BOARDING
A Message From THE PRINCIPAL
Nick Johnstone
Dear Parents and Families,
For more than a century, Toowoomba Anglican School has stood as a place of welcome, learning, and growth. Nestled high on the Great Dividing Range, TAS offers more than a boarding house. We offer a home. A home where every child is known by name, valued for who they are, and encouraged to become the very best version of themselves.
At TAS, boarding is a journey of character and connection. It is the place where lifelong friendships are forged, where resilience and independence are nurtured, and where young people learn to embrace both the opportunities and responsibilities of community life.
Our boarding motto, Friends for Life, is not just a phrase, it is the lived experience of generations of students who have called TAS home.
As Australia’s only independent co-educational K–12 boarding school, we walk alongside our students through every stage of their schooling journey, guiding them not only academically but also socially, emotionally, and spiritually.
While we are proudly “Smaller by Design”, this is our greatest strength and it means your child will be seen, heard, and cared for in ways that larger schools cannot replicate.
Choosing a boarding school is one of the most important decisions a family can make. At TAS, you can be assured that your son or daughter will be safe, supported, and inspired to thrive. We would be honoured to partner with you in shaping their future.
I warmly invite you to come and experience TAS for yourself. Walk through our campus, meet our boarding staff, and see firsthand the care and opportunities we provide. I would be delighted to personally show you around, answer your questions, and share why so many families across Australia and beyond choose to call TAS their home. Together, we can begin the journey of shaping your child’s future.
With warm regards,
Nick Johnstone Principal
WHO WE ARE
Toowoomba Anglican School is Australia’s only coeducational K-12 Day and Boarding School offering Boarding from Years 1 to 12.
For 115 years, TAS has forged a legacy of excellence in academics, sport, service and the arts.
This legacy, coupled with our community values, ensures TAS is uniquely positioned to nurture, support and inspire students at all stages of their educational journey.
at TAS
From our Anglican identity being symbolised in our school crest to the active service opportunities available as part of our “character” education, TAS is proud to be an Anglican School.
TAS is an open enrolment and inclusive school. Grounded in a Christian ethos, we nurture spiritual growth, integrity, respect for self and others, and a deep sense of community. At the same time, we promote excellence, inquiry
and inclusion, ensuring that every individual feels valued and inspired to achieve their potential.
As part of their active role as a TAS student, our boarders are expected to uphold the values of the school and set an example for others to follow.
OUR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING STUDENT WELLBEING
Toowoomba Anglican School supports the rights of children and has the safety, welfare, and wellbeing of our students as a priority.
Our Child Safe Standards commitment ensures a safe and supportive living and learning environment for every student. This includes maintaining high staff-to-student ratios, actively amplifying student voice, and fostering meaningful opportunities for parents to contribute to our ongoing process of continuous improvement.
It also requires all employees, volunteers and visitors to model and encourage behaviour that upholds the dignity and protection of students from harm.
BOARDER ACTIVITIES
Our activities encompass a diverse range of experiences, from local excursions and fishing trips to outings at popular amusement parks. Families are warmly invited to participate and are always welcome to join us on these adventures.
To ensure clarity and convenience, weekend activities are planned in advance and shared with families at the beginning of each term, accompanied by a monthly overview that allows ample time for families to engage with the program wherever possible.
BOARDER EXPECTATIONS
Living in close proximity with your peers is one of the most rewarding but also challenging aspects in any boarder’s experience.
Every student should strive to make the Boarding House a positive environment through a number of measures including:
• Saying please and thank you to all
• Tip hats (boys) and wave (girls) when using pedestrian crossings
• Not interrupt each other in conversation
• Introduce themselves and shake hands when meeting someone new
• Greet visitors who may be walking in and around the school with a simple ‘Hello’ and smile.
• Open and hold doors for each other and staff
• Allow staff/adults through doors first
• Offer their seat for staff/adults or injured students
• Invite staff/adults ahead of them in dining queues
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
TAS has a strong reputation for academic excellence, consistently achieving outstanding results and regularly leading the region in both NAPLAN and ATAR performance.
Our small-by-design model ensures students benefit from more one-on-one time with teachers, personalised feedback, and a learning environment that supports stronger academic outcomes.
Boarding students are further supported in their studies through initiatives such as the Learning Hub, which provides dedicated time Monday to Thursday for focused study and homework, with the guidance and assistance of teachers.
SPORT at TAS
Sport is an integral part of life at TAS, with a wide variety of options offered throughout the year.
Boarding students are encouraged to engage in both internal sporting opportunities at TAS and external competitions within the wider community.
To ensure students can access these opportunities, House Parents are available to assist with organising transport to and from external sporting commitments where applicable.
Performing ARTS at TAS
TAS has a proud history of being a leader in performing arts.
Offering state-of-the art music and performing arts facilities, TAS ensures every student is encouraged to explore their talents.
Annual productions and external competitions are highlights on the TAS calendar with students’ successes celebrated by the
SERVICE at TAS
At TAS, we provide students with meaningful service opportunities at local, national, and global levels. These experiences nurture empathy, develop leadership, and instil a deep sense of social responsibility.
They also cultivate hope, encouraging our young people to imagine and create a more compassionate, sustainable, and proactive future for our planet.
Parents and carers are warmly invited to join our Boarders Support Group, which meets regularly to foster open communication and contribute to the school’s ongoing growth and continuous improvement.
Parents can keep up to date with what’s happening at TAS via the Parent Lounge app, while there are several modes by which parents can communicate with their children including:
• Email – each boarder has their own email address
• Facetime or video calls (during approved times)
• Letters and parcels (still very appreciated by students)
• Mobile telephone (in line with TAS’ student mobile devices policy)
• Landline phones direct to the boarding houses.
HAPPENS NOW? WHAT
