Primary News

Dear Primary Families,

As we come to the end of yet another eventful term, it is important that we take the time to reflect on all it entailed. Whilst Term 3 will be remembered for mask wearing and home-learning, the term also included: Primary Student Leaders attending the Brisbane Olympic Breakfast, the Library’s annual Book Week Parade and author visits, a College tour, NAIDOC Week, the Feast of The Assumption, R U OK Day, Environmental Week, Father Son Breakfast, Year 5 and 7 Orientation Days and information evenings, The Tower Art Show, Music Soiree, Grandparents Day and Term 3 sport.

This Wednesday students will gather in The Chapel for a special Primary Mass. Boys are asked to be at school at 7:45am so that we can commence in The Chapel at 8:00am sharp. It is expected that all Primary boys are in attendance. The Mass will be followed by the presentation of our Men of Courage and Love of Work awards for Term 3.

Assessment

This week students will be busy completing assessment and commencing foundational units of work for Term 4. As such, it is important that you please inform your son’s teacher if they will be away for any reason. A reminder that a period of extended leave (3 or more days) requires approval from your son’s classroom teacher and the Head of Primary School.

Reports

Our mid-semester interim reports will be made available to all families via the Parent Lounge on Friday 17 September. These reports will give a snapshot of your son’s progress and learning behaviours to date. Parents will be notified through the College App when they are ready.

Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews

As you are aware, our Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews will commence on Tuesday 5 October and will continue on Monday 11 October. As you are aware, our Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews will commence on Tuesday 5 October and will continue on Monday 11 October. Bookings for the interviews will close at 7:00pm on Wednesday 15 September. Please refer to earlier communication from Madeleine Tong for more detailed booking instructions.

Grandparents Day

Last Friday we welcomed our grandparents to the College, this was a great event and it was so wonderful to see our boys proudly showing their family members around their place of learning.

Soiree 

Congratulations to the large number of Primary boys who performed at the Soiree last Friday evening. The boys put on an extremely professional performance. Special thanks to Dr Andrew Butt (Head of Music) and all the other wonderful music tutors who prepared the boys for the event.

Father and Son Breakfast - Thursday 2 September

AIC Sport

Last week saw the final rounds of AIC competition for our boys in tennis, basketball and rugby league. My sincere thanks to all the coaches, coordinators and Mr John Lambourne (Head of Primary Sport) for their dedication throughout the term. I look forward to watching our AIC Track and Field squad compete at their events over the school holidays.

Tournament of Minds

On Saturday some of our Primary boys participated in the Tournament of Minds finals here at school. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 restrictions, their presentations again had to be filmed and submitted, rather than performing live in front of an audience. There were only three primary teams this year participating in the challenge from the STEM and Language and Literature disciplines. TOM is a wonderful program that gives the boys an opportunity to solve open-ended challenges in a creative and collaborative manner which fosters teamwork. The boys have to work within a strict set of boundaries which include time restrictions and limits on materials used for the making of props and costumes. The boys did a fabulous job with their solutions to the challenges that were presented.

Congratulations

Last week, NAPLAN hard copy reports went home to all students in Year 5. Congratulations to the following students who made significant progress within the following criteria.

5 Bands Progress

Writing: Christopher Hartfiel

Numeracy: Ned Fewster

4 Bands Progress

Reading: Henry Sloman, Joshua Steel, Knox Meehan, Oscar Persson, Christopher Hartfiel, Thomas Ahlberg, Maclean Bergin-Doyle, Zaiden Cook

Writing: Tom Casey, Lucas Weigl, Thomas Corby, Felix Law

Spelling: Charlie Casey, Tom Casey

Grammar and Punctuation: Oscar Persson

Numeracy: Jackson Harney, Knox Meehan, Hamish Foxall

These students will be acknowledged with certificates at our Whole School Assembly on Wednesday. 

We also congratulate the following students who maintained consistently high writing scores between our practice Writing in Term 1 and our actual testing: Kayden Kyoung, Christian Manning, Tom Ryan, Henry Walker and Henry Slack. These students were awarded with a special tour of the top of the Tower last Friday afternoon.

School Devices 

As a precaution for the possibility of online learning, all students have been asked to take home their learning devices (Chromebooks) and chargers over the upcoming break. It is important that the boys adhere to the Acceptable Use Agreement that they signed at the start of the year. Your support with this is very much appreciated.

Term 4

I look forward to welcoming our boys back, in summer uniform, when Term 4 commences on Wednesday 6 October.

Primary Sport Update – Mr John Lambourne

Track and Field - Holiday Training

The track and field holiday training schedule will be finalised this week, details will be posted on the College APP.

Holiday Meets

Meet #3 – Thursday 23 September, UQ Sport Athletics Centre – 8:30am – 11:30am

Meet #4 – Thursday 30 September, UQ Sport Athletics Centre – 8:30am – 11:30am

A bus will depart the College at 7:45am for boys wishing to attend these meets.

AIC Championships, Friday and Saturday, October 8-9

Basketball

The Year 5 basketballers finished their season on a high clean sweeping St Pat.’s, while the Year 6 boys faced a much tougher challenge only winning the 6 Gold game.

Internal Basketball

Thank you to all the boys who participated in the internal basketball competition, while the skill level and adherence to basketball rules was at times questionable it was a great spectacle and hopefully all the boys involved enjoyed themselves.

Rugby League

It was great to see the Year 5 rugby league boys play the curtain-raiser to the First XIII game at St Pat.’s on Saturday, the boys were up to the challenge of playing in front of a parochial home crowd taking home the win in a very tight game against Pat.’s. Although, the Year 6 boys didn’t get the win they played hard to the final whistle and it was fantastic to see the progress they had made throughout the season.

Tennis

Term 4 Swimming

MCA Swim Squad training sessions will recommence Wednesday 6 October, 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm and continue Monday and Wednesday afternoons throughout Term 4. These sessions are open to all boys, boys wishing to qualify for the AIC Swimming Team, and boys attending for fitness training; there is no obligation to attend AIC meets in Term 1 2022. 

Boys attending these sessions will need to bring the following equipment.

• Goggles
• Kickboard
• Pull Buoy
• Short Flippers
• Mesh Bag

Year 5 and 6 MCA Swim Squad Training Timetable Term 4

Sports Photographs

We are always on the lookout for photos and action shots to be used for the Blue and Gold, other College publications, season or end-of-year wrap-ups etc. Please follow this link and add your photos - Marist College Ashgrove Primary Sports Photos.

College App

Please ensure that you download the College App to your smartphone. This app will be used weekly to inform you of sporting fixtures, cancellations and bus arrival information.