Boarding News

The College ovals and courts were alive last Saturday with the last round of AIC Basketball, Tennis and Rugby League at home. The boarders did a wonderful job of leading the support on the day and there were great celebrations with all three 1st teams finishing up with a win. It was a particularly special day for our Year 12 boarders who were playing their last game for Marist College Ashgrove. I’d like to congratulate our Year 12 boarders who have provided a great example of participation this year and for their loyal, proud involvement over the years – well done!

Our Year 11 boarders have recently been invited to apply for the position of Boarding Captain (2023) and the process is well underway with the applicants submitting a written application and speaking in front of the boarding community. Boarders and staff will be given the opportunity to vote this week and the applicants will also have an interview with senior staff in the first week of Term 4. I look forward to announcing the two Boarding Captains for 2023 in the early part of next term.

Looking ahead to next year, I would like to introduce a new structure that allows all of our Year 12 boarders to contribute positively as leaders in our boarding program. This will involve each Year 12 boarder being assigned to either La Valla, Montagne or Hermitage Residences next year. They will be rostered as the ‘Senior on Duty’ around one day a fortnight in the Residence to which they have been assigned. The Senior on Duty will be shadowing the staff member working that day to support the smooth running of the residence and to role model appropriate behaviour for the younger boys. There is no doubt in my mind that having the Year 12 boarders present to the younger boys in the dorms will help in many ways. The younger boys naturally look up to the Seniors and having them on duty in the junior dorms provides a logical reason for the Seniors to spend time around the young ones. And for each Senior boy it provides a learning experience about leadership. Key staff members will work with the Year 12 boys to support them in learning how to lead effectively and it will be great that they will all have the opportunity – not just those in positions of leadership.

As the school holidays approach, I’d like to wish all boarding families a lovely couple of weeks and hopefully some quality time together after a busy school term. I look forward to seeing everyone next term as we finish off what has been a great year.

Sunday Night Mass

Boarding Recreation - Mr Blair Whitlock

The final weekend of term was certainly a busy one on the social and sporting front! Friday kicked off with a boarders arvo feast and community BBQ with the Year 10s in charge of cooking this week. Meanwhile, the Year 7-9 boarders and a group of seniors headed into town for a social at Somerville House. The social was themed around R U OK Day with all the boys encouraged to wear yellow clothing. We were treated to a lovely dinner in their dining hall before some dancing (Nutbush City Limits) and a few games of mixed Netball. It’s great to see the boys building friendships with boarders from many different schools and we look forward to hosting Somerville in Term 4.

Saturday was the final round of AIC sport for the term with our teams taking on St Patricks College. The Hive assembled in the gym for the 1st V Basketball match and we were treated to a cracking game. The boys were down 6 points with a couple of minutes to play and managed to drag the game into overtime with Year 12 boarders, Brent Humphreys and Ethen Tsiamalili, getting several crucial buckets. The team found a second wind in OT and ended up taking the win in front of a raucous Hive. It was a great way to finish the Basketball season and had everyone in good spirits leading into the 1st XIII League match. In a tight game, the Rugby League boys edged Pats to get the win and round out a great day of sport. It was certainly an emotional day for many of the Year 12 boys playing for Ashgrove and with many of their mates for the final time. 

After dinner, 60 boys jumped on the bus and headed over to St Margaret’s for an Outdoor Cinemas night with several other boarding schools. It was a beautiful setting on the hill at Margaret’s overlooking the city and the boys enjoyed catching up with some friends. It had been a long day and everyone was knackered by the time we returned to boarding later that evening! The boys behaviour in social and recreational activities has been fantastic all term and we regularly receive feedback from other schools saying how friendly and polite they are. Well done boys.

We rounded out the weekend with a trip down to Movie World! You can’t beat a theme park day and it was a great way to finish the final day of rec for the term. Planning for Term 4 is well underway and I’m looking forward to another busy term!