8 minute read
Life as a Boarder
Why did your parents decide to send you to Penrhos?
My oldest sister, Jazmin began boarding at Penrhos when I was just 5 years old, with my other sister Renae joining her three years later.
I grew up knowing and looking forward to boarding at Penrhos College after seeing my older sisters attend. We have always loved the environment and nature of Penrhos boarding so there was really no reason for us to consider anywhere else!
How did you feel when you first came to Penrhos?
Unlike most boarders on their first day, I didn’t feel a sense of sadness. I knew that I would miss the farm and of course my family, but I was so excited to begin what I saw as a 6-year long sleepover!
I know my Mum and Dad cried as they drove around the roundabout that first day, leaving their youngest daughter in boarding for the last time, but I was determined to embrace living my new life away in the big city.
What did you find most challenging or difficult in your first few weeks?
I was lucky to have an older sister in Year 11 when I started as a Year 7 student. She was able to guide me around the school and make sure little Year 7 me didn’t walk into a Year 12 class on the first day! While I was very comfortable adapting to boarding life, I was more nervous about the school side of things. We had so much help and support from everyone and the first week turned to be a lot easier than expected!
How often do you travel home to spend time with your family? Does your family come to visit you here at the Boarding House?
My Mum and Dad miss both my sisters and I a tad too much, so they often travel to Perth to spend time with us. Sometimes they just pop in when dad has parts to pick up in Perth. Even if he’s in a rush, I might finish the school day and find a little box of choccies waiting on my bed for me.
I also travel home every mid-term break and school holidays to soak up the time on the farm. I love getting to spend the time at home catching up with my family and grandparents, as I don’t often get to see them.
What are the benefits of being a boarding student at Penrhos?
Boarding at Penrhos has opened up a whole new window of opportunities that I never would have had in my small hometown of Kellerberrin. Not only academically, but also with sport and just life in general. I play netball each weekend at Fremantle Netball Association, representing the Penrhos Boarding team. From this, some girls are lucky enough to be asked to trial for the Fremantle rep team and the opportunity to extend their netball skills in a higher-level team.
We also have many rec activities with other schools which allows us to meet other boarding students and create friendships that extend far beyond Penrhos.
I really like that the Boarding House is one whole building that rooms 100 girls. The small community allows everyone the grow close and create a family-like bond that you may not receive in a larger boarding house.
What has your highlight been while Boarding at Penrhos?
I was fortunate to be part of the Boarding Prefect Team this year, working alongside our Boarding Captain, Tanna and three other Year 12 boarders. We have weekly meetings to organise exciting events to keep the Boarding House fun and maintain the family-like relationships. We recently organised a quiz night which turned out to be a
huge hit. The girls had to dress up in their allocated colour and there were truly some amazing outfits! We had mixed year group tables which allowed all the new girls to get to know the older girls and vice-versa. There are many more events in the making which we are sure the girls will love!
What did you find surprising about boarding and what will you miss?
I think some people count down the days until they leave school, and as excited as I am to embrace the next part of my life, the thought of not living alongside my 20 adopted sisters is going to be strange! We have grown up together and the Boarding House has been our home away from home for the last six years. It will be hard to leave.
Our incredible Head of Boarding, Ms Langdon and the House Mothers have been a major part of my boarding experience. They are there for us no matter how big or small the issue and I will miss them all immensely!
