Emmanuel is with “all people”

The four Sundays prior to Christmas we celebrate the Advent season of the Church, the time of waiting and preparation for the coming of our saviour - Jesus’ birth. As this is the last newsletter for 2025, I wish to offer all members of the Marist College Ashgrove family my sincere best wishes and prayers during this Advent and Christmas period.

One of my memories of Christmas is of a family who lived in our street. Growing up, I greatly admired their generosity and kindness. Each Christmas, along with their own seven children, they would always invite a few people in the community to join them for lunch and give presents at their home. They were invariably people who were doing it tough - lonely, mourning the loss of a loved one, unemployed, with no immediate family or disabled. They explained to us that to do this was always a blessing to their family and taught their children to reach from within to give to another in need at Christmas.

Last week, Pope Leo XIV invited hundreds of people to lunch, as he celebrated mass for the Jubilee of the Poor and prayed that all Christians would share “the love of God, which welcomes, binds up wounds, forgives, consoles and heals.” He was joined by thousands of migrants, refugees, homeless, the unemployed and members of various communities present in St Peter’s Basilica or watching from St Peter’s Square. Pope Leo assured them, “In the midst of persecution, suffering, struggles and oppression in our personal lives and in society, God does not abandon us.” On this, the Church’s celebration of the World Day of the Poor, there were some 6000 people at Mass in the basilica and another 40,000 people watched and recited the Angelus on screens from St Peter’s Square. Then Pope Leo joined hundreds of people for lunch and 1500 backpacks with food and hygiene products were handed out. The Pope thanked all Catholics and organisations around the world who assist the poor. Personally, he wanted the poor themselves to hear the irrevocable words of Jesus, which he recited to them,“Dilexi te” - “I have loved you. Yes, before our smallness and poverty, God looks at us like no one else and loves us with eternal love.”

This Christmas, as we wait for the birth of our saviour, let us prepare and awaken our hearts to the God who is with us - “Emmanuel”. Emmanuel is a symbolic word for the prophecy of Jesus’ birth in the Book of Isaiah and the Gospel of Matthew which, translated in Hebrew, means “God is with us”. Like the family who lived in our street, Pope Leo XIV and many around the world demonstrate, God is with us and our neighbour always.

May the personal and intimate love of God who resides with us all be upon our families, all the people we meet and especially those who are poor and in need this Christmas season. Amen.

Year 6 Primary Graduation

All family members of our Year 6 students are warmly invited to celebrate the special milestone of the Primary Graduation Mass and Ceremony on Wednesday, 26th November in the Champagnat Centre. Doors will open at 11:00am, with the mass commencing at 11:20am.

Following the ceremony, we invite families to join us for afternoon tea, speeches, the cutting of the graduation cake, and even a final war cry in the Primary under-croft area. This is always a lovely rite of passage for all the boys as we mark the end of this important Primary chapter in their Marist journey. Tickets are complimentary, and we look forward to sharing this memorable occasion with you. Stay tuned for some great photos on social media. See you all on Wednesday.

Cambodia Immersion

A group of our senior students and staff will embark on an incredible journey to Cambodia for an immersion experience. From Thursday 27th November to Sunday 7th December, the boys will become guest to the people of Cambodia. They will experience life in a different culture, have the opportunity to converse, make new friends and acquaintances, engage in service activities, and deepen their understanding of the global community and social justice. Under the guidance of a Catholic Mission facilitator, the boys will visit Phnom Penh, before spending several days with the students at St Francis Technical School in Takeo. The visit to Angkor Wat will allow them to marvel at the largest religious structure in the world! This immersion will be a special experience which opens eyes and hearts. It is a wonderful opportunity for our students to live out the Marist values of compassion and solidarity, while creating lifelong memories and friendships. We wish our boys and staff the safest of travels and look forward to hearing their stories upon return. My thanks are extended to Ms Grace Ryan and Mr Mikael Pitot who will accompany the boys on this amazing experience.

2025 Marist Cricket Carnival

The time honoured, Marist Cricket Carnival, now in its 51st year, is proudly being hosted by Marist College Ashgrove from the Sunday 30th November – Friday 5th December. This is a high-quality carnival with famous cricket schools and programs abounding. We welcome our fellow Marist Colleges including - St Joseph’s College, Hunter's Hill, Sacred Heart College, Adelaide, Marist College Canberra, Marcellin College Bulleen, Assumption College Kilmore, St Gregory’s College Campbelltown, and Newman College Perth. This annual event brings together Marist schools from across the country for a week of exciting cricket, camaraderie, and sportsmanship to be held on McMahon, Hayden and Cameron Ovals, and Valley’s Cricket Fields. The Carnival commences with a mass together and finishes with a dinner and the awarding of Best and Fairest cricketers and a Merit Marist Australian Cricket Team. We look forward to welcoming players, coaches, and supporters from our fellow Marist colleges to showcase Marist hospitality and make new friends and acquaintances. Best of luck to all teams competing – may it be a fantastic celebration of cricket and the Marist family. Goodluck to our Marist College Ashgrove First XI Cricket Team coached by Michael Abbott, Tom Gibson and Gareth Kolkenbeck-Ruh. Also, a huge thank you to Derek Lennon (Head of Sport), Matt Millward and the entire sports department for their hard work in preparation for this event.

Years 7–11 Exam Block

Students in Years 7 to 11 will complete their end-of-year exams and assignments by Wednesday 26th November. We encourage all students to remain prepared, stay focused, and complete their work fully. No student will receive a report until all their work is completed in full. Catch-up assignments and exams will occur after this date. Best wishes to students for a successful conclusion to the academic year.

Report and College Magazine Distribution

The College Magazine will be distributed to students on the final two days of the school year – Thursday and Friday 27 & 28 November. These days will also be a chance to complete any outstanding work, receive feedback on assignments and examinations, enjoy each other’s company and to prepare and clean-up for the commencement of the 2026 Academic Year. This will include vacating the Carrick classrooms and surrounding lockers before the renovations on this wing commence in the New Year. Reports for Years 5-10 will go online from Friday 5th December. All parents will receive an emailed letter from the Head of College when they go live. I thank our expert and professional staff who will be marking and completing end of year reports in the coming week.

State Honours Ensemble Program – Year 5 & 6 Students

This weekend, several of our talented Primary musicians will proudly represent Marist College Ashgrove at the State Honours Ensemble Program (SHEP) on Saturday, 29th November and Sunday, 30th November. This prestigious program brings together young musicians from across Queensland to rehearse and perform under the guidance of renowned conductors and educators. We congratulate our students on being selected for this outstanding opportunity and wish them an inspiring and rewarding musical experience! Many thanks to Megan Harmston for facilitating the boys’ participation in this program.

Year 5 & Year 6 End-of-Year Celebrations

Our Primary students are wrapping up the year with plenty of fun and excitement!On Thursday, 27 November, our Year 6 boys will head to Wet’n’Wild for a day of thrills and laughter, celebrating their hard work and achievements throughout the year. Meanwhile, our Year 5 boys will enjoy a fantastic day of activities on campus, marking the end of their Primary journey with games, fun, and friendship.

These celebrations are a wonderful opportunity for the boys to relax, reflect, and create lasting memories before stepping into the next chapter of their Marist education.

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible Primary teachers and staff for their dedication and commitment to making 2025 a successful and rewarding year of learning. Especially Mr Michael Connolly – Assistant Head of College - Primary, Mrs Jen Little – Primary Learning Leader, Mr Anthony Graham – Pastoral Leader, Mr John Lambourne – Program Leader - Primary Sport and all Year 5 and Year 6 Teachers.

Holiday Sporting Camps

Marist College Ashgrove is excited to offer a range of extra sporting skill development camps over the holiday break for students looking to sharpen their skills and stay active:

Cricket
- December 10–12 (Registrations now open via TASS/Orbit)
- January 22–23 (Registrations available in the new year)
AFL
- January 22–23 (Registrations available in the new year)
Volleyball
- January 21-22 (Registrations available in the new year)

Please note: All registrations are managed through TASS/Orbit. The December Cricket Camp is live now, while January camps will open in the first week of January.

Celebrating Excellence in Teacher Librarianship

At the 2026 Queensland School Libraries Symposium, Mrs Lena Crowley was awarded Highly Commended Teacher Librarian of the Year in recognition of her outstanding contribution to teaching and learning, professional practice, and advocacy for the profession. Over the past decade at Marist College Ashgrove, Lena has led transformative initiatives, including the implementation of an academic reading strategy across Years 7–12, leadership in guiding the responsible use of AI, and a study skills program to strengthen students’ executive functioning. Her work reinforces the library’s crucial role as a hub for inquiry-based learning and academic excellence. Lena exemplifies the evolving role of the teacher librarian as a catalyst for change, fostering curiosity, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Congratulations Mrs Lena Crowley on this Excellence in Teacher Librarianship Award!

Confraternity Shield Sponsorship Launch

We are excited to announce the Confraternity Shield Sponsorship Launch on Monday, 1st December at 6:30pm in the Tower Function Room. This event is an opportunity to learn more about supporting one of Queensland’s premier school rugby league competitions and how your sponsorship can make a meaningful impact. RSVP is required for attendance. If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or would like further information, please contact Bethany Halpin via email - halpinb@marash.qld.edu.au . Join us as we celebrate the spirit of sport and confraternity among our Rugby League Catholic and Independent Schools throughout Queensland in the first week of the June-July Holidays 2026.

Travel Day for Boarders

As another wonderful year at Marist College comes to a close, our boarding students finished the year with a celebratory Christmas dinner in the Boarders’ Dining Room on Monday evening. The boarders are calendared to begin their journey home on Friday, 28th November. This day marks the end of a busy and rewarding year for our boarding students filled with learning, friendships, and growth. We wish all our boarders safe travels and a joyful reunion with their families. Thank you for being an integral part of our college community – we look forward to welcoming you back in 2026 for another exciting year! The year starts the day prior to the remainder of the school in 2026 – travel day: returning boarders are expected to be back in the residences by 6.00pm on Tuesday 27th January.

End of Year Liturgy and conclusion of the College Academic Year

Our end of year liturgy will take place at the McMahon Oval Grandstand this Friday 28th November at 2.30pm. All boys and staff will be in attendance. This is an opportunity to conclude our year, give thanks, pray together and reflect on the season of Christmas. At the conclusion of this liturgy, we will farewell departing staff from the college. The school term ends on Friday 28th November at 3.10pm for all day students.

As we embrace the joy of the festive season, I extend my sincere best wishes to all our boys, their families, and every member of the Marist College Ashgrove family for a safe, happy, and holy Christmas and New Year. May this special time bring peace, gratitude, and cherished moments with loved ones. We are excited to welcome you back for a wonderful 2026 school year. Please note the key dates:

26th January – New boarders and Year 12 boarders commence
27th January – All current boarders return; Orientation for new Year 5 and Year 7 day students
28th January – All students commence classes

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to another year of growth and learning together in 2026.

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 25 November

Years 7–11 Exam Block – continues
Study Hall – Senior Library
Primary Morning Study – Primary Learning Support Room
Cricket ‘A’ Teams v BGS

Wednesday 26 November

Primary Morning Study – Primary Learning Support Room
Primary Graduation Mass – Champagnat Centre & St Marcellin Centre (11:00am–2:30pm)
Assembly Cancelled – Extended Pastoral Groups
Mission Captains Meeting (Mission Office)

Thursday 27 November

House Meetings
Year 6 Wet n’ Wild Excursion
Year 5 Fun Day
Environment Group – Room 801

Friday 28 November

Boarder Travel Day
End of Term Liturgy – Grandstand (2:20pm)
Cambodia Immersion – commences

Saturday 29 November

State Honours Ensemble Program - Primary

Sunday 30 November

Marist Cricket Carnival – starts
State Honours Ensemble Program - Primary

Monday 26 January

New Boarders Bommence
Year 12 Boarders Commence

Tuesday 27 January

All Current Boarders Return
Orientation for New Year 5 and Year 7 Day Students

Wednesday 28 January

All Students Commence Classes

Christmas Prawns and Ham Fundraiser

Brett Gillett - Pastoral Leader - Gilroy