Staff, students, familes and friends attending the opening of the new Harcombe Centre, early in 2007. IIIWI'ill 2007 Edition Acknowledgements Edited by: Mr. Shaun Healy With the assistance of the MRC Kalori Committee: Miss Naomi Fenton Miss Lauren Gray Mrs Suzanne Viney Special thanks to: Mrs. Doreen Davey Mrs. Catherine Woodberry Mrs. Susan Chen The front cover design is based on the artwork of Alexandra Noyman, Year 8. Marist TV Flip Art by Anna Crawford, Luke Fletcher, Alex Mainwaring, Jordie Smith and Mr. S. Healy. Marist Regional College PO Box 588 Burnie, Tasmania 7320 4.4 4.1 4.4-s titt, \ . PTh ‘`t -Ai, • i•-•4 41-1 T••••.:. ii LE tsz, t %-4 Czt —1"Th Q'•1 L.z • 464 Jesus Co') In L:& (0) CZN I`ZZ) -T31 (2 1Zt k..., 4.1 4-1 e..4 4E1 tZ3 4 ti A Principal's Report Kalori 2001 If there is one constant in education it is the pressure for Holistic education includes development of the physical "change". The pressure comes from State and Federal health of our students. The opening of the Harcombe Governments, educational theorists, the changing world Centre at the beginning of the year provided a huge we live in, teachers and young people themselves. It morale boost for our community and has given our means we work in an environment that requires us to students state of the art facilities after nearly 50 years critique but be open to the possibilities, to be observant of doing without. It would be nice to think that our and adaptive to the learning needs of our young people. success as the Tasmanian Independent Schools Netball There is the danger, however, of running with the latest Champions and State Basketball Champions in two pet theory and change for change's sake, but there are divisions this year has been assisted by the provision of also wonderful possibilities in change that can enhance these facilities. Time will tell if this trend continues. the learning of our young people and enable them to A great boost for the performing arts has been the become the "valued and contributing members of our refurbishment of the old Assembly Hall into a performing ever changing society", described in the College Mission arts facility, named Conway Hall. I look forward to statement. watching wonderful productions in first rate facilities. Within this culture of change there is a fundamental My gratitude goes to the staff of MRC. This team of 60 constant. That constant is the aim of the Catholic school teachers and 31 general staff have worked hard to make to form young people whose physical, intellectual and sure the young people in our care are given a first class moral talents are developed harmoniously. In other education. words, the challenge at MRC is the formation of the whole person and to enable our young people to grow into responsible adults with integrity, ready to take an Thank you also to the many volunteers who support the active part in a rapidly changing world. College, not least of all, members of the College Board and Governing Council. Mr Colin McKenzie and Mr This year we are pleased to have established a Year Paul Smith have made outstanding contributions and 10 REMAR group in the College who meet to pray, will be missed after six years of service on the Board. learn about the Marist and Mercy stories, socialise and Thank you also to Mrs Kathleen Siggins who has retired meet with other Marist schools. We hope to extend the from the Governing Council. Her knowledge of Catholic program with groups in both Years 10 and 11 next year. education and empathy for young people has been much appreciated. Our Student Representative Council has shown excellent leadership with each of the five committees; Special What is it that makes our school Catholic? At one level Character, Community, Culture, Academic and Sport, it is the religious education lessons we teach, at another making significant contributions. The Special Character it is the prayer and liturgy we all participate in, but the X Committee has led by example through their preparation factor is in the way that we treat each other, reflective of and ownership of liturgy that is relevant, interesting the way that Jesus Christ treated the people he met in his and challenging. We have just appointed a Director of life and the sacrifices he made because of his deep and Mission, Mr Ian Margetts, whose responsibility it will abiding love of God, his Father. Those gospel values are be to nurture the spirituality of both staff and students evident in the work of our founders, the Marist and Mercy and promote the charisms of the College so that the orders, and reflected in our College values of hospitality, Catholic mission of this College is kept in the forefront respect, justice, compassion and responsibility. It is in of our minds. To assist in attaining this objective we living these values that our community will develop its have also appointed a separate Curriculum Head of spirit and spirituality. Religious Education and a teacher with youth ministry Susan Chen responsibilities. Principal 2 aril of Management I am pleased to report on the activities of the Marist Regional College Staff office space in the main staff room and a redevelopment of the old Board for 2007. The Board was delighted with the reappointment of drama studio are priorities for 2008. Susan Chen as Principal for a further term. Finance Membership With some of the costs associated with the Conway Hall contract still to This year Mr Robert Rimmelzwaan resigned from the Board and his be finalised, close cooperation of the Board and the Business Manager vacancy was filled by Mr Barry Britton, who has had experience on has seen the College produce another good budgetary result for 2007. the Board of St Brigid's, Wynyard. Mrs Tess McDonagh accepted the position vacated by Mrs Suzanne Harris, joining Colin McKenzie, Susan The Budget has been prepared for 2008 with the new Federal remote Chen, Paul Smith, Margaret McKenzie, Sandra Harvey, Gary Dazeley, funding allowing a balanced budget totalling $8.85 million. Fee increases Fr Pius Jones, Fr Bernie McFadyen and Kevin Young on the Board. have been kept to approximately 2.5%. The total size of the budget is Gary Dazeley and I have been requested to stand for second terms. largely as a result of increasing enrolments which will see the College The Board members were joined in meetings by Les Allen and Richard pass the 800 enrolment mark for the first time since 1993. Lakeland. Other Matters Regrettably, both Colin McKenzie and Paul Smith's terms have come The roof safety system identified in last year's report as a safety measure to an end, each having served six years on the Board. Both have been was completed early this year and we have obtained a quote for a safety terrific servants of the College and will be sorely missed. fence on the school exit road. This year has seen the Marist Board working on a diverse range of The Board has worked with the Business Manager and the Executive issues: Officer of the Governing Council on un-incorporation of Marist Regional College and this should soon be finalised. Master Plan This year has seen the settling in of the Harcombe Centre and work Finally I would like to thank fellow Board members, the Parents and on the redevelopment of the assembly hall into two classrooms and Friends Association, College staff and students for their collective a Performing Arts space known as Conway Hall. This facility is now efforts in taking Marist Regional College forward in all aspects of its complete and the College is now waiting on the lift installation which will development. We can all see the improvements in the College's physical give much needed access to the upper levels of the western wing. assets, but it is in the improvements in the learning of our students, that we can all take pride. Architects and the Board are currently reviewing the College's Master Plan to help us identify prioritise and cost development of the College Kevin Young for the future learning needs of students. We see significant issues Chairman with the age and design of some of our classroom areas and increasing enrolments continue to place pressure on availability of rooms. challenging programs. la w e never stop 1 The Diverse Learning Program promotes higher order thinking and creativity and has seen students involved in challenging and rigorous competitions as well as attending some higher order thinking seminars. A Gifted and Talented learninq; no seminar was on the themes: the contribution of psychology and sociology to an understanding of what it is to be human; the nature and beauty of Mathematics; human genetic engineering; and death and sexuality in the matterhow har 21st century. These challenging topics enriched the learning of students as an extension to the College curriculum. Students also undertook individual interest based projects to explore during the year. Students challenged we try to resist" themselves and each other in this flexible parallel learning opportunity to the mainstream curriculum. The curriculum at Mans; Regional College enhances and promotes student achievement by having learning tasks, assessments and experiences that We have much to be proud of in the academic life of the College and for cater for the different ways in which we learn. 2007 has seen many fantastic the first time, due to an SRC Academic Committee initiative, the College achievements in all Faculty areas.