From the Head of College

Better People

As we enter this time of Lent, we hear about the traditional practices of prayer, repentance, self-denial and almsgiving. Prayer involves taking time out to ponder, reflect and meditate with God. Repentance involves being sorry for one’s mistakes and sins of the past. Self-denial is about going without to become more focussed on what counts and almsgiving is giving to others in need. In essence, Lent is a time to reflect, slow down, reconsider our way of life and to live life more sincerely as a Christian. It is about trying to be a better person into the future. It requires oneself to say sorry for the wrongs of the past and to make amends by going without personally to give life and love to others. This is the Easter message – death to resurrection – dying to oneself each day, to give life and love to one’s sisters and brothers in need.

I receive many emails about occurrences regarding the school – some positive and others on how to be better. A positive email I received last week involved a group of Marist boys volunteering to help a mother whose car was stranded on the side of the road at a bus stop, having experienced a flat tyre. Without prompting, the boys went over to the woman and asked if she needed help and began changing her tyre so that she could quickly get on her way. This is one of those positive Lenten acts which require a sense of selflessness that make us better people. 

God of the journey may each of the young men and all members of the Marist family accept the challenge this Lenten season to be better people through acts of prayer, repentance, self-denial and almsgiving. 

International Women's Day

On Wednesday 4th March, the College will celebrate International Women’s Day during the College Assembly. We certainly value our female employees who make up 51% of staff at Marist Ashgrove. Their work, witness, educational skills, professionalism and example is sincerely valued and appreciated by the boys. We salute and acknowledge the positive impact women staff are having on us all here at Marist Ashgrove. 

On Thursday 5 March, as part of our International Women’s Day initiatives, Foley House will once again collaborate with the Mission team to support Birthing Kit Foundation Australia. Our Year 12 students, with staff, will play a key role in assembling birthing kits. While International Women’s Day is a time to promote equality, it is also an important reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by many girls and women worldwide. In many communities, pregnancy and childbirth remain extremely risky due to limited access to safe medical care. The birthing kits assembled through this initiative provide essential, lifesaving resources that help improve outcomes for mothers and newborns in vulnerable regions. 

Annual Marist Spirituality Day

A reminder to families that Monday, 2nd March is the annual Marist Staff Spirituality Day. On this day, all staff at the College will be gathering for a day of reflection, prayer and education around the meaning and charism of Marist education. All Marist schools throughout Australia have a similar day of education for their employees. We thank our facilitators Br Tony Leon fms  and Mr Justin Golding from the Marist, Life & Formation Team for leading this important day. Important to note that Monday, 2nd March is a student free day and there will be no classes on this day. Students are not required to attend school, as staff will be engaged in professional learning. We encourage all boys to use this day to catch up on assignments, revise for upcoming examinations, and remain organised for the busy weeks ahead. Normal classes will resume on Tuesday, 3rd March. We thank all families for their support of this important day of education and reflection for all college staff. 

Year 6 Retreat

Our Year 6 students will participate in their annual retreat and leadership day on Friday, 26th February, held in the Champagnat Centre from 8:30am to 3:10pm. This important day invites the boys to reflect on their final year in Primary, strengthen relationships with their peers, and deepen their understanding of what it means to be part of the Marist community. Throughout the program, ‘Character Builders’ will guide students in a range of teamwork challenges, discussions, and reflective activities designed to support personal growth, leadership development, and their emerging sense of faith. This retreat is a significant preparatory exercise in transitioning the boys to the secondary years and provides an opportunity for the boys to consider the young men they aspire to become. We extend our thanks to Matt Wilson, Deen Mewburn, Rachael Carter, Richard Coles, Catherine Barnett, and Molly Keir for their support in supervising and facilitating this program throughout the day. We wish all our Year 6 students an enjoyable, enriching, and memorable retreat experience.

Boarder Free Weekend

A reminder to families that 28th February to 2nd March is a Boarder free weekend. During this period, all Boarders have a three-day period to return home or go out with an approved host if they choose. The Boarding house will remain open and supervised over the Boarder free weekend for any boys who don’t go out on leave. This is an opportunity in the middle of the term for students to rest, reconnect with family, and recharge for the busy weeks ahead. We wish all our Boarding families a safe and enjoyable long weekend together.

Lions Youth of the Year

We extend our warmest congratulations to Year 12 student Henry Robinson on his nomination for the Lions Youth of the Year competition, taking place on Tuesday evening 24th February. Henry was interviewed and questioned throughout Saturday and will make a speech to a large audience on the Tuesday evening. This annual traditional competition celebrates young people who demonstrate leadership, community service, academic commitment, and strong communication skills. Henry’s nomination is a wonderful reflection of his character and contributions to college life. We wish Henry Robinson the very best of luck as he represents our community at this significant event.

Mr Rob Martin

It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge the wonderful service and coaching of Mr Rob Martin in Track and Field at Marist College Ashgrove and for this we are truly grateful. Rob is an expert coach and a wonderful mentor to many a student at Marist. His outstanding results include 11 straight Track and Field Premierships in succession in the AIC Competition and 2 National School Challenge victories. Rob is now moving aside to mentor the next generation of coaches at Marist in Track and Field. We thank Mr Thomas Prole who will be taking over the mantle as Co-Head Coach in 2026 with Rob. Thank you, Rob for your tireless, kind and inspiring leadership as Head Coach at Marist.  

Marist Card & Games Day

Our first Marist Card & Games Day for the year will be held tomorrow from 10am to 2pm in the Brother Cyprian Pavilion. Attendees are asked to form their own table of up to 4 friends and bring a game that they would like to play – cards (e.g. Bridge, Canasta, 500, Mahjong, Scrabble, or other board games). The $25 cost per person includes morning tea, lunch, tea/coffee and a lucky door ticket. Bookings have closed for Wednesday 25 February, but if you would like to know dates for future events or any further information, please contact Amy Hammon on 0416 501 417 or email: carddaypandf@marash.qld.edu.au.

Game Changers Year 11 & 12 Retreat

Our Year 11 & 12 Game Changers students will take part in their annual retreat on Thursday, 26th February. This retreat is an important formation experience for our senior boys, centred around learning about leadership and growth in personal faith, leading toward our call as Christians to be people of service to our community. Broken into three workshops, students will engage in a range of activities, discussions, and reflections designed to strengthen their own identities and faith, guiding them on their journey as young Marists. The retreat is hosted at the Marist Centre on campus and runs from 10am until 2pm. For information about how to get involved in future retreats, please visit the Mission office next to the Chapel.  Thanks are extended to Justin Golding and all the team at Marist Youth Ministry for their facilitation of this retreat. We wish all participating students a reflective and rewarding day.

RACQ Docudrama – Year 11 & 12

Our Year 11 students will participate in the RACQ Docudrama program on Thursday, 26th February. This follows a presentation for our Year 12 students last Thursday 19th February. This powerful, reality-based presentation is designed to educate young people about the consequences of risky behaviours on the road. Through a combination of live scenarios, guided discussion, and reflective activities, students gain a deeper understanding of safe decision-making, passenger responsibility, and the impact their choices can have on themselves and others. This Docudrama is an important part of our senior wellbeing curriculum and supports students as they begin to navigate greater independence. By the end of the day, you will receive an email about strategies and topics discussed in the workshop to encourage on-going conversations at home with your son about responsible driving. The workshop will begin at 8:35am sharp, in the Draney Theatre. We would like to acknowledge and thank, Demae McMahon & Dave Terry from RACQ who put an engaging presentation together to teach the importance of road safety to our young men here at the College.

Marist Swimming Age Championships

The Marist Swimming Age Championships will be held on Friday, 28th February. These championships bring together students from across the College to compete in a supportive and spirited environment, as they strive for personal best performances and Age Champion titles. It also serves as the final selection meet ahead of the AIC Swimming Championships on Tuesday, 10th March. The Championships are an important meeting in our sporting calendar, promoting broad participation while fostering a healthy and competitive environment. We look forward to witnessing strong performances in the pool and commend our swimmers for their commitment and preparation. Best of luck to all students competing in these Swimming Age Championships.

AFL, Cricket & Volleyball Photos

AFL photos will be taken on Friday 27th February, this time for Years 5 and 6. Students are reminded to arrive in their full sports uniform and ensure they are neatly presented for their team photograph which are being taken on the Gym Mezzanine at Break 1. Cricket and Volleyball team photos for teams playing at home will be held for Years 5-12 students on Saturday 28th February in the Science Centre Foyer. Students are reminded to arrive on time in their full and correct playing uniforms to ensure the sessions run smoothly. We appreciate the support of coaches, coordinators and families in helping the boys be prepared. Please note: First team photos will be taken later in the term. Further details will be communicated to families on Thursday and via the College Parent Orbit App.  These photos appear in the college magazine and are always a great keepsake for families.

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 24 February

• Primary Morning Study
• Study Hall – Senior Library
• Primary Morning Study
• House Meetings
• Year 10 Outdoor Recreation - Mountain Biking
• Year 10 HPE - Lawn Bowls

Wednesday 25 February

• Marist Cards and Games Day
• Tutoring: English/Literature Extension, Economics, French, Chemistry, Study of Religion - 7:30am – 8:30am
• Community Mass - College Chapel
• Primary Morning Study
• Year 10 Outdoor Recreation - Mountain Biking
• Stationary Aid
• College Assembly
• Tutoring: Specialist Maths, Math Methods, Physics, Middle Years Maths - 3:30pm - 4:30pm

Thursday 26 February

• Game Changers Retreat
• CSQ West Village Project Site Tour Excursion - Year 11
• Study Hall – Senior Library
• Primary Morning Study
• Primary Morning Assembly
• Year 10 HPE - Lawn Bowls
• RACQ Docudrama Year 11
• Vinnies Meeting – Room 801 - Break 1B
• Tutoring: English, Economics, Chemistry, Study of Religion, Middle Years Maths/ Science/English - 3:30pm - 4:30pm

Friday 27 February

• Year 6 Retreat
• Year 11 Sport and Recreation - Surfing Excursion
• Primary Morning Study
• College Mass - Break 1
• Primary AFL Photos - Break 1
• Marist Swimming Age Championships
• AIC Round 3 v St Laurence's College - AFL
• All Abilities Cricket

Saturday 28 February

• Boarder Free Weekend
• AIC Round 3 v St Laurence’s College

Sunday 1 March

• Boarder Free Weekend
• Boarders’ Mass – College Chapel (6:00pm)

Monday 2 March

• Student Free Day
• Marist Spirituality Day
• Boarder Free Weekend
• Met North Swimming Trials

Tuesday 3 March

• RACV Royal Pines Excursion Group 1
• Tutoring: Specialist Maths, Maths Methods, Chemistry, Physics Middle Years Maths/Science - 7:45am-8:30am
• Study Hall – Senior Library
• Primary Morning Study
• House Meetings
• Year 7 Geography - Excursion to Dorrington Park
• Year 10 Outdoor Recreation - Mountain Biking
• Year 6 Study Skills Evening

• Old Boys Association Meeting

   

Wednesday 4 March

• RACV Royal Pines Excursion Group 1
• Community Mass - College Chapel (all welcome)
• Primary Morning Study
• Stationary Aid
• Year 7 Geography - Excursion to Dorrington Park
• College Assembly
• Mission Captains Meeting (Mission Office)
• Tutoring: Specialist Maths, Math Methods, Physics, Middle Years Maths - 3:30pm - 4:30pm

Thursday 5 March

• RACV Royal Pines Excursion Group 2
• Study Hall – Senior Library
• Primary Morning Study
• Primary Morning Assembly
• Environment Group Meeting 
• IWD Year 12 Birthing Kits
• Tutoring: English, Economics, Chemistry, Study of Religion, Middle Years Maths/ Science/English - 3:30pm – 4:30pm

Friday 6 March

• RACV Royal Pines Excursion Group 2
• Head of College Tour
• Primary Morning Study
• Year 11 Cert III in Visual Art Excursion - Our Space Pottery Studio
• Year 10 HPE - Lawn Bowls

• AIC Round 5 v St Edmund's College - AFL 1st XVIII / 2nd XVIII

   

Saturday 7 March

• 1st XV Rugby Union Camp - starts
• AIC Round 5 v St Edmund's College

Sunday 8 March

• 1st XV Rugby Union Camp
• International Women's Day
• MCA vs Chinchilla Bulldogs Junior Rugby League
• Boarders’ Mass (Chapel)