Learning and Teaching News

Year 12 Unit 3 Optimus Awards

Last week at the college assembly, we celebrated the 2026 Year 12 Unit 3 Optimus award recipients. This year 112 students received a Gold, Silver or Bronze Optimus Award, which is continuing the excellence we are witnessing in the senior year here at the College. With almost half the cohort receiving these academic excellence awards, it was an event worthy of celebration with the whole College community. 

Bronze Optimus Awards

Awarded for achieving a minimum of 80% for General subjects and/or an A for Applied subjects across at least 65% of subjects studied (when at least 5 subjects are studied), and nothing lower than 50% (General subjects) or a C (Applied subjects) in Unit 3.

Congratulations to the Bronze Award Recipients:

Tate Allen, Benjamin Allpass, Archer Altun, Ethan Bell, Corben Bramich, Harrison Davies, Henry Davies, Callum Doherty, Isaac Farrelly, Tobias Forbes, Jack Herrmann, Riley Hughes, Samuel Imlay, Joseph Murphy, Fletcher Murray, Daniel O'Keeffe, Hudson O'Neill, Oliver Peregrina, Leo Pigott, Miles Sartoni, Harvey Schulz, Archie Searle, Angus Shay, Sebastian Sorbello, Luke Walker, Jack Webster, Charles Wilcox, Daniel Wuol, Harry Zantiotis.

Silver Optimus Awards

Awarded for achieving a minimum of 80% for General subjects and/or an A for Applied subjects across 80% of subjects studied (when at least 5 subjects are studied), and nothing lower than a 65% (General subjects) or a B (Applied subjects) in Unit 3.

Congratulations to the Silver Award Recipients:

Malachi Artho, Oliver Bishop, Benjamin Blaszczyk, James Bradford, Eli Briza, Ky Campbell, Cooper Chugg, Joshua Coote, William Easter, Hayden Gane, Francis Heenan, James Johnston, Alexander Keane, James Maguire, Isaac McDonnell, Leo McKenna, James Milasas, Bryn Morgan, Ethan Murry, Jake Musgrave, Zachary O'Ryan, Lachlan Pawsey, Archie Powell, Samuel Robertson, Henry Robinson, Max Russo, Jackson Skinner, Oliver Smith, Caden Tucker, Nicholas Weaver, Fletcher Wessling, Ewan Wood

Gold Optimus Awards

Congratulations to the Gold Award Recipients:

Awarded for achieving a minimum of 80% for each General subjects and/or A for Applied subjects across 100% of subjects (when at least 5 subjects are studied)in Unit 3.

James Dee, Daniel Thirgood, Aiden Agnew, Matthew Stower, Alessander Javier, Cade Kelly, William Davis, Connor Parsons, Jack Purcell, Finlay Gardiner, Harper Frazier, Cooper Matthews, Isaac Ting, Toby McCormack, Hugh Ambrose, William Lambley, Samuel Tealby, Lucas Dempsey, Heath Parsons, Joshua Bellett, Harry Zappert, Matthew Pegg, Luke Garvey, Fletcher Carlson, Ryan Mullin, Adrian Garbellini, Llewellyn Carrigan, Sebastian Martinuzzi, Tyson Cooper, Aidan Lian, Max McGuinness, Ruben Smythe, Lachlan Nisbett, Benjamin Hawley, James Garden, Dean Wright, Ethan Barbaro, Arjun Punj, William Banner, George Watson, Lachlan Gill, Angus Miller, Oliver Hayes, Oliver Eaton, Harrison Arundell, Dylan Jennison, Thomas Farrell, Daniel Londema, Connor Leet, Xavier Clarke-Bates, Leo Morris

Year 7-10 End of Semester Exam Block 

Exam block for Years 7-10 is now in full swing. This was released to parents last week. It is expected that all students will be present during this important assessment period. If you are absent during exam block, a medical certificate is required.  Please note that once you return to school you will be expected to make up this assessment as soon as possible.  

Please note some assessments will continue past the examination block into the end of the term.

A few things to be aware of... 

• If your son has special provisions, he will be notified by the Academic Equity Team that he will complete his assessment in CLE.  This does not apply to those students who only receive extra time.  They will sit their exam with the main cohort but be provided with this additional time in an ‘Extra Time Room’.  
• Student ID Cards – all boys are required to bring their Student ID card into the exam room.  This is for identification purposes and to streamline our roll marking to ensure these are accurate. 
• Please make sure your son has all equipment necessary to complete their exams – calculator, ruler, pens, pencils and any other subject-specific requirements
• If your son is injured and requires a computer or scribe, please inform the Academic Care Team via email (curriculum@marash.qld.edu.au) as soon as possible. 
• If absent, your son will complete his exam on his return to school.  No exams will be sat prior to exam date. 

Year 10 Subject selection and SET plans for Year 11, 2027

Students have received their web-preference instructions in selecting their subjects for Year 11 and should now be completed.

SET Plan Interviews will take place from Wednesday 24 June to Friday 26 June (Term 2) and Monday 13 July and Tuesday 14 July* (Term 3). Bookings are open and will close on Sunday 21 June at 9:00pm (only one interview is permitted per student).

These interviews provide an opportunity to discuss students’ future pathways and subject selections for Year 11 and 12. Both students and a parent/carer are required to attend.

* Bookings for Tuesday 14 July are not bookable via the booking system therefore if you receive a message saying “There are no further available for this Student” please email curriculum@marash.qld.edu.au) to make a booking.

External Exam Block

The 2026 External Assessment (EA) Exam Block has been released by QCAA

QCAA external assessment timetable 2026.

Good preparation starts now. Our advice to Year 12s at the moment (with Internal assessments remaining) is to focus on those things in their control: their sleep and diet, balance of study, work and extra-curriculars, as well as beginning to compile their study notes (particular for Maths and Science subjects). Every extra effort made in Internal Assessment now will also help to reduce the pressure on the Externals.

Request for Leave – Unapproved Leave Over Assessment Periods 

Please be advised that if leave is not approved for missed assessments (including assignments and exams), a summative mark of NA will appear on your son’s End of Semester Report for the relevant subject. In accordance with the College Examination Policy (available via the Parent Portal) and QCAA guidelines, events such as holidays, weddings, or family reunions are not considered unavoidable and will result in an NA for the missed assessment.

Students will still be required to complete the assessment upon their return to school; however, no assessments will be scheduled earlier.

While students will receive formative feedback on the completed assessment, the result will not contribute to their summative grade due to the following reasons:

• Reporting deadlines cannot be met
• Academic integrity must be preserved
• Teacher and staff workload during marking and reporting periods
• The validity of assessment results within the designated timelines
•  

Please note that this does not apply to leave that has been granted for approved reasons (Illness, etc.) as per QCAA policies. 

Assessment Preparation and Academic Integrity

As we approach a busy assessment period, we remind boys and their families of the importance of preparation and academic integrity in supporting student success.

Over the coming weeks, students will be required to complete and submit various assignments via Student Cafe. These tasks are essential for developing key academic skills and demonstrating learning progress.

Please note the following expectations:

• All assignments must be uploaded to Student Cafe by the due date.
• Failure to submit on time will result the most recent draft submitted to the teacher will be marked as the final version.

We encourage all students to plan ahead, manage their time effectively, and take pride in submitting their best work. Your support at home in reinforcing these expectations is greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions, please contact your son’s subject teacher, relevant Curriculum Leader or a member of the Academic Care Team.

Boys will be able to locate their Assessment Activities in their Student Café under My Activities > Curricular.

How to Access Assessment Activities _Students.pdf

Parents can access the Assessment Activities via the Parent Orbit App and Parent Lounge.

How to Access Assessment Activities _Parents.pdf

Marist Subject Support

Tutoring support will take place in the Senior Library and is open to all boys in Years 7 to 12. 

Old Boys Tutoring List 

Please find here a list of Old Boys who are available to tutor your son outside of school hours. This list can also be located on the parent portal > School Links > General Links or via this link (Upload Old Boys Tutoring List for 2026 PDF)

Please note it is the parent’s responsibility to organise and liaise tutoring times with the Old Boys.

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