STEP IN TO BOARDING LIFE

A Celebratory Evening of

STEP IN TO BOARDING LIFE

CHRISTMAS SPARKLE!

Boarders and school staff celebrated and reflected on a fantastic term in our first Formal Christmas Boarding Dinner. The Hub dining area was transformed into a stunningly festive, Christmas winter wonderland under the vision and direction of our very own House Mistress of West Acre, Miss Casteja.

Our boarders and staff looked stunning in their formal dress. After drinks, canapes and speeches in the boarding houses, we were treated to a traditional three course dinner courtesy of our catering partners, Epicure. Our sincere thanks to Khun Tarn and her team! Background music was provided by the ever-talented and generous Stainer family and our own Bradbeian Year 9 boarder, Sun. Their string quartet played beautifully. Each boarding house also sang their own Christmas carol expertly accompanied by Plub, a proud Year 10 Grovite and music scholar here at Harrow Bangkok. It was an excellent team effort from across the various groups that make boarding such a special part of our school. These formal occasions are fundamental for preparing our boarders for such events when they go on to University and beyond. It was also a wonderful way to formally thank key staff who tirelessly support our boarding community. Special thanks must go to our school photographer, Christian who captured the evening so beautifully and Anneleen Erlingen, our new Director of External Relations, whose photo booth was a fantastic way of capturing the wonderful event.

It was the most enjoyable evening and a great way to celebrate a superb term in boarding.

Richard Walter Head of Boarding

STEP IN TO BOARDING LIFE

Bradbys

Here in Bradbys we have made the most of being able to get out and about in Bangkok! We have enjoyed local trips in our city but also travelled further afield. One of the most exciting weekend activities of last term was a visit to Ramayana Water Park near Pattaya. This was a trip available to all members of the boarding community and we had many weekly boarders staying for the weekend especially for this trip! We had a brilliant time! There were a multitude of water slides, wave pools, splash zones, flumes, and a lazy river. By the end of the day, everybody was running around trying to make sure they’d been on all the rides. The boys in Bradbys particularly enjoyed the water slides which you ride together as a group on a big doughnut. Safe to say, everybody had a good long nap on the bus journey home. Overall, a great success and definitely to be repeated!

Alice Kwan Graduate Leader

Bradbys Reading Corner

This year in Bradbys we have made a huge effort to support our boarders with guided reading. On average we read with nine students per evening, and with twenty-four students in the house and their progress has been magnificent. Alice and I, the two Graduate Leaders working in Bradbys, began reading with all of our students at the beginning of term and have seen such great improvements in their ability and confidence. Alice came up with the idea of promoting reading through a newly renovated reading corner. It was an area of the house where the space was not being utilised; now it is an area of comfort and warmth, and often where the boys request to read with us.

Reading develops a broad vocabulary and increased general knowledge whilst developing imagination and after all, words are the building blocks of life, the greater understanding the boys have, the better success they will have in school and their chosen subjects. At this new age of online learning, here in boarding, reading has become a crucial aspect of day to day life and a great way for the boys to enjoy time away from their devices. We look forward to continuing our reading programme with them throughout the rest of the year and know that excellent progress will continue to be made.

Georgia Covell Graduate Leader

Leading the way!

Developing student leaders is a key priority here in The Grove, as they play a significant role in shaping the aims, ambitions and work habits of all boarders. We couldn’t have been prouder of the manner in which Ming Ming (Grove House Captain) and Cho (Grove Deputy House Captain) conducted themselves as outstanding role models for all Grovites throughout term one. A standout moment was certainly the preparation and delivery of their house speeches during the Boarding Christmas Dinner. Ming Ming captivated the audience with a powerful speech centred on his journey throughout Harrow Bangkok and expressed his gratitude for the persistent guidance and support received. Cho led on a heartfelt message that voiced appreciation for all members of the boarding staff individually before turning to the younger Grovites and reaffirming their excellent start to life in The Grove. On behalf of The Grove, thank you Ming Ming and Cho for all of your efforts.

Josh Carmody Deputy House Master (The Grove)

STEP IN TO BOARDING LIFE

It felt wonderful to open the doors of West Acre for the first time in 2021. The girls were recharged, delighted to see their friends again and ready to start the new year of life in boarding. Online learning has been met with a focused and pragmatic approach and the girls have enjoyed their free time mainly outside enjoying the fabulous weather and cooler temperatures. Laughter and chatter fill the air and the boarding village as a whole is a great place to be. To kickstart the first weekend of the term, every single boarder walked to the lake within the school grounds after breakfast, kitted out and ready to try their hand at windsurfing and kayaking. The wind was perfect and even our youngest boarder, Amy in Year 4, took to the board with confidence and flair. The lake was peppered with kayaks and almost everyone got wet! After two hours on the lake, we were all ready to return to our respective houses for a shower and then for the appetite that had been built up to be satisfied with a delicious lunch.

The weekend continued (interspersed with Mexican and Indian food) with numerous activities including lamp design, archery, boules, playing pool, table tennis and even an outdoor movie, projected against the wall of West Acre, which was enjoyed by all whilst lounging on beanbags.

It never ceases to amaze me how well the boarders in West Acre adapt to life away from home and it has been delightful to see how our lovely new additions have been made to feel so welcome and cared for by both the girls and the superb team of staff that I have the pleasure to work with.

Anna Casteja House Mistress West Acre