Boarding News

Dear Parents and Guardians,

It is the most surreal feeling to be writing to you for the last time. I’m also conscious that our Year 12 Graduation today brings down the curtain on many long-standing family associations with the College. I would like to especially acknowledge the Cramp, Fisher, Maher and Watkin families who collectively have had 12 sons attending the College over the last 10 - 12 years. We also say farewell to the Fitzsimmons, Herbert, Lawson, Lennon, Quodling, Sadler, Sainsbury, Semmler, Ward and West families. We say thank you for entrusting your sons to St Gregory’s and we appreciate the contribution that both your sons and your families have made to the College. 

Last Sunday we announced our 2021 Boarding Leaders. Congratulations to Lachlan McGufficke from Cooma who will be our 2021 Boarding Captain. Lachlan is well respected by his peers and staff alike. He is a humble young man who possesses a strong mind and a gentle heart. Lachlan is passionate about his College and boarding, and he will do an excellent job as Boarding Captain.

Lachlan will be supported by a strong team who will each be responsible for a year group in boarding. Congratulations to the following boarding leaders for 2021:

Ben Elworthy                     Year 7 Leader

Jack Rule                             Year 8 Leader

Sam Corkhill                      Year 9 Leader

Matthew Canellis            Year 10 Leader

Sipiliano Vaohea              Year 11 Leader

I wish all these young men well as they take on these roles from next term. I’m confident that our entire Year 12 2021 group will provide outstanding leadership for our community. 

I would also like to wish the boarding staff well for next term and into 2021. The men and women that make up this team are extremely committed, selfless and passionate about what they do. They give their time but also so much of themselves to care for your sons. I have been very fortunate to lead this wonderful team of Marists. I especially thank and wish Luke well as he takes on the Acting Director of Boarding for Term 4. I have every confidence that Luke will do an amazing job, bringing his initiative, energy and drive to the position. My sincerest thanks to Michael and Tevita who have taken a difficult first year in boarding in their stride. These men are great role models for our young men. They exude family values and they care deeply for the welfare of your sons. We have been fortunate to acquire these gentlemen into our boarding community.

On behalf of my wife Amy and our children we would like to extend our sincere thanks to the entire St Greg’s community and especially to the boarding community. This is the only place we have been a family and life is about to get very different for us. We have appreciated immensely, the support, love and friendship we have been shown by this community. We have tried to reciprocate that as much as possible. Working with you and your sons has been a privilege and an honour we will never forget. The generosity of spirit that permeates the relationship between school and home, teacher and parent are extraordinary. It’s what allows us to create fine young men, together. 

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Max Spencer

Director of Boarding

Senior Boarding Report

Graduation Week! The biggest week on the College calendar. It is a time of much excitement, pride and sadness as the daily grind of high school and boarding life come to an end.

We have been keeping the Year 12 students busy this week with lots of activity to take their mind off the impending graduation. On Monday we went for all you can eat Pizza & Pasta, Snack Packs from the staff for dinner on Tuesday, last meal in the dining hall on Wednesday and a beach trip followed by firepit and BBQ on Thursday. Throw in some room packing, card games and touch football with the Junior Houses and the boys had lots to enjoy as their journey comes to an end.

We had our first “Virtual” Cocktail party on Wednesday evening to celebrate with our boarding parents as their son’s graduate. Although not as intimate as our normal event this was a nice way to thank our parents for their support throughout their son’s time at St Gregory’s.

I look forward to seeing your sons again when they commence their HSC exams.

Preliminary Examinations

Congratulations to our Year 11 students who have successfully managed the Preliminary HSC examinations. The boys have all been working hard towards these in the last few weeks and I am confident that we will see some fantastic results throughout, due to this hard work and dedication. I know the boys are excited for Term 4 and the commencement of their HSC.

Farewell

This week effectively marks the end of Max Spencer’s role as Director of Boarding as he will go on Long Service Leave prior to commencing at Canberra Marist in 2021. I would like to take this opportunity to wish Max, Amy and their children all the best with their next adventure. 

Thank you Max, for your sacrifice and commitment to the College for the last 10 years. Only those who work in boarding understand the all-encompassing nature of the job, and to serve for 10 years is something that should be truly valued by our wider St Gregory’s community. I thank you, Max, for your guidance and friendship over the last 5 years and wish you every success in Canberra.

I would like to wish all the students and their families a restful and happy break in the upcoming holidays and I look forward to everyone’s return on Sunday 11th October. 

Luke Morrissey

Senior Boarding Coordinator

Years 9 and 10 Boarding Report

Our Years 9 & 10 boys have had a great past two weeks up on the hill in the day and boarding school. They have steadily worked their way through multiple assessments to finish the term off.

The boys have been training for Saturday sport over the past couple of weeks, trialling for basketball, touch and cricket teams. We will be holding a 6-week competition against Blue Mountains Grammar, Oxley College and Chevalier College next term in these sports.

The boys have utilised some of their re-established freedom with leave over the weekends which is good to see. The boys that have been at the College were treated to an outing 2 weekends ago, where we went to a Golf Driving Range and Laser Tag in Penrith.

As I talked to the boys in our House meetings recently, I acknowledged this term has been a difficult and long one, I thanked them for their efforts in participating in Mass consistently, adhering to the COVID-19 restrictions we are still under and for most boys, their general attitude towards boarding and day school.

I am looking forward to next term with the weather warming up, and hopefully, we get some sport in and the boys boarding lives will get back to normal.

I will be looking to take the boys to the beach on the hot weekends when we can, enjoying a couple more outings as more venues are opening up, getting some more midweek activities going and also preparing for their end of semester examinations to finish off an expected great term.

Thank you for all the support the parents/carers have shown to myself and the boys during Term 3. I wish you all a happy two-week break.

Michael Bullock 

Junior Boarding Coordinator

Years 7 & 8 Boarding Report

It is getting warmer here on the hill, which usually indicates the three-quarter mark of the year. The Years 7 & 8 Boarders are at the end of their study in Term 3 and all assessment tasks have been completed. It is pleasing to see some of the boys reflect on their results, for example, Lachlan Conradt was able to identify some areas for improvement in Mathematics and Geography. Jack McDonald has attained excellent results, however, he has highlighted minor areas that he will avoid next time as he is determined to attain a perfect score.

Outside of the classroom, the boys are preparing for their summer sports competition next term. It’s great to see the boys active on the weekend, developing their skills and training with their mates. Archie Nott deserves a special mention, as his training regime has never stopped. Whether it be 6 am early morning or 4 pm in the afternoon, rain, hail or shine. ‘Mr Consistency’ (Archie) is always challenging himself and displays a level of commitment and discipline that is beyond his years.

The boys got to experience their first outing this term, which included ‘Laser Tag’ and ‘Ten Pin Bowling’. Daniel Canellis and Victor Simon dominated in the ‘Laser Tag’ arena, recording outstanding scores that separated them from the rest. Gene Wighton proved to be quite the natural on the bowling lane with consecutive strikes and a solid overall game. The boys thoroughly enjoyed their time and they look forward to more of these occasions next term. 

At the Final Year 12 Boarders’ Mass, we acknowledged and farewelled our Year 12 students. I congratulate the boys for their time at the College and their contribution to boarding. We also had the opportunity to farewell Mr Max Spencer, as his time at the College concludes at the end of this year. Charlie Fuller sums it up quite nicely when he says: “Mr Spencer is the best and he has done so much for me”. Max is an outstanding leader and servant of the College – and a great human being.

Happy Holidays and blessings to you all.

Pax tecum

Tevita Halaifonua

Junior Boarding Coordinator