Primary School News

Dear Primary Parents

I would like to share with you some reflections from an email I received from a parent over the weekend.

The email focused on the 6White Primary cricket team and their efforts on Saturday morning. This email made no mention of runs scored, wicket hauls, man of the match awards or even the winning margin. Instead, the writer of this email praised the team for their sportsmanship and taking care of the opposition. There was one player on the opposition side who had difficulties with his movements and our boys quickly realised that playing cricket had its challenges for this boy. Rather than target this player as a chance to get a quick wicket, our boys, without being asked, did something they should all be very proud of. The email relates that, at every opportunity, the Marist boys encouraged this player, and when he did finally get out, they offered to give him another go due to the nature of the dismissal. As the player left the field, our boys gave him fist pumps and high fives as he passed them. It was not done in a patronising way; it was a case of genuine care and kindness for the player concerned. The culture of caring within this team is no doubt instilled by their coach, Mrs Rachelle Garton and she is to be commended for this.

I am sure there are many other teams that have shown a similar understanding to opposition players over the years here at Marist College.

The actions of the 6White cricket team should be a lesson to us all about what is important to us when we represent the College in sport. Each weekend, there will be wins, draws and losses and these will no doubt be tallied at the conclusion of the season for each team. Perhaps the thing that we can all take away from the efforts of the 6White team on the weekend is that regardless of wins and losses, we all have the opportunity to make a positive impact on those we encounter each time we meet.

Good luck to all our teams who will represent us proudly this weekend.

AIC Swimming Championships

Congratulations to all the boys who have trained so hard to contribute to our AIC Swimming Squad this year. The boys who earned a swim at the Championships on Tuesday will have done us all proud with their efforts and the boys who may have missed out on a swim can take comfort in the fact that their efforts have pushed our squad on to be the best versions of themselves. We thank all the swimmers, coaches and parents involved in the swimming season this year.

Year 5 Blazer Update

A reminder for parents and guardians that Year 5 students require blazers for the start of Term 2. Pre-ordered blazers for Year 5 students are due to arrive prior to the commencement of Term 2. The College will communicate with Year 5 families and will advise when they become available and how they can be collected. If you have not ordered a blazer for your son, please visit the uniform shop so he can be sized up and an order placed.

Year 5 NAPLAN

We wish all our Year 5 boys and teachers every success with their NAPLAN assessments next week. Our boys will be taking part in these assessments from Wednesday to Friday next week. There has been a lot of preparation undertaken by our staff to ensure the boys are well equipped to do their best next week.

Primary Learning Leader – Jen Little

NAPLAN

The countdown is definitely on for our standardised NAPLAN testing, commencing next week.  This is an opportunity for students to demonstrate what they can do in the areas of Literacy and Numeracy. As such, it is important information for schools. Please see below the testing schedule for our Year 5 students.

A reminder that students need to be punctual to school on these days, remembering to pack their fully charged device for the testing period. Headphones will also be required and should already be at school in the classrooms. 

Please note that it is advisable that students spend some extra time at home in the lead up to the NAPLAN testing, familiarising themselves with the Public Demonstration Site. Additional practise on this platform will assist in setting students up for success during the testing period. 

NAP - Public demonstration site

Upcoming Assessments

As we move into the business end of the term, students are in the process of commencing and finalising assessments for the first quarter of the year. Please note the upcoming dates for the following assessments in Year 6:

Please note that we have had to reschedule some formative assessments in Year 5 to continue our focus of Literacy and Numeracy in the Primary School. The table below indicates the revised assessment schedule for Year 5 students.

Importantly, parents and students will be able to access student results for Summative Assessments on Parent Lounge and Student Café. Results, along with teacher feedback for improvement, will be released approximately 10 school days after the assessments have been finalised or by the end of the school term (whichever comes first). Please refer to the instructions below to access progressive assessment results. 

Accessing Results and Feedback on Student Café

Accessing Results and Feedback on Parent Lounge

Primary Sport - Mr John Lambourne – Head of Sport (Primary)

AIC Swimming Championships

Congratulations to the following boys who were selected to represent Marist College at the AIC Swimming Championships, this is the culmination of a lot of training for all of our swimmers and we wish them the best of luck.

2023 AIC Swimming Championships Squad

Cross Country

Ashgrove Rangers School Challenge

Dorrington Park, Ashgrove

Thursday, 9 March - 4:00 - 4:45pm

Times set at this event will go towards AIC Cross Country Championship team selection, all boys wishing to be selected for AIC Cross Country are invited to attend.

Boys wishing to attend may wait in the primary school and walk to the event, parents may collect boys from Dorrington Park.

Cross Country training continues Monday – Thursday mornings.

Boys meet at the swimming pool from 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.

Rugby and Football

• 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.

Rugby Ready Program

Friday 24 February, 3, 10 and 17 March

Des Connor Park – Field 8

7:00am – 8:00am

Boys are required to come dressed in their Marist training shirt, Marist sport shorts Marist football socks. Boys will also require boots, mouthguard, and a water bottle for each session.

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.

Whilst there are several reasons for providing such a program, a key driver is wanting to deliver to all students a safe, challenging, and enjoyable rugby union program. To develop the next generation of Marist College rugby players, we must give them the skills to approach the game with confidence and minimise the chance of injury. 

Marist College Ashgrove - Rugby Camp - Years 5-7

https://events.humanitix.com/marist-rugby-camp-years-5-6-and-7

Term 1 AIC Sport

Cricket

AFL

Swimming

MCA Primary Swim Squad training sessions will continue Monday and Wednesday afternoons for the remainder of Term 1, 3:30pm – 4:30pm.

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

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.

Sports Photographs

We are always on the look-out 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.

Pick-up Arrangements - “Plan B”

It is important that you are aware of your son’s pick-up procedure if sports training is cancelled or if you are running late. 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.

Sport training sessions finish normally 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.