Primary School News

Primary School Parents,

What a great start to the year it has been for our Primary boys and families. Our Year 6 boys were very impressive at our assemblies last week, which is a great way to show our new students what is expected at these gatherings. All Year 6 boys have the responsibility of modelling good behaviour for our Year 5 boys so that they quickly pick up on our expectations here in the Primary School. No doubt the energy tanks would have been running a bit low by the end of the week for our Year 5 boys after Orientation Day on Tuesday, Welcome Assembly on Wednesday, our Inaugural Mass on Friday and AIC sports trials on Saturday morning for many of them. The boys were also introduced to their ASHBuddy last Thursday which will be just the first opportunity of many for our boys to get together with their buddies throughout the term. I hope they managed to recharge their batteries over the weekend because they have all just boarded the bus to camp down the coast for the next three days. I am sure the camp will be an amazing experience for the boys and staff.

On Saturday morning, I spent some time on the Des Connor Fields as our Year 5 and 6 boys started cricket seasons off with some trials. The boys were excited to play their first matches for the year and I could see them starting to make connections with the other boys involved. So many parents shared stories of the positive change they have seen in their sons already and detailed how excited their boy was to involve himself in everything the college is offering. This is great to hear. I even heard a mum ask her son for a two-word answer when he offered her only one! A great example of the partnership we have formed for the year ahead.  

With so much happening to start off the year, we must ensure, that the boys get adequate rest so that they are in the best position to cope with the busyness of the next few weeks as lessons, trainings and rehearsals start to appear on their daily schedules. To this end, I would encourage parents to remove all devices from the boys’ bedrooms when they go to bed so that they are not kept awake by these distractions. It is vital that the boys get the best possible sleep each night so that they are ready for their big days ahead here at Marist. 

I would like to thank every parent for everything you have done for your son to get him to where he is today. As I mentioned last week, we are all on a journey together and the start of the year can seem like a very steep learning curve. I can assure you, that curve will flatten out in the weeks ahead as the boys settle into their routines for Term 1. I trust you have enjoyed your start to 2025 in the Primary School and I look forward to the weeks and months ahead.

Year 5 Welcome and Community Mass

We warmly invite our Year 5 students and their families to attend our Community Mass on Wednesday 12 February. This Mass is a special opportunity to welcome our Year 5 students and their families into our Marist community.

Details: 8:00am, Wednesday 12 February

Chapel of Our Lady and St Marcellin, Marist College Ashgrove

No RSVP required

Acting Primary Learning Leader – Catherine Barnett

As we enter Week 2, it has been wonderful to see our Year 5 and Year 6 boys settling into their new classrooms, building connections with their teachers and peers and embracing the learning routines that will guide them throughout the year. Our teachers have been working closely with their classes to establish clear expectations, ensuring that every boy feels supported and ready to engage in their learning. These early weeks set the foundation for a successful and productive year, from organising materials and managing time effectively to setting personal goals and understanding classroom routines.

Of course, adjusting to new routines comes with its challenges. Adapting to different teaching styles, learning new concepts and meeting higher academic expectations requires perseverance. However, with a positive mindset and the right support, we are confident our boys will rise to the challenge and develop the skills they need to succeed.

Important Reminders

Year 5 Information

NAPLAN Readiness Testing

A communication regarding NAPLAN readiness testing was sent to all families last week, but we have included the details again below for your reference.

The purpose of the two practice test sessions is to familiarise students with the online testing platform ahead of the official NAPLAN tests in March. These practice sessions also help us conduct technical readiness checks. Please note that no results will be recorded.

Year 5 NAPLAN Readiness Testing Details:

• Date: Friday 7 February 2025 (Week 2)
• Location: Classroom
• Time: Periods 4 and 5

• What to Bring: A fully charged laptop, wired headphones/earphones, a pen and a water bottle

   

• Date: Friday 14 February 2025 (Week 3)  
• Location: Classroom
• Time: Periods 4 and 5
• What to Bring: A fully charged laptop, wired headphones/earphones, a pen and a water bottle

For more information about NAPLAN, please refer to the attached brochure. Additionally, the NAPLAN Public Demonstration Site is an excellent resource for students and parents, offering practice tests to help students become more familiar with the platform.

Year 6 Information

Science Incursion – Star Lab Cosmodome (at school for one lesson)

Next Tuesday 11 February, all Year 6 students will participate in a science incursion held at school. Our Term 1 Science focus explores the movement of Earth and other planets relative to the Sun, examining how Earth’s tilt, rotation and revolution create observable patterns such as day and night, the changing seasons and tides. To enhance students’ understanding, Star Lab will visit the school, providing an interactive experience inside the Cosmodome—an igloo-shaped dome that functions as both a full-dome cinema and planetarium. This will be an exciting and immersive learning experience as we begin our Science unit in the coming weeks.

Homework

Homework for your son will commence this week. The expectations are below:

1. Numeracy 
   • Worksheets or Mathspace (revising of content or preparation for upcoming assessments) 
2. Literacy 

• Spelling workbook
• STILE - Grammar and punctuation/comprehension (Literacy Cup)
• Independent reading (20 minutes per night) 
• Completion of writing tasks on Write that Essay (WTE) as directed by classroom teacher - this will not be every week