Dear Parents, Friends, Staff and Students,A few weeks back I was privileged to journey on the Year 12 retreat with our senior students. The days away at Mittagong were both heartening and reassuring.

Our senior boys were challenged to reflect on their direction in life, but most importantly to get in touch with their feelings. I believe we do our young men a great disservice when we encourage in them an attitude which discourages reflection or ownership of their emotional side. I was quite overwhelmed by the maturity and sensitivity of the boys during these few days together. It was not only healthy but a significant sign of how far we have come at Marcellin.

In recent weeks I have been using the book ‘The Wild Man’s Journey’ by Richard Rohr and Joseph Marto with staff. The book has been out for some time but offers much wisdom on the needs of our young men. In one of his chapters he presents these reflections on the need for a father’s affirmation in the life of a developing adolescent. This young man came to speak to Richard Rohr after being moved by one of his talks. The young man told some of is personal journey to Rohr who sat there listening and reflecting.

Number 421 March 2007

With best wishes

Br Bill Sullivan, fmsHeadmaster

Which eye will we choose to see with?

To the fearful eye, all is threateningTo the greedy eye, everything can be possessedTo the judgement eye, everything is closed in definitive framesTo the resentful eye, everything is begrudgedTo the indifferent eye, nothing calls or awakensTo the loving generous eye, everything is possible.

“As he was telling me his story, I could sense the young man was enjoying, even relishing the experience. Then suddenly, after about an hour, he just stopped and looked at me.”

“You’re listening to me!” He said in amazement. “My dad never once listened to me, but you’re listening to me!”

The next day they met again and they chatted for some time. “He needed someone to tell his feelings to, someone to know who he was, someone to understand the hurt he felt. He needed someone to affirm and approve him. He needed a father.”

I believe this is a significant and growing challenge for our young men. For a balanced and healthy life our boys need to be affirmed, but also have the capacity to affirm others themselves. If this is not modelled for them or nurtured in them I believe we are failing our future generation of fathers.

The Pastoral care staff give our young men can achieve a great deal but this is no replacement for a caring father or significant male family figure in the life of our boys.

I encourage all dads to come along on Tuesday 27th March to hear renowned writer Steve Biddulph talk about caring for our young men. Please see elsewhere in the newsletter for details. I am sure you will find the experience both enlightening and informative.

This short reflection from John O’Donohue, taken from the book Anam Cara, reminds us of the importance of being a caring and loving person. So much more is possible when our young men are nurtured and supported in a positive and respectful environment.

Year 12 Retreat group withMr Brian Vane-Tempest

From the headmasterCongratulations to all these boys on their Special

Achievements in a number of different fields. Well done!

Dan MorganYear 10

Selected in the Sydney Youth Orchestra for the second year in a row to

play the cello

Thomas BrackenYear 11

Reached Zone Final in CSDA Public Speaking

Senior Division

John Harding-EassonYear 10

Reached Zone Final in CSDA Public Speaking

Year 10 Division

Matthew EdwardsYear 9

Reached Zone Final in CSDA Public Speaking

Year 9 Division

Christopher EdwardsYear 8

Reached Zone Final in CSDA Public Speaking

Year 8 Division

Jake NurmiYear 9

Selected U/14 Sydney Rebels Touch Team

Jake MoraghanYear 9

Selected U/16 Sydney Rebels Touch Team

Matt EvansYear 9

Selected U/16 Sydney Rebels Touch Team

Madalitso MasacheYear 9

Selected U/14 Sydney Rebels Touch Team

Aaron O’BrienYear 9

Selected U/14 Sydney Rebels Touch Team

Wednesday21st March

• OPEN DAY: All parents, friends and prospective students are welcome to come along to view our facilities and share our hospitality. Lessons conclude at 1.00pm. All Year 7 and Year 11 are expected to be in attendance to support this important day.

Monday26th March

• This is a pupil free staff inservice day. All staff will be participating in an inservice day conducted by renowned author Steve Biddulph.

Tuesday 27th March

• Parents in Touch Special Event: Steve Biddulph will be speaking to parents in the Marist Centre. There is a $10 charge per person for this evening. Tickets can be purchased from the College front office between 8.00am - 4.00pm. I would encourage as many parents as possible to come along to the night. Parking on site is limited. As there will be a large number of parents in attendance I would encourage parents to use The Village carpark or local streets. Please note this is an event for parents only - no children are permitted to attend.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sebastian JakobssonYear 7

Participated in the biggest Game Fishing

Competition in the Southern Hemisphere recently held in Port

Stephens, a very prestigious event.

Daniel JakobssonYear 7

Won Champion Junior Angler in Tag and Release in the

biggest Game Fishing Competition in the

Southern Hemisphere recently held in Port

Stephens.

From the headmaster

YEAR 7 ENGLISH INCURSION: ‘Heroes’‘HEROES… love them or hate them we all seem to need them. Those well known figures, who we hold up as shining models, who by virtue of their strengths epitomise what greatness is!”

On Thursday 15th March 2007, all of Year 7 attended a performance of ‘Heroes’ by Tony Williams and Dennis Clare in the Marist Centre. The performance was held during Periods 2 and 3 and supported the students’ study of Heroes and the Hero’s Quest in English. The show aimed to expose the ‘truth’ about heroes using comedy, acting, mime and song.

YEAR 9 ENGLISH INCURSION: Australians at War: World War 1 – ‘Hay Before the Mower’.Year 9 students are currently studying the topic of ‘Representations of War’ in English. On Friday 16th March, Year 9 attended an incursion called ‘Australians at War – Hay Before the Mower’ to support this study and to broaden their appreciation of the men and women who served Australia during World War 1. The show was in the form of a drama-documentary and was a rich selection of anecdotes, letters, poems, songs and other such ANZAC reminiscences. Ms Susan Donovan, English Coordinator

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT NEWS

CSDA PUBLIC SPEAKINGMarcellin College continues to perform well in the CSDA Public Speaking Competition for 2007. Christopher Edwards (Year 8), Matthew Edwards (Year 9), John Harding-Easson (Year 10) and Thomas Bracken (senior) were successful in the opening round of the competition. They progressed into the Zone final which was held at Marcellin College on Friday 16th March. Despite extremely strong competition and long-anticipated results all the boys competing were able to secure positions for the CSDA final to be held at Marist Pagewood College on 23rd of March. We wish the boys the best of luck in the competition.

Thomas Bracken, Matthew Edwards and Christopher Edwards will also be competing in the Rostrum Public speaking competition on Tuesday 27th March at St. Mary’s Cathedral Sydney. This is an event which is open to students from Public High Schools, Catholic and Private Colleges. This will be the first time Marcellin has entered this competition and we look forward to seeing the boys results.

EDUCATION POLICIESPlease find included with this newsletter a copy of the NSW Greens Education Policy: Implications for Catholic schools, as well as a Catholic Education Office information sheet on Catholic School funding. If you did not receive a printed copy of this attachment they can be access at the following link on our website: www.marcellin.nsw.edu.au/parent letters.

SCHOOL SPECIAL BUSESSydney Buses has advised us that there will be an extra School Special bus Route 604 Mascot to Randwick in the morning timeslot. This bus will be leaving Mascot at 7.34am. Please check the website:www.sydneybuses.info/schools for confirmation of all school special routes and times.

Recently the College has installed air conditioning units in offices in the Greenstead Hall area. The College wishes to thank and acknowledge the Australian Government through the Department of Education, Science and Training for providing the funding for this project to take place. This initiative is part of the Investing in Our Schools program and has been a welcome addition to the facilities provided for staff and students in this area of the school.

THANK YOU

CONGRATULATIONSCongratulations to all our MCC Grand Final teams. The summer 2006/07 MCC Season was a great success for Marcellin College. A special newsletter highlighting our successes was distributed last week and is posted on the College website. Since the publication of this special edition, the MCC Cross Country was held and Marcellin proved their strength yet again in this area by winning the competition for the third year in a row. Details of this event are in the sports section of this newsletter. Thanks to all the coaches for their dedication and support which enabled our teams to have such a successful season.

notices and sport

Marcellin College Randwick 195 Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031

Ph: (02) 9398 6355 Fax: (02) 9398 9049 secretary@marcellin.nsw.edu.au www.marcellin.nsw.edu.au

COMMUNITY NOTICESLeukaemia Foundation SupportOne of our parents, Helen Hodgson (Gage 11.1 and Zachary 8.1), is participating in The Leukaemia Foundation World’s Greatest Shave, and is seeking support from the College community. If you would like to contribute you can log on to www.worldsgreatestshave.com click on donate then type in Helen Hodgson. Helen would sincerely appreciate your involvement which will enable the Leukaemia Foundation to continue to support patients and families living with leukaemias, lymphomas, myelomas and related blood disorders.Vocation Discernment WeekendFriday 13th (evening) to Sunday 15th AprilFeel called to the Priesthood? Don’t be left wondering! Come to a weekend at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd, Homebush. This is an opportunity for those Year 12 students to explore future possibilities, and the calling to the Priesthood. All are welcome! To register and/or to enquire, please contact: The Vocation Centre, 133 Liverpool Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Tel: 9390-5287 or email vocations@sydney.catholic.org.auHoly Cross Primary Centenary CelebrationsThe Staff, Students and School Community of Holy Cross Primary School Woollahra invite past pupils of Holy Cross to join in celebrating with us 100 years of Catholic Education in the Mercy Tradition on Sunday 20th May 2007 commencing with Mass at 11.00am in Holy Cross Church. Refreshments will be served after Mass in the school, followed by a tour of the school. RSVP by Friday 27th April 2007. Phone 9369 3233 or email info@hcps.woollahra.syd.catholic.edu.au

MCC CROSS COUNTRY

Rank School Points

1 Marcellin 911

2 Kogarah 823

3 North Shore 684

4 Lewisham 657

5 Pagewood 549

6 Bankstown 510

7 Wahroonga 421

8 Ashfield 263

MCC Representatives for NSWCCC Carnival

12 Years Boys: Billy Hooper, Philippe Khederlian (Reserve)

13 Years Boys: Cooper Rawnsley, Jonathon Ford

15 Years Boys: Matt Cogin, Raymond Jackson, Mat Malone, Sam Duffy, James Moran (Reserve)

16 Years Boys: Macleay Lewis, Pat Disalvo

17 Years Boys: Trent Maxwell, Mitchell Links

Congratulations to the MCC Cross Country squad who for the third year in a row had a resounding victory last Thursday 15th March. They won on overall points by 88 with a total of 911.Thanks to the coaches Mr John Finneran and Mr David Ross who were assisted by ex-student Adam Laughlan-Bowlby, an official for the day.Congratulations also to the boys who qualified as MCC Representatives for the NSWCCC Carnival at Eastern Creek to be held on Friday 15th June.