Our boarding students join us from near and far. Some come from rural and regional areas across Australia, bringing a deep connection to the land and a strong sense of community.
Others hail from major cities, infusing our community with urban perspectives. Additionally, we welcome students from defence and diplomatic communities, and students who are drawn to our boarding community, owing to the unique opportunities enabled by our location.
Together, these students create a dynamic and diverse community in which they can pursue their individual interests and support one another in their respective passions. Extending beyond geographical boundaries, our boarding house becomes a place where friendships flourish and students find a sense of belonging.
“One of the things I cherish about the boarding house is the opportunity to build relationships and make friends across various year groups. The boarding house provides a unique environment that fosters these connections, allowing us to support and learn from one another.”
- SMGS Boarder
Ski Resorts
Jindabyne Pony Club and SMGS Agistment Paddocks
Jindabyne Airfield Jindabyne Sport and Recreation
Your Alpine Home
Snowy Mountains Grammar School is located in Jindabyne, New South Wales, in the heart of Australia’s alpine playground. The town is situated outside Kosciuszko National Park, at the base of the Thredbo Valley.
The school’s spectacular lakeside location, nestled in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains, guarantees a safe, clean and healthy environment for our students to grow and develop. Few schools can match the natural ‘playground’ that our boarding students call home.
Perisher and Thredbo ski resorts: 30mins
Canberra: 2hrs 30mins
South Coast: 2hrs 30mins
Braidwood: 2hrs 30mins
Tumut: 2hrs 40mins
Wagga Wagga: 4hrs
Albury: 3hrs 45mins
SMGS Campus and Boarding House
Welcome
We warmly welcome you and your child to the Snowy Mountains Grammar School boarding house.
Our mission is to work with families to develop wellrounded young people, with active and creative minds, who have an understanding of and compassion for others, a passion for lifelong learning, and the courage and confidence to act on their beliefs. The boarding house plays a pivotal role in helping students achieve these goals by providing a nurturing, supportive and challenging environment that fosters personal growth and development.
Within our boarding community, students acquire valuable life skills, develop independence, tolerance, patience and empathy, and forge lifelong friendships through shared experiences. Our dedicated boarding staff are committed to supporting our students and creating a positive, nurturing and secure environment where they can thrive academically, socially and personally.
The boarding house at Snowy Mountains Grammar School aims to:
• provide strong pastoral care to enable each boarder to develop to the best of their ability
• promote respect and tolerance for other people in a supportive environment
• protect the welfare of each boarder by providing a safe environment
• develop an atmosphere of trust in which each boarder feels able to approach any member of staff and be treated as an individual and with respect
• provide an environment in which each boarder can work, develop sound academic habits and achieve the best results they are capable of
• develop a range of activities and opportunities to encourage the personal, social and cultural development of each boarder.
In addition to the outstanding educational experience we offer, coming to SMGS presents your child with a unique opportunity to live in and explore our spectacular alpine region.
If you have any queries or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact the school. We would be delighted to provide additional details about boarding and your child’s exciting learning journey at SMGS.
Dr Andrew Bell, Principal
Mrs Melissa Kenney, Head of Boarding
“The sense of family within the boarding house is something I genuinely appreciate. We all support and care for one another. Boarding feels like being part of a close-knit family, and I am incredibly grateful for the chance to live alongside my friends. The camaraderie and companionship make boarding an invaluable experience for me.”
- SMGS Boarder
Types of Boarding
Snowy Mountains Grammar School offers students flexible boarding options, including weekly and fulltime boarding.
Weekly Boarding
Students can choose to board during the school week only, returning home each weekend. This is typical of students in the surrounding regions, such as Canberra.
The school runs a bus service to Canberra each Friday afternoon, departing at 4:00 pm, with multiple dropoff points along the way and in Canberra itself, including the bus interchange, train station, airport and the CBD. On Sunday afternoon, the return bus to Jindabyne departs Canberra at approximately 5:30 pm. With weekly boarding, students:
• travel home on weekends
• can catch the school bus shuttle to/from Canberra
• have the option of casual weekend stays
• can switch between full-time and weekly boarding.
Full-Time Boarding
Students can join the boarding house on a full-time basis, returning home only during holidays and on exeat weekends.
During Terms 1, 2 and 4, full-time boarders in residence on the weekend travel with the boarding community to external activities.
In Term 3, boarders are transported to and from the Perisher snow resort on Saturdays and Sundays for optional ski and/or snowboard days.
With full-time boarding, students:
• travel home during holidays and on exeat weekends
• participate in organised weekend trips and activities
• engage with the local community
• can switch between full-time and weekly boarding.
Students in weekly or full-time boarding can apply to have a local part-time job if desired, and are encouraged to join one of the many local activities available in Jindabyne and surrounding areas, including sporting activities and clubs. Boarding staff assist weekly and full-time boarders with travel to and from a variety of commitments in the local community.
Our Boarding Team
Our Boarding House Team is known for their dedication, caring nature and unwavering support. They work tirelessly to create a warm and nurturing environment for our residents, going above and beyond to ensure the boarding house is truly a ‘home away from home’ for its residents.
The Boarding House structure includes the following roles:
Head of Boarding: Mrs Melissa Kenney (pictured) The Head of Boarding has responsibility for the leadership, management and operations of the boarding house. Key responsibilities are managing the boarders’ physical, emotional, academic and spiritual development. The Head of Boarding is a member of the Leadership Team at SMGS.
Boarding House Supervisors
The Boarding Supervisors are responsible for the knowledgeable and compassionate day-to-day care of boarding students whilst they are in residence. The Boarding Supervisors will know each student in their care as an individual and will offer a nurturing environment, where there is trust, respect and kindness. The Boarding Supervisors will actively and positively contribute to providing quality care and education to all boarders in the SMGS community.
School Counsellors: Mrs Alex Dawson, Miss Charlie Brown
Wellbeing Facilities
4 Peaks – Our Wellbeing Framework
At Snowy Mountains Grammar School, we have made the wellbeing of our community a cornerstone of all our decision-making and a significant part of our Strategic Plan. The school aims for all members of our community to be healthy, happy, successful and productive individuals who are active and positive contributors to our school and the local and wider community in which they live.
The boarding house community is underpinned by the school’s core values of Courage, Authenticity, Respect and Empathy (C.A.R.E.). These values foster the development of a positive environment in which each boarder is guided and encouraged to achieve their personal best.
Counselling
The school’s counselling team consists of highly qualified educational psychologists. They closely collaborate with the boarding team, referring students for assistance in various areas. With their expertise, the counselling team is well equipped to provide essential support to our students.
Catering
Our kitchen is run by a local independent catering company, owned and managed by an experienced executive chef. Their brief is to provide a healthy, wholesome, balanced diet, which is reflected in the overall health and vitality of our boarding students.
Health
The school maintains a strong and positive relationship with key healthcare providers, including the NSW Ambulance Service, local medical practitioners and the nearby Cooma Health Service and Hospital. This collaborative network ensures that students receive a high level of healthcare while boarding at the school. Their wellbeing and medical needs are effectively addressed, promoting a safe and healthy environment for all students.
Prep and Academic Support
Prep sessions are available from Monday to Thursday at designated times, catering to different year levels. Prep runs from 6:45 pm to 8:30 pm.
In addition, the school offers Bright Sparks, which provides a quiet and supportive homework learning environment. Taking place after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm, Bright Sparks is supervised and offers students the opportunity to work with teachers from the Middle and Senior Schools. Bright Sparks serves as a valuable resource for academic support and fosters a focused approach to learning.
The Boarding House is rich in history, housed in an original building from the Snowy Mountains Hydro Scheme era. While it retains its historical significance, it has been thoughtfully modernised to provide a warm, welcoming and supportive environment for students.
Boarders enjoy individual bedrooms alongside a range of shared amenities designed to enhance their daily experience. These include comfortable common rooms with entertainment options, well-equipped kitchens and outdoor spaces for socialising and relaxation.
Our boarding students have access to excellent sporting facilities, including the school oval and a multi-purpose court, encouraging an active lifestyle. In 2024, we proudly opened our state-of-the-art gymnasium, a commercial-quality facility located on campus. Equipped with a full range of cardio machines, highend pin-weighted cable machines and a dedicated free-weight area, the gym promotes a culture of health, fitness, and wellbeing within our boarding community.
Beyond sporting facilities, boarders can enjoy barbecue areas for social gatherings and have access to the school library, which is open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on weekdays.
Recognising our students’ passion for outdoor adventure, the boarding house also features a purposebuilt mountain bike and ski equipment shed. This dedicated storage area ensures that students can securely store and maintain their gear, making it easier to embrace the region’s world-class skiing, mountain biking and outdoor activities.
In 2024, we unveiled the Curiosity Centre, a cuttingedge, 4000sqm learning hub spanning two levels. Designed to inspire creativity and innovation, this vibrant space offers outstanding facilities in Design and Technology, Mathematics, Science and Visual Arts, complemented by superb outdoor learning areas. Our boarders, along with all students, benefit from this dynamic environment that fosters academic excellence and hands-on learning.
Conveniently located just a short walk from the heart of Jindabyne, the Boarding House provides students with not only a comfortable home away from home but also a strong connection to the stunning natural environment. This seamless blend of history, modern facilities and adventure makes boarding at Snowy Mountains Grammar School an enriching and memorable experience.
A Day in the Life of a Boarder
A Typical Boarding WeekAt Snowy M
A Typical Boarding Weekend
Boarding Activities
Our boarders are provided with an excellent activities program, taking advantage of our unique location near the ski fields and the beautiful environment of the surrounding rural areas.
Examples of afterschool activities
• Equestrian
• Aviation
• Mountain Biking
• Trampolining
• Touch Football
• Netball
• Soccer
• Rugby
• Navy Cadets
• Swimming
• SES
On the weekend
Our weekend program often takes advantage of Lake Jindabyne, Kosciuszko National Park, Canberra and the South Coast.
• Canberra day trips, which may include ice skating, art gallery, shopping, skate parks, escape room, minigolf, park walks and picnics
• Local hikes: Blue Lake, Mt Kosciuszko
• Coach trips: Merimbula, Pambula, Cobargo—beach fun and markets
• Sport & Recreation Centre, Jindabyne trampolining, archery, high ropes
• Local: Swimming, BBQ lunches, lake fun, Dalgety/ Snowy River, paddle boarding, kayaking, trips to Cooma, shopping, lunch and games on the local oval, Gaden Trout Hatchery
• Attend local events, such as the Cooma or Dalgety shows (including preparing entries, e.g. craft, cooking, art), the Cooma Rodeo and the annual Sheep Dog Trials.
The mountains are calling and I must go!
During winter, boarders have the option of participating in snowsports three days a week through the Wednesday Sport program and the weekend boarding program.
On Saturdays and Sundays, our boarding students have the opportunity to participate in the free-ski program, depending on the outcome of a ski ability assessment.
“We chose Snowy Mountains Grammar School after a recommendation from a parent with a current boarding student in attendance. At the time, we were looking at a much larger regional school, assuming that a larger school would offer “more”. How wrong we were. The boarding house is a family-orientated community where our child is not “lost” in the crowd.
The positive outcomes for our children are that this boarding lifestyle has produced very organised young people in both a study and a personal capacity, who are thriving with a daily routine, improved academic results and the ability to mix with other boarders, creating solid friendships.
Weekend activities keep our children busy and motivated, and they both participate in sporting activities within the school and other community sports. The Jindabyne village is a beautiful experience for both them and us.
We cannot recommend SMGS enough, and it has undoubtedly been the most positive decision we have made regarding our children’s educational experience.”
- Patrick and Catherine Burke
You now have a picture of Boarding at Snowy Mountains Grammar School. If you would like to learn more, please contact our Enrolment Officer for an informal chat, to find out about open events or to arrange an in person or virtual tour. We look forward to welcoming you to our School!
