From the

College Leadership Team

BRUCE MCPHEE

Deputy Head of College

 

This year, we will begin to focus more specifically on the College Framework and how it impacts on our students as future graduates, and as competent and confident lifelong learners.

 

Every member of our teaching and non-teaching staff has been reminded of the College Framework and its importance in all they do throughout the College, in their relationships with each other and with our students.

 

At our first assembly, I took some time to share with and remind the boys of what our vision for our graduates, as Men of Courage, looks like:

We also went over the four pillars of learning that teachers – including coaches and tutors – and students should consider in all learning activities they undertake in the college (both inside and outside the formal classroom setting):

I look forward to sharing the background and further details around these concepts and graphics with the wider College community as the year progresses.

 

ANGELA SIMPSON

Head of Teaching and Learning

 

Around the world, people have looked to the year 2021 as a hopeful vision on the horizon.  For many, it has not started as hoped.  This has taught us that we cannot merely wait and hope for good things to happen, we need to help make them happen.  At Marist College Ashgrove, 2021 is a year for all students to take control and help make things happen.  The focus of Learning and Teaching at the College will be maximising the growth of every student; ensuring they are studying the best subjects for them, identifying where they can improve, helping to establish great organisational, behavioural and academic habits and pushing them further than they believe they can go.

 

I, with much help from our Curriculum and Program Leaders and the Studies Office, oversee all that happens in the classroom, from staffing to the curriculum that is taught and the way it is taught, to the assessment and the publishing of results. We will review results, raise concerns or commendations and review subject choices.  If you have any questions or concerns, our team is always happy to help.

 

ROXANNE ROSENBERG

Head of Data and Pedagogical Practices

 

Welcome back to the school year for 2021.

 

As the Head of Data and Pedagogy, I am responsible for leading, promoting, supporting and sustaining a dynamic learning culture that models and promotes the effective use of evidence-based research for learning.  I am also responsible for providing practical strategies to staff for collecting and using data to improve student outcomes.  One core focus of using data to transform your son’s potential into practice is goal setting. 

 

Setting goals can have a significant impact on student achievement (Hattie, 2015).   Goals help us focus our energy and actions, measure our progress and, ultimately, achieve purposeful results.  During Week 3 all students will be spending time setting their academic goals with their pastoral group teacher.  This is an important process as it will help with skills such as planning, organisation and time management.  It will also build communication skills, self-awareness and confidence.

 

Another important component of achieving success is establishing routines that help create a healthy mind.  How you think and feel depends directly on how well your brain is functioning.  Boys are encouraged to get active, eat a balanced and nutritious diet and aim for at least eight hours sleep a night.  All the best to all of our students in 2021.  May you all have a healthy, well-nourished and rested body to provide the ideal foundation for your mind to function at its best.  

 

PETER SERONE

Head of Students

 

Welcome back to all students, particularly those new to our College community.

 

One of the main aims of our College community is to provide a caring pastoral environment for your sons, supported by the platform of our Marist family.  Hopefully, at this early stage of the year, your sons have been introduced to their primary or secondary Pastoral Leader, as well as their secondary pastoral group teacher, or primary class teacher.

 

These staff, together with our College Counsellors, Ms Lisa Babon and Mr Jorge Ruiz, and myself, will form a strong pastoral team, committed to providing a safe and welcoming start to 2021.

 

I also welcome the return of our boarding community and new boarders, and trust that our boarding staff will look after the wellbeing of these young men, outside of the day school.

 

Members of our pastoral team are happy for you to make contact whenever the need arises.

 

LUKE MCMAHON

Head of Mission

 

Welcome to 2021, especially to those boys and families who are new to Marist. We staff are very pleased to be back following the long break at the end of what was quite a challenging year. The task of Mission at Marist College is the animation of the spiritual, liturgical and solidarity dimensions of College life. Mission aims to engage Students and Staff to work at fulfilling the purpose of Marist Education, that being to make Jesus Christ known and loved, following in the way of Mary, Our Good Mother. The Marist theme for this year is Breathe, the spirit of life, something which Staff reflected upon last week and which boys will consider during the year-level Commencement Liturgies being held in the Chapel this week. It is a remarkably topical theme as we look to what we hope will be a year of recovery and re-building. The Mission Team at Marist College comprises Head of Mission, Luke McMahon; College Chaplain, Fr Alatini Kolofo’ou sm; Head of Religious Education, Paul Mitchell; Campus Minister, Mena McLean; Youth Minister (Coordinator of Game Changers program), Adam Burns; Mission Administration Officer, Liz Spry. The Mission offices are located behind the College Chapel. 

 

To begin our year College Staff reflected on this passage from the foundational Marist document Water from the Rock

 

Jesus’ message is simple but challenging: Love one another as I have loved you. Jesus not only preaches communion, he lives it. At its heart, Christianity is communion made real in the love of neighbour. In Christ we find that a common mission unites us in community, and, in turn, community impels us to mission. 

 

Under the guidance of Our Good Mother, we pray that this will be the experience of all who belong to our College in 2021. 

 

LIAM BEATTY

Head of Primary

 

My name is Liam Beatty and it is my privilege to be the Head of Primary at Marist College Ashgrove. I come to Marist from St Agnes Primary School, Mt Gravatt, where I spent the last four years as Assistant Principal, prior to that I was Pastoral Leader at St Augustine’s College, Springfield. As a proud product of Marist education, I am very excited to be re-joining the community in this new role and working with each boy to reach their full potential. I have very much appreciated the warm welcome from everyone at the College and the opportunity to work with our dedicated staff to prepare for the year ahead.

 

Working in education I always say that we have two ‘new years’, the first of January and the first day of school. It is clear from the energy in the air this week that the students in the Primary School are very excited about 2021 and all it will entail. It is my wish for them that the year will be full of growth, achievement and a sense of pride in being part of the Marist College Ashgrove family. This year we welcome 139 new students to that family in the Primary School and are very much looking forward to playing a key role in their journey through the College. Should you wish to get in contact, please do not hesitate to email me at beattyl@marash.qld.edu. Alternatively, you can direct any questions about the Primary School to primaryreception@marash.qld.edu.au.

 

TY CASEY

Head of Boarding

 

On Sunday, January 24, we welcomed our newest boarders and their families into the boarding community. As a staff, it is always a privilege to witness the arrival of our new boarders, knowing that our families have chosen to entrust their most precious gift into the care of the College. We do not take this responsibility lightly but also understand that each new boy, and even those who are returning, will have their ups and downs and take different paths towards finding their feet away from home. What we hope will be a constant is the individual care and support that each boy receives on his journey. 

 

An MCA boarder is underpinned by the core value and virtue of Family Spirit. We develop this be creating a sense of safety, belonging, presence and relationships. This will be further explored in 2021 with our Boarding Theme of ‘Connection’.

 

Our success is strongly dependant on the relationship that we establish with our boarding parents. It is a partnership and one that we are constantly looking to strengthen. To this end, clear, consistent and transparent communication is vital as we work together to ensure that our boarders are not only nurtured and cared for but also given every opportunity to grow their own gifts and talents and achieve their personal best. 

 

I would like to commend the Boarding Coordinators and House Parents who lead the Boarding Residences at Marist College Ashgrove, along with Renae Lewis (PA Head of Boarding) and our wonderful Health Centre led by Jane O’Shea. They are pastoral care specialists who act as the first point of call to ensure we are catering for the boys in our care. 

 

We are very much excited for what lies ahead in 2021.

 

JULIE WARD

Head of Staff Services

 

The Staff Services area of the College is responsible for the Human Resources management function of the College. At MCA we have a wide variety of staff performing numerous important tasks to ensure that the boys have the best possible learning experiences whilst at the College and to also ensure that they are able to enjoy the amazing grounds and facilities.  For new families to the College, these areas of staff include:

  • Grounds, Gardens, Laundry and Maintenance Teams;
  • Health Centre Nurses;
  • Boarding Supervisors;
  • Cooks, kitchen and canteen staff;
  • Teachers and Administrative Support Staff;
  • Music and Curriculum Tutors;
  • Swimming and Co-curricular coaches;

An important aspect of this role is to ensure that the best staff are being recruited for the College and that all the necessary checks are being undertaken such as QCT registration for teachers, Blue Cards for all other staff and National Police Checks for all staff.  Other processes such as onboarding, induction, professional development, progression of graduate teachers, interpretation of our current Enterprise Agreement and managing the Blue Card register form other aspects of this department’s core functions.