Breaksea House News

It has been a great start to the year in Breaksea House. I have genuinely enjoyed getting to know all the students and their families and am so grateful for the friendly welcome I’ve received from the entire GSG community. The term started with everyone settling into their rooms with an atmosphere of both nerves and excitement. There were a lot of new faces to meet, including our three young children (Ellah, Max and Olivia) who were absolutely delighted by the prospect of 32 new big siblings. All the Breaksea boarders displayed kindness and consideration to us as a family and to each other, as we settled into routine. I feel truly lucky indeed to be able to lead and care for such an exceptional group of young adults. 

As school, sport, study, music and clubs have started to fill the days in Breaksea, the house has been a hive of activity. Throughout it all, I’ve had the chance to get to know each of the boarder’s quirks, hobbies and personalities. Getting to know everyone as individuals, has definitely been the best part of the job so far! 

After only two short weeks, the Ball was upon us this year and the house was full of a flurry of appointments and planning. All the Breaksea students in house came with us to witness the red-carpet arrivals and our Year Twelves did all of a sudden seem very grown up indeed! It was a real honour to be there for this special occasion and it started the year off in such a fun-filled, glamorous way. 

Breaksea has had a few updates in the interior of the house, including a lot more cushions, indoor plants and a feature wall. The students have really started to take a sense of ownership over the house and are all contributing to plans to liven things up and make the space as homely as we can. The walls are filling with everyone’s art and photos and roll call is becoming a great chance for us to collaborate and share ideas, as well as stories and gratitude moments from the day. As parents and guardians, you are always welcome into Breaksea and we would love for you to drop in when you can to see the house and be an active part of our boarding community. 

Rec activities are about to ramp up this term, including in-house fitness classes, table tennis tournaments, beach trips galore, art shows and market trips. We’re also hoping to get involved in the school garden to help us move towards sustainability goals and to start to access the music space to bring in more jam sessions and live music. 

Thank you, as always, for entrusting us with your loved ones. We will always do our best to make boarding a positive and nurturing experience for them, where everyone can learn and thrive, through these vital teen years. 

Mrs Teliah Turrill | Head of Breaksea House