6th June) in Townsville. This is an important conference representing our Boarding students who attend Marist College Ashgrove from more isolated areas of Queensland and beyond. The conference includes discussion around providing equity in education for children who come from remote areas of Australia. Jim Noble (Head of Boarding) and I are attending this conference with a focus on representing and improving the outcomes of our Boarding students from isolated locations at Marist Ashgrove.

Final Winter Sports Round for Term 2 

This Saturday 8 June the boys will be participating in their last round of Rugby and Football fixtures versus St Edmund’s College, at St Edmund’s. We wish all boys the best of luck as they head into their final round of competition. Particularly, we offer our 1stXI soccer team our best wishes as they presently are in first place in the AIC competition. We also congratulate our 1st XV Rugby team who defeated St Laurence’s College on the weekend, ending their 3-year undefeated run. We recognise our undefeated teams going into the final round namely: Football: 2nd XI, 5th XI, 7th XI, 10A, 9A, 9B, 8B, 7C, 7D, 5B, 5 Gold, 5 Black and 5 White; Rugby: 4th XV, 5th XV, 10C, 10D, 9B, 9C, 8C, 7B, 7C, 7D, 5A and 5B; Chess: Senior A Team. My best wishes to all players and coaches for a successful and satisfying completion to the season.

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

Upcoming Events

Tuesday 4 June

• Year 11 and 12 Visual Art Excursion GOMA
• Study Hall – Senior Library
• Primary Morning Study – Primary Library
• House Meetings Years 5-12
• Old Boys Meeting

Wednesday 5 June

• Year 7 Immunisations
• Additional Chess, Debating, Cross Country, Football, Rugby Union and Volleyball Photos
• Year 11 Subject Change Deadline
• Primary School True Colours Day
• Green Ash
• Study Hall – Senior Library
• Community Mass - College Chapel (all welcome)
• Year 12 Recreation Studies – Mountain Biking
• Market Day Stalls – Year 5 Students
• College Assembly
• Optimus Award Presentations 

Thursday 6 June

• Feast of Marcellin Champagnat
• Vinnies BBQ
• Green Ash
• Study Hall – Senior Library
• Primary Morning Study – Primary Library
• Primary Morning Assembly
• Champagnat Day Mass and Opening of the New Primary Facilities

Friday 7 June

• Year 11 Geography Excursion
• Years 7-10 Exam Block
• STEM Competition Years 5 and 6
• Primary STEM Challenge Excursion
• Primary Morning Study – Primary Library
• Year 12 PE – Nudgee College
• AIC Chess Round 7 v St Edmunds
• All Abilities Rugby

Saturday 8 June

• AIC Round 7 v St Edmunds (A)

Sunday 9 June

• Ronald McDonald House Charity Outreach
• Boarders’ Mass (Chapel)

Monday 10 June

• Year 7-10 Exam Block - continues
• Primary Morning Study – Primary Library
• Primary Morning Assembly
• Rosies Outreach

Tuesday 11 June

• Study Hall – Senior Library
• Primary Morning Study – Primary Library
• House Meetings Years 5-12
• FareShare Community Kitchen

Wednesday 12 June

• Year 7-10 Exam Block
• Theatre Ash
• School Officer Day
• Green Ash
• College Assembly Livestream to Pastoral Groups

Thursday 13 June

• Year 9 and 10 Japanese Dinner
• Vinnies BBQ
• Green Ash
• Study Hall – Senior Library
• Primary Morning Study – Primary Library
• Primary Morning Assembly
• Vinnies Meeting – Room 801
• Year 5 Band and Strings Concert
• Year 9 and 10 Japanese Dinner

Friday 14 June

• Interhouse Athletics Carnival
• All Abilities Rugby

Saturday 15 June

• Rugby League/Tennis/Basketball Internal Trials

Sunday 16 June

• Boarders’ Mass (Chapel)

Tuesday 18 June

• Year 12 Mother-Son Luncheon