Page 10 - Boarding House Handbook_Keen's Elm

KEEN'S ELM

BOARDING

LIFE

However, if students wish to bring their own then they EXTENDED ILLNESS; CARE OF THE ILL
should be clearly labelled (2 sets). Fresh school bedding will BOARDER
be provided weekly and students are required to strip and All boarders must be registered with the School Medical
change their own beds. Officer in accordance with school policy on Medical Care.
In the event of an extended illness, the student will reside
DRY CLEANING within the Medical Centre under the care of the school
This facility is also available through the school (and charged nurses. If in the opinion of the school’s Medical Officer
to your end of term bill). Clothes are put out for dry cleaning that the illness is ongoing and deemed serious enough,
on a Sunday evening and returned on a Thursday. the student will return to their parent/guardian until such
time that they are well enough to return to school. With
Sports kit will be washed 'in house' by the domestic staff. such incidences, the school medical team, alongside the
Once more, it will be your responsibility to put this out for Housemaster/mistress, will be in regular communication
washing. with parents/guardians to share and discuss medical updates.

HOUSE WASHING MACHINE It is the Boarders’ responsibility to carry relevant emergency
This is available for use 'in extremis' –House manager/HsM/ medication (e.g. Epipen, antihistamine, inhalers and diabetic
AHsM will always assist with this. medication) at all times. All Houses have areas to securely
store first aid equipment and ‘over the counter’ remedies.
ORDERLIES Boarders’ individual medical records are held in the Medical
These are domestic duties done by all on a rotational basis. Centre.
They consist of basic washing/drying/tidying up in the
communal kitchen areas but are essential to the on-going HOUSE MEETINGS
maintenance, optimum hygiene and general pleasantness of There are two house meetings every day. Though they will
your living environment. They are also life skills which are follow a formal structure (and be incorporated into the roll
best learnt young! call) there will always be time at the end for an open forum
where you can publicly ask questions / air your views.
FIRE ALARMS Please remember that our door will always be open to each
These will be sounded on a regular basis so that you are and every one of you, no matter how trivial the issue.
all familiar with the emergency routine should the worst
happen. Action plans/fire exit procedures and gathering BIRTHDAYS AND OTHER CELEBRATIONS
points will be made clear to you all from the outset. This We aim to please! Some parents will be able to bring a cake
information will also be posted around the boarding house. in to school but for those of you whose journey is a limiting
factor, we will happily provide a birthday cake to help you
OUT OF BOUNDS celebrate your special day (the cost of which will be charged
The campus perimeters (and details therein) and other areas to your pocket money account). Do please let us know in
accessible to Year 9 students will be made very clear to good time if you have any special requests.
you from the outset. These will also be displayed on notice
boards around the boarding house. Anyone caught out of MENTORS
bounds will face severe sanctions. Senior students will sometimes visit the house during prep
time, accompany the outdoor education walks and assist
MEDICAL MATTERS with the induction activities through the Christmas Term.
The house staff are trained and fully able to assist with daily
medication distribution/temporary medical needs. SENIOR HOUSES
You must hand all your medication into us as soon as you In the week before half term in May, future House allocations
come into the house for safekeeping. We can discuss the will be announced. The groupings will be chosen by the
use of inhalers etc, some items can be kept to hand, but school and done with each individual in mind placing him in
you must let us know what you have/how often you require a house where we feel he will flourish best over the coming
them/dosage etc, before we can make that decision. years. There are eight senior boys’ houses – three country
Please do let us and the Medical Centre know straight away houses and five on campus.
if you have a medical issue of any sort. We are here to help!
In the event of a medical emergency, the Medical Centre
is open and manned 24/7. The doctor visits patients in the
Medical Centre every day.

10 HOUSE HANDBOOK