Enews - 20 March 2024

As Lent draws to a close, I am reminded of a poignant insight from German theologian J.B. Metz whose profound definition of God is as a ‘God of interruption’. This suggests that divine encounters often occur unexpectedly, like sudden interruptions in the rhythm of our lives. These moments, imbued with grace, can take a myriad of forms; a chance reunion with a long-lost acquaintance, an unanticipated compliment, or a random act of kindness from a stranger.

As we anticipate the joyous Easter festivities, let us contemplate these surprise occurrences. Let us allow the grace of God to soften our hearts, revealing our vulnerability, tenderness, compassion, and hospitality. Through these encounters, we rediscover our interconnectedness and shared humanity, embracing the beauty of our lives.

Let us pray for our Jewish and Muslim sisters and brothers. Islam began the holy month of Ramadan on 11 March and it concludes 9 April. Our Jewish friends will celebrate Passover from sundown on 22 April until nightfall on 30 April. Our Orthodox Christian family will celebrate Easter on 5 May in 2024. As we prepare for the holiest week in our Catholic calendar, we stand in solidarity with all people of faith.

Matthew Hutchison
Headmaster

In the enrichment leave I have planned for later this year, I have decided to attend a retreat focused on the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins at the Jesuit Spirituality Centre in Wales. Frankly, I'm quite terrified about it. As a Mathematics teacher, I have frequently struggled to find meaning in the complexities of poetry. In hindsight, maybe I was a bit too optimistic about this decision!

Coincidentally, my brother-in-law, a great admirer of Paul Kelly (one of Australia’s most influential musicians), suggested I watch the documentary 'Stories of Me', which delves into Kelly’s life journey. As I watched, I began to appreciate the poetic essence of his music. Kelly's words about his perpetual quest for "the next song" struck a chord with me, prompting reflection on our shared pursuit of renewal and growth.

Kelly’s quest reinforced my belief in the importance of remaining open to new experiences and embracing discomfort in our pursuits. Regardless of how remarkable your sons may appear, it's crucial for them to explore new interests and avenues of growth. I hope that the Marist experience provides them with fertile ground for personal development, truth-seeking, and understanding their humanity.

Let us extend our gratitude to the teachers, parents, and supportive friends who guide our boys in their journey of growth and let us encourage them to embrace these opportunities wholeheartedly.

Matthew Hutchison
Headmaster

The notion of being 'open' for the afternoon raises an intriguing question. What facets of our community and culture do we proudly reveal to the world? Our Catholic identity instils in us a commitment to fostering deep bonds and genuine care for one another. We aspire to excellence, encouraging each individual to realise their full potential. We hope to encourage authentic partnerships between students, teachers, and parents, fostering a sense of unity. Most importantly, our mission extends beyond academics to educate the heart.

When presenting our school to prospective parents and boys, we emphasise that we are in the formation business – creating fine men with strong minds and gentle hearts. Please let friends who are interested in a Marist education for their sons know of our Open Day – Friday 5 April from 4.30pm – 7.00pm.

Matthew Hutchison 
Headmaster 

Over the past few weeks, there has been much conversation about boys’ schools and the behaviour of boys towards women. The recent ABC Four Corners episode “Old School”, focused on examples of behaviour from Cranbrook School in Sydney which left viewers aghast at not only the behaviour of the young men at the College, but also some of the staff in how they dealt with the behaviour. The outrage and further commentary, whilst appropriate, does seem to stop short of where the conversation should be at – how should we address the problem?

The Respectful Relationships project at Marist College Canberra has been a central part of this conversation since the project’s inception in 2020. Through a range of parental, student, and staff surveys and focus groups, the Respectful Relationship report that was commissioned provided the College with some fabulous insights. It identified many strengths. Among them were the College’s sense of community, a range of activities centred around building respect that already existed at the College, and the relationship between staff and students. The report went further in providing us key recommendations on how to improve this culture, including how to address the challenges of masculinity in an all-boys school.

At the College in 2024, the project is focusing on developing an understanding of healthy or positive masculinities within our community. Our staff have had professional learning from one of the pre-eminent academics working in masculinity and gender studies in Australia, who has helped us understand many of the key principles needed if the College is going to work with men and boys on developing a shared sense of masculinity that challenges perpetuated stereotypes. The project will examine our school processes including areas like our approach to behaviour management and our governance structures. The ‘Fine Young Men’ project also will contribute vastly to this work.

After the academic’s professional learning, one thing became very clear – if we are to focus on developing a positive view of masculinity, we must be explicit in our language and approach. We are lucky that we already have many wonderful opportunities. Our co-created Respectful Relationships definition already includes wonderful language which should be a feature of our young men:

Respectful Relationships at Marist College Canberra are characterised by dignity, listening, empathy, compassion and love. They foster a culture of courage that supports freedom, safety, curiosity, inclusion and justice for all.

We believe that this is an inherently human project aimed at improving the culture of how we all treat one another. You will notice that I haven’t used the term ‘toxic’ masculinity and for good reason. Our report and the professional learning that we have undertaken have both been very clear of the danger of shaming our young men, leaving them feeling attacked or embarrassed. In fact, many who contributed to the report said they felt the term ‘man’ was now an inherently negative term. Our role is to consistently reinforce and celebrate the positive, whilst also helping address the challenging behaviours we see that may not necessarily meet the standards that we expect.

How can parents and carers support this project? One of the key features of the project is the necessity for all members to understand our goals and approach. We have a wonderfully supportive community, and I know that our parents and carers are wishing for these topics to be addressed. The Being Marist parent evenings have a range of opportunities to engage in the masculinity theme to help parents and carers to develop their understanding. Topics include ‘The Man Box’; A Christian View of Masculinity; a look at parenting young men; and other pastoral topics that are related including consent education and risk taking education. Each of these evenings are great opportunities for us to continue to work together to create our fine young men.

So, on the behaviours that were addressed in the ABC Four Corners episode. As a College, we have a responsibility to help our young men understand not only how to behave but why. With this in mind, I will state the obvious – any aggressive behaviour, sexual comments or behaviour, bigoted or derogatory comments or behaviour, or anything that diminishes the dignity of others will not be tolerated at Marist College Canberra.

Pleasingly, we know that there is much beauty and tenderness in our boys, and we are thankful every day for the positive manner in which they conduct themselves. The energy they provide on a daily basis is testament to their character and values, and certainly something we want to acknowledge.

Liam Stakelum

Deputy Headmaster

Last Wednesday 13 March, the College welcomed Father Timothy Radcliffe OP for An Evening of Dialogue on the topic ‘Transformed on the Edges’. The combination of his deep intellect, spiritual wisdom, and compassionate heart helped to create a space for honest and open dialogue about what it means to be on the edges of society and seek to reconcile faith with the complexities of the modern world. Fr Timothy drew on many personal stories and academic sources, including the Japanese theologian Fr Shigeto Oshida and the contemporary writing of Nick Cave. Explaining the symbiotic nature of a tree’s leaves and roots, Fr Timothy encouraged participants to continually grow outwards and be energised by the light, but also draw upon the deep and hidden roots of the faith which nourish and sustain life.

If you were unable to attend or would like to listen again to Fr Timothy's talk, please find a recording of the evening here.

All members of the Marist community are invited to attend the 2024 Marian Lecture with Professor Amy-Jill Levine on 7 May from 6.00pm - 7.30pm. Click here to register and discover Professor Amy-Jill Levine’s other speaking events.

Nathan Ahearne
Assistant Head of School - Mission and Identity

This Thursday 21 March marks Closing the Gap and Harmony Day. The College will recognise these days by shining a light on the work being done to make Australia a place where all people can flourish. Harmony Day celebrates our country’s cultural diversity. Closing the Gap Day is an opportunity to value health equality as a fundamental right for all – one not currently experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“As a Church, we are called to illuminate and enrich Australian society, particularly in the realm of Indigenous affairs,” Bishop Chalres Gauci said in a recent ACBC Media Blog. Australian Catholics are being encouraged to reflect upon the implications of the 2024 Productivity Commission Report on the Closing the Gap agreement. The report found that just four of 19 socioeconomic outcomes for Aboriginal Australians were on track to meet their targets, while 11 of 19 were improving.

We encourage all students to wear an orange, yellow, red or black shirt this Thursday and bring a gold coin to support the work of Caritas Australia in the improvement of health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. To learn more about how Caritas is changing lives, click here.

Nick Lansdown-Weir
Student Faith Formation Coordinator

Marist College Canberra's annual Way of the Cross will be taking place at the College at 10.30am on Good Friday 29 March. Please join us to commemorate the mysteries of the Crucifixion. This is always a beautiful opportunity for reflection and prayer in the context of our community.

Nick Lansdown-Weir
Student Faith Formation Coordinator

What are you doing on 25 and 26 May? Could you benefit from a weekend featuring talks, personal testimonies, opportunities for discussion, and space to reflect?  Since menALIVE commenced in 2003, thousands of Catholic men have been encouraged and inspired at weekends across Australia. Now, Mary Help of Christians Parish's menALIVE weekend is being organised in Pearce, conducted by experienced leaders from the men Alive Team. You can register here.  

Phone enquiries can be directed to Mat Wolnicki 0438 446 489, Fr Emil 0414 523 036, or Adam Wojtonis 0422 212 881 or you can email Mat Wolnicki for further information.

College Open Day and 2025 Enrolment Applications

Our enrolment application process for next year is currently open. Current Marist families who have sons who will be applying for entry to Junior School next year, especially into Year 4, are asked to submit their applications soon so that they can be considered.

Registrations for our College Open Day on Friday 5 April 4.30pm - 7.00pm are now open. Should you have questions regarding 2025 enrolment please contact our College Registrar.

Applications are now being accepted for 2025.

A reminder that applications for Years 4, 5, 6 and 7 need to be received no later than Friday 31 May 2024 to be considered for enrolment starting in 2025.

We would encourage current Junior School families to let any friends who may be interested in enrolment in 2025 know that they can now submit an enrolment application online.

Families with sons currently in Year 6 in the Junior School do not need to apply for Year 7 at Marist, their enrolment will continue until completion of Year 12.

Year 6 Reflection Day

On Friday 22 March, our Year 6 boys will engage in their Reflection Day. The focus of the day is on the Sacrament of Confirmation and is aimed at developing a deeper understanding of God’s presence in this sacrament. Year 6 boys and their teachers will also be celebrating Mass on the day with Fr Emil Milat.

This Sacramental Reflection Day supports the Religious Education curriculum and is inclusive of all our Marist boys.

Marist boys in Year 6 planning to make their Confirmation this year need to register for the sacrament through their Parish, attend their parish Retreat Days and meet their parish expectations. Parents are encouraged to contact their parish office early to register their son.

Year 6 – An Act of Service

Year 6 boys are asked to donate non-perishable food items, personal hygiene products or cleaning products that we will donate to a local charity – HOME in Queanbeyan. This act of service allows our Year 6 boys to consider those in our wider community who are vulnerable and who may find it difficult to put food on the table for themselves or their families this coming winter. The boys’ donations will be collected on their Reflection Day, Friday 22 March. HOME has informed us that food items of a non-perishable/long lasting nature (tinned soups, tinned tomato sauce, etc) are particularly useful, as are cleaning products (Laundry detergent, liquid soap, scrubs, sponges, etc) toilet paper and tissues.

A special thanks to Maree Rolfe and our Year 6 teachers who are preparing such a meaningful day for our boys.

Casual Clothes Day (Harmony Day and Close the Gap Day) – Last Lenten Appeal Day

A reminder to all families that our last Lenten Appeal Day is Thursday 21 March. Junior School boys are invited to bring a gold coin and wear casual clothes for the day. Thursday is also Harmony Day and Close the Gap Day, students are invited to include some yellow, red, black or orange clothing to celebrate the day.

Harmony Day was established in 1999 to celebrate unity and diversity in Australia.

National Close the Gap Day has been recognised for more than a decade now. Australians from every corner of the country, in schools, businesses and community groups, have shown their support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health equity by marking National Close the Gap Day on the third Thursday in March each year.

Families are asked to ensure their son wears suitable clothing, especially if they have PE or Hospitality lessons. Boys who wish to wear basketball singlet tops are asked to wear a t-shirt underneath. Junior boys will require their Marist bucket hat for recess and lunchtime.

Kirsty Bell
Head of Junior School

Junior School Swimming

The boys who received Age Champion trophies are asked to return these to Mr. Galvin please.

Congratulations to the following boys who gained selection to represent the College at the South Weston Swimming Carnival on Friday 5 April, Week 9.

Year 4: 

Ezra Gray
Joshua Lloyd
Xander Woods 
Humphrey Needham-Dunn
Will Salter 
Lachlan Robinson 
Max Dawn
Danny Duffy
Culyer Boeding
Harry Morrissey 
Fletcher Wood

Year 5:

Harry Van de Meeberg
George Pirie
Owen Hickey
Roux La Brooy
Xavier Williams 

Year 6:

Noah Johnston
Izak van Niekerk
Kian O'Connor
Cavanaugh Boeding
Noah Ball
Yoshi Potanin 
Harrison Wright 
Tom Kelly
Harry Thompson

Multi Class Swimmers

Students with a disability, para-athletes, may choose to swim as an able-bodied student at the regional carnivals, if they meet the qualifying standards and qualify through their school carnival. Regarding swimming at an ACT level, please see the School Sport ACT website for further information.

Ged Galvin
Junior School PE Teacher

Library Lessons in the Junior School

Over the first few weeks of this term, the Library staff have enjoyed welcoming all Junior School classes to the Marist College Library for their lessons. Junior students visit twice a week, with one lesson focusing on research skills and the other on engaging with literature. All Junior students can borrow up to four books at a time, with each boy being encouraged to have a novel to read in class and books to read at home. Following on from Parent/Teacher interviews, Junior School teachers will liaise with the Library staff to help extend your son’s reading choices.

Scholastic Book Club Issue 2

Junior School students recently received the Issue 2 Scholastic Book Club. All orders must be submitted online by Thursday 28 March. Please note that we cannot accept cash at this time.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the Book Club so far this year. Through the Scholastic Rewards program, we have received multiple free books for the Junior section of the Library.

Karen Collins 
Head of Library and Information Services

College Open Day

The 2024 College Open Day will be held on Friday 5 April over two sessions between 4.30pm to 7.00pm. This is a great opportunity for families to meet our teaching staff, speak with our co-curricular club coordinators, learn about the importance of service within our community, and meet current students to hear about their personal Marist journey.

As spaces are limited, please encourage any friends or family to register as soon as possible.

Open Day - Session 1 - 5 April 2024 4.30pm

Open Day - Session 2 - 5 April 2024 5:30pm

Enrolments now open

Applications are now being accepted from current families who may be considering enrolling their son/s not already at the College into Years 4 – 12.

A reminder that applications for Years 4, 5, 6 and 7 need to be received no later than Friday 31 May 2024 to be considered for enrolment starting in 2025.

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

If you have any questions about enrolment, please read our FAQ's and timeline or contact the College Registrar.

Important reminder for Year 6 and Year 10 families

A reminder that families with 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.

The latest edition of the Holiday Happenings booklet for the upcoming school holidays is available online.

Mary Help of Christians Parish invites you to Fr Richard’s farewell drinks and nibbles on Thursday 21 March from 5.00pm - 7.00pm in the Sacred Heart School Hall.

Please bring a plate to share if you are able to and BYO drinks. Tea and coffee will be provided.

On Thursday 7 March, the College convened the 40th annual Inter House Track and Field competition with the new House format.

It was a hard fought battle in fine competitive spirit to gain points towards the Champagnat Cup. I would like to acknowledge the tremendous work of our carnival officials, grounds men, Year 12 leaders, and teaching staff, who ensured this was a successful community day.

In the Junior age group Mark placed 3rd, Conway came 2nd, and the winners were Le Rosey House.

The Intermediate category is the combined total of the 14 and 15 year age groups. In 3rd place Patrick, 2nd place was Conway. Le Rosey House is this year’s winners.

The Senior trophy had Haydon in 3rd position, Conway in 2nd and Le Rosey House dominated as senior champions.

Congratulations to Le Rosey, the Inter-House Athletics Champion House in their inaugural year. Conway House secured the 2nd position, closely followed by Mark in 3rd place overall.

Richard Aitchison will contact all members who have qualified to go on through to the ASC competition shortly.

Wayne McAuliffe
Head of Physical Education and Carnival Convener

The Cricket Club's Presentation Night will be on Monday 25 March at 6.00pm in the Senior Hall. Please arrive in good time as the evening will start promptly at 6.00pm.

Boys will sit in their teams with coaches and managers. Parents and supporters are welcome.

The first part of the evening will comprise a prayer and welcome, the President's report, Headmaster’s remarks, a guest speaker, team awards (batting, bowling and coach's awards) and Junior School Cricketer of the Year, Junior Cricketer of the Year and Senior Cricketer of the Year.

Teams then will go to separate individual team presentations which will include pennants, trophies for centuries, five-fors, hat tricks etc.

Players who are attending are to dress in full summer uniform.

Wayne Cassidy
Marist Cricket Club Information Officer

Marist College Canberra Hockey Club Day

As we celebrate our achievements, we are reminded of the proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child." This sentiment was well illustrated last Saturday at our Club Day, where the support and camaraderie among families, players, and volunteers were evident. It was great to see the players back on the field and we warmly welcome our new Committee members as we gear up for the winter season.

Winter Hockey Season

If you're still on the lookout for a fun and fast-paced way for your son to stay fit, we invite you to consider joining our Marist Hockey Club for the upcoming 2024 Season. Whether your child is a beginner or an experienced player, there's a place for everyone in our inclusive and welcoming community.

Registrations have been extended so don't miss out on the opportunity to be part of something special. We are particularly looking for players for our U10 team (boys aged 10 years and under) who play on Saturday mornings. For more details, please reach out to Sally Harding by 21 March 2024.

Winter training is set to commence on Wednesday 3 April 2024 before the season commences in May.

Summer Indoor Hockey Competition Results

Marist College Hockey Club are thrilled to extend our congratulations to all the Marist Indoor Hockey Teams for their exceptional teamwork and sportsmanship displayed throughout the 23/24 Indoor Hockey Season. Your dedication and spirit have truly made us proud.

A special round of applause goes to our Junior Indoor Competition Premiers JSL2 - Sky team, along with JSL1 and U12 teams who made the grand final in their respective grades. Your hard work and determination were on full display, and we commend you on your well-deserved victory.

Congratulations to Josh Seivers (Year 12), Aidan Harding (Year 10), Conall Fitzgerald (Year 10), Jonah MacKinnon (Year 8) and Elijah MacKinnon (Year 5) who represented the ACT in the recent National Indoor Hockey Competition.

Sally Harding
Secretary Marist College Canberra Hockey Club

The following JPL Basketball games are being held in Marcellin Hall on Friday 22 March 2024. Please come along and cheer on our basketball players. 

Marist Basketball Results Round 1 (GRADING)