SAINTS BOARDING
News from Brett Toombs
Director of Boarding
SAINTS BOARDING
News from Brett Toombs
Director of Boarding
Boarders of the Week Awards
Congratulations to our Boarders of the Week for Week 7. These students have demonstrated a willingness and commitment to be positive role models in the boarding community. Well done to the following boarders:
Juniors – Ewa McNamara and Archie Winsor
Seniors – Madison Ahloy-Coutts and Andron Petrou
Free weekend
Our boarders are enjoying a long free weekend as it was a student-free day at St Augustine's and St Monica's today. Those who chose to stay in for the weekend are on a two-day camp on Lake Tinaroo. After a study session this morning, they travelled with staff to Genazzano Retreat Centre and will return to Saints on Sunday by 4pm.
Dinner will be served between 6 and 6:30pm, and a reminder that on free weekends boarders must be back in residence on Sunday by 8pm. We ask families to communicate with the respective heads of residence if your child will be returning on Monday morning.
Academic Effort Awards
Congratulations to our boarding girls who were presented with Academic Effort Awards at Sunday chapel last week. Like our boys, this award recognises their outstanding application and commitment to their studies. Impressively, 48 girls – two-thirds of our boarding cohort – received awards; a remarkable achievement.
AIEF Graduation
Congratulations to our Year 12 AIEF Scholarship students who attended their graduation ceremony and function in Sydney last month. Most started their secondary schooling at either St Augustine's or St Monica's. Sincere thanks to AIEF for the wonderful and committed support of our boarders and our two colleges. Congratulations to Jack Honey, Jamie Keenan, Kirtisha Foster, Hera Petrou and Aliyah Fujii on their graduation.
With over 70 graduates at the function, this is a wonderful achievement, and we thank AIEF for the partnership that we share with them in providing this opportunity for our boarders.
Requesting boarding leave
Many students have recently been submitting late leave request to attend various events and activities. This places undue pressure on our heads of residence, transport coordinator and drivers. To streamline the process and to ensure maximum efficiency, I have included a Leave Overview below that our boarders are expected to follow. This table is also in the Boarding Handbook.
At times, boarding receives requests to approve time off from the day school, however, we cannot approve such leave. A Request for Student Absence form must be submitted to the College office, well ahead of when the leave is needed, and requires the relevant principal's approval.
End of Term 3
As the holidays approach, I remind families that the finishing date for both
St Monica’s and St Augustine'sis Friday 19 September.
Full-time boarders will be allowed to travel home on the Friday, without having to submit a Leave Request form; however, weekly boarders, who travel a short distance home, must stay until the final bell of the term.
A reminder that a Leave Request form must be submitted to the relevant principal if there is a valid reason for a student to miss any day of school just before the end of term. We have told boarders who have ABSTUDY arrangements that they will only be picked up from St Augustine’s.
Flight itineraries
Families, please send your children's departure and arrival flight details to the appropriate head of residence before the end of term. This will help us arrange transport to and from the airport for the end of Term 3 and the beginning of Term 4.
Weekend outings
Our boarders have recently enjoyed two fantastic weekend adventures – one to the lush rainforest village of Kuranda and the other to the stunning shores of Ellis Beach. Both outings were a great success, filled with laughter, fun and time to relax.