Boarding News

Dear Boarding Families,

It was great to welcome back our boarders for the final term of the year. Listening to their stories, it sounded like many were busy helping out their families at home and I have no doubt they are being missed at this point. We have five new boarders who’ve started at Marist this term. Welcome to Archie, Sidney, Michael, Stanley, Presley and their respective families. I’m always impressed by the way our returning boarders help our newest boys find their feet in boarding and this has been excellent again this term. One of our Marist values is ‘family spirit’ and this is being demonstrated in the way our existing boarders are welcoming new students. We also welcome Mr Patrick Brown as a new Boarding Supervisor in Fourviere Residence. Hailing from St Augustine’s College in Cairns and nearing the end of his third year of an Education degree, Mr Brown is well placed to support our boarders.

Term 4 presents fewer options for school sport with the AIC competition finished for the year, but many of our boarders will be training and attending trials for Term 1 (2025) sports including swimming, cricket, AFL and volleyball. Our excellent boarding recreation program will be all important in keeping our boarders busy and engaged this term. On the first weekend back we had a beach trip to Mooloolaba, a charity walk in the City, several visits to the pool and also a shopping trip to get essentials to start the term. We are so fortunate to have such a dynamic recreation program which benefits all of our boarders.

One of the best ways for boarding parents and guardians to remain informed and involved in the boarding life of the College is to join the online meeting of the Boarder Parent Network (BPN). All boarding parents/guardians are welcome to be part of this support group which provides an opportunity to hear from the Head of College and the Head of Boarding about the latest news and developments at Marist. It also provides a constructive forum to ask questions or provide suggestions which will benefit all boarders at the College. A link will be sent out prior to the meeting and I encourage everyone to join.

Term 4 is sure to be a busy one and my hope is that the boarders embrace all the opportunities and challenges ahead. Please make contact if I can be of assistance.

Boarding Recreation

Mr Blair Whitlock - Boarding Recreation Officer

It was a hot weekend to kick off Term 4 recreation as the boys made the most of the good weather. Friday was a relaxed afternoon as we stayed onsite and headed down to the pool for an evening swim while the weights room was open for the Years 10-12 boarders. It’s great to see so many of our older boys making the most of the fantastic gym facilities we have at Marist as they look to sharpen up heading into various sporting pre-seasons.

On Saturday morning we loaded up the bus and headed up the coast to Mooloolaba. It was a great day for the beach with a nice breeze taking the edge off the scorching heat. Mooloolaba seems to be the boys' favourite beach and a few hours in the ocean always leads to a quiet bus trip back to Brisbane. It was a relaxed evening in the dorms with some boys heading up to the gym for an hour to shoot hoops.

On Sunday morning the La Valla and Montagne boarders headed down to Kangaroo Point to take part in the 9km Walk for Awareness. It’s a great charity event run by Marist Old Boys that raises funds for mental health awareness. The boys got stuck in and some even chose to run large sections of the course that wound around the Brisbane River. After lunch, we did a quick trip over to Brookside so the boys could stock up on supplies ahead of a busy term. Another hour in the pool/weights room rounded out a busy Sunday for many of our boys.