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College Sacred Heart

Each year at our Opening College Mass the names of every student and staff member is placed in the sacred heart to ensure that that they are always prayed for during the year, as early brothers did when they went abroad to set up school

MARISTJanuary 2011

Welcome On beha l f o f ou r Marist community we would like to welcome all new families to our College

SOME STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO HELP YOUR SON TRANSITION TO HIGH SCHOOL ON A POSITIVE NOTE.

Welcome to all Year 7 students, parents/carers

After many years of working with boys we have a very clear understanding about what assists boys to learn and and grow into young men of excellent character. Crucial to this development is the place of routine, high standards and high expectations. The College will endeavour to do this but we need parent/guardian support.

1. Religious formationMarist College Eastwood exists to ensure that boys develop a deep understanding of the place of God in their lives. We ask parents to be actively supportive of their sons in this formation and to participate in your local parish. 2. Be interested and enthusiastic about their move to high schoolYour encouragement will help your son to make a successful transition to high school. Listen to their experiences and expectations. Try not to dwell on your own experiences of school.

3. Attend our parent and welcome information nightsOur parent information night is held towards the end of Year 6 and and at the start of Year 7, are designed to help Year 6 parents prepare their sons for starting high school. Being there will help you to better understand your son’s experiences. Also keep a look out for other events which may help him learn about what high school is like. Our newsletter will provide more information on school activities.

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4. Make sure travel arrangements to and from school are organisedOrganise travel passes. This will help to reduce any concern you may have about travel for your child. Talk about back-up travel arrangements – for example, what to do if your child misses a bus or train. Travel the route with your son.

5. Discuss the changes every boy will experienceEmphasise that many people feel nervous about changing from a small primary school to a larger high school, and that there will be people at the school to help them adjust.

6. Organise your son's uniform and complying with College expectationsWell before the first day of school organise your son’s uniform. Having the new uniform will help your child feel a sense of belonging to the school from the first day. I remind parents that it is your responsibility to ensure that your sons’ hair complies with our published standards (school diary).

7. Learn about school routines and timetablesTalking to students already enrolled at the school can be useful in finding out information about things such as sporting venues used by the school and school finishing times. Marist Eastwood will also provide this sort of information to you at the orientation day and at the beginning of the new school year.

8. Help your child to develop good study habitsHelp your son to set aside a particular time to study – somewhere private and quiet if possible. Work out a daily timetable that incorporates all your son's needs and interests. Regularly viewed TV programs, club activities and sport should all be part of the timetable. Ultimately they will need to manage their own study and they can guide you in what is helpful for them. The College Diary has a section to assist you in planning this.

9. Practise organisational skillsIn the first few weeks of high school you might want to check with your son that they have the right books and equipment for the following day. You will quickly encourage a good habit.10. Discuss emergency and safety issuesTalk about these issues – including crossing roads or taking essential medication – simply and without emotion. Allow your son to contribute their views. If you son needs to take medication whilst at school, please let your sons Year Coordinator know.

11. Let your son know that you trust them and that they can trust youKeep communication open about all your son's experiences, and make sure they know you're available if they need you.

MARIST SPIRITUALITY

Saint Marcel l in Champagnat (founder of the Marist Brothers)

M a r i s t S p i r i t u a l i t y i s characterised by the Charism r e c i e v e d b y S t M a r c e l l i n Champagnat. Today this gift of the Holy Spirit shapes the lives and works of those Brothers and Lay people who call  themselves Marist. There are five defining elements of the Marist way and Marists throughout the world are united in striving to follow these ideals everyday. They are:

Family SpiritLove of WorkSimplicityPresenceThe Way of Mary

At Marist College Eastwood, we attempt to connect our students with the Catholic faith through actions and examples of our founder, Saint Mary Mackillop and and the Virgin Mary, “Our Good Mother”. As such at the end of our prayers we say;Saint Marcellin Champagnat: Pray for usMary Our Good Mother: Pray for usSaint Mary of the Cross: Pray for us and lets always remember to: Pray for one another

Year 7 Camp

Meeting new friends

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Great tips on starting high schoolYour sons progress

Reports play a vital role in telling you howyour son is going at school. Student reports will be sent home to you at least twice a year, usually at the end of terms 2 and 4, to give you a clear understanding of your son’s progress. The teachers and I will be more than happy to discuss your child’s progress with you. You will have an opportunity to discuss your sons progress at our Interim report night in term 1. I encourage parents to telephone the school and speak to your sons’ Year Coordinator if you wish to discuss any concerns that you may have.

Keeping in touch with school activities - Our Newsletter:We will send you a newsletters each Wednesday (preferably as an eNewsletter), notes and invitations to school functions and parent meetings will be published along with the latest news. Parents are asked to sign your son’s diary to acknowledge that you have received the newsletter. Our Welcome to new parents night is a great opportunity to meet other new parents and teachers.

Getting involved Marist College Eastwood always welcome parent involvement and support. The P & F Association, Marist Old Boys’ Association, school canteen, uniform shop and book hire provide a great opportunities to become involved in the life of the school. If you would like to assist please contact Mrs. Leanne Hyde our school parent liason person.

P & F Meeting dates is published in the parent calendar of all meeting times. Getting involved can be a great way to meet other parents and school staff. Any help that you are able to offer will be appreciated.

Why get active in your school?Children feel better about school when they see their parents getting to know their teachers and talking with them. Having regular contact with your son’s school will help to build a relationship to support your son’s learning. A positive home/school relationship better allows your son’s needs to be met. Parents make many long-lasting friendships through school life. Being involved in the school community makes it easier to find out information on where particular resources may be found, Sharing handy hints and helping your son to look forward to high school

AttendanceAttending school is compulsory. Please make sure your child is not away from school unnecessarily, because this just makes it harder for them to keep up with

lessons, and it also breaks their routine of learning. This can lead to your child losing confidence in class, and their level of achievement will quickly fall. If your son is absent please call our Absentee Hotline on 9874 8096 and leave a recorded message. Please note that if your need to take your son away for a period of time (leave) you must write to the Principal to seek his approval.

Writing school notesProviding the school with absentee notes is a legal requirement, I ask for your support in assisting us with this; If your son is absent, you need to write a note within seven days It must explain why your child missed school:* Include how many days your child was away* Remember to include the date or dates* Place this in your son’s school bag* Remind your son to give the note to the teacher* If your child is going to be away for more than three days please call the school to let the the homeroom teacher know. You will still need to write a note when your son returns to school

Student supportAt Marist we have a number of people and programs in place that will help your son to make the move to high school. These include: the Year coordinator, homeroom teacher, teachers, school counsellor and school administrative staff who are trained and available to help new students get adjusted to their new school. I suggest that you make a note of these people when you see them during the high school welcome t o Ye a r 7 p a r e n t n i g h t a t t h e commencement of the year. Special programs including: orientation programs in the high school at the start of Year 7, Year 7 camp, student mentoring programs where Year 7 students are paired with older students for advice and support.

Problem solvingIf you are worried about something that affects your son and their schooling, or you have a minor issue that you need to discuss, you may wish to speak to your son’s Year coordinator or subject teacher in the first instance. If there is a bigger issue, or you believe that the original problem was not solved, please speak to the Assistant Principal or Head of teaching & Learning. As Principal I am also happy to deal with major issues.Depending on what the problem is, they may suggest that you speak to the school counsellor.The school counsellor is an experienced person who has a degree in psychology and postgraduate qualifications in school counseling. They work with students, parents and teachers to help solve a range o f p ro b l e m s a d a s s i s t s t u d e n t s . Conversations between the counsellor and student is confidential.

THE COLLEGE DIARYThe College Diary is a critical tool in assisting your son develop good organisational and study skills for the years ahead.

In preparing your son for high school it is imperative that he develops good organisational skillls. The diary must be used every day to:

- list each subject for each day- record homework each day- record due dates for assignments- plan study & homework timeetables- complete learning reflections- set learning goals- record that the newsletter has been

received by parents- serves a the primary source of

communication between home and school

The diary has many prayers, policies. guidelines and expectations to explain most aspects of school life.

Used well, its is an excellent learning tool

College Bullying policy is explained in the diary and

listed on the College website

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Book hireThe College has operates a book hire system and your son will also benefit from this. The book hire system saves parents hundreds of dollars each year but we do need parent help from time to time to keep it working.

Assessment Booklets & CalendarEach student is issued with a detailed assessment booklet and calendar. This is an excellent resource to assist boys to know when tasks are due and to plan appropriately.

College CalendarEach family will be issued with a College Calendar that lists all

key dates please keep this handy - on the fridge!!

Long day program - A great opportunity to develop good study habits Each night boys will have homework, “there is no such thing as no homework”. Each boy is recommended to set aside time each day for study. in Year 7 this should be about 1 hour per day. The College offers a “Long Day Program” where boys can remain at school to complete homework with the assistance of tutors. If you would like to access the Long Day program please check our website for details.

COLLEGE HOUSES ELLIOTT CUSACK MALONEY LEOPOLD

Ad Meliora contende

Ad Sidera Contende

Facta non Verba

Audaces Fortuna Iuvat

Great Role models

DUKE OF ED PROGRAME FROM YEAR 9

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REWARDING HIGH ACHIEVEMENTAward SystemAll students are encouraged to do their best whilst studying at Marist College Eastwood regardless of ability. As such all boys can accrue a number of certificates that contributes to their total house points as well as contributing towards their own awards.

Teachers wi l l recogn ise s tudents achievement by rewarding boys with bronze awards. Boys are responsible for accumulating their certificates. As such three bronze awards equals a Silver award and three Silvers a Gold award, Three Golds award results in a Principals award.

Boys achieving Principal’s award go into a draw each term for incentive prizes and at the end of term 4 for a day out (Jamberoo, Luna park etc)

Marist High FlyersBoys achieving success within and outside the school are recognised via the Marist High Flyer award. Parents are to send an email to info@mce.nsw.edu.au highlighting your sons achievement with a photo for the school to consider. If your son is successful, he will be presented an Marist High Flyer award at assembly and

he will be recognised in the College Newsletter.

Thomas Aquinas AwardGif ted and ta lented students are recognised for significant achievement via the Thomas Aquinas Award which is also presented at a College Assembly and recognised in the College Newsletter.

GIFTED & TALENTED - SPECIAL NEEDSOur college has a rich history of catering for gifted and talented and students with special needs. To support this we have a very good identification process. Students identified are offered a personalised program to meet their needs,

These students are also catered for by curriculum organisation. We stream our maths and english classes and accelerate our most abled maths students.

In recent years some of our most gifted students have participated in the NSW Brain Bee Science challenge and have worked with Macquarie University’s extension program.

Our special needs students are supported by teachers aid and special education teacher.

AWARDS

School Canteen & Uniform shop Our College is run by “Food Related” lunch orders can be placed through the canteen.

The Uniform shop is open on Tuesday from 12.00 - 3.00pm and Thursday from 9.00 - 12.30

Creative Arts Night

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Learning at MaristSubjects

At Marist subjects are typically taught

in 50 minute intervals called ‘periods’.

Each subject will be taught for one or two

periods at a time. A class timetable will be

given to your child showing them when

and where their subjects will be taught.

The subjects offered Marist will depend on

the number of students interested in a

particular subject and the expertise

available within the school. Students must

study the following subjects in Year 7:

Religion

English

Mathematics

Science

History

Technology Mandatory

Visual arts

Music

Personal development, health and

physical education (PDHPE).

Students in Year 7-10 may also be able to

choose from the following elective

subjects, most commonly offered in Years

9 and 10:

Commerce

Drama

Food technology

Graphics technology

Industrial technology (wood)

Information and software technology

Music

Photographic and digital media

Visual arts

Boys will also be expected to be more

independent and self reliant than in

primary school. In recent years we have

moved towards a technology rich learning

environment. Access to internet at home

and school would be advantageous to

learning.

LEARNING IN A TECHNOLOGY RICH ENVIRONMENT

Skiing & Snowboarding

In Year 7, your child will be introduced to some subjects they haven't experienced before and other subjects that may have a different approach and emphasis from primary school. They will also be expected to be more independent and self reliant than in primary school.

PEER SUPPORTAll Year 7 students will be

p a r t o f a P e e r s u p p o r t /

mentoring program to assist

their transition to high school

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Study & Homework

STUDY HABITS

Marist Old Boy’s Association Our Old Boy’s Association is a very important part of our community. The Old Boy’s association provides the College with a bursary fund to support disadvantaged students. If you are a parent and an old boy of the College you may like to join the Old Boys Committee by contacting the Principal.

Enjoy learning by sharing your gifts

and talents

TimetablesSome timetables may also be based on a ‘two week cycle’, with the lessons in Week 1 being different from those in Week 2. It's a good idea for your son to check their timetable when they get home every evening so they can be insure to pack their bag with everything they’ll need for the next day – such as books, writing materials, PE uniform and sporting equipment.Being prepared for the next school day cuts down on stress for both you and your child, especially when they're settling in. Try to spend some time each night in the first few weeks of school talking with them about school and going through their timetable with them, in preparation for the next day of work.

HomeworkYour child will generally have homework set and as they move into more senior years the homework and study demands will increase. Homework reinforces work done in class and helps develop skills such as research and time management. It also helps to establish the habits of study, concentration and self discipline. You can help your child by:* taking an active interest in their homework* supporting them in setting aside time for homework* providing a dedicated place for homework and study if possible* assisting teachers to monitor homework by signing completed work if requested, and be aware of the amount of homework set* communicating any concerns to teacher about the nature of homework or your child's approach to homework* encouraging your child to read and take an interest in current events* alerting the school to any domestic circumstances or extra-curricularactivities which may need to be taken into consideration when homework is being set or marked.Be careful when assisting your son that you don’t end up doing the work yourself. This is a dangerous trap and boys will be disempowered to learn.Remember, if problems occur or you have any questions about your child's learning, contact the school and arrange to talk with your son's teachers.

Managing timeUsing time effectively is a very important skill for high school students. Time management doesn't only apply to serious work such as study. It can be applied to other lifestyle activities such as exercise, sporting activities, and even getting the most out of your leisure time. Encouraging your son to get into good habits now also lays the foundation for good habits later in life and work. It’s important to be realistic as new habits take time to develop. Basic time management includes drawing up a simple home timetable using a calendar to plan activities, study requirements, deadlines for assignments, listing of exam dates and other commitments. Setting a priority against each task is important to help them achieve goals, rather than being overwhelmed by what they have to do.

We believe that boys succeed at school when they are actively involved in the life of the College. Some of our recent high academic achievers were were actively involved in the sport and extra-curricular activities. We encourage boys to share their talents, make friends and enjoy the experience!

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SportDuring term 1, all Year 7 students will be involved in house sport. If your son is a talented swimmer and/or triathlete, I ask that he sees the Sportsmaster and to obtain details for the training schedule for upcoming competitions and training times, The College has a proud history of success in swimming and triathlons winning the MCS swimming championships for the past six years and performing credibly in the Triathlon competitions. At the end of term 1, all year 7 students will be provided with the opportunity to trial for teams involved in the winter sports competition.

Every Thursday we have sport from 12.40 to 2.27 pm. After term 1 you will be able to try out for representative sport (MCS). Go ahead & try out for our teams!

Extra- Curricular ActivitiesCollege BandThe College Band rehearses before school and is offered through our Band Tutor. If you would like to join the Band Please contact our music teacher.

Guitar LessonsThe College offers private Guitar tuition through “My Guitar School”, lessons are conducted during school time on a withdrawl basis, for detail please contact Matt & Jodie Arthur.

Drama GroupDrama is offered as an elective in Years (9 & 10) however we also offer a voluntary a drama group, if you are interested please see our Drama teachers

Vocal GroupThe College vocal group rehearses at lunchtime and is offered through by our vocal Tutor. If you would like to join the vocal group, please contact our music teacher.

Chess ClubOur Chess Club is a vibrant club where boys play actively at lunchtime and represent the College on a friday afternoon. If you are interested in competing in Chess please contact the teacher in Charge of Chess.

Debating, Public Speaking & oratoryThroughout term 2 & 3 boys compete the Catholic Schools Debating and public speaking competition. This is followed by the Marist Oratory competition against other Marist schools. In recent years we have been very successful in these competition.

Duke of EdBoys must be over 14 to join the program a n d b o y s c a n w o r k t o w a rd s t h e achievement of Bronze, Silver and Gold awards and participate in a range of expeditions whist developing a range of skills.

Ski & Snowboard Weekend & TeamIn recent years the College has offered all boys in Years 7 -12 an opportunity to participate skiing and snowboarding. Due to the growing interest the the sport, the college will field a representative team for the winter season from 2011

Rugby ToursIn recent years the College has

taken tours to the UK & Ireland, New Zealand and in 2011 we will compete in the Pacific Rim Competition in Fiji.

Prayer groups, saint Vincent de Paul Chapter, Immersion programThe religious life of the College is rich and contributes positively to the formation of our boys into men of faith and great character.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know us and our school.

God BlessMr. D Delmage Principal

SPORT & EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Further InformationFor further information talk to your Year

Coordinator or go to our wesite @

www.mce.nsw.edu.au or email us at

info@mce.nsw.edu.au

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MARIST COLLEGE EASTWOOD44 Hillview Road

Eastwood 2122

Ph: 9858 1644Fax: 9874 2392Absentee Hotline: 9874 8096

Enjoy school by sharing your

gifts and talents