Enews - 13 May 2020

It was certainly a privilege to witness boys greet one another after such an extended period of absence. The smiles, the laughter and the sharing of experiences represented a community delighted to gather, and to return to classroom learning. Whilst online learning proved a great success for most, nothing can compare with the energy and pleasure that comes with face-to-face teaching. It is great to have the boys back, to check for their understanding on work presented, and once again articulate our academic expectations for the term ahead. 

Be assured the safety and care of the boys, staff and parents, along with our responsibility to the community, remains our highest priority. We will continue to adhere to government advice in the safe management of this pandemic while also taking into consideration local conditions. We are so grateful for the magnificent support parents have provided teachers during the online learning journey. Many parents have shared amusing stories of frustration, some have had to relearn mathematical concepts, interpret poetry and research history; it has been a great learning experience for all. Many parents have grown in their appreciation of our work in educating boys into fine young men. 

We are also very proud of our teaching staff for their commitment to their students during the 4 ½ weeks of online learning. There have been times of frustration with technology, but our teaching staff rallied together and their unified collegiality has been nothing short of humbling. All of us have been out of our comfort zone and we are proud to say we rose to the challenge in ways we could not have imagined. Our support staff, particularly in preparing for the boys to return, have been amazing. To our boys, our parents and to all the staff – congratulations and thank you. 

‘Houston, we have a problem’ is a famous line from the critically acclaimed movie Apollo 13. The movie dramatises the 1970 Apollo 13 lunar mission. Apollo 13 was the third mission intended to land men on the Moon. An explosion of an on board liquid oxygen tank, just when the craft was close to reaching the Moon, crippled the electrical power generation and propulsion systems. The mission became famous for the safe return of the three astronauts, made possible by engineers and mathematicians whose resourceful adaptation of the electrical, propulsion and life support systems of the lunar module saved the astronauts from a certain death. On their return into the atmosphere, the lunar module was powered by electrical amps equivalent to that used to boil a kettle. The heroes in the movie were not trained killers or skilled car drivers with textbook “good looks and charm”. The heroes were intelligent, creative and absolutely determined, possibly with “good looks and charm”, they were scientists who declared "failure is not an option." 

The heroes in the COVID-19 pandemic are many; doctors, nurses, supermarket employees, providers of transport, cleaners, caregivers, pharmacists, law and order enforcers – there are many. It will, however, be our scientists who we will be cheering, working in laboratories all over the world, who are at work on potential vaccines; they will shelter us. Trials across the globe are now underway although we are told a vaccine is at least 12 -18 months away. The world’s greatest minds are sharing their expertise in what has been described as the most urgent ‘shared endeavour of our lifetime.’ It is a global challenge taken on by the world’s best and most prepared minds. These scientists are told to question everything. They are trained to seek answers, reasons and explanations. They scrutinise the facts presented before them and search for underlying patterns or relations which binds the parts and the whole together. 

Science is about curiosity which, I believe, is the most critical ingredient in any learning. Sadly, over the past few decades in Australia, interest in the study of science in the senior years has diminished. There has been some research to explain this decline, but I would contend it has something to do with the avoidance of doing something challenging when you can invest energy into less demanding academic pursuits. One of my biggest worries in education is that boys elect an easy academic pathway, achieving solid academic results yet never experiencing the challenge that goes with learning new concepts that are hard to grasp. If our boys are choosing an easy academic pathway, with minimal need to provoke curiosity and effort, it would be a great waste and then – Marist, we would have a problem. 

Mother’s Day is a great festival of gratitude. I thank God for my own mother. I thank God for our Marist mothers who are such life-enlargers in our community. May we celebrate all other women, spouses and partners, sisters, daughters, grandmothers, godmothers and aunts, friends, and colleagues, who so help shape and enrich our lives. We pray that women throughout the world may be blessed, honoured and respected, and that their essential contribution be recognised and affirmed. 

The Image of Mother
4 years of age:
My mummy can do anything!

8 years of age:
My mum knows a lot! A whole lot!

12 years of age:
My mother doesn’t really know quite everything.

14 years of age:
Naturally, mother doesn’t know that, either.

16 years of age:
Mother? She’s hopelessly old fashioned.

18 years of age:
That old woman? She’s way out of date.

25 years of age:
Well, she might know a little bit about it.

35 years of age:
Before we decide, let’s get Mum’s opinion.

45 years of age:
Wonder what mum thinks about it?

75 years of age:
I wish I could talk it over with Mum.

I ask our community to keep in their prayers the Mamalai family following the unexpected death of Oscar Mamalai, father of Joseph (Year 12) and William (Year 9), and husband of Sarah. Thank you also for the wonderful love and support the Mamalai family have received from members of the Marist community. 

Matthew Hutchison

Headmaster

The sound of the boys’ laughter, teachers educating and friends chatting has once again filled the playground and halls of the Junior School which has been a welcome change. Monday morning was filled with anticipation as the Junior School boys returned and the teachers prepared to teach face-to-face for the first time in in almost two months. 

The boys are looking very smart in their formal winter uniforms, thank you. If your son is missing any item of their winter uniform, please make an appointment at the Uniform Shop so that you can purchase the missing items as soon as possible. 

Whilst online learning at home has been a success and most boys and families have managed the adjustment well, it has not been easy for all students or family situations for many reasons. We understand and respect this. 

The staff and I would like to sincerely thank our Junior School parents and families for supporting their sons and our teachers during this unprecedented time. It has been challenging in many ways, and in our minds, nothing can replace the rich educational environment that is created in the classrooms and the relationships that grow between our boys and their teachers in our daily face-to-face teaching.

From the end of the 13th Century, Christians around the world began to devote their prayers to Our Blessed Lady during the month of May.

In May 2002, Pope John Paul II remarked, "Today we begin the month dedicated to Our Lady. In accord with a long-standing tradition of devotion, parishes and families continue to make the month of May a 'Marian' month, celebrating it with many devout liturgical, catechetical and pastoral initiatives!"

In our College, as part of the worldwide Marist family we also devote our daily prayer and work to Mary. We are in essence a ‘Marian’ educational setting and encourage our students, teachers and families to spend time devoting their own personal prayers to Our Blessed Lady. It is said wherever there is faith there is an example of Mary, because she lived by faith.

As the boys settle back into their school routines this week, they have been taken through our new COVID-19 protection measures at school. This includes, for now, that purchases from the Canteen can only be made through prepaid/pre-purchased recess and lunch orders that will be collected each break by the Class Captains.

Students arriving by car in the morning will make their way directly to the blacktop rather than walking through the Front office area. In the afternoon, when parents arrive to pick up their sons they are asked to remain in their car until their son arrives to be picked up.

Parent meetings with teachers will for now remain via Zoom meetings or phone call as we continue to maintain adult social distancing within our school setting.

If your son is unwell or has cold symptoms, please keep him home. If the boys present to school with cold symptoms, you will be contacted and asked to collect your son immediately for the protection of our community.

Kirsty Bell

Acting Head of Junior School

Applications are now being accepted from current families who may be considering enrolling any sons not already at the College into Years 4 – 12. Applications need to be received no later than Sunday 31 May to be considered for enrolment in 2021.

We would also encourage current families to let any friends who may be interested in enrolment that they can now apply online.

Important information for Year 6 and Year 10 families

A reminder that families that have sons currently in Years 6 and 10 at the College do not need to re-enrol their son into Year 7 or Year 11. 

Our expectation is that once a student is enrolled at the College, their enrolment will continue until the completion of their studies in Year 12. 

Parents and friends of Marist are invited to attend an online gathering of friendly faces, faith formation and relaxation with other community members. Members gather each Thursday afternoon from 5.00pm - 5.45pm over Zoom and use the resource written by Br Mark O’Connor titled ‘The Vision Still Has Time’. For more information about the process, click here or contact Nathan Ahearne. 

Our groups from Years 4-12 are back up and running. Please encourage your boys to get involved and be the change they want to see!

Want to meet new people, play games and talk about more of those deeper questions? Then definitely come to Youth Alpha. Starting from Tuesday 12 May, we’ll be running ALPHA every Tuesday, 4.00pm – 5.00pm, on Zoom. This is open to all senior students, Years 10-12, and is a combined effort with Youth Ministers and their students from all over Canberra, both schools and parishes. Click here to view a video to see what it's all about. 

Please contact Michael Seselja (YMO) for more information, including for the link to Zoom and the meeting ID. 

A reminder that nominations for the Br Francois Service Medal close on Friday 29 May 2020. 

The award recognises an Old Boy of the College who has demonstrated that he continues to keep the faith in the service of others.  

To nominate an Old Boy, please email Nathan Ahearne.

Click here for more information. 

If you are interested in helping elderly people through this time of physical distancing, then letter writing could be a great way to help. Fr Richard Thompson from Mary Help of Christians Parish has outlined how to participate: 

1. Address the letter/card/note to 'Dear parishioner' or 'Dear parishioners'. On the back of the envelope participants could put a ‘S’ for single or ‘C’ for a couple. 
2. Keep them gender neutral so Fr Richard can distribute them to lone males or females. 
3. Make sure to say who you are (first name only) and what class you are in at the College, in case our parishioners would like to acknowledge your kindness. 
4. Take a look at The Catholic Voice for inspiration about what to write.
5. You can be as creative as you like as long as it brings a smile to the recipient. 
6. The letters can be dropped off at the MHOC Parish Office after hours mailbox at the Office entrance and Fr Richard will get them to parishioners. The address is: Mary Help of Christians Parish, South Woden ACT: 115 Hodgson Cres, Pearce, ACT, 2607. 

Our 2020 Marist Solidarity Appeal is raising funds for Chetana Tribal Boys Home and these families are suffering through the imposed lockdown. Three Marist Brothers of the Talit community, watching the present situation, decided to do something for the poor families around them. 

With financial support from Marist Solidarity and some of their personal money, they prepared 200 bags of essential food (rice, flour, lentils, soy bean, sugar, salt and oil), and with the help of some young people, they distributed them among the families. “We know that this action is a small drop in the middle of the ocean, but it's an opportunity to give free what we received freely (Mt 10, 8). We discovered the joy of the service.” Click here to view the full story.