Year 9 Boarders’ Orientation Weekend; Valentine’s Day boarders’ breakfast

Year 9 Boarders’ Orientation Weekend

Changes to the usual start-of-theyear activities for the entire boarding community saw the addition of a new Year 9 Boarders’ Orientation Weekend. “It was a fantastic weekend, with the boarders getting three or four weeks of value in just three days, in terms of forming new connections with each other and with our staff,” says Director of Boarding, Matt Parr.

Over the long weekend, students enjoyed everything from ten pin bowling to a visit to Adrenaline Forest, a fish and chip lunch and surf lesson at Sumner Beach, jetboating at Springfield’s Alpine Jet Thrills, and an overnight stay at the College’s Alistair Sidey Mountain Lodge at Castle Hill, where they did a three-hour, 10km walk up Hogs Back Trail, took part in some adventure-based learning games, and finished with bouldering and rock climbing. The initiative was so successful it is likely to stay on the Orientation programme each year. The House Orientation Weekend, which was postponed at the start of the year, is likely to be run when gathering restrictions are lifted – hopefully sometime in Term 2, says Matt.

Valentine’s Day

boarders’ breakfast

The boarders were unable to have their annual Valentine’s Day dinner together in the Strowan House dining room this year, so the Thompson House girls organised their own special breakfast instead. Catering Manager, Russell Gray, and his team prepared delicious waffles with cream and berries, chia seed puddings, croissants, fresh fruit, muesli, and yoghurt. It was a lovely, informal occasion for the girls before they headed off to classes.