From the Head of Boarding

Academics

The second half of Term Two is one of the busiest times of the year.  Academically, the boarders have been challenged, while Winter sport demands have seen many taking on two sports. 

The Middle School study programme is now finding momentum after the recruitment of two extra tutors to help facilitate the small group study structure. This small group arrangement helps each student remain accountable for the work they are doing in prep. Students are encouraged to not only do set homework, but to continually add to a set of study notes. It’s great to see an awareness developing in students as they develop study techniques and work out which one works best for them. Currently, some are better at this than others, but this will be a focus for Term Three.

Senior students will receive their reports in the coming week, offering a chance for reflection. The tutors who attend the senior boarding houses will be asked to keep an attendance list from Term Three as a way of tracking the effort and initiative taken by these students. It will provide a better picture as to how we can help each student get the most out of their prep sessions.

Kingfisher Fair

This week, Mrs Julia Bairstow joined the Boarding Parent Committee and myself to discuss how boarding contributes to next term’s Kingfisher Fair.  As Julia explained, the concept is run by the P&F and parents are asked to help if they can. It promises to be a great community event focussing on fundraising and friend-raising. This year, the school is looking to raise funds for new covered bus shelters. 

Boarders will also do their share, with Anchorage House building a mobile chicken coop, Eclipse House developing combustible eco-logs, Michaelmas House running the chocolate wheel and Endeavour and Breaksea Houses making cookies in a jar. Competitions and prizes are also featured. Can I please take this opportunity to ask boarding families to help our cause with donations of blocks of chocolate (for the chocolate toss) and gifts or vouchers for any category of hardware, gardening, gourmet, pampering, sport, arts and giftware. We can accept donated items at the commencement of Term Three. Many thanks! 

Gap Assistants

At the end of the term, we bid farewell to Gap Assistants, Sheridan Laudien and Paula Ortiz.  Sheridan has been with us for six months working in Anchorage House and has been a wonderful influence on the boys. He has imparted his musical talents and Anchorage House now has a number of budding young guitarists. Paula has been with us for a year working in both Endeavour and Michaelmas Houses.  She has built a strong rapport with the girls and will be missed. Paula has been very creative with her contributions to our student welfare sessions, particularly with counselling and meditation in Michaelmas House.

Next term, we welcome Sam Tomlinson to Anchorage House, Lea von Graberg to Michaelmas House, and Ana Bermudez Jurado to Endeavour House.

Boarding Parent Meetings

Week Nine saw the second Boarding Parent Committee meeting, followed by our first Boarding Parent Forum for the year. Thank you to all parents who were able to attend. The minutes of the forum and committee meeting can be found in the Meeting Minutes folder here.

As a boarding community we extend our deepest condolences to the Witham family and our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time.

I hope you have the chance to relax over the coming holiday period. 

Mr Brendan Goggins | Head of Boarding