Life as a first-time boarder

For MLC’s newest boarders, entering the doors of Tiddeman House for the first time is a life-changing experience filled with nervous excitement.

Two of our Year 7 boarders, Caitlin Nixon and Mabel Golland, remember their own first day well at the beginning of 2022. “In the lead-up to my first day, I got more nervous about not knowing anyone and about getting lost in the boarding house because it’s so big,” says Mabel. Caitlin agrees and adds, “I was nervous about leaving my parents.” They were certainly not alone, with almost a third of MLC’s boarding students aged between 11-13 years. Both students acknowledge the courage it takes to adapt to a whole new way of life. “I think the first term is definitely the hardest,” says Mabel. “But it’s also the most important, in terms of settling in.” “Before MLC, I went to a tiny primary school. I had just seven kids in my grade! It was a big change,” says Caitlin. Of course, settling into the routines of Tiddeman House is not without its challenges. “I worried that I’d forget people’s names because there are so many people, which I did. But everyone was really nice, and we all make jokes,” says Mabel. Both students are quick to profess plenty of upsides of being boarders. According to Caitlin, “there are lots of advantages - like sleeping in! I used to have to take the bus [to school] and now I don’t have to take the bus at all.”

“It’s great being a boarder because you have a lot of support and all these activities that you can do. You have a schedule, which is tight, but you have a lot of free time as well. Our schedule keeps us all on the same track and we can plan our time better,” says Mabel. “On Sundays, we have Family Dinner nights and it’s very entertaining,” adds Caitlin. For Jane Shone, one of the Directors of the Australian Boarding School Association and Head of Boarding here at MLC, this balance between routine and independent living is what makes boarding so unique. “Structure and routine help students get into the right mindset, not only for boarding but for a healthy and balanced lifestyle when they are at home,” says Jane. “There are several layers to this – from set mealtimes, scheduled homework sessions, activities within our dedicated boarding wellbeing program, or community building activities such as movie nights or cooking classes.

– Jane Shone, Head of Boarding

Mabel (Year 7) and Caitlin (Year 7) enjoy some downtime in Tiddeman Boarding House, their new home-away-from-home during their first year at MLC.