Boarding News

I’m pleased to say that all of our boarders are settling in well after being back just over a week. Congratulations to our 30 new boarders who have been working especially hard to navigate the boarding routine with plenty of support from the staff and their more experienced peers. Going to boarding school and living away from your family is a significant challenge and I am so proud of the way our new boarders have started. It has also been lovely to see new friendships forming in the first week as we get underway with 2026.

We also welcomed a number of new staff to our boarding team this year. Of particular note is the introduction of a House Parent role in La Valla Residence. Mrs Debbie Cross has started in this position and is already making a really positive difference in helping our youngest boarders to find their feet and thrive in their new community. We are also pleased to welcome Mr Lewis Reardon in the role of Boarding Recreation Officer. This is a key role for our boarding program to keep the boys busy and active. The College has also created a new position – Indigenous Support Teacher. Ms Grace Ryan has been appointed and I’m sure will make a significant impact on the learning of our First Nations boys. Mr James Lymer is known to many as a teacher of History, English and PE at Marist – he has joined our boarding team as the Senior Supervisor in Fourviere Residence. We also employed several Boarding Supervisors to join our residential team in 2026 and they have been welcomed by everyone in our community. 

It is also wonderful to report that a significant renovation to the top floor of Br Terence Residence was completed over the Christmas holidays. Creating single rooms with a door was the highlight for our older boys and something they are really excited about. New carpet, fresh paint, new cabinetry, king single beds and an array of functional room features are all things to celebrate as we start a new school year. Planning is underway to do a similar renovation to the bottom floor of Br Terence Residence at the end of 2026 so that the whole building will have been upgraded. I extend my appreciation to the Head of College and Marist Schools Australia for supporting these improvements.

We had some great recreational activities for the boarders on the first weekend, including a day trip to Wet ‘n’ Wild, an orienteering-style race for the new boarders with their buddies, the pool being opened for free swimming, ball games in the gym, and the weights room being an option for the older boarders. Thanks to Mr Reardon for his planning and energy to make this possible. 

We are also working on providing a range of weekday afternoon activities for the boarders to keep them busy and engaged (see the timetable below). This has all been made possible with the combined effort of many staff members who are committed to ensuring there are some organised, fun things for the boys to do if they don’t have a training session for a Term 1 sport. 

I’m very much looking forward to a great term ahead and I hope to see many parents and families throughout the term.