Learning and Teaching News

Academic Care Team Term 1 - 2024

Marist College Ashgrove’s Academic Care Team (ACT) works with students to track and assist their academic growth at the College. The ACT is divided into several roles:

• Acting Deputy Head of College - Learning and Teaching: Mrs Roxanne Rosenberg. Roxanne overseas learning and teaching across the whole College. Along with Jessica Turschwell (see below), Roxanne has a particular focus on the middle years (Years 7-9). Roxanne can be contacted at rosenbergr@marash.qld.edu.au
• Acting Assistant Head of College – Learning and Teaching (Senior School): Mr Adam Knight. Adam works with the Senior School students (Years 10-12) and staff to ensure our Senior school academic programs prepare the boys for senior learning. Adam can be contacted at knighta@marash.qld.edu.au 
• Acting Curriculum Leader: Senior Years Academic Care: Ms Kathryn Badini. Kathryn primarily focuses on student tracking across the senior school (Years 10-12). This includes the Year 10 preparation programs and subject selections. She assists boys in subject selection and with their many pathway options in senior schooling. Kathryn can be contacted at badinik@marash.qld.edu.au 
• Curriculum Leader: Middle Years Academic Care: Mrs Jessica Turschwell. Jess works with Middle School students (Years 7-9) on academic success through our student tracking program. Jess can be contacted at turschwellj@marash.qld.edu.au
• Primary Learning Leader: Ms Jen Little. Jen works closely with primary school teachers to develop an engaging and targeted curriculum for Years 5 and 6. She tracks student progress and is focused on continual improvement for all. Jen can be contacted at littlej@marash.qld.edu.au 

The middle and senior years Academic Care Team can be accessed at the Studies Office (under the Resource Centre). Jen Little, the Primary Learning Leader, is in the Primary Administration building. Please feel free to contact the relevant member of the ACT if you have any questions about your son’s subjects or overall academic progress across the year.

Years 9-11 Subject Changes 

Over the break, students in Years 9-11 may have decided to change elective subjects that they chose last year. If your son would like to change his subjects, please encourage him to visit the Academic Care Office (located under the Senior Library).

• Year 9 subject changes – Acting Deputy Head of College (Roxanne Rosenberg) or CL: Middle Year Academic Care (Jess Turschwell)
• Year 10-11 subject changes – Acting Assistant Head of College – Learning and Teaching (Adam Knight) or CL: Senior Years Academic Care (Kathryn Badini).

All subject changes need to be completed and submitted by Wednesday 31 January. 

Year 5 -10 Semester 2 2023 Outstanding Academic Achievement Awards

Year 5-10 Semester Two 2023 Outstanding Academic Achievement Awards and Academic badges were presented at today’s Inaugural Mass.  Please see below a list of awards winners.

Bronze Award Recipients

Silver Award Recipients

Bronze Badge Recipients

Silver Badge Recipients

Gold Badge Recipients

Head of College Awards for Semester 2, 2023 will be presented on year-level assemblies this term. A list of recipients will be included in a newsletter later this term.

Student Monitoring 

For the next couple of weeks, all students will participate in the student monitoring program.  This takes place each morning in pastoral groups.  Your son will use an online platform (Learning Analytics) to look at his previous results, discuss concerns and set goals for Semester 1.

Parents are provided with their son’s responses and are then able to continue this conversation at home.

NAPLAN

Next week, students in Years 7 and 9 will complete a NAPLAN readiness test. The purpose of the practice test is to support the familiarisation of students and test administrators with the test format, question types and online testing experience prior to NAPLAN testing in March. These tests can also be used to support schools with their technical readiness checks.  Students will need to ensure they have a fully charged laptop and a pen for these practice exams.  Further information will be in the morning notices.

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy takes place during Week 8 of Term 1 this year. Information regarding these tests and arrangements for upcoming school readiness tests will be emailed to students in Years 5, 7 and 9 shortly. 

Years 11 and 12 Information Night

An information night for Years 11 and 12 students and families will be held on Monday 5  February – 6:00pm for Year 11, and 7:00pm for Year 12 in the Champagnat Centre. It is here that we will discuss some Pastoral matters alongside information on QCE, ATAR, VET and careers. More information will be emailed to parents shortly. 

Year 12 – ATAR Prediction (Units 1 and 2)

Updated ATAR Estimations from the end of Unit 1 & Unit 2 are available for all Year 12 students. Students can visit the ACT office (via the Studies Office) during break times to receive the update.  

Quiet Study

Each morning the Resource Centre (senior library) is open from 7:45am to 8:30am for quiet individual study.  All boys are encouraged to use this space to get themselves organised and ready for the day.

2024 Calendar

The College calendar provided to each family outlines the scheduled exam blocks across the year for students in Years 7-12. Please ensure you check these Exam Block dates before booking any holidays, as they are an essential and compulsory part of the learning process at the College. Leave is not granted to students during this time. 

Please note that a medical certificate is required for all students from Years 7-12 who are absent during the exam blocks.

Assessment Schedules 

From Week 3, your son will have access to his assessment schedule. This can be located on Student Café. Your son is encouraged to download this schedule and transfer assessment dates to his College Diary. There will be more information on accessing this information in the Week 3 newsletter.