Boarding News

As the first term draws to a close, it is a good opportunity to reflect. One of the challenges of Boarding is to balance the need to maintain a sense of order and create a respectful environment, all the while being mindful of the fact that teenagers are our core business. It is right and normal for those in our care to not always be their best selves in the hours that exist between the end of the school day and the start of a new one. Everyone needs a chance to drop the façade that we have to maintain in our daily interactions with others; for most students, this occurs in the relative safety of the family home. It is, however, more of a challenge for those whose homes happen to be boarding houses where they are surrounded by people who are not family. Considering all of this, we feel privileged to work with the teenagers that we work with. They are a credit to all their families and have managed themselves magnificently this term, despite the aforementioned pressures of teenage boarding life. Please pass on my congratulations to them; your children have set a high standard for themselves that I have complete confidence they will uphold for the remainder of the year.

While the first two weeks of Term 2 will be punctuated with public holidays, it is worth noting that the Boarding House will open at 4 pm on Sunday 23 April. Upon the return of your children, can you please ensure that they have all of the school uniform items they require (including black, polishable shoes) and that they bring with them a good supply of personal hygiene products.

The start of Term 2 also signals the start of another St Philip’s tradition: camp season. Term 2 will see Year 8s (starting week 2) and Year 11s going on camp. It is a College and Boarding House expectation that all Boarding students in residence will attend; no alternative program will be offered at school while camps are running and those who do not attend will be expected to find alternative accommodation. The Boarding House Assistant Jen Inglis will be in touch, but can you please ensure that you send your children back with all of the equipment and clothes that they require for camp; this information has previously been shared via email and Operoo – it will also be sent home with your children. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Jen Inglis in the Boarding office at 08 8950 4586.

Please be aware that important school-based immunisation permission forms will be sent home with your children at the end of the term.  The vaccinations are for Year 9 Meningococcal ACWY and Year 10 Aboriginal students Pneumococcal and all boarding students will be receiving the Influenza Vaccination.  Please ensure all signed consent forms are returned with your child no later than Monday 24th April (Week 1 – Term 2). Students will only be vaccinated with returned, completed, and signed consent forms.

We will be offering all Year 10 - Year 12 students the opportunity to participate in the “B Part of It NT” study and get a free vaccine to protect them against Meningococcal B infection. Details of the trial and permission forms will also go home at the end of the term for you. Please discuss this opportunity with your child.

To finish, I want to reiterate my congratulations to your children for a most magnificent start to the year. I hope the holidays provide them with a well-deserved rest at home. We look forward to seeing them again soon.

~ Rob McArthur  

Director of Boarding