Boarding

It has been a warm welcome back to the Boarding House this term... well that is if you are inside! Boarders have returned this week in good spirits and with open arms, happy to reunite with their boarding family. Boarding in Term Three is very busy, with many school and boarding events in the calendar – all providing for the full boarding experience.

Annual Soirée

With the success of last year's inaugural boarding community cocktail soirée at the Hamilton Club, I am pleased to announce we are inviting all boarding parents/guardians to come together again on Friday 8 August at 5pm. Invitations will be in your mailbox next week, please RSVP so that we can organise catering. 

Events such as our soirée continue to strengthen the partnership that we have with our parent community and serve to celebrate all our parents and their commitment to our Boarding House.

Birthday Cakes – Sophie Merrin and Pippa Williamson

Our Year 12 boarders are fortunate to have access to cooking facilities in their House. Many Year 12s take advantage of this and cook up small meals and snacks. At times this involves boarders extending their repertoire of skills and this year we have seen baking and even a roast! 

Notably, Sophie Merrin and Pippa Williamson have invested significant time in their cake making. Having these facilities for Year 12s not only allows them to have the opportunity to be independent but also encourages them to be prepared for life beyond Year 12. Facilities such as these are truly an advantage of boarding at College. Let’s cross our fingers for a Boarder’s Cookbook one day?

Scavenger Hunt and House Competition 

The last activity of Term Two was one to remember. Our Boarding Captains, Henrietta and Henry, led the charge and organised an inaugural Scavenger Hunt. The hunt involved challenges for boarders to race around the boarding precinct and take photos as evidence of their finds. With teams made up of all year levels, it was a great way to build friendships and connections across the ages.  

Well done captains, this was a f fantastic initiative, a lot of fun was had, and it was a wonderful way to cap off a successful term.

Welcome New Boarders 

This week we had the pleasure of welcoming three new boarders - Lily (Year 11), Celestine (Year 8), and Josie (Year 10) - to Macdonald House. It has been lovely to see the new students embraced and involved in boarding life so quickly. Our Boarding House is certainly defined by the high standard of care, nurturing environment and community feel. I believe this is largely due to the fact that our families and boarding house are aligned in shared values and high standards. Welcome girls and welcome families to College.

Creating Future Leaders – Boarding Leadership Course for Year 11s 

This term presents an opportunity for our Year 11s to extend themselves and apply for 2026 leadership positions. I strongly believe each boarder has the capacity and competency to lead because of their experience in boarding. As a boarder, communication skills and relating to other people and their experiences is vital - which are also important leadership traits. Also, boarding promotes the ability to resolve problems, create new ideas and put small projects into action, which is a perfect environment to practice and refine leadership skills. 

In order to further promote leadership and increase capacity, I have developed a short leadership program for Year 11 boarders this term. Myself, Dr Horne, and Miss Waldron will deliver topics and run activities designed to prepare our Year 11s for strong and confident leadership in 2026. Topics include: understanding leadersh strengths, application and interview techniques, leading students, and putting ideas into action. I'm looking forward to working with our Year 11s and seeing their success in leadership come to fruition in 2026.