From the Heads of Boarding
On Friday we held the final Boarding Parent Committee Meeting of the year. We thank Mrs Kathy Bradshaw and Ms Emma Holland for their time on the committee and wish them well in their next season. At this meeting our committee met the incoming Head of Boarding, Mr Ashley Keatch via a Teams link up. It was a valuable time, where he introduced himself and answered questions from parents. We also intend to arrange for the Anchorage boys to virtually meet him in the near future.
We are pleased that over the past month we have achieved a number of goals for improvements within boarding. Over the holidays the new heating was installed in Endeavour and Anchorage. With the recent chilly days, all students and staff have appreciated the much warmer houses. Additionally, frosted decals have been attached to the external Anchorage doors to ensure privacy.
Students have requested a specific Boarding Wifi network, which allows them to access sites for homework and wifi calling, that would otherwise be unavailable. We are excited that over the last two weeks students have been accessing this new network.
REACH
Recently we added transport bookings to Reach and this is working well. Please remember if you are booking for your boarder that transport closes at 9.00am on weekdays and at 9.00pm on Friday and Saturday nights for the following day.
Katanning Show
Tara and Mrs Julia Bairstow went to the Katanning Show while Vanessa was busy with Valedictory celebrations. We have enjoyed our time on the road this year connecting with our families. We know Ashley, our new Head of Boarding is also eager to be out and about to meet our families next year.
Closed Weekend
Students return home for the Closed Weekend on Thursday 10 November and return on Sunday 13 November from 4.00pm. Please make contact with your Head of Boarding House if you would like an earlier return time.
New Staff
Ms Georgia Cabot has been appointed live-in Boarding Supervisor commencing Term Four. Georgia is relocating to Albany from Boston, USA. Georgia holds a Bachelor in Science, major in Political Science and a minor in Education and Society, Sociology. Georgia has worked as Camp Counsellor for Thayer Lacrosse Camp and school tutor for Tuckahoe Elementary School. She will work between the senior houses and is enjoying the shifts she has completed already.
Mr Lincoln Cook has been appointed as casual Boarding Supervisor and Tutor. Lincoln has experience in the support industry and tutoring in the Disability Support and Creative Arts sector, developing and coordinating workshops in Fremantle, Melbourne and Wellington, New Zealand. Lincoln holds a Bachelor of Media and a Certificate IV in Disability. He will mostly be based in Eclipse House and has already started to make some sound connections with the boarders.
Miss Zoe Kerr has been appointed as casual Boarding Supervisor. Zoe has recently been working with Richmond Wellbeing as Recovery Worker and Site Manager. Zoe holds a Bachelor of Science, Psychology and Addiction Studies and is currently undertaking a Master of Teaching. She will be working in Anchorage House for the remainder of the year and the Anchorage boarders are enjoying her company.
Academic Support for Boarders
We have been looking for additional ways to academically support our boarders and this term are excited to announce a connection with Albany Tutoring. Over the last term we have liaised with the day school staff, boarding staff and Albany Tutoring to develop specific study skills, literacy and numeracy programs for Year Seven and Eight students.
The programs align with work being completed in classes but also extends and supports those who need additional work. All Year Seven and Eight students attend an hour of English on a Monday and an hour of Mathematics on a Wednesday. The study skills techniques are included during this time. The lessons occur in small groups and students will work towards projects to display at our Boarding Christmas and Awards evening at the end of Term Four. Students will have their normal prep time on a Tuesday and Thursday, with additional opportunities to complete schoolwork either before or after the tutoring time. We are keen to ensure our boarders recognise the value of this additional learning.
Please feel free to check out the videos and photos below for more information about what the Year Seven and Eight students are doing. A link to the Albany Tutoring information brochure can be found below.
Additionally, we have maintained the tutoring services of Mr Josh Carson for senior Mathematics and Science subjects, Miss Jasmine Butterworth for middle and senior Humanities and English subjects and will continue to have Ms Simpson supporting the Year Eight students.
Orientation
This year for orientation we will host a boarding sleepover for the second time. On Thursday prior to day school orientation the new boarding students will attend boarding from 4.00pm to sleep the night in Michaelmas. The new boarders will experience a boarding dinner, will get to meet our boarding leaders and spend time getting to know each other and playing games. After dinner the new boarders will go on their first recreation to Eyre Park to have a play and an ice-cream and in the morning the boarders will have breakfast in the dining hall prior to attending the orientation day at school.
Whilst the boarders are settling in the new boarding families will listen to an information session in the dining hall and parents are then invited to Six Degrees to enjoy the company and stories of experienced boarding families. Heads of Boarding have been making contact by phone with our new families to get to know our new boarders prior to them arriving for orientation. We look forward to welcoming and meeting our new families.
Basketball Court
It is very exciting to finally see the earth works beginning for a basketball court beside Eclipse House. This court has been much anticipated and will have lighting attached behind the poles to ensure students from all houses can enjoy the facilities. We are very keen to see this basketball court enjoyed by all boarders.
Lights Out
The Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA) is the leading authority in Australia on boarding for school-aged children. ABSA promotes the interests and well-being of boarders, boarding staff, boarding parents and boarding institutions in Australia.
Three times per year, ABSA publish a magazine called Lights Out. If you would like to read the latest edition of this magazine or browse any of the archived editions, please find them here. Within the archives (October 2020 edition) you will even find that Great Southern Grammar made the front cover. Happy reading.
Government Assistance
A reminder that applications for the 2022 Boarding Away from Home Allowance close on Friday 25 November 2022. A copy of the application form can be found here.
The 2023 Student Allowances Guidelines are now available on MyGSG here.
The last Buzz for the year will be emailed out on the last week of term with all the photos from the end of term.
Ms Vanessa Bromhead | Head of Senior Boarding
Mrs Tara Ball | Head of Middle Boarding