Learning and Teaching News

Year 8–10 Academic Achievement and Year 11 Optimus Awards 

Years 8-10 Academic Achievement and Year 11 Optimus Awards were presented during the College assembly last Wednesday (27.08.2025).

Academic Achievement Awardees 

Year 8 Bronze 

Year 9 Bronze 

Year 10 Bronze 

Year 8 Silver 

Year 9 Silver 

Year 10 Silver 

Year 8 Gold 

Year 9 Gold 

Year 10 Gold 

Year 11 Optimus Awardees 

Bronze 

Silver 

Gold 

Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews – In Person 

The Year 5 – 11, in person, Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews are taking place on Tuesday 7th October between 11:00AM and 5:00PM. 

For Primary and Secondary school interviews, parents and guardians may only book one interview timeslot for each student, per teacher.  Please note that if you attended an online interview on Monday 18th August, you are not permitted to book a face to face interview this is to ensure all families have the opportunity to attend a Semester 2 Parent/Teacher/Student interview. 

Students are encouraged to attend these face to face interviews. If so, they must be dressed in full academic uniform. Details on how to book these interviews will be emailed to all parents and carers this week.

Year 12 Night Study Sessions     

Year 12 Night Study Session will commence again this week - Wednesday night between 5pm and 8pm. Mini-masterclasses in External exam preparation are also being offered at the following times: 

Year 12 Wednesday night study requirements:     

• Current ID card is to be presented on arrival     
• All students must sign in and out of the library     
• All standard library rules are to be followed (including no eating)     
• Normal student behaviour expectations apply; if these cannot be met, boys will be prohibited from returning to future sessions     
• Students are free to wear full College uniform or plain clothes     
• Students are free to arrive and leave as they see fit. Supervision is only provided in the library between 5-8pm.     
• Students are to be in the library only. This is not a time for sport or social gatherings 

End of Term 3 Exam Blocks  

Year 7-12 End of Term 3 Exam Block schedules have been released to all students and parents. Please check your emails or access the Parent Orbit App for a copy of these schedules.  

It is an expectation that all students will be at school for their exams. A Medical Certificate will be required, if a student is absent from these important assessment tasks.  No exams will be sat early.  

Other important things to note:  

• all boys must have their student ID card for their exams.  This allows us to mark our roles accurately.  If your son has lost his student card, please order a new one this week.  
• Please ensure boys have necessary equipment.  This includes pens, pencils, highlighter and calculator.   
• A student will make up a missed exam as soon as possible when they return to school.  Boys will be emailed make up session time and rooming.  

Request for Leave – Unapproved Leave Over Assessment Periods  

Please know that if leave has not been approved for missing assessment (assignments and exams), that a summative mark of NA will appear on the End of Semester Report for the relevant subject. This is in line with QCAA policies in regards to leave and missing assessment and includes events such as family holidays. Students will still sit the assessment on return to school, and receive formative feedback; however, the result will not be counted towards the summative result at the end of the semester for the following reasons:  

• Deadlines for reporting not being met  
• Conservation of academic integrity  
• Workload of teachers and staff around marking and reporting times  
• The validity of the mark completed in timelines given for the assessment  

Please note that this does not apply to leave that has been granted for approved reasons (Illness, etc.) as per QCAA policies.  

Subject Selection Year 9 2026  

Current Year 8 students will be choosing their electives for Year 9 2026.  The Year 9 Subject Handbook has been sent to all families with initial planning culminating in ASH on Tuesday 26/08. Boys will select their subjects with parental approval due by Thursday 4th September.

Marist Subject Support  

Marist Subject support tutoring is off and running.  

Tutoring is offered by old boys and takes place in the from 07:30 am to 08:30 am and also 3:30pm to 4:30 pm Tuesday to Thursday each week. 

Old Boys Tutoring List 

Please find here a list of Old Boys who are available to tutor your son outside of school hours. This list can also be located on the parent portal or viathis link.Please note it is the parent’s responsibility to organise and liaise tutoring times with the Old Boys. 

Academic Bootcamps 2025 - Griffith University 

We’re excited to share that Griffith’s popular Academic Bootcamps are back for the September holidays! 

These four-day courses help Year 12 students boost their final exam results with support from experienced teachers currently delivering these subjects in schools. 

Students will: 

• Improve exam confidence 
• Learn effective study strategies 
• Revise and consolidate knowledge 
• Explore university pathways at Griffith 

Available in-person or online. Subjects include General Maths, Maths Methods, Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Psychology. 

Students can attend up to two bootcamps across consecutive weeks. 

Spots are limited – help your students make the most of their break! Learn more here: griffith.edu.au/griffith-sciences/science-on-the-go/stem-pathways/academic-bootcamps 

(Information about the Academic Bootcamp can be found via this link - 2025 Bootcamp Flyer.pdf) 

Study Tip