The REC Corner

Recreation

Term Three has been a busy one for Boarding Recreation, with weekends filled with everything from beach trips and cinema outings to sport, baking, coffee runs and our regular Social Sundays.

Behind all of that, though, has been a bigger focus on continuing to shape a Recreation program that our boarders genuinely want to be part of. Recreation is an important part of boarding life. After a full week of school, study, sport and other commitments, the weekend provides an opportunity for boarders to do something different, spend time with friends and enjoy some independence away from their normal routine.

Out & About

Living in Albany gives us plenty of opportunities to get away from campus, and we have tried to make the most of that throughout the term. Beach trips and walks have continued to be popular, alongside visits to ALAC, cinema trips, café outings, morning teas, fishing and trips into town.

Not every Recreation activity needs to be something big or complicated. Sometimes an afternoon at the beach, a walk with friends or the chance to grab a coffee is exactly what boarders want after a busy week, giving them a change of scenery, time with friends and some choice in how they spend their weekend.

Sport, Games & Getting Involved

There has also been plenty happening back on campus. Friday Night Footy, indoor sports, games on the oval and other casual activities have provided opportunities for students to get involved, regardless of whether they play competitive sport. We have also enjoyed supporting boarders in their own sporting commitments, particularly as the winter season reached its conclusion with a number of hockey and netball finals. It has been great to see students heading along to support their friends and celebrate the achievements of fellow boarders.

One of the aims of Recreation is to complement everything else happening in boarding rather than compete with it. Some weekends are busy with sport, school commitments and leave, while others provide more opportunity for larger trips. Having a flexible program allows us to respond to that.

Food, Fun & Social Sundays

Some of the best moments this term have also come from activities that bring everyone together. Boarders have taken part in the Boarding Quiz Night, Bake Offs, made rocky road for the Kingfisher Fair, headed out on dessert runs and joined in with our weekly Social Sunday activities.

Social Sunday has become a regular part of the weekend and gives everyone an opportunity to come together before the new school week begins. Our Gappies have taken an increasingly active role in helping organise these activities, bringing their own ideas and energy to the program.

Shaping Recreation Together

Perhaps the biggest focus this term has been encouraging boarders to take greater ownership of Recreation. Each week, students are given the opportunity to respond to activities through REACH. Accepting an invitation tells us that an activity is something they want to be part of, but declining is useful too. Both help us understand what students are interested in and allow us to plan activities, staffing and transport more effectively.

Ideas have also come from our boarders, parents, staff and Gappies throughout the term. Some can be added to the calendar straightaway, while others take a little more planning, but having those suggestions helps us continue developing a program that reflects the interests of our boarding community.

The goal moving forward is to keep building that sense of ownership. Rather than Recreation simply being something that is planned for our boarders, we want it to be something that is increasingly shaped with them. There will always be the favourites, but there should also be opportunities to try activities we haven't done before.

Thank you to every boarder who has signed up, offered an idea, encouraged a friend to come along or simply given something different a go this term, and to the parents, staff and Gappies who have contributed ideas and supported recreation along the way.

Mr Kyle Kovacs | Boarding Recreation Officer