Boarding News

Dear Parents and Friends,

I have been especially pleased with how well the Boarders have commenced this term. At the end of Term 2, we were certainly all hoping restrictions may have eased by now and yet we still find ourselves in a challenging situation. Despite this, the boys have accepted the situation and ‘gotten on with the job’. As we hear regularly, adaptability and resilience are necessary life skills. It is fair to say that the boys have had a distinct opportunity to develop and refine these skills in the current environment. I appreciate their relatively positive approach but also acknowledge the essential support that our parents are providing behind the scenes.

As you would have seen in my recent communication, we are incredibly hopeful to be playing rugby on Saturday against St Pius X College. The draw for the coming weeks is as follows:

Saturday’s 1st XV game will be live-streamed on YouTube. Here is the YouTube link that you can use to access the stream:

https://youtu.be/ev9VReltW2c

I’m very thankful to St Pius X College for organising this under the circumstances. 

I received a phone call from St Stanislaus’ College on Thursday afternoon. Unfortunately, (but understandably) they have made the decision to withdraw from the ISA competition this year. Our proposed ‘Family Weekend’ date of the 5 September was already looking unlikely so we will have to revisit what we can do and when.

May St Marcellin, St Gregory and Mary our Good Mother continue to watch over all in our Boarding and College community. We continue to look forward with hope and we pray especially for those facing adversity at the moment.

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Mr Max Spencer

Director of Boarding

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Senior Boarding Report (Years 11 & 12)

The Senior students have hit the ground running since returning this term. Although the COVID pandemic continues to change the way we do things in Boarding, whether it be activities, routine or sporting options, the students have continued to rise to these challenges in a very difficult time. 

We had a very positive end to Term 2. In Week 9 the Senior Boarders led a boarding school-wide activities competition. The competition involved all students being split into vertical teams (Years 7-12) led by the Boarding Leaders and Senior students. The teams competed across three nights in events such as Trivia, Street Hockey and Dodgeball. The competition culminated in modified Olympic games with individual students competing for their teams in events such as shot put, long jump, sprint races, push-ups, planks, golf, AFL kicks and Various Basketball skills. The competition came down to the very last event of the night with Team Nicholson beating Team Quodling for the top prize and a team dinner this term when restrictions allow this. The highlights for the Olympic game events were:

Athletics Carnival

It was great to get some competitive sport in with the Athletics Carnival held in Week 1 this term. The Senior Boarders held their own in the various competitions with numerous placings. Congratulations to all boys on their involvement during the day. The highlights included:

Footy Tipping

Matt Canellis is the current leader in the Senan House Footy Tipping competition with various chasers hot on his tail. Congratulations to Joe Ward who was the first winner in the footy tipping competition winning the ‘Last Man Stands’ leg of the competition.

Mr Luke Morrissey

Senior Boarding Coordinator (Years 11 & 12)

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Junior Boarding Report (Years 9 & 10)

Our Boarders have come back after a long break where they enjoyed some improved freedom with COVID-19 restrictions easing; some boys told me about their camping trips away, others enjoyed seeing mates back home and a few enjoyed just being home with family for the break.

Term 3 has unfortunately started with similar restrictions and rules in place for the boys as they were for last term. However, they have accepted these circumstances and had a great first week back adhering to the rules in place. A positive that the boys have returned to is almost fully functioning air conditioning in each dormitory! The boys definitely appreciated this addition in the middle of winter to make their rooms nice and toasty at night for bedtime.

The first week of term saw the boys get straight back into their learning at school and study routine in boarding with a great attitude. We were lucky enough to have our College Athletics Carnival where many of our boys starred throughout the day.  Some notable performances were:

• Pat Bird winning the Javelin
• Thomas Fletcher placing 2nd in the 100m (much to his protest that the times were not correct, unlucky Tom)
• Jesse Lamont winning the Long Jump
• Jake Wright placed 3rd in High Jump

The boys trial against St Stanislaus’ College was unfortunately cancelled due to the current COVID-19 conditions, however, they were lucky enough to have a run against each other on Saturday. It was great to see the boys playing in good spirits and expending their energy over the weekend. We are due to play St Pius away this Saturday for the final trial before the first round of ISA starts next week.

On Sunday we held our first official Mass since Term 1! The boys participated well as Father Paul lead us through Communion, unfortunately, we could not sing under the COVID-19 guidelines for Religious gatherings.

After a long few days of rain (some of which I hope hit our rural regions), the boys are looking forward to good weather for the rest of the week to get outside and participate in training and Rugby on Saturday, while also enjoying their afternoon free time outside utilising the College grounds.

With the current COVID-19 circumstances we find ourselves in, I have reminded our Year 9 and10 boys that this is the Year 12’s final term after 13 years of schooling. The year has been a challenging one for the Year 12 boys, I challenged the Year 9’s and 10’s to keep them in their prayers and ensure if they can make a positive difference in any way for the Year 12’s in their final term, to do so.

Mr Michael Bullock  

Junior Boarding Coordinator (Years 9 & 10)

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Junior Boarding Report (Years 7 & 8)

Term 3 has ‘kicked off’ and the Year 7 and 8 Boarders have completed a successful return to the College and Boarding. The boys are encouraged to reflect on their previous efforts and to plan new goals that will motivate and guide them this term. Many ‘green stamps’ were achieved last week and I have received positive feedback from teachers. However, consistency is something that we are trying to work towards and is a constant reminder in Valens. Over the next couple of weeks, the boys will receive assessment notifications and new opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding of each subject area.

It was pleasing to see the students compete at the Athletics Carnival and the following boys are to be congratulated: Leon Kelly, Archie Nott and Mason Rope who achieved second place overall in their age groups. All the boys ‘had a go’ and contributed to the success of the day. We have some very exciting news in the sporting space, Rugby has returned and a modified ISA Rugby draw has been set. Unfortunately, the boys could not play against St Stanislaus’ College last week and as an alternative, they participated in internal Rugby games that enabled them to make a tackle and ‘let off some steam’.

This term we welcome a new ‘brother’ to the Valens family. Nishantha Abbey (Year 8) joins the College and has adjusted to Boarding life with ease. We celebrated Ryan Weston’s birthday the past week and assembled as a church for Mass on Sunday evening to attain spiritual strength that will ‘carry’ us for the next week.

Last term there was a strong focus on gratitude; ‘focus on your blessings and bless others too’. This term I challenge the boys to ‘serve others’. This is a decisive time of the academic year and in conjunction with the challenges experienced due to COVID-19, it’s important that we lead with a gentle heart. To ‘serve others’ means to love one another - compassion. As Pope Francis (2020) states: ‘If you can learn to weep with those who are weeping, you will find true happiness’.

On a personal note, thank you Boarding families for your ongoing support and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries or concerns.

Pax tecum  

Mr Tevita Halaifonua

Junior Boarding Coordinator (Years 7 & 8)