Enews - 31 March 2021

The events of Holy Week take us on a rollercoaster ride. It commences with a celebration as Jesus processes into Jerusalem as ‘people spread their cloaks and leafy branches’ to welcome him in triumph and leads us to Easter with his death and resurrection. With tensions escalating, the gospels describe suffering, sin, confusion, greed, hope, faith, commitment and redemption. The story is anything but dated. It is a very human story of fear, doubt, the human propensity to misunderstand and the ease in which a crowd can swing. 

I have always been taken by the indecision of many when under pressure during the week leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. The Pharisees debating, some finding themselves isolated. The disciples vowing allegiance only to flee at the first sign of trouble. Pilate attempting to keep the peace only to succumb to the wishes of the crowd. Simon roped in to help a complete stranger; a choice he didn’t make. 

There is a part of ourselves that can relate to each of the characters. Every event scratches at the veneer we often wear on the surface of our lives. Only a few stand their ground at the foot of the cross led by Mary whose experience of Jesus was always a mystery but her faith never faltered. The Holy Week events is a faith journey. Do we exhibit the indecision of the majority or do we stand our ground alongside Mary? 

Open Evening was a tremendous occasion for showcasing our academic, cultural and sporting opportunities. Thank you to the parents, students, staff and our hard working maintenance team who presented our facilities and community spirit to our visitors. Thank you, in particular, to the large group of students who acted as Tour Guides. First impressions are lasting impressions and many of our visitors were complimentary of their positive interaction with their guides.

Similarly, the general public’s first impression of a Marist College Canberra boy is often when he is in the public domain. These impressions are also lasting impressions and it is essential that our boys are always at their best in public places. If boys cherish what is being attempted here for their education, they will ensure that they always act and dress in public in a manner which shows that they are proud of the College community. 

We are fortunate that enrolments far exceed placements we can offer. Please encourage any families considering a Marist education for their son to ensure applications are submitted by Friday 28 May 2021. 

Winter Uniform

Boys across the College, from Years 4-12, will return to school in their full winter school uniform in Term Two, including College tie, blazer and belt. College beanies (not Marist club beanies) may be worn during Terms Two and Three before school, at recess and lunch breaks.

Hair Cuts

We ask that our parents continue to support the College by ensuring your son’s haircut on return to Term Two complies with our College hair expectations as outlined in the Student Diary. 

Wet weather after school plans – especially on winter sports training days

As autumn turns to winter during Term Two, we ask that each family prepare a ‘wet weather’ afternoon plan for their son, and ensure that their son is aware of the plan should it rain after school on an afternoon that they are expected to have sports training. It is even a great idea to write down your agreed plan in the front or back of your son’s diary. This allows the teachers to support your son and ensure a calm transition to the wet weather plan at the end of a busy school day. As we know, Canberra weather can turn very quickly, which can result in last minute training cancellations that require an alternate afternoon plan. 

Labelling your son’s school items

The holidays will also provide time to ensure your son’s uniform items and lunch boxes are clearly labelled with your son’s name, so that they are not lost during the winter months. We also encourage you to replace any stationery items that your son may have lost, misplaced or broken since the beginning of the school year. Please label their pencil case.

Technology check in and Cyber Safety for your son

The holidays provide the time and space for parents to continue discussions with your sons about their use of computers and phones, and the need for cyber safety and awareness. If your son has their own phone in the primary school years, it is still strongly encouraged that you regularly sit with him to go through his engagement with any social media or games platforms to ensure their interactions are respectful of others and age appropriate. We also ask that parents remind their sons that they should not be taking photos or recording other students after or before school or whilst travelling on school buses as this is a breach of their privacy. If such incidents do occur, the boys need to be reminded that they can become police matters. If you would like some support in having these discussions with your son, the following website links provide useful information. At school, the boys are regularly reminded of their appropriate use of IT devices and we ask that parents and guardians support this by having regular discussions at home too.

AFP Think You Know

Marist have hosted the AFP in recent years to present their ‘Think You Know’ sessions to our boys and parents. Due to COVID, these sessions are currently not being held. Their website though has numerous resources that parents can access about age appropriate technology use, and how and where to report online abuse.

E Safety Commissioner

Likewise, the E Safety Commissioner’s website has useful resources and also allows parents to sign up for online webinars for parents and carers. Their ‘hard to have conversations’ section may be particularly useful as you navigate the language to use and what to avoid when talking to your son about some of the more complex topics that may enter their online world today.

The panel included David Smith MP, Sally Whyte (Canberra Times), Dion Devow (2018 ACT Australian of the Year), John Angley (Former US Trade Mission) and Anna-Maria Arabia (CE of Science and Technology Australia).

The Q and A style forum challenged the student’s leadership ideals, the importance of their roles within schools, and how emerging leaders will shape the future, especially around STEM technologies. The diverse panel also offered advice around leading people, decision-making and positioning themselves for bright futures. 

The final part of the experience was a behind the doors visit of the press facility at Parliament House including seeing the team within the ABC studios.

Marist students were also joined by leaders from St Clare’s College, Trinity Christian School and Canberra College.

Tom van de Waterbeemd
Head of Student Wellbeing

In 2021, the College is offering a number of bursaries to assist students in Years 10 to 12 with their musical performance studies on their choice of instrument or voice.

The criteria on which the bursaries are granted include:

• a strong commitment to College life
• a strong commitment to formal musical studies and the musical life within the College, and
• a deep interest in music, commensurate with the student’s musical ability.

The duration of the Bursary is one calendar year. The Flynn Bursary provides the recipient with a remission of a portion of school fees, musical tuition and music books for the school year.

Students wishing to apply for a Flynn Bursary must submit an application form providing details of their musical interests and studies. Application forms should preferably be typed. Click here to access the application form.

The completed application form should be forwarded to Mr Matthew Hutchison, Headmaster, by the close of school this Friday, 23 April 2021.

Please endorse the envelope with ‘Flynn Bursary’ and the student’s name.

Jarrod Schindler
Head of Performing Arts

The College was pleased to recently host the ACT Association of Independent Schools (AIS) and guest speakers Dr Mark Dowley and Dr Ray Swann from the Crowther Centre at Brighton Grammar (Vic). Mark and Ray spent the day with 25 teachers and school leaders from AIS member schools developing skills, knowledge and understanding around Instructional Coaching of teachers. They also worked with the group on ideas for developing coaching programs in our schools with reference to our specific pedagogical approaches.

The College has a team of six coaches who very much appreciated the opportunity to further develop their knowledge base.

Jane Pamenter
Head of Professional Learning

Darlinghurst House recently kicked off their ambitious aim to support four local charities this year with a Bake Sale that coincided with their House Day.

The money raised from this sale, along with the boys donating half the value of their pizza, went to Epilepsy ACT. Fiona Allardyce came and spoke to the boys about how Epilepsy ACT provides support, reassurance, advocacy, referral and information to those who suffer from epilepsy within the immediate Canberra community and surrounds. The organisation also promotes understanding of epilepsy through education and increased community awareness. Darlinghurst House is again very happy to be able to support them. 

A big thank you to the Darlinghurst parents who supported their sons in supplying the baked goods. Thank you also to the boys and staff who, for the past two years, have allowed their special day to be inclusive of giving back to those in need. It says a lot about Darlinghurst House and what we stand for.

Luke Croker
Darlinghurst House Dean

Tracksuit jacket and pants update

The transition of Uniform Shop management with Alinta Apparel and Marist College Canberra has provided an exciting new upgrade to the tracksuit jacket and pants.

The newly upgraded Tracksuit Jacket is available in sizes J12, J14, XS and small. The Tracksuit Pants sizes available are J10, J12, J14, XS and small. Both items are now available for sale in the Uniform Shop.

If you have a back order or online order, you will be contacted by email once your order is processed and ready for collection.

April school holiday hours

Opening times have been set for the second week of the school holidays leading into Term Two and the change over to winter uniform. No appointments are needed for express sales, blazer collection, and sizing exchanges.

• Wednesday 14 April: 9.00am – 2.00pm
• Thursday 15 April: 12.30pm – 5.30pm
• Saturday 17 April: 9.00am – 2.00pm

A friendly reminder, the following items are now available and ready for winter fittings or collection:

• Tracksuit jacket – all sizes
• Tracksuit pants – all sizes
• Music folders (Black)
• School Blazers        
• Navy wool jumpers                                               
• School bags                                                           
• Sports/PE Shorts
• Grey jumpers, and
• Long sleeve shirts.

Items on sale – 50% off

• Kooga Tracksuits - mainly larger sizes
• Years 4-6 Navy Fleece Jumper (available to be worn with formal uniform) – various sizes
• Navy Knitted Jumpers (old school crest design available to be worn) – sizes 16, 26 and 28.

On the morning of Tuesday 30 March, the College hosted our third Son-Rise Breakfast. This was attended by a large number of families and their sons.

The keynote presenter was Denis O’Brien who reflected on his life, specifically on raising five children with his wife Jacinta. Denis highlighted the role that they as parents have in partnering with the College in the development and formation of their sons. Denis and Jacinta had four boys educated at Marist. Click here to view a transcript of his talk.

We also took the opportunity to launch the 'Fathering Project' at the College. This is a national organisation that seeks to work alongside school communities. Their goal is for every young person in Australia to have a father or intentional father figure in their life. The Fathering Project aims to improve child development outcomes by inspiring and equipping fathers and father figures to effectively engage with their kids. 

The College has created our own Fathering Project group and all families are encouraged to visit the website and join the group. Click here to register. 

Peter Hawes
Assistant Head of School - Mission and Identity

The wider Marist community is invited to attend the Way of the Cross in the grounds of the College this Friday, 2 April 2021, at 10.30am.

As numbers for this year’s event are limited, registrations are essential for those over the age of 16. Click here to register.

A reminder that any participants will need to sign into the event using the ‘Check In CBR’ app, be mindful of social distancing, and follow any instructions given by staff.

We hope you can join us at this special community event!

The Schoolboy Head of the River Regatta held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre is the traditional end-of-season regatta for the Marist Rowing Club.

This year, due to a COVID reduced program, the boys boarded the bus early on Saturday 13 March for a day trip and were greeted by perfect conditions for rowing.

A big thank you to all the parents and coaches who made the trip and assisted on the day. It was a great experience for our novice rowers, getting to compete at an international level facility.

Marist boys were represented on the podium in all year levels. Congratulations to the following students:

• Senior 2nd quad: William Davies, Michael Keating, Jack Miller, Riley Chifley, Cox: Tom Penrose - 3rd
• Year 10 single: Jesse Rosin - 2nd
• Year 9 3rd quad: James Harrex, Xavier Robens, Jonas Bailey, William Choules, Cox: Mitchell Wadie - 3rd
• Year 9 2nd quad: Maximus Hastie, Joshua Coates, Charles Carter, James Templeton, Cox: Roland Carter - 3rd
• Year 8 double: Koen McCann and Jacobi Skene - 3rd. 

Danny Rosin
Marist College Canberra Rowing Club

Anyone interested in trialling for the various regional sports needs to log onto the School Sport ACT website and register for the sport that your child wishes to trial. It is the responsibility of parents to monitor the website for any upcoming sporting events, if your child is interested in competing in the regional competitions.

Please also note: if your child is successful in being selected for an ACT team to participate in a national or regional tournament, you need to write a formal letter to the Deputy Headmaster or Head of Junior School to seek permission for absence from school during this period. Once the College has received such a request, it can then be formally approved for your son’s participation in this activity with School Sport ACT. Secondly, we will also be able to acknowledge his achievement in the College newsletter. 

Paul Mead
Head of Sport