What's On - 8 May 2024

Join us in the Senior Hall from 8.30am on Thursday 9 May for the annual Mothers Mass.

Marist mothers, grandmothers and carers, past and present, and their sons, are warmly invited to celebrate Mass to acknowledge the special role you have in shaping the lives of your sons and grandsons.

At the conclusion of Mass, mothers are invited to share in a light morning tea, while boys will go to class. 

You are not required to sign him into school if you have registered him as attending the Mothers and Sons Mass.

For more information, and to register, click here.

Laudato Si’ Week will take place from May 19-26 and the Marist Justice and Solidarity Group aim to inspire “a personal and cultural transformation in the midst of our ecological and climate crises” with events and activities throughout Week 14. This year’s theme is “Seeds of Hope”, inspired by the Season of Creation 2024 symbol, “the firstfruits of hope”. The theme is accompanied by a guiding quote from Laudate Deum: “There are no lasting changes without cultural changes … and there are no cultural changes without personal changes” (LD 70).

Families are encouraged to access the Celebration Guide and take up some of the daily actions such as inspiring ecological conversion, promoting sustainable transportation and food, reducing waste, and educating oneself on integral ecology.

The Br Francois Service Medal recognises an Old Boy of the College who has demonstrated that he continues to keep the faith in the service of others. The Medal is named after one of the earliest Brothers, Br Francois (Gabriel Rivat), who joined the Little Brothers of Mary at the time of St Marcellin and became the first Superior-General of the order. The 2023 recipient of the medal was Matthew Wilson who is passionate and committed to supporting young people through a wide range of circumstances, especially those who are vulnerable due to mental health issues, have disabilities or been negatively impacted by circumstances outside of their control. Nominations close May 10 2024. To nominate and read more information click here.

Nathan Ahearne
Assistant Head of School - Mission and Identity

Mothers Mass

We look forward to welcoming our registered attendees this Thursday for our Marist Mothers Mass. Junior School students are asked to drop their school bag in the hallway outside their classroom, before heading to the Mothers Mass with their mother/grandmother. Junior School students attending the Mass with their guests will return to class after the Mass concludes. Mothers/grandmothers will enjoy a morning tea after Mass. 

Grandparents Day 

This week the Junior School is hosting our Year 4 Grandparents Day. We look forward to meeting the registered participants this coming Friday in the Senior School Hall, through Gate 1.

Year 6 Camp

Best wishes to our Year 6 boys and their teachers who venture off on their Year 6 camp next Monday morning, for four days. Final reminders will be sent to parents at the end of this week.

Junior School PE and Sport 

Congratulations to the 2024 Athletics Age Champions:

Junior School Cross Country

The Junior School Cross Country Carnival will take place between recess and lunch on Thursday 23 May. Any Junior School parents who would like to assist by being a Course Marshall should contact Ged Galvin to register. Please include your son’s name and class. Instructions will be emailed out.

South Weston Regional Athletics

The South Weston Regional Athletics Carnival will be held next term, 22 August. Squad selections and further information will be distributed early in Term 3. Regional and ACT event dates can be located on the School Sport ACT calendar available here. 

School photographs continue this week, taken by Advanced Life Photography on the following days:

Thursday 30 May 2024

• Photos taken of students from Years 9,10,11 & 12.
• Catch-up day for any students that were away on Wednesday 22 May.
• Year 6 and Year 12 group photos.

Monday 3 June 2024

• Catch up day for any students that miss having their individual photo taken.

Students must wear full school winter uniform. Hair is to be neat, tidy and above the collar, be out of the eyes, of even grade and no shorter than a hairdresser’s number 3 comb. Hair should not be tied or pinned up. Boys are to be clean shaven, and sideburns should not extend beyond the middle of the ear.

Orders for packages and sibling photographs can be placed securely online at www.advancedlife.com.au using the College’s unique nine-digit code: CPV 34T QBM

The preference is for ordering and payment to be completed online to reduce administration and potential security issues related to the return of cash and envelopes on photo day.

Portrait and group package orders are due by Monday 20 May 2024.

Sibling photos will be taken in the Senior School Hall at Lunchtime on Monday 3 June 2024.

Should you wish to purchase a sibling photograph online, the order must be placed no later than Monday 21 May 2024. Sibling photographs will only be taken if an order has been placed.

Any queries concerning school photographs or online ordering should be directed via email to enquiries@advancedlife.com.au or alternatively, you can contact Gail Anderson. 

Marist College Canberra is committed to the challenge of Closing the Gap as part of our ongoing journey of Reconciliation.

We are committed to putting these words into action, and in Week 13, Marist College Canberra will host its inaugural First Nations’ Week.

The schedule below outlines the important and inclusive activities we have planned for the week. Parents of Indigenous students are reminded that there will be a First Nations’ Parent Night on Monday 13 May, and we look forward to seeing you there. Please contact the College if you have not received your invitation.

Matthew Rowland
Footsteps Coordinator and Indigenous Relations Officer

Orienteering is the sport of using a map and a compass to find your way around a set course in the landscape.

This term it has been my pleasure to work with Orienteering ACT to completely revise our school orienteering program. With their assistance we have been able to capitalize on grant funding available through the Commonwealth Government’s Sporting Schools program to achieve:

• a new map of the school, prepared in line with international orienteering standards
  
• permanent orienteering markers placed throughout the senior and junior campuses
• a range of ‘line courses’ for students to navigate, using the map and markers.
  

The permanent markers replicate the ‘flags’ traditionally used for orienteering, though we have also obtained a set of those. The markers are not hidden, though some are more noticeable than others. They are intended to be obvious to any person navigating with a map, but subtle enough not to stand out to casual passers-by. Each marker has a number code that enables participants to check they have arrived at the correct ‘control’ location, and a letter code they can write down to confirm their visit.

Orienteering ACT has also provided us with access to a full suite of curriculum documents and program delivery materials for activities ranging from introduction to navigation through to complex line courses for navigating fun on the run for Years 4-12.

Wayne McAuliffe
Head of Health & Physical Education

Little Brothers Production Auditions

We are excited to announce the Little Brothers production for 2024 will be Roald Dahl’s "The Twits".

All students in Years 4-7 are invited and welcome to audition for this production.

Auditions will take place in the Veritas Theatre on:

• WEEK 13 - THURSDAY 16 MAY from 3.20–5.30pm
• WEEK 13 - FRIDAY 17 MAY from 3.20pm-5.30pm

To best fit students to roles and allow for a fun drama workshop for all, we ask that students attend one workshop for the full two hours.

Rehearsals will commence in Term 2 and the final production will be in Week 9 of Term 3.

Full details and the audition form link can be found on the Performing Arts Co-curricular Website.

Auditions for Co-curricular Ensembles for the 2024/2025 Season

Audition applications for Senior Concert Band / Senior Jazz Band and Middle Years Jazz Band are now open.

Passing an audition confirms membership for the July 2024 to June 2025 season.

Students can check the membership eligibility rules and audition requirements at the Performing Arts Co-curricular Website.

Auditions close in Week 16.

Again, this year we will be hosting our Career Information Night on Tuesday 28 May from 6.00pm - 8.00pm. This brings together over 60 stallholders from our community to provide information to our current students about career pathways, job opportunities and study options. We like to focus on these stalls being filled with people from our Marist community – parents, Old Boys and employers. This is a great opportunity to promote your career pathway, advertise jobs, and network with other Marist community members. Last year we had over 600 people through the doors.

We aim to provide a really broad range of career pathways from professions, trade, health, business and IT, so if you can offer your time and advice to our current students, it will be much appreciated!

If you would like to have a stall and advertise your business, career pathway or speak directly to students and pass on advice about your career please contact Leigh Southwell
for further information.

Leigh Southwell
Careers Adviser/Teacher

Enrolments

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 2024 Walkathon will take place as part of our Champagnat Day celebrations on Thursday 6 June, and will raise funds towards three incredibly important services in our community:

• Catholic Care – Mackillop House
• HOME in Queanbeyan
• Br Mark May Bursary Fund.

The annual Walkathon is the College’s single major fundraising project. Given the emphasis on helping those in need within our local community, we seek your strong support in meeting our sponsorship aim. We thank you in anticipation of your assistance both in encouraging your son in his participation and sponsorship.

Please note, the 2024 College Walkathon is cashless and all pledges are to be transferred via the payment page, accessible via the QR code on students' sponsorship cards, or via this link.

We're grateful for the overwhelming response to this year's Blue and Blue dinner. Three tickets have become available for purchase - if you're interested, please email events@mcc.act.edu.au to secure them. It's first-come, first-served!

Event Details:
2024 Blue and Blue Dinner – Winter Ball

Date: Friday 17 May
Time: 7.00pm – 11.30pm
Venue: National Arboretum Canberra
Dress: Black Tie
Cost: $210 per ticket.

Ticket includes welcome drinks, 3 course alternate serve gourmet meal, 4-hour drinks package and live entertainment.

ACT/Southern NSW Snowsports Interschools July 23 - 26: Marist Registrations Open

Registrations for Snowsports Interschools are now open. The Interschools will be held from Tuesday 23 - Friday 26 July (Week 1 of Term 3). All Skiers and Snowboarders from both the Junior and Senior School are encouraged to register. Disciplines include, Alpine Ski and Snowboard, Skier X and Boarder X, Ski and Snowboard Slopestyle and Moguls. Marist has always had strong participation and results in these events. Whilst there will a Marist staff presence at the Interschools Competition in 2024, all accommodation/transport and duty of care of students lie with parents/carers. For further information on Interschools, please click here.

For further information and to register your son, please contact Jason Duff.

On Monday 6 May, School Sport ACT held the ACT Championship, held at Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club. This was a qualifying round for the ACT schools Team.

A cool and windy day provided a tough day at the office for our golfers. It was good to see that Marist provided seven golfers on the day. It is especially pleasing in the first season of our golf program that we can field so many golfers in this competition.

Harry Whitelock, Finn Whitelock, Blake Jones, Jake Hughes, Brayden Wright, Charlie Dickinson and Jett Neddrie teed off against students from around the Territory.

The boys represented the College extremely well, gracious in victory and defeat. The organisers commented on how well our boys carried themselves. There were no tantrums after bad shots, only congratulations for opponents’ good shots. Another excellent feature of the boys was how the senior players helped and encouraged the younger players. Parents of other players made particular mention, to me, about Harry and Blake and how they encouraged the younger players around them.

Marist gained 1st and 3rd place in the Under 18 Championship. Harry Whitelock won the event with a round of 1 under par and Blake Jones was placed 3rd with 3 over par. Finn Whitelock finished 3rd in the Under 15 and Jett Neddrie finished 3rd in the Under 12 Championship. These are incredible results considering the weather conditions and the length of the course.

It was a great day of golf, with encouraging signs for our golf program involving boys from Year 5 to Year 12. Marist College is certainly set to become a golfing force in the ACT.

Andy Donald
Golf coordinator

Congratulations to Jacob and Kieran Shepherd who represented the ACT at The Australian Athletics Championships which was held in Adelaide last month from 11 – 19 April.

Jacob competed in the under 20s in the 1500m and 5000m events finishing 9th and 12th in his races.

Kieran competed in the under 16s in the 800m, 1500m and 3000m finishing 1st in all his races, bringing home 3 gold medals.

ACT School Sport has changed the process for applying and participating in sporting trials.

Anyone interested in trialling for the various regional sports, now need to log onto the ACT Sports 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 and trials 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 College 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 ACT Schools Sport. Secondly, we will be also able to acknowledge his achievement in the College Newsletter.

Paul Mead
Head of Sport