Boarding Handbook 2023

BOARDING • TE NOHO Ā-KURA

A CARING ENVIRONMENT

Te Whare Aroha o Rangi Ruru, the Rangi Ruru Boarding House is home to around 135 students from Years 7 to 13.

The House provides your daughter with a safe, secure and caring environment in which they can feel happy and supported in all that they do. Our environment will help ākonga focus on learning, discovering and exploring new opportunities and to have fun while doing it! Our boarders come from many different areas of New Zealand and the world, yet they find a home in our House.

We value that each student is unique and brings their own special character to our community. As members of our boarding community, rangatahi are encouraged to rise to our high standards of behaviour which reflect responsibility, and care for oneself, others and the environment.

By becoming involved in the many activities available, camaraderie will come from shared experiences and your daughter will soon develop a strong sense of common identity and belonging.

We look forward to welcoming your family to our community.

KYLEIGH LYTH Director of Boarding

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Years 7 to 10: 4 per room

Years 11-12: 2 per room

Year 13: Flats of 6 individual bedrooms

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BOARDING AT RANGI RURU

A POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR MODEL

We believe everyone should have the opportunity to learn more about who they are and to discover their core beliefs and values to enrich their identity.

We want each boarder to feel a strong sense of belonging within the House and feel a part of an extended family. Our positive behaviour model focuses on praising rangatahi in all aspects of their lives, their self-management skills, their relationships with others and what they bring to our community.

Boarders develop independence, confidence and how to be wellrounded individuals. When they leave boarding, we want them to be kind and compassionate to others and make a positive difference in our world.

We want the experience of boarding to have a positive impact in every boarder’s life where they have lasting friendships and understand who they are and what they value.

OUR STAFF

Caring and experienced staff develop close relationships with each boarder, ensuring that all boarders benefit from the safe, secure and positive environment provided by the Boarding House.

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OUR HOUSE

Boarders have modern and comfortable living facilities. There are large bedrooms with good storage and personal spaces. Six-bedroom flats for seniors add a unique and special element to the boarding experience to enhance their life skills for future living.

FACILITIES

Students have access to the library, gymnasium, fitness centre, swimming pool, hockey turf, tennis courts and other school facilities after school and

ACTIVITIES

Each term we have an activity calendar that is filled with a variety of in-house and external events. Every weekend there are different activities on offer for rangatahi to do. We make the most of what Christchurch has on offer including Crusader rugby games, markets, shows, and physical activities like a mud run and City2Surf. Festivals and food markets are some favourites.

EVENTS

Our internal events consist of regular themed dinners, giving ākonga an opportunity to be creative and dress up and set the menu for our chefs. We have our annual traditional events which include the Monster Easter Egg Hunt, Mid-Winter Christmas Dinner, Boarders’ Concert, Multi-Sport and our special end of year Celebration Service and Christmas Dinner which includes all families.

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SETTLING INTO BOARDING

We recognise that boarding school requires adjustment for everyone in the family. Boarding will be a challenging experience for your daughter as they leave the familiarity of home and move to a more communal style of living. It may not always be easy, but the gains to be made are enormous.

At the beginning of every year we have our Boarders’ Retreat which is vital to fostering our positive and inclusive culture. It helps settle our newest members into our community, developing and strengthening relationships.

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PASTORAL CARE TIME

This happens in year groups fortnightly. This is an opportunity for ākonga to connect with each other and a staff member, often discussing ideas and learning more about one another.

MENTORING PROGRAMME

Our mentoring programme is a significant part of our pastoral care in the House. Each senior student mentors a junior during their first year in the Boarding House to help establish them into the new environment, build relationships

and give them confidence and security. Pairing up mentors and mentees can be challenging and it is important that we get this right. We know our seniors’ personalities well, however the challenge is the new students whom we may have only met once or twice. The Director of Boarding completes home visits where possible before the new boarders come into the House, and this is a huge help in deciding the pairings.

The mentoring programme has created an inclusive culture and the interactions within year groups are positive giving each boarder a strong sense of belonging and family.

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BOARDERS’ RETREAT

Retreat is a much-anticipated highlight for every boarder in the House each year. Held before the academic year begins, the weekend is for all boarders and boarding staff.

It is a weekend we value and treasure, where positive relationships are formed and strengthened with each other. Rangatahi are encouraged to engage and contribute in the planned activities and be an active member in our community.

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This opportunity encourages everyone to actively work together as a team, which helps create a great sense of purpose and belong for all individuals. During the two days the activities are on site at kura and one of the days is off site.

Past activities have included an Amazing Race, a gondola trip, pottery, ice skating, Orana Park, Ashley Gorge, Waikuku Beach, Corsair Bay, ice cream parlour night, movies and fun team-building games.

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OUR EXPERTISE

Our experienced and dedicated staff develop close caring relationships with all our ākonga, embracing each one of their unique personalities and offering guidance and support.