Primary School News

Dear Primary Families,

This week we focus our attention on the Marist characteristic of being In the Way of Mary. As you would be aware, Marists have a strong relationship with Mary Our Good Mother, the mother of The Church.

In the all-boys setting of Marist College Ashgrove, it is natural for us to reference and celebrate the gentle, feminine presence of Mary as a role model. However, I believe that it is her courage and unwavering faith that makes her the perfect namesake for our school. Mary was a young woman who always trusted in God’s plan, who always said yes, and who sat at the foot of her son’s cross as the First Disciple. 

As we begin our week together, I encourage you to take the opportunity to reflect with your son on what it means to be ‘in the way of Mary’ as a young Marist man. 

Year 7 2023 Orientation Day 

Our Year 6 students will be taking part in the Year 7 2023 Orientation Day on Friday 16 September (Week 10). Whilst this is a Student Free Day for a majority of the College, our Year 6 boys are expected to take part in this day. More information regarding the day, and the Parent Information Evening on Tuesday 13 September, will be communicated to families in the coming week.

Welcome Archie!

Congratulations to Mr James Furminger (6 Violet Teacher) and his wife Shika on the arrival of their son, Archie Edward Furminger. We wish the three of them every blessing as they begin their lives as a family of three. 

Going Green

It was great to see so many boys take part in our environmental free dress day last Friday. The funds raised from the day will go towards a number of environmental initiatives across the college, including some new native bee-hives. 

Mathematics Competitions

Congratulations to the boys who participated in the Australian Mathematics Competition last week. We also have a number of Year 6 students who are taking part in International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) testing in a couple of weeks. A list of these students can be found in the PLL section below. 

Specialist Teachers

Last Friday we had a special afternoon tea to acknowledge the work of all our specialist teachers in the Primary School. These staff members teach across the College and do a great job at providing great learning opportunities for the boys in the areas of: Music, Art, French, Japanese, Library, Technology, Health and Physical Education. 

Father’s Day Gift Stalls

Not sure what to get dad this Father’s Day? Our Year 8 Commerce students have you covered. The boys in Year 8 will be selling a range of Father’s Day gifts ranging from $5 to $15 on Tuesday 23 August in the Primary Quad at Break 1. These gifts will include car deodorisers, BBQ utensils, mugs, lolly bags and chocolates. Payment is to be made using the Monitor student cards. Thank you to Mrs Armitage, Mrs Sedgwick and their Year 8 classes for providing this service to our Primary boys and their families.

National Science Week

Next week is National Science Week, there are lots of competitions on offer throughout the week with great prizes. To register for the egg drop or rocket building competition, boys are asked to head to the Science foyer halfway through Break 1 on Monday.

Escape rooms will also be running during the breaks in the Library and a demonstration during 2nd break on Monday in the Primary quadrangle.

EKKA Break

As you would be aware, our extended Ekka Break will commence tomorrow. Classes will resume as usual on Monday 15 August. 

Primary Learning Leader – Ms Jen Little

Assessment Calendars

By now, all students and caregivers have been emailed a copy of the Primary Assessment Calendar for Term 3. Please use these to help prepare for upcoming summative tasks. The school is also here to support students through our before-school study room that is available to all Primary students from 8:00 am until 8:30 am each weekday. School officers and older students are available to students at this time.

Maths Competitions:

Congratulations to the following students who were selected to take part in the Australian Mathematics Competition last week. Whilst some boys were absent due to sickness, it was great to see the boys being thoroughly challenged in their learning.

On Monday 29 August, a second group of students will take part in the Maths ICAS testing. This test will be conducted in the Cyprian Pavillion with our Year 8 students. The students selected for these tests based on their achievement in internal and standardised tests are as follows:

We wish these boys the very best of luck.

Debating News

Congratulations to our Year 5 Debaters who were victorious last Thursday evening against St Peter’s Lutheran College. The team argued the affirmative side of the topic ‘That We Should Ban Pets.’ Our Speakers were as follows:

• First Speaker – Oscar Chapman
• Second Speaker – James Phelan
• Third Speaker – Jack Donohue
• Chair Person – Oliver Crowley

To date, the team (along with Callum Nowers) has remained undefeated for the season. We wish them lots of luck for their fourth and final debate on the 1st of September.

Congratulations also to our two Year 6 Debating Teams who were also victorious in the third round of competition last Thursday night against Ashgrove State School and Indooroopilly State School. Both teams argued the affirmative side of the topic ‘That all bicycle riders should be required to display registration plates’.

The teams were as follows:

Once again, we wish our Year 6 Boys the best of luck for their final debate on September 1st. Let’s hope that Marist Primary can take out a clean sweep in this year’s QDU Debating Competition – go boys!

Primary School Sport – Mr John Lambourne

Achievements

Congratulations to Darcy White and Zach Lympaney who were selected into the U11 Brisbane Hockey team, representing Brisbane in the Coulter Shield played at Downey Park over the weekend.

Term 3 AIC Sport

Basketball

Years 5-6 Results – Round 3 vs Villa – Basketball

Years 5-6 Basketball Training Schedule 2022

Primary Internal Basketball

Boys wishing to play in the MCA Primary internal basketball competition are asked to register their teams with Mr Lambourne. Boys may sign on as a team or individually and they will be placed in a team.

Teams will be required to choose a team name and a coloured shirt to play in.

Games will run 3:30pm – 4:30pm Fridays.

Rugby League

Years 5-6 Results – Round 3 vs Villa – Rugby League

Rugby League training:

Tuesday, 3:30pm – 4:45pm @ Des Connor Park

Friday, 7:00am – 8:00am @ Hayden Oval 

Tennis

Years 5-6 Results – Round 3 vs Villa – Tennis

Tennis training;

Year 5: Tuesday, 6:45am – 8:15am and Thursday, 3:30pm – 5:00pm

Year 6: Monday, 6:45am – 8:15am and Wednesday, 3:30pm – 5:00pm

Track and 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.

Event Calendar

AIC Meet #1 – Thursday 18 August

AIC Meet #2 – Thursday 8 September

AIC Meet #3 – Wednesday 14 September

Holiday Meet #1 – Thursday, 22 September

Holiday Meet #2 – Thursday, 29 September

Years 5-6 T&F Training Schedule 2022

Track and Field Mini Meets

Primary boys are invited to attend the T&F Mini Meets that are held on Friday afternoons. It is an opportunity to record a time, practice starts and get race experience. Sessions run 3:30pm – 4:15pm.These sessions are optional for the primary boys.

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.