What a difference a fortnight can make in boarding. The Grade 10,11 and 12s went from celebrating an evening either at Scotch Oakburn College at the Boarders Ball or Tail Race Function Centre Grade 10 Formal, to putting their heads down to assessments and tests as the TCE heats up for our seniors.
During the last two weeks we have seen some changes around the houses as we look to improve our living environments by involving staff and students in discussions on what they would like to see to make their space a better feel. The input has been very pleasing, and I feel we are making small gains in freshening up spaces. I encourage all boarding students to have a conversation with staff if they have a great idea for something they would like flipped.
We said farewell to Emily Woods this week as she had her last night in the boarding house before moving in with her auntie in what she described as a “much bigger room”. The Woods family were my first connection to Launceston Grammar when I was living back in Claremont W.A. I missed them by half an hour at a coffee place called “Standin’ Room”. The owner, Paul told me he had just met a family from Tasmania who were in Perth to see Tyson their son who was posted to HMAS Stirling Garden Island in WA and you think Tasmania is small, wow, what were the chances of that connection. Within two months of starting at Launceston Grammar I had visited the Woods on their Island at Flinders and will get the chance to see them again at the start of next term at the Flinders Show. They are one of our great families we have had in Boarding here at Launceston Grammar and on behalf of our staff and students we wish Em all the best with her studies and don’t be a stranger around campus stay connected to us.
The long weekend has been and gone. A special shout out to Emeka and Ene Okorafo (Abrahams) parents who kindly invited James and Jerry, our international students from China to stay with them in Burnie. It’s very tough for our international students during breaks as they cant go home, so when these opportunities come up for them it’s wonderful to have this support as it means our students can see more of Tasmania as well as home life in Australia.