Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm
(07) 4936 0600
reception@rgs qld edu au
The School's Main Reception is open during school holidays. Reception is closed weekends and public holidays.
(07) 4936 0741
boardingadministration@rgs.qld.edu.au
(07) 4936 0638
healthcentre@rgs.qld.edu.au
(07) 4936 0653
shop@rgs qld edu au
chool for your child’s u in their future
ammar School since our School
. Choosing a school and we are honoured xcellent education we ome' we offer who embrace values alities enable our ity and their broader dent strives to reach unique opportunity friendships, and ends beyond the
g it’s a family, one us, your family on that will last long
e Rockhampton
Dr Phillip Moulds, OAM Headmaster
Dear Families,
It is my absolute pleasure to welcome you and your child to our school community As the Director of Boarding, I understand how significant this new chapter is for your family As someone who deeply values family myself, I recognise the trust you are placing in us as your child joins our boarding community Rest assured, we will do everything we can to ensure that they feel supported, safe, and cared for during their time here
Our school is more than just a place of learning; it is a thriving community where students, staff, and families come together to form lasting bonds. We strive to create an environment where every student feels a sense of belonging, surrounded by peers and mentors who care about their wellbeing and success. The boarding house is an extension of home, and we are committed to nurturing a community where respect, kindness, and personal growth are at the core of everything we do.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to highlight the value of coeducation at our school We believe that learning in a coeducational environment prepares students for the world beyond school, fostering mutual respect, collaboration, and understanding between genders The diverse perspectives and experiences that our students bring enrich the learning process and help them develop into well-rounded individuals who are ready to navigate a complex world.
We are excited to welcome your child to our boarding family and look forward to working closely with you to ensure that they thrive in all aspects of their life here. Please know that my door is always open, and I encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns you may have as we embark on this journey together
Warm regards,
Mr Mike Silcock Director of Boarding
s the guiding principles that shape our ch we build a positive and enriching resent the heart and soul of our
s all members of the School community to ademic, co-curricular, pastoral, and boarding
ependent, creative thinkers who are hopeful,
nest, principled, and trustworthy in all that
worth of people and property and treat nce, and empathy, or as we would like to be
we work hard, try new things, are reliable ds and actions.
prepared to take responsible risks to e have good coping strategies for when
urriculum, informed by evidence-based tors
personally and collectively, contributing to Whole school positive wellbeing programmes ysical health.
ed vision while maintaining a positive student g of character strengths and alignment of gn with strong leadership skill development
unity that supports and nurtures their role in chool service opportunities. For RGS to e the full school community are connected to
(Sung to Men of Harlech)
We of Grammar shout our chorus, What tradition has gone before us. Sing the songs of all our glory, Shout with all our might. Proud of our endeavours, Surrender we will never, In a fight, we stand for right and May God be our protector When the battle-cry is sounding And our hearts in us are pounding That’s the time to show we stand, For Grammar and the right
e School Our Sporting Houses are named
ellow was RGS from 1912 ow was born in cotland, five GS opened.
ace-loving man, ggled with the oung men during Kellow was also
Fitzroy Jardine was Headmaster at RGS from 1936 - 1964 Mr Jardine studied at RGS from 1910 and was a winner of the Archer Cup athletics prize
Mr Jardine served in World War I before continuing studies at Sydney University Mr Jardine also taught science at RGS before being appointed Headmaster
prior to commencing at RGS to d uphold the respectable reputation of viour School rules apply at all times,
or all students. Parents are co-signatories, mmunity, I agree that:
ders is essential
made a commitment.
e followed to ensure a harmonious
my safety and I will abide by them at all
se and respect for others should guide my rent occasions.
owever close physical contact between yself in this manner
n the Secondary School Orientation rules.
refer to the School Diary for further
afety and wellbeing of all children and safety and wellbeing of children and nd Young People Policy.
ndorsed and respected by the School’s Board protection of children and young people
eople g children and young people and their parents f it occurs
ith children and young people are sensitive, y and respect diversity by: s and responding effectively to those with and complaints processes; and cision making, paying appropriate attention to s, children and young people with a verse backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ and children
dren Check and/or a National Criminal
e including not acting outside the boundaries h or initiate contact with children and young d exploitation by our people; cope of our operations and services that vide a service; and and put into action by all the individuals who
ibility, to act to safeguard children and young en carrying out their roles; and nagement and/or to external authorities t abuse is being perpetrated by staff or hose from the child or young person’s family,
ral role in providing a homely and confident young adults Working els are always open, are key factors to ding at RGS The Director provides g and learning environment for all boarding vides a critical link between academic and every aspect of school operations
t of all aspects of Boys/Girls boarding. eans of Boarding ensure that programmes outcomes are achieved for all boarding
Year. They are the primary contact for hool grounds with their families, so that they supported by the Deans of Boarding, the
and open culture that encourages full boarding community. They share the d pastoral care of boarders
n the School and home. There are a epending on the nature of the issue.
student and are the best first point of r area of responsibility, they will readily e School or escalating the matter
m to 4:00pm, during term time, and can be du.au.
m, except on public holidays, and can be
beginning of the school year
Mike Silcock - Director of Boarding
Phone: 0438 095 088
Email: msilcock@rgs qld edu au
Raquel Mangin - Dean of Boarding (Students and Staffing)
Phone: 0400 311 424
Email: rmangin@rgs qld edu au
Alexa Oxenford - Dean of Boarding (Operations and Administration)
Contact details TBC
Hayley Diamond - Head of Year 12 | Palmer Office
Phone: 0419 713 997
Email: hdiamond@rgs qld edu au
Head of Year 11 - TBC
Kirstin May-Thomas - Head of Years 9 and 10
Phone: 0419 030 961
Email: kmay-thomas@rgs qld edu au
Annita Horwell - Head of Years 6, 7 and 8 | Girls House Upper Office
Phone: 0419 415 408
Email: ahorwell@rgs qld edu au
Girls House (Office)
Phone: (07) 4936 0634
Mike Pittman - Head of Year 12 | Coombe House Office
Phone: 0436 842 097
Email: mpittman@rgs qld edu au
Calvin Bennett - Head of Year 11
Phone: TBC
Email: cbennett@rgs.qld.edu.au
Mario Baptista - Head of Years 9 and 10 | Wheatley Office
Phone: 0447 360 007
Email: mbaptista@rgs qld edu au
Thomas Orford - Head of Years 6, 7 and 8 | Wheatcroft Office
Phone: 0428 903 346
Email: torford@rgs.qld.edu.au
Girls House
Upper Dorm (Years 6 – 8 Girls)
Middle Dorm (Years 9 – 10 Girls)
Lower Dorm (Year 12 Girls)
Boland
Upper (Year 10 Girls)
Lower (Year 11 Girls)
Palmer
Year 12 Girls
Quarry Year 12 Girls
Located across the road from the main campus, at 124 Quarry Street
School House
Wheatcroft (Years 6 – 8 Boys)
Wheatley (Years 9 – 10 Boys)
Coombe House Year 11 Boys
Luck House Year 12 Boys
The RGS Boarder Parent Association is an active parent group for the parents of our diverse and vibrant boarding community Working cooperatively with the Headmaster, Director of Boarding and senior boarding staff, the Association maintains a vested interest in the betterment and appreciation of the management and care of boarders, and the operation and reputation of the School and the boarding community
The Association meets once a term, in person or online All RGS Boarder parents are invited and encouraged to attend these meetings. The Association is guided by a Committee, and parents are encouraged to submit nominations for available positions.
BPA President
Toni Frame
BPA Secretary
Jodie McCamley
BPA Members
Larnie Mackay
Rebecca Hutson
Sandra Wass
Kim Lewis
Kylie Simmonds
Teleatha Werner
Cassie Macrae
Jadie Anderson
Anna Sylvester
Angela Mallinson
Nikki Green
Nichole Swaffer-Selff
Krista Becker
Tiffany Pulford
unge
nge is the platform for parents to access a range formation including Daily Notices, the school our child’s timetable, academic information such policies, forms and keep up to date with events s. Parents can also pay fees and manage their rmation, including maintaining student medical
In addition to uniform requirements and school supplies, boarding students need to bring the following items.
Boarders must provide two sets of king single linenone set plain coloured and one set printed This assists with the monitoring of students changing their sheets on a weekly basis
All linen should be labelled with the student's first name, last name and laundry number Labels can be ordered from the Red & Black Shop, and need to be sewn onto items.
What NOT to bring
It is important that students feel at home in their accommodation, however there are some items that students are not permitted to bring into the dormitories The following items are not permitted:
skateboards and scooters
candles and oil burners
electrical appliances including small fridges, gaming consoles, monitors and televisions
any items with offensive material including posters, t-shirts, music etc
Insurance of personal belongings
Personal belongings
aining a positive and respectful blished clear and reasonable hair and cipline of our school community.
need to maintain a consistent supply ap, deodorant, toothpaste and feminine ucts These items may be purchased at ack Shop or on weekly shopping trips ygiene
expected to shower at least once per ey have been physically active, a second quired.
r to the Secondary School Orientation rther information on uniform and tandards.
rounded educational experience for nd a strong sense of community ute to the vibrant and supportive
e to their child throughout the term In red to all boarding students
Levy However, students may choose to Should you have any queries regarding the with your Head of Year.
, you prefer that your son/daughter does not Head of Year to discuss your concerns
ment Programme
n Boarding’ notice, letting Boarders e example posters:
The RGS boarding pastoral care programme uses the Duke of Edinburgh credential as its framework - in essence, blending our core values with the key disciplines of the Duke of Edinburgh Award. This provides our boarders with both an enriching experience and an internationally recognised qualification
Boarding is a lived experience Our mission is to empower young people to pursue their full potential by becoming independent and empathetic thinkers, capable of building meaningful connections within the community and beyond
pervisory and care responsibilities.
Leave suspensions may be placed on a student as a result of a breach of School rules or inappropriate behaviour Parents will be advised when this has occurred.
Weekends weekend of each term is a "closed weekend" for rs (unless it falls on a public holiday)
ose of the Closed Weekend is to undertake hat will build the strength of the community for ers.
gly encouraged that all students participate in the eekend and do not undertake leave
The School encourages parents to play an active role in monitoring their child's social life and the activities they participate in outside of school. This includes attendance at social gatherings, such as parties, which are not official school events or endorsed school activities
Prior to a parent approving their child's leave in Orah, they should assure themselves that they have all the necessary information to make an informed decision
Parents are strongly encouraged to contact the host parents of any student social gathering to discuss the details of the event including issues such as travel arrangements, accommodation if overnight and whether alcohol will be present at the gathering.
Boarders will not be permitted to return to dormitories if alcohol is known to be available at a function / party Overnight leave with a host must be organised.
Parents cannot approve leave for their child to attend parties or events unless they are supervised by a responsible adult. This is done via Host Leave.
Detailed advice for parents on parties is available from www police qld gov au/initiatives/party-safe
Parent receives email to approve leave
Host receives email to approve leave (if applicable)
Boarding Head of Year reviews request for leave approval and makes contact with Host (if first time)
At approved leave time, staff activate leave pass and student signs out via Orah
el to and from home available in Rockhampton.
der Bus Service ays and Boarder Long Weekends
ular activities
dary School students are encouraged to participate cular activities to broaden their experiences and e friendships The School offers a broad range of lar sports and activities A co-curricular expo is held to introduce students to the different programmes
boarding dormitories is restricted during the school tudent needs access to the dormitory during the rieve an item, they can contact the Boarding ation office
cy and fire drills
carried out on a regular basis to ensure staff and are aware of procedures in times of emergency us is protected by a sophisticated fire alarm his ensures the safety of all students and staff.
and grounds
ol is proud of its learning and living environment. nds and facilities are extremely well maintained by staff Students are expected to demonstrate or all school facilities and grounds Grounds checks arly completed while students are outside.
d classification restrictions ol reserves the right to determine the eness or otherwise of any movie or content to be the premises. Students in Years 6 - 8 are only to watch content rated PG “R” rated movies or ll not be shown The Head of Year will oversee p of movies and content to determine eness. Movies or content on student laptops etc. ct to the same restrictions
should be given to the Main Reception for orage in the School safe
e in place to support students and further the ommitment to an environment that is safe and free ssment, discrimination and bullying Policies can be via Parent Lounge and Student Cafe
es es are published in the School Calendar, e on Parent Lounge, and on the School website
n n sets are provided in the common rooms of each . Streaming services such as Netflix are available ated RGS channels, enabling age and content ns to be set Viewing hours are set by Boarding Year All programs are checked first by staff to ey are appropriate for the viewer’s age.
f children amily disputes can have an effect on children at hould there be any family upset or legal issues o your child, please inform the Director of Boarding as possible and provide copies of all court ts.
ampus, which provides a valuable e for boarding students. The Centre ackgrounds in emergency nursing and
ppointments - Doctor
as an appointed doctor who visits the School basis Parents may make appointments for h an alternate doctor, but they must make this through the Health Centre
ppointments - Dentist
does not have an appointed dentist but d parents may make direct appointments eferred provider
ppointments - Notification
ure the Health Centre is notified of all health ointments (including dentist, doctor, physio, t, optometrist, psychologist etc) with as e as possible, preferably when the t is made
: the Health Centre will only arrange r health-related appointments
g the Health Centre
always most welcome to contact the Health ey wish to discuss any matters related to heath. As the mornings before school are is appreciated if phone contact is made unless the matter is urgent.
ours
formation (07) 4936 0638
hcentre@rgs.qld.edu.au
Heads of Year live on or near campus with their supported by Deans of Boarding, the Director of to the boarding community
What is the structure of study?
All boarders are required to complete ‘Prep’ (homework time) each evening from Sunday through to Thursday Younger students are supervised in classrooms at set times each evening Older students work on a similar model, however, have the opportunity to study either in their own rooms or dedicated classroom spaces. For all boarders, a balance is found between their study and their co-curricular commitments. All Prep sessions are supervised by teaching and boarding staff who provide support with homework, assignments and preparation for exams
Will my child have access to a computer?
All Secondary students at RGS are issued with a laptop computer. Boarders are permitted to use these laptops outside school hours for Prep and recreational purposes All school laptops are wirelessly connected to the School’s internet and shared drives; however there are restrictions on particular websites, including many social media platforms
What happens if my child becomes ill?
RGS is fortunate to have a state-of-the-art Health Centre on campus that is staffed by qualified and caring nurses The Health Centre provides a 24 hour on-call service for all boarding students The School also has its own appointed doctor who regularly visits the School. Parents may direct their child to visit a medical professional of their choice, however all appointments must be made through the Health Centre. For infectious, severe or prolonged illness, it is recommended that the students be cared for at home. All medication must be coordinated through the Health Centre and not be kept by boarding students in dorms
What is the food like for boarders?
The School’s dining room has its own fully equipped industrial kitchen staffed by qualified chefs and catering staff. A nutritionally well-balanced diet is provided at all times and fresh fruit, salads, cold meats, breads and spreads are available at every meal The dining room readily caters for boarders with food allergies or intolerances
What time do boarders wake up and go to bed?
Boarders follow a structured daily routine designed to support their academic, social, and personal wellbeing Wake-up and bedtime are set to ensure students get adequate rest and are ready for the day ahead Wake-up typically allows enough time for personal preparation and breakfast before the start of the school day. Bedtime routines begin with wind-down activities, and lightsout is enforced to encourage healthy sleep habits. Specific times vary slightly depending on age, but all schedules are designed with student welfare in mind
How are electronic devices managed during study and bedtime?
To support focus, wellbeing, and healthy routines, the use of electronic devices is carefully managed during study and bedtime. Younger boarders are not permitted to use their mobile phones during these times, helping them to stay focused during Prep and establish good sleep habits Older boarders may have access to their devices but must keep them at arm’s length and use them responsibly. All device use is guided by clear expectations to ensure it supports learning, limits distractions, and promotes a balanced lifestyle
What do boarders do on the weekends?
Boarders are provided with opportunities to participate in a range of activities over the weekends, both on and off campus, as part of the Boarding Enrichment Programme The goal of the RGS Boarding Enrichment Programme is to create a well-rounded educational experience for RGS boarding students - fostering personal growth, social skills, and a strong sense of community within the boarding environment.
These activities include shopping, cinemas, Run Club, formal dinners, cooking, movie and pizza nights, fishing and beach trips, just to name a few Boarders enjoy after-hours access to the School’s modern facilities such as the 50m pool, gym, Duggan Hall (indoor sports hall), tennis courts, cricket nets, volleyball court and playing fields. Boarders are encouraged to join the School’s comprehensive co-curricular programme which includes 32 sports and activities including rugby union/league, netball, show cattle, cricket, music, cadets and much more
Can I visit my child on the weekends?
Absolutely! All reasonable requests for leave with parents will be approved The only consideration we ask is that leave should not diminish the opportunity of the student to attain the highest outcomes which they are capable of, and maintain active participation in the boarding community. The first weekend of each term is a 'closed' boarding weekend, where we strongly encourage all boarders to remain on campus to help strengthen the vibrant and supportive community we enjoy in RGS Boarding.
Who does the laundry for the boarders?
The School operates a full laundry service at no extra cost to parents. Some older boarders may prefer to use the washing machines available to them in their dormitories
Are boarders allowed to have part-time jobs?
Yes, boarders may hold part-time jobs; however, this is carefully managed to prioritise their wellbeing and ensure school, cocurricular, and boarding commitments remain the focus Jobs are typically approved on a case-by-case basis, with boarding staff working closely with students and families to ensure the arrangement is successful
