From the Heads of Boarding

Term One has been challenging at times, yet we have managed to ensure your boarders still have lots of fun incorporating the challenges we face with COVID. Our Supervisors and Recreation Officer have worked hard to create many varied options for our boarders and they have been taking them up as you will see in the recreation section of this issue of the Boarding Buzz. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff for their incredible commitment to boarding and the support and care of our boarders throughout a pandemic, no easy feat.

A reminder to our families that we cannot transport students to private houses or functions. We are required under our duty of care to hand over responsibility to the nominated host adult or parent. Our buses are available to transport students to sport, training, work and their extra-curricular requirements. Students wanting to go to private parties or locations need to be picked up by an approved host as this meets our protocols for handing over duty of care.

Week Ten Road Closure

This week the main entry road to boarding is closed due to Phase Two of the upgrade of the road surface. To access boarding during this time you will need to enter at the Multi Purpose Sport Complex (Gym) entry and drive all the way around the back of the School via the Facilities area before parking in the Boarding precinct.  To exit, please drive down the gravel road at the back of Eclipse House for entry onto Nanarup Road.  Please drive slowly on campus.

Student Leadership

Last week the Boarding Student leaders met virtually through Teams. This was the first time we have met in this format, and I was super impressed by the maturity of each young person and their contribution to the meeting. 

We began the meeting by welcoming two more additions to the student leadership team from Endeavour, Sophie Harris and Chloe Climie. We then discussed Clean Up Australia Day and that our leaders at Great Southern Grammar, lead through service. It was wonderful to then have all our leaders together, with more volunteers, cleaning up around the harbor front. 

Each leader then provided their feedback on how each of their boarding houses were going and anything that was going well or what could be improved. Ideas for more outdoor activities were discussed and appreciation for the basketball ring in Anchorage, spike ball kits for houses and Kayo sport in all houses in time for the footy season was expressed. 

The leaders were asked to review how the Recreation program was going and ideas for the last weeks of the term and Term Two were discussed. Students in the houses were pleased with the greater variety that had been offered this year. Madison Smart expressed that many senior girls were just tired on the weekends but appreciated seeing more on offer. The senior boys have really appreciated all the surfing trips with Mr Colton. They requested working out ways to do more whole of boarding activities in a COVID friendly way. Great ideas like a whole of boarding outdoor Easter egg hunt, beach volleyball competition in house groups at Middleton Beach, House vs House spike ball competitions and scooter rides from Emu Point to Middleton Beach or the marina were also suggested. Some of these have already been put into action. 

We really appreciate our student leaders in boarding and are keen for them to be involved in decision making and planning as much as possible. 

Prepare for Life

The Heads of Boarding are pleased to announce that next term we will begin our Prepare for Life courses in boarding. In the student survey at the end of last year, students indicated that there were a number of courses they would like to complete whilst in boarding to prepare them for life. The particular courses that students were interested in completing Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA), financial planning and budgeting, car maintenance, etiquette, basic cooking, Surf Rescue qualification and barista courses. We have been working to access various providers for these courses.  Many of these will run at no or minimal cost and some courses may require an additional cost to parents.  

COVID Regulations

As we enter Term Two, we continue to require all boarding staff and students to wear masks in all common areas of the boarding house.  Masks are required to avoid students being identified as close contacts and to help us keep students here in boarding and attending school. Students can take their masks off outside, by themselves in their bedrooms and within the cubicles of the bathrooms. This mask wearing will continue while the current definition of a close contact remains. We are hopeful that everyone will recognise that, whilst it may be uncomfortable, wearing masks will allow students to remain at school and in boarding, and this is a good outcome. We hope to review mask wearing indoors at the end of Week Two next term. 

Changes to Term Two restrictions allow parents and hosts to enter the boarding houses with a mask on.  Visitors are no longer required to sign in and are only required to show current proof of vaccination, if you visit more than once in a week. We look forward to offering parents a cup of tea or coffee in the houses next term. 

Staff Leave

Mr Steve Button is taking long service for Term Two, the current bus drivers will take on the extra required shifts. We wish Steve and Leanne a restful term travelling North to the sunshine.

Mrs Freeman is taking long service leave next term, we have covered her usual shifts with our present staff, any new staff added to the Endeavour team will be introduced next term. We wish Amber a safe journey in her travels up north in Western Australia and the Northern Territory and look forward to her safe return for Term Three.

We hope you enjoy your school holidays with your family and we look forward to seeing boarders return on ANZAC Day from 4.00pm. Please contact your Head of Boarding House if you require access earlier.

Ms Vanessa Bromhead | Head of Senior Boarding

Mrs Tara Ball | Head of Middle Boarding