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BOARDING
JANUARY BOARDING CAMPS Nervous, worried, anxious ... these are some of the words used by the new and returning boarders at the start of each year. But with Boarding Camp taking place in the second week of Term, these usually turn into feelings of excitement, relaxation and calm.
KIM HOLMAN
girls boarding coordinator
GIRLS BOARDING For the last 14 years we have taken our Girls Boarding cohort on their two-night annual House Camp at the start of the Term. This year we went to Twin Waters, Maroochydore, and our boarder girls again engaged in 'House of Origin'—Cameron verses Finger in a fun game of beach Dodgeball. This is a great ice-breaker, and it ensures our new boarders feel part of their boarding community. They become very House-proud after this event. Go Finger! Go Cameron-Herse! The other activities include visiting the Coolum Aqua Park, Kayaking, Abseiling, Knee Boarding, Swimming and on Saturday night we have House games and skits. Our Seniors oversee seven boarder's in Years 7-11 and are the 'House Mums' in their Family Groups. They do all the meal prep and caring of their girls whilst a Junior Staff member is there for support if needed. The Year 12s know it is their responsibility to see that our new boarders feel included and they take this job very seriously.
Plus Ultra | June 2021
Prior to camp, they will have already have worked out their skits along with how meals are organised and prepared. The Seniors engage our new boarders and existing boarders just as if they were a real family. Some girls help with dinner, others set the table and they all help with the clean-up. We've found that by doing this on the first weekend it helps to get the new boarders involved, as parents are not in the picture for that first weekend. No phones are allowed at camp and the Year 12s know it is their job to put our new boarders at ease and cement relationships. These Family Groups continue for the rest of the year—they will celebrate birthdays together and go on dinner outings and other activities. It is lovely to see vertical friendships blossom like in a real family. When the girls return to St Peters after camp you cannot tell the new boarders from the old boarders. Friendships are cemented, jitters and nerves are left behind and our new boarders are ready to face the year ahead with their new-found friends/family.
