Primary School News

Acting Head of Primary – Gareth Kolkenbeck-Ruh

As we move into another busy week in the Primary School, there is certainly a great deal of excitement around the College. National Book Week is always a highlight of the school calendar, and our boys have been eagerly anticipating the many activities planned throughout the week. The celebrations will culminate with our Book Week Free Dress Day on Friday 7 August, where students are invited to come dressed as their favourite book character. It is always wonderful to see the creativity, imagination and enthusiasm that our boys bring to this occasion, and we look forward to another memorable celebration of reading and storytelling.

Last week I had the privilege of attending a professional learning day facilitated by Real Schools, an organisation that works with schools across Australia to strengthen relationships, build positive school cultures and foster genuine connection and belonging. It was an excellent opportunity to reflect on the importance of care, respect and restorative practices in education. Throughout the day, I was reminded of the many things that we already do so well here in the Primary School at Marist College Ashgrove. Our commitment to knowing every boy, building strong partnerships with families, and creating an environment where boys feel safe, supported and challenged continues to be one of our greatest strengths. It was affirming to see that so much of the work we undertake each day aligns closely with the principles promoted by Real Schools.

Congratulations also to our Year 5 boys who performed so confidently at last week's Strings and Band Concert. Their dedication, perseverance and willingness to share their musical talents with our community were evident throughout the evening. Thank you to our talented music staff for the many hours of preparation and encouragement that enabled the boys to perform with such confidence and pride.

There is also plenty of anticipation building for our upcoming Reading Night with Dad later this week. This has quickly become one of our favourite community events, providing a wonderful opportunity for boys and their fathers or significant male role models to share in the joy of reading together. We look forward to welcoming so many families for what promises to be another enjoyable evening celebrating books, literacy and the importance of reading together.

Year 6 students from our school have recently undertaken, an education tour of the national capital. Students were be given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage, and democracy.  The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government is contributing funding to our school in the amount of $90 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion. We are incredibly grateful for this and the opportunity provided.

Have a fantastic Week 4 everyone!

Primary Pastoral Leader – Anthony Graham

Wellio – A New Approach to Wellbeing

This term, our Primary students have begun using Wellio, our new wellbeing program that will support the delivery of Health and Pastoral Care lessons across the College. Wellio has been developed by child psychologists and educators and provides age-appropriate, evidence-based lessons that help students develop the skills needed to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

Throughout the term, students will explore topics including respectful relationships, manners, being an upstander rather than a bystander, managing peer pressure, regulating emotions, and speaking up when something doesn't feel right. These lessons provide a common language across both the Primary and Secondary schools, allowing us to continue building a culture where every student feels safe, supported and empowered to make positive choices. We look forward to seeing the positive impact Wellio has on the wellbeing of our boys.

College Walkathon – This Sunday

A reminder that our annual College Walkathon takes place this Sunday, and we look forward to seeing our Primary boys and families involved in this wonderful community event.

Students simply need to arrive from 7:45am (no need to arrive earlier), have their names marked off, and then gather in the Primary undercover area where staff will provide further instructions before the walk begins. Parents, siblings and extended family are warmly encouraged to join us as we walk together in support of our College community.

As a reminder, students are to remain with the event until they have finished the Walkathon and had their name marked off the role. If your son is unable to attend on Sunday, please contact either Primary Reception or myself, and he will be invited to complete the make-up Walkathon on Tuesday afternoon.

Pastoral Update

Some families may be aware, but I will be taking Long Service Leave throughout Term 4. While I am looking forward to my extended leave, my focus remains firmly on finishing the term strongly alongside our wonderful staff and students. There is still plenty to look forward to over the coming weeks, and I thank our Primary community for your continued support throughout the year.

Primary Learning Leader – Jen Little

The Critical Role of School Attendance in Learning Progress

Regular attendance at school is fundamental to a student’s academic success and ongoing learning progress. While it’s important that students stay home when they are unwell—both to recover properly and to prevent the spread of illness—consistent attendance and punctuality are essential for maintaining momentum in learning. 

In Australia, research consistently highlights the link between school attendance and educational outcomes. The Australian Department of Education’s National School Reform Agreement notes that attendance is a strong predictor of student achievement, especially in literacy and numeracy.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports that around 10% of Australian students are chronically absent, missing 10% or more of school days in a year. This level of absenteeism is associated with poorer academic performance, lower engagement, and increased risk of early school leaving. To put it in perspective, a student who misses just two days of school every month over the year will have missed approximately 18 days—nearly a full month of classroom learning. The Queensland Department of Education points out that this lost time can create gaps in understanding, making it challenging for students to catch up without additional support.

Whilst this is alarming, we also need to consider the impact of lateness on a child’s education. Lateness not only affects the individual student but also disrupts the learning environment for the entire class. When a student arrives late, teachers often need to pause lessons or repeat instructions, which can interrupt the flow of teaching and divert attention from other students. According to data from the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL), this disruption can reduce overall classroom productivity and impact peer learning.

Even arriving 10 minutes late daily can result in over 30 hours of lost learning time across a school year for the late student alone. Added to that, the disruption caused by late arrivals can affect classmates’ concentration and engagement, further compounding lost instructional time.

Below are some practical suggestions to assist in supporting regular school attendance:

1. Establish consistent routines – create a predictable daily schedule for mornings and evenings. Regular bedtimes, waking up early and a calm morning routine can help children arrive at school and be ready to learn.
2. Promote the importance of attendance – talk with your child about why school attendance matters for their learning and future goals. Encouraging a positive attitude towards school helps build motivation and engagement. 
3. Encourage resilience and problem solving – help your child develop resilience by teaching them to manage challenges like a tough homework task or a disagreement with friends, rather than using these as reasons to avoid school. Building emotional strength supports consistent attendance. 
4. Support healthy habits – encourage good hygiene, balanced nutrition and physical activity to keep your child healthy. When children get sick, emphasize that rest and recovery are important – make sure they understand that resting means taking it easy, not playing energetically, so they can return to school feeling well. 

5. Communicate with the school – keep open communication with teachers and school staff about any issues affecting attendance. Early intervention and collaboration can help address barriers like transport, anxiety, or learning difficulties before they become bigger problems. 

    

Ultimately, consistent attendance and punctuality are key drivers of student success in Australia’s education system. By attending school regularly and on time, students unlock the full benefits of classroom learning and set themselves up for a brighter academic future.

Assessments in Primary

Recently, we have noticed a small number of situations where, with the very best intentions, students have completed assessment tasks at home with significant support from parents, family members, or tutors. We greatly value the partnership we share with families and appreciate the commitment to helping children succeed. However, for assessment data to be meaningful, fair, and accurate, it is important that assignments and exams used for reporting and achievement purposes are completed independently and under teacher supervision at school. This ensures that every student is assessed on an equal footing and that results genuinely reflect their own knowledge, skills, and understanding.

Primary assessments, whether completed as classroom assignments or formal exams, play an important role in helping teachers understand each child's progress, strengths, and next steps for learning. When assessment tasks are completed at school, teachers can confidently verify and authenticate that the work reflects each student's own learning. This allows us to make accurate judgements about achievement, provide targeted feedback, and ensure that students receive the support or extension they need. Authentic assessment information is essential in building a clear picture of a child's growth and informing future teaching and learning.

Parents play a vital role in supporting learning at home, and we encourage families to continue fostering positive learning habits through reading together, discussing school topics, practising key skills, and encouraging organisation, independence, and resilience. These activities help build confidence and deepen understanding without compromising the integrity of assessment. By supporting learning at home while allowing assessment tasks to be completed independently at school, parents and teachers can work together to ensure a fair process for all students and gain the most accurate picture of each child's progress, growth, and success. We thank you in advance for your support with this. 

Morning Study

Morning Study will operate in the Primary CLE from 7:40–8:10am, Monday to Friday. This space provides a quiet environment for students to complete homework and/ or study. 

Morning Study is open to all students; however, the level of support offered will vary depending on the number of students attending on any given day. Students who wish to enhance their learning through a regular weekly study routine, particularly by using resources from their OneNote, will find this an ideal venue.

Literacy and Numeracy Trophy Winners

Literacy and Numeracy continue to be a focus in the Primary. Congratulations to the following classes for their success last week.

Program Leader: Primary Sport – Matt Green

Term 3 AIC Sport

Term 3 sports on offer are Basketball, Rugby League and Tennis.

Please note that numbers are limited in each of these sports and that boys are only able to participate in one Term 3 AIC team sport. 

Boys may also choose to participate in track & field; boys of all abilities are welcome to attend track training sessions. Please see below for further details relating to track & field.

Results from Round 2

Draws for this weekend’s upcoming fixtures can be found here.

Western District Track and Field Trials

Congratulations to the following boys who will represent Marist at the upcoming Western District Trials being held on Thursday 6th & Friday 7th August at St Joseph’s College, Nudgee. 

Year 5: Parker Brennan, Phoenix Bryant, Patrick Caughley, Harrison Dillon, Orlando Dodds, Nate Langham, Tommy Lindner, Otis Lynn, Evan Schoch, George O’Brien, Arlo Swenson

Year 6: Geordie Edgerton, Cooper Kadri, Eddie Leyden, Jimmy Scalongne, Kai McKenna, Madden McQuinn, Henry Vos, Ryan Wallington

Basketball – Maximum 36 boys / grade

Uniform: Marist Basketball singlet, Marist Sport shorts & blue Marist Sport socks

Fixtures Friday evening.

Training twice / week.

Tennis – Maximum 8 boys / grade

Uniform: Marist Tennis polo, Marist Tennis shorts & white Marist Sport socks

Fixtures Saturday morning – please be aware that there may be Friday evening fixtures in 2026

Training twice / week.

Rugby League – Maximum 30 boys Year 5 and 34 boys Year 6

Uniform: Marist rugby league jersey, Marist rugby shorts & Marist team sport socks

Fixtures Saturday morning.

Training twice / week.

Track & Field

There are 4 AIC T&F meets scheduled at the end of Term 3.

These meets are conducted as time trials for boys wishing to qualify for AIC Championships.

• Thursday, August 27
• Wednesday, September 2
• Thursday, September 10
• Wednesday, September 16

AIC Championships – Thursday, 8 & Friday, 9 October – QSAC.

Uniform: Marist Athletics singlet, Marist Sport shorts & white Marist Sport socks 

Boys wishing to be considered for AIC selection should also be aware that there will be training and meets conducted over the Term 3 holidays.

Track & Field

Sunday Sessions

Sunday sessions are an excellent introduction to Marist Track & Field. We have some exceptional coaches leading these sessions and creating an environment of learning and enjoyment.

Some benefits include:

1. Improvement in technique and speed.

2. Technical development for throws.

3. Improved repeat speed / conditioning.

WHEN: Sunday afternoons

WHERE: Hayden Oval

TIME: 3:15-4:45pm 

DRESS: Marist Sport shirt, Marist Sports shorts, Marist Sport white or blue socks.

Sports Training and Clashes

With a myriad of opportunities on offer for the students, clashes are unavoidable but never a problem if communicated.

Families are reminded that cocurricular activities should not impede on any student’s academic performance.

If sports training clashes with music or morning tutoring it is asked that boys alternate from week to week.

Sports Photographs

We are always on the look-out for photos and action shots to be used for the Blue & 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

Parent Orbit App

Please ensure that you download the Parent Orbit app to your smart phone. This app will be used to inform you of sporting fixtures, cancellations and bus arrival information.

Late Pick Up After Sports Training

“PLAN B”

It is important that both parent and student are aware of the pick-up procedure if afternoon sports training is cancelled or if parents are running late for pick-up. As soon as a decision is made to cancel a sporting fixture or training, a message is placed on the Parent Orbit app. If training is cancelled, boys can remain in the primary school or walk to an arranged pick-up point when the time arrives.

Afternoon sports training sessions are scheduled to finish by 5:00pm. We ask that boys are picked up at this time. Any boy who is still at their training venue at 5:15pm will be directed to the After Hours Boarding Reception area / College Health Centre so that he may be collected from there. After Hours Boarding Reception can be contacted on 07 3858 4619.

In the case of bus arrivals from external sporting venues, boys will be sent to After Hours Boarding Reception 15 minutes after the bus arrives back at the College. Parents are asked to collect their sons from this location.