M C RM A R C E L L I NCOLLEGE RANDWICKE X - S T U D E N T S N E W S L E T T E R 2 0 1 1

Success is an interesting thing. We’re all attracted to it but it’s somewhat difficult to define and measure. It all depends, I think, on what we value. My mother and father valued religious life and so when I became a Marist Brother they saw this as a great success. On the other hand, I have a friend in religious life whose mother thought it a complete waste of time and for much of her life lamented that he never really achieved success. MCR is, in my opinion, a very successful school, and given the number of people who sought enrolment into Year 7 for 2012 (285 applications for 170 places) it seems that lots of other people see it that way too. In claiming success what is it that we value at Marcellin?

We value academic achievement, and the information on the second page of this Newsletter attests to quite remarkable achievement in 2010. What is equally remarkable is that while our more academically capable students did well so did the range of other students. In educational circles we speak of value adding and therefore constantly attend to whether a student has progressed and achieved to their potential. We value add well at MCR.

We also value participation and success in sport, and pages 6 & 7 of this Newsletter report on overwhelming achievements in this area. Marcellin College remains the champion MCC school and as this Newsletter goes to print our senior Basketball and Rugby League teams are contesting the coveted CCC title. We value, too, a whole range of other cultural activities including Music and Debating and Public Speaking. Our Music tuition program continues to grow from strength to strength and yet again we had an MCR Debating team in the semi-finals of the CSDA competition.

But this is not all we value at MCR. As well as those things named above we value character development; the growth of boys into fine young Christian men. To this end we provide opportunities, including a recently revamped pastoral program, that helps boys develop the qualities that Catholic education esteems: respect for the dignity of all God’s creation, compassion, and forgiveness to name a few. I offer our gratitude to the anonymous Old Boy who has provided funds for us to take a group of senior students to a disadvantaged indigenous community to understand the plight of our nation’s first peoples; to be boys and men in solidarity with our fellow human beings.

Success. We strive for this at MCR, in as much as it develops our boys in the way instructed by our Founder, St Marcellin Champagnat: good Christians and good citizens.

Br David Hall, FMSHeadmaster

With my best wishes,

Dear Friends of Marcellin College,

2011 College Theme

ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHTS

The students achieved excellent results in the 2010 School Certificate Examinations. There were State examinations in English literacy, Mathematics, Science, Australian History, Australian Geography and Computing Skills.

Students were graded in these external examinations based on their results. In each of the six subjects tested, Marcellin College students’ results were in the higher bands in greater proportions than those achieved by all students across the State. The following chart outlines the percentage difference between the number of students achieving results in the top 3 bands at Marcellin College and in the State.

Percentage of students who gained a Band 4, 5 or 6 in subjects(The top 12 subjects are listed)

All subjects above State average

HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE RESULTS

SCHOOL CERTIFICATE RESULTS

In the 2010 Higher School Certificate

� Marcellin College was ranked 80th in the State (2006 - 108th, 2007 - 78th, 2008 - 101st, 2009 - 98th).

� Top ATAR - 99.40 (2006 - 97.15, 2007 - 99.55, 2008 - 99.90, 2009 - 99.40).

� Many students with an ATAR over 90.

� 404 Band 5 & 6 results.

� 25 of 28 courses above State average.

� 25 of 28 courses above State average across top 3 bands.

� 23 courses where a Band 6 result was achieved by one or more students.

HSC Subjects Bands 4,5,6 School % of students

Bands 4,5,6 State % of students

School vs State % Difference

Business Studies 96.97 67.56 +29.41Design and Technology 100 75.06 +24.94English - Advanced 97.41 92.57 +4.83Geography 100 72.81 +27.19Industrial Technology 100 59.24 +40.76Legal Studies 100 63.56 +36.44Mathematics Ext 2 (E3&E4) 100 90.01 +9.99Modern History 100 77.37 +22.63Music 1 100 87.50 +12.50PD/Health/PE 97.62 70.35 +27.27Physics 94.45 71.08 +23.37Studies of Religion 1 94.14 78.76 +15.38

HSC COMPARISONS OVER THE LAST 6 YEARS2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Total Band 5 & 6 285 240 332 276 362 404

Subjects above State average 22 18 21 19 25 25

Subjects below State average 5 9 6 9 4 3

SC Subjects School Average State Average School V State % Difference

English 95% 81% +14%

Mathematics 69% 53% +16%

Science 86% 73% +13%

History 56% 52% +4%

Geography 72% 59% +13%

Computing* 100% 96% +4%

*Computing skills refers to % of students who received highly competent or competent

EXTRACURRICULAR LIFECOLLEGE INAUGURAL MASS - Friday 25th February

The College Inaugural Mass was held on Friday 25th February. The Brothers from the Marcellin Community joined the teachers and students to welcome new students to the College and welcome back students who were returning for another year.

The Mass included the presentation of the Headmaster’s Service Awards for Semester II 2010. A highlight of the Mass was the placing of the names of every member of the College community into the College Hearts.

EXTRACURRICULAR LIFEANZAC DAY CEREMONY - Friday 29th April

This year the traditional ANZAC Day ceremony was held on Friday 29th April. Marcellin College students and staff took the time to pause to remember in a very special, personal way, those 31 ex-students of Marcellin who gave their lives in the service of their country. Each of these 31 men has his own story, but they all had this in common - they were all educated at Marcellin by the Marist Brothers. The names of these men are listed on plaques at the base of the memorial statue of St Marcellin Champagnat in the courtyard.

This statue was erected by the Ex-Student’s Association in the late 1940s to honour those sons of Marcellin who made the supreme sacrifice in war. This year also saw the inclusion of members of the Coogee/Randwick RSL who were guests of the College to help commemorate the sacrifices of local men and women during war time.

The ceremony began with a formal procession led by students carrying the College flag, College candle and a slouch hat, and included prayers, readings, reflection, laying of the wreaths as well as the Last Post.

The boys were congratulated on the great reverence with which the student body participated in the ceremony. Many ex-students present expressed their delight in having the chance to talk with students about their experiences during the morning tea that followed the ceremony.

EXTRACURRICULAR LIFECHAMPAGNAT DAY - Friday 10th June

‘Around the same table’ was the theme for our Champagnat Mass on Friday 10th June in the Marist Centre. We were joined in celebration by many of the Brothers from our community and Br Michael Callinan from the Ministries Office. The Mass was presided by Fr Max Blumenthal and was a moving celebration of our Marist Charism. Other activities following Mass included the Annual Talent Quest, food stalls, inflatable obstacle courses ‘Iron Man Challenge’, ‘The Big Challenge’ and other games.

SPORTING HIGHLIGHTS 2011

AGGREGATE SWIM SQUAD

JUVENILE SWIM SQUAD

JUNIOR SWIM SQUAD

2011 MCC CHAMPIONS• Golf Champions - 5 years in a row!• Swimming - Juvenile, Junior and Aggregate Champions• Basketball - Under 14, Under 15 and Aggregate • Cricket - Under 14, Under 16 and Aggregate• A Grade Soccer

U15 BASKETBALL U14 CRICKET

U16 CRICKET

A GRADE SOCCER

GOLF

U14 BASKETBALL

SPORTING HIGHLIGHTS 2011

CROSS COUNTRY SQUAD

U15 TOUCH FOOTBALL

U14 TOUCH FOOTBALL

A GRADE TOUCH FOOTBALL

2011 MCC CHAMPIONS• Touch Football - Under 14, Under 15,

A Grade and Aggregate• Rugby League - A Grade, B Grade, Under 13

Division 1 and Under 15• Cross Country Squad - 7 years in a row!

U13 DIV 1 RUGBYB GRADE RUGBY

A GRADE RUGBYU15 RUGBY

195 Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031marcellin college randwickPh: (02) 9398 6355 Fax: (02) 9398 9049 secretary@marcellin.nsw.edu.au www.marcellin.nsw.edu.au

EXTRACURRICULAR LIFEPUBLIC SPEAKING AND THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS DEBATING COMPETITION

Congratulations to our Year 10 Debating team Thomas Pantle, Jake Richards and Luke Dooner, who made it

through to the semi-finals and were one of the final four schools in a state wide competition.

MUSIC CONCERT - Wednesday 29th JuneOn Wednesday 29th June, the Marcellin College Music Department hosted another one of their much anticipated Mid Year Spectaculars. Many musical talents were showcased in an action packed evening. The hundreds of gifted students who performed were made up of various ensembles. Those ensembles were notably the Percussion group, Guitar, Clarinet, Vocal, Brass and Saxophone, a number of class groups, various duos as well as the College Concert and Stage bands.

Public Speaking competition winners Timothy Nichols and Noah Simpkins