Student Handbook Blenheim House to Welcome
Blenheim House Staff
Mr Drummond
Housemaster
“Blenheim is a fantastic house to be a part of, everyone in the house is welcoming and we work as a family!”
Mr Miccoli
Senior House assistant
"I've worked in boarding since 2016 and absolutely love the community and family aspect of it, as well as the opportunity to invest into the lives of young people."
Welcome
A warm welcome to Blenheim House, which is an all Boys sixth form boarding house for 56 students arriving from around the United Kingdom and overseas. As the most senior members of the school, our boarders are given a measure of independence and are encouraged to take responsibility for their lives
“Blenheim is a fantastic house to be a part of, everyone in the house is welcoming and we work as a family!”
Callum Drummond Housemaster
"I've worked in boarding since 2016 and absolutely love the community and family aspect of it, as well as the opportunity to invest into the lives of young people."
Angelo Miccoli Senior House Assistant
Message from our House Captain:
My name is Syanil I am your House Captain this academic year. I hope to promote an inclusive environment in this house and hope everyone enjoys their time in Blenheim. I like to work out in my free time so if you need me, I will probably be in the gym. I also enjoy just chilling with my mates. I love pineapple on pizza and any type of seafood. I am terrified of heights and every living insect. As your House Captain I will be catering to all your interests and whatever you suggest. I’m looking forward to finishing my teenage life and starting adulthood. I hope in the future I am a dentist living in Singapore.
Prefects
Blenheim House has a group of Boys in Year 12s and 13 that act as Prefects Their duties are to aid in the day-to-day running of the House. They also head up committees and organise inter-House events as well as activities afterschool and at the weekend. The Prefects are not allowed to give out sanctions, but they are expected to inform duty staff of who is not meeting the House’s expectations. However, they can give out rewards as long as cleared and logged by a member of staff
Syaniil G
Mike A
Deputy House Captain
Oscar T
House Prefect
Peter N House Prefect
House Captain
Useful Communication Information
Blenheim House Office number
01344 898551
Mr Drummond work mobile number
07825 195456
Duty Mobile number
07557 014058
Mr Drummond’s email address:
callum.drummond@lvs.ascot.sch.uk
Mr Miccoli’s email address angelo.miccoli@lvs.ascot.sch.uk
Post and packages for you should be sent to the following address:
[Your Name]
Blenheim House, LVS ASCOT London Road Ascot Berkshire SL5 8DR
Microsoft Teams
All Boys will be added to the Blenheim Boys team. Here notices are posted daily and plans for the evening/weekend day. We also run quizzes and other events on this platform.
Weekday Routines
Weekend Routines
ROLL CALLS
WEEKDAYS
There is no formal roll call before breakfast, but students are expected to‘check out’ with a member of staff before they leave in the mornings. A formal roll call is held at 5:50pm and led by the prefect on duty. There is no formal roll call at bedtime but a member of staff, and the duty prefect, will come round to ensure everyone is back in the house at 9:45pm.
WEEKENDS
Weekend roll calls are at various times. When Boarders return from weekend leave, they must sign in with the Duty Staff. They will also be called at 8:00pm on a Sunday for the weekly House meeting.
Meal Times
On a school day
Breakfast is served from 07:45-08:15.
Lunch is served from 13:00-14:00.
Dinner is served between 17:40-18:30.
We are fortunate to have two well-equipped kitchens in Blenheim; one upstairs and one downstairs. Both kitchens include a kettle, toaster, microwave, sink and dishwasher. Boarders are permitted to cook food using these facilities once they have been given an induction into basic food hygiene by house staff. This includes the proper use of colourcoded kitchen knives and chopping boards for different foodstuffs. Kitchens and equipment must be left clean and tidy after use out of consideration for others. Personal cooking equipment such as rice cookers or hotplates are permitted on the understanding that they are stored and used only in the kitchen areas and only at permitted times. They must be kept in a tidy and hygienic condition by their owner. Personal food may be stored in the large fridges in the kitchens.
There is also a small freezer in the upstairs common room. It must be stored in an orderly way, clearly labelled with the name of the owner and checked regularly so that out-ofdate food can be removed and thrown away. Boarders are not permitted to store fresh food in their rooms or to eat in their rooms as this presents a health and safety hazard. If students wish to eat in house, food must be prepared and eaten in the common areas around the kitchens. All boarders should be mindful that there is limited storage space in the kitchens and fridges, so should purchase food and ingredients only in small quantities. If a boarder purchases food without consideration to others and there is insufficient space, the food will need to be disposed of. Also, due to their associated health risks, boarders are not be allowed to be in possession of high caffeine drinks (e.g. Red Bull, Monster etc.), which will also be taken and not returned. All boarders are expected to eat breakfast and lunch in the Dining Hall every day.
Takeaways
You may order a takeaway on a Saturday evening. Takeaways cannot be delivered during Prep so please make sure you order it to arrive outside this time. You may not order takeaways at lunchtime on either day
Signing in & out of the house
You must sign in and out on Orah every time you are leaving or returning to Blenheim. Even if you are going to another area of the school site, it is important that you update your location on Orah so we know where you are.
ORAH
All students need to use our boarding electronic registration system Orah. Each student has to download the app, register by clicking on the link sent by Orah to their school email and use the same log in details as for accessing school email or the Internet . Students must sign in and out via Orah. There are tap devices in house to make the process easier. Parents must use Orah to submit all leave requests. It is also sensible and polite to find a member of staff and seek their approval before leaving – particularly on the weekends and in the evenings.
For the rest of the school day, all boarders are subject to the same procedure as day students, detailed in the School Rules. If you need to leave the school site during the school day for any reason, you must have explicit permission from Mr Drummond, or, in some circumstances, Mrs Cunniffe. Sign out centrally House staff will email the relevant teachers to make them aware of your absence.
Visitors to the House
All visitors to the House must report to the duty member of staff before entering the House. Once permission has been granted for them to come in the visitor must sign in using Orah in the main downstairs common room. At no point do visitors enter student dorms. They are welcome in the common area downstairs
Any student visitor who has not sought permission from the duty member of staff will not be welcomed back in the House
Allowed –
· Clocks
· Laptops/tablets
· Mobile phones
· Cameras
· Hairdryers, straighteners etc.
Not Allowed –
· Electric heaters or blankets
· Kettles
· Personal fridges
· Televisions
· Rice Cookers
· Electric Fans
Mobile phones
Boarders’mobile numbers need to be registered with the House staff on arrival into the House or when they change their phones. These will be used in an emergency or as otherwise required.
Laundry
Every boarder is issued with a laundry number and named laundry box on arrival. All your clothes must be labelled with your number. Dirty washing should be placed in your laundry boxes provided first thing in the morning, and left by the laundry room. Underwear should be put in the net bags provided. Delicate items (coats, etc.) have separate deposit bins to ensure they are kept separate from the normal wash. Laundered clothes are placed back in these boxes ready for collection after school. Beds must be stripped (sheet, duvet cover & pillowcase) and handed to the laundry for washing every Tuesday morning. A dry-cleaning business is located at Tesco, Martins Heron if you require dry cleaning for suits or other clothes during the school term
Room Care
All rooms must always be kept presentable and safe, with consideration for your roommate. In particular, heavy or bulky items must not be stored on the top of wardrobes, and suitcases must be either packed away inside the beds or placed in one of the house storage cupboards. Clothes, shoes and cables must not be left on the floor where they can create a trip hazard. You are free to personalise your room with photographs, posters and other personal items, but please do not fix anything to the walls with Blu Tack or drawing pins
Suggestion Box
The house suggestion box is located in the TV room. All boarders who wish to make a suggestion about the running of the house or to raise a concern of any kind may write it down and place it in the suggestion box (either with or without their name). The box is checked regularly by the house staff.
In the event of a fire evacuation:
1) You must get out of the building as quickly as possible, via the nearest fire exit
2) If you are not sure which fire exit is your nearest, check the fire escape routes which are displayed in all dorms, the common room, corridors and lobby
3) Be quiet and sensible as you make your way out of the building. Head towards the fire assembly point.
4) The member of staff on duty will take a register. Listen carefully for your name and answer promptly and clearly
5) Once it has been confirmed that it is safe, you will be able to re-enter the building
In the event of an invacuation (lockdown):
1) You must go into the nearest room, it does not need to be your dorm! If you are already in a room, just stay where you are
2) Curtains should be drawn and windows should be shut
3) Furniture should be used to barricade the door e.g. sofa
4) Remain silent
5) Stay in whichever room you have entered until you are told it is safe to come out by a member of staff on duty
Rewards
At LVS we are committed to a positive approach with all students. The school operates a system of‘commendations’for excellent work and outstanding contributions to school life.
Blenheim House has, in addition, its own system of rewards for contributions to house activities or good behaviour. Points may be given at the discretion of staff to particularly helpful or well performing students which as they accumulate will be exchanged for rewards.
Points will be awarded for a range of activities, which can include, but are not restricted to the following:
Volunteering
Taking part in activities
Supporting or participating in a House event
Helping/buddying a new student
Outstanding help to your tutor over a term
Maintained improvement in behaviour
Commitment to co-curricular activities
Participating in representative sport for a term
Setting a good example in terms of commitment or behaviour in the house
Anything a student may do around the House or for the House (or indeed that shows impeccable manners and camaraderie) by House Staff and by prefects.
sanctions
We like to do things fairly in this house and certainly do not enjoy giving out sanctions! However, there are several reasons we may be required to do so:
LOOKING AFTER OUR HOME - It is everyone’s responsibility to look after Blenheim House!
We do not want:
• An untidy kitchen
• An untidy common area
• Equipment not washed and put away
If any of these offences occur, the kitchen will be locked and the whole house will lose access to the kitchen equipment the following day
DUTIES
Duties are in place to help us look after our home and ensure everyone is doing their fair share. If you are not able to complete your duty for whatever reason, please swap with someone else and make sure the duty prefect is aware.
If you miss your duty, the house will be closed to you the following day.
It is really important that you arrive promptly for roll calls and stick to arranged curfews
KEY TIMES MONDAY-FRIDAY
8:10am – Need to be out of the house
5:50pm – Roll Call
9:45pm – Must be back in the house
If you are 2 minutes or later for any of the above, the house will be closed to you the following afternoon
KEY TIMES WEEKENDS
11:00am – Check in with House Staff
5:30pm– Roll Call
9:45pm – Must be back in house. House staff may give permission for you to stay out later on a Friday/Saturday night but you must ensure you are back in the house at the agreed time
If you are 2 minutes or later for any of the above, the house will be closed to you the following Monday
WEEKEND AND TOWN LEAVE
You should be back at the agreed time from town and weekend leave. If you are delayed, you must inform a member of house staff. You will also be marked as ‘late back from pass’ on Orah if you fail to arrive at the agreed time or forget to sign back into Blenheim once you are here If you are 2 minutes or later, the house will be closed to you the following Monday
Health & Wellbeing Centre
The Health & Wellbeing Centre (HWBC) is run by nursing staff and pupils have access to facilities such as doctors and counsellors through the Centre. If boarders feel unwell for any reason – physical or mental – they should speak either with house staff or directly with the HWBC. Further information can be obtained from the house notice board, duty member of staff or from the LVS Senior School Handbook.
Surgery times:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday - 08:00 - 20:00
Thursday – 8:30am – 4:30pm
Saturday – 8:30am -13:30
Counselling
Confidential Counselling Services are available to all students at LVS Ascot. Counselling is a safe space for young people to explore whatever is bothering them. Boarders can arrange to see a counsellor by emailing the counselling service directly at counsellor@lvs.ascot.sch.uk or by speaking in confidence to the House Staff.
Medication
Every Boarder is required to register with the School Doctor and, should you require treatment during School holidays, you should register as a temporary resident with your local Doctor. Pupils may not possess any prescribed medication unless these have been approved by the Medical Centre and a selfadministration form has been completed. Any medication prescribed or otherwise, including vitamins, supplements and indeed protein shakes or powders for shakes, must be declared on arrival and must be approved by our Health and Wellbeing Centre staff before being used. If students are found with any medication of any sort it will be confiscated and may be clinically destroyed for safety reasons.
Expectations
As senior members of the school, Blenheim students are expected to be aware of how they are perceived by younger pupils, and as such behave as role models. All members of Blenheim House are expected to be fully involved in the house community, treat it with respect and show consideration for other members. Every member of Blenheim will also be assigned a weekly chore. These range from cleaning and tidying kitchens to collecting rations from the dining hall at the end of the school day. Boarders are expected to undertake these duties thoroughly and punctually under the supervision of the prefect in charge on that day.
Whole School Policies
There are several vital ‘whole school’ policies with which all boarders should be familiar for their own safety and wellbeing. These include school policies on the following:
Alcohol
Smoking
Drugs & Drug Education
Social Media
Sex & Relationships
Mobile Phone Acceptable Use
Anti-bullying
The majority of these policies are displayed on noticeboards within the boarding house and all are available for review by students on request.
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