Enews - 17 February 2021

The school year has well and truly come to life. There is so much for our boys to embrace; so many new people, some their own age and others much older. They will work with many different adults, who often change every hour to teach another subject, or coach them, or address them in assemblies or invite them to tuck in their shirt or tidy the yard. A Marist life is rich in drama: it is a time to laugh; to roar with support for their team; to wrestle with theorems, French verbs, English essays, piano scales and footy practice. Soon our boys get used to it and call it normal. Amongst the business of any normal day, there will be moments when our boys encounter something revealing about themselves, about others, about life, and about Christ who lives within us.

The fullness of life that Marist offers allows our boys to grow into all their talents and strengths, to discover and deepen their character; it is a place where they can ask ‘Who am I?’ and work on the answer.

Pope Francis is very clear and challenges us all to be people who contribute to building a new humanity. From a Marist perspective, this humanity looks like the person of Jesus Christ. 

Please keep the McMahon family in your thoughts and prayers following the passing of Mr Marshal McMahon (Br Joseph) on Friday 12 February 2021. Br Joseph was fourth Headmaster of Marist College Canberra and led our community from our first graduating class in 1975 to 1982. He played a significant role in establishing a culture of high expectations during those critical foundation years. He will be sadly missed.

Matthew Hutchison
Headmaster

Thank you to all of the Junior School parents and guardians who were able to attend last week’s Junior School Information evening on Monday and the new parent evening last Friday. It certainly is pleasing to hear from so many families how their boys have settled into the Junior School and how quickly they got themselves into an afternoon routine of homework and preparing for the next school day. As the term progresses, we encourage parents to keep in contact with their son’s classroom teacher to ensure clear communication between home and school.

Monday’s Junior School Swimming Carnival was a great success and we thank Mr Keogh, our Sports Coordinator, for his thorough preparation for the day. Mr Keogh is now busy planning for our Junior School Athletics Carnival that will be held at school on Wednesday 3 March 2021.

Junior School Parent Survey

Junior School families are asked to complete the survey sent out by email last week. This will allow us to gather information for our Class Contact parents as well as Sacramental information for 2021. The survey will close on Thursday, 18 February 2021.
 

Moderation Day (Pupil Free Day)

A reminder to all families that there are no classes for Years 4 to 12 at the College on Tuesday 2 March 2021.

Reading aloud to your son

Each Junior School class has now had their first library borrowing session for the year in our newly created Year 4-12 College Library. During these borrowing sessions, the Junior School boys hear either their class teacher or one of our amazing College Librarians read aloud a variety of texts.

As Mr Hutchison shared at the parent information evening last week, reading aloud to students, even when they can read fluently themselves, is crucial to their overall development as readers and listeners. Continuing to read aloud to readers who are already fluent assists them to comprehend texts that challenge their thinking and increases their knowledge base. We encourage all of our families to spend time each week reading aloud to their boys and sharing the wonderful world of literature with them.

Click here to view the Australian Government's 'Learning Potential' website that contains some handy hints for parents when reading to and with their children.  

This evening is offered to parents who are new to the College and would like to know more about the Marist tradition that they and their families have now joined.

There will be opportunities to learn about the founding of the Marist Brothers and our College, the pillars of Marist Spirituality, our Core Values, and ways in which you can be involved further in our shared mission to work together in creating fine young men.

Numbers are limited due to COVID restrictions.

If you are unable to make this event on Tuesday 4 March, the evening is being repeated on Thursday 5 August 2021.

Due to COVID restrictions, online registrations are required by Monday, 1 March 2021, by following this link.

Game Changers is a comprehensive Catholic Youth Ministry program for students in Marist schools throughout Australia from Years 7-12. It seeks to form Christian leaders by making Jesus Christ known and loved among them. We meet regularly, encourage service opportunities, and build friendships.

The timetable is as follows:

• Year 4-6 Game Changers/Mini Vinnies: Wednesday and Thursday recess (Mrs Williams and Mr Weir)
• Year 7 Game Changers: Day 2 at lunch (Mr Weir and Mrs McKeown) – starting Week 3
• Year 8 Game Changers: Day 7 at lunch (Mr Hawes) – starting Week 4
• Year 9 Game Changers: Day 9 at lunch (Mr Weir) – starting Week 4
• Year 10 Game Changers: Day 3 at lunch (Mr Leech) – starting Week 3
• Year 11 Marist Youth Ministry: Day 1 and 6, at lunch (Mr Pereira and Mr Jeffery) – started Week 2
• Year 12 Marist Youth Ministry: Day 1 and 6, at lunch (Mrs Haseler and Mr Weir) – started Week 2.  

For more information, please contact Nicholas Weir, Student Faith Formation Coordinator.

Nicholas Weir
Student Faith Formation Coordinator

Archbishop Christopher Prowse invites the community to participate in a new and exciting Lenten experience involving live-streamed teaching, prayer, community hubs and discussion. 

The program will run every Thursday from 18 February to 25 March 2021, with the sessions live-streamed from 7.30pm to 9.00pm during Lent. Each session will be available to view live or to download from the Catholic Voice YouTube site after the event.

Click here to register and more information. 

An Introduction to Christian Mediation is being held over five successive Tuesday nights during Lent. The program starts on Tuesday 23 February at 7.15pm for one hour at St Peter Chanel’s Parish room, Loch Street, Yarralumla. 

This is an opportunity to experience this prayer practice, its origins, and its relevance as a form of prayer for the contemporary world. The event is free and no RSVP is required.

For more information, please contact Rod or Susan via email. 

By following the Marist College Canberra Careers Facebook page, Year 10-12 students and their families can be kept up-to-date about job opportunities, gap year placements, university applications, employment tips, and anything and everything related to future career and study pathways.

I would encourage all of our Year 10-12 students and their parents to be following the page, and especially encourage our Year 12 students and their parents to do so to receive the most current information regarding their options for next year.

If you have any questions regarding upcoming university applications, ANU Direct Entry Applications or Australian School Based Apprenticeships, please contact Leigh Southwell.

Leigh Southwell
Head of Careers

Hurry - the course commences next week.

Enrolments need to be finalised by the end of this week (Friday 19 February 2021).

Thursday 18 February 2021

Commencement Mass, Years 4-12

Friday 19 February 2021

Academic Awards Ceremony, Years 8-12

Monday 22 February 2021

Year 5 Incursion RFS/SES Community Engagement and Education Services

Wednesday 24 February 2021

Year 9 Integration Day

Year 11 Study Program

Year 12 Study Day

Friday 26 February 2021

Junior School Badge Ceremony

Darlinghurst House Day

McMahon House Day

Monday 1 March 2021

Raising Fathers, 7.00pm - 8.30pm, Senior Hall. Bookings required

Tuesday 2 March 2021

Moderation Day, Pupil-free day, Years 4-12

Wednesday 3 March 2021

Junior School Athletics Carnival

Thursday 4 March 2021

Senior School Athletics Carnival

Being Marist Parent Evening, 7.00pm – 8.30pm. Bookings required. 

Marist Winter Sporting Clubs have online registration processes opening during February. Please check Club websites prior to registration for more information. Parents need to ensure that their child is registered by the closing date of the registration period to ensure participation in that sport.

When considering registering, there are a couple of points which all students need to be aware of:

1. Students currently representing the College in cricket or rowing: You must continue to honour that training and playing commitment even if there may be an overlap with the pre-season training of your chosen winter sport. Your first priority is to your summer team. In doing this you will not be disadvantaged in your winter sport selections.
2. When choosing a winter sport, remember that you are expected to attend all training sessions and all games during the season. In doing so you are supporting your coach and your team mates.
3. College sporting teams play in an age-based competition. All boys are registered to play in their appropriate age level. The College endeavours to ensure that we maximise the participation levels during competition which may require the movement of students up an age group. The College and the clubs work together to ensure if the need for this happens, it is managed appropriately. 

Premier League (Football) exemption forms
Students who are considering playing for a local Premier League Football Club need to complete the exemption form which is found on the Marist Football Club website.

Paul Mead  
Head of Sport

Wet weather again hampered play this weekend with Friday evening’s games washed out. Hopefully, there can be a full round of games this week.

Team photos will be taken on Tuesday 23 February 2021 in the Senior Hall starting at 3.15pm. Please note: these are team photos only as there will not be any individual photos this year. Students are to wear their playing whites, and coaches and managers should attend where possible. 

The Presentation Night will be held in the Senior Hall on Tuesday 16 March 2021 starting at 6.00pm. More details will follow in coming weeks. At this stage, COVID restrictions mean that only one parent/supporter per player can attend.