The Boarding Family

Each boarding house is managed by live-in Heads of Boarding who are responsible for the wellbeing of the students in their care. Heads of Boarding are supported by trained, certified staff who assist with the daily running of the houses and ensure that each boarder is made to feel welcome, secure, included and very much part of the boarding family.

Our boarders become part of a wonderful community of fellow students who become lifelong friends.


From the Head of Boarding

Theunis Pieters, Head of Boarding

Head of Boarding, Theunis (TJ) Pieters.

Boarding provides wonderful opportunities for our students to develop their independence and leadership in a supportive environment, as well as the encouragement of lifelong friendships.

It is imperative that the academic abilities of our students are identified, and opportunities provided for each one of them to be successful in their chosen career pathway.

Close monitoring of each student’s academic and pastoral development through the Curriculum and Head of House Leadership team both in the day and boarding systems is extremely important.

Theunis (TJ) Pieters

Head of Boarding

Meet the Boarders

Coming soon.

It is always great to hear first-hand from our boarders what boarding is like at Launceston Grammar.

Boarding Prospectus and Boarding Handbook

Meet the Staff

Our dedicated team of staff live within an assigned house and are available to students for support, transportation needs and co-ordinating leave arrangements. The nature of boarding and particularly co-educational boarding requires a strong female presence to support me as Head of Boarding. Denise Hales has significant boarding experience in Western Australia and has offered support in the interim of hiring a permanent Head of Boarding Girls’ House. Mr Theunis Pieters, Deputy Head of Boarding Boys House – Academic.

Tutors also reside within each boarding house on a roster system caring for the boarders with four tutors to a house.

Theunis Pieters

Head of Hawkes Boarding

Theunis Pieters

Head of Hawkes Boarding

What you are studying?

PhD – Sport and Exercise Science

What are your interests in life? 

Helping aspiring young athletes to reach the highest levels possible in their chosen sport by being the best strength and conditioning coach to them that I can be. I love working with students that are motivated and want to be the best version of themselves in their chosen sport. Personally, I love playing sports and am still involved in competitive track running and I play rugby for Launceston’s Premier rugby team, The Tigers.

Why do you like working at Grammar Boarding?

I love the boarding community at Grammar as it has provided me with a sense of belonging and has been my family away from family for the last 3 and half years that I have been at Grammar.

Jack Murphy

Deputy Head of Boarding

Jack Murphy

Deputy Head of Boarding

Will Robertson

Boarding House Assistant - Boys House

Will Robertson

Boarding House Assistant - Boys House

What you are studying?

Will is an alumnus of Launceston Grammar, having attended the school from 2006 to 2018. Post-schooling, he began a Bachelor of Education at the University of Tasmania, looking to graduate with a specialisation in the performing arts.

What are your interests in life?

In 2020, Will found himself back at the school in a staff capacity, co-ordinating the male singing program, while also managing the Second XI

cricket team. He started working in the boarding house in 2021 and has loved getting to know students across both the boys’ and girls’ houses.

Outside of school, Will is an avid fan of sports and is currently on the AFL Women’s umpire panel. He also loves singing and musical theatre, having recently been involved in Encore Theatre Company’s production of Mamma Mia!

Why do you like working at Grammar Boarding?

Will hopes he can be a positive role model for the boarding students through their time at Launceston Grammar.

Jamie Laurence

Boarding House Assistant - Boys House

Jamie Laurence

Boarding House Assistant - Boys House

What you are studying?

I’m currently studying at University for my Bachelor’s in Health and Physical Education.

What are your interests in life?

My main interests are running, watching sports, music and board games.

Why do you like working at Grammar Boarding?

I’ve enjoyed working at the boarding house as it’s given me an opportunity to engage and interact with students and a school community which will go towards experience for my teaching career.

Will Harris

Boarding House Assistant - Boys House

Will Harris

Boarding House Assistant - Boys House

What you are studying?

I am studying a Bachelor of Maritime Engineering specializing in Ocean Engineering with a career goal of working in the design of Offshore Structures in the Renewable Energy Industry.

What are your interests in life?

My interests include sports, fishing and camping.

Why do you like working at Grammar Boarding?

I enjoy working in the boarding house at LCGS as it is a fast-paced and fun environment. The students in the boarding house make the job extremely rewarding and ever-changing.

Lilly Duthie

Boarding House Assistant - Girls House

Lilly Duthie

Boarding House Assistant - Girls House

What you are studying?

I am studying a Bachelor of Primary Education and am in my 2nd year at UTAS.

What are your interests in life?

I really enjoy reading books that are fiction and non-fiction. I love spending time on the East Coast, going for walks and being at the beach.

Why do you like working at Grammar Boarding?

I enjoy working in the boarding house because I get to interact with the students each day. Each day there is something new and I get to be a part of their home away from home.

Chelsea Clarke

Boarding House Assistant - Girls House

Chelsea Clarke

Boarding House Assistant - Girls House

What you are studying?

I am studying for a Bachelor of Health and Physical Education and am in my 2nd Year of study.

What are your interests in life?

I am heavily involved in the gym and love being physically active. I enjoy spending quality time with my family and my two beautiful dogs.

Why do you like working at Grammar Boarding?

I really enjoy working in the Grammar Boarding House as it has given me great insight and preparation for my future career and the students are wonderful. They are willing to give anything a crack and have embraced me into their little community.

Care and Support

Boarding is an incredible opportunity. Our boarders experience new social situations, live with students from various backgrounds and ethnicities, and receive academic and pastoral support.

Our School is committed to offering a safe, secure and nurturing environment for boarders. The physical safety, mental health and overall wellbeing of boarders is of utmost importance.

Our study area and library called the Learning Hub at our Senior Campus is open before and after school on weekdays. Free tutoring is offered by highly specialised teaching staff, ensuring that your child can ask questions and seek advice as they progress through their academic journey. From Grades 5 to 9, students complete their weeknight homework under the direct supervision of boarding staff. In Grade 10, students transition to self-directed study. As part of this process boarding staff monitor student’s work in terms of submission of work, recent reports and teacher comments. Grade 11 and 12 students are responsible for organising their own study schedules but can continue to access the educational support of boarding staff as required.

The safety and wellbeing of your child is our primary concern while they are living away from home. Boarder’s leave is coordinated via an online leave system which allows leave requests to be viewed, entered and approved by parents or guardians and boarding staff. This means that the process for applying for and approving leave is easy and secure.

Weekend activities are varied with boarders able to visit local tourist attractions and sporting venues, as well as spending time cooking, or simply relaxing in the School’s stunning grounds.

Community

At Launceston Grammar you will discover a strong, supportive environment reflected in our genuine warmth and connection between students, families and staff. Our boarders become part of a nurturing community that ensures they are made to feel welcome, secure and included.

We believe that involvement in all aspects of School life increases a student’s sense of belonging, expands friendship groups and leads to higher levels of motivation and engagement. We encourage our boarders to become involved in co-curricular activities across sporting, visual arts and performance and music pursuits.

We have five families living on campus and along with a growing menagerie of boarding pets we are starting a Boarding House Kitchen Garden full of wonderful fresh produce for harvesting and sharing within and beyond our Boarding House family.