Dear Boarding Families,
As I send this newsletter out, I am overlooking the Yarra in South Bank Crown Casino Melbourne Vic about to be taken out for my 50th Birthday by my beautiful wife of 25 years, Lisa. While in Melbourne I will be catching up with Tom and Justine Koutsoupias for dinner on Saturday night, can’t wait. Aaron, their son, is in Grade 12 boarding here at Grammar.
Like a lot of our boarders, I will celebrate without my whole family being around me. My Mum and Dad can’t give me the “we are so proud of you and what you have created with your life and your beautiful family” speech and my Mum will not be there to embarrass me with her stories of how “I was the perfect child” one that gets Lisa’s eyes rolling every time she is subjected to it. I can’t hug my son Josh or daughter Katie and tell them how special and proud of them I am and how they have made my life complete. Or even just catch up to discuss the moments that have led to 50 years of living in this wonderful world with my mates, but that’s OK because I truly feel I have over 80+ other students, parents and staff who comfortably support and make me feel part of a community where I feel valued, respected, cared for and supported and that makes me feel a sense of belonging.
Like most of us, we crave that feeling of belonging in our lives, although we may not express it or ask for it each day, deep down when having conversations with your child in boarding about how they are tracking during the day, they are keen to see my interest and engagement with them. When I am distracted or not paying attention, I am equally reminded, which occurred at Bunnings last weekend with Maya Garwood and Mackenzie Grant when picking out paint for a room flip we are about to do. I went into the selective hearing, ‘Dad’ mode, focused on the task ahead and have paid the price for it all this week. Again, reminders that make me feel part of this wonderful boarding community and a sense of belonging.
Enjoy your fortnight.
Kind regards,
Ash
Ash Keatch
Head of Boarding