Boarding Update

National Boarding Week

Last week we celebrated National Boarding Week and the theme was Threads of Connection. Activities throughout the week helped students to celebrate their connections with each other, across communities, boarding houses, with the day students and the broader community. Activities that have started to form a reminder that the opportunities that being a boarding student presents can be not only fun and engaging, but a chance to continue building the foundational skills that are necessary as young adults. Team work, good communication, being able to prioritise and above all else, giving everything your best.

Students competed in a boarders vs day house relay, where the activities ranged from making a bed to carrying laundry and polishing shoes; our Boarding Prefects delivered engaging speeches about what it means to be a boarder during our School Assembly; our boarding Student Leaders organised the Year 12 boys vs girls charity netball game where we raised money to continue our support for the local charity that supports victims of domestic violence, and we enjoyed special National Boarding Week cupcakes.

One of the most important activities that the students undertake during the week is the creation of appreciation letters. So many staff received genuine letters of acknowledgement and thanks, which was a lovely way for students and staff to further connect and create ongoing relationships both inside and outside of boarding.

We also took some time to survey the students in our houses to find out why they love boarding, what strengths they felt were developing as a result of living in a boarding environment, and what makes them grateful for being boarders. Some of the comments that were consistently provided include:

“I love connecting with people that I would have never met before”
“When I first started in boarding, it got me totally out of my comfort zone and challenged me. I love the routine”
“I love feeling connected to another community”
“I love the fact that I have 50 of my mates with me most of the time”
“I have everything I need here”
“We love the staff, from Head of House, RA’s and housemothers, to the kitchen and cleaning staff”
“I feel valued and supported”
“It makes me appreciate what opportunities my parents have given me”
“It’s like living with 50 sisters, I love it!”
“The activities, the home-made suppers, the help in prep, the facilities”

As Heads of House, we are grateful that we can provide an environment where students feel they can be themselves, they can embrace opportunities and be supported to develop essential life skills that will hold them in good stead when they leave us and move into the wider world. From House Mothers, Residential Staff, Cleaners, Catering and Laundry Staff, and Prep Staff, we have a team of people who are committed to providing the unforgettable experience that is boarding life.

Jody Haydon,

Head of Loader House

Nathan Short,

Head of Weymouth House

Leading Where You Live: Boarding Leadership Course

Nicola Byrne, Student Support Officer

In term one our boarding leaders completed a specifically designed 4 week boarding leadership course. Being a boarding leader is something special - it’s about leading in the same space you live. Our boarding leaders do an incredible job of balancing study, co-curriculars, friendships, homesickness, late-night chats, and early morning responsibilities. It’s leadership 24/7, that comes with its own unique challenges.

Within the course students explored and identified the type of leaders they want to be. They reflected on their own values and strengths, considered the value of skills such as empathy and effective listening, and considered how to lead in a way that feels real and respectful. One of the key outcomes included the creation of a leadership team mission statement — a set of shared values and aims that reflect the kind of positive, supportive culture they want to build within their boarding communities.

Another key element of the course included a focused session on child protection , using realistic boarding-related scenarios. Students discussed how to recognise when something’s not right, how to respond, and how to keep themselves and others safe, including appropriate reporting lines.

As the course came to an end we took time to pause and reflect — on what they had learnt, on how they had grown and what support they may need moving forward to continue their excellent work.

We’re proud of their dedication, honesty, integrity and the way they’ve stepped up to lead our boarding communities. We enjoyed celebrating their efforts with a shared dinner last weekend — a small thank you for the big role they play in making our boarding community what it is.