Boarding News

Dear Parents,

I hope you all enjoyed having your sons’ home over the extended free weekend. I know there were a few who missed that opportunity due to the ISA summer season semi-finals and I thank those boys and their families for meeting this important commitment. In the end, we were rewarded with 3 out of 4 wins which was a great result and this weekend we have our Under 17 and Opens Basketball team and the 1st XI Cricket team in the grand finals. The Cricket team are off to Bathurst to play St Stanislaus’ College and the basketballers are back to Penrith to take on Redlands School in both games. Good luck boys!

The Rugby Union season has already commenced with some pre-season training across all grades. This Friday we have 1st XV trials and next weekend we have a rugby clinic for the juniors and a weekend-long internal camp for the Under 16 and 1st-grade squads. Congratulations to Jack Nicholson in Year 12 who has been named 1st XV Captain for 2020. A reminder to all parents that some boys may still need to get mouthguards and boots. We did a run to the shops recently for them and secured a 10 – 20% discount which will still apply if needed. This year I am pleased to announce that all players will receive a jersey to keep along with their shorts and socks. 

On the 18th and 19th March, I will be in Moree for the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association NSW State Conference. I hope to see a few parents there and potentially meet some prospective boarding families. If you know people in the area who might be interested in boarding, please let them know I will be there and available for a chat.

Badgally House repairs are coming along. We are hopeful to have accommodation available again by the end of April. Thank you for your patience with this. We know how much our families value that facility.

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Max Spencer

Director of Boarding

Senior Boarding Report

All boys have settled back into the term well after the break. Winter season sport is upon us with many training for League and Union, as well as the gym, becoming increasingly popular.

The 9 boys completing TAFE are managing their time well and the assessment tasks are really starting to ramp up for the senior students.

Last week we went through goal setting for Year 11 and 12 and did some assessment planning for Year 11 for the year. This week will see individual student meetings kick-off as well as assessment planning for Year 12.

If any parents have concerns in relation to study, assessments, time management etc please get in contact with me so that a plan can be put in place for your son.

Luke Morrissey, Senior Boarding Coordinator

Cricketer’s Win through to Final

Our ISA 1st XI have won through to the Grand Final after an amazing victory against St Andrew’s College at SGC.

We lost the toss and were sent into bat on a very docile looking pitch. Things changed quickly, however, as St Greg’s played some very ordinary cricket shots to find ourselves 8-26. Some late order hitting by Angus Herbert (22) and good support from Jared Elphick saw us reach the low total of 52.

The boys knew that a special bowling and fielding performance was required. Jake Quodling bowled fast and had two batsmen retired hurt in the first three overs. Despite dropping 5 catches and some dubious decisions going against us the boys managed to have St Andrew’s at 9-27. The retired hurt batsman came in and with the number 11, put on a 22 run partnership before we were lucky enough to take the tenth wicket at 49.

The boys will now travel to Bathurst to play the top-ranked team in St Stanislaus College this coming weekend. We wish them all the best of luck.

Boarders of the Week

Last week’s winners were:

• Conlon West – Senan House
• Lachlan Byrne – Edgar House
• Thomas Anderson – Final House
• Noah Foote – Valens House

Luke Morrissey, Senior Boarding Coordinator (Years 11 & 12)

Junior Boarding (Years 9 & 10)

Year 9 and 10 have been settling into their routines both at school and at the house over the past few weeks. 

The boys have finished their cricket and basketball season off well and are now beginning training for the rugby league and rugby union season. These seasons start for Thursday sport and Saturday sport in the next 2-3 weeks. 

Our Year 9 boys have eased into the academic year with no assessments in the first 6 weeks, however, they will have a rush of them towards the back end of the term which they will be prepared for. 

Year 10 have had a couple of big assessments they have already been working on. The main one being a PDHPE task where they must select a career of their interest, show some detailed research on that career and produce a cover letter and resumé.

The weather has been very damp over the past few weeks, but it has been great to see, and we hope it has hit many areas out west. Especially some boys’ hometowns who have been affected by the drought and/or the fires. 

The boys got some quality time away from being up on the hill over the boarder free weekend and have come back hopefully ready to finish the first term off strong. 

Michael Bullock, Boarding Coordinator (Year 9 and 10)

Junior Boarding (Years 7 & 8)

Family time is essential and sometimes we take those special moments for granted, for example, home-cooked meals, movie nights, passing the footy with loved ones or even the minor things that may seem annoying at first, but sorely missed when it’s gone. Week 5 was a short school week for the boys and the Boarders’ Free Weekend provided much needed family time back home. 

It’s pleasing to see the boys form and establish new relationships in Year 7 and 8 boarding, but more importantly, the boys are beginning to accept each other as ‘brothers’ in the unique family that we have been working on for the past 5 weeks. The boys eat, play, study and pray together as a family. The Valens and Fingal boys all share a common goal, that is, working toward maximising their opportunities at St Gregory’s College.

The boys participated in the sacred events of Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, preparing themselves for the Lenten season. I commend the boys for their reverence and encouraged them to undertake personal time to be still and reflect. It has been a rollercoaster so far filled with many twists and turns, nevertheless, the boys have expressed their gratitude for different aspects of their life, and this was a humbling experience.

I attended the ‘Year 7 Study Skills Evening’ with the boys and together, we have identified areas for improvement in our study program that will benefit everyone. For example, organising study more effectively using the College Diary and structured folders in their ‘personal drives’; making ‘Assessment Schedules’ more visible in their rooms and the ‘common space’; and writing more to retain information, comprehend new ideas, and be more productive – watch this space.

Chayseton Mulholland, Isaac Sykes and the Year 8 Opens Basketball team is to be congratulated for their Grand Final win as MCS Premiers. Furthermore, Rugby Union training and Rugby League trials have commenced and it’s great to see the boys compete and challenge themselves.

Tevita Halaifonua, Boarding Coordinator (Year 7 and 8)