Boarding News

The boarding residences were unusually quiet last weekend as many of our boys took leave over the three-day Boarders’ Free Weekend. Those who remained at boarding school enjoyed a couple of sleep-ins, as well as the use of school facilities like the pool, weights gym and basketball courts. The beginning of the NRL season also captured the attention of the boys and ensured many were glued to the TV on Sunday afternoon. Those who went on leave reported some good times over the long weekend and said it was a nice break in the middle of the term. 

School assessments are becoming more urgent for the boys as we enter Week 6 and many of the boys have commented that they will need to knuckle down in the next little while. Our tutors are being deployed across the boarding school but especially to those year groups where there are upcoming deadlines. Please encourage your son to make good use of the help that is available during study times and let us know if you are concerned. We also have our Year 7 and 9 boys sitting the NAPLAN test next week which is something they have been supported with as part of the school’s Stop Drop and Write program. 

This coming weekend, Marist College Ashgrove Boarding is heading out to Chinchilla for our first regional trip of 2026. We are taking out an Under 15 team of boarders to play an exhibition rugby league match against the Chinchilla Bulldogs on Sunday. This was a concept we started last year and it was very well received with quite a crowd of locals coming to cheer on their team and to watch a competitive game against an opposition school from Brisbane. After getting the win last year, we are looking forward to renewing rivalries with the Bulldogs players and building on the positive relationship we are forming with this regional club. We are also conducting a junior rugby league clinic at Chinchilla on Sunday for children aged 7-16 with a number of our AIC rugby league coaches leading this clinic, along with some of our older boarders who are heavily involved in the rugby league program. This trip to Chinchilla is something we are all looking forward to and it will provide some great exposure for the College in this part of regional Queensland.

As I write this newsletter, unfortunately a number of our boarders are unwell with the flu and we are very much in containment mode to stop the spread. The boys are receiving reminders to wash hands regularly, not share drink bottles and to report early to the Health Centre if they are feeling unwell. The best approach is prevention by following these simple strategies and we’d appreciate if you could reinforce this when speaking with your son. Information is also being sent to all boarding families this week about your son being able to receive a free flu vaccination before we hit winter. Please take advantage of this opportunity to help protect our boarding community.

Chinchilla Rugby League Clinic