Head of Primary News

Dear Primary Families,

Last Friday I attended an Independent Primary School Heads of Australia (IPSHA) meeting. As I connected with other Heads of Primary from around Queensland, our conversation naturally progressed towards the numerous challenges that Term 1 has thrown at everyone working in schools. Reflecting on our experiences at Marist College Ashgrove, I feel blessed that these challenges have been easier to manage due to the support of our dedicated teaching staff, supportive parents and students who want to be at school.

As we journey through the last two weeks of term, I encouraged the boys to keep looking after each other through their actions and their words, as well as doing everything they can to ensure they are giving their best across all areas of school life.

Tomorrow morning we looking forward to celebrating our Year 5 Welcome Liturgy in The Chapel. The liturgy will commence at 8:00am and boys are asked to gather in the Primary Yard at 7:45am. Unfortunately, due to the capacity of the College Chapel, only one parent per student is able to attend.

On Thursday evening we have our Year 5 Musical in the Draney Theatre. This is always a fantastic production and my thanks go to Dr Andrew Butt, Mrs Melanie Stewart and the rest of the Music Department for all their hard work in getting the boys ready for this performance. More information and ticketing information were sent out to all families last week.

This Friday we will hold our Primary Swimming Carnival. This year inter-class rivalry will be at an all-time high, as students compete in buddy classes across Year 5 and 6. Please note that the Tuckshop and Pool Canteen will not be available for students to use on this day. 

Term 1 Sport 

Congratulations to all students who represented the College in sport during Term 1. Whilst it was a season disrupted by weather and illness, I know that all the boys enjoyed the opportunity to compete against other schools and wear the blue and gold. A particular mention to Mr John Lambourne (Head of Sport – Year 5 and 6) for coordinating the term of sports under such difficult circumstances. 

A thank you also to our Primary teachers who coached a sport team and continued to build valuable and authentic relationships with our boys and their families.

Cricket – Mr Bas Pelly, Mr Michael Connolly, Mrs Prue Maclean, Mrs Rachelle Garton, Mr Matt Jones

AFL – Mr James Lidstone and Mrs Kylie Tippins

Swimming – Mrs Cath Geraghty, Mrs Catherine Barnett, Mrs Lucy Hislop

Year 6 Emu Gully – save the date 29th April (Term 2 Week 2)

To complement their work in leadership and the Men of Courage Program, Marist College Ashgrove Year 6 students will be participating in a full-day excursion to Emu Gully – Helidon Campus on Friday 29 April (Term 2 Week 2). More information will be sent out with the online permission form tomorrow on the Parent Lounge.

Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews 

As per the College Calendar, Year 5 and 6 Parent/Teacher/Student interviews are occurring at the beginning of Term 2 over two dates, Tuesday 19 April and Wednesday 27 April. This year, the College will again offer both in-person and online interviews over the two Term 2 dates. The interviews on Tuesday 19 April will be held in-person on-site and the interviews on Wednesday 27 April will be held online through Microsoft Teams.

For more information, please see the letter sent last week from Ms Madeleine Tong.

Absentees

Thank you to all families who are continuing to inform us of absentees using the Parent Portal. If you and your family are having to isolate due to COVID-19, could we ask that you please include the day that your son will be returning to school. It is expected that all students and families are following the Queensland Health expectations for isolation for positive cases and close contacts. 

Reminders

If your son is sick or unwell, please keep them home. Any students who are displaying flu-like symptoms at school will be sent to Primary Reception where their parents will be contacted immediately to collect them. These students will be provided with a Rapid Antigen Test.

Year 5 BBQ

Primary Sport - Mr John Lambourne

Primary Swimming Carnival

Primary Swimming Carnival will take place Friday, 25 March. In a change to tradition, the boy will now compete in their class groups giving the boys the opportunity to compete with their buddies.

All Year 5 and 6 boys are expected to attend Friday in their College Sports Uniform

• Parents are welcome to attend.
• Each boy is expected to swim 50m freestyle and 50m breaststroke
• The day is all about fun with the remainder of the day made up with participation/novelty-based games.
• Boys may wish to change into coloured outfits, which they can do before Pastoral Group, they may also bring mascots and wear zinc in their team colour if they wish.
• Hats, sunscreen and water bottles are extremely important on a day like this and boys are expected to take some responsibility to ensure they stay sun safe and hydrated.
• Each boy is expected to participate in all the novelty events to the best of their ability.

The College tuckshop will be unavailable for the Primary boys on Friday.

The Mission Department will be running a sausage sizzle, $3.00 for a sausage on bread, and Zooper Doopers $0.50, with all profits raised going to MCA Lenten Appeal.

Student cards only – NO CASH

Achievements

Congratulations to Damon Johnston (6G) who has been selected to represent North West District (10–12 years) Hockey at the Met North Regional trials, to be 21 April.

Congratulations to Shea Caminiti (6W), Charlie Casey (6G), Tom Casey (6R), Josh Caughley (6V) and Stirling McDonald (6G) (10-11 years) and Jack Davis (6B) (11-12 years) who have been selected to represent North West District Rugby League at the Met North Regional trials, to be held 27-28 April.

Term 1 AIC Sport

Term 2 AIC Sport

Rugby and Football

• Boys are not required to wear College uniform to rugby/football trials; rugby players will require boots and a mouthguard; football players will require boots and shinpads.
• All matches are played Saturday mornings, training will be one afternoon and one morning session each week.
• Boys require; Jersey, shorts and socks - available from the College Clothing Shop
  Boys also require; Rugby: Boots and mouthguard and Football: Boots and shin pads.

Cross Country

Boys are to meet at the swimming pool 6:30am for a 6:45am departure.

It is recommended that students complete two sessions per week. Students should attend one of the following: 

• Monday and Wednesday
• Monday and Thursday
• Tuesday and Thursday

This structure allows students to have a rest day between sessions and to complete different types of training. 

Come and Try Hockey

Marist College has strong links with Norths Hockey Club and they have extended an invitation to all Marist boys to come and give hockey a try. Primary boys are the perfect age to start playing and will be made very welcome and become an important part of the club. Training is provided with the opportunity to represent MCA once the boys enter senior school.

Games do not begin until the start of Term 2 but training has begun every Thursday night at Dorrington Park at 6:00pm. 

For further details please contact Russell Thirgood - russell@thirgoodarb.com.

Alternatively, turn up to training on a Thursday night to see if you enjoy hockey. It is a great game as many would have seen watching the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos at the Olympics. It would be great to see some Marist / Norths boys playing for the Kookaburras in 2032!

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.

Pick-up Arrangements - “Plan B”  

It is important that you are aware of the pick-up procedures if you are running late. Sport training sessions finish by 4:45pm. We ask that boys are picked up at this time, or soon after. Any boy who is still at their training venue at 5:00pm will be directed to the Boarding Reception area so that he may be collected from there. In the case of bus arrivals, boys will be sent to Boarding Reception 15 minutes after the arrival time of the bus. 

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.

For further information please do not hesitate to contact me:

John Lambourne primarysports@marash.qld.edu.au

Primary Sport Photos