Dear Mount Erin Boarding Parents/Carers and Community,

Welcome to the first edition of Boarders Buzz for 2021. As previously announced, we will be publishing Boarders Buzz twice per school term this year to provide a more in depth look at what is taking place at Mount Erin. We look forward to providing a wonderful and positive insight of the Mount Erin Boarding House.

It has been a pleasure to have welcomed all of our new boarding students and their families to Mount Erin. We now have 119 boarding students with two more on the way which is very exciting. Mount Erin has also welcomed new staff for 2021.

Boarding Staff 2021

Boys Boarding:

Ms Naomi Barton* Year 7-10

Mr. Wayne Galvin* Year 11/12

Mr. Connor Galvin

Girls Boarding:

Ms Annika Brown* Year 7-9

Ms Robin Bussenschutt* Year 11/12

Ms Mel Fuller* Year 10

*First Point of Contact: In order to streamline communication especially regarding leave, please communicate with your child's Supervisor, who is the first point of contact.

Any leave requests for the following week should be placed in REACH by Wednesday afternoon as standard practice.

In an extenuating circumstance, such as an urgent need for leave, an email is sufficient.

Absent

Our Boarding Administrative Assistant Ms Amanda Hilton has been absent, unwell now for some time. We wish Amanda a speedy recovery. Taking Amanda's place is Ms Trina Rynehart. We welcome Trina and thank her for filling in for Amanda at short notice.

Online Tutoring 2021

Online Tutoring is underway with students logging on using the sites below:

Year 7, 8, 9

Carol

All Maths, English and Science

Louise

Biology, Chemistry, General Maths, History, Mathematics, Maths Methods, Primary Maths, Primary Sciences, Sciences and English

Year 10, 11, 12

Connor

History, Geography, Drama, English, Sociology, Legal Studies and any other sort of Humanities/Language subjects

Evey

English/English Extension, all Maths (has completed a Maths Degree), Business, Environmental Studies, Biology, Graphics and Year 10 Science

Mount Erin Academic Learning Program

Mount Erin students can study in their own rooms at specific times as well as in study spaces. Students quickly become aware at Mount Erin that study can consist of reflection, homework set by teachers, longer term assignments with due dates and note taking, summarising, reading discussion and collaboration.

Mount Erin boarders can use the formal study time (7.00pm to 8.00pm for Years 7-9 and 7.00pm to 8.30pm for Years 10-12) as well as the informal study period before dinner as well as before they prepare for lights out. Some students take the opportunity to study together outside and younger students have the benefit of peer tutoring. The online tutoring system allows students to gain support from qualified and experienced tutors.

At a recent online discussion with other Heads of Boarding, COVID-19 was the main topic of conversation. Mount Erin is in an enviable situation due to its location as its Boarding program is operating as normal, relatively unaffected by COVID restrictions.

Cars

There has been thirteen approvals so far, granted to Year 12 Boarding Students to drive a car to Mount Erin and then drive home at the end of each week.

The approval to drive a car is a Year 12 privilege. The car driven must match the approval request form, the keys are kept in the Boarding Office and the vehicle must be parked during the week in the designated boarding student carpark.

Under the signed agreements, boarding student drivers cannot carry other students except for their siblings. It is important for all concerned to understand the conditions under which approval is given and ensure responsible use of cars in order to preserve this privilege. Further information can be obtained from the Mount Erin Boarding website or from the Boarding Office.

Buses

To cater for weekly boarding students who are traveling from areas within the Riverina each week, bus routes have been established. These rely on patronage to make ends meet. Parents rely on a reliable bus service at a reasonable and appropriate cost.

Numbers of students can vary from year to year and so the economies of scale can affect pricing and use.

Test and Tag

Testing and tagging electrical devices that students bring into Boarding is an an important aspect of safety. Students were asked earlier in the term to leave their electrical cords and devices including hair dryers and phone chargers for testing and then tagging. Only a small number of devices proved to be faulty.

Water Bottles

It has come to our notice that a number of students are asking the Kitchen for bottled water during the week. We supply bottled water for students leaving Boarding for home each Friday but we cannot supply bottled for each student during the week. We would ask parents/ carers to provide a suitable water bottle which can be filled as required.

Student Leadership

When interviewing new students wanting to come to Mount Erin last year in order to attend either Kildare or Mater Dei Catholic Colleges, I was struck by the number (90%) who were in leadership positions in their present local school.

This augurs well in terms of our student leadership. The Boarding Representative Council is made up of the 4 Boarding Captains (male/ female from each College) and a male and female representative from each year level. We encourage all students to be involved.

It was fantastic to see our male and female Boarding Co- Captains in action at both College Opening Masses this year. It was a privilege to be able to pin the badges on Ada and Aidan on behalf of their parents on the day at the Mater Dei. Historically, this is the first time that we have had male and female Co-Captains representing Boarding at each College. We congratulate them all.

Leadership beyond Mount Erin

Leadership comes in many forms. Many of our young people are leaders of sporting teams or groups and work very hard to make a difference. One such member of Mount Erin is Year 12 student Abbey Marshall who has been to Canberra recently to attend a National Youth Forum in Canberra as a Rural Youth Ambassador.

Abbey was participating with young ambassadors from New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria in order to explore key areas of interest relating to rural life and education. It has been a marvelous opportunity to develop and hone their leadership skills.

Whole Boarding House Assemblies

It is important for the Boarding House to meet as a whole group during the year. Mount Erin will hold three Assemblies per term in 2021 and it is expected that all boarders attend. Please see the dates below for Term 1 2021.

We were grateful to have the Principals - Mrs Val Thomas (Mater Dei) and Mr. Chris Browne (Kildare) attend our first assembly on the February 10 to greet/meet the Boarding House and to say a few words. We ask that students / families keep these dates free from activities/ appointments where possible.

Whole Boarding House Assembly Dates for Term 1:

Wednesday 10 February

Wednesday 17 March

Wednesday 24 March

Emergency Evacuation Training

The importance of practicing for Emergency/ Fire Evacuation cannot be overstated. The students and staff have recently been involved in training that looks at their role and responsibilities including what needs to happen at the Assembly Points.

Knowing that all occupants have safely been evacuated and accounted for can save lives. Students can play an important role in assisting each other in these situations. Gathering in an orderly and calm manner assists staff in taking rolls. We congratulate the students and Supervisors for the excellent way in which this exercise was carried out. This will now be tested with an announced and un-announced Fire Evacuation Drills.

End of Term Arrangements

The last day of Term 1 is April 1. Boarders will begin their preparation to leave for the holidays on Wednesday afternoon and evening. Before leaving for school in the morning, rooms will be checked. Boarders can leave big items in their rooms for these holidays but all surfaces need to be clear for cleaning purposes. Doona/bed covers can be rolled up and left on beds or in cupboard spaces.

Year level Supervisors will guide the students through this process. All bags will be placed in the courtyard ready to pick up on their return from school and move off to their transport arrangements. I would ask parents to communicate any alternative leaving arrangements with their child's Supervisor by email and/or by REACH. If leaving early we ask parents to advise their child's school.

Mr John Bussenschutt | Leader of Boarding

Activities

Junior Boarding Activities / Senior Boarding Activities and Events