From the Head of College

Mr Michael Newman

Hope Through Faith

Pandemics can bring a lot of bad news and have scary consequences, but our faith provides us with hope. At this time of our worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and its spread now throughout Sydney and surrounding NSW, fear of contracting the virus and reminiscing on our own mortality is not uncommon in our psyche. Almost 4 ½ million recorded cases of COVID-19 deaths have occurred worldwide to date, including some 950 in Australia. We pray for and remember all those that have died, are sick and who are in suffering this day from the virus. This pandemic is an important time in the history of the world, one which will always be remembered.

Similar times in history where worldwide events and pandemics have altered humankind include: the Peloponnesian War (430 BC) where as many as two-thirds of the population died, the Justinian Plague (541) which reoccurred over the following two centuries killing approximately 50 million people, the Black Plague (1350) which was responsible for the death of one-third of the world’s population, the Spanish Flu (1918) which lead to 50 million deaths worldwide, World War I where the total number of military and civilian deaths was approximately 20 million and World War II where it is estimated some 75 million people died either directly or indirectly. This is not the first time the world has been confronted with a worldwide historical life-changing event.

When Pope Pius XII decreed the dogma of faith regarding Mary the mother of God (The Assumption) in 1950, the backdrop in the world was one of raw emotion, angst with clear and vivid memories of a world decimated following the Spanish Flu, World War I and World War II. People were perturbed and full of underlying grief after these major worldwide atrocities. Very similar indeed, to the reality and feelings confronting our world today during the COVID-19 pandemic. With this backdrop in mind, the announcement of the Feast of the Assumption was timely, giving all Christians a reminder of the promise of life beyond this world with our loving God. As Mary was assumed to heaven (The Assumption), so are we promised a magnificent life with our God beyond our earthly lives “as a sign of sure hope and solace to the people of God during its sojourn on earth” (Pope Francis, Feast of the Assumption, 2020). Pope Francis during his reflection at St Peter’s Square equated The Assumption to man’s renowned modern achievement: “In Mary’s Assumption into heaven, we celebrate an infinitely greater conquest than the ‘giant step for mankind’ when man first set foot on the moon. When the lowly Virgin of Nazareth set foot in paradise, body and spirit, it was the ‘huge leap forward’ for humanity.” Pope Francis went on to proclaim that the Feast of the Assumption gives us hope that “we are precious, destined to rise again. God does not allow our bodies to vanish into nothing. With God, nothing is lost!” Through faith, is hope.

God of unconditional love, may we as members of the Marist College family, live in hope through faith in your message and promise. Amen.

COVID-19 Update

May I take this opportunity to sincerely thank all boys and staff for the manner in which they have undertaken the wearing of masks over the past week and a half. This is not an easy task. I am impressed with the positive and yet serious manner in which the boys and staff have accepted this challenging Queensland Health requirement. Further, I thank the boarding community, wider Marist families and staff who have conscientiously completed their respective quarantine periods following the Indooroopilly cluster. We now await further directions from Queensland Health and the Queensland Government on Sunday, 22 August. We do so with a close eye on the growing number and geographical spread of active cases in NSW. Further to this, I wish to thank all students, staff, and parents for the positive way you have responded and accepted changes to restrictions, calendar events and regulations over recent times. This week, the following adjustments to our College calendar of events are as follows:

Unfortunately Cancelled:

Chapel Concert Thursday
Saturday AIC Sport (Basketball, Tennis, Hockey, Rugby League)
P&F Mother and Son Day
Boarding Visit (AgQuip)
Greenash
Game Changers
Ridley Masterminds
Meal with MATES
Study Hall
Environment Group Meeting
Year 11 General English Meeting
Peter Marsh Walk for Innocents
St Vincent de Paul Winter Sleep Out

Postponed:

Student Leadership Interviews - postponed until Friday 27 August
Old Boys Vintage Blue and Gold Lunch – postponed until Friday 22 October
The Tower Art Show – postponed until 10-12 September

I will attempt to keep you updated with all relevant school information regarding the COVID-19 regulations and changes when further announcements are made. Thank you for your positivity to this ever-changing landscape. Stay tuned.

College Captain Speeches and Leadership Process

Congratulations to the ten Year 11 boys who gave their official speeches for the important position of College Captain and Vice Captains. These speeches were undertaken to the student and staff body last Wednesday. Well done to the boys who applied for all leadership positions. The quality of our young men is outstanding, placing Marist in a strong position going forward into the future. I very much look forward to working with all boys in the senior cohort moving forward into 2022.

The final stage of the College Captain leadership process will be the formal interview process with members of the College Leadership Team to occur on Friday 27 August after the restrictions are (hopefully) lifted. Best wishes to all the boys with these interviews. It is expected that the new leadership positions will come into operation from term 4 2021 until term 4 2022. This timeframe will allow our present Year 12 students to concentrate on their all-important external examinations and final completion of their QCE requirements in term 4. Good luck gentleman.

Years 5-11 Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews

The Years 5–11 Parent/Teacher/Student interviews are a very important medium of communication to ensure that your son is progressing well in his studies and that everything possible is being done to achieve this. The Year 12 students have just completed their academic interviews between parents, students and a member of the leadership team but can undertake further interviews on request.

As partners in your son’s education, together we can achieve the best possible outcomes. I greatly encourage all parents to make a booking and to open up or continue positive dialogue with your son’s teachers.

These Parent/Teacher/Student interviews will occur on Friday 3 September (Years 7-11 – Teams), Tuesday 5 October (Years 5-11 – face-to-face) and Monday 11 October (Years 5-6 – Teams). It is hoped, at this stage, that the two formats for interviews can be provided – in person (College Champagnat Centre) and on TEAMS.

To book, you are required to go to the Parent Portal - (www.marash.qld.edu.au). If you experience any difficulty logging into the MyMarash or Parent Portal please contact the IT Help Desk at computerservice@marash.qld.edu.au.

I look forward to hearing from teachers of your conversations via TEAMS or to see you in person at the Champagnat Centre.

Boarding News

A special congratulations to our eight boarding students who were in quarantine last week due to their innocuous visit to Woolworths. Unfortunately, the time they visited Woolworths coincided with the presence of a COVID-19 infected person. The boys responded by positively isolating in a residence and joining into the various planned indoor activities and study programs planned for them. Special thanks to our nurses and boarding staff who professionally cared for the boys. After three negative tests and with isolation completed, the boys have returned fully into life at the College.

In further boarding news, we farewell James Couper who has officially left the College after undertaking the position as Head of Boarding. James will now pursue other interests and a life beyond the gates of Marist. We thank James for his professional and dedicated 16.5 years of service to the Marist boarding community.

Champion Trophy Winners

Congratulations to the Year 5 and 6 Marist College Track and Field Athletes who won the overall Champion Trophy at the North-West District Track and Field Championships before the covid lockdown. This Athletics Carnival is for the ages 10-12. Marist has not won this trophy since 2016. Well done to all athletes and coaches led by our Primary Sports Co-ordinator, Mr John Lambourne. Well done gentlemen.

May our loving God with Mary our good mother and St Marcellin Champagnat walk with all members of the Marist College Ashgrove Family.