Breaksea House News

Hello Breaksea Community!

We seemed to have blinked, and the term is nearly halfway through. There are a lot of exciting changes as our boarders prepare for the new responsibilities of a fresh school year and the fun and relaxation of summer holidays awaits just beyond the horizon. 

Change Over Day

The Change Over Day will be the date when each of our year groups will progress upwards into the privileges and responsibilities of next year. The rationale behind this, is to give everyone the chance to gradually settle into the changes that the new year will bring. The change over date will be on Monday, Week Six (13 November). The following changes will occur for each year group:

Year Nine Endeavour Students (Moving Up to Breaksea)

The Year Nine Endeavour students will move up to Breaksea House in the end of the Ford Wing where the Year Twelve students have vacated. When they move up, we’ll have a range of activities and supports in place to help them adjust to life in Breaksea. I’m confident our current Breaksea boarders will show kindness and inclusivity towards our incoming students. 

Year Ten Breaksea Students (ICT Weekend Restrictions)

Beginning in Week Six, there’ll be a trial period until the end of term that introduces new phone restriction to our Year Ten students. Phones and devices will be required to be handed in on both Friday and Saturday night at 10.15pm and will be returned to students at 7.00am the following day. This change will be occurring in both senior houses to align with the existing regulations in the junior houses. This change is being brought in to help boost the wellbeing of our boarders and to encourage them to get quality sleep on the weekends so that they have energy to get out and about and make the most of their weekends. At the end of the trial period, feedback will be sought from current Year Ten parents and students on this proposed change. 

Year Eleven Breaksea Students (Phone Contracts)

To help our graduating students to develop independence and self -regulation, our Year Twelves will be permitted to keep their devices on them at all times next year. In Week Five, our current Year Eleven students will be presented with an ICT contract that will commence on the Change Over Day, which will grant them the independence to manage their own IT use. The contract will place trust in them to manage their devices wisely but will note that if their ICT use starts to negatively affect their study, sleep or wellbeing, that their devices will return to being regulated. Our ultimate goal is to help them develop healthy IT habits that they can manage independently. 

Year Eleven Breaksea Students (Cars)

On the Sunday after the Closed Weekend, when our Year Elevens return, they are welcome to bring their cars back on to campus, provided they have completed their Driving Permission Form (Boarders) located here. 

Congratulations to our Year Elevens who have their license and good luck to those going for tests soon!

Mentorship in Breaksea

We were very lucky this week, to have previous GSG graduate, Ciara Franklin, come to Breaksea House on Sunday evening to speak to our Breaksea boarders about the transition from school to University. It was really helpful for the boarders to get some advice and a chance to ask someone with recent, lived experience about this transition. 

Ciara’s friendly and encouraging nature, alongside her genuine recount of her experiences and helpful tips, made for a positive and supportive evening. We’re so grateful to Ciara for sharing her time and experiences with us and look forward to continually welcoming mentors like Ciara into the house to help build our boarders’ confidence for the future. 

Headspace Partnership

Headspace Albany has been partnering with us here in Breaksea House and our wider boarding community. They’ve provided accessible resources for our students on wellbeing, positive study habits and strategies to support mental health. These handouts and leaflets can be accessed in our new stand near the Breaksea Office. In addition, the Access Team at Headspace have been joining us for dinners in the Dining Hall, once a term, to build connections and familiarity with the students. Headspace Appointments can be made by any of our students through our school nurses and transport to and from these appointments is coordinated. A team of trained psychologists from Headspace provide these free and helpful appointments and we encourage our boarders to access this great service as needed. For more information, please visit the Headspace Website – www.headspace.org.au. All the best as the year draws to a close. 

Year Twelve Valedictory

Similarly to Taylor, I’d like to share my speech from our Year Twelve farewell dinner.

I'd like to begin by expressing some gratitude to the many people who have supported and enriched the lives of our boarders and our wider boarding community. Thanks to our lovely team of supervisors, Nicole Scott, Liz Stewart, Carter Wight and Mikaela Burton, all of which bring enthusiasm, empathy and genuine care to Breaksea House. Thanks to our team of leaders, Ashley Keatch, Emma Franklin and Mark Sawle, who provide us with the guidance, encouragement and support we have needed to create a safe and understanding environment for our boarders. 

Over the years, many boarding staff have contributed to the lives of our graduating class; each one of them sharing their wisdom, enjoying funny moments, treasuring the quirks and uniqueness of each of our boarders. Whilst many of them can’t be with us tonight, I know that are safe and secure in the fond and loving memories of our graduating students. And I’m sure those past staff hold dear their many precious memories of their time here. 

A huge thank you to the parents and families of our boarders. You’ve raised these wonderful humans and been there every step of the way as our graduating class has grown from adorable and energetic little kids to the strong, independent young adults who sit beside us tonight. Sometimes when I look at our incoming Year Seven's, I’m amazed at how in only six short years those sweet, silly and playful girls become the brave, clever and resilient young women before us. 

At the start of the year, I watched with teary eyes as our incoming Year Seven girls farewelled their parents and began their boarding journey. Having young daughters myself, the scene really tugged at my heart strings. I was amazed at the love and resilience shown by boarders and their families. Even more so when as the months passed, families and their children managed to hold onto such close bonds despite the distance. 

Lastly, a big thank you to our boarders. Halle Cosh, Kobie Featherstone, Brianna Harris, Ella Main, Georgia Patterson, Bethany Robertson, Ava Smith, Rhiannon Williams-Jolley and Chenae Wreford, each of you has had to take so much in your stride these last few years. You’ve managed lives full of daily phone calls home, sports games and training, musical rehearsals and performances, outdoor ed expeditions as well as hours upon hours of study and revision, all mixed in with the challenges and constant adventures of boarding life. Boarding is not for the faint heart and you have done an incredible job to have navigated your way to the end. I know at times you’ve had to be braver than you had expected. You’ve had to be more organised that most teenagers have had to be. You’ve had to be patient and understanding in learning to live with so many other people. But you’ve done it. You’ve made it…and all of us are really proud of you. 

Rhiannon

My favourite thing about Rhiannon is when she gets back from sport or the gym in the afternoons, she always has the most gorgeous and adorable smile. It lights up the hallways and brightens everyone’s day. I also love, how this smile is there, even when she’s tired and exhausted. Her energy and enthusiasm will be genuinely missed but I’m excited to see her move on and share it with the wider world. 

Chenae

Chenae has a heartfelt and creative personality. It’s been lovely seeing all her cute hobbies, from turning her room into a jungle of growing plants, to creating adorable little crochet animals. We’ll miss all of your lovely, quirky interests Chenae and I really hope you keep making crochet turtles. 

Kobie

Life in Breaksea won’t be the same without Kobie’s matching colourful tracksuits! Kobie is such a natural leader, who takes people under her wing. She is a loyal friend and cares deeply for others. Alongside this, her hard work and organisation has led her to have a successful year of academics that will prepare her well for an exciting and dynamic career. You have so many great traits Kobie that we’ll genuinely miss. 

Ella

Ella has such a lovely sense of humour. She’s always making others laugh and smile. That positive energy has been such a precious part of our boarding house. Ella has so many promising skills, she is a wonderful artist and has a real passion for marine environments. I’m sure there are some exciting and rewarding adventures on the horizon for you, Ella. 

Brianna

Bri has the cleanest and most ordered room in the history of boarding. In a house full of teenagers, having a room as organised as hers has been a breathe of fresh air, as has Bri’s personality. Bri is so polite and gentle. She has always been so lovely to talk to and her kind nature is definitely something we have cherished. 

Bethany

The house is going to feel so strange without Bethany around! She’s always popping in to have a chat, say hi and share about her day. Bethany really has made the most of her boarding experience and has always been willing to get on board with rec activities and help out others and I’m confident she will make the most of the next chapter of her adventure too. 

Halle

There are two things that we’ll miss the most about Halle. The first is her kind and friendly personality. Halle always includes others and brightens the house with smiles. The other thing is her boarding uniform of a Yoda Oodie and Blinged Up Crocs. We love your style Halle, inside and out!

Ava

Ava is such a hard-working and diligent person who has done so well in her ATAR academics this year. She’s navigated a part time job, loads of study, being our boarding captain and has managed to find the time to be a supportive friend too. You have accomplished so much Ava and there is so much to be proud of. 

Georgia

Georgia’s devotion to her family and her sister Bella is really heartwarming. Even though she has missed her home and family so much, she’s given boarding her best and has made it to the finish line. We’re really proud to see you make it to this important milestone Georgia. 

I remember back to when I graduated Year Twelve and just like our graduating class before us, sat through so many speeches and heard lots of advice. It was all quite inspiring and made the world beyond school sound full of promise. However, there was one piece of advice that my very old, quirky English teacher gave me, that has stuck with me the most and proved the most helpful in my adult life. Good old Mrs Jeffries told me that the most important thing I needed to learn, was how to fail. It was such unexpected advice but she said that life wasn’t always going to go the way I’d planned and that at times, I’d make mistakes, I’d miss the mark, I’d struggle to be enough and that this was ok. What matters is that I got back up again, dusted myself off, found a new direction and kept going. 

I wish the class of 2023 all the best in life and hope you find a fulfilling and rewarding future……. but when things don’t go to plan, please don’t be disheartened, seek help, re-adjust and have another go. 

Birthdays

Happy birthday to Lysbeth Cunningham who turned 17 in Week Three. 

Mrs Teliah Turrill | Head of Breaksea House