Primary School News

Head of Primary - Michael Connolly

Welcome back to Term Two here in the Primary School. I hope that you all found some time to slow the pace of family life down a little during the Easter break. I also hope that you managed to spend some time away from the busyness of work to be with family or friends. I was able to meet a number of boys and families today at the parent teacher interviews and those that I met all looked refreshed and ready to start Term Two. I trust that some very worthwhile conversations were had in these interviews, and every boy has some revised goals that they have set for the term ahead. I believe that Term Two is perhaps our busiest term so the boys will need to be organised if they are to be prepared for everything that is coming up during the next ten weeks.   

I look forward to seeing all the boys this week and meeting many of you again through your son’s involvement in our co-curricular program this term. 

ANZAC Day March 

All Primary boys are encouraged to attend the ANZAC Day March with our College community on the 25th of April. The boys have been asked to meet at St Finbarr’s School from 7:15am so that they can join in this important occasion. All boys are asked to wear their full Winter uniform, including blazers.  I would ask that boys have breakfast or, at least, a snack and some water before attending the march.  A small bottle of water can be handy if it is a hot morning. We have had some problems in the past where boys have had nothing to eat or drink and some have felt unwell after standing for the duration of the ceremony. 

Winter Uniform Points 

Starting next Monday, the boys will be asked to hang their blazers on the rack in their classroom when they arrive at school. For this to happen, each boy will need to bring in a coat hanger labelled with his name.  We look forward to the boys coming to school in full Winter uniform from next Monday. 

Week 1 Reminders 

• Tuesday - Parent Teacher Interviews 
• Wednesday - Primary Cross Country Carnival (All boys wear sports uniform to school) 
• Thursday - Lenten Fundraiser Free Dress Day (Boys wear free dress for $2 donation) 
• Friday - ANZAC Day  

Primary Pastoral Leader - Anthony Graham

Welcome back to what promises to be a busy and rewarding Term 2 at Marist College Ashgrove. We hope the boys are beginning to settle into routine after the Easter break and are re-engaging with the rhythm of school life. 

We also acknowledge that some students may still be finding the transition back a little challenging — and that’s perfectly okay. These small hurdles are part of growing up. If your son is struggling with the return to school, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we can work through any concerns and support him in finding his feet again. 

As part of our ongoing commitment to student wellbeing and formation, our Men of Courage pastoral program continues to provide a foundation for emotional and character development: 

• Year 5 boys will be focusing on resilience this term — developing the tools to bounce back from setbacks, manage stress, and take ownership of their growth. 
• Year 6 students will explore the theme of values — understanding the internal compass that guides our behaviour and decision-making. This journey will be further supported by the Year 6 Retreat later this term, offering a space for reflection, discussion, and personal growth. 

We finished Term 1 on a high note with our much-loved Marcellin Cup Spelling Competition, where boys competed in their House colours. It was loud, it was fun, and it was academically vibrant — a fantastic celebration of spelling, teamwork and house spirit. Congratulations to Gold, who took out the win across both Year 5 and Year 6. It was another great reminder that our boys shine in a wide range of arenas, from the sporting field to the stage to the classroom. 

A few key reminders as we settle into Term 2: 

• College Photo Day – Tuesday 29 April  All boys are to wear their full winter academic uniform, including their College blazer. Please also ensure haircuts are tidy and in line with College expectations — this will be mentioned to the boys during our first day back. 
• Lost Property – Label Everything!  Term 2 is notorious for lost gear, with football and rugby now in full swing. Please ensure everything is clearly labelled — including socks, underwear, lunchboxes, HPE uniforms, and even Tupperware. If it's named, we’ll get it back to you! 

We look forward to another term full of growth, connection and opportunity. 

Primary Learning Leader - Jen Little

Goal Setting and Study: 

Welcome to Term 2. I hope everyone has had a chance to unwind and recharge. For me, my period of Long Service Leave was definitely a time to unwind and return with renewed vigour.  

A new term is an opportunity for renewal, allowing us to review our past experiences and make any necessary adjustments for growth and improvement. In the coming weeks, our Years 5 and 6 students will be reflecting on what they have learned last term. They will also be encouraged to think about the learning behaviours they adopted that contributed to their success. Some will be satisfied with their contributions to their own learning, knowing they did everything they could to ‘set their sights on noble goals and not be content with mediocrity.’ Others will realise there is still much to be done in their learning journey. I have often said to students that they should not be the ‘passengers of their learning’ but rather the ‘drivers’ of it.  

To this end, students will be encouraged to establish their own learning goals for Term 2. In the words of motivational speaker Brian Tracy, a goal without a plan is only a dream. We encourage boys to adopt goals for their learning that are S.M.A.R.T. 

  In essence, a SMART goal is a blueprint that should underpin how students will work and what exactly they are working towards.  Parents are highly encouraged to work in partnership with the boys in the achievement of their goals. Please be aware of the following resources available to your sons that our Primary staff have provided: 

• Morning study – commencing at 8am every morning 
• One Note Revision Resources – available in both Years 5 and 6 for every core subject 
• Library Guides for additional reading and revision 
• After school supervision in Senior Library 
• Stile Revisions 
• Maths Online 
• Write that Essay Online Tool (Year 6) 

Our Year 6 students should be well-versed in what is made available to them to maximise their learning potential. For our Year 5 students, it will be a learning curve.  

In addition to individual homework tasks, students are also highly encouraged to commence their own study plan on an individual basis. Please see below some resources to assist with this: 

STUDY TIMETABLE.docx (sharepoint.com) 

10 tips on how to study effectively | Victoria University (vu.edu.au) 

(2) 3 tips on how to study effectively - YouTube 

Homework: 

When starting a new term, it is good to begin positively. With this in mind, I would like to take this opportunity to remind students and parents of our homework expectations. Please note that homework at Marist College Ashgrove is not an option.   

It is the expectation that all students in the Primary complete homework and bring their Student Diary to school each day. Students with a learning need may have their homework adjusted and this will be at the discretion of the classroom teacher. Please note that we understand that homework can be a struggle for some. If this is the case, please make use of our before school study room that commences each morning at 8am. This may be a valuable resource for you and it is there to support families and students.  

In Primary, the emphasis is on independent learning and management of knowledge. Homework should comprise the following elements, each of which is of equal importance:  

• Weekly Literacy homework in the form of spelling, reading comprehension and language conventions 
• Weekly Mathematics homework 
• Nightly independent reading – 20 minutes 
• Completion of any follow-up work set in a particular class that day 
• Additional revision/ study for upcoming exams across all key learning areas 

Should unforeseen issues arise at home, which prevents students from being able to complete homework tasks, parents are asked to advise classroom teachers by means of a note in the school diary or email. Average time spent on nightly homework in Years 5 and 6 should be between 40 – 60 minutes, inclusive of 20 minutes reading. 

 Consequences in Primary for Incomplete Homework: 

There is a ‘3 strike’ policy for homework breaches in Primary. This policy is in operation from the commencement of Year 6 and from Term 2 of Year 5. It is believed that Year 5 students require a little more support in Term 1 as part of their transition to Marist College Ashgrove. 

• First infringement – student is given a ‘strike’ and asked to complete the work at home and submit the next school day. If the work is still incomplete the next day, students complete their work in the Primary Library during break time upon finishing their lunch. 
• Second infringement – student is given a ‘second strike’ and asked to complete the work at home and submit the next school day. If the work is still incomplete the next day, students complete their work in the Primary Library during break time upon finishing their lunch. The ‘second strike’ is communicated (via email) to parents by the classroom teacher with the Primary Learning Leader copied into the email. 
• Third infringement – student is given a ‘third strike’ and asked to complete the work at a formalised detention. This may be during the lunch break or on a Monday afternoon depending on the severity and frequency of the infringement. Classroom teachers will refer the third strike to myself who will email the parents of the child, alerting them to the third strike and providing details about the detention 

To be clear, the above information outlines the minimum expectations for homework. Many of our students complete routine homework activities in far less time than the 40-60 minute per school day guidelines. These students are highly encouraged to complete additional independent study using the One Note Resources outlined above. The study timetable provided in this newsletter should assist with their planning for this.  

Parent – Teacher – Student Interviews: 

At the time of reading, the first round of face-to-face parent-teacher-student interviews should be underway. This is an important opportunity for key stakeholders to reflect on the learning throughout Term 1 and determine any critical goals to maximise the learning of students. Notably, students should be looking to develop learning behaviours to set them up for success. A reminder that the second round of these interviews will take place in an online capacity on Wednesday afternoon on the 30th of April. Parents who have scheduled a time for this session should have been emailed a link. To ensure a smooth transition between online interviews, punctuality in these sessions is paramount.