Boarding, Term 4 Week 2

Dear Boarding Families,

Welcome back to what will be an action-packed term. Already in the last two weeks, we have had the Hawkes Chapel service and final dinner for the Grade 12s and the Grade 12s Curry Crawl dinner with the senior staff. Next week our Grade 12 have their final week and Valedictory Day on Wednesday 2 November which finishes off their school experience. Our Grade 7s head off to Maria Island along with some big Kids (Edwina Campion and Tim Dowling). The TCE exam period begins and our Grade 11/12’s last exam is scheduled for 18 November. The expectation is then for all Grade 11 and 12s to leave boarding and enjoy some downtime from studying.

This term has also seen Mrs Denise Hales seamlessly take on the role of Head of Girls House and already the feedback from both staff and students has been very positive. She has reminded me of why she was Head of Boarding at PLC WA, as she made everyone feel welcomed on their return to boarding this term and has been able to value add to our space.

Our Grade 10s finish on 24 November leaving our boarding house for the year. Grade 9s head to Mt Cameron and Grade 7 and 8s go into Challenge Week. Finally, the term concludes on 14 December with Graduation night.

With all of this going on, we still have a rowing program to support at 5:35 in the morning with bus runs taking boarders to the rowing shed, then coming back and doing a couple of runs to the junior school or onto Scotch Oakburn for any Boarders who are doing a subject there for Period 1. All of this happens before the first bell each day or before I get to step into my classroom if it happens to be a teaching morning.

Reverend Pickering and Victoria Monson ran last week’s Boarders Chapel and he went on to explain that there is a lot going on in our space each day and we do not always know what is happening around us and with those we interact with, but one thing we can control is kindness. Be kind to each other in the way we speak, interact or respond. The general idea of the service was ‘love your neighbour whoever it shall be’ Victoria continued this message with the following points:

– We don’t get to choose our family

– Similarly, we don’t choose who is at the Boarding House

– It is important that we love each other.

– We are nothing without our neighbour and community is everything.

This was a very powerful and timely message for our boarders as we look to positively close out another year living together and show gratitude to those around us.

Enjoy your fortnight!

Regards,

Ash

Part of our chapel service was a message from The parable of the good Samaritan Luke 10. This was read by Victoria Monson our Vice Captain in boarding, when she had finished reading this, she went on to reflect on her time on boarding and said this to our boarding group.

“As boarders, we face the challenge of leaving our loved ones. Throughout my time at boarding and in high school, I have learnt that family is not always blood. To me, family are those who care for us throughout trials and triumphs and are there for the most significant moments that impact our lives. I feel that this passage relates well to the unique experience of being a boarder. I feel confident in saying as I prepare to leave Grammar, that I have a family in this boarding community. It is not a perfect family, and I don’t think the experience of boarding should be romanticised. The boarding experience is certainly challenging, but I feel glad that I have had the opportunity to be a part of it with my neighbours; my family.”

Like a lot of our boarders, Victoria has had some emotional struggles throughout her time in boarding and at school. She is seen by her peers and staff as one of the most resilient, strong-minded and empathetic human beings we know, so when she stood up and said these words it had a profound effect on me. She has said what a lot of us feel when living in this communal environment. The challenge for me as Head of Boarding is to ensure all boarders have this experience, not just a few.

Lisa and I went along to Jersey Boys during the week and sat alongside Aaron, Maya and Mackenize. Will Robertson was a local star in this box office smash hit at Princes Theatre. He could be Australia’s next Hugh Jackman with his Big Three talent on display, Singing, Acting and Dancing. The last time I saw this production was in New York City in Broadway back in 2011, this was of the same calibre.

Sorry to the Flinders Island crew, although my personal insurance looks good, the weather on the Thursday morning before this show didn’t. I took some photos of a farm area here in Launceston we pass going to the junior school in the morning and that weather cell produced some rain which transformed the area into a lake!

Congratulations to David Aldridge and Heidi John in Grade 6 for their efforts in completing their International Baccalaureate PYP project. Well done you little legends!!

We have introduced a tech-free Tuesday and it has been a hit for staff and in 20 years’ time, your child will also see the benefits! But in all seriousness, the kids are really getting out and about which is great to see. I love the way staff are also engaging this approach theme to the day.

This was a very memorable occasion and one that allows our boarders to show the Grade 12’s what they have meant to them. It was a bit of a teary night when listening to some of the speeches. Victoria Monson has found a way to bring a tear to my eye on several occasion over the last two years and she didn’t disappoint during her speech. Heidi also brought the house down with her heart felt speech on how much she will miss her Big Sister Olivia, I was really impressed with the way everyone conducted themselves and it will be a different vibe without James, Jerry, Bryant and Julia who have endured years of isolation from seeing their family. We have been very fortunate to have them come into our boarding house and change the culture and continue an International flavour to it. The boy from Albert Park Victoria was also a bit teary as he thanked TJ and I for keeping him on the straight and narrow path here in Launceston.

TJ, Mrs Hales and I took our leaving Grade 12’s out on a Curry Crawl during the week to celebrate their last official engagement in the boarding house together. We started around the corner at the Curry House with entries, then walked over to Little Spicy for mains then bus drove into Launceston to have sweets at Cold Rock. What a great group, we had time to collect our thoughts and do a bit of reflecting on their time at Grammar boarding, before singing Country Roads by John Denver and American Pie to finish the night off.

This term we welcome Anilka (Nik) Terry to the boarding house from Jakarta Indonesia. Thanks to Emily and Ify for making her seamlessly blend into our system. Anika has a very positive attitude and will value add to our culture here at Launceston Grammar.

This week we had the Grade 11’s register to be a candidate to lead the boarding house for next year. Congratulations to Blaze Birch, Skye Ellis and Mackenzie Grant for putting their hands up for a position. They presented a speech to the boarding house on Tuesday night during dinner, then the all-important polling both opened. It was an intense 15 minutes as students were caught between finishing their meal and deciding whether to have sweets or cast their vote first. In typical boarder fashion it was a mash of both and all managed to cast their vote for the all-important count that night by our official polling count team (myself).

Next Monday senior staff will interview the candidates and decide who will lead the house next year based on results and interviews. Good luck to the three nominees, it takes courage to speak in front of and represent your peers in a leadership role.

Head of Boarding 

Ashley Keatch 

M 0403 799321 

akeatch@lcgs.tas.edu.au 

Deputy Head of Boarding – Boys  

Theunis Pieters  

M 0447 732 241 

tpieters@lcgs.tas.edu.au 

Acting Head of House – Girls 

Denise Hales 

M 0498 167 579 

dhales@lcgs.tas.edu.au