Eclipse House News

The second half of Term Three has been a rush of activity. We have had sporting grand finals and wind-ups, a final rush of assessments before exams start, Eclipse paintball and Boarding’s Got Talent. It has been a fun, positive end to a busy term and I am very proud and impressed by the way the Eclipse boys have contributed to and engaged in these events.

I also really enjoyed getting together with some of the parents from Eclipse at the Boarding Parent Sundowner a couple of weeks ago and look forward to more events like this in the future.

Supper Treats

Mrs Spinks' weekly waffles are not only a midweek treat but have now become an anticipated event. To celebrate the final week of term, I brought in some fresh, local, organic strawberries to accompany the waffles. The boys seemed to enjoy this and were very well mannered, thanking Mrs Spinks for her efforts.

Sport

The past two weeks have been filled with sporting events. Last weekend saw the house completely empty as boys went to watch the hockey grand final. Both Mitchell Dolan and Jacob Featherstone are passionate about the game and showed great dedication to their teams throughout the season. We are also seeing the footy season wind-up, with some of the boys playing in the grand final this weekend. Good luck. 

Dan Cosh and William Penny have been playing in a local volleyball league each week, but this too has finished for the year. With all the sport winding-up, the boys are eagerly awaiting the start of the cricket and basketball seasons next term. Already they are discussing which teams they are on, trainings and tactics.

Paintball

A few weeks ago, most of the Eclipse boys went out to an afternoon of paintball. We were split into two even teams and put through multiple scenarios and games. The final event was a free for all, last man standing wins the game. This was a lot of fun and saw friends turn on each other without hesitation, in hopes of being named the victor. The war stories that came from this one afternoon continued to entertain us all for the next week.

House Dinner

It was such a privilege for Dihan, Mrs Spinks and I to take the boys out for dinner at Venice, a local Italian restaurant. There was a lot of laughter, fun and food had by all and it was so refreshing getting off campus and doing something nice with everyone. The Year Twelve boys took smart casual to a whole new level, arriving in nice button up shirts, ties and footy shorts. 

Boarding's Got Talent

The annual Boarding’s Got Talent event took place last weekend. Most of Eclipse participated in the event and it was a night of great food and fun. The house was decorated in a Mexican theme. Alexander Norrish took point on the food side of things and did a great job. His churros were the highlight, still being talked about days after the event. We also ran a hot-sauce eating contest that hit some harder than others. All the boys stepped up in a big way to help set up and then clean up after the event.

Academic Support

Josh Carson has continued to come in twice a week to help tutor in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Some of the ATAR and Year Ten students have been utilising him. He will also be available to help in the lead up to exams.

The Year Twelve group start their exams in the second week of the holidays. The boarding house will remain open for them, and tutors will be available during the exam week. Good luck everyone.

I hope everyone enjoys a well-earned rest over the break and I look forward to welcoming you all back to boarding, refreshed and ready for our final term of 2020.

As always, feel free to call or email me to discuss your son or any upcoming events, on 0448 125 919 or via brenton.rice@gsg.wa.edu.au.

Mr Brenton Rice | Head of Eclipse House

Year Twelve Reflections

Boarding for me was the opportunity to become an independent and self-sufficient individual. My time there enabled me to learn valuable life skills from a young age. It was the experience of being surrounded by friends and peers, all going through the same situations, and evolving into a bonding experience for us all.

Boarding for me flipped my life on its head and challenged me. There were certainly hard times whilst being in boarding, but there were also wonderful times, and I believe I am leaving as a more rounded individual because of those experiences. And although I am ready to move onto my adult life, I am grateful for the good times and valuable experiences I gained in boarding.

Angus Egerton- Warburton | Year Twelve

Boarding has taught me a lot over the past five years that I have been here. It has shown me resilience, friendship, coping with stress and how to be a better person. Over the past five years at boarding, I was lucky enough to spend my first year in Flinders as well as also moving through both Anchorage and Eclipse.

I would first like to thank Ms Deveson for really helping me in my first year to settle in and find my way around the school. Mr Colgate assisted me in the transition to boarding on campus, and further helped me grow. Big thanks to Mr Tompkin, as he probably had the biggest influence on me, as well as a shout out to Mr Rice and Mrs Spinks.

Josh Pearce | Year Twelve