Dear Boarding Families,

Welcome to this edition of Boarders Buzz, our final one for 2020. We hope all of our Boarding Community are safe and well.

It is hard to believe but we are heading into the last week of the year. A lot has been achieved in Boarding this year including the establishment of year level focus areas where student and staff gather each day before leaving for school and returning at the end of the day. Unfortunately the year will mostly be remembered for COVID-19 and its effect on life in general. However, one positive thing to stem from COVID was a return to normal on campus life for boarding students where the afternoons were spent together, in the dorms, on the Kildare campus oval playing touch/ cricket, swimming in the pool or using the tennis and basketball courts. I must congratulate our students for the manner in which they dealt with the restrictions and health guidelines imposed on us due to the pandemic without fuss.

On behalf of the Boarding Staff, I would like to acknowledge and thank the Mount Erin Boarding Community for your support throughout 2020. All school/boarding years are different and are full of events and happenings but 2020 will certainly be remembered for the COVID-19 disruption. However, COVID-19 did provide an opportunity for Mount Erin Boarders to experience an on campus program that was beneficial in providing a sense of community. We are looking forward hopefully for a more normal year in 2021, meeting new boarders, returning boarders, new and returning staff and all of our boarding families.

Changes

As we start winding down for 2020 and begin planning for 2021, we are mindful of what the new year will bring and reminded that change is inevitable. It is only in recent days that we have been informed that two staff members are leaving us. Mr. Alistair Waite who has been a supervisor at Mount Erin for the past six years is pursuing a new boarding role. We thank Alistair for his service to Mount Erin and wish him all the best for his future. Ms Vicky Bradford is also pursuing a new boarding role after being at Mount Erin for the past two years. We thank Vicky for her work as supervisor with the girls in her charge at Mount Erin and wish her all the best for her future endeavours.

We are also acknowledging our longtime serving kitchen staff member, Ms Carmel Gorham who is moving on. Ms Gorham has been at Mount Erin now for six and a half years and is to be congratulated for her hard work in the catering area. Ms Sheridan Gyles concludes her temporary supervisor role at Mount Erin this week and we wish her well for the future.

We are well underway with processes to have staff in place for 2021 before the end of this calendar year.

It was pleasing to see the new boarding students when they arrived for their recent sleepover/day College orientation days.

A number of students who will be new in Year 8 to Year 11 at Kildare and Mater Dei opted to stay over night in readiness to attend their respective orientations the next day.

The recent Year 6 into 7 new boarder sleepover saw 14 students arrive ready to have their first taste of boarding at Mount Erin and then head off to their respective Colleges. The Co-Captains, Supervisors and current students made them feel welcome and all enjoyed dinner outside in the grounds and swimming pool time. We look forward to seeing all new students who are new to Mount Erin at their boarding orientation in 2021.

Staff Qualifications

Our Boarding staff are continually involved in professional learning and updating their qualifications. Congratulations to Mr Jody Siegwalt our Activities Officer for maintaining his Bronze Medallion, important for the safety of the boarders using the swimming pool.

Mount Erin Boarding Fees 2021

This year Mount Erin has had a number of improvements including a new key system, fire panel and security upgrade, major plumbing works and refurbishment of the office and reception areas. As well, a section of the Girls residential area will be refurbished over the holiday break.

As the costs of running and improving Mount Erin, including the employment of the staff, is funded almost entirely through the payment of boarding fees, ongoing financial commitment by families is vital. In 2021 there will be a small increase in boarding fees in line with the Diocesan schools.

Please find link to the 2021 Boarding Fees Schedule

Bush Children's Education Foundation

The Bush Children's Education Foundation of NSW has some important information for Boarding families - see the BCEF page in this publication.

Transport Survey Response Update

In response to the Transport Survey feedback, our State Members of Parliament were contacted regarding any additional financial support that may be available through government schemes for boarding families and pursued this question on our behalf. The Office of the Minister for Transport has responded to that enquiry this week and reiterated, as we were already aware, that funding is made available directly to parents/carers to offset the cost of weekly transport to and from boarding. The Minister's Office reminds families that travel on Countrylink services can be accessed by boarders where it is on a designated route. Families can obtain further information from NSW Transport.

As the year comes to a close for boarding this week, I would like to take the opportunity to thank our Mount Erin families for your support during this year and wish you all a happy and Holy Christmas and a relaxing holiday break.

Mr John Bussenschutt |Leader of Boarding

Prayer

AN ADVENT PRAYER