Boarding News

Trathen House

The first three weeks for Year 7 boy boarders is always a very busy time in Trathen House. The boys have made a tremendously positive start to their journey as students at Kinross Wolaroi and are to be commended for their efforts. The start of the year is always full of questions about boarding house life and the start of senior schooling. Trathen welcomed our new boys into the house on Monday 30 January. 

The first week of school saw the boys meet their teachers, mentors, boarding house staff and house leaders for the first time as well as experience their first consecutive nights as boarders in a communal environment. Trathen house was kept busy during the first week with games in the gym, prep and enjoying suppers from their Housemother, Janet. 

The first weekends provide a wonderful opportunity for the boys to connect with one another through shared experiences with students and staff. It is great to have such a supportive staff which includes Mr Mark Whitehead, Mr Jacob Jones, Mr Norm Moore and Mrs Janet Murphy. The contribution these staff will make throughout this year is much appreciated by myself and students. Weekends have been filled with swims in the pool, games in the gym, touch on the main oval, barbecues, tenpin bowling, scootering around school, trips down the street to Spilt Milk for icecream, and a trip to the Vintage Car and Truck Show at Jack Brabham Park. 

Last Sunday it was wonderful to the host the parents from Trathen and Stuart Douglas on Sunday for welcome barbecue and brunch in the Robyn Ridge Centre at PLC Campus. It was great to be able to have this event early in the year after so many of the recent years being impacted by COVID restrictions. It was a lovely community event and great for the parents of both the new boys and girls to come together.

Thanks to all students, staff and parents who have contributed to what has been a positive, friendly and happy first three weeks in Trathen 

Hugo Johnson

Head of Trathen House

Stuart Douglas

What a great beginning to 2023 the girls in Stuart Douglas have had! 

During their first few weeks in the boarding house the girls have been busy adjusting to senior school life with timetables, homework, swimming carnivals, making new friends, meeting new teachers, and finding their way around the school campus.  They have shown great maturity and flexibility while adapting to boarding life and have appreciated the support they have received by House Captain, Georgia Mudford, and Vice-Captain, Megan Connan.

The girls have settled into Stuart Douglas House well and they are thoroughly enjoying each other’s company. We have been kept busy with some wonderful activities on the weekends, including the Site Trivia night on our first weekend, lot of time enjoying the warm weather and celebrating birthdays by the PLC pool, having great fun with the bubble soccer balls and getting to know Orange with walks to the city shops. 

We have farewelled Housemother, Mrs Isabelle Houston, who despite only being with the girls for a few weeks was a wonderful source of comfort and kindness to the girls as they were settling into the house.  We have welcomed our new Housemother, Mrs Megan Kitchenham and the girls are looking forward to getting to know her and enjoying house events with her.

It has been a really positive start to the girls’ boarding journey and all the girls are looking forward to more great experiences as the term progresses.

Deb Orrock

Head of Stuart Douglas House