From the Boarding Captains

As some of your might know it was National Boarding Week last week. This week happens every year and it is a great way to celebrate how great boarding and boarding students are, this year it happened from 15 May through to 21 May. This year’s boarding leaders and I discussed several different ideas and things to do but some of them had to be changed due to COVID numbers rising throughout boarding.  

Last week the TV screens around the school displayed all things boarding. There were photos from boarder’s hometowns and different activities and things we do as boarding students here at GSG. On Wednesday 18 May we had organised an afternoon tea and games day for the boarders and their day student friends from 3.30pm to 5.30pm. Unfortunately, this had to be cancelled as we wanted to reduce the spread of colds and COVID-19.  Instead, the Years Ten and Eleven boarders had a BBQ dinner at Eyre Park, while the Year Twelve group stayed back to cook their own dinner due to study overload. Students enjoyed skating, playing basketball, BBQing and climbing on the equipment.  

The Endeavour House (Years Seven to Nine girls) made a giant poster with everything that they love about boarding, this was a great way for the girls to think about what they are grateful for within the boarding house and get to know what everyone loves this most about the amazing GSG boarding community.  

The Anchorage House (Years Seven to Nine boys) decided that they were going to make some amazing cupcakes for National Boarding Week. This was a fun activity for the boys, doing something that they wouldn’t usually do and getting to eat the cupcakes. 

On Friday night there was a firepit and pizza night to conclude the week of celebrations before majority of the boarders went out for the weekend. This was greatly enjoyed by all the boarders who were in boarding. I never thought I would see so many Dominos pizza in my life.  

Every year the Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA) has a competition for the boarding schools and this year it was to make a video showing off your boarding community with the F.R.I.E.N.D.S theme song “I’ll be there for you” by The Rembrandts. 

We entered one video which is on the ABSA Face Book page for voting. With COVID slowly taking over the boarding houses it was good to celebrate everything boarding, the students and staff, recreation activities and even the boarding dogs.  

I hope everyone enjoys looking at the photos from the week’s events from National Boarding Week at GSG. 

I would just like to say on behalf of the Breaksea boarding house we might have been the first to have a COVID case but we are the strongest house overall, with the most still to catch COVID  (not competitive at all).

Madison Smart | Boarding Captain

Boarding Week changed shape vastly due to the recent influence of COVID with many students going down including myself, but from what I have heard upon my return the activities that did go ahead were a success.

In Eclipse House everything has been running smoothly and morale is high especially with the surfing sessions and Mrs Standish lending us her Wii even though we are still losing people to COVID.

The role of Boarding Vice Captain has now been transferred to Darcy Barrett and I look forward to seeing what new ideas he can bring to the leadership group. I have enjoyed my stint as a leader and am glad that I volunteered and offered my own advice to the leadership group.

Brendan Quick | Boarding Vice Captain