Primary School News

Dear Primary Parents,

Happy New Year and welcome back! I hope you had a joyful and restful Christmas holiday break filled with quality time with loved ones and friends. As we begin our new school year, we are excited to have our students back in the Saint Marcellin Centre, ready to learn, grow and make new memories together.

The start of the year is always a special time, filled with anticipation and promise. For our returning families, welcome back to our school community. To those joining us for the first time, a warm welcome to our Marist family - we are thrilled to have you here and look forward to getting to know you all over the coming weeks and months.

Our New Student Orientation Day held on Tuesday was a great success and a wonderful way to welcome our newest students and their families to our school. We understand that transitioning back to school can be both exciting and a little overwhelming for some students, particularly those new to the College. Our dedicated staff are here to support every child, ensuring they feel safe, confident and ready to learn. Later this week, there will be an opportunity to meet your child’s teacher, so I would encourage you to attend on Thursday evening.

There are quite a few things happening over the next few weeks so please take note of the date claimers listed below and a note regarding positive progress on road safety on Frasers Road.

On behalf of all the Primary staff, a big welcome back and we can’t wait to see what this year will bring!

Rollout of Frasers Road Supervised Children's Crossing

Oakleigh State School P&C has announced the rollout of a supervised children’s crossing of Fraser’s Road at the intersection of Mirrabooka Street, beginning Tuesday 28 January 2025 for use by Oakleigh students and also the wider community.

It is kindly requested both pedestrians and motorists be aware of the new crossing.

Traffic guards will operate the crossing each Qld public school day:

AM Shift 7:50am–8:50am

PM Shift 3:00pm–3:30pm  

Due to the placement of the crossing at the existing traffic refuge, we forecast increased (unsupervised) pedestrian crossings of Mirrabooka Street (at the Frasers Road intersection). Please be mindful of obscured sight lines due to cafe crowds/seating during both supervised and unsupervised times.

Date Claimers

January 29

• All Primary students return

January 30

• Year 5 only wear sports uniform to school
• Year 5 and Year 6 Parent Information Evenings starting at 6:00pm
• Year 5 Parents and Friends Welcome Function starting at 6:50pm

January 31

• Inaugural Mass

February 1

• Sports trials for AFL and Cricket

February 3-5

• Year 5 Camp

February 8

• AIC Round 1 V Iona College

Primary Learning Leader – Catherine Barnett

Welcome to Term 1

It was with great excitement and anticipation that we welcomed our new Year 5 cohort to Marist College Ashgrove today. This marked a significant milestone as these boys began their educational journey with us, transitioning into an environment that fosters both academic excellence and personal growth. Our Year 5 students come from over 20 schools, bringing with them diverse experiences, strengths and talents that will enrich our community. To our returning Year 6 students, welcome back! We look forward to seeing you continue to build on the strong foundations you have laid in your learning.

Year 5 – Settling in and rising to new challenges

For our Year 5 students, Term 1 is about building a strong start to their Marist academic journey. As they settle into our routines and learning culture, they will also begin to embrace the higher academic expectations set for them. This transition can at times be challenging, however, it is supported by our dedicated teaching team and a comprehensive program that is designed to help each student develop a strong sense of belonging while also fostering independence and responsibility in their learning.

Term 1 will include a significant focus on literacy and numeracy as we prepare for NAPLAN, which will take place for our boys in Weeks 7 and 8. Our teachers are committed to equipping the boys with the skills and strategies they need to approach their tasks with confidence. Communication will be sent out by the end of the week regarding NAPLAN readiness testing and also key dates for our NAPLAN testing in March.

Year 6 – Continuing the journey to excellence

For our Year 6 students, the focus remains on striving for personal bests and extending on their Year 5 learning journey here at Marist. Lessons will continue to challenge the boys to think deeply, solve complex problems and do their very best.

Setting High Expectations and Embracing Challenges

In all classrooms across Years 5 and 6, we will be setting high standards for teaching and learning. Our mission is to ensure that every boy is working to his full potential. While we anticipate some speed bumps as students adjust to new routines and increased expectations, these moments of challenge will be opportunities for growth. We believe that with persistence, resilience and the right support, every student will rise to meet these challenges head-on.

I encourage all students to embrace the journey ahead and together, we will make 2025 a year of remarkable growth and achievement for our Years 5 and 6 boys.