Boarding News

Mr Jim Noble, Head of Boarding

It was fantastic to finally get the boarders back on the weekend and begin the year after a delayed start. We welcomed all of our new boarders to the Marist family on Saturday afternoon as part of the New Boarder Orientation and they received a lot of information about life in boarding and how their son will be looked after. Our Year 12 boarders also returned a day early to assist in the process of welcoming our new boys. A broad program of team building, induction and fun recreation activities were enjoyed by all the new boys and it helped settle a lot of nerves and assisted the new boys to feel more at home and create new friendships. It is never easy starting in a new school and commencing as a boarder is even more difficult. But I’d have to say that our new boarders have settled in really well and they seem to be getting used to the way that things flow in our boarding community. Thank you to all the Boarding, Health Centre and Counselling staff who put in a huge effort last weekend to ensure the smoothest of transitions for our new boys.

 

One of our aims this week is to encourage our boarders to get involved in a variety of activities at the school to ensure they are keeping busy. Returning boys know they have training for their AIC sports (cricket, swimming, volleyball and AFL) commencing this week and new boarders are encouraged to attend training sessions in these sports to trial for a team. The Boarding Coordinators are aiming for all the boys in their Residence to play an AIC sport this term. Please reinforce this with your son and let us know if we can assist in this regard. We also have sign-ups our Boarders’ Clubs Program happening this week, as well as the Boarders’ Recreation Program kicking off this coming weekend. The saying “busy boys are good boys” remains true and we offer so much at Marist Ashgrove for the boys to participate in. We look forward to the boys participating in a broad range of activities and I am sure this will help them have a very rewarding experience in boarding at the school. 

 

Sunday afternoon saw the return of all our continuing boarders in Years 7–11 and it was a great night in the boarding residences with the boys catching up on their holidays and regaling all the stories of what they’d got up to. I’ve been impressed by the way that many of the continuing boarders are assisting our newest boarders with finding their way and comforting those who are finding the change difficult. This is exactly the type of mateship we are hoping for in our Marist boarding family. 

 

Supervised evening study has commenced for the boarders and we will kick off our Study Skills program and the Boarders’ Tutoring service from next week. Our boarding staff liaise closely with the day school staff, but if you have any concerns about your son’s academic progress please contact his Boarding Coordinator who will be able to assist in this regard.

A reminder to please submit leave via our Reach system if you are planning for your son to go out with a host at any point. This leave approval system is vitally important in ensuring the proper care for your son and as a means of providing clear communication of all his arrangements. The boarding staff have been told not to allow a boarder to go out with anyone unless an approved leave request exists in the Reach system. Please let us know if we can help add a host or if you are having any technical difficulties using the Reach platform. 

 

As you know, we’ve had a positive case of COVID-19 in boarding already this year. Just to reiterate, we will contact parents in every case and ask if they can (or one of their family/friends) collect the boarder so that he can complete his isolation period in their care. This does not mean that parents must come and collect their son; however, it would certainly help the school because we only have limited facilities to accommodate boarders through a 7 day isolation period. If parents cannot collect their boarder son the school does have an approved isolation facility where we will care for him and manage his isolation period. We are very happy with the plan we have in place but will continue to review this over the coming weeks. 

 

It is great to have the boys back at school and seeing them so keen to get back into all their activities. Please let me know if I can ever be of assistance.