Primary School News

Dear Parents

As we start Week 5, we find ourselves nearing the halfway point of the term. Quite unbelievable really, with the last four weeks certainly flying by. I am sure it is a case of time flying when you are having fun (and busy), and our boys have certainly been busy during the term to date. Our swimming carnival was a huge success, and it was so great to see the boys involving themselves in everything from the 50m swims to the novelty events such as the Buddy Tow! The boys had many opportunities to take part in different events and earn some points for their team. Congratulations to all the boys who swam, cheered and encouraged to the best of their abilities. Special congratulations to the Gold Team who won this year’s carnival. Mr Lambourne and the Primary staff worked tirelessly to make the event an enjoyable occasion for all the boys, and we owe them our gratitude for putting in so much passion and effort to make it all such a success. 

This week at our Primary Assembly, we reflected on the message of the Golden Rule which was also the theme of Sunday’s Gospel.  The notion of our boys treating others in the way that they would like themselves to be treated is such a simple message to share. I am sure all our boys wish to be treated well by those they meet. The onus is on every boy in return, to treat everyone else in our community with the respect and understanding that they too desire. Our boys in Years 5 and 6 will be reminded of this important message as the term progresses. 

I wish you all a productive, peaceful and happy Week 5.

Year 5 Parent Social

Please mark down the date for the Year 5 Parent Function being held on Friday 28 March. These functions are a nice way to spend time with your son’s cohort in a relaxed and friendly environment. I encourage everyone to try to attend this event if possible. Full details and tickets can be found at the following link.

https://events.humanitix.com/2025-year-5-parent-function

Primary Pastoral Leader - Mr Anthony Graham

Empowering Year 5 Students Through Friendology

At our college, we are committed to fostering the social and emotional development of our students. This semester, our Year 5 cohort has been actively participating in the Friendology program, an internationally recognised initiative by URSTRONG that equips children with essential friendship skills.

With 197 boys joining us from over 20 different schools, the transition can be both exciting and challenging. Recognising this, our initial sessions have focused on building and maintaining healthy friendships. One key concept we've introduced is the practice of "squashing ANTs"—Automatic Negative Thoughts. Students have learned to identify these intrusive thoughts, especially during moments of stress or anxiety, and actively challenge them. By naming and confronting these ANTs, they discover their capacity to overcome challenges, fostering resilience and a positive mindset.​

Another vital lesson has been understanding the evolving nature of friendships. It's natural for relationships to change, and it's essential for students to recognise that not all friendships remain the same—and that's okay. We've emphasised that the foundation of any strong friendship lies in trust and respect. As Ralph Waldo Emerson wisely noted, "The only way to have a friend is to be one." By embodying these qualities, our students are learning to cultivate meaningful and lasting connections.​

Looking ahead, we are excited to extend the Friendology program to our Year 6 students later this semester. Our goal is to create a cohesive and supportive environment where every student feels valued and empowered in their social interactions.​

We encourage families to engage in conversations about these topics at home, reinforcing the strategies and concepts introduced in our sessions. Together, we can support our students in navigating the complexities of friendships, ensuring they develop the skills necessary for healthy and fulfilling relationships.​

For more information about the Friendology program and its benefits, please visit the URSTRONG website. For Parents | URSTRONG

Acting Primary Learning Leader – Mrs Catherine Barnett 

Year and 6 Numeracy and Literacy Cup

For Year 5 and 6 students, consistent numeracy and literacy practice is vital for building the foundational skills necessary for future learning and everyday life. To support this, our primary boys take part in the highly competitive Numeracy and Literacy Cup. This competition recognises the class with the highest weekly group average (over or close to 70%) with a trophy that is awarded at our primary assembly each week. The Literacy Cup STILE is completed as part of weekly homework, while the Numeracy Cup STILE is completed independently in class. Each student aims to achieve 70% or higher in each test. The results for Week 4 are as follows:

Year 5 Literacy Cup

1st - 5 White 70.4%

2nd - 5 Violet 69.4%

Year 6 Numeracy Cup class averages

1st - 6 Silver 86.66%

2nd - 6 Maroon 82.857%

Year 5 2025 NAPLAN

Last week all Year 5 parents were emailed the dates and information regarding the 2025 NAPLAN testing which will be held 12-19 March (Term 1 Weeks 7 and 8). Please find below some reminders and key points about NAPLAN for your son.

During the testing period, your son will complete four assessments:

• Writing
• Reading
• Conventions of Language
• Numeracy

The schedule of the tests at Marist College, Ashgrove has been provided for you below.

What Students Need to Bring:

• A fully charged laptop
• Charger (for IT support)
• Wired headphones/earphones- Bluetooth headphones are NOT ALLOWED
• A pencil
• A water bottle

Attendance and Catch-up Tests

It is important that your son is present at school during the testing window. If he is absent due to illness, catch-up tests will be provided, and he will need to complete them upon his return to the College.

Withdrawal from the NAPLAN testing

We understand that there may be circumstances where you prefer your son not to participate in NAPLAN. If this is the case, please contact Catherine Barnett (Acting Primary Learning Leader) at barnettc@marash.qld.edu.au to discuss the withdrawal process and the alternative program that will be made available to your son while the other students complete the testing.

Primary Sport - Mr John Lambourne

Primary Colour Swimming Carnival

Last Friday, Marist College Primary hosted its annual Colour Swimming Carnival under fantastic weather conditions, setting the stage for a day full of excitement and spirited competition. The event was all about fun and engagement, with participation and sportsmanship taking centre stage.

Throughout the day, students dived into the action, giving their best efforts in the pool while cheering on their teammates from the sidelines. House spirit was on full display, especially during the electrifying colour war cries, where each team rallied together to showcase their enthusiasm and pride.

Gold led from the outset and maintained their momentum to claim victory, followed closely by Red and Violet. Congratulations to all students for their efforts in making the carnival such a memorable and enjoyable event!

Gold – 1738

Red – 1558

Violet – 1462

Blue – 1461

White – 1383

Maroon – 1370

Silver – 1261

Achievements

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to represent North West District at the upcoming Met North Regional Basketball Trials (10-12 Years); Will Nolan (6S), Jack Rayner (6B).

Term 1 AIC Sport

Cricket

AFL

Sports Photos

A reminder that all Primary AFL photos will be taken this Friday, 28 February, during Break 1.

IMPORTANT: All players must be in CORRECT TEAM WEAR to be included in photos.

Any INJURED players are welcome to be in their Team photo, but they must also be in CORRECT TEAM WEAR.

Swimming

Marist Primary Swim Squad training sessions continue throughout Term 1, please see the schedule below. Training squads are designed for boys who wish to swim for fitness as well as those aiming to secure a place on the AIC Swimming Team. While joining the AIC Swimming Team is optional, all boys are highly encouraged to participate in the AIC Prep Meets on Friday afternoons. These meets provide valuable opportunities to track progress and test training strategies in a fun and competitive environment. There is no obligation to attend AIC meets on Friday evenings.

Boys attending these sessions will need to bring the following equipment.

• Goggles
• Kickboard
• Short Flippers 
• Mesh Bag

Year 5 and 6 MCA Swim Squad Training Timetable Term 1

For further details please contact: swim@marash.qld.edu.au

Swimming Age Championships

Date: Friday, 28 February 2025

Venue: Marist College Ashgrove Swimming Pool

Time: 3:20 pm – Warm Up (Own Warm Up)

4:00 pm – Racing starts.

Order of Events: 50m Breaststroke, 50m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke, 50m Butterfly

50m Freestyle – 10 fastest swimmers in the Primary School

AIC Swimming Breakfasts 2025In keeping with tradition, breakfast is provided for the boys following Friday morning relay training (for top 10 swimmers in each age group - times listed on Pool Office window). Parents provide these breakfasts free of charge to the boys and  AIC Swimming families are asked to volunteer or donate. 

Please click on the link to see how you can help out:    https://signup.com/go/zVZcNav  

NB. if you are able to provide a cash donation towards the breakfast, please hand in to Jade Ritchie, Pool Office. For EFT details please email mnjrusso@bigpond.com with your swimmer’s name and donation details.

Any questions, contact:  Jo & Mark (mnjrusso@bigpond.com)  or Jade Ritchie (swim@marash.qld.edu.au) 

AIC Championships, Tuesday, 11 March

Term 2 AIC Sport

Rugby Ready Program | Year 5-12

Starting in Week 5 (Friday 28 February), Marist College is delivering a 4-week Rugby Ready Program across all age groups leading into the rugby union trials. The Rugby Ready Program involves a host of measures such as physical preparation, skill development, correct and safe techniques preparing the players for contact, enforcement of game laws, and management of safety issues such as the Scrum Passport and the “MAYDAY” call.

NOTE – you are not required to sign on for the Rugby Ready Program. Whilst there are a number of reasons for providing such a program, a key driver is wanting to deliver to all students a safe, challenging and enjoyable rugby union program. In order to develop the Marist College rugby players, we must give them the skills to approach the game with confidence and minimise the chance of injury. Please see documents on the Marist app for all information including the program content, schedule and dress code. 

NOTE – if you have a commitment to a Term 1 sport, that is your priority.

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 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.

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.