From the Head of College
Mr Michael Newman
From the Head of College
Mr Michael Newman
We are all uniquely ‘known and loved’ by God. It is a wonderful reflection presented to us by Marist education as we celebrate 150 years since the commencement of the first Marist school at the Rocks in Sydney, 1872. Three Marist Brothers venturing from France to commence the first school in Australia could never have imagined the wonderful schools, under the banner of Marist Schools Australia, that are in existence today. Marist schools located throughout Australia and the world, enable young people to experience God’s desire for them to be ‘known and loved’ regardless of anything - their talents, achievements, backgrounds, failings, or wrong doings. I have no doubt that this would have been the wish of St Marcellin, the founder of the Marist brothers, for the young people educated in his schools.
Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 5:1-11) also reminds us of this intimate invitation. It is a calling to every single individual human being. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus chose ordinary people - fishermen - to follow him and believe. He chose everyday people who would display normal human failings like a lack faith, sinfulness, or just plain selfishness. Unperturbed, Jesus’ invitation was simple, “do not be afraid” and “come and follow me”. It doesn’t make sense in a way but can only be explained as love.
In 2022, as our boys proudly wear the commemorative medals to celebrate the sesquicentenary of Marist education, I pray that they reflect and personally experience St Marcellin Champagnat’s wish for each of them, to be ‘known and loved’ by God. Amen.
How wonderful has it been to welcome back to the College our boarder students (Saturday and Sunday) and all other students on Monday morning. A particular special welcome to our new students and families. The College certainly comes to life with the arrival of the boys. Marist exists for the boys and it is tremendous to welcome them back in person. I congratulate all teachers and students on the most positive way in which they have commenced their studies with online learning. From all reports it has been a very productive start to the year. For those unable to join us for learning online, please speak with your teacher on return to catch up on any work missed. For our Years 5, 6 and 7 students, we look forward to catching up on any work missed due to the later start caused by the COVID-19 restrictions. For assistance with learning, can I direct you to the College Curriculum Leaders. For all pastoral matters, I direct you to the Pastoral Leaders. I list their names and emails below for your convenience:
David Meehan – Ridley
Tony Byrne – Ephrem
Stan Kosiek – Foley
Brett Gillett – Gilroy
Brendan Kiernan – Harold
Terry Quain – Ignatius
Scott Minogue – Rush
Megan Wandell – Slattery
Michael Connolly – Primary Pastoral Leader
Religious Education – Dr Danielle Lynch
English – Mr Steve Littleton
Mathematics – Mrs Julie Tazzyman (Acting)
Science – Mr Andrew Fogarty
Humanities – Mr David O’Brien
Health & Physical Education – Mrs Ashleigh Morrison
Business – Mrs Elizabeth (Liz) Walsh
Art – Mrs Christine Larsen
Drama – Mrs Rebecca Taylor
Film & Television – Mr Pierce Hardy
Music – Dr Andrew Butt
Industrial Technology & Design – Mr Andrew Devoy
Digital Learning & Information Services –Mrs Mary Stirling
Learning Enrichment – Mrs Berny Byrne
To email a member of staff, please use: surnamefirstinitial@marash.qld.edu.au
Best wishes and prayers for a successful 2022!
At today’s assembly, I shared with the boys our clear expectations to follow at Marist College Ashgrove in 2022. I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate these expectations with parents. In partnership, please discuss these with your son.
Drugs and Vaping are prohibited at the College. Hairstyles must adhere to the College rules, otherwise on Monday, boys will be sent home until their hairstyle is rectified. Boys are to wear the full and correct uniform – no RM William-type belts, socks worn to their knees, shirts tucked in, shoes polished, top button done up with tie and College carry bags only. Laptops are to be carefully stored in lockers or carry-bags. Normal school rules apply to the use of laptops. Deliberate damage to a College laptop will result in the full payment to repair or purchase outright. The traditional formal hat is to be worn to and from the College, at Saturday sport with the College uniform or on formal occasions with the uniform. This hat is to be kept dry and not squashed in a bag or locker. (If a hat is wet and squashed, it will lose its shape and then require to be replaced). Hats do not need to be worn when it is raining. Hats are to be stored on the newly supplied shelf in their lockers.
I trust that these expectations are clear for the boys and all families assisting to keep all boys safe, well-groomed and caring for their belongings. With thanks to all parents for your continued support.
The full music program of lessons, practices and performances recommenced yesterday. I thank our great team of music teachers and tutors led by Head of Music, Dr Andrew Butt, including:
The first music concert, the Premier Ensembles Concert, will now be held on Thursday 31 March in the Draney Theatre. We hope to recommence the full program of concerts in a COVID-19 safe manner. The music program at the College is outstanding and is a very active one with numerous opportunities for the boys to participate. I encourage all new students to join. We look forward to the usual high standard of performances throughout the year.
Each week, I will start with an update of COVID-19 cases which the College has been made aware of. The College will make every attempt to contact people who may have associated with any positive cases, to watch for symptoms. Remember that the new definition of a close contact for day-students is any person who resides with the person who has COVID-19 for more than 4 hours. In the past week, we have one boarding student and zero staff members who have left the College and are isolating with COVID-19.
Other points to note:
Cricket, Volleyball, Swimming and AFL commenced immediately upon Monday’s return. Trials and training commence earnestly this week. Week one (as per the calendar) has been abandoned for all teams with the exception of the First teams. Our first game will therefore be verses St Edmund’s College Ipswich, at home on Saturday. I thank all our dedicated coaches for their preparation for the season ahead. I welcome our new Head of Sport, Mr Derek Lennon whose previous position was Head of Football at Churchie for the past 12 years. Mr Lennon has a great passion for all sports and has certainly hit the ground running organising term 1 sport with his support staff. I am sure you will give Mr Lennon a big Marist welcome and your full support this coming Saturday.
Marist College Ashgrove has operated under the entity of the Trustees of the Marist Brothers since its inception in 1940. From January 1st 2022, Marist College Ashgrove is now under the proprietorship and governance of Marist Schools Australia Limited (MSA LTD). MSA LTD is facilitated by a new board of directors and constitution. The chair of the board is Brother David Hall fms and the Executive Director is Dr Frank Malloy. The Regional Director of MSA LTD Queensland, NT and Northern NSW is Mr Mark Elliot. The other MSA member schools are: St Joseph’s College, Hunter’s Hill, Sacred Heart College, Adelaide, Newman College, Churchlands, Assumption College, Kilmore, Lavalla Catholic College, Traralgon, Red Bend Catholic College, Forbes, Marcellin College, Bulleen, Marist College, Bendigo, Marist College Canberra, Pearce, St Gregory’s College, Campbelltown and The John Berne School, Lewisham. We welcome the news of our new governance structure and look forward to a close relationship with Marist Schools Australia Limited for the College into the future.
On Saturday evening, we welcomed our 45 new boarding students to Marist College Ashgrove. You are all very welcome. Our new families come from all places Queensland, Northern New South Wales, Northern Territory, Hong Kong, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. May I take this opportunity to thank our Year 12 boarders who admirably cared for our new boarders over the weekend. On Sunday, we welcomed back to the College our remaining existing boarders – great to have you all back!
I remind all boarding parents of the online Boarding Parent Network meetings which will be held throughout the year. Our first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 16 February at 5:00pm. A link will be sent via email. Please contact the Boarding Office if you have any questions: BoardingReception@marash.qld.edu.au. These are important networking meetings and I look forward to discussing pressing boarding issues with all boarding families during these times. A reminder also, that the best communication is the weekly newsletter and the Boarding Bugle.
My thanks are extended to our Head of Boarding, Mr Jim Noble, an Old Boy who comes most recently from Toowoomba Grammar School as the Director of Boarding and previously Nudgee College. He is joined by a great team of staff led by our dedicated Heads of Residence, namely; Mr Anthony Mathison (Br Terence Residence), Mr Ben Maddox (Fourviere Residence), Mr Ty Casey (Hermitage Residence), Mr Josh Mulligan (Montagne Residence) and Mr and Mrs Tim and Camilla Sedgwick (La Valla Residence). Remember boarding families, we are only an email or phone call away.
All Year 7 and 10 students are now in possession of a new Laptop, free of charge. We see a uniform laptop program and rollout across the College as a means of ensuring the best possible teaching and learning for the boys and to ensure they are focussed on learning during class-time. We look forward to further rollouts over the next two years by which time all boys present at the College will have a new laptop. I thank Mrs Roxanne Rosenberg, Head of Middle School Curriculum, for organising this rollout and the information evening held on Monday. Thank you also to the IT Staff led by Head of IT, Mr Kevin Berry, previously an Executive Leadership Team member and Head of IT for all Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Toowoomba; welcome Kevin. Enjoy your learning on these new laptops, boys.
On Wednesday 9 February, Marist College will be holding its annual Year 5 Parent Information Evening. Due to the latest COVID-19 restrictions this meeting will now be held online. This information evening will be hosted by the Head of Primary, Mr Liam Beatty. This will be followed on Monday 14 February by the Year 7 Parent Information Night. This will also be held online and hosted by the Year 7 Transition Co-ordinator, Mr Ryan Apps. Both nights will be providing important information to parents regarding the expectations, procedures, events and opportunities available to the boys in these respective year groups. Topics covered will include: coming events, the charism of the College, teaching and learning, spiritual growth, culture and sport and social development. We look forward to these evenings to share relevant information. Later in the year, we very much look forward to meeting parents of both Year 5 and 7 boys in person, at the various organised events and socials.
We have recently updated the way in which parents are asked to notify the College of an absence, late arrival or early departure from the College. You are now required to advise the College of an absence, late arrival or early departure via the Parent Lounge, on the College App or Parent Portal.
Please see the following document which provides step by step instructions.
If you experience any technical difficulties, please contact the IT Help Desk: computerservice@marash.qld.edu.au
Congratulations to Year 12 student, Jackson Grounds, who made his debut in the Australia Baseball League (ABL) with the Brisbane Bandits who played the Adelaide Giants in January. Jackson also represented the Under 19 Australian Team in a Showcase Series against the Brisbane Bandits. Well done Jackson for your outstanding achievements in baseball and all the best as you pursue your goal of playing college baseball in America, 2023.
A reminder that Student ID photos are occurring this Friday 11 February from 8:35am – 3:05pm in the Draney Theatre foyer. A schedule has been sent to parents and students. We ask that all students are clean-shaven and with neat and tidy hair as per the College guidelines. Primary students in Years 5 and 6 are to wear their Primary HPE Uniforms. Students in Years 7-12 are to wear the correct Summer Academic Uniform as per the information on page 40 of the student diary. Please ensure that your uniform and hair are presented to the highest standard.
May our loving God with Mary our good mother and St Marcellin Champagnat walk with all members of the Marist College Ashgrove Family.
Tuesday 8 February
Wednesday 9 February
Friday 11 February
Saturday 12 February
Sunday 13 February
Monday 14 February
Tuesday 15 February