From the Head of College

Mr Michael Newman

In good shape this special Easter season

I trust that you have all had a wonderful Easter break with your sons. For me, I have thoroughly enjoyed Term 1 as the new Head of College at Marist Ashgrove. The holiday was great also, as I took a week off to be with my wife and young children. It was a terrific time with much bonding, time spent having fun at the park and beach and getting beaten by my children in soccer games.

 

During this holiday period, I couldn’t help but reflect on the inspirational Abdullah family. They were the family who were hit with such tragedy in Oatlands, Sydney, last year and appeared on the televised Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, on Easter Sunday. Their story happened on a Saturday evening, where their three children Anthony, Angelina and Sienna were walking along the footpath when a car mounted a curb and hit them. The three siblings and their cousin, Veronique Sakr, were killed instantly. The scene was apparently horrific. The following Monday, the family bravely returned to the scene. Hundreds of flowers, rosary beads, teddy bears and other tributes lined the accident site. Mrs Abdallah was interviewed by the media about the driver who killed her children. She said, “In my heart, I forgive him. I am not going to hate him because that is not who we are. But we do want the courts to be fair. Danny (husband) and I were so blessed to have had six kids; we love our kids so much. I asked God to come all together to pray as a community, but I didn’t ask (him) to take my kids. I asked him to take everything from me but my kids. I am sad, I am heartbroken, but I am at peace because I know my kids are in a better place. It feels very unreal, I still don’t feel it’s true. I feel they are still with me. I’m still waiting for them to come home.” 

 

Mrs Abdullah’s words still inspire me today. They are words of faith, forgiveness and love amongst the shear pain and anguish of what, unbelievably, occurred to her children. I watched her at the televised Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral and believe she represented everything that is central to the Easter message and our faith. She had an un-surpassing faith, a heart full of love and even space to forgive the man who killed her children, and a belief that her children were in a better place with their risen God. 

 

Easter is a time of great hope and joy. It is the crux of our faith and our belief that Jesus died and rose so that we too, can do the same at the end of our mortal lives. Easter is a time of forgiveness, as we reflect on our humanity and sinfulness and our need of Jesus’ unconditional love for each one of us, despite our continual shortcomings and mistakes. If we could all have just some of the faith that Mrs Abdallah showed, then we would all be in good shape.

 

Loving God, may every young man and all members of the Marist Ashgrove family be filled with a great sense of forgiveness and faith this special Easter Season. Amen.

Welcome Back

Welcome back to Term 2! I am very much looking forward to another full and opportunistic term of learning and positive interaction with your son. I trust that you, as parents, will encourage your son to be fully involved in the many and various opportunities available throughout the term. These opportunities may present through the Arts, extra-curricular activities, on the sporting fields, spiritually or socially. I believe that a busy boy with a varied and balanced life can be healthier and lead to better learning outcomes. Do encourage your son to be involved in the many and various opportunities term two presents. There are also opportunities for you, as parents, to be involved in your son’s learning journey and our College community, including: Years 5, 7 and 9 on-line NAPLAN, Anzac Day liturgy, College Walkathon, Battle of the Bands, Champagnat Trust Sports Lunch, College photos, Year 10 dancing, Year 6 excursion to Emu Gully, Mother and Son Breakfast, Careers Expo, Mates Free Dress Day, Jazz Night, Band and String Concert, College Tour, Years 6 and 8 parent functions, Ensembles Concert, Assemblies, excursions, examinations, Chess, Football and Rugby Union, attending various College Committee meetings, Year 11 Parent Information Night, Winter Music Concert, Year 5 and 9 camps, the St Marcellin Champagnat annual Mass and House choirs. What an exciting term ahead. As you can see, there are opportunities for all the boys to be involved in. Enjoy!

Anzac Day 2021

This Friday 23 April, Marist College Ashgrove remembers all those fallen men and women who lost their lives so that we can enjoy the peace and freedom that is Australia today. We especially remember those fallen and serving military from Marist Ashgrove and the wider Marist family. This liturgy will be held during lesson 5 on Friday 23 April. 

 

We recall especially on this day our fallen Marist Old Boys (Ashgrove and Rosalie). We ask God’s blessing on these brave men and their families as we remember. I respectfully list them below.

 

On Sunday 25 April our boys are invited to join the College for the annual Anzac Day March and Ceremony, in Ashgrove. Boys are expected to wear their full winter uniform. We will gather behind the St Finbarr’s Catholic Church at 7:15am. The ceremony will last for approximately 1 hour. We also encourage all other boys to attend their local services throughout Brisbane and beyond in their full and perfectly worn College winter uniform. Marist boys are encouraged to march with their special family medals and to lay a wreath where appropriate. Let us make sure that the Marist spirit continues to reflect upon and remember those brave men and women who have and will serve our country. Lest we forget.

Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting many parents and boys at Monday’s face-to-face parent-teacher-student interviews which were held yesterday. Our second round of interviews will be held on Wednesday 28 April via Microsoft Teams. We trust that all parents have appreciated the new format of interviews in both formats, i.e., face-to-face and via Teams. As per Mr Bruce McPhee's email (Deputy Head of College), bookings can be made until Friday 23 April at 12 noon, via the Parent Portal. Please contact computerservice@marash.qld.edu.au for any assistance with the login. My thanks are extended to Mr Bruce McPhee and Ms Madeline Tong who have organised these interviews.

 

Parent-teacher-student interviews are a very important form of communication regarding the academic progress of your son. We trust that with continued, strong partnership and communication, we can achieve the best possible academic outcomes for your sons. 

Winter Uniforms

Full College winter uniforms are to be worn by all boys in terms two and three. As usual, uniforms are to be worn in full as per the uniform policy and appropriately. This means that shirts are to be tucked in and ties up with the top button attached. Years 11 and 12 students are to wear long trousers. Years 7-10 students can wear shorts but are always expected to have their socks pulled up to their knees. Parents are asked to check to see if boys have properly fitting shirts that can be tucked in and where the top button can be done up reasonably comfortably. For Years 5-10 students, please check that their socks still can be pulled up to their knees. Full details are contained in this newsletter. In anticipation, I thank all parents for the manner in which you prepare and present your sons to school each day.

New Marist Tennis Club

Marist College Ashgrove welcomes our new tennis coach, Mr Andrew Ward. Andrew has coached for over 20 years at a club professional level and comes with an impressive resume. Andrew undertook his tennis levels whilst under the direction of Geoff Masters (Past Davis Cup player and multiple doubles Grand Slam winner) and Rod Frawley (ex-Davis Cup player and Wimbledon Semi-Finalist losing to John McEnroe). Following this, Andrew coached at the Wollongong Tennis Centre under the direction of Ray Kelly (ex-Davis Cup Player). Later, Andrew was head coach at Parker’s Tennis Academy in Engadine, NSW where the academy dominated the Illawarra Competition (St George and Sutherland). As a club professional coach, Andrew was part of successful centres at Sanctuary Cove, Parker’s, Southern Sydney, Hope Island, Helensburgh and Wollongong.  In Queensland, Andrew coached at the Kawana Tennis Centre on the Sunshine Coast, before taking a small period away from Tennis to recharge the batteries, whilst dabbling into some school coaching at Padua and Marist. Together with his new assistant coach, we will now have two coaches totally focused on the tennis outcomes for Marist boys exclusively. Private lessons, preparation for the AIC competition and opportunities for the wider Ashgrove community will be provided in this innovative program. The new Marist Tennis Club invites all families, boys and friends of Marist to an information evening and light meal next Thursday 29 April from 6:00pm-7:00pm in the Champagnat Centre (Gym). Come along and listen to our all-year-round plans and opportunities available to your son. We thank Rise Tennis who have completed their time at Marist after one year. I hope to see interested boys and families next Thursday.

Online Learning

May I take this opportunity to thanks all the generous teachers at Marist, who at an instant, prepared and administered online learning for the boys on the last three days of Term 1. This followed a sudden lock-down by the State Government after a Covid-19 outbreak. By all reports, this time of learning was appreciated and seen as worthwhile. This online learning experience has also provided Marist with a good platform for the immediate move into online learning if such a situation arises again over the winter season. Thank you and it is good to know that Marist is prepared and ready in the likelihood of another similar situation arising. Let’s hope and pray that this doesn’t occur!

College Photo Day

The annual College Photo Day will occur this Thursday 22 April for all boys at the College. The photos will consist of both individual portraits and pastoral groups. These photos will then be published in the annual College ‘Blue and Gold’ magazine. If you wish to obtain private copies of photos, please contact student administration – horwoodk@marash.qld.edu.au. My thanks are extended to Mr Peter Serone (Head of Students) and Mrs Kim Horwood who have organised these photos for the boys.

Years 5 and 6 and Years 7-12 Cross Country Carnivals

Best wishes to all boys who will be competing in the 2021 Cross Country Carnivals. This run will commence and return to the College. In Years 5 and 6 all boys will participate. In Years 7-12, House meetings will allow the boys an opportunity to nominate. There will be a maximum of 6 boys per house, per age group. If a boy feels he has unjustifiably missed out on a position in this event, he can contact the Head of Sport, Mr Luke Caplick - caplickl@marash.qld.edu.au. The Primary Cross Country will be held on Wednesday 21 April and the secondary Cross Country will be held on Tuesday 27 April. My thanks are extended to Mr Luke Caplick (Head of Sport) and Mr Brendan Furdek for organising this event for the boys. Good luck, gentlemen.

 

May our loving God, with Mary and Champagnat, walk with all members of the Marist family.

Coming Events

Wednesday 21 April

  • Cross Country Carnival - Years 5 and 6

Thursday 22 April

  • College Photo Day

Friday 23 April

  • Anzac Day Liturgy - Period 5

Saturday 24 April

  • Football and Rugby Trials

Sunday 25 April

  • Anzac Day March and Ceremony - 7:15am

Monday 26 April

  • Anzac Day Public Holiday

Tuesday 27 April

  • Cross Country Carnival - Years 7-12
  • Year 10 Dancing

Wednesday 28 April

  • Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews - Microsoft Teams

Thursday 29 April

  • Marist Tennis Club Information Evening - 6:00pm

Friday 30 April

  • Year 6 Emu Gully Excursion
  • Round 1 AIC Chess v SLC (Away)

Saturday 1 May

  • Round 1 AIC Rugby and Football v SLC (Away)