The Boarding Buzz

Eclipse House News

Sport News

With the end of August rapidly approaching, we are starting to see the sun rising earlier, glimpses of warmer weather and the emergence of basketballs and cricket gear in Eclipse House.

 

With all the boys having worked back into a solid routine since the start of the term, there will soon be a changeover from Winter to Summer sports and, along with that, a new schedule of training and game times. Please discuss these with your sons, as well as any uniform requirements that they may have, including mouth guards, which are compulsory for basketball. As always, transport into town is available for the purchase of new sport shoes etc. and the uniform shop is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8.00am.

Academics

Shortly, the students will commence formative assessments for many, if not all, of their subjects. We have, and continue to remind the boys about Academic Support, the visiting tutors to boarding, as well as the need for effective study notes and revision. Could I ask you to also be positive in promoting these different strategies to assist your child as they approach their assessments? As always, should you wish to speak to your son's teacher, phone appointments can be made via email at a time suited to you both.

Kingfisher Fair

With the Kingfisher Fair rapidly approaching, the boys and I have been making briquettes out of waste cardboard, paper, sawdust, leaf litter and coffee grounds in an attempt to reuse some of the assorted waste products produced by the school. These eco logs will be up for sale at the fair for $2.00 each or six for $10.00.

 

I am especially proud of the boys efforts in preparing, mixing and making these logs and I think they have a new found appreciation for inane and manual labour tasks, after having to shred 20 kilos of cardboard by hand! Also please remember that there is a collection of assorted goods being collated, which you were emailed about by Mrs Franzinelli. Thank you to those who have already donated.

Driving

Regarding Year Eleven students driving, please note that they are welcome to bring their vehicles into school after the ATAR Year Twelve students have departed, which will be the end of Week Two, Term Four. The driving permission form can be found in the Permission Forms folder under Documents on MyGSG along with all of the other relevant information.

 

Thank you all again for your effort and support and I wish you all an enjoyable weekend with your sons.

Mr Brett Tompkin | Head of Eclipse House

Boarding's Got Talent

Please enjoys some photos of the boys rehearsing for and performing at Boarding's Got Talent.

From the Head Boy

Last week, Bridget and I spent a week in the boarding house to experience the everyday life of a boarder I lived in Eclipse House with the Years Ten, Eleven and Twelve boys. I started out my stay after school on Monday and was instantly welcomed. In Eclipse House, I immediately sensed the tight-knit community. The house was very welcoming and not once did I feel excluded or like an outsider.

 

That Monday we ate roast beef and Yorkshire pudding for dinner, then I experienced my first ever prep. Prep is really just designated, no-phone, homework time. It allowed for quiet, undisturbed time to study and I found it really easy to make use of the time. It was especially useful to get help with people studying the same subjects.

 

The boarding houses run on a tight schedule, with rules like no food in your room or no phones in prep,  to keep some kind of order amongst the 40 or so students in each house. I think I handed my phone in four times each day and was just starting to learn what time to go to each meal before I left. We had to sign in and out of the house every time we left, which was hard to get used to. Sometimes, I stood staring at the sign-in tablet trying to find the button that said I was going to school, but the boarders did it instinctively and with speed. Although there were many rules and schedules, they were not unreasonable. It was easy to see where the rules come from and why they were needed.

 

The facilities were great. I had my own room and shared a bathroom with the other boys, which were not bad. There was always food around and I never felt hungry.

 

Something that surprised me was how little travel time there was. I think the latest I got back to the boarding house was 3.15pm and leaving to go to school was 8.30am. I felt I had so much extra time before and after school.

 

My time in boarding was a great experience and was a real eye-opener to the independent lives that boarders live. A big shout out to all the boys in Eclipse House for welcoming me. Huge thanks to the boarding supervisors, Mr Tompkin and Mr Hudson, for making my stay so enjoyable. Thank you.

Samuel O'Dea | Head Boy

Eclipse House Staff

Eclipse House staff are:

  • Mr Brett Tompkin: Head of House
  • Mrs Caroline Tompkin: Supervisor
  • Mrs Katrina Marmion: Supervisor
  • Mrs Peta Spinks: Supervisor
  • Mrs Nicole Scott: Supervisor
  • Mr Liam Hudson: Gap Assistant