Enews - 7 February 2020

It is my great pleasure, on behalf of the Marist College Canberra community, to welcome all to the 2020 academic year. In particular, we welcome the 167 new families and the 247 new students who will be wearing their Marist uniform for the first time. We are delighted that you have chosen our community to be educated where together we create fine young men. No doubt there is much excitement, and possibly some natural trepidation, that comes with any new beginning and we look forward to getting to know the boys and witnessing their growth as they journey with us in the years ahead.

We also welcome new staff to the College and await their generous contribution to our Marist community. We hope all our new members of the community come to experience, and also help to create, the sense of community that we value so much at this College. We hope they experience the College as a community of people who deeply care about one another.

To our returning students, we hope you are refreshed, renewed and excited about a fresh start with new goals and opportunities to embrace. The start of a school year brings with it a vitality. Staff and students are optimistic for what lies ahead. Aspirational expectations are infectious, spreading through the school in a palpable way. School uniforms are worn as they should, with pride and purpose, while students throw themselves into academic and co-curricular pursuits with equal determination.

The year offers much excitement, celebration and opportunity. We look forward to the journey ahead.

Matthew Hutchison

It has been a holiday season dominated by unprecedented fires, destructive hail storms and even floods. The loss of life and homes, the devastation to landscape and wildlife (an estimated 1 billion wildlife killed) is beyond belief. There may well be a restlessness or sadness amongst our boys on their return to school and I ask parents to keep us informed to ensure we provide the appropriate support.

The fires challenged many things in this country that we take for granted - clean air, greeting of birds, electronic contact with families, electricity and water supplies. It also challenged us in regard to Australian summers in the future and actions we must take. 

At the same time, the fires deepened people’s relationships to one another and to the natural world. The heroism of those fighting fires, the generous response to special appeals to support people in their recovery were signs of hope amongst the sadness and loss. We offer prayers for those who have lost loved ones and homes in these ‘Black Summer’ bushfires and for those truly heroic women and men who are helping to fight the blaze.

At the recent Amazon Synod in Rome, Pope Francis spoke passionately about two of his greatest priorities and he sees them as interlinked. He called for honesty, courage and responsibility to protect the planet and vulnerable people. Francis used strong words and spoke about a brutal injustice if we fail to hear ‘both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.’ One of our challenges at Marist College Canberra is to place these environmental concerns at a much higher priority in our strategic thinking.

At the entrance to the College a crumpled figure lies sleeping on a park bench. The figure is, in fact, a statue of the ‘Homeless Jesus.’ The bronze sculpture, to be blessed later this term by Archbishop Prowse, is one of about 100 ‘Homeless Jesus’ statues throughout the world.

The idea for ‘Homeless Jesus’ was born when Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz was driving past people living on the streets in Toronto. Amongst the busyness of a city lay the contrasting fragile figure of a person covered up in a blanket. He was shocked, and felt he had just witnessed Jesus.

The sculpture is intended to be “a visual translation” of the Gospel of Matthew passage when Jesus teaches his disciples about the need for compassion, “as you did it to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me.” The passage slowly reveals his message as does ‘Homeless Jesus’. At first, you just see the statue of a homeless person but with closer investigation, you realise it is Jesus by the visible crucifixion wounds on his feet protruding out from the blanket.

The sculpture invites you, quite literally, to sit at the feet of Christ. There is a place to sit and touch the sculpture, perhaps pray. I love the idea of a boy describing the pickup location as “Sitting next to the Homeless Jesus.”

Whilst the statue may be confronting to some, it is an appropriate statement about who we are at Marist College Canberra, the people we must engage with, and our responsibilities to care for, and even get to know, those living on the peripheries of our society.

All parents new to the College in 2020 are invited to join us for an informal get together on Friday 14 February 2020 from 5.30pm to 7.00pm in the College’s Pavilion.

Please RSVP by emailing headmaster@mcc.act.edu.au

We look forward to welcoming our new parents in 2020.

As the new school commences, we extend a warm welcome to our new staff. We also extend our best wishes to the following staff assuming positions of responsibility in 2020:

• Kirsty Bell – Acting Assistant Head of Junior School
• Nathan Ahearne - Assistant Head of School Mission and Formation
• Jonathon McGrath – Acting Head of Student Wellbeing Junior School
• Darren Leech – Mark House Dean
• Leigh Southwell – Careers Advisor
• Charles Bootes – Acting Lavalla House Dean
• Kerrie Jones - Accountant (Finance Office)
• Michelle Stonehouse - EA Director of Business Services
• Tara McKeown - Assistant Head of Mathematics
• Antony Ceruti - Year 10 Trek Coordinator
• Michael Seselja and Aaron Healey – Youth Ministry Officers

We offer our best wishes to the following staff who are taking extended leave in 2020:

Heather Lloyd (Term 1), Jon Donovan (Term 1), Matt Topham (Term 1), Sonia Kelly (Term 1), Vasant Cheriachan (Term 1), Sandra Marron (Term 1) Marjorie Golcich, Tara Blacker and Michael Stinziani (Teacher Exchange Colorado).

We welcome back the following returning staff:

Julie Ward, Wayne McAuliffe, Laurie Hicks (Term 1), Michele Skvorc, Kreso Gavran, Michael Hanna, Luke Morwitch and Stephen Rowland.

During the school holidays, Peter Whiting, Junior School teacher, tendered his resignation. We wish him the very best in his new teaching role in Harlem, New York. We also sadly say farewell to Tracey Chifley (Administrative Assistant) on Friday 14 February. Tracey has accepted an exciting new role in the Public Service. Congratulations and best wishes to Peter and Tracey in their respective new positions. Please join me in congratulating Nathan Ahearne (Assistant Head of School - Mission and Formation) who has been successful in his application to present at the International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) in Barcelona, Spain in July. The title of Nathan’s research topic is: “Detoxifying Masculinity, Redefining Service learning for Purposeful Connection.”

Glenn Slater
Assistant Head of School - Staff and Community

On behalf of the College community, I offer my deepest sympathies to:

• Elke McAnulty – on the passing of her mother, Mrs Jutta Trinkies
• Kate and Andy Lofthouse – on the passing of Kate’s aunt, Mrs Nina Sylvie
• Rohit Bhatnagar – on the sudden passing of his brother in-law, Pradeep Rufus
• Wayne and Louise Dunn on the passing of their son Mark Dunn – Old Boy 2010 (Crispin House). Much loved brother to Vanessa, Peter and Gillian and brother-in-law to Brendan.

Glenn Slater

Assistant Head of School – Staff and Community

During Term 1, new students at the College from Years 4 - 8 will participate in Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) in Spelling, Mathematics, Vocabulary, Reading and Science. PAT tests are designed to assess each student’s current capability against the appropriate standard for their age.

Unlike NAPLAN, the PAT assessments do not generate a student/parent report. However, student data is available to our teachers and is a valuable source of information on each student’s development. We use PAT data as one of the many tools to assess student progress and growth. Teachers also use the results to track each student’s development from year to year. This information is another useful tool for identifying those students who require extra support or extension in their studies.

The PAT testing process will be explained to all students and should not be seen as a stressful “pass or fail” assessment. Students will be encouraged to view the tests as a way for teachers to learn more about their capabilities and then design learning programs that enhance their learning. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns about the PAT testing process.

More information and resources relating to PAT testing can be found at: www.acer.org/au/pat

Grant Barclay

Head of Student Progress

Next week, on Wednesday 12 February 2020, we will celebrate the beginning of the Footsteps year with our Launch Day. 

All families of Year 9 students are welcome to attend the morning assembly to be held in the Senior Hall from 8.45am – 9.30am.

Please click here to RSVP for the event if you want to attend.

Peter Igoe-Taylor

Footsteps Coordinator

Debating is alive and well at the College however, we are always looking for more students.

• The key to debating is learning how to make smart arguments to support ideas.
• Debating is about logical and objective analysis: students need to think of persuasive reasons to win an argument.
• Students need to organise ideas and work as a team.
• Debating is great to help build the confidence to speak in front of an audience.  

We welcome your son to join one of our Year 7-12 Marist Debating teams. No experience is necessary.

Students can get information from the Daily Notices OR see Mr Borgia for any other information.

Damian Borgia
Debating Coordinator

The year started smoothly in the Junior School on Monday with hundreds of new and eager Marist boys joining the Marist Family.

I was delighted to visit our classes this week and to witness, calm and engaged boys and teachers across Years 4, 5 and 6. The Junior School boys and their parents can be really proud of their efforts so far. We warmly welcome Mr Declan Welsh who has recently joined our Junior School teaching team.

As a school, we continue to pray for our College families affected by the recent and ongoing fires. We have had Junior School families and staff impacted by fire evacuations and loss of property in the past few months. Should you feel your son is having difficulty understanding or processing the recent fires, please do not hesitate to discuss this with their teacher or our College Counsellor.

Servo Fidem

Kirsty Bell

Assistant Head of School – Head of Junior School (Acting)

Next Tuesday, 11 February, we warmly welcome all Junior School parents to meet their son’s teacher and hear what has been planned for the year ahead. We will begin the evening at the earlier time of 6.00pm in the Junior School Hall. You will then move on to your son’s classroom. Please note: the 6.00pm starting time is updated from previous communication. 

We request that at least one parent/guardian be present for the evening. This is an occasion for parents/carers and no child care will be provided.

The Junior School will hold their Swimming Carnival on Monday 17 February at the Queanbeyan Swimming and Leisure Centre. 

Parents and carers are asked to return the Swimming Carnival permission note that was distributed to boys this week. You are most welcome to attend our Carnival and watch the boys race and participate in their novelty events throughout the day. 

Thank you to our Sports Coordinator Alan Keogh for his preparation for our Carnival.

Year 4 families are asked to claim the date on their calendars for our upcoming Year 4 Grandparents Morning on Monday 23 March. The Year 4 boys are encouraged to invite their grandparents or significant person in their lives if their grandparents are unable to attend. More information will come from the Year 4 teaching team in the coming weeks.

As notified, the Junior School boys will now come to school dressed in their PE clothing instead of getting changed at school. A reminder that the boys wear their light blue College crest shirt for PE lessons and their House coloured t-shirts on Friday.

A positive relationship between home and school is essential for us to best support your sons. Should you have any questions, concerns or praise, you are encouraged to contact your son’s classroom/specialist teacher by email.

Should you feel a face-to-face interview would be a better option, please email to arrange a suitable meeting time with your son’s teacher. Please note: Impromptu/unplanned parent/teacher meetings before or after school are not allowed as our teachers have regular meetings and co-curricular commitments. We also prefer for our teachers to be well prepared for the lessons of the day. 

To contact your son’s teacher use their firstname+surname@mcc.act.edu.au
(for example: JohnSmith@mcc.act.edu.au)

The College provides Junior School families with an outside school hours Study and Sport Program (SASP) between the hours of 3.05pm to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday, during school terms.

Our Study and Sport Program is run in a safe and healthy environment, and includes the opportunity for academic and personal growth, leisure activity and friendship. 

Click here to view more information about the Program and here to download the Booking Form.  

Whole-of-Junior School formal assemblies in 2020 will be held on Thursday afternoon starting at 1.45pm in the Senior Hall. Families of award winners will be invited to these events. 

Class assemblies will continue to be held on Friday afternoons in the Junior School Hall, starting at 2.30pm. When your sons class is hosting the assembly, their class teacher will notify you so that you may attend. Each class will have one assembly per year where they will showcase what they have been learning in class. 

Please click here for information, dates and the form for the sacraments for the Parish of the Transfiguration North Woden and here for the dates of the sacramental program for Mary Help of Christians. 

• Being Marist Parent Evening: Wednesday 4 March
• Son-Rise Breakfast: Tuesday 31 March
• Mothers’ Mass: Thursday 7 May

Following the College Assembly on Friday, students in Year 7-12 were invited to sign up to a Faith Formation group, service activity or our new Game Changers program. 

Please encourage your son discuss to an area to be involved in.

Marist Winter Sporting Clubs will have online registration processes opening during February. Please check Club websites prior to registration for more information. Parents need to ensure that their son/s 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, basketball 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 sport. 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 age-based competitions. 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 it is managed appropriately if the need for this happens. 

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

Anyone interested in trialling for the various regional sports needs to log onto the School Sports 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. As this website is currently experiencing issues, a range of information can be found via School Sport's ACT Facebook page. 

A reminder: 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 Acting Head of Junior School to seek permission for absences longer than three days from school during this period.

Once the College has received such a request for your son’s participation in an activity with ACT Schools Sport, his absence can then be reviewed. Secondly, if formally approved, we will be also able to acknowledge his achievement in the College newsletter. 

Paul Mead
Head of Sport