General News

This Wednesday (16th September) a number boys will travel for a nine day soccer tour of Singapore. This is a terrific opportunity for our Soccer boys to test their skills with teams of Asia.

The team will be updating results and providing a video diary as the tour progresses.

We wish Mr. Dino Faelis, 1st XI Coach, other staff and students travelling to Singapore a safe and success tour.

Today all Year 11 students participated in an assembly that focused on 2010 Student Leadership positions.

There are a variety of leadership opportunities for students at the senior level at Marcellin College, either at College, House or Academic level. We believe such roles enable students to gain valuable leadership experience, grow in confidence and become responsible citizens and positive role models for others within our College and wider community.

I encourage any interested Year 11 student to apply. All 2010 Student Leadership applications are due by 8:40am on Thursday 27th August.

Student Driver Policy

Increasingly more Year 12 students are turning 18 and are getting their driver’s license. Students who are licensed and drive to the College need to register with Mr. Jamie McIlroy, Director of Students (Yr 10 to 12). As per Victorian Government guidelines, all student drivers, a parent and, if relevant, the parent of any passenger, must sign the Parent Permission and Student Agreement Form that can be obtained from the Director of Students.

Below I have outlined some basic guidelines expected of all students driving to and from the College on a regular basis:

• Students are required to adhere to all road rules and drive in a safe and responsible manner.
• Students are only to use their car for travelling to and from the College. Students are not permitted under any circumstances to go to their car or drive from the College during the school day.
• Students are not permitted to carry other students as passengers to and from the College without the written permission of their parent and the passenger’s parent.
• Any unauthorized car parked on the College grounds may be towed away at the owner’s expense.
• Students need to be aware that parking in nearby streets or adjoining private properties is prohibited under local bylaws and is punishable by fine or tow away. Students have limited access to parking in Sylvester Drive.

Any student of legal driving age, who intends to drive to school, either on a regular basis or occasionally, must comply with the College’s Student Driver Policy. Students who fail to meet these obligations will be required to hand their car keys to the Director of Students (Yr 10 to 12) and car parking privileges may be revoked. Any unsafe driving behaviour or breaches of road rules will be reported to the police.

Solidarity Week

On Thursday 6th August the College launched Solidarity Week. Br. Doug Walsh fms OAM was our guest speaker. Br. Doug thanked the generosity of our boys and explained how their contributions over the years have positively impacted on poor communities in East Timor. The launch assembly also included a number of student speakers.

Below is a reflection from the College’ Liturgy Captain, Tim Conroy:

Last Thursday the 6th August the Marcellin community gathered to celebrate one of the most important days on the College calendar, the day of our founder St. Marcellin Champagnat and to officially launch Solidarity Week 2009. The day started out with a series of activities in individual pastoral groups that both informed and highlighted the important events that shaped Marcellin’s life and his call to his vocation.

All staff and students then moved down to St Marcellin’s Hall for the annual Champagnat Day Mass, once again brilliantly conducted by our College Chaplin Fr John Carnie with the assistance of the Year 12 student Leadership team and the wonderful music of the Champagnat Choir. Following the mass the esteemed Br Doug Walsh spoke about the efforts of the Marist Brothers and other Marist organizations to work in solidarity with those less fortunate all over the world and proceeded to officially launch Solidarity Week for 2009. Following this our principal Mr Mark Murphy spoke of his own solidarity experience in the Pacific Islands and of how this experience has shaped his life and his philosophy.

Following the mass and presentations all staff and student left St Marcellin’s Hall in house groups to partake in a shared barbeque lunch prepared by the mothers in the canteen.

After lunch the Year 7 students listened to guest speaker from the Refugee Community who spoke about the plight of refugees coming into Australia; the Year 8 students heard a presentation from Mr. Mark Ashmore about his personal immersion experiences and the Year 9 students listened to members of the Gold Year 12 REMAR Caravel who gave a presentation of their own Solidarity experience in the outback Town of Bourke last year.

During these presentations to the younger year levels the Year 10, 11 and 12 students had the opportunity to enjoy a series of carnival rides on the ovals that had been arranged for the day by the SRC executive. The rides included a bucking bull, sumo wrestling, human foosball and a gladiatorial challenge among many others. After an hour the younger year levels were given the opportunity to experience the rides and the Year 10, 11 and 12 students took their place for more guest speakers. Meg Jenkins from St Mary’s House of Welcome spoke to the Year 10 Students about the homeless and disadvantaged in our community today; the Year 11 students were address by Adrian Panazzo, CEO of Reclink, an organisation that focuses on working with disadvantaged people in the community and reconnecting their lives via sports and the arts; the Year 12 students witnessed a presentation from Mr Tom Purcel on Vocation, Service and Ministry and the options post school to help the community. Following these activities all staff andstudents returned to pastoral before being dismissed for the day.

All in all the celebration of Champagnat Day 2009 was a rousing success and I would like to thank all those who contributed to the day. Special mention going to Br Doug for his presentation, all guest speakers who spoke to the students throughout the day, the mothers and canteen workers who provided lunch for over 1200 people.

Also, the SRC Executive for arranging the rides and especially Fr John and the Ministry team for arranging the mass and the promotion of Solidarity Week.

VCAL

Currently the Senior VCAL students are actively involved in a community project. Recently the boys went to Kinglake to rebuild a cafe garden and also do some clearing work for the local church. This project originated from the fundraising that the students organised earlier in the year. Thank you to the Senior VCAL boys and Ms. Julie Twomey and Ms. Angela Tsotsos for supporting the Kinglake community who were devastated by the bushfires earlier in the year.

City to Surf

Twenty-two students and three teachers traveled to Sydney on the weekend to compete in the City to Surf 14km Fun Run. 75,000 people competed this year making it the World’s Largest Fun Run. All students and staff finished in the top 1000, with highlight performances by Kyle Martin-Alcaide who finished in 47min 50 sec.

Other highlights of the day were Peter Green who ran a personal best, and Heath Mitchell ran a great 1st time race. John Meagher ran in the top 30 recording a 45.58 time on the clock. All results will be published at the end of the week on the City to Surf website.

Walk to Wandi

As you would all be aware, in February Melanie Shuey from OLMC, sister of Luke Shuey (Class of 2008) died as a result of a motor vehicle accident. As a consequence, many of our lives have changed and have been deeply affected by the loss of this beautiful girl. Unfortunately, the events of that night cannot be undone; however there is a quest and desire to take some action to ensure that a tragedy of this nature doesn't happen again to another daughter, sister or friend.

A fundraising walk has been organised in which people can participate in or simply donate to. This will give those involved some salvation that their efforts will impact on others' lives. Money raised will fund the construction and installation of pedestrian pathway lighting, signage and a memorial plaque at the Diamond creek bridge in Eltham, in Mel's honour.

Please follow the link and be aware that even the smallest of contributions will be greatly appreciated.

walktowandi.blogspot.com

H1N1 Influenza

As at 4^th June, the Department of Human Services (DHS) has advised that two members of the Marcellin community have contracted H1N1 Influenza. DHS has provided these members with Tamiflu and asked them to enter into quarantine.

The new direction from DHS is that no schools will be closed that are affected by H1N1 Influenza and that any confirmed cases will be addressed by general pactioners in consultation with DHS. The College is working to communicate with all families and regular updates will be posted via the website.

DHS Advice to Parents attachment 1

DHS Advice to Parents attachment 2

June Exam Period - VCAA Exams

The VCAA are monitoring the impact of H1N1 Influenza on Victorian Secondary Colleges and have not altered the scheduled Unit 3 & 4 exams running from the 9^th – 11^th of June.

There are currently no confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza at Year 12, but if students have reason to believe they may be infected or others close to them are, please contact the College as soon as possible. In the event that this affected attendance at a Unit 3 & 4 Exam, a Derived Exam Score will need to be applied for through Mr. Jamie McIlroy, Director of Students (10 to12). This requires documentation from a medical practitioner and relevant College staff.

Please arrive at all exams 15 minutes prior to start time of any scheduled VCAA examination. Students are reminded that they must be in full winter uniform and remain for the duration of each exam. College ID cards need to be presented at every exam.

The Old Collegians Business Breakfast in conjunction with the College’s Student Mentor Program presents our first guest speaker for 2009 – Rev. Tim Costello.

Rev. Tim Costello is recognised as one of Australia’s leading voices on social justice issues, having spearheaded public debates on ambling, urban poverty, homelessness, reconciliation and substance abuse.

Since February 2004, as Chief Executive of World Vision Australia, Rev. Tim Costello has also been instrumental in ensuring that the issues surrounding global poverty are placed on the national agenda. In 2004, Rev. Tim Costello was named Victorian of the Year; in June 2005 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO); and in 2006 was named Victorian Australian of the Year.

• Date: Thursday 21st May
• Time: 7am – 9am
• Venue: Functions Room, Marcellin College, 160 Bulleen Rd, Bulleen, VIC 3105
• Cost: $30.00 (includes a full hot breakfast)
• Bookings: Please contact Ms. Lee Campbell, Leadership Secretary on 9851 1540 by Monday 11th May to reserve your seat!

Payment to be made prior to the day. All cheques made payable to Marcellin College.

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As many people would have seen on the news there was a fire in Heidelberg near Banksia Street last Thursday. This was put out with the assistance of a water bombing helicopter that descended next to Marcellin into the Trinity Grammar playing fields to collect water to douse the fire. Footage of this was taken by former student Brent Carlyle. Watch it here!

Year 9 Notebook Replacement Program: ACER Travelmate 3290 ONLY

We are pleased to inform you that ACER have provided us with a certain number of notebooks to replace the notebooks of students who purchased an ACER Travelmate Model# 3292 (Labelled as 3290 on the sticker) through the school notebook supplier. This arrangement does not cover students who independently purchased this model and it does not cover other models. The reason for the exchange is an identified overheating problem with this model.

The change over time is planned for Thursday Period 3 or 4 on Thursday 5th Feb. Students will be called to Room PO2 for the assessment and exchange.

Students are required to remove all personal and school related files from the laptop by either backing up to another drive at home or on their G drive at school for any school work. This should be done prior to coming to school on Thursday.

The notebook exchange, as previously advertised, is conditional. Boys will present their notebook (and charger) for assessment. Others will need to submit the notebook for fixing under warranty/insurance conditions.

Patrick Green - Director of Learning Technologies.

The hot weather this week has affected us all, but spare a thought for our Ground Staff. Inside their shed is a thermometer that has reached it's limit! 50 degrees celsius!

In lieu of a task missed, students who attended WYD were asked to answer the above question. Guidelines regarding format were given but the most important criteria was: Communicating the impression of the event, what it meant to you and how you see this as impacting on your community.

English is all about the communication of ideas, thoughts, concepts and emotion. Kiran Rajasinam has done this in a beautifully constructed piece of work, combining a number of techniques to express his passion and impressions of this life changing pilgrimage.