Primary School News

Dear Primary Parents,

Here at Marist College, we believe that education goes beyond the classroom—it’s also about helping our boys develop into well-rounded, caring and healthy individuals. That’s why we’re excited to celebrate Wellness Week next week here in the Primary School.This is a special initiative dedicated to promoting the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of our students and staff. 

Wellness Week is an opportunity for boys to explore what it means to take care of themselves and others. Throughout the week, they’ll be invited to participate in a variety of enriching and enjoyable activities designed to support their overall well-being. 

Some highlights of this year’s Wellness Week include: 

• Nature Walks, where boys can enjoy the outdoors, observe the beauty around them, and learn to appreciate the calming effects of nature. 
• Thoughtfulness Wall, where boys are encouraged to place notes of gratitude up on the wall in our St. Marcellin Centre. 
• Yoga and Meditation Sessions, encouraging mindfulness, relaxation, and body awareness—important tools for managing stress and building inner calm. 
• A Screen-Free Challenge, motivating students to take a break from digital devices and reconnect with the world around them through play, conversation, and creativity. 
• Nature Painting, giving students the chance to express themselves artistically using inspiration and materials from the natural world around them. 

There is something new and exciting happening each day of the week next week and each of these activities is thoughtfully chosen to nurture key aspects of wellness—physical activity, emotional awareness, creativity, and a strong connection to the natural environment. 

In today’s busy world, it's more important than ever to help our boys build healthy habits and emotional resilience. By celebrating Wellness Week, we are providing our students with meaningful experiences that will support them not just in school, but in life. 

We encourage families to join in the spirit of Wellness Week at home—through discussion and encouragement of the boys to attend the different sessions. Wellness Week can always extend to home-life by perhaps undertaking a family walk, a shared screen-free evening, or even some peaceful time painting or reading together during the week. 

Thank you for supporting this important initiative and we hope many of boys take this opportunity to involve themselves in these offerings. 

Enjoy the week ahead and Go the Maroons! 

Primary Pastoral Leader – Anthony Graham 

Loud Shirts, Big Hearts

Last Friday, the Primary boys proudly participated in Loud Shirt Day and supported our annual Marist 180 fundraiser. It was wonderful to see the boys not only dressing the part but also understanding the purpose behind both initiatives. Through their efforts, they helped raise awareness for Australians who are deaf or hard of hearing and supported vulnerable young people through Marist 180. These opportunities continue to teach our boys the value of empathy and service.

Year 6 Retreat – Looking Inward, Reaching Out

Next Monday, our Year 6 students will take part in their annual Year 6 Retreat, facilitated by Character Builders. This retreat is a meaningful day that focuses on team building, personal growth, and deepening relationships among peers. The day will run within normal school hours and will take place in the Champagnat Centre. Boys are to wear their sports uniform, as they will be involved in a range of physical and reflective activities throughout the day.

Working Together – Supporting Boys to Grow

At Marist, we deeply value the partnership between home and school in supporting the growth and development of our boys. As they navigate friendships, games, and the ups and downs of daily school life, they’re constantly learning about boundaries, emotions, and respectful communication.

A simple way to support this learning at home is through the questions we ask. Encouraging boys to reflect on the positives of their day can help them build self-awareness, resilience, and gratitude. Questions like:

• What did you enjoy at school today?
• What did you do that made you feel proud?
• How were you a good friend today?

These conversations help create calm and open dialogue, which in turn empowers our boys to make better choices, take responsibility, and grow in confidence. Thank you for your continued support and trust as we work together to guide them through these important formative years.

Feast of St Marcellin Champagnat - Friday 6 June

Next Friday 6th June, is the Feast of St Marcellin Champagnat. On this day, boys are required to wear their formal uniform as we come together to celebrate our Champagnat Mass.

After Mass, students will enjoy a lunch provided by the College, followed by the Champagnat Day Bin Ball Championships. For this reason, boys should pack their sports uniform to change into after lunch.

It is also recommended that students bring food for first break, as lunch will be provided later in the day.

Further information will be shared in next week’s newsletter.

Primary Learning Leader – Jen Little

The Importance of Numeracy in Children: A Key Skill for Life and Learning

Numeracy is a fundamental skill that impacts many aspects of life, from managing money to problem-solving in everyday tasks. In Australia, numeracy is considered one of the key general capabilities in the Australian Curriculum, alongside other skills like literacy, critical thinking, and personal and social capability. It’s not just about being able to do sums or understand algebra – numeracy is about being confident and capable in using mathematical concepts in real-world situations.

What is Numeracy?

Numeracy goes beyond simply being able to calculate numbers. It involves the ability to understand and use mathematical concepts, processes, and reasoning in everyday life. Being numerate means being able to make decisions based on data, solve problems using mathematical ideas, and think logically about situations.

In the Australian Curriculum, numeracy is not confined to mathematics lessons. It is woven throughout all subjects, as children apply their numerical understanding across science, geography, economics, and even art. This broad application of numeracy skills reflects how important mathematical thinking is in various contexts.

Why is Numeracy Important for Life?

Numeracy is essential in many everyday tasks. We use numbers and mathematics to plan our budgets, compare prices, measure ingredients for cooking, and even understand maps and timetables. The more numerate children are, the better they will be equipped to navigate these situations confidently and independently.

A numerate child is also better prepared for future learning, particularly in areas like science and technology, where math plays a critical role. For example, understanding how percentages work can help children with understanding interest rates in banking or how to calculate discounts during shopping.

Building Strong Mathematical Foundations

At the heart of numeracy is the understanding of basic number facts and mathematical procedures. A strong grasp of these basic skills is essential for further mathematical learning, as it sets the foundation for more complex concepts.

Basic Number Facts

Number facts like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division tables are essential building blocks in mathematics. Children who can recall these facts quickly and accurately are able to focus their energy on solving more complex problems, instead of spending time trying to remember basic facts. For example, knowing that 6 x 7 = 42 means that a child can solve problems involving multiplication faster, enabling them to focus on more advanced mathematical thinking.

Multiplicative Thinking

Multiplicative thinking, or the ability to understand and apply multiplication and division, is another important concept in numeracy. It helps children to work with larger numbers, fractions, and percentages, and forms the basis for more complex mathematical operations like algebra and ratio. Students who develop strong multiplicative thinking skills early on tend to perform better in mathematics in later years, and are better equipped to understand concepts that rely on these skills, such as measurement and problem-solving.

How Can Parents Help Build Numeracy Skills at Home?

Parents play a key role in supporting the development of numeracy skills. There are many simple and fun ways to help children build their mathematical confidence at home. Here are some ideas:

1. Incorporate Math into Daily Activities: Use everyday activities to practice numbers. For example, when cooking, ask your child to measure ingredients or calculate cooking times. When grocery shopping, ask them to compare prices or work out the total cost of multiple items.
2. Play Math Games: Board games like Monopoly, Yahtzee, or card games such as Uno can help children practice number recognition, counting, and strategy. Many of these games also promote problem-solving skills.
3. Talk About Numbers: Discuss numbers in your daily life. Ask questions like, "How many minutes until we get there?" or "How many days until your birthday?" This encourages children to use numbers in real-world situations.
4. Practice Mental Math: Help your child practice simple mental arithmetic. For example, ask them to mentally add or subtract numbers during a car ride or while waiting in line at the store. The more they practice, the quicker they will recall number facts.
5. Create a Math-Friendly Environment: Surround your child with opportunities to explore numbers. Label objects in the house with their quantities, such as the number of steps in a staircase or the number of chairs at the table. Use puzzles or apps that challenge them to think mathematically.

Useful Websites and Resources

There are plenty of websites and online tools that make learning numeracy fun and interactive. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Mathletics (www.mathletics.com.au)
2. Prodigy Math (www.prodigygame.com)
3. Cool Math Games (www.coolmathgames.com)
4. IXL (www.ixl.com)
5. YouCubed (https://www.youcubed.org)
6. Math is Visual (https://mathisvisual.com)
7. NRICH (https://nrich.maths.org)
8. WODB (Which one doesn’t belong) (https://wodb.ca)

Numeracy is much more than just math – it's a life skill that helps children solve problems, make informed decisions, and understand the world around them. By building a solid foundation of number facts, multiplication, and problem-solving strategies, children can develop the mathematical confidence they need to succeed. Parents can play a significant role in this by incorporating numeracy into everyday life, creating a math-friendly environment, and using interactive resources to make learning fun. Ultimately, fostering numeracy skills ensures children are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

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.

Public Speaking – Mr Dan Prince 

Congratulations are extended once again to the Year 5 public speakers who did an amazing job at the second round last Tuesday, 20th May. Ryan Noronha was again awarded speaker of the night for his stirring speech on the Indian Premier League. Speech topics ranged from airplanes to Lego. Our speakers on the night were Oliver Davis, Will Baker, Colin Cooper, Roman Kaminski, Henry McCulloch and Maverick Gray. The boys improved in confidence over the course of the evening, and I look forward to them applying newly acquired skills to the last round of public speaking next week. Well done to all of you! 

Debating

Round Robin Debating – MCA/SLC/ATC/PC - Mrs Robyn Brown  

Our Year 6 Debating Teams were both victorious in their competitions last Tuesday night. Both teams debated against St Laurence’s College with “That all families should own a pet”. Their well-structured arguments and exceptional rebutting skills were instrumental in their success. 

Team 1

The team consists of Jack Felix, Charlie Mackay, George Coulter and Moses Yeung. They debated the negative. “Speaker of the night” was awarded to Charlie Mackay. Congratulations boys!

Team 2

The team consists of Matt Hendrick, Leo Scuderi, Jovi Zanre and Chandler Forrest. They debated the affirmative. “Speaker of the night” was awarded to Leo Scuderi. Well done boys!

Primary Sport

Mr John Lambourne – Head of Sport (Primary)

Achievements

Congratulations to Liam Tamer (6V) who has been selected to represent Marist College at the Queensland Junior Squash Championships.

Liam competed at the Queensland School Sport Squash State Championships where he played in the U15 division. Liam finished the tournament in 2nd.

Congratulations also to Josef Windisch (5G) who also competed at this tournament, an outstanding achievement as Josef is still only 9.

Congratulations to William Smith (6S) who has been selected to represent Marist College at the Queensland School Sport (11-12 Years) Rugby Championships.

Congratulations to Chase Richardson (6B) and Leo Scuderi (6G) who have been selected to represent Marist College at the Met North Regional Tennis (10-12 Years) trials.

Term 2 AIC Sport

Rugby

Football

Cross Country

• Friday, 30 May – 6:45 – 8:00am, McMahon Oval 
• Monday, 2 June – 645 – 8:00am, McMahon Oval (Training + BBQ) 
• Thursday, 5 June – 7:00 – 8:00am, McMahon Oval (recovery session) 

AIC Cross Country – Meet #3

Date: Wednesday, 28 May

Venue: SLC Playing Fields – 18 Nathan Rd, Runcorn

All Marist Cross Country athletes’ years 5-12 are invited and expected to attend this event.

Students will be transported to and from the event via Brisbane Bus Line Bus. Staff will supervise students on the bus.

• Depart: 3:00pm (Marist Bus Stop)

Students are to get changed into their sport uniform at second break and leave class at 2:55pm.

• Return: 6:00pm (Marist Bus Stop)

Uniform: Boys are to dress in their Marist blue training shirt, Marist sports shorts and Marist sport socks, boys are to wear a Marist athletics singlet while competing.

Race Schedule

Matt Millward

Cross Country Program Coordinator

millwardm@marash.qld.edu.au

Chess

AIC Chess – Round 4 vs St Laurence’s College

Tejas Koirala (6M)

In Round 4 of chess last Friday, 12 primary students, including myself, faced St Laurence, a tough opponent who had defeated us completely the previous year. We first entered the bus, and once we arrived, we got straight into our games with determination. The first round of games ended in a draw, which boosted morale. After a short break, the second round was played with mixed results. The A team narrowly lost 7-9, while both the B and C teams won their matches 10-6. Overall, it was a challenging but enjoyable experience for everyone, and we hope to get another great matchup next week.

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 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.