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COURTYARD
The Boarding House courtyard is available to the girls at all recreation and leisure times.  Afternoon tea, some lunches and supper are served here during summer.  The courtyard is an ideal place in which to relax and chat with other girls and visitors in a secure environment.

SWIMMING POOL
The College Pool is available for use during the summer.  For reasons of safety it is necessary for 2 lifesavers (Bronze Medallion holders) and a Housemother to be present.  Swimming caps must be worn at all times in the pool and sensible behaviour is always expected. 

BOARDERS’ STUDY ROOM (#53) and COMPUTER ROOM (#54)
There are computers and a printer in the Boarding House.  Computers can be used before and after school, after dinner, and during study.  Food and drinks are not permitted in the computing room and any problems with them are to be reported immediately. 
Students also have access to the College Library.

SEWING MACHINES
Sewing machines are available for student use.  Bobbins are supplied, but thread needs to be provided by the student.  Food and drink are not permitted near the machines and breakages are to be reported to a Housemother immediately.

COMMON ROOM
This room is for the use of all Boarders.  A television set, DVD, stereo CD, radio, a pool table, table tennis, refrigerator and microwave oven are available for the girls’ use.  The Common Room is to be kept clean at all times.  The consumption of food and drink is not permitted in the Common Room.

COLLEGE NEWSLETTER
Every second week the College publishes a newsletter, The Ionian, which is mailed to boarder parents.  There is a section in this newsletter which provides information on boarders’ activities, achievements and messages from the Head of Boarding and College staff members.

LAUNDRY AND LINEN
All articles of clothing and footwear must be labeled.  Girls do their own laundry within their section.  Dryers are available but girls are encouraged to use our biggest natural resource of heat, the sun, and use the outdoor clothes lines. 

Girls must provide their own washing powder, stain remover and fabric softener. 

Sporting Activities

SPORTS EQUIPMENT
There are many items of sporting equipment available for girls’ use; these include netballs, basketballs, a cricket set, tennis balls and hockey sticks.  These can be used to play games after school and on weekends.

MORNING FITNESS ROOM/JOGGING, SWIMMING AND WALKING
(Weather and light permitting)
Girls are encouraged to keep fit by attending numerous activities within the surrounds of the College Sport/Recreation facilities.  The Fitness/Weight Room in the Iona Sports Centre is available to all girls, Monday through to Friday from 7:15am-8:00am and some afternoons. Swimming laps, jogging and walking on weekdays is also available from 6.30am to 7.30am and on weekends from 7.00-8.00am. The Boarding House Recreation Officer runs a walking group for all girls who wish to partake of this on Monday mornings commencing at 6:45am.
On other days, there is a set walking/jogging route to follow, which is on a path along the river, and girls must be in groups of 3 or more.  Girls must stay on the route and return together so that they are not late for breakfast.

All girls are expected to participate in after-school IGSSA teams each term.

CO-CURRICULAR SPORT
As of 2008, all Year 8 girls will be required to participate in a minimum of 1 Sport per term.  Girls are to listen to morning form messages for upcoming sport team trials/training and attend the appropriate venue.

It is expected that as many girls as possible from ALL years will partake of co-curricular sport in the College and gain from the physical, mental and social benefits that the IGSSA Competition provides.

BIKE RIDING
Years 10 to 12 may have bicycles.  Parents must give written permission, helmets must be worn and cyclists are to keep to a set route.  A chain and padlock must be used to secure bicycles.

Boarders’ Representative Council
The Council consists of the Head Boarder, Deputy Head Boarder and two representatives each from Years 8 to 12.  The representatives are elected by their peers to represent their views and to voice concerns that girls may have.  They work with the Head of Boarding for the good of all within the Boarding House.

Some of the tasks the girls assist with are the organizing of social events, fund raising for any ‘extras’ in the Boarding House and other ‘missionary’ causes, helping with the liturgy and assisting Housemothers as needed.  At regular meetings with the Head of Boarding the representatives each have a time in which they can discuss topics they may need to present on behalf of their year group.  If a girl has a concern that she wishes addressed she can see her year representative, who will take the matter to a Council meeting.  Alternatively, girls are encouraged to raise matters with Housemothers.

Social Activities
On most weekends outings are organised by the Boarding House recreation officer and/or staff, with the assistance of members of the Boarders’ Representative Council.  These outings range from socials with other colleges, both boys’ and girls’, to trips to the football, movies, theatre, late night shopping, beach and picnics.  The main aim of these activities is to allow girls to develop friendships with students from other schools and to strengthen the bond between our own students, as well as giving a broad exposure, under supervision, to the many activities available in the city to those who may not have had the opportunity to experience some of these first hand.

It is expected that the girls stay in the Boarding House on most weekends and so make the most of the opportunities offered and arranged for them and to enable friendships to occur.  When a senior girl is invited to a function as an individual (for example, the Aquinas Prefects’ Ball) it is the parents’ responsibility to arrange transport to and from the function.  If the function goes beyond 11pm, parents are to organise an overnight stay for their daughter with a host family.