Boarding 

COVID-19 is a Chance to Show Gratitude

Changing the way we see things and adapt to the new way we work is not an easy task but, with a little thought, we can be insightful of what we do and be grateful for what we have.

This week, I went for a few online walks to and from school with our boarders. One walk was with our boarding House Captains, Ben McCure and Lizzie Duver. Other strolls were with the girls and boys of each House. It was a great opportunity to catch up, simply chat and check in. It was also the first time this year I had walked down the Myrniong drive and along the ‘goat track’ to school. Not only was it a great way to start the day (rather than rushing about), but it gave me the feeling of what our boarders do each day during their walk to and from school. I am now convinced this walk is a great time to chat and simply ‘be’ with others for a short time talking about everything but school. If it were not for the situation we are in at the moment, I may not have had the chance to walk a few days to and from school with our boarders. So, for our theme of gratitude this week, I can say I am grateful for the opportunity I’ve had during the COVID-19 isolation to still be with our boarders and walk with them.

Walking to school with Ben McCure (Yr12) and Lizzie Duver (Yr12), and then Micaela Meyer (Yr10) and Eliza Jagger (Yr12).

Walking home with Justin Lee (Yr11) and Jake Andersen (Yr11).

Returning as a Better Version of Myself

We’re seeing a more grown up version of our daughter; she is more independent. It has been really nice to watch and see her grow.

Macdonald House Boarding parent.

It has been a big change, but we are proud of what he is doing. He loves the after-school time to be in the shed, working on his projects and it’s been nice to have the whole family home.

Speirs House Boarding parent

There is obviously a lot we miss about boarding. We miss saying hi to you in the morning, and g’day each night. We miss the “hope you’ve had a good day” at dinner, we miss Alfonso’s cooking, we miss Sushi the goldfish, and we miss you all getting along so well. And we know our boarders miss it too. But what about the positives of being at home? Well there are many. It is time to step up and embrace opportunities no matter how hard the challenge and take the time to invest in bettering ourselves for a positive return to boarding. This is time to practise being grateful, resilient, optimistic, and compassionate. Our boarders now have the time to spend with family more than ever. This means dinner together, working and helping out on a farm, seeing and caring for family pets, and reuniting with what our day students are used to each day. We understand when a student becomes a boarder there is a significant but important step in the family dynamic. So, this is a positive time to spend with loved ones because we know this will be over soon and our boarders will once again be back here together. For those who are not boarders, it could also be a good time to consider boarding in the future: who knows, you might be looking for a little time away from home and thinking of the benefits a boarding life could bring! Because there are many! Anyway, that’s for another day.

So, from the boarding community, we wish you all the very best with remote learning, but we encourage you to embrace the opportunity that is with you now, take the time to make a small change in the way you do things, and be ready to return as a more grown up and experienced version of yourself than when you left.

Andrew Monk