Boarding Report – July 28, 2016

It is well documented how busy the staff and students of the College are through each term. Commitments both at College and within the wider community ensure that when holidays approach -‘time out’ is very welcomed. The luxury to wake each day with a freedom to do as you please is refreshing and well celebrated by our boarders. In fact just the opportunity to wake in your own time and not with a housemaster -‘hovering’ is often the greatest aspect of school holidays. For many though within our boarding community, both staff and students, the holidays were not all -‘down time’. Our boarding staff started the early part of the holiday marketing the College and our new boarding precinct at a Boarding Expo in Wagga. Excitement builds for us all with regards to our new boarding facility as it progresses positively through council. The holidays for me, once as a boarder and to this day, will always be an opportunity to spend time with my family. This holiday I was fortunate to be able to combine time with my family with time with my extended boarding -‘family’ as we travelled to Sydney. Former boarder Nicholas Donghi and current Yr12 boarder Dyvontae Tippett were representing the state in the National Schoolboy Championships and both excelled. Joining us pitch side to support them were 2015 Boarding House Captains Jacob Hopper and Joshua Coward, both who continue to enjoy national recognition in their sporting endeavours. Whilst the successes of all our boarders, sporting and non are recognised and bring much pride, it was the -‘brotherly’ camaraderie that existed between all the boys as the game concluded and they were able to catch up. That for me is what a boarding experience offers that is so unique and something that will always be cherished.

In this newsletter I have asked our housemasters to highlight the many moments that all our boarders enjoyed over the most recent holidays. I hope you all appreciate this insight into the lives of our boarders and what they choose to do when not restricted by the structures of College life.

Kenny Catch-up

It was wonderful to welcome back the Kenny boys for term 3, as I am sure it was wonderful for them to enjoy their three-week break!

I always look forward to hearing about all of the many different things that these boys get up to away from school, but this break was especially exciting for some as they completed a week, sometimes more, of work experience. We had an apprentice plumber, an AFL assistant, a vet apprentice, a sports statistician and even an architect apprentice! It is amazing the different interests and talents that are shown throughout our boarding cohort.

For our other students, the term break meant going back to work on farms and in family businesses, looking after younger siblings and most importantly, spending time with family and loved ones. The commitment that some of our boys have made with sporting teams did not cease over the break, with many travelling distances to train and play -“ a sacrifice that certainly seems to be paying off, especially for Sam Pilgrim who was asked to train and play with Premier Cricket side, Richmond.

The break now seems to be a distance memory with school life taking priority, especially with our year 12 students who are very quickly nearing the end of their time here with us at SPC.

As I continually tell the boys, whatever their achievements or whatever their results, I am so proud of the young men that they are, and are becoming. –

Miss Tamara Westwood

Senior Housemaster, Kenny House

Two weeks already completed for the second semester, it is astounding how quickly the year is going. Getting to the business end of the year for our year 12 boys, a credit to them all juggling their academic demands and goals as well as their sporting commitments. All our boys seem rested after the three-week vacation and seem to have enjoyed themselves. It is with great pleasure we welcome three new boarders this term. James Richardson from Queensland who is another terrific addition to boarding, obviously, he is busy trying to adjust to our slightly cooler climate! As well, we welcome two Japanese exchange students Ryunosuke and Shota to Kenny, who love their new Australian home. The other boys in the house have taken them into the Kenny Boarding family straight away! Weekend activities continue as usual with our boys going to Laser Force and the movies over the last two weeks. This week sees again the term highlight of our Boarders’ Family Dinner / Mass on Friday night, always a wonderful evening. I will continue my fortnightly updates as the term progresses.

Mr Ewen Larsen

Weekend Housemaster, Kenny House

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Introducing Tanna Blackney-Noter:

Year Level: – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 12.- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Home Town: – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Warrnambool.- – –

Interests: – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Sport and Music.- – – – – – – – – –

Favourite Food: – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Chicken Schnitzel and toast but not together!!- – – –

How long have you been a Boarder at SPC:- – – – – – Since 2015.- – – – – –

What made you choose to board at SPC:- – – – – – – – – – Just something different.- – – – – – – – – – –

Future Plans: – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Wait and see what happens!!- – – – –

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Phyland/Farley Catch-up

One of the potential challenges that any boarder can face is coming back to school after the holidays, particularly following the mid-semester, three-week holiday. Each young man will have had a different holiday to the next, and it is no wonder. The St Patrick’s Boarding Community is one resounding in diversity, and so too is it the case with Phyland & Farley. Some of our young men live just over an hour away, whilst others several hours by plane to different countries across the globe.

So when over the past week we spoke with the young men in our house we had tales from all around Australia -“ here is just a small snippet of that for you all to enjoy.

A number of our boarders were glad to be home, back with family catching up with what’s been going on, filling in their spare time with gym and evening runs. Some lads got to meet up with family they hadn’t seen in a long time. Interestingly a number of the boys missed the routine of boarding, and not doubt missed making their beds!

Our international young man, Oliver Paul, had a bit of climate change going form a top of 8 degrees to between 40 & 50 degrees in Dubai, whilst others searched for the warmer weather up in Darwin, using the free time to catch up with other boarders, current and past. Callum Flanagan (a past boarder) celebrated his 18th with his old roommate and our house Captain Paddy Fairhead. Filling in the rest of his time Paddy also caught up with other boarders, went out bush working and saving his money for dinner at La Porchetta!

Closer to home, lads continued their commitments playing footy, most escaped injury (including our most injury prone), one however set the injury bar high dislocating his shoulder.

Now three weeks in our gentlemen have settled back into routine and are focused on their studies as well as seeing out their footy seasons well.

Mr Michael Murphy & Mr Daniel Willey

Housemaster & Weekend Housemaster, Phyland/Farley House

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Look after yourselves.

Mr Mike Silcock

Director of Boarding