Act Courageously
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MARIST COLLEGE ASHGROVE 142 Frasers Road Ashgrove QLD 4060 PO Box 82 Ashgrove West QLD 4060 07 3858 4555 www.marash.qld.edu.au Act Courageously The Trustees of the Marist Brothers, T/A Marist Schools Australia – CRICOS Provider #00670F Copyright ©2016 All rights reserved to Trustees of the Marist Brothers – Ashgrove 01 _1000.00 Heading INTRO PARAGRAPH Body copy “Real education should consist of drawing the goodness and the best out of our own students. What better books can there be than the book of humanity?” – CESAR CHAVEZ 1 2 Welcome MARIST COLLEGE ASHGROVE (MCA) HAS A RICH TRADITION THAT HAS EXISTED SINCE ITS BEGINNINGS IN 1940. The College is a unique mix of day The College motto “Viriliter Age” and boarding students from Years 5 to – Act Courageously, challenges our 12 who receive a Catholic education students to conduct themselves at in the Marist tradition. MCA prides all times as young men who aspire itself on providing an holistic education to excellence in everything they do. that develops the spiritual, academic, cultural, sporting and personal growth On behalf of the MCA community of each boy. I would like to extend a warm welcome to prospective members Our Marist values of simplicity, of our Marist family. presence, love of hard work, family spirit and being in the way of Mary Peter McLoughlin guide the whole College community Headmaster each and every day. A dedicated staff of Brothers and lay people work hard to ensure each boy has the opportunity to become the best person he can be. 3 A Rich History “OFFERING AN HOLISTIC EDUCATION, DRAWING ON THE CHRISTIAN VISION OF THE HUMAN PERSON AND OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT.” – CF. CH. 5, WITH A DISTINCTIVE MARIST STYLE The Marist Brothers Marist College Ashgrove The Marist Brothers is a religious Marist College Ashgrove began in institute founded in France in 1817 1940 with 70 students and Brother by a young French priest, Marcellin Ignatius O’Connor as its first Champagnat. He believed his mission Headmaster. The College is built on in life was to make Jesus known the site formerly used by Father Walter and loved and to do so by creating Cain and his proposed missionary schools which not only taught secular order. The only permanent building subjects but religious education and was the Tower Block, its’ graceful the catechism. architecture has made it the icon of the entire College. Despite temporary Over the next 50 years the Brothers evacuation and re-location during expanded across all continents and World War II, the College flourished established a system of education and developed. With continuous world-wide. Today the Brothers’ development of the College since schools exist in 78 countries. 1940, today we have grown to over 1600 students. The first Marist Brothers arrived in Australia in 1872 and established The reputation of the College has schools in Sydney. In 1929 the Brothers steadily grown and has been extended established their first Queensland by its loyal supporters and Old Boys. school at Rosalie and their second at It is respected throughout Australia, Ashgrove in 1940. Today, there are over Papua New Guinea, the Solomon 50 schools in the association of Marist Islands, the wider Pacific and Asia Schools in Australia representing as a significant institution which schools begun by the Marist Brothers, embodies the very best in Marist Marist Sisters and Marist Fathers. educational values and teaching. 4 5 6 Faith & Solidarity TO MAKE JESUS CHRIST KNOWN AND LOVED. The Religious Education and Ministry including weekly barbecues with Program nourishes the spiritual life and the homeless, visits with elderly and faith development of students. In the disabled people in the community, tradition of St Marcellin Champagnat, the annual Sony Holiday Camp MCA students are educated in faith for children with disabilities and and solidarity through: immersion programs with our Marist neighbours in other • An engaging Religious Education curriculum that focuses on students’ cultures and countries. religious literacy in light of the Religious Education and Ministry are Catholic tradition coordinated by the College Mission • An integrated program of retreat and Team which comprises a full-time reflection opportunities for students present Marist Father, Campus from Years 5 to 12 Ministry Team, Head of Mission and Head of Religious Education. • Regular opportunities for prayer and liturgy, including Wednesday morning At MCA, Religious Education and Mass, Boarders’ Sunday Mass, Ministry are founded on the ministry pastoral groups and class prayer, of Jesus and the Marist way of Assembly prayer and reflection living the Gospel. We aim to engage individuals and groups within the • Service and ministry groups College community in expressions of such as St Vincent de Paul, a lived faith through offering a broad Caritas and GreenAsh range of sacramental, prayer and • Extensive ministry and outreach reflection experiences, together with opportunities through the MATES opportunities to minister to the “least social justice program, favoured” in the wider community. 7 “Nothing is so potent as the silent influence of a good example.” – JAMES KENT 8 Primary School A CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK: LEARNING TO KNOW, LEARNING TO DO AND LEARNING TO BE. In the Primary School boys are Classroom teachers enhance the encouraged to explore their world and quality of a boy’s education and help express their thoughts and dreams to ensure he receives all the care and in an energetic, compassionate and attention he needs. supportive environment. Outside the classroom, a healthy Students are challenged to extend the lifestyle is encouraged through sports boundaries of their experience through and outdoor activities that include a curriculum that emphasises the ball sports, sporting competition and development of Religious Education, a range of excursions and outdoor Literacy, Numeracy, Technology, education activities. Science, Humanities and Languages. Building upon these fundamentals, In the Primary School boys will they will develop the communication laugh, play and develop in a dynamic and social skills that will stand them in and caring community that provides good stead for the rest of their life. a holistic education and nurtures the young men that they will one Creative expression is also vital day become. in the Primary School. Art, Drama and Music are all core aspects of the curriculum and areas in which students are encouraged to develop their imagination, creativity and skills. 9 10 Secondary School A CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK: LEARNING TO KNOW, LEARNING TO DO AND LEARNING TO BE. MARIST STUDENTS LEAD BY EXAMPLE. Year 7 is a key transition point for During this time, emphasis is boys into the energetic environment placed on developing boys initiative, of the Secondary School as they self-discipline and organisational skills, begin their journey from childhood to as well as providing sound guidance young adulthood and establish the and spiritual support in their social foundations for their future studies. and moral development. To help in this transition, students are The teachers at the College understand taught by a select group of teachers, how boys learn and work towards exposing their growing minds to the supporting each student to achieve complexities of a more demanding success in an ordered, supportive and curriculum, whilst providing all the care collaborative environment. and support required in a new and Arts, Music, Sports, Debating, Public challenging environment. Speaking and a Religious and Ministry Program is also very much part of the In the later years of secondary Secondary School experience. education, students will consolidate the skills they have learnt previously, In the Secondary School students whilst selecting from a wide range of thoughts and dreams will take subjects that lead to university and shape as they prepare to become career opportunities. a confident, successful and valued member of society. 11 12 Pastoral Care MORE THAN WELL PREPARED, THOUGHT PROVOKING AND STIMULATING LESSONS. Pastoral care at MCA embraces more It is a welcoming place where the than the giving of well prepared, younger students are cared for and thought provoking and stimulating initiated into the Marist community lessons. It means being concerned for and its ethos. Due to their stage of the total well-being of students, and development and learning needs, with the development of the whole students in the primary school are person. The philosophies underpinning cared for by the Year 5/6 Pastoral pastoral care, the active pursuit of Leader and their classroom teachers programs and practices aimed at in a horizontal pastoral care model. promoting and supporting well-being and school ethos, as well as the Pastoral care for students in Years 7 – climate and atmosphere in which 12 is provided through a vertical eight students and staff learn and work, House System. This vertical approach are complementary. sees the students of the College being well known, encouraged and well- Through explicit philosophies we advised by their Head of House and hope to educate young men in the pastoral group teachers. Each House way of St Marcellin Champagnat so has its own way of encouraging active that they have the courage and contribution to the College as well as confidence to develop traits similar to co-operation amongst the students. those modelled by Marcellin himself. This builds in the boys a growing sense of belonging and ownership. Pastoral care is a strong feature of the College. The Brother Ignatius Centre, catering to the needs of boys in Years 5 and 6, is also an integral part of the College and its pastoral care structure. 13 14 Sports THE CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAM PLAYS AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE COLLEGE’S HOLISTIC APPROACH TO BOYS’ EDUCATION. Through our sporting programs, A wide range of sports and teams students will learn the values of provides an opportunity for every boy competition and achievement.