Boarding News

Dear Parents and Carers,

I trust you enjoyed a nice weekend with your son as they got to spend some time away from ‘The Hill’. It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces return this week after some much-needed family time. The final weeks of the year will be very hectic and stressful for the boys as they complete the Semester 2 examinations, and this small break will assist them as they embark on what is always a challenging time.

Our focus for the next two weeks of school will be ensuring the boys are well prepared for this period and have the support they need to assist with their preparation. The Academic Coordinators have been working tirelessly preparing your sons through workshops, online classrooms, by providing resources and assisting them in their study timetables. Boarding and tutoring staff have also increased their efforts ensuring boys are preparing as well as they can be.

This coming weekend will see us continue with our regional ISA sport, as we travel to Chevalier College in Bowral, before commencing the regular Division 1 competitions from the beginning of next year. The whole Boarding community will also be visiting Jamberoo this weekend to celebrate the end of the school year. This event has been brought forward to allow for the final weekend before examinations to be focused on preparing for these assessments.

Vertical Teams Initiative and Launch

It is with great pleasure that I can announce that our Vertical Teams initiative has been launched. A focus for 2021 will be enhancing our wellbeing program for the Boarding students. A big part of wellbeing in a Boarding school is a sense of belonging. Our Marist Charism of Family Spirit is central to this need for belonging. To aid with the integration and support of all our students across Boarding we have introduced this Vertical Teams initiative.

The boys have been split into six teams, with each team having students from each year group. The boys have voted on names, team colours, team captains, events to compete in and they will compete over four terms for a prize prior to next year’s graduation. The competition will involve all aspects of College life, through Boarding based sports competitions, academic performance, College Co-curricular involvement and general behaviour.

The teams are sitting together during Community Mass, as well as meals, and the program will allow the integration of students and building of Family Spirit, encouraging everyone’s sense of belonging. The initial event was impacted by rain but did provide evidence that this program will be successful. The boys were passionate about their team and all year groups worked together throughout. You will see from the photos that a great time was being had by all boys.

House Outings

It has been wonderful to allow the boys to get out and about on some House outings over the last few weeks. The whole Boarding community attended Kingpin Bowling in Darling Harbour followed by some city shopping after the cancellation of sport last weekend.

Edgar House enjoyed an afternoon trip to North Wollongong Beach and the students not on work placement from Senan House enjoyed a late-night ice-cream run. With the warmer weather, all Houses will get the opportunity to complete an outing before the end of the school year.

Final Community Mass for 2020

With the early completion of the Academic year, our final Community Mass for 2020 will be on Sunday 29 November. During this celebration, we will be awarding our House Awards for 2020 and recognising students for their various successes throughout the year. This event will be live-streamed. I will send details of this later next week.

General Reminders

Parent Accommodation is now available onsite. This is managed by Brother Peter Conolly of our Marist community. To enquire about accommodation please send an email to badgally.house@stgregs.nsw.edu.au.
End of Semester 2 Exam Block – Exams will be undertaken from Friday 27 November to Friday 4 December.
Friday 4 December – last day for Year 7 to 10. Parents will be able to pick up students on Friday afternoon or on Saturday morning 5 December. Parents are reminded that travel is not provided at the end of the year as all rooms are expected to be empty to allow the end of year cleaning to occur.
Wednesday 9 December – last day for Year 11. Parents will be able to pick up students on Wednesday afternoon (after school) or on Thursday morning 10 December.
Boardingware – all leave needs to go through our Boardingware system. Please ensure the notes section is complete with as many details as possible in relation to the purpose of the leave. If you are having issues with Boardingware please contact your son’s Boarding Coordinator for assistance.
Please subscribe to our St Gregory’s Boarding Facebook page and follow us on Instagram for notices on what is happening in Boarding and for photos of Boarding life.

It will be a challenging couple of weeks for your son’s with Semester 2 examinations. Please reach out to us if you are concerned with how your son is dealing with this busy time.

Kind regards,

Luke Morrissey

Acting Director of Boarding

Senior Boarding - Years 11 & 12

It has been a very quiet fortnight in the Senan House. The majority of students have been on work placement completing their mandatory requirements for their respective vocational courses and everyone enjoying a free weekend. The feedback received so far from work placement has been very positive and I congratulate all boys involved in this program.

This week we very much look forward to welcoming back our graduating Year 12 students as we celebrate our Graduation mass and formal awards evening.

Junior Boarding - Years 9 & 10

It has been a busy two weeks for our Year 9 and 10 boys in and out of school, with our Vertical House system being launched, afternoons in the pool, State of Origin nights, and outings to the city and to the beach, all while preparing for Semester 2 exams.

Our study routine has continued to ramp up leading into the Semester 2 examination period which is now just over a week away. We have condensed Year 7 to Year 9 during study and moved them to the exam centre to allow a central spot for tutors to assist with preparation. Our Year 10 boys have moved into the Senior Study Hall and have increased their study time to assist in preparing for the upcoming assessment tasks.

The great weather has allowed the boys to enjoy playing touch football, to swim in the pool, use the cricket nets, play basketball or hit some golf balls around the grounds late in the evening with Daylight Saving Time. It has been great to see the boys enjoying the College facilities and the company of their friends.

I would like to congratulate and thank Ben Kelly, Charlie Guymer, Thomas Fletcher, Trae Fitzpatrick, Thomas Andersen and Steven Moran-Briggs for completing their Acolyte training for our Sunday Masses. This has allowed our Masses to run smoothly over the past few weeks, with the boys being trained in their role and performing it to a high standard. I would also like to congratulate all Year 9 and 10 boys for how they have responded to the challenge by Mr MacMaster and Mr Morrissey in relation to our participation and presentation for Sunday Mass. We truly hope next year we can get our famous singing back!

Last Tuesday afternoon Mr Allen and I took the Year 10 boys to North Wollongong beach in the afternoon where they enjoyed a swim, body surfing (David Gallagher was certainly the best body surfer, giving every wave a go!), playing beach volleyball and footy. The boys loved getting out and about and enjoying the sun and fresh air of the coast.

Saturday sport was cancelled prior to the free weekend so the boys enjoyed an outing to the city. Thank you to Mr Hackett, Mr and Mrs Fox and Mr Allen who escorted the boys to bowling in Darling Harbour. A big thank you to the boys who got some free time in the city and adhered to the hygiene practices we asked of them and the timing of meeting places. Year 9 will be enjoying a beach outing in the coming week, which will be enjoyable for them.

This Sunday the boys will travel down to Jamberoo Action Park for the day to celebrate the end of the year, before the Semester 2 examination period begins. We look forward to giving the boys a great day of fun and memories before the final busy weeks of the year.

Mr Michael Bullock

Junior Boarding Coordinator (Years 9 & 10)

Junior Boarding - Years 7 & 8

The Years 7 and 8 Boarders returned from the ‘Boarders Free Weekend’ with a positive outlook on the remaining few weeks of the year. The end of the year is a big talking point at the moment, but it was interesting to observe some boys with a different perspective. Marcus McGuiness suggested that he is looking forward to a new beginning next year as a Year 9 student and transitioning into Fingal House. Archie Nott added that in Semester Two he has improved so much academically and that he is more consistent, and looks forward to continuing this growth into next year. As mentioned, in education there is much emphasis on the ‘end of the year’ and it’s pleasing to see some of our boys apply a different lens and focus on ‘new beginnings’.

Academically, there has been much focus on the upcoming exams in terms of study practice. The boys worked with the Academic Leadership Team and specialist Teachers to develop their study skills and to build on the Academic Care program that they have been working on. Daniel Canellis, Jack McDonald, Nicholas Platts and Mason Rope were confident with the tasks outlined and maximised their time by completing much work. It was pleasing to see Leon Kelly, Deklin Jarrett and Samual Luppino collaborate and work effectively together. Collaborative learning and maintaining focus are areas for improvement for our boys during study in Boarding, although the boys should be congratulated for applying themselves in the workshop.

Saturday Sport was cancelled prior to the ‘Boarders Free Weekend’, which provided all of Boarding with an opportunity to catch up on some outings. All Boarders travelled into Darling Harbour and spent the day in the city. The Year 7 and 8 Boarders thoroughly enjoyed their time, which included exploring Sydney’s number 1 shopping destination in the heart of the CBD – Pitt Street Mall. It was great to see Ben Taylor and other students meeting up with their siblings, which is a rare experience during the academic year. The boys should be commended for responding positively by following instructions and I look forward to planning more outings into the city in the future – well done gentlemen.

Mr Tevita Halaifonua

Junior Boarding Coordinator (Years 7 & 8)