Primary School News

Dear Primary Parents,

As we enter the holiday period for the students, I would like to thank them for all the hard work that they have put in to achieve their Term Two results, which they will receive shortly. I trust that they have given all tasks that they have attempted their very best effort, and they are proud of the results they will achieve. I wish all boys and their families a safe and enjoyable time away from school and hope that some time is found to slow down and relax over the coming weeks. Marist College is a busy place for our boys and parents alike, and it is important that opportunities for slowing down the pace of life are found and taken. 

For some boys, it may be inevitable that, with more time on their hands during the break, they will spend more time on their devices. Extra vigilance may be necessary to ensure that the boys are taking technology free breaks during prolonged periods of time online. I also encourage all parents to check regularly what their boys are accessing online, particularly during the holiday period.

I look forward to seeing everyone again next term after a well-earned break.

Primary Athletics Carnival

Congratulations to all the students, parents and staff who braved the windy conditions to participate in the Primary Athletics Carnival yesterday. It was a day of running, jumping and cheering as all the boys participated in a wide range of novelty and championship events. At the end of the day, there can only be one colour team crowned champions and this year, it was the BLUE team that finished in front of the rest. Congratulations to Mr Coles, Mrs Geraghty and all the boys in the blue team for their win. 

Primary Pastoral Leader – Anthony Graham 

Reflections on Our Journey: Fostering Growth and Connections

As we look back on this term, it is heartening to see the remarkable strides our students have made in their personal and social development. For our Year 5 cohort, the pastoral focus was on cultivating positive relationships and dispelling the myths surrounding bullying. The term was filled with meaningful discussions and activities designed to help students understand the importance of kindness and empathy. A highlight of this journey was the time spent away at camp, where students had the opportunity to build stronger connections with their peers. This immersive experience not only fostered friendships but also strengthened the sense of community within the class, creating a supportive environment where every student could thrive.

In Year 6, the pastoral program delved deeper into the exploration of values and self-identity. Our students engaged in reflective activities that encouraged them to consider the kind of person they aspire to be as they move forward in their educational journey. By examining what makes each of them uniquely themselves, they were able to appreciate their individuality and understand how these personal qualities contribute to their ability to form meaningful connections with others. This introspective approach has been instrumental in helping students build a solid foundation for personal growth and interpersonal relationships.

Overall, the focus on positive relationships in Year 5 and the exploration of values in Year 6 has laid a strong groundwork for our students. These experiences have not only enhanced their understanding of themselves and others but have also equipped them with the tools to navigate social challenges with confidence and empathy. As we continue to nurture these important aspects of their development, we look forward to seeing our students flourish both within and beyond the school community.

Primary Learning Leader – Jen Little

Progressive Reporting

Over the course of the term, teachers have released grades and feedback for students and parents regarding assessments completed to date. This is released approximately 10 school days after assessments have been completed to provide time for teachers to mark, grade and moderate. It is important that students are actively invested in checking their grades and feedback to inform future progress. Next term, I will work with students on calculating their GPA. This is their way of tracking their progress regarding their own learning. Please see the instructions below for accessing these results:

Semester 1 Reports

At the conclusion of the semester, parents can expect to see their son’s Semester 1 Report Card. Please note that this is further feedback to parents regarding how your son is working in class. Parents can expect to see the following information:

• Final subject grades of individual students for the semester, including a snapshot of the cohort data
• Learning behaviour results 
• Pastoral behaviour results
• General comment about student 

This is important information for parents, and it is highly encouraged that you have a conversation with your sons about their learning, including the establishing of goals for Semester 2. The discussion you have with your sons will help inform directions for the immediate future.

Tournament of Minds – Ms Robyn Brown

Next term your son shall have the opportunity to participate in Tournament of Minds. This is a wonderful program, where the boys are required to solve open-ended challenges in a creative and collaborative manner, which fosters teamwork. The boys must work within a strict set of boundaries which include time restrictions and limits on materials used for the making of props and costumes.

I will be meeting with the interested boys in the library during second break on our first day back. The boys need to be available to present their team challenge on Saturday 31 August.

If you have any questions at all about the program, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Primary Sport

Mr John Lambourne – Head of Sport (Primary)

Primary Athletics Carnival

A wonderful day of participation and enjoyment for the Marist Primary boys. The novelty events included an obstacle course, tug-o-war, vortex javelin, frisbee discus and long jump, with each boy striving to gain points for their colour. Team spirit was displayed throughout the day with the boys chanting their colour war cries and the ‘Ashgrovina’ in full voice. The boys not only cheered home those in their colour but also supported those boys competing for Age Champion. Many boys got into the spirit of the day by dressing up, wearing face paint and wigs.

Age Champions will be announced early in Term 3.

Congratulations to the following boys who were chosen as Primary Athletics captains for Monday’s carnival.

Primary Athletics Carnival

Achievements

Congratulations Finn Beaver (6G), Fred Little (6B) and Abe Patricks (7F) who achieved third place, 12 Years, in the teams event at Queensland Athletics All Schools Cross Country Championships.

Congratulations also to our 11 Years team; Toby Patricks (5B), Jack McCurry (5B) and Patrick Thirgood (5B) and who achieved a fifth place finish.

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 smartphone. 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 5:00pm 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.