From the Head of College

Mr Michael Newman

Family United

There wouldn’t be many occasions where inter-generational, hands-on, collaborative learning occurs. This was certainly the case at the latest Blue and Gold Concert on Thursday night. Our boys performed in the String, Wind and Vocal Ensembles and the Big Band and Chamber Orchestra with their parents, teachers, relatives, Old Boys who are often brothers and even a grandmother. Together, they combined to make a complimentary and united melody of learning, together in a most enjoyable environment. The sound was magical. What a rich learning experience and one that highlights the practical implementation of the special Marist value ‘family spirit’.

This year, Marist is conducting its General Assembly which unites together, as a family, all those who work in the various Marist ministries of Australia, to vision together, a shared, meaningful and modern future direction. The groups uniting under the banner of The Marist Association of St Marcellin Champagnat work in the ministries of education (like Marist College Ashgrove – Marist Schools Australia), missionary work with poor countries (Marist Solidarity), young adult ministries for the least fortunate throughout Australia (Marist 180) and young people uniting to share and live the charism of St Marcellin Champagnat (Marist Youth Ministry). The first discussion of the Chapter, to form a collaborative vision included ideas such as: the importance of being a vital faith community, being an expression of the Church, embracing God’s mission, living life with Mary’s joy, hope and audacity, being inspired by the Gospels, showing compassion to all people, being attentive to the God of all life, a commitment to nurturing our own spirituality, assisting those at the peripheries, fostering connectiveness and community, being a part of a wider church and being an active member of the Marist spiritual family. This blossoming vision statement is also at the heart of Marist College Ashgrove – a school under the auspices of The Marist Association of St Marcellin Champagnat. Its essence is very much centred around our shared Marist family spirituality. We continue to be invited to accept the offer to live these core values in all that we do together.

God of the journey, may we, as the Marist College Ashgrove family be united and embrace, in partnership, the spiritual values which make us whole. Amen.

Feast of the First Australian Saint

This Monday, 8th August, Marist College Ashgrove celebrates the feast of Saint Mary (of the cross) Mackillop. Mary MacKillop was born in 1842 in Fitzroy, Melbourne. On 8th August 1909, she died, having suffered a disabling stroke in 1902. Inspired by a meeting with Fr. Julian Tenison-Woods, Mary MacKillop took her vows at the age of twenty-five and the religious name, “Mary of the Cross”. Soon after taking her religious vows, Mary MacKillop founded several schools.

She was very conscious of the plight of the poor and needy so she worked with families that lived in isolated and fringe areas of Australia. Mary MacKillop pioneered a new form of religious life in Australia and commenced a “system” of “Josephite” schools that would provide education, especially for the children of the poor. Within five years of taking her vows and founding the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Mary had established over thirty schools in South Australia and more than one hundred women had joined her in her work to educate young people. In 1873, Pope Pius IX gave Papal approval for the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph.

Even today, many Australians can say that they too have felt the impact of the enormous work started by St. Mary of the Cross (MacKillop), having been educated or cared for, by the Sisters of Saint Joseph. There are Josephite schools throughout Australia, including many country schools and many people, including my good self, who were educated by the sisters of St Joseph in Primary school. She was particularly recognised for her great trust in the providence of God. She was declared a Saint by Pope Benedict XVI on the 17th October 2010.

Marist College Ashgrove prays to Mary Mackillop in a litany at the end of each of its prayers. The College Chapel also has a beautiful painting in commemoration of our first Australian saint. We take great comfort and reflect on her story, life, example, witness and the great trust Mary Mackillop had in our loving God.

Mary our Good Mother – Pray for us

St Marcellin Champagnat – pray for us.

St Mary, of the Cross, Mackillop – Pray for us.

Environmental Free Dress Day

This Friday, 5th August is the Environmental Free Dress Day. Our environmental student group has plans to raise money to purchase a bee hive for each of the eight College Houses; the first two of which will be delivered on Friday for Gilroy and Rush Houses. Donations for the Free Dress Day can be made in Rooms 105–108 from 8:00am until the end of pastoral care groups via the boys’ student ID cards. The boys will also enjoy changed bell tones that will be in the form of meaningful musical tunes for the day. Additionally, teachers have been encouraged to limit technology and take classes outside where possible on Friday. My thanks are extended to our environmental group student leaders – Jake Edye, Jack Lowe and Ashleigh Bishop who have pioneered the ‘Hives for the Hive’ initiative as well as the other members of the Environment Group – and to their teachers in support – Ms Elizabeth Kenny and Ms Kathryn Badini.

St Vincent De Paul Retreat

Best wishes to our St Vincent de Paul student group who will undertake a retreat this Friday 5th August from 5:00pm – 8:00pm in the College Chapel. The aim of this retreat is to mark National Homelessness Week. The evening includes a homeless BBQ dinner and a guest presenter from St Vincent De Paul Queensland who will speak on the issue of homelessness. I thank Luke McMahon, Mena McLean and Nathan Ayre for their organisation and facilitation of this retreat. Well done boys on your sense of dignity that you afford all people.

Catholic Schools Parents Association 2022 Parent Survey

An invitation - Have your say on what matters regarding the wellbeing and learning of your child. For example, has COVID or your partnership with the school affected your child’s wellbeing and learning? If you are a parent or carer with a child in a Catholic school, CSPA would love to hear from you. Click on the survey link and share your feedback to assist CSPA in reporting to the Federal Government and Catholic education. Your feedback will remain anonymous.

Click here for CSPA Parent Survey

Uniform Shop and Blazers

All parents have been sent a letter regarding the new uniform suppliers into the future for Marist College Ashgrove – Noone. I particularly wish to thank the professional and generous committee who listened to and studied the proposals from our shortlisted uniform applicants. We are very pleased with the standard of product, service and price proposals that Noone is promising Marist College Ashgrove.

The new contract includes labelling of all items with the College name and the purchase of a new blazer for each student. The rollout of blazers will be staggered over three years – Year 5 2023, Years 7 and 10 2024 and Year 9 2025. The Year 11 and 12 seniors will have the option of the original modest College trimmings embroidered onto their blazers, that are found on the original College blazers (as seen in the Tower Building function room display cabinet).

As previously explained, the formal hat is being refunded as we speak (until the 12th of August), with a new formal hat to be repurchased by every boy at the College to commence the 2023 College year. A 20% discount will be issued to each presently enrolled boy on the purchase of his first hat and blazer.

This decision is in response to the second most highlighted concern from parents in the 2021 parent survey - the standard of the College uniform. We look forward to improving the standard of uniform and the wearing of our uniform by the boys into the future.

The University of Queensland (UQ) Adolescent Brain Development Study

An invitation - Researchers at UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute are seeking volunteers aged 13-19 years to participate in a study investigating how the brain develops during adolescence. The study consists of two sessions: one involves the completion of a set of computerised tasks and questionnaires, and the second involves an MRI brain scan. All aspects of the study are conducted at The University of Queensland (UQ) in St Lucia. Session times are available throughout the week (after school hours and on weekends), including school holidays.

Participants will receive $20.00 per hour for their time. Individuals under 17 years of age will need to obtain parental consent. For more information or to register your interest in participating, please contact, Imogen Stead at adolescentbrainstudy@uq.edu.au.

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