From the Boarding Captain

Hello everyone, if you didn’t know already this week is National Boarding Week!!!!!!!!! It is an annual week-long event where boarding schools across Australia get to showcase the benefits of boarding life and celebrate the unique community’s that is created.

I have been boarding here at Grammar for almost six years now. I first began back in Year Seven like many of us. It was a massive change, from living at home on a small farm to living with over 80 people I’ve never met. This is a very scary and daunting experience. You never know what to expect when you first arrive. Though in these past six years I can tell you it is one of the most rewarding experiences. You meet so many people from across Australia and make many memories that you will remember for years to come.

Though boarding feels like a massive sleepover with your friends it is also quite challenging. Being separated from your family and home for long periods of time is very tough and every so often our friend homesickness always likes to pay us a few visits. But we all work together to help each other out through the tough times and support and celebrate each other’s success.

Boarding at Great Southern Grammar began back in 2000 with the opening of Anchorage House. This was followed by Endeavour in 2003 (which is now known as the Year Seven/Eight boarders) and Michaelmas in 2010. During the building of Eclipse (the senior boys house) and Breaksea (the senior girls house), Flinders, an offsite boarding house located just past the bayonet head shopping centre was used. The boarders who lived there were bused in and out every day to get to school. Once Breaksea opened in 2016 Flinders shut down for good. Since then, we have had many houses open and close and also the building and expansion of the dining hall, all of which you can see today.

To celebrate Boarding week, we had a boarding assembly on Monday which showcased to the rest of the school what boarding school is like. We heard from Isla Patterson, Matilda Norrish and Matthew Cant about their experiences in boarding. A video of the assembly can be found here. That night we also cut the annual National Boarding Week cake. We had our oldest and youngest students, Sophie Harris and Stella Harris, and they did a wonderful job beginning the celebrations!

On Tuesday we had a dress-up day with the theme of Aussie Outback which filled the school with many farmers. Boots got pulled out and there were many work shirts and flannelettes.

On Wednesday we had a Boarders vs Day students Netball game in the gym. It was a very close match, resulting in a tie of 14 all! There were many loud screams from the sidelines from the support of fellow boarders and staff. Many photos can be seen on the GSG social media. There were also burgers for sale at lunch. I want to say a huge thanks to the catering staff for organising and selling burgers.

All of the funds raised will be donated to The Darcy Effect, which aims to raise awareness and funds for rural medical services and provide care bags for those in need.

We also had our School Captains join us this week for a stay in boarding. As Amy Medway is already a boarder, of course she spent her week here. But we were fortunate to have Colin Ferreria spend his week in boarding enjoying the celebrations.

This week I not only want to recognise the boarders who are living away from their homes but also the staff who make it possible for all of us to be here in such a supportive community. To the boarding supervisors, boarding parents and the kitchen staff. I want to thank you for all your effort and support to each and every one of us. And to the parents, although we rarely show our appreciation, we are forever grateful for the opportunity’s you have provided for us.

I hope everyone enjoyed Boarding week and you all have an exciting rest of term!

Chloe Climie | Boarding Captain