Primary School News

Dear Primary Parents,

Welcome back to Term 2 here in the Primary School. I trust that you all found some time to slow the pace of family life down a little over the Easter break. I also hope that you managed to spend some time away from the busyness of work to be with family or friends. I was able to meet a number of boys and families yesterday at the parent teacher interviews and those that I met all looked refreshed and ready to go for Term 2. I am hoping that some very worthwhile conversations were had as a result of these interviews and every boy has some revised goals that they have set for the term ahead. I believe that Term 2 is perhaps our busiest term so the boys will need to be organised if they are to be prepared for everything that is coming up.  

I look forward to seeing all the Year 5 and 6 students this week and meeting many of you again through your son’s involvement in our co-curricular program this term.

Anzac Day March

All Primary boys are encouraged to attend the Anzac Day March with our College community on the 25th of April. The boys have been asked to meet at St Finbarr’s School from 7:15am so that they can join in this important occasion. All boys are asked to wear their full Winter uniform with our Year 5 boys wearing their blazers as well.  I would ask that boys have breakfast or, at least, a snack and some water before attending the march.  A small bottle of water can be handy if it is a hot morning.

Winter Uniform Points

The boys did a great job this morning of hanging their blazers on the racks in their classrooms upon arrival at school. Each morning the boys will store their formal hats and blazers before engaging in their activities before school. 

Primary Pastoral Leader – Anthony Graham 

Dear Students and Parents,

As we welcome everyone back for a new term, we hope that the recent holiday break provided a chance for all our students and staff to relax, rejuvenate, and prepare for the exciting months ahead. We trust that everyone is returning with fresh energy and enthusiasm, ready to tackle new challenges and continue growing both inside and outside the classroom.

Class Photo Day Reminder

We would like to remind everyone that Class Photo Day is scheduled for next Tuesday 23rd April. As Mr. Serone highlighted in today's assembly, it is imperative that all boys come to school with appropriate haircuts, adhering to our Marist standards. Observing the boys today, we're pleased to see that about 95% are already meeting these expectations. Let’s make it 100% by photo day to ensure everyone can proudly represent our school community in the class photos!

Uniform Update: Winter Uniform and Labelling

As Term 2 begins, so does the boys transitioning to winter uniform and it’s wonderful to see how sharp our boys are looking. A reminder that boys are required to wear their blazer and formal hat to and from school each day. These elements not only complete our look but also foster a sense of pride and unity within our school community.

With the bustling sports calendar this term, we want to remind parents and students about the importance of labeling all items of the uniform—yes, this includes socks and ties! It’s easy for items to go missing during busy sports days and other activities, so taking the time to label your son’s belongings can save time and prevent lost property issues.

Year 5 Camps on the Horizon

Looking ahead, the Year 5 camps are fast approaching and promise to be a highlight of this term. Group 1 (5M, 5S, and 5V) will be heading to Tallebudgera on the Gold Coast from Monday 29th April to Wednesday 1st May (Week 3). 

Group 2 (5B, 5G, 5R, and 5W) will follow with their adventure from Monday 27 May to Wednesday 29 May (Week 7). These camps are an excellent opportunity for our students to build deeper connections with their classmates and teachers, and to engage in learning experiences outside the traditional classroom setting. Additionally, the challenges faced and overcome during the activities will foster courage and resilience, essential skills for personal growth and success.

Parents, please feel free to reach out if you have any concerns or questions about the upcoming camps. We are here to ensure that your child has a safe, enjoyable, and enriching experience.

We are excited about what this term holds for our community, and we look forward to sharing many more enriching experiences with you. Let's make it a fantastic term!

Primary Learning Leader – Jen Little

Goal Setting and Study

Welcome to Term 2. I hope everyone has had a chance to unwind and recharge. A new term is an opportunity for renewal, allowing us to review our past experiences and make any necessary adjustments for growth and improvement. In the coming weeks, our Years 5 and 6 students will be reflecting on what they have learned last term. They will also be encouraged to think about the learning behaviours they adopted that contributed to their success. Some will be satisfied with their contributions to their own learning, knowing they did everything they could to ‘set their sights on noble goals and not be content with mediocrity.’ Others will realise there is still much to be done in their learning journey. I have often said to students that they should not be the ‘passengers of their learning’ but rather the ‘drivers’ of it. 

Students will be encouraged to establish their own learning goals for Term 2. In the words of motivational speaker Brian Tracy, a goal without a plan is only a dream. We encourage boys to adopt goals for their learning that are S.M.A.R.T.

In essence, a SMART goal is a blueprint that should underpin how students will work and what exactly they are working towards.  Parents are highly encouraged to work in partnership with the boys in the achievement of their goals. Please be aware of the following resources available to your sons that our Primary staff have provided:

• Morning study – commencing at 8:00am every morning
• One Note Revision Resources – available in both Years 5 and 6 for every core subject
• Library Guides for additional reading and revision
• After-school supervision in the Senior Library
• Stile Revisions
• Maths Online
• Write that Essay Online Tool (Year 6)

In addition to individual homework tasks, students are also highly encouraged to commence their own study plan on an individual basis. Please see below some resources to assist with this:

• STUDY TIMETABLE.docx (sharepoint.com)
• 10 tips on how to study effectively | Victoria University (vu.edu.au)
• (2) 3 tips on how to study effectively - YouTube

Homework

When starting a new term, it is good to begin positively. With this in mind, I would like to take this opportunity to remind students and parents of our homework expectations. Please see below for this:

It is the expectation that all students in the Primary complete homework and bring their Student Diary to school each day. Students with a learning need may have their homework adjusted and this will be at the discretion of the classroom teacher. 

In Primary, the emphasis is on independent learning and management of knowledge. Homework should comprise the following elements, each of which is of equal importance: 

• Weekly Literacy homework in the form of spelling, reading comprehension and language conventions
• Weekly Mathematics homework
• Nightly independent reading – 20 minutes
• Completion of any follow-up work set in a particular class that day
• Additional revision/ study for upcoming exams across all key learning areas

Should unforeseen issues arise at home, which prevents students from being able to complete homework tasks, parents are asked to advise classroom teachers by means of a note in the school diary or email. Average time spent on nightly homework in Years 5 and 6 should be between 40 – 60 minutes, inclusive of 20 minutes reading.

Consequences in Primary for Incomplete Homework

There is a ‘3 strike’ policy for homework breaches in Primary. This policy is in operation from the commencement of Year 6 and from Term 2 of Year 5. It is believed that Year 5 students require a little more support in Term 1 as part of their transition to Marist College Ashgrove.

• First infringement – student is given a ‘strike’ and asked to complete the work at home and submit the next school day. If the work is still incomplete the next day, students complete their work in the Primary Library during break time upon finishing their lunch.
• Second infringement – student is given a ‘second strike’ and asked to complete the work at home and submit the next school day. If the work is still incomplete the next day, students complete their work in the Primary Library during break time upon finishing their lunch. The ‘second strike’ is communicated (via email) to parents by the classroom teacher with the Primary Learning Leader copied into the email.
• Third infringement – student is given a ‘third strike’ and asked to complete the work at a Friday detention. Classroom teacher will refer the third strike to the Primary Learning Leader who will email the parents of the child, alerting them to the third strike and providing details about the Friday detention. The Head of Primary will be copied into this email to parents. The Primary Learning Leader will ensure that the student is placed on the detention list by completing the entry in Teacher Kiosk.

To be clear, the above information outlines the minimum expectations for homework. Many of our students complete routine homework activities in far less time than the 40-60 minute per school day guidelines. These students are highly encouraged to complete additional independent study using the One Note Resources outlined above. The study timetable provided in this newsletter should assist with their planning for this. 

Morning Study – Maths on Wednesdays

Please note that due to a wide spread of results in our recent Mathematics assessments, we are dedicating a special Morning Study classroom before school to Mathematics on Wednesdays. Please be aware that students can attend morning study on any given day in the Primary Library for any particular needs they have. An alternative classroom (403) will also be offered each Wednesday to dedicate to any Maths needs our boys have. Any student who received a C- or lower on their most recent Maths assessment is highly encouraged to attend this morning group with Mrs Tippins and our dedicated school officers. Should students have sports training on Wednesday morning, they are encouraged to complete training by 7:50am so that they are punctual for this additional opportunity to assist with their learning. 

The Importance of Reading

Given the new term, I thought it would be timely to engage you with some interesting statistics on the importance of reading. Given the information below, I cannot stress enough the importance of nightly reading for our Primary students. Please reach out if you require any assistance with finding suitable reading materials for your sons. 

According to wordsrated.com

• 15 minutes of daily reading can make people feel 69% more accomplished, 55% more relaxed and 33% happier.
• 30 minutes of reading can lower heart rate, blood pressure and reduce feelings of distress. 
• Compared to non-readers, regular readers have on average been found to have around a 50% increase in both vocabulary and fact-based knowledge. Students who read for 20 minutes daily are exposed to around 1.8 million words annually.
• On standardized tests, they are more likely to score in the 90th percentile. 
• Children whose parents read to them frequently are 3 times more likely to be frequent readers themselves.
• Achieving good grades at the age of 16 can be increased by 90% from just 10 minutes of reading each day. 

According to postpress.com.au

• Bill Gates, the principal founder of Microsoft, reads 50 books a year – almost a book a week.
• When asked how he learned to build rockets, future-thinker and technology entrepreneur Elon Musk said, “I read books.”
• Mark Zuckerberg, creator of Facebook, has made it his mission to read a book every two weeks.

Primary Sport

Mr John Lambourne – Head of Sport (Primary)

Achievements

Congratulations Daniel Sadimenko (5M) who has been selected to represent Queensland at the School Sports Australian Swimming Championships to be held on the Gold Coast July 24 – 27.

Daniel’s results over the 3-day Sate Carnival were outstanding, we congratulate Daniel and wish him well at Nationals.

1st 200m Medley Relay

1st 200m Freestyle Relay

3rd 50m Freestyle

3rd 100m Backstroke

4th 100m Freestyle

4th 50m Backstroke

4th 50m Butterfly

Marist College Sporting Expectations

At Marist we often talk about being 100% Marist 100% of the time. This means that we represent our school with pride, no matter the situation. The boys are constantly reminded of the importance of representing our college with pride on the sporting field. Win, lose or draw they should do it well. In the competitive environment of schoolboy sport this can sometimes be challenging. However, at Marist we are known by the very high standard of which we hold ourselves to. The three violets of humility, simplicity and modesty provide us with a constant reminder of the people we should be. The image below, developed by the AIC schools, also provides a reminder of the expectations for all parents and spectators. 

Sports Training and Clashes

With the 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 students academic performance.

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

Marist Primary Cross Country and Swimming Carnival Extravaganza

The Primary Swimming Carnival has been rescheduled to Friday, 19 April to coincide with the Primary Cross Country Carnival for what will be a Term 2 carnival Extravaganza!!

All Year 5&6 boys are expected to attend in their College Sports Uniform

Parents are welcome to attend.

Cross Country

Each boy is expected to participate to the best of their ability.

All events will start and finish on McMahon Oval, in front of the John Eales Grandstand.

Swimming Carnival

Each boy is expected to swim 50m freestyle and 50m breaststroke.

The remainder of the day will be made up with participation and novelty-based games.

Hats, sunscreen and water bottles are extremely important, and the boys are expected to take some responsibility to ensure they stay sun safe and hydrated.

Cross Country

Training – Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Venue: McMahon Oval

Time: Training starts at 7:00am sharp. Students are to arrive at 6:45am and sign into the session with their student ID card.

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

College App

Please ensure that you download the College App to your smart phone. This app will be used weekly 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 College 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 4:45pm. We ask that boys are picked up at this time. Any boy who is still at their training venue at 5pm 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.