Boarding

With great pleasure, I write in the first newsletter for 2025 and welcome all our boarding families, local and abroad. Thank you to all who were able to attend the Boarder Family Afternoon Tea this week. Your support and commitment is greatly appreciated. I understand it’s a challenge to get to such an event but if you can make it on Friday, we also looking forward to seeing you at the annual College Welcome Drinks.

Our boarders have moved in with confidence. They are traversing the first week with happy faces, particularly setting up their new rooms and connecting with their roommates. Of course, we will experience ups and downs, as always in life, but our team is here to support your child/ren as best we possibly can. With 21 new faces starting their boarding journey this year, our Boarding House is a flurry of excitement and nerves. As weeks 2 and 3 get underway, these nerves will settle, and the boarding and school life rhythm will take effect.

Part of transitioning into boarding is being engaged in activities offered by the Boarding House. This weekend, our annual Port Fairy Surfing excursion will go ahead on Sunday, with wonderful weather to be expected. As I mentioned on the first day back, the theme/mantra of this year is to give everything a go and write your own story. Getting involved in activities such as surfing is a perfect start to living this mantra. Activities are not only on weekends, during the week we also have Boarder of the Week presentations, Tricky Trivia Tuesday, and Theme Nights, all of which I am looking forward to sharing with our community. 

Henry Russell and Henrietta Russell will be leading our Boarding House as Captains this year. Their presentation at the Afternoon Tea was an impressive introduction and articulate speech, which we were proud to hear. Our boarders are being led by fine young adults and role models.

For those who may not be involved in boarding, I extend a warm welcome to all existing College families for a successful start to the year.

Casual Boarding

If you are considering taking up the opportunity of casual boarding this year, please contact our Registrar Susie Holcombe, holcombes@hamiltoncollege.vic.edu.au. 

Susie will be able to guide you through the steps of casual boarding and the appropriate paperwork. Many families take up this offering throughout the year, booking in a regular evening or two to cut down travel time when students are participating in after school or early morning activities. Our girls House, Macdonald House is particularly busy and booking early in the year is advised. 

If you would like to know more about casual boarding, or if you would like to have a walk about the Boarding House, Susie and I would be more than happy to call or meet you face to face and show you about. 

GAP Students

I am excited to welcome our two GAP students, Rosie Baker and Honor Gibbons, both from the UK.  

Rosie and Honor are excited to start their Australian adventure at College and have plans of extended travel during the holiday breaks. Rosie is a keen hockey player whilst Honor will be getting involved in local Netball in Casterton. I’m so pleased for the girls to be here this year, and am excited for their involvement in the Boarding House, Senior School, and our Junior School. Welcome Rosie and Honor.

Important dates - Term 1, 2025.

• Friday, 31 January: Parent Welcome Drinks at Senior School.
• Sunday, 2 February: Boarding House Port Fairy surfing activity for all boarders.
• Friday, 7 - Monday, 10 March: EXEAT weekend. Boarding House is closed from Friday 5 pm to Monday 12 pm.
• Friday, 5 April: End of Term 1. Boarding House closes at 5 pm. Naracoorte bus runs on this day.