Last night, students, family and staff from our PK-Y6 classes came together for a night of Christmas celebration.
Each year group has been working with our Music Teacher, Mrs Collins-Ford this term to learn a Christmas Carol. It was wonderful listening to their joyful young voices singing their chosen Carol so beautifully. The evening also allowed for our Primary community to reflect on a year of blessings and enjoy some significant family time together.
Family and friends are invited to attend a special Years 3-6 Assembly on Friday 7 December at 9.00am in the Marist Auditorium. Year 4 Green will celebrate the true meaning of Christmas through their Nativity Play.
The 2018 鈥淟ift Your Voice鈥� Vocal Showcase was held in the Marist Auditorium Studios on Thursday 15 November. Vocal students in Years 5-11 performed a range of traditional, folk, jazz and contemporary repertoire for an audience. The College Chamber Choir performed 鈥淪ay Something鈥� and 鈥淟ike I鈥檓 Gonna Lose You鈥� to conclude a wonderful afternoon of songs. A big thank you to our vocal teachers Mrs Heidi Lake and Mrs Nicole Boddy, and accompanist Ms Noelle Zhao for their efforts in preparing the students. Congratulations to all performers and thank you to parents and friends for their support.
On Monday 12 November, the Primary and Secondary Piano Recitals were held over two concerts in the Marist Auditorium Studios. Students from Y2-11 performed prepared repertoire in front of an audience. It was a wonderfully entertaining afternoon of music. Thank you to our piano teachers Mrs Lori Greco, Mrs Kirsten Pearson, Mr Paul Olsen and Mrs Lynette Telfer for preparing the students for their recital. Congratulations to all performers and thank you to family and friends who came along to support the musicians.
This Marist characteristic inspires the principle of 鈥榗ollaborate鈥� as with a pedagogy of presence and family spirit, united in Christ鈥檚 love, we can build a community with a spirit of friendliness and collaboration, enabling young people to become responsible for their own formation. (今日吃瓜 Vision for Learning).
Developing relationships is at the heart of our Marist narrative. Being present to each other imbues a sense of family and underpins the strength of our community. The strength of this College is in the multiple opportunities students have to engage with each other in and outside the classroom. Central to our Vision for Learning – Shine through Discovery – Let Your Light Shine (Mat 5:16), is for our students and teachers to collaborate. Education and learning are interactive, social processes. We believe that students learn best in an environment where they can interact and experience the curriculum, gaining knowledge and learning how to live. A recent Ohio University article, Why relationships — not money — are the key to improving schools, posits that sustained interactions over time, focused on children’s learning and effective teaching practice, is the best way for people to build trust and build networks that are at the heart of social capital. Put simply, if we build relationships our learning experience at school will improve.
The same can be said for our teachers. Over the last three years we have aligned our professional learning of staff PK-12 to ensure collaboration across units, faculties and schools. This was exemplified by our recent Gratitude Project. The intent of this Project across the College is aimed at building student resilience through gratitude. The collaboration of units in the Primary School and Pastoral Care Groups in the Secondary School lifted our focus of the uniqueness of each individual student, recognising and affirming their diversity and individuality. The definitive impact on our school is improved relationships representative of our Marist family spirit.
Last weekend we recognised 100 years since the end of the World War 1. Br John Horgan, Community Leader of the Marist Brothers, prepared a presentation to staff outlining the contribution made to the war effort by the Marist Brothers. It was both a moving and reflective experience understanding the impact war had not only on the families here in Australia but specifically on the Marist Brothers in Western Europe. Please take time to read this brief history听
