Walker House Handbook

The Friends' School Residential Accommodation

Quaker Principles

Simplicity

Early Quakers felt they should live simply, tending to real needs and avoiding luxuries. They were aware of the poverty around them, and that resources needed to be shared. For Quakers today, simplicity of lifestyle is hard but the testimony is there to challenge us. At Walker we strive to:

  • use financial and natural resources carefully
  • keep popular culture in perspective to avoid distraction from what is truly important
  • keep informed about the effects our style of living is having on the global economy and environment

Peace

Peace is seen by Quakers as far more than a rejection of warfare. In the silent meditation and prayer of the Quaker Meeting for Worship, and in their search in daily life for that of God in all people, Quakers have sought to develop an ethos that puts love of our fellow human beings into practice. At Walker, we try to:

  • foster effective communication
  • seek simple solutions to problems or disagreements
  • encourage problem solving and assume students have worthy, practical ideas.

Integrity

Speaking the truth is both the simplest way of living your life, and yet difficult to achieve. At Walker, we:

  • treat others with respect and honesty
  • strive to speak the truth, even when it is difficult, and say difficult things with tact and sensitivity
  • take responsibility for our actions and their results

Community

Community is fundamentally about responding to the needs of others. We are committed to cultivating positive relationships between students and staff at Walker House. Balancing the needs of the individual with the needs of the group is a necessary challenge when living in community. We attempt to:

  • plan activities that enable students to bridge differences and create a close, working group
  • create a safe, nurturing atmosphere in which students can share all sides of themselves
  • empower students to share responsibility for the Walker culture

Equality

At Walker, a variety of persons and perspectives are welcome.We aim to build a community that embraces individuals and sees the good in everyone. We work to:

  • respect different people and different ideas
  • celebrate a rich community made up of many cultures
  • create a residence where individuals are appreciated and judged based on their contributions and performance rather than their gender, race, religion, physical abilities or socioeconomic condition

Stewardship

Protect and care for the Earth is a sacred trust. Quakers endeavour to walk lightly on the Earth. At Walker we:

  • recycle and reuse whenever possible, and try to reduce the amount of energy we consume
  • promote environmental, economic, and social sustainability
  • encourage students to consider the impact products and services have on the environment and the long-term implications for our future

About Walker House

Walker House is managed by a professional team of staff committed to providing a warm, supportive and inclusive environment for boarding students. We strive to:

  • recognise and foster the individual talents and potential of each student
  • encourage students to participate actively in the academic, social, cultural and recreational aspects of our residential community
  • help students grow towards maturity with developing confidence, self discipline and integrity
  • guide students towards responsible and independent decision making, in accordance with Quaker values
  • establish effective study and work patterns

Living in residential accommodation enables students to learn how to live harmoniously with others. Students learn to respect personal differences and to develop social maturity. Considerable emphasis is placed on cooperation and trust in our community. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, but carefully supervised to ensure the wellbeing of all members of the community.

 

We are an international community and we value our global outlook and connections throughout the world. The cultural and religious backgrounds of all community members are respected. Students of all nationalities are fully integrated into one sociable boarding community.

 

Walker House provides the following boarding options:

  • full-time (seven days per week)
  • five-day boarding (Sunday 5.45pm through to Friday 5.30pm)
  • short-term or occasional boarding (where available)

We are a coeducational school with boarding facilities for 23 girls and 23 boys in Years 7 – 12. Students have an individual room in designated male/female areas and share common areas for meals and recreation.

 

Walker House is situated in North Hobart on the fringe of the Clemes Campus, and one block from the High School Campus. For students 16 years and over, gym membership at Friends Health & Fitness is included in the boarding fee.

 

Families opting to enrol their child as a five-day boarder must sign the Five-Day Boarding Agreement, which outlines the conditions of this arrangement.

 

Five-Day Boarding Agreement

Students are expected to return home for the weekend, departing Walker House by 5.30pm Friday and returning by 5.45pm Sunday (depending on transport arrangements). If a student is not returning home for the weekend, then parents must notify the Director of Residence by Wednesday of that week. Extra charges are made to families for each extra night a student is in residence.