Ridley House News

It’s been a hectic start to the year due to COVID-19 regulations and restrictions for all: students, teachers and parents. It seems like an eternity ago but in our first House meeting I spoke to the boys about the results from the Australian Tennis Open and the magnificent victories of Ash Barty and Rafael Nadal. I used this quote from Nadal, “I just wanted to keep believing until the end. I just wanted to give myself a chance. That’s what I did – just fight ... just keep trying to find a solution.”

It really sums up how we all need to approach life here at school.

We have welcomed new Year 7s into Ridley House and after a few weeks of orientation with me and getting to know each other, they are now quite settled in their permanent Pastoral Groups. We have also welcomed three new boarders: Year 9 Riley Gillece from Goondiwindi, Year 10 Monti Andrews from Goondiwindi and Year 10 Xavier Simms (son of Old Boy Paul 1990) from Cairns.

We have had our first “Black Feather” Award for the year. This is the House award that is given for random acts of kindness or support. Gus Watson was reported to me as a young man who went out of his way to assist another boy (one of many this term) get back up to speed, after a long absence from school due to COVID-19.

Whilst sport was disrupted during Term 1, many of our Seniors were selected in the top sporting teams, namely: 1st XI – Sam Lewis, 1st Volleyball – Brent Humphreys, Jude Knapp, Finn McCahon, 1st AFL – Jack Urquhart, Open Swimming – Darcey Salter, Oli Lee.

The Senior Formal was a great success. The boys presented themselves well and displayed fine manners on the night. Their partners were attentively looked after and politely introduced.

During the term we were also able to congratulate Lincoln RUCKER, who along with his partner from St Joseph’s School Bardon, won the National Young ICT Explorers 2021 competition in theYears 5-6 Division. The National Award was announced on Thursday 3 March 2022. The project in short – “A micro-bit that detects the amount of tension in a stretch sensor to indicate if a potential asthma attack could be coming on."

With Lent coming to a close Chem 2 Pastoral Group topped the House in our annual “Kilo of Coins” fundraiser for the Missions. Meanwhile, Physics 1 Pastoral Group had their own successful fundraiser through a chocolate raffle which was won by Max Russo.