Page 20 - Parents' Handbook

BIRTHDAYS
If your child has their birthday during term time
we can provide a birthday table for them. They can invite friends to share a buffet party tea with them and either you or our kitchens can provide a birthday cake. There is an additional charge to cover the cost of catering for the birthday table. Parents are asked to inform Houseparent’s in good time if they would like a birthday table for their child.
THE BOARDING HOUSE
The boarding house is situated in the Main House across the middle and top floors. There is very
clear separation between the boys’ and girls’ accommodation with a separate staircase accessing the girls’ floor. The girls’ boarding area is alarmed at night.
Girls have 8 dormitories on the middle floor as well
as senior and junior Common Rooms for relaxing and watching TV. The girls’ dormitories have wonderful views out over the school grounds and surrounding countryside.
The rest of the middle floor houses the Year 8 boys in 4 dorms as well as a Year 8 Common Room.
The Top Floor is home to our younger boys with 6 dormitories and a TV room.
All dormitories are organised according to the age of the children. Where possible, children are consulted on who they would like to share with, however this is very much dependent on the number of boarders in each year. House staff monitor the dormitory dynamic to make sure children are happy and getting on with one another.
Children are encouraged to bring personal items from home, including photographs, posters, cuddly toys etc to make their dormitory feel as homely as possible.
Also, at Christmas there is a hotly contested dorm decorating competition where children are asked to bring in as many decorations as possible!
THE BOARDING ROUTINE
7:00am
Wake up
7:20am
Breakfast
7:50am
Teeth and Tidy
8.15am
Registration in school
School Day
5:00pm
Prep/Junior Activities
6:00pm
Supper
6:30pm
Evening Activities
7:30-8:15pm
Staggered times to be in the house
8:30-9:15pm
Staggered bedtimes
BOARDING MEETINGS
There is a weekly boarding meeting where the boarders can give feedback on different areas of boarding life at school. This could be ideas about new activities or suggestions for breakfasts or snacks etc. There are also three suggestion boxes around the boarding house where children can write ideas and comments to be discussed. This meeting takes place every Wednesday evening and is also an opportunity to congratulate boarders for recent achievements.
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