Boarding 

In our last week of Term 2 the boarders are all feeling a sense of excitement about their three-week holiday break. Our boarders have a designated day for travel back to the boarding house on Monday the 15th of July. The boarding house will be open for all boarders from 12pm midday. I will be hosting a Boarders Parent Association meeting in the Boarders Dining Hall on this afternoon at 2pm with afternoon tea supplied. If you have yet to be a part of the Boarders Parent Association, you are most welcome to join us.

Congratulations to success on the court

Only last week we were highlighting the importance of exercise and team sports. This week we can acknowledge the wonderful success of The Hamilton and Alexandra College Division 4 Women’s Basketball Champions, and to add, our own Year 8 boarder Tori Dunstan who was awarded the MVP for the Grand Final game.

The girls played against the Tigers and won their match, 38 to 31. The team was made up of 4 boarders, Micaela Meyer (#91), Tori Dunstan (#65), Phoebe Russell (#6) and Alice Whitehead (#7), with the wonderful support of their coach, Mrs Erica James.

Thank you to our Gapper, Fred Martin

This term we have said farewell to our Gapper, Freddy Martin. Fred has been a wonderful Gapper and followed in his Uncle’s footsteps who was also a Gapper at the College, some 20 years ago. Fred has been fully immersed in the College, he has been a wonderful support in school and local cricket/football, the PE program, boarding life, camps, Junior School, and acting as a big brother to many of the Speirs’ House boys. His contribution to boarding life is valued and his friendship to all boarders I am sure will carry on for years. Thank you Fred, we wish you all the best with your University endeavours.

Year 10 boarders

Our Year 10s are currently enjoying their Central Australia trip with 14 boarders in attendance. Understandably for many this is a unique and remarkable time in their lives. For our international boarders, this is a special moment in their life where they are overcoming some real challenges in pushing comfort zones by sleeping in swags, witnessing once-in-a-lifetime landscapes, and understanding our indigenous culture.

Celebrating Boarders’ Success

This past term has witnessed many boarders achieve success in their respective co-curricular activities. Our boarders have been well-represented in these awards and I congratulate them on balancing these commitments with the everyday challenges of living away from home. I strongly believe we are blessed to have such leaders in the school who live in the boarding house. The boarders who were awarded were:

Eliza Jagger Yr 11 (cricket and athletics), Alannah Sander Yr 12 (athletics), Grace Austin Yr 10 (rowing and swimming), Hannah Russell Yr 12 (rowing), Fergus Roberts (swimming), Billie Smitheran Yr 12 (rowing), Maddi Match Yr 12 (rowing), Emily Crawford Yr 12 (rowing), Nikita Cavill Yr 12 (rowing), Harrison Beal Yr 12 (rowing), Ayleish Beaty Yr 12 (rowing), Chloe Andersen Yr 12 (cricket), Lauren Richards Yr 12 (cricket), and Ben McCure Yr 11 (cricket).

I wish all of our boarders, in particular our Year 12s, to have a comfortable break to recharge their batteries prior to the busy second semester ahead of them. The Year 12 ATAR interviews have been well-received with many already taking upon themselves to be more proactive in their study, invest more time into their prep of an evening, and request academic assistance to achieve their goals.

I would like to express a great deal of gratitude to all boarding families, far and wide. Your support in the amazing staff we have is such an important part of our caring culture. I wish you a safe and happy time this holiday with your family and look forward to the boarders’ return on Monday, 15th July.

Casual boarding

Have you ever considered casual boarding? With our after-school programs in full-swing and our day school students taking these opportunities with determination our boarding houses can offer a comfortable place for an evening or two. When a casual boarder finishes their after-school commitment they are able to be picked up by our driver and brought back to the boarding house. Here they enjoy dinner, academic assistance, super supper (on a Wednesday), a warm and comfortable bed for the night with breakfast and lunch the following day. Casual boarding is becoming a popular choice for families and their children of all ages, and I encourage any family to consider this option for their son or daughter.

If you would like to trial boarding, experience the benefits of casual boarding or simply enquire about boarding in general please do not hesitate in contacting Susie Holcomb or myself.

Andrew Monk