Boarding 

Making confident progress

There are silver linings in many adversity, and the COVID-19 period certainly has allowed us to realise the strengths of our boarding community – our strong support to one another. This week, I was fortunate enough to be involved in two boarding family zoom meetings; one with our South Australian families, and one open to all boarding families.

I am greatly appreciated of the England family (Georgina England, Yr 9) who initiated a zoom meeting for our South Australian families this week. This meeting was organised to address the concerns regarding cross-border travel and isolation periods if and when boarders return to South Australia. Decisions are being made by each family based upon their context and these decisions are certainly not made lightly. The zoom meeting was a wonderful way for our families to hear each other’s situation, empathise and support each other.

All families who were involved felt at ease in chatting, asking questions, and clarifying any concerns. Below is a piece from Dani written in reflection of the meeting.

There were hugs, laughs, glasses of wine and general chatter between South East boarding parents on Monday night when we caught-up to talk about the options for our children to return to school this term. All virtual of course! 12 families met ‘on-line’ to talk about how (or if) their children can return to school with their friends from next week. 

The phones have been running hot between boarding families ever since the announcement that College would return on May 26 for Years 11 & 12; and June 9 for everyone else. With all families ‘exploring’ what the best decision would be for their families, businesses and communities. 

Many South East parents are involved in a medical profession, and others have siblings at local schools (or work in local schools), making it very hard for boarding life to start this term. (Legally any SA student will need to self-isolate in their rooms for 14 days away from the rest of the family during school holidays if they come home at the end of this term.) Many of the SA Year 11 students are likely to return; with many of the middle school students likely to continue with remote learning.

We are all hopeful that by the start of Term 3, 7 weeks away, border restrictions may have eased, making it easier for the students to come home as normal – or will they need to stay in boarding like their international peers? With the COVID-19 restrictions’ changing daily, the general census amongst the boarding parents was to ‘wait and see’.

We are a close-knit group of parents (and we agree on lots of things) but we especially agreed the College teachers have been doing an amazing job during remote learning. We would like to pass on our appreciation for the extra time and effort they have made during this time to give our children all the opportunities remote learning can provide. 

Danielle England; mum to Georgina, Year 9; Keilira via Kingston, South Australia.

In preparation for a return to Boarding

With our preparations well under way, it is important for our boarding families to make their own preparations before returning. We strongly encourage boarders to have received the flu immunisation and to download the COVID-19 mobile app before they return. Boarders, as with all students, will need to be prepared with their winter uniform. The uniform shop is available for our Year 11 and Year 12 boarders this Sunday the 24th of May; an appointment is necessary before arriving to the uniform shop.

There have been many changes in how we operate in boarding, and, these changes are all in best interest for boarders, staff, and the community. Our boarders and boarding families have been briefed via zoom meetings and a parent information booklet issued. In speaking with many families there are obvious concerns regarding social distancing and hygiene, which, we have been able to answer with confidence. I can also report there has been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our community with all of our staff being advised to undertake a COVID-19 test this week.

I, as with all staff members, am looking forward to seeing our boarders return to their respective Houses as of this Sunday and over the course of the next two weeks. 

Andrew Monk