Sports and Activities

The School organises a range of outings and activities for boarders, generally over weekends.

On most weekends a Weekend Activities Coordinator is on duty and actively arranges appropriate activities that are fun and of interest to groups of students. Boarders are encouraged to take part in boarding activities which may include trips to The Strand, Crystal Creek, roller skating, dances, zumba, shopping or to attend a sports game – among other possible activities. Specific parental permission is not requested when these outings are done. The weekend’s activities are generally added to the Cathedral Boarding Community Facebook page for parents and students to enjoy. In addition, Townsville provides a wide range of sports and activities and boarders are encouraged to participate in sporting teams and activities outside the school, as long as it does not affect the student’s academic progress or seriously interfere with boarding routine. If a student wishes to become committed to an outside sport or activity he/she needs to see his or her respective Head of Dormitory who will help to select, arrange and facilitate the particular club/activity. Boarders’ participation with outside sport clubs is subject to the permission of parents and the Director of Boarding. From 2022 Boarding staff will endeavour to transport boarders of all ages to approved sports and clubs within the general locality of Mundingburra and Aitkenvale suburbs. Many sporting clubs and sports are accommodated within these suburbs. The Cathedral School is affiliated with some of these local clubs and our students enjoy preferential signon. eCat and our Boarding facebook page both contain a comprehensive list of the local clubs and their contact details. For students wishing to train with gyms, clubs or attend dance schools (or similar) or attend club fixtures further afield this can be arranged in the normal ways by gaining approval from Director of Boarding, mainly to ensure the times do not impact too much on boarding routines. Parents can then sign their child on with the club and arrange appropriate transport with the club, friends, family or public transport. Boarding cannot undertake to get students to activities outside the suburbs and clubs listed. We understand that there will be occasional trips where for various reasons standing arrangements fall through and a student cannot get to a commitment that is further afield, we will endeavour to help get your child there. These trips will be charged to parent account at $11.60 per trip. Please be aware that for school related sport which includes, athletics, rugby league, rugby union, rowing, waterpolo, swimming & netball - the school takes and returns all boarders to and from the particular events. Students will be transported without charge to attend training sessions and matches at select local and partner sporting clubs and Cathedral School sporting teams including Rugby Union at Teachers West Club, Centrals Rugby League Club, Wanderers Cricket Club Pimlico, Mundingburra Olympic Soccer Club, Cathedral Netball Club and other Cathedral School teams. Some of these grounds are within walking distance from the school.

A student is usually allowed to go once or twice to try the activity. Parent approval or an application to the club from parents to continue is required. Logistics, costs and paperwork generally need to be negotiated prior to continuation. This includes parents negotiating with the appropriate “Sign On” procedures relevant to each club. Permission can also be granted on the forms provided by the Boarding Office (or downloaded from the school eCat site). Please be aware that some club activities involve the club making arrangements for travel to events or matches that might not be at their normal local venue. Parents need to be aware that this occurs and is not within our control or management regime. As parents, you need to be familiar with such matches and travel arrangements occurring. Should you not wish your son or daughter to travel under their particular club’s arrangements, please notify the Director of Boarding and the club in question in writing.

PART TIME EMPLOYMENT

Part time employment will be considered on a case-by-case basis, provided certain conditions are met. This will require negotiation between student, parents and the Director of Boarding as safety and transport arrangements need to be approved, this may include public transport as we do not undertake to transport students to and from work. The allowable times for part-time jobs are generally weekday afternoons (return to school by 6.30pm), Friday and Saturday evening (return to school by 9.30pm) and during the day on Saturday and Sunday.