What's On - 26 July 2023

An important announcement was made at the College last Friday. Please click here to read a letter from Headmaster Matthew Hutchison. 

Please be aware that Thursday 17 August (Week 5) is Moderation Day - this is a pupil free day for all students (Years 4 - 12). 

The Social Science Department is excited to offer Students in Years 8 - 12 (2024) an opportunity to experience an unforgettable journey to Europe in 2024. This is a life-changing journey, filled with first-hand cultural encounters, memorable historic sites and valuable insights into the complex history of continental Europe.

The tour will be held from 30 September - 14 October 2024 and visit France, Belgium, Germany and Austria. 

For more information, please click here. Booking enquiries and/or expressions of interest can be directed to Matt Calder.

Matt Calder
Footsteps and Camp Coordinator

The College’s 2023 AMS Appeal is closing at the end of the week. We are supporting two projects: Chetana Tribal Boys Hostel, Talit, West Bengal and St Joseph’s School, Mabiri, Bougainville.

If you have not made a donation, please consider doing so.

Over a long period of time, we have made opportunities for mothers to be together in a prayerful, relaxed space.

Marist College invites you to a retreat for mothers, grandmothers, and significant mother figures.

Where: Marist College Canberra, Senior Common Room
Date: Tonight, Wednesday 9 August
Time: 5.30pm - 7.30pm

Please click here to register your attendance. For more information, please contact Nick Lansdown-Weir.

All parents, carers, students, and staff are welcome to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption with the Celebration of the Eucharist at lunchtime in the Junior School Hall.

Date: Tuesday 15 August 
Time: 1.00pm
Location: Junior School Hall

Celebrated every year on August 15, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary commemorates the death of Mary and her bodily assumption into Heaven, before her body could begin to decay—a foretaste of our own bodily resurrection at the end of time. Because it signifies the Blessed Virgin's passing into eternal life, it is the most important of all Marian feasts and a Holy Day of Obligation.

If you are interested in The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (a process for preparing and welcoming new and returning members into the Catholic Church), please see the below invitation from Fr Richard:

On Sunday 23 July we begin the first session for the second half of the year for the RCIA/Adult Faith Formation discussions.

We welcome you to join us in the Mary Help of Christians Parish Hall after the 10am Mass or attend from 11am for a cuppa and to begin the session.

Future session dates: August 13, August 27, September 10 and September 27. Any questions can be directed to Fr Richard, Bernadette Layton, Kathryn Hailey, Don Smith or Peter Heffernan through the parish office or for more information please click here.

Rehearsals for Little Brothers Production have commenced and will run on Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday of Week 2, Week 3, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 9 and Week 10.

Boys only need to attend on their nominated day.

Week 8  

Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 September – Year 4 Camp

Friday 8 September – Year 4 Reflection and Leadership Day

Friday 8 September - 6 Marcellin students' special invitation to attend Friday Morning Mass

(Please note there are no Little Brothers Production Rehearsals this week)

Week 9 

Tuesday 12, Wednesday 13, Thursday 14 September - Little Brothers Production Rehearsal
*Boys have been allocated nights to rehearse and only need attend for one night each week 

Week 10 

Tuesday 19, Wednesday 20, Thursday 21 September - Little Brothers Production Rehearsal
*Boys have been allocated nights to rehearse and only need attend for one night each week 

Friday 22 September – Junior School House Singing Competition and Ball Games Carnival

Junior School students recently received the Issue 5 Scholastic Book Club. All orders must be submitted online by Friday 4 August.  Please note, we cannot accept cash at this time.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the Book Club so far this year. Our Junior School Novel Bunch students have enjoyed selecting books to be added to the Library collection. These have been redeemed from Scholastic using reward points that we receive from your purchases.

Bookweek is just around the corner, and the College will be hosting Author Visits in Term 3. The College is excited to welcome award-winning authors Katrina Nannestad and Mark Greenwood, who will be sharing their love for storytelling and books with some of our Junior Students.

To make the experience even more memorable, the College is offering the opportunity to pre-order signed copies of their books. These books will be delivered on the day of the author's visit. To place an order, simply visit the website and complete your purchase. Be sure to include the name, school, and class in the shipping notes, and select the ‘school visit’ delivery option.

Mark Greenwood is coming to Marist on 9 August. Mark Greenwood is an award-winning Australian author who has written books that foster a fascination about history for children of all ages. His books about Australian history have been published all over the world and have been used as teaching resources within curriculums in Australia. To read more about Mark or pre-order one of his books please click here.

Katrina Nannestad is coming to Marist College on 15 August. Katrina's work beautifully captures difficult topics and important stories, translating them into sensitive pieces of work that can be enjoyed by both children and adults alike. To read more about Katrina or pre-order one of her books please click here.

Marist College Canberra and the Marist College Canberra Old Boys Association are pleased to welcome Old Boys from 1983, 1993, 2003 and 2013 to our second annual Super Reunion. Please join us for a BBQ, refreshments and school tours this Saturday from 12.00pm. 

Date: Saturday 11 November 2023
Time: 12.00pm – 4.00pm
Location: Marist College Canberra 

Please register your attendance by clicking your reunion year below. 

Class of 2013 – 10 Year Reunion
Class of 2003 – 20 Year Reunion
Class of 1993 – 30 Year Reunion
Class of 1983 – 40 Year Reunion

The reunions offer a wonderful opportunity for Old Boys to reunite, reconnect and reminisce about years past. 

Last chance to get your tickets for tomorrow's Whiskey Night - a night for Old Boys hosted by Brendan Smyth (Old Boy 1977) and supported by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and MCCOBA businesses Prohibition Urban Cellars and Goodradigbee Distillers.

When: Tomorrow Night! Thursday 24 August from 7.00pm - 9.30pm 
Where: Marist College Canberra Staffroom
Dress: Smart Casual
Cost: $50 per person (includes tasting, canapes, beer, wine and soft drink) Spirits will be available for sampling and purchasing on the night. 

This event will be a fantastic opportunity for members to come together, enjoy some fine spirits, and hear from experts in the field. Whether you are a whiskey enthusiast or just looking for a fun night out, we hope you will join us. 

The St Vincent de Paul Society has launched its annual Vinnies Winter Appeal with a focus on the number of older women experiencing and at risk of homelessness. The latest census figures revealed women over 55 remain one of the most at-risk demographics, increasing by 37% over the past decade to more than 7,300 across Australia.

This year we are again asking members of the Marist Community to join us in making a difference by making donations of warm blankets, jumpers, socks, gloves and other winter-related clothing that are new or in very good condition. These items can be donated in identified boxes located in House Deans’ offices until Friday 4 August.

This year our specialist homelessness teams have identified the following donation needs:

• Gloves
• Scarves
• Jumpers
• Warm Jackets
• Blankets
• Sleeping Bags
• Sleeping Mats
• Supermarket Vouchers
• Non-Perishable Snack Food

Marist Vinnies group would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support and your kind donations.

Lorraine Gannon
Head of Social Science

The College Puffer Vests in sizes J10, J12 & J14 are due to arrive in September. Previously the message has been early August, this is not accurate. They will be arriving in late term 3.

Lots of stock has been ordered and is due for orientation time for all new student fittings.

Uniform Shop staff have your backorder on file and will contact you by text once stock arrives.

Additional stock has been ordered to accommodate demand, but this order will take a few months to arrive in the uniform shop.

Marist College Canberra Uniform Shop
Email: maristcanberra@alinta.com.au
Website: www.alintaapparel.com.au
Uniform Shop: 0432 707 901
Call Centre: 02 4321 0433 (outside shop hours)

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.

For all other 2024 enrolment queries, please read our FAQ's and timeline or contact the College Registrar.

A friendly reminder to families to continue to notify the College should a student test positive or be a household contact.

If a student tests positive to COVID-19, please -

• Notify the College via covidnotifications@mcc.act.edu.au and include the date they tested positive. You will receive a response with additional information and guidance. 
• Consider registering the positive test result via the ACT Government or NSW Government notification form:  ACT Form or NSW Form, and 
• Ensure they stay at home and not attend the College if feeling unwell or displaying COVID-19 symptoms (including runny nose, sore throat, cough, fever).

The student will also not be permitted to attend overnight excursions (for example school camps).

If a student is a household contact, please –

• Notify the College via covidnotifications@mcc.act.edu.au and include the date the household contact tested positive. You will receive a response with additional information and guidance.
• Ensure they not attend the College if symptomatic, and
• Ensure they closely monitor for COVID-19 symptoms, test regularly using a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) and wear a mask while indoors at the College.

Visitors are to not attend the College if they are feeling unwell or displaying COVID-19 symptoms. If they are a Household contact, they are to only attend the College if asymptomatic and wear a mask while indoors.

We also ask that all members of our community prevent the spread of COVID-19 by practicing the following COVID-Smart Behaviours:

• Stay up to date with vaccinations
• Stay home if unwell and get tested for COVID-19
• Wash hands and practice good personal hygiene
• Physically distance 1.5 metres 
• Wear a mask in indoor public spaces.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and assistance as we work to keep our community safe from COVID. If you have any questions in relation to this matter, please email covidnotifications@mcc.act.edu.au. 

Student Care Insurance is held by the College is to assist families in the event a student suffers an injury while engaged in a school activity, such as an excursion, or an endorsed program, such as a sporting or co-curricular activity. It is important to note that the policy, held with Catholic Church Insurances (CCI), is limited in its coverage, and does not cover the Medicare gap or any cost subject to a Medicare rebate. Given this, the College recommends that families consider maintaining a private health insurance policy.

Claims accepted by CCI provide a level of coverage for personal accidents and a range of related expenses as well as other allowances in line with the policy. The Policy is known as the “School Activities Only Policy". 

To make a claim please contact the College’s Risk and Compliance team via 62987200. We will check the College has a report of the injury and will provide information on how to make a claim and who to list as the College contact. The process, from submission of claim to closure, is managed directly between the family and the insurer CCI. The College does not have visibility of the claim, or the claim process once lodged with CCI.

Further information is available here or on the CCI website.

The following JPL Basketball games are being held in Marcellin Hall on Friday 4 August 2023. Please come along and cheer on our basketball players.

Cricket season is coming!

Registrations for the 2023-24 season are now open and close at the end of August to allow time for trials and team placement. Registrations (and payments) are conducted on-line through PlayHQ.

Boys not at Marist in Year 3 or Year 6 (or other years) who gain enrolment for next year are encouraged to play for Marist this coming season.

FEE STRUCTURE

Our fees for the 2023/24 season are:

• Single player registration is $195
• 1st Sibling discounted registration is $145
• Additional sibling discounted registration is $95

All registration fees are inclusive of the $16 National cricket fee and player insurance.

Registration & information for the 2023 - 24 Marist Cricket season can be found on the Club website.

You can prepare for the coming season at the annual Marist Cricket Winter Clinic.

The clinic will be held on four Sunday mornings (6, 13, 20, 27 August) from 9.30am - 12.00pm each day. Numbers are limited. Details are also on the Club website.

Wayne Cassidy
MCC Cricket Club Information Officer