Boarding News

Dear Boarding Parents

One of the key determinants of success in any school boarding community is the degree of positive leadership provided by the Year 12 boarders. It is the same challenge every year. If the cohort of Year 12 boarders role model appropriate behaviour and encourage the younger boys then it is generally a very good year. Whilst our two Boarding Captains have a very important role to lead, they cannot do it alone. There needs to be buy-in from all the seniors and a willingness to collectively make it a great year.

I’m so pleased with the start made by our Year 12 boarders this year. Their leadership has been characterized by inclusion, presence and positive mentoring. Below is a summary of some of the many ways our Year 12 boys have led the boarding community in the first seven weeks.

• Hosting special dinners for the La Valla and Montagne boarders in their Dining Room and joining them for a game of touch football afterwards.
• Being “on duty” every weekday in the three junior Residences, which involves supporting the staff member on duty with the smooth running of the dorm.
• Many Year 12 boarders stepping up to help with the ‘Boarder Blitz’ and demonstrating to the younger boys the importance of community service.
• Maintaining positive traditions such as Year 12’s being Eucharistic Ministers and Altar Boys at Mass, plus leading the war cries with great passion.

I am very confident that 2023 is going to be a great year in boarding, based on the very positive energy which is evident with the Year 12 boarders, and I commend them for all they have done to date.

This coming Sunday we have the much-anticipated South East Queensland Boarders’ Touch Football Tournament which Marist College Ashgrove is hosting. This event has become huge with 20 boarding schools involved and a total of 73 teams playing in the tournament. There are boys and girls divisions across multiple age groups all being played on our school ovals. We are expecting a large number of people on campus for this event which promises to be a wonderful celebration of boarding in this region and a great sporting and social opportunity for all the boarders in attendance. Thanks so much to Blair Whitlock for his initiative and organisation of this event.

This Friday, I am heading to Goondiwindi along with Shane Ward and Dallas Williams to support the Emus Junior Rugby Union Charity Golf Day. This marks the beginning of our 2023 regional trips and I am looking forward to seeing many past, present and future members of the Marist College Ashgrove community on this trip and the ones to come through the year.

Boarding Recreation - Mr Blair Whitlock