What a Start to 2026!

We’ve had a fantastic, fun, hectic, emotional, and truly exciting start to the boarding year in Endeavour House. With so many 'firsts' happening for our students, it has been wonderful to see them step into boarding life with such enthusiasm and courage.

Our new and returning boarders have shown bravery, resilience, and genuine care for one another - a heart‑warming reminder of the power of positive role‑modelling, friendship, and peer mentorship within our community.

A huge shout‑out goes to the incredible supervisory and gap staff working in and around the house. Every single shift, they give their all to ensure our boarders are safe, nurtured, heard, fed, watered, rested, prepared, engaged and wearing the right uniform on the right day! We are also deeply grateful for our wider support teams - nurses, bus drivers, cleaners, catering staff, and our maintenance crew - who work tirelessly behind the scenes to care for your precious children.

Life on the River

We’ve wasted no time getting outdoors. Multiple after‑school fishing trips to the point have already resulted in plenty of bream, herring, and trumpeter - though only a lucky few have managed to land an elusive mulloway so far! Beyond fishing, the river continues to be a favourite place to explore the shelly shoreline and roam through the Wild Space area.

House Values & Boundaries

Now that we’ve settled in, I spoke with the students this week about the importance of physical boundaries and treating one another with kindness. Endeavour House - and boarding as a whole - should be a place of safety, peace, and comfort for every student. A space to relax, switch off, and unwind after a busy school day.

Birthdays at Endeavour House

Birthday video presentations have become a special tradition for us. For every child, I will create a short photo slideshow with music to help celebrate their special day. This includes:

Students who have already had their birthday this term
Students whose birthdays fall during the holidays

I will soon send a Dropbox link for you to upload 40–50 photos of your child - from birth through to now. These images, and the videos, are viewed only within Endeavour House.

Please upload photos one week before your child’s birthday, and text me once your upload is complete.

Mrs Nyree Mackenzie | Head of Endeavour House

First Impressions from our Boarders:

"My first few weeks at boarding were amazing, we had such a fun first weekend, we did bowling and we went to the beach. Being in boarding has a bunch of perks such as, great food in the dining hall, getting to school early, and having a great time with friends. In boarding it is quite important to make great friends and connections as you will be with them almost all the way through school. I have made so many friends in boarding, not only in my boarding house but in the other boarding houses too. I love boarding!!!"

- Ruby Tucker

"This year at boarding has been really great so far. Luke and I are staying up in Eclipse, although it is a bit different up there to Endeavour it is still really good and all the older boys have helped me settle in well. Even though I am a Year Eight up in Eclipse I still see all the kids from Endeavour a lot of the time. But sadly, I am selling my farm and moving to Albany, I'm going to miss it a lot. Especially all the IGA runs on the weekend, going for rides with my mates, and especially going on rec to a lot of places. In conclusion, I think boarding will be something I will always be proud to have been a part of."

- Bailey Ettridge

"I have really enjoyed being at boarding for the first week. Everyone has been so welcoming and nice, including all the supervisors and other students in other houses. I had fun making lots of new friends and going to the beach with Ashlee, Jodi, and Kyle. I was very surprised of how well I ended up settling into boarding, I settled in very well."

- Louise Ramm

"In the first week of school it was normal. I didn't really have a reaction until later on. One of the challenges was working out how to use this laptop. One of the surprises was how fast days go by and how posh it is here, but mostly how easy it is to become friends with people."

- Romeo Woods

"I love boarding. It is such an amazing experience and it's so fun. We get to do so much stuff."

- Jacob Ferry

"My name is Eden Rumble and I am a new boarder. Boarding is very different to home because you don't see your family every day. I like boarding because I've made lots of new friends along with friends from school. I also like boarding because we do fun things like fishing and hanging with our friends after school and going to the Plaza and there's fun rec stuff like bowling. At bowling I was put in a team with lots of my friends and it was lots of fun."

- Eden Rumble

"Boarding has been pretty good so far. Making friends has been hard but I'm sure I will get there, but apart from that, it has been pretty good, and I think that is why I was homesick before."

- Chirsty Kershaw

"My first week of boarding at GSG was definitely a little uncomfortable from being homesick, but I learnt so many new things about boarding. Boarding isn't bad at all, it's just my brain overthinking everything. Going into Week Two now I feel like I belong here and if I feel a little homesick I just hang out with all my friends. At boarding, I absolutely love the afternoon tea it is absolutely delicious!! Thanks for reading."

- Amelia King

"My first week went alright, I feel good about boarding. I only have trouble going to sleep and entertaining myself on the weekends. I felt really excited for school and it was really fun."

- Lesley Flowers

"Boarding is awesome, I'm glad to be a part of such an amazing community."

- Luke Altham

"Boarding is full of laughter, fun and excitement. I love boarding, when you're feeling homesick or just bored Mrs Mackenzie or the gappies are the people to talk to. Every weekend there is something to do or see. After having a rough day at school, it's the best feeling to come back to boarding, to chill. Boarding is the place to be."

- Mia Hawley

"I think that boarding has been a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I have felt nervous, excited, and many other feelings. I have absolutely loved boarding! The food is great, everyone is so supportive, and the rec is super fun! I can't wait to make more memories and friends as I go through my boarding journey."

- Layla Gorman

"These two weeks have been good, not really much to say, school has also been good."

- Peighton Beckett

"Boarding is good and I like to have a double room."

- Connor Waldron

"I love boarding school because I got to make new friends and I had lots of fun at the shed and having sleepovers. I love school, this is a great opportunity for me. I was so excited to come here."

- Richie Mazak

"Boarding is a place where I will have some of my best memories and times. It is very fun and very enjoyable."

- Toby Hinkley

"My first week at boarding was really enjoyable. I really enjoy talking to the supervisors and gappies. I was surprised how well I settled in, and how good the food was. I really like all the rec we do on the weekend, and I feel like I have settled in a lot quicker than I expected."

- Lorelei Severin

The Boarding Buzz

Term One 2026 | Issue 86 · 24 Feb 2026

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