Marist College Ashgrove principal Michael Newman on indefinite leave after controversial end to 2023

A prestigious Brisbane private school principal has made a shock announcement, just days before the start of the new school year.

Marist College Ashgrove in Brisbane. Picture: supplied

A prestigious Brisbane private school principal has made a shock announcement just days before the start of the new school year.

In a two-page ‘welcome back’ letter to parents on Wednesday, Marist College Ashgrove Head of College Michael Newman revealed in the final paragraph that he was taking ‘personal leave’.

Head of Marist College Ashgrove Michael Newman. Photo: Richard Walker.

“I will be taking some personal leave as we commence the 2024 academic year. My leave arrangements, together with the appointment of acting leadership positions, has been decided in collaboration with Marist Schools Australia,” Mr Newman wrote.

“The college is in good hands with Mr Charles Brauer as Acting Head of College, Ms Jennifer Smeed as Acting Deputy Head of College, Mrs Roxanne Rosenberg as Acting Deputy Head of College Learning and Teaching, and Mr Adam Knight as Assistant Head of College Learning and Teaching.

“The Leadership Team and college staff, under Charles’ guidance, will continue to forge a path forward with our agreed Strategic Plan for the future 2022–2026.”

The letter did not include an explanation for Mr Newman’s personal leave, or the timing.

An excerpt from Michael Newman’s welcome letter in the lead-up to Term 1.

The Courier-Mail has been told of the bizarre circumstances under which Mr Newman left.

Mr Newman attended a function at the College on Monday to welcome new staff members.

A picture of him with an incoming staff member was posted on the College’s Facebook page, giving no indication anything was afoot.

On Wednesday, all staff returned for the first time this year and they gathered for a meeting – this included teachers, support staff, and groundsmen etc.

The Courier-Mail has been told Mr Newman addressed the staff meeting for more than an hour, covering all the usual topics related to the year ahead.

He then used his final words to announce he was taking leave and did not provide his colleagues with an explanation.

Mr Newman then left the stage and left the College, with his period of personal leave starting midway through Wednesday morning.

The Courier-Mail has been told all staff were left in shock, were not given an opportunity to ask questions, and did not see Mr Newman again after he left the stage.

Acting Head of College Charles Brauer addressed staff after Mr Newman’s shock news, but Mr Brauer did not refer to, or explain, Mr Newman’s announcement.

Mr Newman (right) pictured at a College function on Monday welcoming new staff members, just two days before he announced he was taking indefinite personal leave. Photo: Facebook.

Mr Newman took over at Marist at the start of 2021, coming from St Mary’s College in Toowoomba.

He oversaw a tumultuous finish to the 2023 school year at Marist, with veteran science teacher Stan Kosiek leaving in September after 22 years.

Mr Kosiek’s departure came after he took legal action against the College in Queensland’s Federal Court arguing unfair dismissal over an accidental ‘reply all’ email and Bali holiday scandal.

The case was eventually settled following private mediation. The settlement details remain unknown.

The College then announced Mr Kosiek had taken early retirement.

Less than two months later, a female teacher was allegedly surrounded and abused by a group of male students, who then threw food at her.

The teacher remained on leave at the end of last year while the investigations by the College and the Independent Education Union continued.

The College declined to comment further when contacted by The Courier-Mail on Wednesday.