Primary School News

Dear Primary Parents ,

At Marist College Primary School, we believe in the power of "Every Day Counts" – a philosophy that extends beyond academics to encompass the invaluable experiences of socialisation and friendship building. Regular school attendance is instrumental in shaping well-rounded individuals who thrive academically, socially and emotionally.

In the classrooms and play areas of our school, every day presents opportunities for students to connect, collaborate, and form meaningful relationships with their peers. From shared laughter during breaks to collaborative projects in the classroom, these interactions are the building blocks of a vibrant and supportive community.

Friendships forged during school years are more than just casual acquaintances; they are bonds that withstand the test of time, serving as sources of support and companionship throughout life's journey. I often speak to the boys about my experience of being educated in the Marist tradition and explain to them that the majority of my closest friends to this day, started off as classmates of mine in Year 5 at Marcellin College. I ask them to take a quick look around their classrooms and imagine still being friends with these same boys in twenty, thirty or even forty years’ time. A difficult concept for some at times! By prioritizing attendance, students not only gain access to academic instruction but also cultivate friendships that enrich their school experience and contribute to their overall wellbeing for many, many years.

Consistent attendance fosters a sense of belonging and inclusion, nurturing students' confidence, resilience, and emotional intelligence. Feeling connected to a supportive community empowers students to navigate the challenges of adolescence with grace and resilience, laying the foundation for many meaningful relationships.

While we understand that circumstances such as illness may necessitate absences, and we certainly do not want boys who are unwell to come into school, we encourage families to emphasise the importance of attendance whenever possible. Together, let's create a culture where every school day is cherished as an opportunity to learn, grow, and build friendships that can last a lifetime. After all, "Every Day Counts" not only for academic success but also for the friendships and memories that enrich our lives immeasurably.

AIC Swimming Championships 

We wish our swimmers every success as they head off to the AIC Swimming Championships this morning. So much work has gone into today over the past few months for all the boys and the coaches, so we hope they reach their set goals and perform to the best of their abilities. Special mention to the parents of our swimmers who have been the support crew for our boys on all those early morning drop-offs and late afternoon pick-ups. 

Year 5 NAPLAN 

By this time next week, our Year 5 boys will have completed their final preparations for their NAPLAN assessments. We encourage every boy to do his best when he undertakes these assessments. To help them do this, we have had numerous practice sessions and visits to the NAPLAN Public Demonstration Site to familiarise the boys with the style of questions that they may encounter next week.  

Primary Pastoral Leader – Anthony Graham  

Attendance

In continuation with Michael's insightful remarks, we're delving deeper into the profound impact of regular school attendance on our students' lives. At Marist College Primary School, we're thrilled to share that 40 percent of boys have maintained perfect attendance this year, with over 66 percent having missed just one day. Michael aptly emphasizes the importance of every school day counting! Let's continue to prioritize attendance together, ensuring that each day is cherished as an opportunity for learning, growth, and lasting connections. After all, "Every Day Counts" not only for academic success but also for the friendships and memories that enrich our lives immeasurably.

Ash-Buddies

Every Friday this term, our Year 5 students have been engaging with their Year 6 buddies, part of a thoughtful initiative aimed at strengthening connections and fostering a deeper sense of belonging within our college community. These weekly meetings have been a vibrant mix of activities including school tours, engaging group games, and most recently, a creative endeavor where students collaborated to design logos that embody our Marist values. It's heartwarming to see the students come together, sharing moments of laughter and learning, and truly celebrating the bonds they are forming. The Year 6 students, in particular, have taken great pride in sharing their knowledge and experiences of primary school life, demonstrating leadership and empathy. This program has not only been a delightful challenge for them but has also played a crucial role in knitting together our community, as it's clear that genuine, lasting friendships are being forged between the buddies. The enthusiasm and energy the students bring to these sessions illuminate the joy and unity such interactions foster, making every Friday a highly anticipated event in our school calendar.

Primary Learning Leader – Jen Little 

Homework

Homework has long been a topic of debate amongst educators, parents and students with valid points on both sides of the argument. Understanding the pros and cons of homework can help parents and students navigate it more effectively.

It is crucial to recognise that Marist College Ashgrove values the role of homework in education. Consequently, it is an expectation of the College that assigned tasks are to be completed according to the task instructions and by the due date set. The commitment to comply with the College’s protocols is established at the time of enrolment. 

Over the past six weeks, there have been numerous instances in which students in the Primary have not been completing tasks set, often quoting ‘lack of time’ as an excuse for incomplete work. Whilst I recognise that the hours after the school day can be very busy, there is an equity issue if a small number of boys in each class are not completing homework each week. To help the boys find time to complete these tasks, I would like to remind all parents of the Before School Study Room that is available to all students should time restraints be an issue in completing this work at home. Each morning, we have our dedicated tutors assisting the boys with their work in the Primary Library.I have also attached a Homework Weekly Planning Schedule to assist students in completing these tasks with greater consistency. Weekly Homework Planner

For further information on our Homework Policy at Marist Primary, please see below:

Homework Policy - Primary

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. 

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. The average time spent on nightly homework in Years 5 and 6 should be between 40–60 minutes, inclusive of 20 minutes of reading.

Consequences in Primary for Incomplete Homework:

Below is an explanation of the process that will be used in the event of homework not being completed. 

• 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 Friday detention. Classroom teacher will refer the third strike to the Primary Learning Leader who will email the parents of the child, alerting them to the third strike and providing details about the Friday detention. The Head of Primary will be copied into this email to parents. The Primary Learning Leader will ensure that the student is placed on the detention list by completing the entry in Teacher Kiosk.

NAPLAN Readiness Test

This Wednesday in Periods 1, the Year 5 students will be completing another NAPLAN Readiness Test on Persuasive Writing. To assist with the setting up of this, I would ask that all students ensure that their devices are fully charged. If possible, can I also encourage our Year 5 students to be at school by 8:15am so that they can set up their devices prior to the start of school. This will make for a more streamlined process when it comes to the NAPLAN testing. We would ask the same for our NAPLAN testing next week. 

NAPLAN Testing Schedule – Week 8:

Please note that it is essential that students are at school on the testing days by 8:15am unless sickness prevents their attendance. 

Accessing Student Results and Task-Specific Feedback

After each assessment task (assignment and exam), students' results will be released to Student Café. Boys are encouraged to ensure they are checking Student Café for their results with task-specific feedback. These results and feedback can also be located on the Parent Lounge. Please follow the steps below which highlight how to access your son’s results and feedback. 

1 - Open the Parent Portal and click on “Parent Lounge”

2 - On the left-hand tab select “Curricular Activities Due” and select “view all activities” on the top right-hand side of page. 

This will take you to a screen that lists of your son/s assessment to complete or has been completed.

3 - Click on a subject to view feedback. 

4 - Once you click on the subject you will be able to find the following information:

• Task sheet for assessment – this will outline what your son needs to do to complete the task successfully
• Draft due dates and due dates
• Criteria sheet
• Feedback
• Result

Primary Sport

Mr John Lambourne – Head of Sport (Primary)

Achievements

Congratulations to Finn Beaver (6G), Mitchell Belyea (6R), Cam Cleary (6V), Lucas Crowley (6V), Harry McConnell (6W), Jack Rayner (5R), Harry Stevens (6G), Lachie Widt (6V) who have been selected to represent North West District AFL at the upcoming Met North Regional Trial.

Congratulations to Luca Pozzebon (6R) who has been selected to compete at the National Mountain Bike Championships at Awaba, Lake Macquarie, March 14-17, and also at the Oceania Championships on March 24 in Brisbane at Mt Cotton.

Term 1 AIC Sport

Cricket

AFL

Swimming

Marist Primary Swim Squad

Training sessions continue Monday and Wednesday afternoons for the remainder of Term 1, 3:20pm – 4:20pm. These sessions are open to all boys; boys attending for fitness training and boys wishing to qualify for the AIC Swimming Team. 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

Term 2 AIC Sport

Sport Sign-On

Sport sign-on is accessed through the Parent Lounge – sign-on closes Friday,15 March.

Please remember to select "Submit to School" to ensure that the sign-on is submitted. This may not be visible on some mobile devices, in which case sign-on will need to be completed via a desktop device.

The Term 2 sports on offer are Rugby Union, Football, Chess and Cross Country.

Trial details will be published on the College App.

Boys may also choose to participate in track and field, boys of all abilities are welcome to attend track training sessions.

Rugby Ready Program

Continuing Friday mornings, 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 the 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.

Cross Country

Training – Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Venue: McMahon Oval (new starting venue for 2024)

Time: Training starts at 7:00am sharp. Students are to arrive at 6:45am and sign into the session with their student ID card.

Year 5 students playing Term 1 AFL or cricket – Recommended to train on Monday morning.

Year 6 students playing Term 1 AFL or cricket – Recommended to train on Monday morning. AFL students to miss AFL training on Monday to alternate with cross country.

Please Note – AIC Swimmers – Cross country training will start in Term 1, Week 8. 

Sports Photographs

We are always on the lookout for photos and action shots to be used for the Blue and 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 5:00pm 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.