Feature on Boarding

BOARDING AT THE HEART

OF CANBERRA GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Canberra Grammar School has always been an outstanding boarding school and takes pride in its achievements while acknowledging the responsibility and commitment it takes to nurture the students who are entrusted to the School’s care.

In 2019, Canberra Grammar School continued its transition to full co-education across all years by accepting its first intake of girls into boarding. In 2020, the School moved to a new model of residential and pastoral care with the appointment of two new Heads of Boarding.

Last year, Ms Jenny Hunter joined CGS in the role of Head of Girls’ Boarding. In her early career, she enjoyed working as a PDHPE teacher and Head of Sport before assuming the role of Head of House and focusing on student wellbeing. Jenny has a passion for fostering strong relationships and supporting young people in becoming independent and capable citizens who are prepared for the world. She believes in encouraging all those under her care to strive for personal fulfilment and has a strong desire to lead her staff in facilitating the aspirations of all students while developing them into happy and confident people. Jenny is familiar with the parent-teacher dynamic since her two sons are CGS Alumni, and she is joined by her husband, living on campus, who helps to transport the boarders to various activities around Canberra.

In 2020, to complete the appointments for the new model, Mr Kiel Brown joined CGS as the Head of Boys’ Boarding. Kiel brings a diverse and robust set of skills developed from a career as a psychologist and by working in an educational setting for the last five years. Before this, he worked in homeless transitional support services and was a member of the Australian Men’s Hockey Team for almost a decade. Kiel is passionate about working with young people in the residential education setting. His philosophy regarding boarding focuses on creating an environment where every student feels safe, valued, and connected and is provided developmentally appropriate opportunities to explore their world and develop themselves. He is joined on campus by his wife Jessica and three young sons, Taylor, Finlay, and Lennox, who are particularly excited to get to know the students and families of the CGS Boarding community.

As the CGS Boarding village continues to grow, a commitment to providing world-class facilities continues.

Over Semester 1 2020, the School refreshed and renewed the Boys’ Boarding House while simultaneously continuing the development of the Girls’ Boarding House. The Boys’ Boarding House witnessed a re-wiring of both wings, the installation of full reverse cycle air-conditioning, a complete renovation of the student rooms to bring consistency across all Boarding Houses, re-carpeting, and re-painting of all areas and an upgrade of the lighting in the hallways and rooms to create more open community, learning, and living spaces.

With boarding at the heart of Canberra Grammar School, it is the diversity and experiences of the students and their families that brings the soul to boarding. CGS boarders hail from regional, metro, and overseas areas; they belong to multi-cultural, Indigenous, rural, Defence, and local backgrounds; their interests range from sports and art to high academic aspirations but what brings them all together is their strong sense of community.

The School’s magazine editorial team interviewed three families from different backgrounds about their boarding experiences thus far at Canberra Grammar School.

STABILITY IN MY EDUCATION

Sam Alsop, a Year 12 student pursuing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, talks about enjoying the diversity of the academic and co-curricular programmes.

‘I’m from a Defence family, which means a lot of moving around – it can be unsettling at times. But coming to CGS and then transitioning into boarding when my parents were travelling overseas and interstate means that I have stability in my education in an otherwise unstable time’ he said.

When asked why Sam enjoys being at CGS he remarked ‘everything I want to do is here. Whether it be soccer, debating, or performing in a play—my parents don’t have to run me around Canberra to various after-school activities. CGS has it all’.

Sam continued, ‘one year, we moved to England for the year; it was one of the coolest experiences of my life. We had an amazing experience living in a housing block in England and exploring Europe. There must have been two people from every country in the world. They rarely spoke the same language as me; I made friends from literally all over the world!’. Moving schools and the transient nature of a career in Defence can make it hard to settle into a new place and a new school.

‘There have been challenges—deployments in particular. There have been long periods without my Dad. And this certainly has put extra pressure on the rest of the family. I’ve had to step up and help around the house and help my siblings. These times have created challenges for everyone, but it is hard to see from the outside. Moving a lot is a challenge; it impacts everyone, and it has disconnected some parts of my life.

‘Boarding has had a significant role in my life so far and has offered my family and I stability—a valuable commodity amongst the Defence community. CGS Boarding has also quickly become my home, and I am so grateful for the opportunities that it has granted, not least the opportunity to start and finish the IB at the same school’ he said.

While boarding is certainly about the place, it is equally, if not more so, about the people.

‘I love being neighbours with some of my best friends. If I’ve had a rough day at School, I can always knock on a door and have a cuppa tea with a friend and talk it over. If something great is happening, I’ve always got people to share it with. It’s never lonely’ Sam concluded.

BOYS’ BOARDING REFRESH

ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE

Canberra has the unique trait of being able to combine the best of the city and country. While providing access to metro-like services, the nation’s capital is fortunate to maintain more of the country feel in comparison to some of its big sibling capital cities.

Olivia Nolan, hailing from southern NSW, is in Year 10 and is a part of the CGS Athlete Development Programme. However, she feels just as home in Canberra.

‘Boarding at CGS has been one of the best experiences of my life. The aspect I love the most is that the boarding house genuinely feels like a home away from home. CGS has done a great job at developing me and providing me with a support network that I feel completely comfortable around’ Olivia said.

We asked Olivia about what she enjoyed most about being a CGS boarder: ‘I think if you ask any boarder this question, you will pretty much get the same response. One of the most challenging parts about being a boarder is leaving home. Everyone gets homesick— whether you’re in Year 7 or Year 10—but once you start to develop friendships and a support network, you start realising that boarding will be one of the best experiences of your life’.

This has been a year of challenges, with many of the School’s families being affected by the fires. Whether or not you’re living at home or in the Boarding House, CGS Boarding is a family.

‘This year has been crazy with events such as the bushfires over the summer. The CGS Boarding staff and community have gone above and beyond in assisting my family and me, whether it be with the weekly phone calls from tutors to check up on how my family was coping or the support that was provided to my family. The environment within CGS boarding is like no other,’ Olivia continued, ‘Over the summer, my family home was heavily impacted by the traumatic bushfires and the support the boarding family gave me helped me cope and showed that no matter where I was or what was happening, the “boarding family” was always there for me’.

Another challenge that boarders faced this year was the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a challenging adjustment for boarders like Olivia, who returned to her family home outside of Canberra.

‘I felt very isolated as I live outside of Canberra; so, our weekly video conferencing sessions made me feel as though we were all still a family. During both the bushfire and remote learning periods, the boarding community was continuously communicating with me every couple of days and making sure that I remained mentally positive’ Olivia said.

Living away from home is a unique experience for not only students but also for their parents, and it is essential to choose the right place.

Sarah Nolan, Olivia’s mother, commented on her decision to pick CGS: ‘We immediately felt at home at CGS due to the professional environment and friendly staff, and

The support that we received from CGS as a whole was amazing and we are forever grateful.

SARAH NOLAN BOARDING PARENT

the transport services, the brand new Girls’ Boarding House, and cosy individual rooms were particularly impressive. Transport for Olivia’s sporting events was a significant part of our decision as she was coming to Canberra to play soccer in the National Woman’s Premier League. The School’s commitment to facilitating this, and the support that she received from structured programmes at CGS, like the Athlete Development Programme and mentoring from past sports professionals, have all been added advantages that have made CGS boarding the right choice for us’.

Providing opportunities for students is not something that can be done alone, and working as a family unit is instrumental.

‘Boarding is an extension of our family. We liaise with the staff regularly. We work together to manage and plan Olivia’s hectic soccer training schedule, academic progression, and personal development and feel that her home in the Canberra is just an extension of our home albeit at a remote location’ Sarah said.

‘Olivia was shy and timid when she first started boarding. She was definitely driven and committed to her soccer pursuits. However, within the first few months of boarding, she developed into a mature, confident, and independent young lady. Boarding made her focus on her academics and pushed her out of her comfort zone to form many new friendships with people from different backgrounds and geographic areas. These friendships are strong and have helped Olivia cope during difficult times.

‘Olivia has been pushed out of her comfort zone as a boarder and, last year, she was asked to stand up in front of all boarders, families, prospective families, and staff at a formal dinner and speak on behalf of the boarders. This was a massive leap for Olivia, yet she was trusted and encouraged by the boarding staff. CGS constantly opens up opportunities, sets challenges, strives high, and rewards students like Olivia who try their best,’ Sarah said proudly. For families in regional areas, like Olivia’s, it is crucial to develop healthy support networks at School.

‘Earlier in the year, the focus changed for us quickly as the border fire encroached north from Victoria and impacted the local town where we live and do business in, putting our home under threat for weeks and causing us to go to bed most nights while carefully watching spot fires in the hills behind our house. We even evacuated four times in January.

‘Our family stayed together during these times. The kids were taught all the firefighting skills that we knew. They knew how to activate our fire plan. They knew how to protect our home, animals, and themselves. They also knew what triggers we had set in place to get out if we needed to. Being the oldest, Olivia was very mature, capable, and resilient during these times. Luckily, our story ended well when the rain brought relief and put out the fires closest to us and on the South Coast. Our family supported each other, and the support from the community and region was amazing.

‘CGS played an enormous role in January as they assured us that Olivia would return to School as planned, with her position within the Boarding House secure, and that they would do whatever they could to help us during this difficult time. This was evident when School started back for 2020, as we still had the fire front at its closest point and we couldn’t leave as we had a home to protect. We shipped Olivia off from here, and she arrived at the Boarding House with nothing organised for the year ahead, no school supplies, just a bag of last year’s uniform and her casual clothes. The CGS staff helped her get organised and start for the year. Once Olivia got back into boarding, the staff and her friends comforted and supported her, and this support network is what helped her cope with the difficult time.

‘The support that we received from CGS as a whole was amazing and we are forever grateful.’

As an Indigenous student, family is everything. The CGS community is very welcoming and friendly, having become my extended family. The people in the Boarding House have turned into my brothers and sisters as I have formed friendships that I know will last for a long time, even after I graduate. MONIESHA CROCKETT YEAR 12 BOARDING STUDENT AND INDIGENOUS SCHOLAR

Moniesha was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship to attend CGS for her senior years of school. I knew it would be a great opportunity for her to excel, and it would allow her to have more choices for her future career. CHERIE CROCKETT BOARDING PARENT

AN ENVIRONMENT THAT HELPS ME THRIVE

In 2019, Canberra Grammar School launched its Indigenous Scholars Programme. Moniesha Crockett, who is in Year 12 and completing the final year of her Higher School Certificate, was awarded an inaugural scholarship which included boarding at CGS.

Moniesha said that the safe and supportive environment in CGS Boarding is what makes the experience so valuable.

‘The environment has helped me thrive throughout the last two years. I love the strong sense of community and the opportunity to make close connections with friends. They have become my family away from home. You never find yourself short of anything to do: there’s space for a good walk on the weekend, talent quests, and yoga; you can walk to the local shopping and café precinct or take some much needed quiet time for school work.’

Moniesha also said that ‘CGS Boarding is an inclusive environment in which everyone is loved for their similarities and differences; you get to meet and make connections with people you may never have had the opportunity to if you weren’t a CGS boarder. I also enjoy the fact that CGS Boarding is reasonably separate from the day school, allowing differentiation between the school and home environment just the same as if you were living at home.

‘The relationships between the boarders and tutors are mutually respectful and supportive, which has helped me get through the challenges of Year 12 and living away from home. It’s not easy being away from home, though. It’s even more difficult when that bond with family forms such an important part of who you are.

‘Being away from family and home is the biggest challenge I’ve had to overcome. Some days you feel homesick, but the reality is home is just a phone call away. The Boarding House community is very aware of these issues as every boarder will go through it at some stage, and they are very supportive and empathetic, always checking in to make sure everything is okay. It has been a great experience being able to be a part of such a close-knit community’ Moniesha confided.

Cherie Crockett, Moniesha’s mum, shared with us that she was excited to learn that Moniesha had been awarded a CGS Indigenous Scholarship. Coming from a family with five siblings, it was always going to be difficult to see the eldest child leave home.

‘Moniesha is my eldest child, and she’s my first child to leave home for an extended period of time. This has allowed my other children to see anything is possible and opened up a pathway for my other children to attend CGS. The family has seen Moniesha grow into a strong independent woman and that has shown her siblings that anything is possible’ she said.

‘Ever since the start of 2019, when Moniesha joined CGS, I have watched her grow into the strong person she is today. Her academic standard has improved, and she has become more confident in taking on endeavours and can achieve anything she puts her mind to. Her time boarding at CGS has not been without challenges, but with the help of the boarding community and her family, it has made the transition a lot smoother. As a mother, their care, understanding, and guidance have made me feel more comfortable, knowing that Moniesha is always being looked after, and I could never thank them enough.’