From the Leader of Boarding

Dear Boarding Families,

Welcome to this edition of Boarders Buzz. We hope all of our Boarding Community are safe and well.  With 3 weeks to go, our Year 11 (HSC12) Boarders will have begun their Year 12 2021 studies in earnest, other students will be involved in harvest, work placement and gearing up for the Festive Season. All will be hoping for a smoother year and one where the pandemic is behind us.

College Graduations

On Friday 13 November, many of the Mount Erin 2020 Year 12 Boarders attended their respective Kildare and Mater Dei College Graduations, albeit in a restricted form dictated by COVID-19 guidelines.  Whilst these two events  had a small number of physical staff / guests, the online coverage was excellent and enjoyed by parents and others alike.

These graduations provided a finale to the academic journey for the class of 2020 and was their last school event as the class of 2020. On behalf of Mount Erin, its Boarding staff and the Year 7-11 boarders, we wish them all the best for their future endeavours and thank them for their contribution to residential life.

Residential Life

Boarding schools around the world operate in a very similar way. Boarding House daily routine is very familiar no matter what country you find yourself in and the topics of food, leave, activities, study time, lights out, single rooms, air conditioning amongst many others are always on the agendas of students, parents and staff.

Boarding is predominantly about pastoral care in a residential setting, which includes an established routine, boundaries, expectations and support of academic learning. Much work is dedicated around positive relationships, responsibilities and the very basic but extremely important foundation of trust. Supervision is carried out by year level Supervisors, an Activities Officer and other casual staff.

Mount Erin's weekly Boarding programme consisting of 4 nights / 5 day (for long distance students like those from Lake Cargelligo students there is a 6th night - Sunday arrival for Monday), provides residential living consisting of a single room space for sleeping / study, three main meals (plus morning tea, afternoon tea and supper) Monday to Thursday and cooked breakfast / morning tea / lunch and afternoon tea each Friday.

The Mount Erin weekly boarding programme existence is based on the need to support students from the more remote areas of the Riverina, in order to attend either Kildare of Mater Dei Catholic Colleges for their academic studies. Students residing at Mount Erin can avail themselves of on campus and off campus activities.  The central location of Mount Erin lends itself to a wide array of local vendors and club activities.

Mount Erin has a seven seater boarding car which provides transport to medical / dental appointments, sports training and shopping. This service relies on bookings in order to cater for drop off / pick up between 3.30pm and 7.30pm. The Mount Erin daily routine whilst similar to other boarding schools in Australia and around the world having familiar aspects in general, is unique and provides  for formal and informal academic study, sleeping, eating, socialising, activities, sport, discussion, leadership and lifelong friendships - unique in that this all happens within a four night / five day programme.  At the end of each week, Mount Erin boarders can go home. The best of two worlds.

Mount Erin - similar, familiar but also unique in the world of Boarding / Residential Life.

Sunday Night Arrivals

Mount Erin opens between 7.00pm and 8.30pm on Sunday evenings term time, primarily to cater for students traveling by bus from Lake Cargelligo.  A light meal is on offer for the students upon arrival after which, they prepare for school the next day. Receiving and supervising the students is a male and female supervisor and the Leader of Boarding.

Communications

We recommend that families communicate with the Boarding Office during the weekday office hours and before close of day on Fridays (4.00pm). Boarding Supervisors are contracted to begin at 3.00pm Monday and complete their duties at 9.00am on Friday - they are not available on weekends. Supervisors are off duty Monday to Thursday between 9.00am and 3.00pm. The Boarding Office contact number is: 69326199.

Security

Currently, the MEB front doors are armed from 7.30pm Monday to Thursday. This coincides with the end of our Transport Officer's duties. Aside from exceptional or approved circumstances, students should not be outside of the Boarding House at this time. Any person wishing to enter the Boarding House needs to call the appropriate Supervisor upon arrival.

Entry will be via the Office keyed wire security door only. The front Door Bell will not be operable.

REACH

Having trouble with REACH? Please contact the Boarding Office for help.

If you are unable to use REACH please email details of your request / query to your son's / daughter's Supervisor and CC to the Leader of Boarding and Ms Amanda Hilton our Administrative Officer.

Orientation Days Year 7 2021 and New Students in Year 8 - Year 11 in 2021 - For details, See the Event Page in this issue of Boarders Buzz.

Mr John Bussenschutt |Leader of Boarding

~Click on images to enlarge~