Special programs for Boarding students

Girls who are part of the Boarding experience at Pymble are encouraged to ‘Live It, Love It, Learn It’ through a curated program that supports them to make the most of this extraordinary opportunity.

Our Boarders can access activities that include playing and training for sport, performance of music, drama and dance, along with the use of our wonderful facilities and membership of an inclusive and welcoming community.

Boarders have after-hours access to our Aquatic and Fitness Centre, supported by a qualified lifeguard and fitness instructor, along with leisure equipment such as bicycles and many opportunities for off-campus activities, sometimes with Boarders from other schools.

We support our Boarders to adopt their own selection from Pymble’s extensive range of Co-curricular programs, along with their own activities and interests.

Our Boarders live in a stunning location at the heart of the School, and our students love the wide-open spaces of the College grounds. Arriving with a medley of interests and backgrounds, our Boarders join a community where they are exposed to a wonderful mix of passions and abilities.

Boarding staff work with our girls to help them develop independent living skills, resilience and responsibility that will establish a solid grounding for the rest of their lives.

Our Boarders become part of a special family, which mirrors normal family life as much as possible. They take part in decisions about their House, in studentled activities and have responsibilities to meet, such as keeping their room tidy and managing personal laundry.

Boarders are also invited to join in various volunteering opportunities.

LOVE IT

Many of our Boarders come from distant locations and going home for the weekend or having visitors can be rare events. Through our Love It program, Boarders can embrace the opportunities of city living, mimic home life and create safe connections with their local community through fun, well-managed external excursions.

LEARN IT

Our Evening Study Program is designed to enhance achievement of academic potential, life balance and personal fulfillment, with key academic support staff to help girls manage their daily routine and to get the best out of each day by developing productive homework and study routines and seeking support for subject related work.

LEAD IT

LIVE IT

Our ‘Live It’ program helps girls prepare for the challenges of daily life beyond Boarding by teaching basic life skills, from cooking meals, to sewing on a button, doing laundry, paying bills, changing a tyre and writing a ‘thank you’ note. Our ‘Lead It’ program provides a suite of opportunities for our Boarders to develop leadership capacity, from our Big Sister Program, to Spirit House Captains, our Boarders’ Representative Council and Boarding Prefects.

COMMUNITY DAYS

Community Days are special times in our Boarding calendar designed to promote a sense of community and to provide Boarders with important skills for their time in Boarding, with two of these days to include a service with the Pymble and Gordon Uniting Church congregation.

BOARDING FAMILY FRIENDS PROGRAM

The College Boarding Family Friends (BFF) program links the family of a Day student with our new Boarding students from rural areas and overseas, to help them settle into Pymble. BFFs contact their Boarding family to welcome them, visit the Boarder at the College, invite her home for dinner or afternoon tea, and host her at home for a weekend.

ANGUS CUP, BOARDERS’ SPORTS CUP AND BOARDERS’ HOUSE CUP FOR EXCELLENCE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

These important inter-House competitions see our Boarders compete in a range of fun activities to win points for their Houses. The Cups are awarded on the eve of Speech Day.

PYMBLE AND GORDON UNITING CHURCH – OUR EXTENDED COMMUNITY HOUSE BUDDY

Pymble may be your daughter’s ‘home away from home’ for a number of years, and all new and returning Boarders are supported to settle in and to make connections with members of her Boarding House and the Boarding community. Homesickness is a very common experience for students who live away from home, and the House Supervisors and Assistant Supervisors are experienced in supporting students and their parents when this occurs.

Every new girl is given a House ‘Buddy’ to help her to settle in, introduce her to fellow housemates, show her the practicalities (such as how to use the washing machines) and accompany her on her first day of school.

Given time to settle in, new Boarders will soon feel like they are members of a very large family and will be relaxed and confident enough to enjoy the opportunities that the College has to offer.

Our Boarding community is a welcome part of the congregation at Pymble and Gordon Uniting Church, where we participate in the church program to contribute to our wider community. All our Boarders attend Church at least once a term.