Primary School News

Determination to the End

Over two days late last week, our Year 5 and Year 6 athletes attended the AIC Track and Field Championships being held at QSAC, where they competed against the other eight AIC Primary Schools vying for the title of Champion Primary School for 2026. 

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend Friday’s competition, but I have listened in awe to the stories of how the Primary boys, alongside the entire squad of Marist athletes, showcased their talents on the day. The reports of the 100m sprints, with close finishes decided by the boys’ determination, drive and ‘leave it all out there’ attitude, are a testament to the character of our athletes. Race after race, the boys pushed themselves to their limits, not only for themselves, but for their teammates, coaches and school. There were also stories of boys succumbing to injury and reserves nervously yet excitedly stepping up to take their place, doing a fantastic job for their team. The tireless efforts of both athletes and coaches throughout the Track and Field season were rewarded with a truly history-making achievement, winning every age group to be crowned Champions in both the Secondary and Primary competitions. Congratulations to everyone involved in the Track and Field season. You should all take a bow! 

As we move into Week 2 of our final term, we are reminded of the power of effort, and determination in all that our students strive for. Friday’s carnival was a powerful example to all students of what it means to finish well and not pull up before the finish line. Our athletes didn’t give up when things got tough. They pushed through fatigue, stayed focused, and supported one another until the very last event. Their commitment to giving their best, no matter the challenge, is a reflection of the Marist Characteristic of Love of Work - a value that calls us to approach every task with purpose, pride, and perseverance.

As a Primary community, may we continue to support one another, strive for excellence, and live In the Way of Mary - with quiet courage, compassion, and a heart full of hope. 

Have a great Week 2.

Year 6 Mass

A reminder that our Year 6 boys will celebrate Mass this Wednesday morning, starting at 8am. This is the final time that they will get to gather as Primary students in our Chapel to participate in the Mass. Thanks for your support with this.

Acting Primary Pastoral Leader – Richard Coles

These are exciting times for our Year 6 cohort as the boys prepare for their transition into Secondary. Term 4 offers opportunities to celebrate their Primary journey, strengthen friendships and look ahead to the next chapter of life at Marist College Ashgrove.

Throughout the term, we are encouraging the boys to keep their standards high and finish strongly. This means continuing to give their best in the classroom, wearing their uniform with pride and treating others with respect. Our expectations around safe behaviour and respectful language remain central to ensuring every boy feels a sense of belonging.

We have also invited the boys to consider the legacy they will leave in Primary. Their everyday actions matter: including others, supporting younger students and setting a positive example. We want each boy to finish the year knowing he has contributed positively to our community.

Dates and Activities Ahead

The Primary Pastoral Calendar includes several special occasions:

• Monday 12 October: Marist College Ashgrove Awards Evening, celebrating student achievements and contributions.
• Tuesday 13 October: Year 5 Primary Leadership Presentation during extended PG time, outlining the leadership process and opportunities for 2027.
• Wednesday 14 October: Year 6 Community Mass at 8:00 am in the College Chapel. Boys should arrive at school by 7:50 am. Parents and caregivers are warmly invited.
• Thursday 29 October: Year 6 Retreat, providing time for reflection and connection.
• Week 7: Primary Swimming Carnival.
• Friday 20 November: Guard of honour for our graduating Year 12 students.
• Week 8: Year 6 Graduation and Fun Day, including the Year 6 visit to Wet and Wild.
• Week 8: Year 5 Fun Day at the College.

Further details and confirmed timings will follow as these events approach.

Thank you to our families for supporting the boys as they finish their Primary years with pride and prepare for the opportunities ahead.

Primary Learning Leader – Jen Little

Welcome back! I hope the holiday break was a restful and refreshing time for all families. The holiday period provided a valuable opportunity for students to reflect on their academic efforts to date and to consider whether their performance met, exceeded, or fell short of expectations.

By now, you will have had the opportunity to review your child’s subject grades and teacher feedback from Term 3. This feedback offers a snapshot of their progress across core subjects. Ideally, these reports have led to constructive conversations at home about setting meaningful goals for continued improvement this semester.

Some students may have already taken the initiative to update their academic profile spreadsheets—tools developed with their teachers in class. If your child hasn’t yet done so, they are strongly encouraged to take this step, as it will help them track their learning and support effective goal setting for Term 4.

As always, Term 4 is both short and busy. I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you of the many additional learning supports available to our Primary boys:

• Supervised Morning Study: Held each morning from 7:40–8:10am.
• OneNote Resources: A wide range of teacher-provided materials, including videos and revision tasks.
• Library Guides: Additional reading and resources tailored to each core subject area.
• After School Study and Homework Support: Available in the Senior Library from Monday to Thursday.

We encourage all students to make the most of these opportunities as they work towards finishing the year strong.

 Year 6 Supervised Study Sessions 

Last week, all Year 6 parents were sent an email inviting them to register their child for the supervised study sessions taking place on Monday afternoons in Weeks 3 and 4 of this term from 3:20 – 4:30. These sessions form part of our broader strategy to support students in their transition to Secondary School, which is fast approaching. At the time of writing, we have not seen a significant take up for this opportunity. All parents are reminded that RSVPs for these sessions will be required by 8:30am on Wednesday, 14th of October. Please use the following link to sign up: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/pLk7TB4F8N?origin=lprLink

Students who attend these sessions will be expected to come with their study and revision materials. This could include any of the following materials made available to your child on their class One Note or Study Booklet:

• Maths revision – please note a hard copy of this will be printed for students and provided this week
• Flashcards and Sorting Activities– number facts, parts of speech, HASS business concepts
• Summary and Graphic Organiser Templates – students could use these to focus on any number of concepts they have started learning across various subjects – templates can be located in study skills booklets that were used in ASH lessons in Terms 2 and 3

Brisbane Writer’s Festival 2026

The library staff had the pleasure of taking a group of students to attend Word Play, the educational program which forms a part of the Brisbane Writers Festival. The festival was held at the Brisbane Powerhouse. The boys were inspired by some of Australia’s great authors for young people — Gary Lonesborough, Kate Foster, and Dr Matt Agnew.

Each author brought their own spark to the day. Gary Lonesborough took the boys on a journey through his writing life, from when his love for books began to his becoming a published author. Award-winning author Kate Foster shared what navigating everyday life as an autistic person is like and how her childhood informed her writing. Dr Matt Agnew’s talk unpacked the ethics of AI, how we form different views, how to spot misinformation and, above all, how to argue respectfully.

The boys enjoyed a couple of short breaks outside in the fresh air with their lunch in New Farm Park. They were beautifully behaved and did us proud with both their perfect manners and poignant questions to the authors. 

Events like these nurture a lifelong love of reading, something we are proud to see growing stronger in our students every day. Reading is a way to explore new worlds, think deeply, and connect with others. 

Program Leader: Primary Sport – Matt Green

AIC Track and Field Championships

Late last week, 32 Marist Primary boys took to the track and field at QSAC for the AIC Track and Field Championships, ready to showcase the results of months of dedicated training and preparation.

And what a performance it was! Both the Year 5 and Year 6 teams claimed first place in their respective age-group point scores, securing an outstanding overall aggregate victory for Marist Primary.

This was a dominant team achievement and a testament to the boys’ commitment, perseverance and determination throughout the season. Congratulations to all 32 boys on a fantastic result and for representing Marist with such pride.

Term 4 Sport

Touch Football

Congratulations to the following boys who have been selected in the Yr5/6 Primary team to compete at the AIC Touch Football Carnival on Friday 23 October.

Maxy Wurf, Paddy James, Patrick Selic, Tom Brown, Reise Hohn, Henry Hart, Jett Killen, James Graham, Henry Tracey, Jack Wurf, Patrick Beacroft, Finn Sheehan, Harry Bray and Alex Donaghy.

Trials for Term 1 Sports

Cricket

Trials for Term 1 Cricket will begin in Week 4 (26 October) 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 also begin in Week 4. Days and times for age specific age groups will be confirmed and communicated shortly.

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.