Boarding News

Change

As a newbie to fatherhood I have learned a great deal about change and being flexible. It has been incredible to watch my son learn new skills seemingly before my very eyes. It has been frustrating and exhausting to find that the perfect settling technique I had mastered no longer works. These experiences have filled my life with challenge but have also been opportunities for wonder and for me to learn and grow as a person. Our boarders, boarding families and staff are no strangers to the trials of change. 

Many of our boarders come from a rural background and understand all too well how changes in weather and other conditions can decide the fortunes of the family business. They know how important it is to adapt one’s practice and techniques in response to these changes in order to stack the odds in their favour. When they joined us here at KWS they experienced massive change. They had to learn to be in a new place, with new routines and expectations and a whole host of new people. Those of us who have worked in boarding for some time or who have had children graduate from boarding know that the benefits gained from their time away from home are invaluable. A boarding house can never replace a family home but the adversity and opportunity of living with others forges young people and sets them up for a life beyond school.

We have all seen a lot of change this year. The way that we greet one another, the way that we work and the way that we spend our free time has had to change in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Personally, as a teacher, this has allowed me to grow and develop my technological skills. I am now able to teach a whole class of students online as well as mark their work and provide feedback without ever touching a piece of paper or picking up a pen. While this isn’t my preferred method of delivery it has helped me to grow. In the same way, your sons and daughters are living in houses having to learn a new way to spend their weekends and to interact with one another. No doubt, it is not their preferred method of living and interacting, but they are finding ways to grow and display initiative and leadership through the adversity. Just one example is Year 10 boarder Frank Poulton, as some of you may know he is a skilled leatherworker. This Saturday and every Saturday for the rest of the term he will be sharing his skills with Year 7 and 8 boarders in a leatherworking workshop. Had sport been on, Frank never would have had this opportunity for leadership and the younger boarders never would have had the opportunity to learn this new skill.

It is my hope that we will see a change in our situation soon and that things can go back to being a little more how they were at the beginning of the year. Until then I am confident that our families, staff and boarders will continue find ways to adapt to their current normal so as to make the very most of the abundant opportunities for growth, connection and learning at Kinross Wolaroi School.

Mr James Perrin

Head of Wolaroi House