Five Characteristics

Marist Colleges are renowned for their ethos founded on a sense of ‘family spirit’ which are discernible by five characteristics which particularly inform ‘how we do things around here’. The Five Characteristics of Marist Teaching are:

1. Presence

We care for students

We know each one individually

We seek relationship founded on love

We are attentive and welcoming

We earn trust, we foster openness

2. Simplicity

We are genuine and straightforward

We say what we believe and show it

We are honest before God and ourselves

We seek humility and modesty, ‘to do good quietly’

We use simplicity in our teaching

We encourage simplicity as a value in our lives, not seduced by possessions and fame

3. Family Spirit

We relate to each other and to young people in our care as the members of a loving family

We undertake to build community

We offer a warmth of welcome, acceptance and belonging

We share life’s successes and failures

We set clear standards of honesty, mutual respect and tolerance

We believe in each student’s innate goodness, not confusing the person with their actions

We give preferential attention to those whose needs are greatest

We encourage leadership based on collaboration and shared responsibility

4. Love of Work

We are people of work, ready to ‘roll up our sleeves’

We work with total confidence in God

We are generous of heart, constant and persevering in our daily work

We prepare classes, being visionary and decisive in meeting the needs of our students

We encourage our students to discover the dignity of work, a source of self-fulfilment

We view work as a way to bring purpose and meaning to life

We seek to develop strong character and resilience, balanced moral conscience and solid values

We foster motivation and teamwork

5. In the Way of Mary

We see Mary as a perfect model of the Marist educator – as an exemplar of the Christian life, as mother, as one who praised God

We see Mary as a woman on a journey of Faith

We believe Mary had a difficult life and ‘dust on her feet’

We consciously bring a Marial dimension to our teaching by prayer, imitating Mary’s tenderness, strength and constancy of faith