From the Headmaster
Dear Members of the Marist College Ashgrove Family,
Sincerely from me, I hope that your Easter, whilst very different from ‘the norm’, was still a great opportunity for family. Certainly, here at the College, the genuine ‘quiet’ of Easter was significant. Resorting to social media was an unusual way of spending time with our children!
During the Easter break, Dr Frank Malloy, the National Director for Marist Schools Australia, wrote to the Principals of MSA schools regarding quality learning and teaching during COVID-19. I would like to share with you two sections of Dr Malloy’s letter. The first focused on our Marist way of educating during COVID-19.
“As always, and particularly at this time of crisis, the capacity of our Marist schools to continue to deliver high-quality learning and teaching for each of the students in our care is a fundamental priority. The goal of every school in this matter is clear: to maintain and grow the engagement, progress and achievement of every student. This is sacred work. It is the work we are called to do in the spirit of Saint Marcellin and our Marist mission: We exist to support the Catholic Church’s evangelising mission to make Jesus known and loved and to ensure quality education in the Marist tradition”. (Marist Schools Australia Mission Statement).
No doubt there will be/are challenges in delivering home learning. First and foremost parents can assist and help their sons but they are not expected to be their teacher. Students will need to be proactive in communicating with their teacher about their work including seeking clarification if they do not understand something.
Secondly, Dr Malloy wrote about our values as Marist are evident.
“The characteristics of Marist education remain important touchstones in the design and delivery of this new paradigm.
- *Presence. By, for example, seeking alternative ways of maintaining positive relationships between students and between teachers and students through regular check in, online or phone discussions and pastoral care.
- *Simplicity. By, for example, ensuring simplicity of access and delivery in our teaching and clarity in our expectations of students and colleagues.
- *Family Spirit. By, for example, ensuring preferential attention and support is provided to those students whose needs are greatest or for those whose situational context is more complex.
- *Love of Work. By, for example, seeking ways of making offsite learning arrangements engaging, varied, flexible and meaningful through active participation and where possible, learning by doing.
- *In the way of Mary. By, for example, brining the Marial dimensions of tenderness, strength and consistency to our teaching, and ensuring prayer and reflection are important components of the way we deliver offsite learning arrangements to our families.”
From my perspective, we have tried to create a balance with home learning. One where our focus is on the holistic education of our boys. For this reason, there is contact on a weekly basis from not only classroom teachers but pastoral group teachers, Heads of House/Primary Pastoral Coordinator, College Counsellors, Mr Serone, our Head of Students, Mr McPhee and myself.
A colleague Principal in Sydney stated this very poignant observation that I believe is key to our way forward:
“If I can leave you with one thing, it’s this: at the end of all of this, your kids mental health will be more important than their academic skills. And how they felt during this time will stay with them long after the memory of what they did during those weeks is long gone. So, keep that in mind every single day.”
It is reminiscent of the words attributed to Maya Angelou:
People will forget what you said,
People will forget what you did, but,
People will never forget how you made them feel.
In this post-Easter time, it is essential for us to reflect on what is really important.
Yours in Jesus, Mary and St Marcellin
Peter McLoughlin
Headmaster