From the Head of College

Mr Michael Newman

A tattoo – an imprint or seal of something deeper….

Tattoos are very much back in vogue. Today, the tattoo business is booming as many people seek an imprint on their bodies. An imprint sought out of love or a passion for something that is most important and seals clearly what life is about. A tattoo that expresses something of significance which is encrypted on a part of one’s body forever.

One of the most interesting and humbling experiences I have had since arriving at Marist Ashgrove is listening to associates who speak so fondly about this place; they absolutely love it. They express warmth in their present experiences or past memories. They speak of a deep appreciation and love of Marist College Ashgrove – its traditions, teachings, the staff, and the friendships made. These associates of the College continue to wear with pride the Marist College crest on different blue and gold apparel. They have sealed in their hearts a great love of this place.

This week’s reading from the Song of Solomon speaks of a seal or a tattoo on one’s heart and arm, to God. It challenges us, to respond reciprocally, to our God of love. To respond by imprinting God’s love in our hearts and our being and then actioning this love through everything we do, say, and aspire to be.

‘Set me as a seal upon your heart, or a seal upon your arm’ (8.6)

This certainly was the reason Saint Marcellin Champagnat gathered a group of likeminded Brothers together when he was 27. On 22nd July 1816, Fr Champagnat was sent to the bedside of a young boy in the parish of La Valla, in southern France. Fr Champagnat spent two hours telling the boy about God, hearing his confession - as he witnessed the young boy dying before his very eyes. He was heartbroken when the boy died, having no knowledge or comfort of God. This experience changed Marcellin Champagnat forever. His compassion and sense of justice came to the fore. Within 6 months, on the 2nd January 1817, he went on to start an order of Brothers to teach the poor youth of country France. Other Brothers were inspired to join his crusade, spreading throughout France and to other countries throughout the world, including Australia and in 1840, our own Marist College Ashgrove. Marcellin Champagnat was moved to act decisively and quickly. The manner in which other young men followed his vision explains the inspiration and passion he had, to lead all to Jesus through Mary. Fr Champagnat obviously had this love of God imprinted, sealed, and tattooed over every part of his body; it was infectious.

Loving God, may all members of the Marist College Ashgrove family imprint on their hearts and bodies Your love and so become more like You to others. Amen.

Lent 2021

The season of Lent, leading to Easter Sunday, commences on Wednesday the 17 February, with Ash Wednesday. The College will celebrate Ash Wednesday together during the school assembly in Period 3. This will be held in the Champagnat Centre. The Lenten season also commences our Lenten fundraising appeal. Monies raised goes toward: Australian Marist Solidarity, Caritas Australia and Catholic Missions. In anticipation of your support for these important Lenten appeals, thank you.

Writing Program Commences

Marist College Ashgrove believes that one of the greatest gifts we can offer your son is to be confident in his literacy. It is my strong belief that all boys must write, whether it be in the form of an email, letter, application, writing an invoice, resume and so on. Other boys will go on to tertiary studies, with a need to complete long exams, and assignments. Writing is a vital cog to the future success of your son. It is a fundamental skill required for life.

It is with much anticipation that I inform all families of a new writing program that we have introduced to the College, commencing this Wednesday 17 February. Our boys will be joined by their teacher, a member of the College Leadership Team and other members of staff as they write each day. This College initiative will focus on improving the writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation of our boys into the future.

As parents, please ask your son if you can see his writing book and work completed. We will be offering him feedback on a regular basis and your added encouragement here will lead to even further progress in his writing ability. Feel free to spend some time at home practising his writing skills. Together, let us improve the literacy of every boy at Marist Ashgrove.

College Uniform

I am aware of some frustration from families regarding the new suppliers of our College uniform in 2021. As a way of addressing these concerns, I trust that you read the article from our Deputy Head of College, Mr Bruce McPhee, in this newsletter. Mr McPhee is working hard with the College Uniform Committee on these matters and I thank them for this. Please continue to inform us if continued problems arise.

Mr McPhee goes on to reiterate our reasoning behind our insistence that the boys wear a full and well-attired College uniform as per the traditional Uniform Policy, both inside and outside College grounds. This may mean that your son needs to acquire new socks, hats, belts or to get a haircut if they do not meet the expectations of our uniform policy. A reminder that RM Williams belts are not acceptable. A black slimline belt is required. I thank all parents for your co-operation with ensuring boys’ uniforms are well-fitted, appropriately worn, and correct both within and outside the College.

Inaugural Mass & Year 5 Liturgy

On Tuesday, the College celebrated the Inaugural Mass & Investiture of myself as Head of College and the Year 12 Leaders. I congratulate all our Year 12 leaders and wish them every success in the important task of leading the College into the future. We were honoured to have the following guests to the College for this important occasion:

Most. Rev. Mark Coleridge DD; Br Peter Carroll – Provincial of the Marist Brothers; Dr Frank Malloy – Executive Director Marist Schools Australia; Mark Elliott – Regional Director Marist Schools Australia; Dr Pat Coughlan – Executive Director of the Diocese of Toowoomba; Trevor Evans MP – Federal Member for Brisbane; Br Neville Solomon - past Headmaster of the College; Fr Gerry Kalinowski – Jubilee Catholic Parish; Fr Leonard Uzuegbu – St Columba’s Parish; Fr Tom Kessy – St Michael’s Parish; Fr Alitini Kolofo’ou - College Chaplain; Br Peter Stewart & Jeff Barrington fms; Br Tim Scott cfc; Adam Burns – MCA Youth Ministry; James & Carolyn Gordon – Pres. P&F; Steve & Catherine McAuliffe – Pres. Old Boys Assoc., Langton & Rebecca Clarke – Foundation; Dr Judy Smeed – Education Outcomes & Kate Hitzke & Greg Dean – Educational Consultants.

I also wish to thank the following staff for their part in ensuring the investiture was one to remember: Luke McMahon, Mena McLean, Liz Spry, Adam Burns, Amy Grounds, Peter Serone, Andrew McTaggart & Peter Lehmanns, Boarding students, Kim Horwood, Matt Tarlinton, Meagan Loane, Jack Johnson, Dylan Gower, Tom Cramsie, Denver Jensen, Steve Thornley, Matthew Cheel, Alicia Van Bone, Dr. Andrew Butt, Darian Johns, Melanie Stewart, Erin Menyweather & Kelley Musgrave, Pascal Champeaux, Heads of Houses: Ridley – David Meehan, Ephrem – Tony Byrne, Foley – Stan Kosiek, Gilroy – Brett Gillett, Harold – Brendan Kiernan, Ignatius – Terry Quain, Rush – Adam Knight and Slattery – Megan Wandell.

The Inaugural Mass was a most spiritual occasion led by Most Reverend Mark Coleridge DD where we blessed and prayed for our new leaders.

Unfortunately, due to COVID, our Year 5 boys and their families could not join us for this ceremony. As a result, we will have a special liturgy and presentation of the St Marcellin keyring for each Year 5 boy in the Draney Theatre on Thursday, 18th February, from 8:50 am – 10:30 am. I hope our Year 5 parents can join us for this important belated ritual.