Boarding News

Dear Boarding Parents,

Last Sunday night we welcomed all the Stuartholme boarders for dinner, followed by Mass in the Marist Chapel. We have a wonderful relationship with Stuartholme and it was lovely to see the boarders from the two schools mixing so well. We combine regularly for weekend recreation activities and I am so proud of the positive way our boys interact and socialise with the Stuartholme girls. There are some lovely friendships with our students and theirs and coming together for occasions like this only serves to strengthen those bonds. Brother Neville Solomon delivered a reflection on the readings after the Gospel and he told everyone that joint Marist/Stuartholme Boarder Masses have been happening for at least the last 20 years which added significance to this special occasion. We look forward to more joint Boarder Masses later this year.

Our Senior boarders continue to lead the way with their 2024 vision and initiatives. One of the major aims of this year’s Senior group is to strengthen the connection between the older boarders and the younger boarders. This week they organised a special dinner which they hosted for our Year 8 boarders; this is in addition to a similar dinner they hosted for our Year 5 – 7 boarders recently. The younger boys love being able to play games in the Seniors’ common room as well as enjoying a big game of touch footy with the Seniors after dinner. These simple, but special occasions are creating memories for all involved and it definitely provides a great example of positive student leadership which these younger boys can look to emulate when it is their time.

Our Seniors also came up with a suggestion that from time to time it would be positive and worthwhile to alter evening study times so that the younger and older boarders could all have dinner together. That initiative is coming to life this Thursday night. The Year 12 boys have decided on a Thai-themed dinner in the Dining Room which will be a good opportunity to try food from a different culture. This special dinner will follow a mixed-age touch game with the Seniors and the younger boys and of course our traditional Singing Practice and War Cry Practice. It promises to be a really fun night.

The boarders will also be sending off our AIC Swimming Team with a guard of honour and war cries on Tuesday morning. The boarders have been continuing this great tradition for many years and I know our swimmers and coaches are grateful for the boys rising very early on a school day to give them some vocal support. We hope it helps the swimmers in their efforts against the other schools in the AIC Championships.

Boarding Recreation

The weekend kicked off with a cracking boarders afternoon feast which led into Internal Volleyball for the La Valla, Montagne and Hermitage residences. The dorms were split into two teams and the boys enjoyed some friendly competition with their mates! A BBQ dinner led us into the main event of the weekend which was an Outdoor Cinemas night down on McMahon Oval. It was great to have around 200 boarders from Stuartholme, Somerville, St Margarets, Clayfield and even St Hilda’s on the Gold Coast attend the movie night. After a few technical difficulties we settled by the scoreboard and enjoyed the classic sports comedy, She’s the Man.

It was all go on Saturday with boys heading out to sports games all over Brisbane. At 12:30pm the Hive assembled courtside for the 1st VI Volleyball match against St Patrick’s College. After a 3-2 defeat in the pre-season trial match the boys were keen to get one over Pats and put on a dominant display to take the match in straight sets. A huge block on the penultimate point just about sent the Hive into orbit! The boys enjoyed an afternoon swim before settling into the dorms for a quiet night.

Sunday was another scorcher with many boys using the pool before a small group headed southside for a 2-hour shred session at the Bayside Wakeboarding Park! The final activity of the weekend was a shared mass with the boarders from Stuartholme who came over to Marist for a BBQ dinner and mass in the Chapel.