Primary News

Dear Primary Parents and Guardians,

After a great first week back at the College, there is certainly no signs of slowing down with our boys straight into their academic and co-curricular activities last week. 

Over the weekend, I watched the British Open Golf Tournament. Whilst many would prefer to watch paint dry or grass grow, I naturally found myself making the connections between the golf tournament and the school year. Just as we have four terms in the school year, the golfers play the same 18 holes for four consecutive rounds. Each round brings with it its own challenges and players use the previous round to help them negotiate the challenges of the rounds ahead. Those of you familiar with the sport would know that the most important day in the tournament is the third day or ‘moving day’. It is during this time where the competitors begin to make their move for the championship and solidify their standard of play on a course they are becoming familiar with. As we move into Term 3 (or Round 3), I encourage us all to do the same as we return reinvigorated and energised for the new term ahead.

Prayers Please

Please keep the Gillett family in your prayers, after the passing of Isaac's (5 Red) mother Sharon over the weekend. We know that Brett, Isaac, Austin and the rest of the family are in the thoughts and prayers of all within our Marist community. As a Primary school, each class took time today to ask for God’s blessing upon Sharon through the Hail Mary.

Goal Setting 

This week students will be working with their teachers to set academic goals with them based on the feedback provided in their Semester One report. Please take the time to talk about your son’s learning with them and discuss how they are progressing towards the achievement of their goals.

Late Arrivals and Early Departures 

Please remember that Primary students arriving late or leaving early will need to be signed in/out by a parent from Primary reception.

From the Primary Pastoral Leader – Mr Michael Connolly

A very warm welcome back to Term 3 to all of our Primary families. As we enter into our first, full week together, it is pertinent to stop and think about our goals for the term ahead. During the last week, many boys have been asked to write down some goals for the term and I hope they have set achievable goals that are within their reach if they are prepared to put the effort in. I shared with my class the fact that I hoped to three-putt less when I play golf but that was not going to automatically happen just because I have made it a goal of mine. I will definitely need to put extra effort into practice or there is very little chance of any improvement. Fingers crossed!

Last week at our Primary assemblies, I challenged the boys to do one thing for each other.  The one thing I asked them to do was to treat each other well. It sounds a simple enough request to make but having the boys look out for and look after each other during our school week is crucial to our Primary School.  As we continue our journey through Term 3, I am going to constantly remind the boys that more often than not, the greatest gift that they can give to each other is not a tooby from the tuckshop or some free homework answers. The greatest gift they can give to each other is kindness. 

Men of Courage

Throughout the term ahead, the boys in the Primary School will continue to participate in our Men of Courage program.  The topics that our classroom teachers will cover with your sons this term are as follows:

Year 5:                 Building Healthy Relationships

Year 6:                 Courage

There are many opportunities during our days together here at school for the boys to enact what they are learning in these very important lessons. 

Secondary Library After School

It has come to my attention that there are some boys who visit the Secondary Library of an afternoon but do not stay for the duration of the afternoon opening hours. Often when they leave early, these boys have been sitting around the College grounds unsupervised until they are picked up, often at 4:30pm. If your son does attend library of an afternoon and you would like your son to stay at the library until pick up, I would ask that you have a conversation with him to ensure he is aware of your expectations around this.

Hair Cuts

A gentle reminder that no boy should have a haircut that has half of his head shaved down to a three-blade whilst the other half of his head is left considerably longer.  I shared this expectation with boys at assembly last week and suggested that they make sure the hairdresser or barber is fully aware of this prior to sitting in the chair for their next haircut. 

Thank you for all that you have done, and will continue to do, to make your son’s time here in the Primary School a productive, safe and happy one.

From the Library - Book Week Celebrations

Next week beginning 26 July, we will be celebrating Book Week with the boys. It is a wonderful way for us to share our love of literature. Our theme for this year is “Old worlds. New worlds. Other worlds” We are pleased to announce our author visit for this year is Adam France. Adam is a primary school teacher and author. This is an excellent opportunity for the boys to glean some insight into the process of story writing and to enjoy the engaging talks and discussions, which cover areas of narrative and content. Adam will be conducting a book signing session for the boys. 

“Where the Wild Things Are” will have a wonderful display of their latest books for sale, including Adam’s book. The boys will have the opportunity to view the books and compile their wish lists, which they will bring home to discuss the prospect to purchase with you. Our library receives a percentage of the purchases in order to buy new books for our library, which is marvellous. Fiona Stagger, the owner of the book shop, will also be conducting a book chat with some of the boys during lunch break.

The highlight for our week is our annual Bookweek costume parade. Please do not feel it necessary to purchase expensive premade costumes, as we encourage the boys to design and create their own. You are most welcome to stay and enjoy the parade which will take place at 8.30am on Thursday in the primary quadrangle. 

In the library we shall have many theme-based activates for the boys to participate in and enjoy. We have been very busy creating lots of lovely things for the boys’ enjoyment. There will be quizzes, puzzles, games and loads of fun. Please feel free to pop in at any time to our “Other world” to peruse the books and enjoy the ambience.

We are looking very forward to celebrating this wonderful literary festival with your boys with the aim of stimulating and exciting them in the marvellous world of books.

Primary Sport Update – Mr John Lambourne

Term 3 AIC Sport

Basketball

Years 5-6 Boys playing basketball will be provided with a College basketball singlet for the season. Boys must play in blue MCA Sport shorts and blue MCA Sport socks.

A bus will be provided to and from basketball venues for Years 5&6 AIC basketballers each week. Boys travelling on the bus MUST travel in their College Sports Uniform. The bus will depart from the bus stop @ 3:00pm and return @ 6:15pm (approx.), return details will be posted on the College APP. If your son catches the bus and you collect him, it is very important to ensure you inform a staff member.

Internal Basketball

Boys wishing to play in the MCA Primary internal basketball competition are asked to register their teams with Mr Lambourne by Friday this week. Boys may sign on as a team or individually and they will be placed in a team. Teams will be required to choose a coloured shirt to play in.

Games will run 3:30pm – 4:30pm Fridays, and the competition will commence Friday, Week 3.

Rugby League

Rugby League training;

Tuesday and Thursday, 3:30pm – 4:45pm @ Hayden Oval.

Tennis

Tennis training;

Years 5 and 6 AIC Squads – Wednesday, 3:30 - 5:30pm and Friday, 6:20 - 8:20am

Shadow Teams – Monday, 6:20 - 8:20am and Friday, 3:30 - 5:30pm

Track & Field

Monday and Wednesday afternoon track training sessions are open to all boys, boys wanting to qualify for AIC Track & Field Championships and boys attending for fitness training, there is no obligation to attend AIC meets later in Term 3.

Movement Development Program

The program will focus on the key fundamental movement patterns (Squat, Hinge, Jump, Land, Push, Pull, Brace and Rotate), these movements are the foundation to all athlete development. The students will be challenged to solve movement puzzles while improving physical fitness and movement coordination.

If you have any further questions, please contact Simon Price prices@marash.qld.edu.au

Boys do not need to nominate to attend these sessions, boys are to meet at the MCA Pool gym.

Wednesday and Friday, 7:00 – 7:30am / 7:30 – 8:00am

Sports Photographs

We are always on the lookout 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.