Boarding News

With the sound of the organ playing by 2012 Old Boy Mr Michael Wing and the echoing of voices led by our senior boarders, it is fantastic to be back in full voice on Sunday evenings. The highlight this week being the rendition of ‘You Raise Me Up’. Coming together as a community signifies the importance of ritual and prayer as our boarders gather for Mass. This typifies the Marist virtue of ‘Family Spirit’.

The week ahead, we are excited for our Year 12’s as they look to celebrate their Senior Formal being held at Brisbane City Hall. An evening that will undoubtedly create lifetime memories. Congratulations to our La Valla lads, who last Sunday volunteered their time as part of the Environment Club’s initiative to participate in Clean Up Australia Day. Under Mr and Mrs Sedgwick's direction, the boys and day boys and teaching staff collected 36kgs of waste! An outstanding effort in giving back to the community. The busyness of weekends continues with so many of our boys being involved in AIC sport, enjoying our fantastic recreation program and making the most of much-needed downtime. 

Communication

A friendly reminder that your son's Boarding Coordinator is your first point of call. If you need to discuss your son or you have questions about your Son, please contact his Boarding Coordinator firstly. This is especially important on weekends when our Boarding Reception is unattended.

Br Terence Residence (Year 11 & 12)

Anthony Mathison - 0419 762 186 - brterence@marash.qld.edu.au

Fourviere Residence (Year 10 & 11)

Ben Maddox - 0409 425 584 - fourviere@marash.qld.edu.au

Hermitage Residence (Year 9)

Jamie Morgan - 0402 124 194 - hermitage@marash.qld.edu.au

Montagne Residence (Year 8)

Josh Mulligan - 0407 161 984 - montagne@marash.qld.edu.au

La Valla Residence (Year 6 & 7)

Tim Sedgwick - 0430 924 805

Camilla Sedgwick - 0438 080 928 - lavalla@marash.qld.edu.au

When contacting Boarding Reception, please email boardingreception@marash.qld.edu.au. This email address will reach both Renae Lewis and Erin Livingstone.

Photos from Home

Over the last couple of years, we have requested from families, photos from home, and we have received some fantastic photos which we displayed electronically in the reception and dining room so that other boarders can appreciate other cultures and boys could also share with their mates what they do at home and where they come from. A great example below is from The Masel family. Harry and Alex hail from Goondiwindi….

Matt and Sue Masel have lived in Goondiwindi for 20 years, both working as GPs. They raised the children in town, where they have only known one home until they headed to boarding school.

Recently the Masel’s bought a property called Goomalley on the Dumaresq River where the Masel’s are raising Wagyu cattle and their business partners have been teaching the boys about farming.

Alex is walking through a Barley crop in one photo. His drone footage is of the harvest of a Lucerne crop. And the photo of the boys on the fence is at a set of cattle yards they helped to rebuild on the last school holidays.

Academic Focus

Social Justice

A group of Year 11 Boarders are leading the charge in raising awareness for cancer, by joining the World's Greatest Shave for the Leukaemia Foundation. These young men would appreciate your support as they look to shave their ‘locks’ in the coming weeks. 

WGS Leukaemia Foundation Support Link 

Technology Use

Following on from the tips highlighted in last week’s newsletter around smart and appropriate use of devices and screens please see below. I encourage all families to discuss with their sons their use of technology.

3. Make physical activity part of your child’s day

Physical activity keeps teenage bodies and minds fit and healthy. Your child needs at least one hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. This might include everyday activities like walking or riding to school, sports like netball and football, or organised fitness activities like exercise classes, swimming and running.

Physical activity doesn’t just happen for many young people – you need to plan the balance between it and other activities, including screen time.

4. Look into extracurricular activities

Extracurricular activities, interests and hobbies are good for your child because they allow them to meet new people and develop new skills. This means they’re a great way to balance screen use.

Extracurricular activities can be just about anything your child enjoys outside school, like sport, drama, Scouts and Guides, or hobbies like craft or photography. They can also be things you’ve encouraged your child to do, like language classes, music, debating, religious instruction, swimming, community activities, or paid and unpaid jobs.

Social Media

I recently read an article on the impact of social media on our wellbeing. It highlighted many critical issues that can affect young men and the wider community. Below are three key reflections from the article that remind us of the importance of being responsible users. 

• The premise of a lot of social media platforms is the ‘power’ it gives individuals to share and make the world more connected, making communication more accessible. But, what is critical to question and explore is how this then affects mental health and wellbeing. Research on the link between social media use and mental health and wellbeing is mixed.
• Another primary concern that social media fosters is cyberbullying. Social media opens a window for bullying, which can be made easy, sneaky and vindictive. This is a prevalent concern if you have children, especially adolescents, as they grow up in an environment that is essentially driven by social media. According to Enough is Enough (EIE) – an organisation that aims to make internet use safe for children – 95% of adolescents who use social media have witnessed a form of cyberbullying, and 33% have been victims themselves.
• Undeniably the exact impact of social media on our mental health and wellbeing are unclear. But due to the extensive use – and no sign of this use slowing down – it is important to try and find out how it affects us. Increasing our understanding can inform us of how we can be careful of the negative impacts and facilitate positive impacts.

This is a great reminder for our boys to ensure they are aware of the IT policy they sign when enrolling at the College and the responsible use and expectations that come with owning any device.

The link below will take you to the esafety commission, and it has excellent information on what apps are currently out there and what they could be used for. I would encourage all parents and families to review the website, as any app or game that allows users to interact with others, including people they may not know, presents a potential risk of unwanted contact. You will note that many of the apps that are popular with our boys are recommended 13+.

https://www.esafety.gov.au/esafety-information/games-apps-and-social-networking

February Birthdays

Happy February Birthday to:

• Noah Beck
• Jamie Han
• Nate Hughes
• Max James
• Ryan Kucsak
• Paddy Manning
• Fletcher McMillan
• Hamish McVey
• Eli Nichols
• Cody O'May

From the Health Centre

PLEASE NOTE 

The Health Centre can be contacted via - healthcentre@marash.qld.edu.au. Families should use this email address, unless it contains information of a sensitive nature, to ensure the Health Centre Nurses can follow up.

As part of our duty of care to the boarders, and to the boarding community we need to be aware of any medications the boarders may be taking.

We would request that at the beginning of each Term (or as changes occur), you make sure that the Health Centre has up-to-date information on your son and that any required medication is stored safely in the Health Centre. It is not acceptable for boys to keep medicines in the dorm areas, nor is it reasonable for boys to be on medication, prescribed or not that we are not aware of while living on campus.

In the coming weeks, flu vaccinations will be made available to boarders through the Health Centre. With Rugby/Football season upon, we are currently looking into providing options for families to have their son fitted onsite for a mouthguard through the Health Centre. More information will be sent to families shortly on both of these items.We thank you in advance for ensuring this becomes practice, and in doing so, helping to make sure we can provide the best care for your sons.

Warm regards

Jane O’Shea, Nurse Manager, Health Centre

Around the Grounds

La Valla Residence

This week in La Valla seemed busier than usual, but we did achieve a lot! On top of our academic work, we had a weekend focused on being in the great outdoors. We started work on our herb and vegetable garden that Chef Pascal will be able to use to prepare our meals. We are also attempting to grow enough, Rosemary, for every boarding student on ANZAC day. Some of our boys with experience working on the land used their practical skills to plan and create a beautiful looking kitchen garden; those with limited experience learnt very quickly! Boys will have the opportunity to spend time in the garden whenever they have a spare moment. On Sunday, all members of La Valla participated in Clean Up Australia Day on Bokarina Beach. We collected a considerable amount of rubbish from the sand dunes, and access paths and many locals thanked us as they walked past. Boys were rewarded with a swim after a couple of hours in the hot and humid dunes. A big thank you to Ms Badini for allowing us to be involved in this very rewarding project and for the huge amount of organisation involved in an event like this.

Montagne Residence

A collaborative effort from the Montagne Mates this week has seen some real positivity shine through the residence. Boys have been mingling around the Xbox, playing Pool and Jenga and getting along extremely well. The trip to Broadbeach on Sunday was well-received by all boys and meant for a tired Sunday night in the dorm. We have had Theo Knight represent the Western Ringers in the Adrian Vowles Cup in Charleville. We will update in the next edition how he fared! The boys of Mountain Bike Club are having a blast with many minor scratches and bruises after completing some mammoth jumps out at Blue Nurses. Good to see a heap of boys also heading up to the Weights Room this week. Heading into Rugby and Football season, this is likely to continue!

Hermitage Residence

This week in Hermitage, the boys continued to improve their application to study with numerous boys demonstrating their capacity to ‘get stuck in’ to their homework. As well as this, it has been great to see boys asking for early wakeups to go for a run to improve their overall health and fitness. The boys were also led through their life skill for the term – ‘How to sew a button’ - by departing supervisor Tom Cole. For many this was their first attempt at sewing however all of the boys gave it their best shot and were surprised at just how easy it is to do. No doubt an important life skill which will serve them well in the future. We thank Tom for his patience in leading us through this life skill and wish him all the best for the future.

Fourviere Residence

The boys were in fine voice this week. Despite being a little bleary-eyed, they rose early on Friday morning and warmed up the vocal cords with a few war cries as they formed a Guard of Honour to send off our swim team. Well done to the swimmers who performed gallantly at the AIC swimming championships.  A touching highlight followed this with a return to singing at Mass on Sunday night, indicating a possible step closer to life as we knew it pre-covid. 

With the summer months drawing to a close and the pleasant Autumn weeks ahead, the boys are hopeful of less humid conditions for the remainder of the term. Now past the half-way point of the term, preparation for exams and assessment tasks are in full swing, and sports teams are looking to finish their Term One sporting commitments in fine fashion. Naturally, there is an air of excitement in residence as pre-season training and trials for the winter sports are also upon us, as too is the hotly contested dorm Footy Tipping Competition and the Dorm Pool Competitions get underway. 

Br Terence Residence

Our senior boarders were unable to attend the AIC Swimming Championships this year but they made their presence felt by leading an early morning send-off for our swimmers last Thursday. Despite the 6:00am wake up, it was the first of many opportunities that our Year 12 boys will have to be front and centre leading the cheering and they were fantastic. Back in the residence, the boys are well and truly into the routine of their school work with assignments and exam preparations now well underway. It has been pleasing to see a number of our Year 11 boys take advantage of the academic support on offer in the residence.

Boarder of the Week

La Valla Residence

This La Valla man is a steady, calm influence in the dorm. He is always polite and courteous and is well respected by his peers. His leadership skills were evident during the building of vegetable and herb gardens to be used by our chefs in the kitchen. He created a plan, worked consistently, and assisted his peers with less experience in this area. He has worked on the gardens on his property and we hope he will continue to use his skills so we can grow a successful garden.  This week’s Boarder of the Week goes to Jim Bradford.

Montagne Residence

This young Montagne Mate has faced enormous challenges in his beginning of 2021. Navigating his way around not only a new school, but a new Boarding School, new AFL Team, new routines and new structures he has made his way through the first five weeks with optimistic caution. He has placed trust in his fellow boarders, has been to classes on time, never missed a training session and his room is well-maintained. His teachers have only had positive sentiments since his beginning and his supervisors in the residence have been impressed with his attitude towards his peers, happiness around the dorm and his willingness to help out if something needs to be done. Awesome start to Marist College! Congratulations Nate Hughes.

Hermitage Residence

Hermitage’s Boarder of the Week for Week 5 goes to a young man who has settled into boarding life like he has been here for many years - despite only being in his first term. This gentleman is well respected by his peers for his application to study, generosity around the dorm, great sense of humour and his willingness to try his best – even when it’s something new like volleyball. The boarders of Hermitage best describe him as being kind, honest and hard-working. This week’s Boarder of the Week goes to Kyran Bryant.

Fourviere Residence

The Fourviere Boarder of the week is an outstanding member of the residence who conducts himself in a mature and responsible manner. He is respectful of others and willingly volunteers his services to assist in a variety of ways. His approach to his study is consistent and he maintains such a tidy area that you could run a small business out of it! He is an excellent role model for his peers and has proven that anything is possible with a little initiative and a diligent work ethic. Congratulations on a productive start to the year Connor Lyons.

Br Terence Residence

The boarder of the week for Br Terence goes to a student who consistently applies himself to his academic pursuits. He is clearly motivated to do his best and he has established very effective study routines in the residence. Pleasingly, this boarder also finds time to maintain a keen involvement in his chosen sports. In addition, this student is always a positive presence in the dorm and he interacts respectfully with both his peers and the staff. Congratulations to a well-deserved winner Hugh Faggotter.

Recreation Report

Week 5 marked the midpoint of the term, which seems to be flying by! This week saw the beginning of additional music practices on Wednesday & Thursday evenings for Boarders that are enrolled in the College music program. During these practices, Mr Whitlock opens the Music Centre, and the boys are given the freedom to try new techniques and work on their musical projects. Getting the boarders actively engaged in the Music program has been a focus over the last few weeks, and we look forward to building on this throughout the year.

The weekend rec activities kicked off with the senior students heading over to Stuartholme for a few Netball games! This has become somewhat of a tradition over the last few years, and the boys always enjoy having a crack at a new sport. While the Marist boys had a distinct height advantage, their general lack of knowledge around tactics and rules was a real handicap as the trigger-happy Stuartholme umpires took great pride in penalising the boy’s indiscretions. The games were very even, and we finished the night with a mixed game that capped the night off well. Meanwhile, back at MCA, the juniors had an evening of Dodgeball in the gym while Mr Robertson supervised a weights session for a few seniors that had chosen to stay behind.

Saturday saw Round 5 of the AIC competition as we travelled away to Iona College. Once again, the boarders were out in force representing the College in various sporting codes. After a busy start to the year, there were many tired bodies in the dorms on Saturday afternoon, and many of the boys just wanted to relax and watch TV. We took a busload of boys out to the trampoline park, Bounce, for a couple of hours of acrobatics and fun. Dom Forbes & Henry Knight practised their backflips while other boys had a crack at the parkour course and perfected various slam dunks! Bounce was undoubtedly a hit with the boys, and we’ll be heading back again in term two.

It was a cracking day on Sunday, and we made the most of the weather with our first beach trip of the year to Broadbeach. The boys had been eager for a beach day, and it did not disappoint. We set up base in Kurrawa Park and kicked off with a big game of Cricket. The boys worked up a sweat and then set out to the beach for a couple of hours. The conditions were ideal, with a light swell and the temperature around 30 degrees, making it a delightful afternoon. Our next beach day will be up at Mooloolaba on the last weekend of term, with several other Brisbane boarding schools coming along. After a slow drive back to Brisbane, the boys prepared for Mass and settled in ahead of another busy but successful week.

Boarding Recreation Term 1 Activities Overview