From the Head of College

Mr Michael Newman

From Death Comes Life

The bushfires of last season are certainly an event Australia will never forget. As of 9th March 2020, the fires burnt an estimated 18.6 million hectares (46 million acres) or 186,000 square kilometres. The fires destroyed over a staggering 5900 buildings, including 2779 homes. Tragically, 34 people lost their lives. The heat was intense, and the smoke was overwhelming. The grief was palpable. What was left behind was sheer ashes, death of wildlife and the lifelessness of vegetation and surroundings. It was a grim experience and a catastrophic end for so much life.

Resilience is a quintessential characteristic of the Australian landscape and its people so, within no time, Australians took a deep breath and moved forward, rebuilding, refurnishing, and remaking their lives. Although others continued to struggle, the community responded to their cries for help. The generosity of Australians was astounding as marked by the many fundraising events and distribution of various means of support. The vegetation also seemingly recovered quickly. New green shoots grew from burnt and withered trees and scrubs. New life began to re-emerge.

Just this week, on Ash Wednesday, we had our own fire in the Design and Technology classrooms. All staff and boys were quickly ushered to the Fire Evacuation Centre of the College and accounted for safely. What follows now, is a refresh, refurbishment and rebuilding of these classrooms and further learning again.

This story of death to new life is the same metaphor that we revisit each Lenten season. Lent is the forty days leading to Easter where we remember our mortality, our inevitable death and promise of new life with our resurrected, loving God. The two symbols the Church uses are that of ashes and the Resurrection. On Ash Wednesday the symbol is ashes, representing death, like the burnt and destroyed forests, and even our own classrooms. On Easter Sunday, the Church uses the story of Jesus’ resurrection, to remind us of our promised life after death. This Lenten period is our opportunity to reflect on our life’s journey to our eventual death and promised reward with God. This is achieved by living this journey of life to death each day. In other words, we must die to ourselves and any selfishness and instead be for others, being generous and caring for others and in doing so, we give life, love, and comfort to others. That’s our challenge and that’s our end.

You might say, what about the most obvious symbol of the Christian faith – the cross? The symbol of the cross is a symbol of hope and the Christian challenge – it is key! The cross represents both the death of Christ and his resurrection, our eventual death and promised reward and the challenge to die to ourselves each day, so as, to give life to others.

God of the journey, during this Lenten season, may all members of the Marist family die to themselves each day, so as, to give life and love to our sisters and brothers. Amen.

New Curriculum Leaders Group

As the new Head of College, I have enjoyed the many emails and conversations from parents since my arrival. Your good wishes, prayers and suggestions have been appreciated and are valuable. One consistent message I am receiving from parents and staff is the need to further improve our academic outcomes for the boys. In response to this, each Tuesday morning, a group of generous teachers are meeting to plan a strategy forward to improve the processes and procedures to enable your son to achieve their best possible academic outcomes at Marist College Ashgrove. Data and educational research are being used to inform our decision making and processes as we move forward. I am particularly grateful to our team consisting of: Bruce McPhee (Deputy Head of College), Angela Simpson (Head of Teaching and Learning), Roxanne Rosenberg (Head of Data and Pedagogy), Jennifer Little (Primary Learning Leader), Jennifer Smeed (Secondary Learning Leader) and Liam Beatty (Head of Primary). This team is working diligently to provide strategies to enhance the literacy and numeracy of all students and ATAR academic outcomes of our seniors. This team reports its progress to our College Leadership Team. I look forward with confidence to improved academic standards, achieved for your son.

Uniform Outside of the College

During Wednesday’s College Assembly, I reminded the boys of the importance of wearing their full uniform appropriately when outside of the College. I ask that, as parents, you fully support this stance. My reasoning is simple. A positive image of a Marist young man, means a strong desire by members of our community to employ our boys either in part-time work or post-school employment. The benefit of such actions is for all the boys who attend Marist College. Our reputation and the manner in which the boys conduct themselves when in uniform is key. As parents, I ask your support by reminding your sons to pull up their socks, tuck in their shirts or pull up their ties when in public. Our College staff will be doing this also. Alternatively, I am more than happy for your son to get changed immediately after school into other clothes, as long as there is no item of Marist insignia present. As always, I greatly appreciate your support with College uniform matters.

AIC Swimming carnival

Best wishes to the Marist Swimming Team who will be competing at Chandler in the AIC Championships this Friday 26 February. Our boys have been training very hard, including a camp in early January and by all reports are excited and quietly confident at the challenge ahead. We wish all boys the best of luck and thank their coaches: James Boyce, Julia Wilkins, Damien Bromley, Dave Meehan, Catherine Kidd, Lucy Hislop, Antoinette Restell, Catherine Barnett, Peta Earley, Roxanne Rosenberg, Josh Small, Hunter Dreghorn and Cath Geraghty.

Good luck, gentlemen.

Parent & Friends Association 2021

The P&F Annual General Meeting for 2021 was held in the Tower Function Room on Monday 22 February. I thank the many parents who attended. All parents are welcome to attend meetings which are held once a term as follows: 17 May, 2 August, 25 October.

This is a great way of meeting other parents, staying involved in your son’s education and being informed about the various successes and activities available at the College.

I congratulate our new executive for 2021.

President – Jim Gordon
Vice President – Donna Lynn & Paul Guy
Secretary – Bethany Sharman
Treasurer – Andrew Howse

Thank you for the important work you undertake for all families of the College.

Teaching & Learning Experiences

The Year 9–12 Drama students will be enjoying a production by the Grin & Tonic Theatre Troupe this Wednesday from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm in the Draney Theatre. The Troupe will present “The 7 Stages of Grieving”. I thank our Drama teachers: Rebecca Taylor, Scott Minogue and Bonita Gerry for securing this opportunity for the boys.

Best wishes to our Biology students who be attending a workshop presented by Dr Gurion Ang from UQ Biological Sciences on Data Processing, this Thursday 25 February. I thank their teachers: Jen Smeed, Roxanne Rosenberg and Cheryl Geck for providing this interesting experience.

Similarly, our Art students will be travelling to GOMA to see the ‘Motorcycle – Design, Art, Desire’ and ‘Full Face – Artists’ Helmets’ followed by Griffith Art Museum to see the exhibition ‘Nominal Gestures’ artwork by Robert MacPherson and ‘Time and Place – Landscapes from the Griffith Uni Art Collection’ on Thursday 25 February. I thank their teachers Christine Larsen and Tamara Sheedy.

The Year 8 Commerce Market Day is also being held on Monday 1 March. This is an opportunity for our Year 8 Commerce students to practice fundamental business skills such as budgeting, marketing, customer engagement and basic business operations.

Old Boys Association Meeting

On Tuesday 2 March, all Old Boys are invited to attend the Old Boys Association Meeting to be held in the Tower Function Room from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

This meeting is an opportunity to be involved in Old Boys functions, fundraisers, reunions and other planned activities, all aimed at assisting the College and the boys. I thank our dedicated Old Boys committee: President – Steve McAuliffe, Treasurer – Anthony Collins, Vice President - Dom Melrose and Secretary - Tony Haling.

Future Old Boys Association Meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of the month (during term time) - 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

Coming Events

Tuesday 23 February

Reconciliation – College Chapel – 8:00 am to 8:30 am
House Swimming Carnivals - Year 8 & 11 – am (Pool) – 9:00 am to 11:20 am
House Swimming Carnivals – Year 7 & 12 – pm (Pool) – 12:10 pm to 3:10 pm
Study Hall – Senior Library – 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm

Wednesday 24 February

College Mass (Special Invite to St Vincent de Paul Group) – 8:00 am
Year 11 REC Golf Excursion
Year 9–12 Drama Students – Grin & Tonic Theatre Troupe Incursion

Thursday 25 February

Year 12 Biology Incursion
Year 11 Visual Art Excursion
Year 12 REC Rock Climbing Excursion

Friday 26 February

Primary Tutoring – Primary Computer Room – 8:00 am
Round 5 AIC AFL Opens Vs Iona

Saturday 27 February

Round 5 AIC Cricket/Volleyball Vs Iona (A)
Round 5 AIC AFL Years 5-9 Vs Iona

Sunday 28 February

Clean Up Australia Day – Excursion to Sunshine Coast – Depart MCA 7.30 am / Return MCA 1.30 pm
Year 8, 10 and 11 Boarders’ Mass (Parent COVID Restrictions) – College Chapel – 5:30 pm
Year 7, 9 and 12 Boarders’ Mass (Parent COVID Restrictions) – College Chapel – 6:20 pm

Monday 1 March