St Joseph's Nudgee College

March 31, 2011

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St Joseph's Nudgee College boarding students are working with teachers outside school hours as part of the new Boarder’s Academic Support Program. 

Director of Boarding Mr Ken Mitchell reports on the program.

Per Adua ad Astra – “Through hard work you reach the top”

On Tuesday the 15th of February we officially launched the Boarder’s Academic Support Program. This is where we asked teachers from the academic staff to be involved in coming into the boarding houses, computer labs, NITEC and classrooms to help boarding students with their homework and study. I’m proud to say we had over 35 teachers who wanted to be involved.

My vision on this idea is quite simple; to make sure we are doing as much as possible to help the boarders with their study. It’s about helping them achieve their potential.

We acknowledge the boys will obviously have to do their part and this is not the single answer to their success, but it will go a long way in giving the boys the best opportunity and help we can manage. I’m very excited about this initiative and will be working hard to make sure it is a sustainable success.

In thinking about what to call this program, we wanted a name that summed up the true essence of what it was all about and what we were trying to achieve. ‘Reach for the Stars’ comes from the Latin, Per Adua ad Astra, which translated means; through hard work you reach the top.

That is, we want this program to compliment the boy’s talents and their hard work. Through their effort and our help, we hope that boys will do their best and achieve their potential. We are not planning to do this for them but rather provide the environment and support necessary for them to do it. Our goal is simply to help boys be their best.

During Term 1, the Reach for the Stars program has provided a teacher presence in each of the boarding houses so boys can access extra help and support. Towards the end of each term, when the workload starts to build up, we will run specific focus sessions for the students, with the assistance of Heads of Subjects, in an attempt to help them as much as possible with their upcoming exams and assessments.

So far, the Reach for the Stars program has been a huge success.

The teachers have enjoyed being a part of the boarding houses, seeing the boarders in their ‘natural habitat’ and how they live, eat, function together as a community and more importantly, what their challenges are. The teachers I have spoken with have said they are now looking at boarding in a completely different light and with such a better understanding of how boarding works.

From the boy’s point of view, they are absolutely loving the fact that their teachers are there for them at night.

I’m extremely happy with how it’s gone so far and look forward to refining it next term so it continues to be a positive for the academic progress of our boys!