Boarding 

We continue to acknowledge boarders’ birthdays this week with three more boarders celebrating their special occasion with family. Our birthday boarders are:

• Charlie Clancy turning 15 
• Euan Sutherland turning 17
• Georgina England turning 15.

Staying connected during RLP-2

A strength of our boarding community is our ability to continue to be connected, even when we a physically distanced. Regardless if it is the boarders, parents, or the staff, we have regularly been in contact over TEAMS or Zoom.

Our boarders have enjoyed the weekly House Meetings hosted by Ben and Lizzie. This week boarders were challenged to post photos of their pet or bring their pet into the meeting. 

Families have been catching up during this second round of remote learning via Zoom. Our South Australian families regularly catch up of an evening and not only hear about how each family is faring but are also able to organise events and support each other through these tough times. One idea from Dani England (Georgina, Yr 9) was to create a space for our boarders to physically get together and socialise on Wednesdays in Naracoorte. A number of our South Australian boarders were able to get together for an entire day, complete their remote learning, and importantly simply socialise with each other. A wonderful initiative from Dani which underscores the importance of socialisation for adolescent boarders during COVID.

Some tips have also been shared from families during our meetings, and I would like to acknowledge Jane Hetherington (Annabel, Yr 11) who shared some simple tips about supporting your child at home. Jane is a Director of an Early Learning Centre and found these tips an important foundation in supporting our children during COVID:

1. Keep them safe
2. Lower their anxiety about the current situation
3. Make them laugh
4. Make them feel loved
5. Teach them something

Virtual Open Day

This week we were fortunate to be able to show case the Senior School and Boarding Houses. With the wonderful work from our Marketing and I.T. Departments we were able to connect with families in the comfort of their home whilst also being able to present to prospective boarding families our unique offering. Some highlights of our boarding include: 

• 20+ acres of open space with football, soccer, cricket, netball, tennis, and basketball courts.
• Access to a first-class Equestrian centre.
• A boarders’ wellbeing philosophy based upon exercise, nutrition, and good sleep patterns.
• An onsite family atmosphere with dedicated Year 7-8 House Mums delivering a unique Lifeskills program over the course of the year.
• A balanced boarding life where transport supports boarders to remain connected with sporting teams and family back at their home-town.

If you would like to know more about boarding life in the country, or, would like to share our offering with friends please feel free to contact myself (amonk@hamiltoncollege.vic.edu.au)_ or our registrar Susie Holcomb (holcombes@hamiltoncollege.vic.edu.au).

Andrew Monk