Primary News

Dear Primary Families,

I hope all the Dads had a great day on Sunday. On Thursday morning I enjoyed the chance to join many fathers from our community for the Father’s Day Breakfast at the grandstand. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and that you have had a chance to watch this very special message that was coordinated by our Year 5 and 6 students.

Last week our Year 6 students had their first experience of ‘high-school’ with their Year 7 Orientation Day. Friday also provided us with an opportunity to welcome the Year 5 students for 2022 for their Orientation Day. Throughout the day the newest members of our community were engaged in a variety of activities, which finished with a Binball competition on McMahon oval and an opportunity to learn the College prayer. 

Week 9 is shaping up to be another exciting week with the Soiree, Tower Art Show, Grandparents Day, school photos and the final round of AIC sport for Term 3. 

Information regarding these events can be found earlier in the newsletter and on the College App.

Student Absences

As we come to the end of Term 3, students are continuing to engage in assessment across all learning areas. As such, if you are aware your son is going to be absent from school please inform their class teacher and primaryabsentees@marash.qld.edu.au . A reminder that if your son is required to be absent for longer than three days, then a request for leave is required via: PrimaryAbsentees@marash.qld.edu.au. It is expected that all students complete their assessments prior to any extended period of leave.

From the Primary Learning Leader – Ms Jen Little

NAPLAN Results

This week, we will be sending out the NAPLAN reports for all Primary boys. Whilst NAPLAN is a point in time test, it is also a reflection of how your child is fairing in the areas of literacy and numeracy. As such, Marist College Ashgrove values its role in providing important feedback to parents and teachers as to how students are progressing.

As a school, we have been happy with the numerous improvements made in many areas across the College. Our targeted focus this year was on writing and I am pleased to report that we have seen solid progress between Years 5 to 7 and 7 to 9. In the Primary, we have built-in a number of strategies around writing development which have included the following:

• More targeted feedback from teachers, peers and external markers
• Explicit unpacking of writing criteria and scaffolding
• A focus on different sentence styles and patterns
• Stop, drop and write
• Focus on building writing stamina
• Regular formative grammar and punctuation assessments

It is pleasing to see that the above strategies have made an impact and, whilst we celebrate these successes, we also acknowledge that this work needs to be continued and that complacency is not an option. 

Please look out for your child’s NAPLAN report that will be sent home in hard copy.

Year 5 Poet Visit

On Monday, bush poet Noel Stallard visited Marist and delivered a presentation in our Draney Theatre to our Year 5 students who have been learning all about poetry this term in English. Noel was awarded the OAM for service to literature on Australia Day in 2019. 

The students were incredibly engaged by Noel’s questioning and by his performance of ballads from himself as well as other famous poets including Banjo Patterson, Henry Lawson and CJ Dennis. It was a highly entertaining morning and a great opportunity for our Year 5 students. 

Primary Sport Update – Mr John Lambourne

Achievements

Congratulations to Josh Pope (6W), who has been selected to represent North West District Cricket (10-12 years) at the Met North Regional trials, to be held 8-9 September.

Term 3 AIC Sport

Track and Field

Some fantastic results at the first AIC Track and Field meet last Thursday. With Term 3 AIC team sports wrapping up this weekend, boys are encouraged to now focus their efforts into track and field training with only four weeks to go until AIC Championships.

AIC Track and Field Meet #2, Thursday 9 September, State Athletics Facility (SAF), Nathan. The meet is open to all students who wish to qualify for the AIC T&F Championships, to be held, Week 1, Term 4. AIC T&F meets are run as time trials/selection meets. A bus will be provided to and from T&F meets, boys are required to travel in their sports uniform or the blue MCA training shirt. The bus will depart from the bus stop @ 2:00pm and return @ 5:45pm (approx.), return details will be posted on the College APP. If your son catches the bus and you collect him, it is very important to ensure you inform a staff member.

Holiday Training

The track and field holiday training schedule will be finalised this week; details will be posted on the College APP.

Holiday Meets

Meet #3 – Thursday, 23 September, UQ Sport Athletics Centre – 8:30am – 11:30am

Meet #4 – Thursday, 30 September, UQ Sport Athletics Centre – 8:30am – 11:30am

A bus will depart the College at 7:45am for boys wishing to attend these meets.

AIC Championships, Friday 8 and Saturday 9 October

Basketball

Fantastic results from our A and B basketballers, last week, taking the clean sweep over St Peter’s. It is a fitting reward for all the effort the boys have been putting into training to see their hard work pay off on the court. Let’s hope the boys can continue the momentum this week against St Pat’s. 

A bus will be provided to and from St Pat’s. Boys travelling on the bus MUST travel in their College Sports Uniform. The bus will depart from the bus stop @ 2:45pm and return @ 6:15pm (approx.), return details will be posted on the College app. If your son catches the bus and you collect him, it is very important to ensure you inform a staff member.

Please check the College APP for draw information.

Internal Basketball

Final round of fixtures for the internal basketball this week, games will be played 3:30 – 4:30pm.

Rugby League

Rugby League training;

Tuesday, 3:30pm – 4:45pm @ Hayden Oval

Wednesday, 3:30pm – 4:45pm @ Flat #5

Please check the College app for draw information.

Tennis

Tennis training;

Years 5 and 6 AIC Squads – Wednesday, 3:30pm - 5:30pm and Friday, 6:20pm - 8:20am

Shadow Teams – Monday, 6:20am - 8:20am and Friday, 3:30pm - 5:30pm

Please check the College app for draw information.

Term 4 Swimming

MCA Swim Squad training sessions will recommence Wednesday 6 October, 3:30pm - 4:30pm and continue Monday and Wednesday afternoons throughout Term 4. These sessions are open to all boys, boys wishing to qualify for the AIC Swimming Team, and boys attending for fitness training; there is no obligation to attend AIC meets in Term 1 2022. 

Boys attending these sessions will need to bring the following equipment.

• Goggles
• Kickboard
• Pull Buoy
• Short Flippers
• Mesh Bag

Year 5 and 6 MCA Swim Squad Training Timetable Term 4 

Sports Photographs

We are always on the lookout for photos and action shots to be used for the Blue and 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 smartphone. This app will be used weekly to inform you of sporting fixtures, cancellations and bus arrival information.