Dear Boarding Families,
We have had a busy fortnight in boarding, so as I was reflecting on all the moving parts associated with what we do, I was reminded of an article from Richard Stokes (CEO, ABSA) on the Top 5 skills your child gains by being a boarder.
Having worked in boarding for 18 years I can say with confidence that your child is supported through structured routines, care and support. Your child learns an array of invaluable life skills by being a part of Grammar boarding. As I have seen over the years, boarders gain independence and opportunities for personal growth from a young age, at Grammar this has been as young as Grade 5.
Boarding at Grammar has and will continue to evolve and even if ‘Dad’ comes back and finds some nostalgia in the feel of the old buildings, the internal fabric of procedures and operational day to day running has modernised. This offers a range of opportunities for all of our students to step outside their comfort zones, to be themselves at their best. Students are taught solid life skills from boarding.
The key for me is the structured nature of our boarding system regarding our routines and our ability to not be too big, where your child fades into the system, rather we provide a bespoke/boutique system to cater for the variety of needs faced by individual families in our regional area here in Tasmania. This is something I value at Launceston Grammar over a big boarding system of which some of you and I have been a part of.
Richard Stokes, CEO of Australian Boarding Schools Association, also believes this “structured” nature of the boarding school routine is key to keeping boarders on the right track and on the right framework. He believes boarding schools actively teach life skills.
“It’s become a really important part of boarding, probably in the last 5 years, that whole concept about teaching skills for life outside of the boarding school, rather than just maintaining their support. I think that is probably the critical thing.”
Knowing this places us in a good space as we evolve and continue to “provide a structured, supportive and caring educational environment in which boarders develop skills and attitudes which prepare them to become contributing and caring adults in modern society.”
Boarding Handbook 2022
Enjoy your fortnight
Regards
Ash