Enews - 2 February 2022

On behalf of the College community, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 2022 academic year. In particular, I welcome the 250 boys and their families who are joining us for the first time. I hope they too will experience the College as a community of people who care deeply about one another.

I appreciate the return to school brings with it uncertainty brought on by the pandemic. Some may be fearful, others angry, while others less so. I am sure many have questions on protocol and procedures when certain events may occur. Hopefully much has been explained in recent correspondence. The reality is, we are somewhat unsure what lies ahead, but we will continue to do all that is possible to support you with regular communication of any changes of protocol or procedures. Importantly, please contact the College if you have concerns or need clarification. It is important that we listen to each other so we can best support each other.

I am grateful for the considerable efforts of staff, particularly Deputy Headmaster, Ryan Greer and Head of Risk and Operations, Ellen Acheson, to ensure staff and boys return to school safely.

Many have been guilty over the years for making New Year resolutions only to fail to make the commitment. Apparently there is research confirming that only 19% of those who make such resolutions actually fulfil them within two years!

Now is the time to discuss with your son what resolutions they plan to make towards their studies to make meaningful change. Having broken many a New Year resolutions myself, I am not really in a position to give advice. That said, my learning from failed attempts is to simply ensure goals must be really specific and concrete rather than simply to ‘improve my science grade.’ I suggest parents get into the detail – when will you do this? Before or after dinner or on the bench or in your bedroom? My second piece of advice is to make just one change. By adopting just one clear resolution, your son is more likely to succeed than if they spread themselves too thin on multiple goals. Finally, and importantly, approach the goal in a compassionate and kindly way, especially if your son falls off the wagon which they are likely to do from time to time. Reset and start again.

I encourage you to spend time over the next week establishing goals for your son this year and I wish you all the best of luck in supporting him keep his resolution.

Congratulations to two members of our Marist community who were recognised in the recent Australia Day Honours:

• Patty Mills, an Old Boy of the College, a former Marist Basketball player and ACT Australian of the Year for 2022, was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to basketball, to charitable initiatives and to the Indigenous community
• Kathryn Paton, mother of Ben, was awarded a Public Sector Medal in recognition for outstanding public service through developing the policy and processes that enabled critical income-support payments to Australians impacted by COVID-19 restrictions.

Congratulations to both Kath and Patty. 

Matthew Hutchison
Headmaster

Dear Junior School families

A warm Marist welcome to our new school year! In such uncertain times of the continuing global pandemic, it is pleasing that we were able to provide a settled start to the school year in person.

On Monday, we welcomed over 160 new boys to our Junior School with 132 boys starting in Year 4 this year. We also welcomed our new Junior School staff, Brianna Domanski and Morgan Holland teaching in Year 5, as well as Jaki Fraser our new Performing Arts teacher. Mr Galvin has also returned to teach in the Junior School this year as our Physical Education teacher.

The teachers and I look forward to working with all of our families throughout the coming year to ensure the school year is a successful one for each of our boys.

Uniforms and Lunch containers

We ask that all uniform items as well as lunch/recess containers are clearly labelled with your son’s first and last name. This allows any lost items to be returned promptly to your son when they are found. We have an accessible lost property area in the foyer for any unnamed clothing items that are found.

PE Days 2022

This year, the Junior School boys will be having two PE lessons each week. They are required to wear their College PE uniform to school on their allocated days, including their light blue crested PE polo shirt. Mr Galvin, Mr McMahon and Mr Barclay will take the classes for their PE lessons on the following days:

Junior School Parent Information Night – Monday 7 February

Our Parent Information Night will be held online next Monday evening. Details and zoom links will be sent directly to all Junior School parents later in the week.

Junior School Music Immersion program and bands

This year, we launch our Year 5 Music Immersion program. During Semester One, a smaller group of boys will participate in the program. The Immersion program will expand in Semester Two to include all Year 5 students. Year 4 and Year 6 band programs will also run this year.

• Year 4 band will occur on Wednesdays (Day 3 and 8) during period 5
• Year 6 band will occur on Day 2 and Day 8 during period 2
• Year 5 Immersion Music program will run on Tuesdays (Day 2 and Day 7) during period 6.

Parent/Teacher meetings

As always, our teachers welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss your son and his learning. If you would like to meet with your son’s teacher, please email them. They will then contact you with a suitable time to meet and supply a Zoom meeting link.

Homework and Diaries

We appreciate the support of our Junior School parents in helping their boys to organise a space and time each night to complete their weekly homework. The time and support given to the boys in the early weeks of a new school year at home allow the boys to form strong habits for the year.

Junior School homework will be accessible each week through the boy’s Canvas logon. Our boys also list their homework in their College diaries. We ask that all parents read and sign their son’s diaries as requested to acknowledge the homework for the week, read any messages from the teachers, and to indicate that they have viewed the completed weekly homework.

Have a wonderful week and may St Marcellin watch over our families and keep them safe.

Kirsty Bell
Head of Junior School

In 2021, 43 of the College’s students were among 3,000 who sat the Junior Science Olympiad exam. We are pleased to announce that Shanaathanan Srimanobhavan (Year 9) has been offered a place in the 2022 Junior Science Olympiad Academy.

The Academy is an invitation-only online program for high-performing students aged under 16. We offer our congratulations to Shanaa and wish him all the best for the experience.

Karen Billingham
Acting Head of Science

This year, Marist will be starting a guitar ensemble. We are looking for players of guitar to join the ensemble.

The ensemble will meet once a week on Mondays and will be directed by our guitar teacher, Jeandre Fourié. The ensemble will feature students from across a number of year levels and is sure to be a fun, rewarding and supportive activity.

Please contact Mrs Roberts if you are learning guitar but are not having lessons at Marist and are interested in playing in the ensemble.

Jarrod Schindler
Head of Performing Arts

We still have a few vacancies for some instruments in the Instrumental and Vocal Program. If you are interested in learning one of the following instruments, please contact Mrs Roberts to enquire about lessons:

• Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass
• Woodwind: Oboe
• Brass: French Horn, Trombone, Tuba.

Marist has a library of instruments for students to hire at very reasonable prices. This saves families from having to pay large sums for new instruments.

Teachers, parents and carers may be surprised to know that many of our teachers also teach adults outside of school hours at their professional studios. Mrs Roberts, our Performing Arts Assistant, can put you in touch with your new teacher!

Jarrod Schindler
Head of Performing Arts

Game Changers and Marist Youth Ministry (MYM) have returned for 2022!

Both are opt-in, year-based groups where we grow in faith, service, and friendship.

The days and times for the groups are as follows: 

• Year 4 - 6 Game Changers: Wednesday and Thursday at recess 1 (Ms Williams and Mr Weir)
• Year 7 Game Changers: Day 5 at lunchtime (Mr Weir)
• Year 8 Game Changers: Day 7 at lunchtime (Ms Callaughan)
• Year 9 Game Changers: Day 9 at lunchtime (Mr Hawes)
• Year 10 Game Changers: Day 8 at lunchtime (Mr Leech)
• Year 11 MYM: Day 1 and 6 at lunchtime (Mr Pereira and Miss Baillie)
• Year 12 MYM: Day 1 and 6 at lunchtime (Mr Weir and Mr Jeffery). 

For more information, please contact Mr Weir. 

Nick Weir
Student Faith Formation Coordinator

Enrolment in Mary Help of Christian’s Parish First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion Sacramental program for 2022 is now open to children baptised Catholic in Year 4 and above.

Enrolment for this program is available on the Qkr! App or on Qkr! website until Wednesday 9 February 2022. 

The Information Night for parents and carers will be held on Wednesday 9 February, with the first session for children and their carers beginning on Wednesday 16 February. Please view the attached letter and MHOC website for more details.

The Parish is also pleased to welcome Adam Shelton (2021) to the Parish as the new Youth Minister. Adam is well known to many in the Parish as one of the trusty acolytes. 

Enrolment for the Sacramental Program for First Reconciliation at the Parish of the Transfiguration, North Woden, is open.

The program is for prior students of Saints Peter and Paul School, Garran, or Holy Trinity School, Curtin, or residents of Curtin, Lyons, Phillip, Garran, Hughes and O’Malley.

Please note: Enrolment in the program via the Qkr! App closes this Friday, 4 February.

A Parent’s Information Night will be conducted via Zoom on Monday 7 February at 6.00pm. A link is available on request from the Parish Office.

Please click here for a copy of the letter to parents and the timetable for the program. 

In 2022, the process for donating second-hand uniforms to the College has changed.

Consignment payments will be made to families for Blazer returns only.

The proceeds of the sale of all other pre-loved garments (for instance trousers, jumpers, sports items and ties) will go towards the Br Mark May Bursary Fund.

For families interested in providing second-hand uniforms to the College:

• The current uniform needs to be looking new in appearance - not faded, frayed, worn or threadbare
• Blazers are to be dry-cleaned with the dry-cleaning tag attached and/or receipt submitted
• All other garments are to be freshly laundered/with no body odour
• The garments are to be free of any marks on the garment, for example stains/paint/ink etc
• The items are not to be in need of any repairs, for example, buttons missing, zip or fasteners damaged etc
• Artwork/embroidery should not be cracked, damaged, unthreaded, or obsolete in appearance.

A copy of the second-hand price list and Blazer return form can be found on the College website. 

Online registration for Marist Winter Sporting Clubs are closing this week.

Please check Club websites prior to registration for more information. Parents need to ensure that their child/children are 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 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