Student Handbook Kew House to Welcome
Kew House Staff
Head of Girls Boarding
Lead House Coordinator
Senior House assistant
Resident Tutor
Miss Swiech
Miss Chiwara
Miss McMahon
Welcome
It is my great pleasure and honour to welcome you all my lovely ladies to your home away from home - Kew. For some of you, the journey with boarding only begins and for some of you, the journey continues, bringing new challenges. Regardless of where we all are on this life journey we are all together on the same ship. Therefore, in order to reach our destination we need to take care of each other, communicate, show empathy and compassion throughout. Although we will face many storms, we have wonderful and dedicated people who will guide us for the whole duration of the journey. Please do not forget we are always here for you and no problem is too small for us. This booklet will be useful for students, as it covers useful information about Kew and how the House systems meet the highest requirements laid down by the Government through the National Minimum Boarding Standards
If you or your parents/guardians have any concerns before you join the school or once you have arrived please contact me on:
Paulina.swiech@lvs.ascot.sch.uk
Miss Paulina Swiech –Head of Girls Boarding
Message from our Hous
Hi, I am Kseniya, Kew House Captain for the upcoming academic year
I've been in LVS Ascot since Year 8, and it has been an exciting and rewarding journey growing up in this community. Last year, I transitioned between boarding houses, which gave me a fresh perspective and new experiences. Previously, I was a prefect at Osborne House, which prepared me for this role. For A-levels, I study Economics, Computer Science, and Psychology, which I enjoy and find challenging but exciting So far, I have hugely enjoyed my courses and my time in sixth form
Outside of school work, I enjoy pursuing my own passions and interests, like sports and creative hobbies. Furthermore, I often participate in various activities and events provided in the day school and boarding, as well as organise our house activities and trips with other prefects.
One of my favourite parts of boarding is meeting new students and forming new connections. As a House Captain, I hope to encourage teamwork and build a compassionate community within the house where all students support each other. I am always here to listen, whether about school work, personal achievements or just day-to-day life - I wish to help and support others. Through cooperation and teamwork with staff and students, I hope to make this house even more welcoming for everyone.
Prefects
Kew House has a group of Girls 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.
House Captain Kseniya L
Lisa P
Deputy House Captain
Rachel M House Prefect
Anna K House Prefect
Useful Communication Information
Miss
Miss Chiwara’s work mobile number
Mrs Swiech’s email address: paulina.swiech@lvs.ascot.sch.uk
Miss Chiwara’s email address: ruth.chiwara@lvs.ascot.sch.uk
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 5:40pm. 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 a well-equipped kitchens in Kew. The kitchen includes 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 colour-coded 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 common room. Food must be stored in an orderly way, clearly labelled with the name of the owner and checked regularly so that out-of-date 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 considering 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 drinks with a high caffeine content (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
Boarders may order a takeaway on a Wednesday or 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 Kew. 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 xxx or, in some circumstances, Mrs Cunniffe. 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 office.
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
Electronics
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. 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
Each house has a suggestion box. 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.
Fire Procedures
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 (this is outside the Health & Wellbeing Centre between 4:00pm8:10am or the school field outside of these times)
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:
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.
Kew House has, in addition, its own system of rewards for contributions to house activities or good behaviour. Kewpons may be given at the discretion of staff to particularly helpful or well performing students which can be redeemed for a variety of rewards.,such as a takeaway paid for by the house.
Kewpons 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 Kew 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 fail to do your duty you will be required to do another duty 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 later to any of the above, the house will be closed to you on the following lunchtime
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 later to any of the above, the house will be closed to you on 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 Kew once you are here If you arrive late you will be gated and will not be able to have town leave the next day
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, Kew students are expected to be aware of how they are perceived by younger pupils, and as such behave as role models. All members of Kew House are expected to be fully involved in the house community, treat it with respect and show consideration for other members. Every member of Kew 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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