Breaksea House News

It’s been a nice few weeks in Breaksea, highlighted by our celebrations of Boarding Week back in May. The week provided a fantastic opportunity to showcase the unique experiences, connections, and sense of belonging that make boarding such a special part of school life.

A huge thank you to Tilly Norrish, who put together an outstanding video that captured what it truly feels like to be a boarder. The video reflected both the highlights and challenges of boarding life and gave our wider school community a genuine insight into the experiences of our students.

Another special thank you to Madi Beeck, who created a beautiful video showcasing the places our boarders call home. It was a picturesque way to share the diverse communities and regions our students come from and helped strengthen understanding and appreciation across the school. 

Also deserving of a special thank you are Milan Muller and Evita Rumble for sharing their experiences of boarding life. They spoke from the heart, and it was wonderful to hear their honest and thoughtful reflections.

We were also treated to some exceptional musical performances during the Boarding Week Assembly. Esther Barrett-Lennard did an incredible job coordinating the live performances and opened the assembly with Lee Kernaghan's The Odyssey. Esther also organised and performed alongside Henry Smith, Craig Weich, Anne Fitz-Gibbon, and Evita Rumble in a moving rendition of the Choirboys classic Run to Paradise. Their performance was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the assembly, and I am incredibly proud of all the students who contributed their time, talent, and enthusiasm to make the event such a success.

Congratulations to Isla Patterson, whose team claimed victory in the Women's Football Grand Final. Unfortunately, Royals defeated North Albany, but Esteanne Newfield and Fenella O'Neill both played outstanding games and should be very proud of their efforts. A special congratulations also goes to Esteanne, who was awarded the Leading Goal Kicker Trophy for her division at the end-of-season awards ceremony, an impressive achievement.

Over the past few weeks, there has also been a strong focus on study as exams have been underway. Many of our Year Twelve students have received pleasing results from their ESTs and examinations, which is a credit to their hard work and preparation. For those who may not have achieved the results they were hoping for, I encourage them to reflect on their preparation strategies and adjust for next semester. We wish all our Year Eleven students the very best for their upcoming exams next week.

The Year Eleven and Twelve VET Music Showcase was yet again another outstanding success, highlighting the talent and dedication of our senior music students. Esther Barrett-Lennard, Anne Fitz-Gibbon and Evita Rumble all delivered exceptional performances, impressing the audience with their musical skill, confidence and stage presence. Congratulations to all involved in making the evening such a memorable night.

With Country Week just around the corner in Week Eleven, excitement is building among many of our senior girls. We are particularly proud of Hannah, who has been announced as Captain of the Country Week Volleyball Team, Tilly as Captain of the Country Week Hockey Team, and Morgan as Vice-Captain of the Country Week Hockey Team. We wish all of our Country Week participants the very best and look forward to hearing about their experiences and achievements.

We were delighted to welcome Axelle back after spending a month in France visiting her family. The girls and I were certainly happy to have her return. At the same time, we said bon voyage to Lowenna Brogan and Caris Pepper, two highly valued supervisors who are embarking on international adventures. We look forward to welcoming them back next term and hearing all about their travels.

We've also enjoyed celebrating several birthdays recently. Happy Birthday to Milan Muller, Camdyn Tapscott, Madi Beeck, Elina Caelli, Evita Rumble, and Esteanne Newfield. We hope each of you had a wonderful day surrounded by friends and enjoyed plenty of cake!

Finally, I would like to thank all our parents, guardians, and hosts for your ongoing support. It is always lovely to connect with you when you come to collect the girls. Please don't hesitate to come in and say hello; you are always welcome to make yourself a hot drink and relax in Breaksea before beginning your journey home.

I would also like to extend a heartfelt thanks to all the staff who work behind the scenes to support our Breaksea girls each day. To the maintenance team, dining hall staff, nurses, drivers, Andrea in Administration, and our wonderful cleaning staff, thank you for everything you do. Your care, hard work, and dedication help make Breaksea feel like a home away from home for our girls. We appreciate the support you provide and hope you know how valued you are by both the students and staff.

Thank you for being such an important part of our boarding community.

Ms Liz Stewart | Head of Breaksea House