Message from the 

Director of Boarding

Welcome back to Boarding

I am pleased to report that the return to school for our Years 7, 11 and 12 boarders has been smooth and the Heads of the Boarding Houses were delighted to welcome students back to their boarding houses. This weekend we welcome the Years 8, 9 and 10 boarders back to the boarding houses and all boarding houses will then be open as the school completes the transition to on-site classes for all year groups.

Our main priority at this time is to keep all our boarders and boarding staff safe and well, and to assist with this goal we have had to implement some changes to normal boarding practices.  The students who are already on site have responded well to these changes and are doing their best to adhere to these new and different requirements. Many students and parents have had questions about these new practices and, I would like to remind you of the following measures that have been put in place.

Leave

Weekend Leave - Students are not permitted weekend leave unless collected and returned by parents or a member of the family household.

Senior students may use their vehicles to and from home but are not permitted to carry passengers (unless siblings).

Students must return to the boarding house no later than 5.00pm on the Sunday evening. When students return, they must report to the Health Centre on either site for a health screening and temperature check. This must be complete before students reenter the boarding house.

If a student chooses to return to School on the Monday morning, they must report immediately to the Health Centre on the Main Campus for a health screening before a return to boarding is permitted.

Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend

Boarders will be permitted to travel home on the long weekend, provided they travel with parents or a member of their immediate household. 

Boarders will not be permitted to use public transport either to or from home.

Senior boarders are permitted to drive to and from home but will not be permitted to carry passengers (unless siblings).

Boarders may not depart for home before 11am, Friday 5 June. Parents must seek academic leave by contacting KWS Reception and request Special Leave through Boardingware.

Boarders who cannot travel home or be collected are welcome to stay for the weekend. Boys will be accommodated in Wolaroi House on the main campus and girls will be accommodated in Loader House on the PLC Site. Boarding will operate as normal for those who stay in; the current measures will remain in place. All other Boarding Houses will close at 5pm. 

All boarding houses will reopen at 3.00pm on Monday 8 June. You will not be able to return your child to the School before this time.  Students must return to their boarding house by 5.00pm.

Returning boarders will be required to undertake a Health Check at either the PLC or Wolaroi Health Centre before entering their boarding house. This will only be available between 3pm and 6pm.

Student Illness

Just a reminder that if your child is unwell, you will be notified and asked to collect him/her as soon as possible. If the child presents with any respiratory illness, they will be taken to Orange Base Hospital and tested for COVID-19 (with your permission).

Unwell students must return home and will only be permitted back into School once they have been symptom-free for 72 hours and have returned a negative test result if testing was required.

While some students and parents may find these conditions somewhat restrictive, please be assured that we have implemented them to keep our boarders and boarding staff as safe and well as possible in these rather unusual times.  I will continue to keep you updated as the term progresses, and I thank you for your continuing support.

Matt Curran

Director of Boarding