Message from the
Director of Boarding
Boarding News - Term 3 Week 9
Yesterday, I attended the Year 7 assembly during tutor period as I had been asked by Mrs. Claudia McCalman (Year 7 Coordinator) to give a short presentation on ‘Boarding’, the importance of it within our community and to shed a little light on the mysteries around it. I am quite passionate about boarding education and the influence it can have on a young person’s life so talking about life as a boarder comes very easy to me. I was surprised when I asked how many day students could count a boarder amongst their friends; almost all put their hands up. I was further surprised (and pleased I might add) when I asked the question, ‘hands up those day students who have hosted a boarder in their home at some point during the year?’ Again, a large majority of the crowd thrust up their hands. It is so pleasing to see our day students and boarders getting on so well; together they create the fabric of this unique school and sometimes I think they don’t quite know how lucky they are.
Towards the end of the assembly, Rhianna Simpson and Vinnie Reilly both gave a superb account of their own personal journey as a boarder, how they had changed because of the experience and what it meant for them. When I asked Rhi to recall her favourite boarding moment she didn’t specify one in particular, she just said, ‘friends’…and went on to say her one abiding memory will always be of her spending time with her friends. Vinnie offered to the audience his one bit of advice for a new boarder starting out and it was this, ‘get involved, do something different and above all, get to know people, make the most of what KWS has to offer’. Truer words have not been spoken. A special thanks to both Vinnie and Rhi for their insightful words and leadership with the Year 7s.
On the topic of leadership, it has been a busy couple of weeks in boarding houses with our Year 11s putting themselves forward for leadership positions; namely House Captains and Vice Captains. Campaigning has been furious to say the least as candidates have pledged promises, outlined visions and thrown unashamed bribes to undecided voters. There have been no pledges of ‘building walls’ or ‘making boarding great again’ but rather meaningful visions of what life would be like under one’s leadership. A valiant pursuit indeed! This Sunday our boarders will be engaged in a frenetic afternoon of touch footy, bubble soccer, roasting marshmallows followed by a boarding BBQ then a Church Service dedicated to the announcement of the new Boarding Prefects and House Captains. It promises to be a brilliant occasion and whilst I am excited for our future boarding leaders, I am also looking forward to thanking our outgoing Year 12s for their contributions and wishing them all the best for their respective journeys ahead.
Next week is quite different with the focus being on farewelling our Year 12s. To confirm, the following details below outline the key events for boarders and their parents next week. Please note that all boarders are expected to attend the Graduation Ceremony at 12pm. No leave will be granted before the conclusion of the ceremony. Those boarders travelling home on Friday are permitted to stay overnight on Thursday evening.
Monday 24th September:
- Normal school day
Tuesday 25th September:
- Co-Curricular Awards Assembly
- Year 12 boarders’ dinner and trivia night
Wednesday 26th September:
- Winter Sports Carnival for Years 7 – 10
Thursday 27th September:
- Morning tea for Year 12 parents in the Wolaroi Dining Room (10.45am)
- Year 12 Graduation Ceremony (12pm)
- Year 12 Graduation Ball (6.30pm)
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all boarding parents a very happy and enjoyable break with family and I hope that all are looking forward to an exciting (and warmer!) final term of the year.
Mr Matt Curran
Director of Boarding