Boarding News

Strengthening Rural and Remote Communities Through Education

The Isolated Children's Parents' Association (ICPA) Queensland is a voluntary, non-profit, apolitical parent body dedicated to ensuring that all rural and remote students have equity of access to a continuing and appropriate education. I had the good fortune of attending my first ICPA Queensland conference last week. Hosted in Cunnamulla, the ICPA celebrated its 50th year. With well over 250 people in attendance, it was certainly an event that provided a detailed look behind the scenes and highlighted the many challenges that our rural and remote communities face through education. Secondary to this was a great opportunity to network with fellow colleagues from across a great number of Queensland boarding schools, including TSS, Nudgee College, Brisbane Grammar, Rockhampton Grammar, St Peter’s, St Brendan’s, Churchie, Toowoomba Grammar, Downlands, Clayfield College, Stuartholme, St Margaret’s, St Ursula’s to name a few, to discuss all things boarding.

The key message that was apparent from all branches was that each and every student (including their family) in Queensland deserves a quality education to sustain them into the future. ICPA Queensland is passionate about ensuring rural and remote communities remain vibrant and sustainable through the provision of an equitable, affordable education for students living in these communities. ICPA Qld advocates for equity in education for rural and remote children from early childhood to tertiary with a team of State Councillors working on the various issues under specialist portfolios:

• Boarding and Hostels
• Communication
• Curriculum
• Distance Education
• Early Childhood
• Financial Assistance
• Schools
• Specific Needs
• Teacher Education
• Tertiary Trade and Training
• Travel

High on the list of motions this year was a strong focus and emphasis around the support avenues that are provided within Distance Education. For many of our families, this hits very close to home.

Around the Grounds

La Valla Residence

This was a massive week in La Valla! We seemed to have a little bit of everything, from birthday cakes, to fire evacuation drills, the Walkathon, a function with Clayfield College, preparation for assessment, farewell ice-creams, detentions and a lot of laughs. The boys were so exhausted that Sunday afternoon included a nap, which has not happened since arriving in the boarding school.

Life is certainly very busy for the Year 6 and Year 7 students and they have to learn so many life lessons before many other students of their age. A big focus this week was on personal hygiene. When the boys are busy they need constant reminders about the important things in life, like washing their socks every day, showering after training and sport and care for their uniforms and sporting kit.

We will be engaging with the parents of La Valla over the next couple of weeks so that we can have a rotation of 'Life Lessons' to share with the boys that come directly from the families of our boys. These last couple of weeks has really seen an increase in the friendships between our La Valla boys and those from the day school. Some students have been lucky enough to attend birthday parties and outings with families from the day school. These interactions are priceless for our Boarders and we are so incredibly grateful to the families who take the time to arrange transport, fill out paperwork and give our boys more opportunities to be part of the extended Marist family.

Montagne Residence

What a long week! Boys have been kept busy coming into the pointy end of the term. Kalan Schnaubelt has been ripping up Guitar Hero on the Wii, although Mr Loth has been sneaking into the residence to have some secret sessions to improve his records. Friday night saw the residences of Br Terence and Montagne get together for an inter-dorm BBQ and informal chats. Boys played some table tennis, sat around the fire pit and chewed the fat with their ‘older brothers’. On Saturday night the boys had a lovely night with the girls from Clayfield in the gym playing dodgeball and other games. It took a while for the interactions to start, however, once they did there were many laughs and friendly chats.

The Walkathon on Sunday led to some tired residents in the afternoon. A quick trip to the shops was put on by Mr David for a small food shop before assessment period. There are many assessments coming up and boys are being encouraged to get organised and plan their weeks out. Hopefully, they feel positive coming into their assessment period.

Hermitage Residence

A busy week in Hermitage with various goings on, Ryan Johnson and Zek Anderson trailing to Met North Rugby Union. Unfortunately, due to a head knock on Sunday at club rugby league, Ryan missed out on the trial however congratulations go to Zek who made the team. Zek will train with this squad for the remainder of the term and represent the region. Well done Zek.

With the business end of the term fast approaching, the boys worked hard in study this week with the majority of boys getting stuck in. In speaking with the boys in the dorm and plotting their due dates, it is clear that Week 9 will be peak assessment time with up to 8 tasks due. It is important that boys continue to work hard right to the end of the term. It is also great to see some boys make the mature decision to do some independent study with a few making the most of the 'in' days in the dorm.

The week was rounded up with some great internal games of rugby on Friday afternoon. The 9Bs played the 9Cs in a hotly contested match with Jimmy Davies, Lachlan Manning, Oscar McVey, Dan Goddard and Oli Boland all taking part. As well as this, the 9Ds took on the mighty 9Es in a match down on the flats. It was another great game with lots of Hermitage boys involved including Hugo Tully, Dom Forbes, Dom Winkels, Braith Crossingham and football converts - Marley Chan and Harry Laing. Marley and Harry showed great Marist community by also donning the Blue and Gold again, joining Cyrus Kwok for Marist Football matches on Saturday. Well done boys!

This week, the boys of Hermitage also commenced the National Push Up Challenge as a dorm. The boys have been doing their daily push-ups in a bid to raise awareness for Mental Health Issues and Suicide. The boys have committed to completing 3318 as a dorm however there are a number of individuals who are taking up the challenge of completing this individually. Well done to Dom Forbes, Dom Winkels and Marley Chan for their efforts.

Fourviere Residence

Week seven has been once again filled by a number of goings on in and around the residences this week. The major highlights being the Feast day of Marcellin Champagnat mass and celebrations on Friday followed an early start on Sunday for the Walkathon. Whilst the majority got into the spirit of things with an energetic effort to round out the week, special mentions must go Zeke Esler for his stylish costume choice, to Munroe Wood who completed the entire journey on crutches and in a moon boot, to Zane Seeto who entertained the masses taking on the role of DJ on the decks, to Hamish McVey who performed in the battle of the bands and to ‘baristas’, Paddy Manning and Reggie McMillan who were brewing up a storm serving coffees to the staff and parents throughout the morning.

Br Terence Residence

A busy week at the College saw a number of our Br Terence boarders involved in a wide range of activities highlighting the many contributions that our boarders make to College life. The boys woke up early on Wednesday morning to provide a fitting send-off for our victorious Cross Country team and continued with their dedicated support of our AIC sporting teams this week. At Friday’s Champagnat Day celebrations, Dino Lopes, Jack Condon and Jove Smith assisted Fr Tini during Mass, and then afterwards, Clancy Clemson continued to build his career behind the microphone with his entertaining commentary of the House Tug of War competition followed by the Staff vs Students Touch Footy match. Later on that evening, our Year 12 boarders hosted the Montagne men for a BBQ dinner before opting for some karaoke in the Cyprian Pavilion. James Thompson, Hayden Lammon and Hugh Ferris all delivered entertaining renditions of their favourite songs while Ishy Bond, Chadd McCoy, Darcy Knight, Dino Lopes and Clancy Clemson also took to the stage to showcase their voices. The boys concluded the week by attending the College Walkathon and assisting with the many events that took place on the day. Tom Doyle and Eli Nichols worked their magic behind the coffee machines while Year 12 boarders Ky Rashleigh, Lochie Dudgeon, Scott Cobb, Hugh Ferris, James Thompson and Jackson Munn all had their Cert III Business ventures on display and they even managed to persuade a few customers to purchase their products on the day.

Boarding Recreation - Mr Blair Whitlock

It was a relatively quiet weekend on the recreation front with the walkathon taking centre stage on Sunday. There are plenty of tired minds and bodies around the dorms as we head towards the end of term and many of the boys have been making the most of their downtime recently.

Friday started off with our fortnightly Boarders Afternoon Tea hosted by Dany, Kylie and several other Marist mothers. Cake, biscuits and cordial is always a good way to get the weekend started! This week it was Montagne’s turn to head over to Br Terence house for a BBQ with the Year 12’s. It’s been great having these BBQ’s back on the agenda and the young boys certainly enjoy mingling with the 12’s. There’s usually a fair bit of food leftover which the 12’s cook up for another Sunday feast!

Straight after the BBQ the Year 12’s headed over to the Cyprian Pavillion for our first Karaoke night of the year! Our Boarding captains, Clancy and Hayden, got the Year 12’s together for a few singalongs. Goondiwindi Pork and In The Scrub were crowd favourites and we look forward to getting more grades involved in Karaoke next term.

To round off Friday, we took a group of 15 boys along to Suncorp for the Reds final home game of the season against the Blues. It wasn’t the Reds night, as they went down 31-24 but the boys have really got behind the team this year as we’ve attended five home games. We’ll be back at Suncorp next term when the Wallabies play France and the Broncos take on the Cowboys.

Saturday was round six of the AIC competition against St Peters Lutheran College. The juniors played at home before heading out to St Peters to support the 1st XV lads. It was a relatively one-sided as the boys ran out convincing winners with several boarders getting on the scoreboard. The regular war cry practice on Thursdays seem to be having an effect as the boys made it feel like a home game in the grandstand.

Later that evening we hosted Year 7-9 girls from Clayfield College for Dodgeball in our gym. We hadn’t spent much time with the Clayfield girls before tonight so it was a good way to build the relationship further. After the games we all had ice creams before bidding farewell to our guests. We’ll see them again next weekend at boarders Ice Skating.