We strive to ensure that boarding at Marist is a safe, rewarding and socially satisfying experience where boys from a diverse range of backgrounds learn to live, play, work and pray together. Having such a large boarding population resident the entire week and weekends makes it possible to offer a wider range of academic, sporting and recreational opportunities.
What separates Marist from other boarding schools is the level of care and commitment to each individual. Communication between the boarding school and the family is paramount. Parents are ensured of weekly emails and constant contact on their son’s progress. Marist is unique in that most of its 210 boarders are resident 7 days a week during term time. The consistency, camaraderie and care provided by this model is something country people have told us they want for their sons.
The overwhelming spirit and tone of our residences is one of harmony and happiness. The opportunity to live, work and play with boarders from all over Australia, the South Pacific and beyond makes boarding a special experience. The genuine friendships forged as boarders continue well beyond graduation.
We recognise parents as the primary caregivers and at all times parents and families are welcome to spend time with their sons. Boarders can enjoy weekend leave with families approved by their parents. Sunday visiting allows boys to spend quality time with family and friends who may be located in the Brisbane area. Boarders’ visiting is closely monitored and we endeavour always to carry out the wishes of parents in regard their son’s whereabouts. Leave for a special occasion is granted through the duty office of each Head of Residence. Provision also exists for the older boarders to have time in the city or to make use of local shopping precincts. The younger boys have such city visits incorporated in their recreation program and are fully supervised.
Weekly boarding offers the convenience of Monday to Friday boarding, with the benefits of family time at home on the weekend. Weekly boarders learn independence and life skills and benefit from the additional academic focus a boarding environment offers. They have access to academic resources and teachers outside of normal school hours and structured study times to support academic growth.
A major advantage of the weekly boarding experience is the fact that the learning never stops. Your son is immersed in an educational environment, 24 hours a day, five days a week, and even when they’re outside the classroom, they’re still learning important life skills that they wouldn’t learn through sitting at home in the evenings. Study time is extremely important, so you can be confident that your son will get it done in a distraction-free environment – in designated time slots, so your son has no choice but to do it.
Marist College Ashgrove is located on a large property with sweeping lawns andundulating hills rich in native flora and fauna. Located between the two main ovals in a distinct and central precinct, are the boarding houses. Year 11 and younger boarders enjoy panoramic views of either the city or the bushland of the Mt Taylor Range, located behind the College. Our senior boarders have the luxury of cricket and rugby ovals on their doorstep as they look down through abundant greenery on the Derek Cameron Oval complex. There are three distinct houses that contain the five residences. Marist College Ashgrove currently caters for nearly 220 boarders with a capacity of 230.
Demand is strong so we encourage prospective families to contact the College.
Tours of the boarding school are regularly conducted for prospective families.
Residences
Br Geoffrey House:
Terence House
Terrence House is the Senior Boarding residence at Marist College Ashgrove. This three level, purpose built complex houses 78 senior boarders. Its commanding position located above the beautiful Derek Cameron Oval gives it a relaxed feel of separation from the fast pace of College life beyond. Completed in 1995 it was named for Br Terence Heinrich fms who was Headmaster at Marist College Ashgrove between 1990 and 1996.
Br Terence is a deeply spiritual man with a hands on approach to his leadership. Terence House has a large open foyer and four distinct residential wings (on first and second levels) all with their own common rooms. The ground floor houses a large glassed in common room with kitchenette, storage rooms for luggage, a modern billiards/television lounge with pay television connected. This level also has its own laundry and drying room.
Senior boarders can access the two industrial washing machines and ironing facilities. The first level enters directly from the roadway that passes through the boarding precinct. This level houses staff accommodation, guest toilets, a duty office. Before passing into the student accommodation, visitors are struck by the imposing glass wall and cross towering over the dual staircase that leads to the second floor. This second level houses staff accommodation as well as a computer laboratory.
Fourviere Residence
Fourvière Residence is spread over three floors and houses the Year 11 boarders. It is modern, light and airy it provides our ‘sub senior’ boys with a degree of privacy to relax and study.
Fourvière commemorates the common origin of the Marist Project. From the earliest antiquity, the hill of Fourvière- the praying hill – is the centre of the spiritual and cultural life in Lyon, France. On 23 July, 1816 the twelve Marist aspirants, priests and seminarians, St Marcellin Champagnat among them, climbed the hill to the shrine of Our Lady of Fourvière. They placed their promise to found the Society of Mary under the corporal on the altar. This is our Marist beginning and hence the name of Fourvière is very appropriate.
The bed areas in Fourvière Residence (located on the second and third floors) are well designed, sturdy and functional. Each boy has a large under bed storage area coupled with a towering lockable cupboard with inside mirrors. The desk area has study lighting and internet connection portals. Reading lights are built into the module and allow for in bed reading at the close of a busy day.
The Year 11 boarders also enjoy a large common room. Each of these recreation rooms has a modern, functional kitchenette attached. On the lower floor is the entry point, conveniently located across a paved courtyard from the dining room.
Br Geoffrey House
Brother Geoffrey House contains three residences for Years 10 to 8 as well as our junior boarders. Much of the structure mirrors the design of Fourvière Residence with the difference being that each year level is housed on a separate floor.
Hermitage Residence houses our Year 10 boarders and was named for The Hermitage, the spiritual home of the Marist Order and built by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, the founder of the Marist Brothers as a training house for the first brothers in France. The residence is light and functional with each boy enjoying the privacy of cubicles that house both bed and study areas. Like all the other student accommodation in the College everybed areas in the college every boy has access to an at desk computer/internet portal. The Year 10 duty office is located adjacent to the residence doors. The Year 10 common room is large and easily accessible from the ground floor it also has the practicality of a well appointed kitchen.
Montagne Residence
Montagne Residence is the home of the Year 9 boarders. It was named for the inspiring story that centres on Marcellin Champagnat as a young priest on his pastoral rounds. He finds a dying 15 year old boy, Jean-Baptiste Montagne, who had never learned the most basic elements of the Christian faith and and before he dies, Marcellin instructs him in the way of all things to Christ through Mary.
Boys in this residence have the same facilities on offer as the older boys in Hermitage residence. They also enjoy the use of a large ground floor common room with full kitchen attached.
Lavalla Residence
Lavalla Residence is special as it is the first boarding experience many of our long term boarders share. Here you will find the energy and enthusiasm of our Year 8 and Junior boarders on display. Named for the small French village in Southern France where Marcellin Champagnat commenced his ministry as a priest and from his pastoral work here grew the world wide organization that is now the Marist Brothers. A great deal of effort went into the planning of this unique residence.
Unlike the Hermitage and Montange Residences, the set up is different with smaller dividing cubicle walls that allow the boys a sense of unity and connection whilst still giving them a distinct area to call their own. Each bed area has its own desk with desk lamp and computer access. The Year 8 and Junior boarders have a large recreational area. Lavalla Residence is supplemented by a small kitchen area easily accessible from the landing on the first floor.
A very strong emphasis is placed on establishing and maintaining study habits necessary for future academic success.
Boarders Benefit From:
Boarders can Participate in our Varied Recreational Program!
Activities include a wide variety of sporting, recreational, cultural and social opportunities. These can include beach trips, movies, ice skating, dances, river cruises, fishing and Laser Skirmish just to name a few.
The recreation programme also provides for practical pursuits that support our boarders in transition to the world beyond. Boarders can secure their boat license, obtain a scuba diving certification or join the technical crew who manage the operation of our state of the art theatrette.
The programme also encourages boys to become familiar with the city of Brisbane and what it has to offer. Being a boarding school only eight kilometres from the heart of the city allows boys to develop a passion for culture and the arts. Numerous outings to the theatre, museum and major city events such as “River Fire” are well received by the boys. Marist boarders through a structured programme applicable to each age group, become aware of the city they live in and are fully engaged with its travel network and operation.
The recreation programme involves socials and outings with various girls boarding schools. The costs associated with recreation are carefully monitored and a series of no cost activities are always incorporated. The great plus about our recreation programme is its flexibility and the openness for ideas. Parents and boarders alike are encouraged to communicate with the recreation officer to comment or make suggestions about other activities they would like offered.
The College’s extensive sporting facilities are also available for use outside of school hours. These include an Olympic Swimming pool, 6 all weather tennis courts and two indoor basketball courts. Boarders can also access the weights rooms which is managed and operated through the highly successful Acceleration Australia organization.
Marist Boarders don’t have far to go to make use of the numerous ovals and cricket nets. The extensive bushland property and sweeping lawns give boarders space to relax and retreat from the demands of a busy day school. Boarders can also choose to spend time in numerous modern recreation rooms that are provided with DVD players, table tennis tables and billiard tables for each year level.
Boarders are also welcome to join the College’s comprehensive extra-curricular program which includes a wide range of activities in sporting, musical, dramatic and academic areas. Whilst Marist College performs well at the highest levels of sport, it is the breadth of our sporting programme that makes the College unique.
Often boarders wish to pursue a sport or activity outside of the College and in most cases these individual requests are supported. Boys have taken on the challenge of rodeo, golf, field hockey, judo, sailing, polocrosse, rugby league and a variety of other activities. Families are encouraged to discuss any such outside sport requests with the Head of Boarding. Phone: 07 3858 4640 or email: [email protected]
In an unprecedented move, Marist College Ashgrove has introduced a new boarding fee structure.
We recognise that boarding families can face financial strain in sending their children to boarding school, that is why we have introduced this. We hope that by making this change, a quality and holistic education is more affordable and accessible to families.”
The new boarding fee structure consists of two parts:
Option 1
If a family has more than one son who is currently boarding at Marist College Ashgrove or who has been a past boarder at the College they are entitled to a discount on their boarding and tuition fees.
Option 2
If a Boarder with no brothers, but has a sister/s currently at boarding school (any boarding school in Australia), the family will receive a 20% discount on boarding and tuition fees at Marist College Ashgrove only whilst the sister is at boarding school.
Since 1940, the education of boys from rural areas has been at the core of Marist College Ashgrove. Today, despite more than 78 years of change, boarding families remain vital to the Marist College Ashgrove spirit. When times are tough, boarding families band together. While some areas are doing well, other parts are experiencing an economic downturn. As a College, we have made a decision to offer this discount on tuition and boarding fees to our boarding families.
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