Primary School News

Acting Head of Primary – Gareth Kolkenbeck-Ruh

One of the five characteristics of a Marist education is Family Spirit. That spirit was not only on display, but well and truly alive during our College Walkathon on Sunday. It was an event that brought our whole school community together in celebration, support, and of course fun. A big thank you to all the parents who came along to make this important annual event so memorable. From early in the morning, our school grounds were filled with excitement as our Primary boys arrived with bright eyes, eager feet and enthusiastic conversations. There was certainly a buzz in the crowd as we counted down the minutes until our start time. 

Some boys walked with their parents, some walked in groups, but everywhere, everyone encouraged each other along the way, particularly during the tougher parts of the course. Every step taken by every boy was a reminder of the strong bonds that make our school such a special place to grow and learn.

The walkathon wasn’t just about raising money for our school though, it was about building memories, strengthening friendships, and showing that every person in our community matters. Whether walking, volunteering, or simply showing up to support, each person played a part in making the day a huge success. Congratulations to Max Hammon who won the fancy dress competition.  

For all boys who could not be with us on Sunday, there is a make-up walkathon on Tuesday afternoon this week and we are looking forward to seeing many of our boys at the dance on Tuesday night.

On a side note, congratulations to Sam Herrera (Year 6), who has achieved an outstanding result in a national workplace competition. Sam was invited to design a mascot character and name for an employee recognition platform being developed by ABB, with the competition open to children across three age groups. Sam’s design was selected as the winner of the 8–12 age category before progressing to the final stage, where it was voted on by approximately 1,000 ABB employees across Australia. We are delighted to share that Sam’s design was ultimately chosen as the overall winning mascot! This is a wonderful achievement and a fantastic recognition of Sam’s creativity, imagination and design skills. Congratulations, Sam!

Have a great week.

Primary Pastoral Leader – Anthony Graham

Walkathon Success

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in Sunday's Walkathon. It was wonderful to see so many boys, families and staff embracing the 10 km course together, creating another fantastic community event that highlighted the spirit of Marist. I'll admit it was certainly a challenging walk, so I completely understand any tired legs and sore muscles on Monday morning but it was well worth the effort!

Primary Dance

Excitement is building for the third instalment of our Primary Dance this week. In preparation, our Wellio lessons have focused on the importance of manners, respectful interactions and building meaningful connections with others. We have encouraged our boys to see the evening as an opportunity to enjoy themselves, strike up positive conversations and represent themselves, their families and the College with pride. We look forward to another memorable evening of music, fun and new friendships.

As we head into the Ekka break, I hope all of our families enjoy the opportunity to rest, recharge and spend time together. We look forward to welcoming the boys back next Monday as we hit the ground running for the final weeks of Term 3.

Primary Learning Leader – Jen Little

Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews – Week 6  

We look forward to meeting with many of our parents next week to discuss the progress of your sons. If there are any primary parents who have not yet had an interview or support team meeting this term, please feel free to reach out to your child’s class teacher to book one. 

National Science Week

National Science Week is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the importance of science in our lives. This year, Science Week will be held from the 15th to the 23rd of August. 

Science is everywhere – from the smartphones in our pockets to the weather forecasts we check each morning. It helps us understand the world, solve problems, and make informed decisions. At school, we aim to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking through science, encouraging our students to explore the "why" and "how" of the world around them.

In Years 5 and 6, the Australian Science Curriculum empowers students to deepen their understanding of key scientific concepts and processes. It’s structured around three key strands:

• Science Understanding – Students explore biological, chemical, physical, and Earth and space sciences. They might investigate how light behaves, the life cycles of plants and animals, or how changes to Earth’s surface occur.
• Science as a Human Endeavour – This strand connects science to real-world contexts, encouraging students to consider how scientific knowledge evolves and is applied in society.

• Science Inquiry – Students learn to pose questions, plan and conduct investigations, collect and interpret data, and communicate their findings effectively.

   

This hands-on and inquiry-based approach helps our young learners develop the skills and mindset of young scientists – observing, questioning, predicting, and experimenting!

A reminder that Science Club is available to all Primary students on Tuesday afternoons, 3:20-4pm in PH1

Let’s continue to nurture our students' curiosity and inspire a lifelong love of Science.

Morning Study

Please note the 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. It was great to see all Year 5 classes on over an 80% average this week with Silver, Violet, Gold, Blue and White all receiving a Numeracy average of over 90%. 

Program Leader: Primary Sport – Matt Green

Round 3 Results

Round 3 v St Patrick's College

EKKA Break

A reminder that there will not be any AIC fixtures this weekend due to the EKKA Break. Training and matches will return in Week 6 of Term 3. 

AFL Success

Leo Mylne recently represented Queensland at the School Sport Australia National U12 AFL Championships in the ACT. Leo's Queensland team finished third overall behind Victoria and Western Australia. In an amazing achievement, Leo was named runner-up Most Valuable Player of the championships and received a number of player of the match awards also. Congratulations Leo on a wonderful carnival.

Hockey Success 

Congratulations to Nicholas Shelton, Charlie Davis, Tom Laherty and Patrick Thirgood, who represented Met North at the U12 Qld Schoolboys Hockey Championships recently. The boys were convincing winners in the final with a 4-1 win over Met East. Well done boys!

AIC Track & Field

There are 4 AIC T&F meets scheduled at the end of Term 3.

These meets are conducted as time trials for boys wishing to qualify for AIC Championships.

• Thursday, August 27
• Wednesday, September 2
• Thursday, September 10
• Wednesday, September 16

AIC Championships – Thursday, 8 & Friday, 9 October – QSAC.

Uniform: Marist Athletics singlet, Marist Sport shorts & white Marist Sport socks 

Boys wishing to be considered for AIC selection should also be aware that there will be training and meets conducted over the Term 3 holidays.

Track & Field

Sunday Sessions

Sunday sessions are an excellent introduction to Marist Track & Field. We have some exceptional coaches leading these sessions and creating an environment of learning and enjoyment.

Some benefits include:

1. Improvement in technique and speed.

2. Technical development for throws.

3. Improved repeat speed / conditioning.

WHEN: Sunday afternoons

WHERE: Hayden Oval

TIME: 3:15-4:45pm 

DRESS: Marist Sport shirt, Marist Sports shorts, Marist Sport white or blue socks.