Primary School News

Acting Head of Primary – Gareth Kolkenbeckruh

I write this article with a great deal of pride at the efforts our Primary boys have put in across so many areas over the last week here at Marist College. It was a very busy week of activities last week and so many of the boys in Years 5 and 6 went above and beyond to put their best foot forward in our community. 

To give you a quick snapshot, on Monday morning, our Chess teams were hard at work, improving their strategies and moves for their upcoming AIC Chess matches. Tuesday evening saw our Public Speaking and Debating boys take on the opposition schools at St Laurence’s College in the first round-robin competition of the year. On Wednesday night, some of our Primary boys attended the Mother’s Day Mass with their mums, aunties and grandmothers. Continuing the Mother’s Day theme, many boys joined their mums for breakfast on Thursday and Friday mornings in the Champagnat Centre. Just when it looked like there could surely be no fuel left in the tank, the rugby and football boys turned up on Saturday morning to take on their respective oppositions in the AIC competition. I hope they all got plenty of sleep over the weekend to prepare for Week 4! 

All of these activities are undertaken on top of the academic commitments that all our boys have. I would like to thank these boys for being such active members of our community and extend a big thank you to our Primary parents who make this involvement possible. 

Have a great Week 4. 

Primary Pastoral Leader – Anthony Graham 

Uniform Focus – Hats 

A continued focus this week has been on uniform expectations, particularly the wearing of hats during play breaks. 

A reminder that if boys forget an item of their uniform, they are required to collect a uniform slip from Primary Reception. 

In relation to hats: 

• The College has a limited number of spare hats available for borrowing  
• Students are permitted to borrow a hat twice per term  

• After this, boys will be required to sit out of play in a sun-safe area (classroom next to the library)  

   

We appreciate your support in ensuring boys come to school with the correct uniform each day, particularly as we continue to prioritise sun safety. 

Pastoral Reminder – Week 4 

As we move through Week 4, routines are well established and expectations are clear. This is often a time where standards can begin to slip slightly, so it is a good opportunity to reset and refocus. 

A few simple reminders for the boys: 

• Be organised – pack bags the night before and bring all required equipment  
• Take pride in presentation – shirts tucked in, socks up, and wearing the uniform correctly  
• Make positive choices – in the classroom and during break times  

• Look out for one another – small acts of kindness make a big difference  

   

We continue to encourage the boys to approach each day with a positive mindset and a willingness to do their best. 

Primary Learning Leader – Jen Little 

Assessment Calendars

By now, all parents and students should have been emailed the assessment calendars for Term 2. These have been included below for further clarity. Please remember the use of the supervised Morning Study Room from 7:40am each day. Please also note that revision materials are provided for all students in the class One Note. 

Academic Integrity and Use of Artificial Intelligence in Primary

Academic integrity is fundamental to the values of our school community. It ensures fairness, fosters trust and upholds the quality of education. It is important to recognise however, that our approach to academic integrity must be appropriate for the developmental stage of our students. In a world in which artificial intelligence is constantly evolving, assuring academic integrity can be challenging.  

At the primary level, children are still learning the concepts of honesty, responsibility and ethical behaviour. Therefore, our policy is designed not only to enforce the standards but also to educate and guide students as they develop these important values. By providing age-appropriate instruction and support, we help children understand the importance of academic integrity and how to uphold it in their work. This educational approach ensures that students learn from their mistakes and grow into responsible and ethical learners. 

When students are completing assessments, it is important that the work submitted is their own. This is why all assessments in Primary, whether they be assignments or examinations, are conducted during school hours where they can be monitored accordingly. Over the course of this term, teachers will be familiarising students with the graphic above to set students up for success. 

In short, the table below provides a clear indication of when Artificial Intelligence should be used and when it would be unacceptable.  

 It is believed that having clear expectations and communication around what is and what isn’t acceptable use of AI will have a lasting impact on students, allowing them to maximise their full learning potential. 

Year 5 Public Speaking

The first Round Robin of the Year 5 Public Speaking took place last Tuesday evening at St Laurence’s College. Congratulations to the following students who stretched beyond their comfort zone, delivering confident performances on a variety of topics: Robert Neller, Owen Frost, Luca Mian, Nicholas Rush, Arahan Bhatia, Harrison Dillon, Lachlan Bradford and Monty Walsh. The boys have been working on their ability to command a stage by effectively using palm cards, voice projection, eye contact and hand gestures. We will continue to practise their intonation, pace and pause in the lead up to the second round of competition that will take place in Week 5 of the term. Special congratulations are extended to Nicholas Rush and Monty Walsh who won ‘Speaker of the Night.’ 

Year 6 Debating

Round Robin Debating – MCA/SLC/PC/LC  

Congratulations to our two Year 6 debating teams for their outstanding performance and well-deserved success in their first debate for our Round Robin competition at St Laurence’s. Both teams debated against Loretto College with “That all homework should be abolished” The teams presented clear and logical arguments, and strength in their rebuttal skills was evident. 

Preston Gallagher-Beck was awarded “Speaker of the Night”. 

Such a great effort! 

Team 1: The team consists of Ben Cipriano, Ryan Noronha, Preston Gallagher-Beck and Seb Baker. 

They debated the affirmative. 

Congratulations boys!  

Team 2:  The team consists of Colin Cooper, Henry Krinke, Case Purcell and Andre Dua. 

They debated the negative. 

Well done boys! 

Morning Study

Please note an updated time for our supervised Morning Study arrangements. 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. 

Primary Sport

Mr John Lambourne – Head of Sport (Primary)

AIC Sport Draws and Team Selections

Marist College has the largest participation in all AIC schools and has the greatest number of teams in each year level of the AIC competition.

In most instances each college will nominate A, B and C teams and these teams will play in their graded draws, there may also be occasions when teams match up in a D draw. Colour teams play in a supplementary draw which means that to secure games for as many boys as possible and to ensure some level of fairness in the competition, coaches and coordinators try to balance the colour teams. If a boy moves between colour teams he is not being “dropped” merely coaches are trying to keep the teams in balance.

While I understand that this is quite complicated, and every boy wants to be selected in the best team, coaches and coordinators do all that they can to ensure that all boys get a game and that boys are picked in teams commensurate with their ability.

I appreciate your support in respecting coaches and team selections.

Marist Primary Colour Cross Country Carnival

Results

Colour Champion

1st        Maroon - 5167

2nd       Gold - 5404

3rd       Violet - 5577

Year 5 Race

1st        Riley Turner (5B)2nd       Harry O’Flynn (5W)3rd       Otis Lynn (5R)

Year 6 Race

1st        Jimmy Scalongne (6W)2nd       Alex Dunbar (6V)3rd       Cian Dillon (6B)

10 Years Age Champion

1st        Arlo Swenson (5M)2nd       Tom Lindner (5R)3rd       Bruce Fischer (5B)

11 Years Age Champion

1st        Phoenix Bryant (5M)2nd       Ryan Wallington (6G)3rd       Jacob Ortiz (5M)

12 Years Age Champion

1st        Geordie Egerton (6S)2nd       Kai McKenna (6R)3rd       Jack Wurf (6M)

Term 2 AIC Sport

Rugby

Football

Cross Country

Term 2 Training Schedule (Week 4-6)

AIC Practice Meets 

AIC Practice Meets are a crucial preparation event for our AIC Cross Country Squad; it is vital that boys attend these meets to gain race experience amongst other AIC schools and begin to gain a better understanding of race tactics. We have 3 practice meets in the lead up to AIC champs.

Meet 1 – Wednesday, 13 May – Sherwood Arboretum 

Meet 2 – Wednesday, 20 May – Curlew Park 

Meet 3 – Wednesday, 27 May – Runcorn 

AIC Championships Team Selections 

Please note that each grade will have 12 runners selected to represent Marist at the Championships. In addition to these 12 selected runners, several reserves may be listed to travel with the squad on the day.

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

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.