Primary School News

Head of Primary – Gareth Kolkenbeck-Ruh

On Friday last week we celebrated World Teachers' Day. This day provides an opportunity to acknowledge and thank teachers for the wonderful job they do each day in and out of the classroom. Here in the Primary School, we are blessed with a group of educators who not only know their students well, but who go above and beyond to help them become the best versions of themselves. At our assembly on Friday, I suggested to the boys that they should all find a way to show their teachers how much they appreciate them.  From speaking to the teachers later in the day, there were many boys who did just this which was great to see. All boys had the opportunity to thank a teacher via a note of appreciation that they wrote to a teacher of their choice. When collating the notes for delivery to each teacher, it was heartwarming to read the messages of thanks that the boys wrote. Here is a small sample of some of the messages. 

Thank you for teaching me how to be a good person  

Thank you for teaching us maths and all the subjects and succeed in our learning 

Thank you for helping me pick myself up after getting out in cricket 

Thank you for believing in me and always being kind 

Thank you for encouraging us and supporting us in our big assessments 

Thank you for changing the way I think about art 

Thank you for just knowing when I need your help the most

I would like to thank all our wonderful Primary School teachers who go out of their way to help the boys in their care here at Marist College, Ashgrove. 

Have a wonderful Week 5. 

Primary Pastoral Leader – Richard Coles

Year 6 Retreat – Stepping Beyond Our Comfort Zone

Last Thursday, our Year 6 boys enjoyed a meaningful morning of reflection during their annual retreat. As they prepare for the transition to secondary school, the retreat encouraged them to step beyond their comfort zones and consider the young men they aspire to become.

Through thoughtful discussions and activities, the boys explored how letting go of unhelpful habits, fears and doubts can create space for personal growth. Gratitude, courage and living authentically were central themes, with opportunities to reflect on the relationships and experiences that have shaped their primary school journey.

Thank you to our Year 6 teaching team for their thoughtful preparation and care in guiding the boys through this special morning.

Looking ahead, the boys will participate in a transition afternoon during Period 6 with their future secondary Houses and Year 12 leaders. This will offer a valuable opportunity to build friendships, meet mentors and strengthen their sense of belonging as they prepare for the next chapter of their Marist journey.

These experiences remind us that transition is about more than moving into a new year level. It is also about growing in confidence, nurturing connections and approaching new opportunities with courage and purpose.

Primary Learning Leader – Jen Little 

A strong finish counts!

As we move into the final weeks of Term 4, it’s a great time to remind ourselves, and our children, about the importance of finishing strong. The end of the year can be busy and tiring, but it’s also a wonderful opportunity for students to demonstrate resilience, responsibility and pride in their learning. Throughout history, some of the most memorable achievements have depended on a strong finish. The Apollo 11 mission was remembered not for its launch, but for the successful landing on the Moon. Olympic athletes are often defined by their final burst of effort in the closing moments of a race. Even during challenging times in history, communities and nations have shown that perseverance to the very end can make all the difference. In the same way, these final weeks of the school year are an opportunity for our students to stay focused, continue giving their best effort, and take pride in all they have accomplished. Finishing strong helps build habits that will serve them well, not only in their learning but throughout their lives. This will be a recurring theme over the next few weeks, and discussions around this at home would be greatly appreciated. Other tangible strategies to assist with this can be found below. 

Helping Children Finish Strong

A strong finish at school doesn’t just happen. It’s supported by good routines, readiness, and a positive mindset. Recently, we’ve noticed some students arriving at school without the necessary equipment — particularly uncharged computers and limited stationery — and some who are clearly very tired at the start of the day. These things can really impact learning, concentration and wellbeing.

We ask for your support in helping your child finish the year well by ensuring:

• Their laptop or device is fully charged overnight and ready for learning.
• They have their stationery (pens, pencils, erasers, ruler, highlighters) replenished and ready to use.
• They are getting enough sleep each night. A good night’s rest is essential for focus, emotional balance and energy. 
• They come to school with a positive attitude (ready to learn, participate and contribute to their class)

When students are rested, organised and ready, they start the day with confidence and calm, which helps in setting them up for success. Ultimately, attitude to school and learning makes all the difference.  Just like the Broncos, we encourage students to maintain a positive mindset even when faced with challenge. Finishing the term well will no doubt help our students experience the satisfaction of following through on commitments and being proud of their growth, both academically and personally. 

We appreciate your continued support in helping our students stay prepared, positive and well-rested through the final stretch of the year. Small, consistent habits like charged devices, stocked pencil cases, early bedtimes and encouraging words, make a big difference.

Respect for Belongings

Over the past couple of months, as I have visited classrooms and learning spaces, I have noticed a pattern that I would like to bring to parents' attention. A number of students have been treating both personal and school property with less care than we would hope to see. Examples have included:

• Cutting or damaging pencil cases with scissors
• Making holes in erasers or cutting them into pieces
• Drawing on pencil cases, rulers, erasers and other belongings
• Purposely snapping protractors or other equipment
• Marking or drawing on classroom furniture and shared resources

While some of these behaviours may seem minor or simply part of children's experimentation and play, they provide valuable opportunities to reinforce an important life lesson: treating belongings, both our own and those of others, with care and respect.

As a school, we are committed to helping students develop responsibility and appreciation for the resources they have available to them. We would greatly appreciate your support in having conversations at home about caring for personal possessions, respecting school property, and considering the value of items that have been purchased for their use.

Looking ahead to next year, we will be placing a greater emphasis on student accountability in this area. Students who deliberately damage or destroy property, whether their own or someone else's, will be expected to replace those items or contribute to their replacement. Our aim is not to be punitive, but rather to help students understand the importance of taking responsibility for their actions and developing habits of respect and care.

By working together, we can support our students in becoming responsible young people who value the resources and opportunities entrusted to them.

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.

Program Leader: Primary Sport – Matt Green

Cricket

Trials for Term 1 Cricket will continue at the following times. **Year levels are 2027.

Year 6 

Tuesday 6:45am – 8:00am - Cameron Oval Nets

Thursday 3:30pm – 4:45pm – Synthetic Nets

Year 7 

Monday 6:45am – 8:00am – Synthetic Nets

Wednesday 3:30pm – 4:45pm - Cameron Oval Nets

AFL

Trials for Term 1 AFL will continue at the following times. **Year levels are 2027. 

Year 6 

Tuesday 3:30pm – 4:45pm – McMahon Oval

Wednesday 6:45am – 8:00am – McMahon Oval

Year 7 

Monday 3:30pm – 4:45pm – McMahon Oval

Thursday 3:30pm – 4:45pm – McMahon Oval

Primary Swimming Carnival

The Primary swimming carnival will take place during week 7, on Wednesday 18 November.

The carnival has a participation and novelty focus, with students earning points for their colour house. The schedule for the day can be found here.

Brisbane Heat Competition

We are excited to announce that Marist College Ashgrove is participating in the Brisbane Heat Schools Ticket Competition!

Through partnership with the Brisbane Heat, Marist families have the opportunity to purchase discounted tickets to selected BBL games at the Gabba and WBBL games at Allan Border Field, with the option to sit together in the designated Schools Bay.

Even better, every ticket purchased through our school's unique link contributes towards our chance of winning some fantastic prizes for our Cricket program!

Prizes on Offer:

• 1st Place: Brisbane Heat Player appearance experience at Marist
• 2nd Place: Cricket Equipment Kit valued at $500
• 3rd Place: Signed Brisbane Heat Bat

How to Get Involved:

Simply purchase your tickets using the link below or scan the QR code on the attached flyer.

Click here to get your tickets!

We encourage all families to share this opportunity with friends and relatives. The more tickets purchased through our Marist link, the greater our chance of securing a prize for the College!

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.