Boarding News

The year has started really well in boarding and it has been wonderful to see the boys back after the summer holidays. A real highlight has been welcoming 41 new students into our boarding community and the wider school. I am very grateful to all the members of the boarding team for the time they spent making preparations for Term 1. It has definitely helped everyone to settle in and make a positive start in their new setting. Special mention and thanks to our Year 12 boarders who’ve been getting to know their Year 7-10 buddies, all of whom are new to the school. We have a special event this Wednesday evening, the ‘Amazing Race’ which will see all the boarding buddies competing together in a fun activity around our school campus. I look forward to seeing our newest boarders embracing all the opportunities at Marist and making some great friendships.

In addition to new boarders, we also have six new staff members joining our boarding team this year. Welcome to the following staff:

Jim Midgley – Senior Supervisor in Montagne Residence

Jye Davies – Boarding Supervisor in Br Terence Residence

Jonah Allen - Boarding Supervisor in Br Terence Residence

Archie Ryan - Boarding Supervisor in Hermitage Residence

John Murphy - Boarding Supervisor in Hermitage Residence

Joe Post - Boarding Supervisor in La Valla Residence

Our extensive recreation program is underway to ensure the boarders have plenty of great things to do outside of school time and opportunities to burn off energy. On the first couple of weekends, the boarders have been able to participate in a range of activities such as a Wet ‘n’ Wild trip, ice skating, a pool party with Stuartholme and a beach trip to Mooloolaba. For a small number of boarders who are not playing AIC sport on Saturdays this term, we have a new activity called ‘Top Ups’ which is a fitness session run by Blair Whitlock to ensure all the boys do some exercise over the weekend. We also have the Boarding Clubs program back underway this week with the boys able to enjoy the music centre, the golf driving range, community service activities and much more. There is so much for the boarders to do!

This week also sees the Boarders’ Tutoring Program recommence. Each year level of boarders is supported by two to three academic tutors per night in addition to the Boarding Staff on duty. The academic tutors are present to the boys in their study locations during their set study sessions and they are trained to be proactive in their duties by actively showing interest in the work the boys are completing. We also regularly remind the boarders that they should be making good use of the academic tutors to check their work or to help them understand something they are struggling with. I encourage parents to remind their sons of the academic support available to them in boarding and to make the most of this help.

In conclusion, it was lovely to see so many parents, guardians and family members when dropping your boys back to boarding school. I look forward to a great year ahead working in partnership with you to help our boarders to have an outstanding 2025.

Save the Date - Year 11 Parent Function

Boarding Recreation

Mr Blair Whitlock

Recreation kicked off with a Year 7 and 12 Touch Footy game on McMahon Oval with the senior boarders spending time with their buddies and catching up on a busy first week at Marist. This led to a BBQ dinner over on Hayden Oval which is always a beautiful spot in the evening with the sun setting over the hills and the flock of cockatoo’s going bananas! Friday night finished off with a swim down at the pool and an hour in the weights room for some of our Years 10-12 boarders. It’s been great to see the boys hit the ground running and get straight back into positive routines with the gym being the busiest it’s ever been!

Term 1 sport trials were on throughout Saturday with many of the boys trekking around Brisbane for their cricket and volleyball matches. Meanwhile, the in-dorm La Valla, Montagne and Hermitage boys headed out for a quick circuit workout and some running up the Tower hill to burn off some energy. The boys got stuck into everything and were all encouraging each other which is awesome to see as many of them are still getting to know each other. The rest of Saturday was spent onsite with the boarders supporting our 1st VI Volleyball team before having a swim and some evening downtime in the dorms.

The main activity of the weekend was a trip down to Wet n Wild alongside many other boarding schools from Southeast Queensland. It’s always a great day and the boys were right into everything which led to a very quiet bus trip on the way back to Brisbane before Sunday mass to round out a busy first weekend in Marist boarding.