Boarding 

Boarding House Captains 2020

Last week we congratulated our 2020 Boarding Captains Ben McCure and Lizzie Duver. Ben and Lizzie have some wonderful ideas for next year.  They are keen to build upon the boarding family atmosphere and integrate all of our boarders from Year 7 through to Year 12. Ben and Lizzie are wonderful ambassadors for boarding with both having spent many years enjoying their time here. Ben and Lizzie originate from farming families and have a strong empathy for our young boarders who may be from similar backgrounds. It is this connection to boarders and their families, alongside their kindness, compassion, and humble personality that will make them true leaders of the boarding houses and of the College. Congratulations.

 

We are also very fortunate to have a strong advocate for our International Boarders in 2020. Celine Chen will be working alongside Ben and Lizzie in leading the boarders with a focussed interest on assisting our international boarders. Celine has a confident grasp on boarding as well as a true ability to compassionately assist our boarders and their families who are a long distance away. We are very pleased to welcome Celine to our leadership team and look forward to seeing her passion for boarding shine through her new ideas. Well done Celine.

Year 6 Evening In the Boarding House 

Year 6 evening in the boarding house. (Mr Nick Palmer)

This past Wednesday the 16th of October we had a group of 10 Grade 6 students trial boarding. Although the students had mixed feelings stepping away from home for a night, the ‘stay over’ was a resounding success. Along with the typical boarding routines, the students were treated to a visit from the local CFA (inspecting Myrniong as part of ongoing safety protocols), chocolate donuts for supper and a chance to chat with the older boarders. The students felt comfortable quickly and even had a spare moment to play a game of cricket!

Goodbye and Best Wishes Leonie (Mrs Gabbi Bensch)

On Thursday night we farewelled a valued, long-time member of the Macdonald House boarding family - Ms Leonie Hand.  Leonie has dedicated herself to students of The Hamilton College boarding community for almost eight years, working within both Speirs (boys’) and Macdonald (girls’) Houses as an M.O.D. and up until recently also driving the boarders’ bus.  It is with great appreciation that we recognise and applaud her considerable contribution to the lives of the many past and present boarders under her care. The students presented Leonie with a token of their appreciation and Leonie responded by fondly recalling moments from her time in boarding and spoke passionately about the immense pride she experienced whilst undertaking her boarding role and thanked the former boarding students and staff with whom she has worked.  

Why Boarding? There are many benefits, some of which are highlighted below.

This is an exceptional example of how boarding builds and expands the life-skills that are sometimes forgotten in this modern world.

With our Life-skills program implemented in 2020 for our Year 7 and 8, this article explains well where we are aiming.

https://www.greenwichsentinel.com/2019/10/17/education-feature-the-benefits-of-a-boarding-education/

Andrew Monk