An essential component of the Marist philosophy and MCA tradition is parental involvement.
By becoming involved you can assist your son’s school by contributing to the P&F’s objectives to;
- Foster the welfare and progress of the College community and in so doing, seek to create a close and harmonious relationship between all members of our school community
- Promote Catholic Education and, to that end, to enter public discussion on matters affecting it and to affiliate with any organisation formed to promote it
- Assist the College staff whenever, wherever and however possible in the interests of the College and its students, and, as a secondary aim, to raise funds and apply them for the purpose of furthering these objectives
The Marist P&F Association is organised into sub-committees, with parents actively involved as convenors and volunteers. Convenors are appointed at the Annual General Meeting each February and activities are confined to term-time. The sub-committees are listed below.
Amity
This group is responsible for coordinating and assisting hospitality and social functions for the College, particularly the Year Dinners for parents. These dinners provide a great opportunity to meet and socialise with other parents in your son’s Year group. The dinners are designed as enjoyable opportunities to socialise with costs kept to a minimum as these are not fundraising ventures. Your ticket includes a welcome drink upon arrival, savouries and a three-course meal with further drinks available at the bar.
The Amity committee also assists with Grandparents Day in November and other College social functions.
Boarder Support
This group assists and supports boarding students and their families in the daily life of the College, easing the concerns of parents who are often far from their sons. Volunteers may be called upon to transport boys to medical or dental appointments, transporting boys to weekend sporting venues, assisting the younger boys in shopping for clothes, sewing on name tags and other day-to-day tasks the boys find difficult to do for themselves, or even helping our Senior boys as they prepare for their Formal. This group also coordinates and runs life skills workshops for Year 9 and Year 11 boys teaching such things as general etiquette, table manners, laundry skills and legal issues surrounding drugs and alcohol and ‘Schoolies’. It aims to facilitate relationships between day and boarding families by holding BBQ’s during football/rugby season, as well as the fortnightly afternoon teas of home-made food provided for boarding students. Boarder Support is able to assist the College in arranging accommodation for boarding families, through a list of day families who have generously offered their homes for this purpose.
Solo Parents Group
This committee has been established to help any Parent at the College bringing up their boys on their own. The group meets on a monthly basis during term at a local venue. The meetings are very relaxed with lots of chat, laughs and sharing. Members support each other with advice from their own experiences during open discussions.
Card Days
Marist Card Days provides a social opportunity for card players in our own and surrounding community and in doing so, provides a modest contribution to P&F fundraising.
Card Days are held once each Term on a Wednesday from 9:30am – 2:00pm in the Brother Cyprian Pavilion. Our guests book tables of 4-6 and enjoy the day playing card games such as bridge, euchre and 500, or board games such as scrabble. Volunteers prepare and serve a home-baked morning tea. At lunchtime a cash bar operates with sandwiches served, and raffle and lucky door prizes drawn.