Endeavour House News

Endeavour House Update

I'd like to take a moment to thank all the staff who supported Endeavour House last term. A special shout-out to Madi, who led the team with enthusiasm, care and commitment throughout the term. I am incredibly grateful for the contribution of our boarding team, and the growth I have witnessed in our students has been awesome.

While the weather has become cooler, the energy in Endeavour remains as high as ever. If boarding is the heartbeat of the school, I think Endeavour might just be the ventricles! There is never a dull moment in the house, whether it's students making milos, creating sand jumps near the new pump track, or students sharing stories that leave staff in fits.

One of the most pleasing developments is the way students have settled into their prep routines. Positive learning habits are becoming increasingly automatic, and students are demonstrating greater independence and responsibility. The standard of bedroom hygiene has also improved significantly, with students showing respect for themselves, their belongings and their shared boarding spaces.

One area that continues to ebb and flow is sleep. A good night's rest is essential for learning, wellbeing and participation in school and boarding life. At times, some students visit friends' rooms after lights out, often as a way of managing homesickness or maintaining social connections. While these feelings are understandable, it is important that all students have the opportunity to get the sleep they need without disruption.

I encourage families to have a conversation with their child about their sleep habits. Are they getting enough rest? Do they have strategies that help them settle at night? If you have any concerns or suggestions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Finally, thank you to all families for engaging with our Endeavour Messenger groups. We hope these platforms help strengthen the connection between home and boarding life. A special thank you to Kylie Severin and Veronica Thomas for their ongoing support in managing these spaces and keeping families informed.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We look forward to another exciting and rewarding term in Endeavour House.

Mrs Nyree Mackenzie | Head of Endeavour House

And now for some words from two of our new Gap Assistants in Endeavour House!

Kim Farquhar:

Hi everyone! My name is Kim, and I’m currently spending my gap year in Australia, where I’m enjoying a completely new experience and making lots of exciting memories. I’m originally from Aberdeen, Scotland, and before coming to Australia, I spent many years playing netball, a sport that has always been a huge part of my life. I have played competitively for around six years, and I’m now enjoying the opportunity to continue playing while I’m here.

As part of my gap year, I’m working in a role that combines outdoor education with helping in the classroom. I’ve always enjoyed working with children and young people, so I’m really excited to be able to support them, encourage them and hopefully make a positive difference.

Moving from Scotland to Australia has been a big adventure, and I’m enjoying experiencing a different lifestyle, meeting new people and exploring everything Australia has to offer. I’m excited to make the most of my time here, try new things and create memories that I’ll be able to look back on for years to come!

Ted Lloyd:

Hello,  

My name is Ted Lloyd. I am from North London and am a new Gap Assistant at Great Southern Grammar, living and working in the Endeavour boarding house.

I thoroughly enjoy working within a school as I have had previous work experience within schools in England with teaching. And I wanted to come and work over in Australia at GSG to further my experience and decide whether teaching is the right career path for me - and in my opinion, there is no better way to make that decision then doing this experience. 

I am thoroughly interested in sport; this is where I specialise as I play many sports back in England with my main two being rugby union and cricket. However, since I have been over here in Albany, I have recently joined an AFL club which really helps me have shared interests with the students and allows for my own personal enjoyment.

I hope to gain independence and real-world work experience from this experience of being a Gap Assistant; it is a real opportunity to make me a more mature and experienced young adult.  

I have been in Albany for two weeks now, and I already feel like this is my home as I have been welcomed in with open arms from the whole school and I already love being here and working in this lovely environment. The students have also been extremely welcoming, and I am loving getting to know them all and building rapport with every student within Endeavour and the rest of the boarding houses. 

Finally, I am extremely excited for what this year has to offer, and what is next to come throughout my time at Great Southern Grammar.