2020 Boarding Handbook Contents Director of Boarding . 1 Head of Residence . 2 Harlin House Captain . 4 Harlin House Vice Captain . 4 A Welcome to Boarding . 5 Contact Details . 7 Boarding Dates 2020 . 8 Daily Routines . 9 Leave . 13 Rewards and Sanctions . 16 Enrichment Programs . 17 Pastoral Care . 19 Boarding Values . 20 Student Life . 21 Health Centre . 26 Communication . 28 Clothing . 29 ii iii Director of Boarding Head of Residence Berian Williams-Jones Nick Byron As Director of Boarding, I am excited by the I first arrived at BGS in 1988 as a boy eager to challenges and rewards of the position, while also help my father set up his office as the Head of aware of the privilege of having an integral role the Lower School. As a young man, I completed in the lives of young men during their formative numerous placements here as a trainee teacher. adolescent years. In performing the Head of Residence role, I am fulfilling my desire to teach at Brisbane Grammar Throughout my teaching career, I have worked School. It is a privilege to be involved in the at boarding schools in England and Australia. My education of the young men in the boarding first post was at Haileybury, formerly the training community. college for the East India Company. Located half an hour north of London, the school had over My early teaching career ran alongside my 500 boarders. In addition to leading both Design ambitions to become a professional rugby Technology and Information Technology, I was player. Indeed, sporting luck intervened; knee actively involved in various pastoral roles, most reconstructions in 2004 and 2005 sidelined me notably as the Assistant Housemaster in Thomason from playing. During this time, I was able to focus and the Lower School. on my teaching at Marist College, Rosalie. Early in my tenure at ‘Rosa’, my pastoral abilities were In 2005, I joined Dean Close School in Cheltenham rewarded with roles as Acting Head of Year 10 in as their first Director of Assessment and Data 2004, then as the Acting Head of Years 8 and 9 in but soon found the lure of a pastoral role hard to and boarded for four years at Dean Close School, 2005. I relocated to Brisbane to take up the role of refuse. I was appointed Assistant Housemaster so we are well versed with boarding from a wide Head of Residence at BGS. This has also enabled of Gate, before being asked to run the house on range of perspectives. Our youngest daughter is a In 2006, I cut short my time at Marist Rosalie, my family to spend time with our Australian an interim basis. I was subsequently appointed student at Somerville House. recommitting myself to playing rugby at the relations. My wife Freya, also a teacher, and my Housemaster of Tower, living alongside almost highest level I could. I moved to the UK for what I two daughters, Elizabeth and Bridget, are enjoying 70 boys from 13 to 18 years of age. During my last My role at BGS is to lead the community, to thought would be a year or two of playing rugby their life Down Under. The girls in particular like four years at Dean Close, I was Head of Boarding, provide a strategic overview for the Boarding in the rain and seeing the world; it turned into their trips to the dining room for the ice cream that leading a boarding community of six houses and program and to be a constant point of contact for a life-changing experience. It saw the end of my always seems to be on offer! 300 students. parents. That said, I remain fully involved in the days playing rugby, as I became a husband and day-to-day running of the boarding community. father, and developed my skills as an educator of As Head of Residence, my role is to ensure the During my time at Haileybury, I was fortunate The real reward of boarding is working with young men. day-to-day running of boarding meets the needs to be offered the opportunity to spend a year at students, and seeing them both grow and of the young men in our care. I aim to provide The Southport School. An indelible experience, mature into young people who are ready for the My educational experiences included time as Head innovative pastoral support programs that the year sowed the seed to relocate to Australia challenges and rewards that life beyond school of Learning and Behaviour Support at Tenbury promote student wellbeing. At all times, I seek which, following a Winston Churchill Travelling offers. High School from 2009 to 2012. I had a diverse to foster positive relationships with students, Fellowship and various family holidays, we did in role that ranged from developing individual staff and parents, ensuring a supportive learning April 2015. I began my Australian teaching career education plans for underperforming students, to environment for all boarders. BGS Boarding is at Gippsland Grammar School where I was Head implementing a whole-school positive behaviour home to many different individuals, and I facilitate of Boarding and served on the Victorian Board of policy. I was also appointed the Head of Year 10 a variety of relevant and continuous learning the Australian Boarding Schools’ Association. when the school reviewed its pastoral structure in experiences that develop the boys’ characters to 2011. their full potential. My wife, Ruth, is also a teacher and in her words “a proud boarding widow”, knowing that just five In 2013, I gained my first experience in leading minutes in the House usually equates to a good a boarding house when I was appointed few hours. Our eldest daughter is a student at QUT Housemaster of School House at Lord Wandsworth College. This position saw me take control of a senior boys’ boarding house that was home to almost 80 boys from 13 to 18 years of age, and continue my involvement in sport as Director of Rugby. 1 2 Harlin House Student Leaders Alex MacGibbon | Harlin House Captain Stephen Baronio | Harlin House Vice Captain I was born in Brisbane but moved to the Central I was born in the small rural community of Queensland region at a young age, and my family Stanthorpe, where I lived until I moved to Brisbane has lived there ever since. I spent most of my Grammar School in 2015. I began my boarding childhood and early schooling in Rockhampton until journey at the age of 11, entering Harlin House in my Brisbane Grammar School journey began in 2015. Year 7. Like most boys joining a new school, I was My family then moved to the small mining town of anxious but willing to take on the challenges and Blackwater, and more recently, Moranbah. the confronting ideas of living away from home. I arrived at Harlin House as a shy Year 7 boarder, My transition into the boarding house was but my transition to the city and boarding life was somewhat daunting, coming from a smaller made easier with the guidance of my brother in Year community. It was not only the ideas of moving 9, who had a year of boarding experience under schools but also entering a large, unfamiliar his belt. I adapted quickly to the expectations and city. However, the warm boarding community brotherhood of Harlin House, which taught me assisted and supported me, making the transition the importance of accountability and community as smooth as possible. The boarding community – two fundamental principles that make boarding is unique; it perfectly encapsulates brotherhood. at BGS a cohesive and unique experience. Through Everyone is working to ensure that each boy supportive interactions and enduring relations, in the House has a place, and they can feel the both staff and students alike are always working to overwhelming sense of community. The boarding ensure every boy achieves his best, with unparalleled staff also do a great job to maintain a respectful, opportunities. friendly environment. As the final stint of my BGS journey begins, I look In the final year of my Brisbane Grammar forward to fulfilling the responsibilities as Harlin School journey, I am dedicated to serving and House Captain. I aim to serve alongside my fellow representing BGS Boarding and the School Prefects and seniors with my utmost pride and community to the best of my abilities. As Harlin effort to ensure a seamless transition for new and House Vice Captain for 2020, I am confident in my continuing boys – further diversifying our great fellow Prefects’ and seniors’ abilities, alongside community and ultimately ensuring the ongoing House staff, to strengthen the rewarding boarding success of BGS Boarding in 2020. experience. 3 4 A Welcome to Boarding Boarding Principles and school communities, and is served within an BGS aims to offer boys the best possible boarding attractive and welcoming facility. At the same time, experience, in a nurturing environment, where our Health Centre provides a high level of health each individual is safe and happy, is valued and is and related care for boarders. encouraged to achieve his best. Accommodation The foundations of the boarding experience are the At Brisbane Grammar School, all boarders live in same strong values that exist within the School. the one precinct. Harlin House and Griffith House Harlin House and Griffith House seek to be part of provide a home away from home for almost 100 a respectful community with regard for learning, boarders. leadership and endeavour. Within boarding, we focus on the holistic wellbeing of boys and seek to The Director of Boarding leads the boarding provide a program and experience that helps them program and is responsible for all aspects of fulfil their potential and become BGS graduates boarding at BGS – from the successful recruitment who contribute to their communities.