From the Head of Boarding 

 Dear Boarding Community,

Welcome to the first edition of Boarders' Buzz for 2025. Week 6 has come to an end and, the term has been packed with events including Orientation for our new Boarders, College Open Nights, MEBS Open days, Community visits to Tumut, Temora and Cootamundra, and Swimming Carnivals. 

A special welcome to our new Boarding students and their families. It has been great to catch up with returning families as our Boarding families return. Mount Erin Boarding (MEBS) exists to provide accommodation and support academically, spiritually, and socially whilst they attend one of the two Colleges. Families in the Riverina region have a number of Boarding schools to choose from but Kildare/Mater Dei and their Boarding House, Mount Erin has a lot to offer, including its location in the heart of Wagga Wagga.

We are always looking at ways to improve and welcome any suggestions from our Boarding Community.

Boarding has benefits

Only a very small percentage of young people throughout the world have the opportunity to Board. Boarding has traditionally been borne out of necessity. Parents who want to invest in their child's future but live in isolated or long distance areas decide to invest not only financially but also emotionally, to send their child to Boarding School.  Boarding does provide however a supporting residential experience that provides skills in independent living, self organisation, peer support, and formal study along with a wider choice of curriculum, and a wider variety of social and sporting offerings. Weekly Boarding offers the best of two worlds - convenience of residing close to school during the working week and then being treated like princes/ princesses on weekends enjoying family life at home.

Boarding High Achievers 

It was my privilege to have attended both Kildare and Mater Dei High Achiever's Assemblies this term. I was invited to speak about two of our 2023/24 Kildare Boarding students, Cindee and Chloe. Cindee was Dux of 2024 and Chloe was runner up. Both girls contributed to MEBS in so many ways, enjoying College and Boarding life, but still being able to achieve such fantastic results. They are a credit to their families and to themselves. We are so proud of these young people who serve as role models to our present and future Boarders. Chloe was also our inaugural Nagle House Captain.

I must also acknowledge other excellent Boarding student efforts from, Lily, Will, Lucy, and Harvey (MDCC) - well done to you all.

At the Mater Dei Opening Assembly, our Mater Dei College Boarding Captains received their badges of office and recited their pledge - a very proud moment for all concerned.

After

"THROUGH TO THE KEEPER"

Communication is so important to the Boarding House. My mobile number : 0448 860 640 is available to Parents, Boarders, Staff, 24/7 to call me regarding any Boarding issues/ concerns/ queries and complaints. I would ask that if the matter is important to you, please call me first rather than other Boarding staff in the first instance otherwise the information/ concern may not reach me in a timely fashion. Information or concerns that need to reach me may be short circuited by other conversations - "not getting though to the keeper".  I would welcome your call. 

The  Boarding Coordinator, Mrs. Jackie Tassell is also available for contact 24/ 7 particularly regarding Rice House and Nagle House issues and Leave.

Community Visits

MEBS has been visiting our Boarding Communities - during the latter part of  2024 and during the first 5 weeks of term 1 2025. Meeting with past families/Boarders, potential new Boarding families and our existing families has been great. More are planned for the coming terms so look out for us and come along. A big thank you to our Principals and Boarding Student Leaders who have attended a number of these events.

College Open Nights  and Boarding Tours

MEBS has held its Term 1 Open Day Boarding tours with great success. It was great to catch up with potential new families at each College open night.

Coffee Chat Wednesday 12 March

Please join the Head of Boarding and the Boarding Coordinator for a relaxed chat about Boarding Matters on Wednesday 12 March at 7.00 pm via Google Meet*. 

A link will be sent to all parents on Monday 10. 

* Google Meet has replaced Zoom as the CEDWW preferred communication app.

MEBS Catering

The MEBS Summer Catering  Menu is available on our Web Page under Parent Resources along with our Boarding Guide.  There is a food committee which consists of our Catering Manager, Boarding students from the student leadership group, the Boarding Coordinator, and the Head of Boarding. We would love to have some parents from both Colleges to be involved. If you are interested in joining this committee, please let me know by messaging/ calling 0448 860 640.

Boarders' Mass

Due to circumstances beyond our control, Boarders' Mass has been postponed until March 26 at 5.00 pm. All Boarders are expected to attend. Parents are welcome - please let us know if you would like to attend.

John Bussenschutt I Head of Boarding