Duggan House Blog - 1 March 2023

Welcome to the first Duggan House Blog for 2023. I hope that this platform will allow me to highlight some of the goings on in boarding life, as well as inform you of upcoming events. 

Highlights 

For the first time since 2020 we were able to welcome new and existing families to the start of the school year by gathering as a community with our welcome liturgy and shared dinner. It was great to witness the chatter and networking that has been so missed in recent years. It was fantastic that some families that were able to stay on for the College Opening Ceremony as we formally commenced our Centenary Year.  

The boarders’ Welcome Weekend served to create structured and unstructured opportunities for our young men to build connections with each other, as well as getting to know the boarding staff and routines. Highlights of the weekend included the basketball tournament, buddy walks in Morialta Conservation Park and spending Sunday afternoon at Woodhouse Activity Centre. The afternoon at Woodhouse was a real hit, with boys working their way through the obstacles of Challenge Hill, navigating the Labyrinth and enjoying the tube slides on what was a perfect summer day. 

Joshua Butterworth (Port Lincoln) and James Jervis (Elliston) looking for speed on the tube slide. 

Thomas Turner (Arno Bay) tackling an obstacle on Challenge Hill.

Jayden Evans (Port Lincoln) and Jack Nielsen (Ceduna) double tubing at Woodhouse. 

Since then, we have been trying to settle into the busy routines of Duggan House including participation in a range of activities which support learning and wellbeing. This includes Wellbeing Wednesdays, our weekly meeting where various member of the College Leadership Team and support staff run a session with the boys to build community and support a positive tone in the House. So far, the sessions have included further “get to know you” activities, physical challenges, a seminar of the importance of sleep for wellbeing and a gratitude reflection. 

Our Activities Program has also commenced with boarders enjoying an excursion to the North Adelaide Golf Course for a Par 3 round last weekend. Upcoming events include us hosting the boarders from Loreto next weekend, the opportunity to attend the Adelaide Fringe Festival and Lawn Bowls.  

Staffing 

This year we have made a number of staffing changes and appointments, and I am pleased to introduce the following permanent staff: 

• Duggan House Administration Officer - Amber Pitt (Dodson) 

• Weekday Supervisors - Zane Gibson, Michelle Scheirich and Eric Vargas 

• Weekend Supervisors - Joshua Clarke, Jackson Moloney and George Patrikis 

Meet Eric Vargas

Eric has moved from the Northern Territory to be closer to his family that have moved to Adelaide. He previously worked as Indigenous and Torres Strait Education Worker with O’Loughlin Catholic College, as well as a Team Leader/Houseparent at St John Catholic Senior College, in Darwin. Eric has worked with young people in wellbeing and support roles through schools and boarding settings since 2014. When not at work, Eric likes to spend his time in the great outdoors pursuing his passion for fishing, camping and four-wheel driving. 

Year 10 Stepping Up Program 

The Year 10 Stepping Up Program has been scheduled to allow boarders' fathers/male mentors to attend on Friday 10th March regardless of the day their House has been allocated for the program. It is hoped this timing allows you to then spend the long weekend with your son. A copy of the communication sent home can be found HERE. Please fill out this FORM to let us know your attendance, dietary requirements and further details which will help with the planning of the day.

Parent Teacher Student Interviews 

To assist the College in planning for P-T-S interviews can you please fill out this FORM. Face-to-face and phone/online meeting options are available. 

Wellbeing Weekend 

The Adelaide Cup long weekend presents as an excellent opportunity for a “Wellbeing Weekend” and you may wish to consider plans for your son to travel home or take some Host Leave at this time. We encourage travel to take place from 3.15pm Friday 10th March 2023, returning by 5pm Monday 13th March 2023.  

Easter 

Duggan House is closed for Easter – boarders must depart the house by 5pm Thursday 6th April 2023. 

As Easter is on the last weekend of Term, it is appreciated that returning for the four days of Week 11 may be economically and/or logistically challenging. The College has approved that boarders may choose to engage in learning from home in Week 11. Duggan House will be open in Week 11 for boarders who wish to return. Could you please confirm your intentions for Easter with Amber if you have not already done so. 

Term 2 requires boarders to return on Monday 1st May. 

South East Field Days 

Rostrevor will be attending the South East Field Days in Lucindale on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th March, represented by Enrolments Officer Annemarie Mein and I. If you know of any interested families or Rostrevor old scholars who are attending please tell them to call in and say hello.  

Annemarie and I are staying in Naracoorte and look forward to hosting our current SE families for dinner on the Friday night. 

The SE boarders Angus Haynes (Naracoorte), Ned McCarthy (Bordertown) and Curtis Page (Mt Gambier) pose for promotional shots to be used at the upcoming Field Days.