Clontarf Academy

As the spring weather kicks into gear, so does Term 4. We are back in routine at Clontarf with weekly activities and the warmer weather has brought out good numbers for our morning trainings with about 18 boys getting up early twice a week for some fitness. Backboard footy seems to be the game of choice so far this term with some intense games happening in the gym. While we love the boys having a red-hot go, the highlight has been watching some of our older boys bring the young fellas into the games. We are about engagement and our leaders consistently take charge in ensuring all of our trainers are engaged.

Coates Hire tour

We are lucky to have so many quality partners at Clontarf who are happy to give their time to support our boys. Nick Turner and Brendan Lee had a hands-on worksite tour at Coates Hire, learning about the ins and outs of the different roles Coates has on offer. Getting exposure to this helps the boys plan their life after school. Out partners are keen to see our boys succeed in life and share insights into a variety of careers.

Thales visit

Another great opportunity we had was a worksite visit to Thales in Bendigo. A group of our lads were treated to a behind the scenes look at the Thales production line building the ever-reliable Bushmasters used by the ADF. While on site, the boys were treated to all aspects from design to production of these incredible vehicles. The boys also had a chance to check out the Hawkei, a lighter ADF vehicle with a multitude of uses. Thales were very generous in showing our boys some pathways into high end trades they might not normally have exposure to. A highlight being ‘Project X’, a tricked-out version of the Hawkei, which would not look out of place in a Hollywood blockbuster. After the tour, we unwound with some golf to round out a great day. As usual, our boys were terrific guests, representing both St Patrick’s College and Clontarf proudly.

Thank you, teachers!

This morning, the boys had the pleasure of inviting in some teachers for pancakes to say thanks on World Teachers' Day. Dan Rivas prepared a beautiful speech on behalf of the Clontarf boys and read it to the teachers present to show gratitude for all they do. Some personal messages were written on the board for the teachers to read while they enjoyed some pancakes cooked by the boys. Clontarf would like to give a shout out to all teachers on World Teachers' Day and thank you for the challenging work you do. It probably isn’t said enough, but you do an amazing job.