Frequently Asked Questions

Questions for students

 

Do I have to keep my room tidy?

Yes. As we live in a close community it’s important to be mindful of keeping your bedroom clean and tidy, especially as you will
most likely share a bedroom space with another boarder at some stage. Each morning the Year Coordinator on duty assigns green slips (for tidy rooms) or pink slips (for untidy rooms). The boarders with the most green slips are rewarded with a special dinner at the end of the term. If any boarder receives three pink slips in one week there are likely to be implications for their weekend leave.

 

Who should be my first contact in boarding?

For any boarding related matter, your Boarding Year Coordinator should be your first point of contact. You are also welcome to discuss a matter with your Head of Hall or the Head of Boarding.

 

How do students sign up and pay for recreational activities on the weekend?

Every Wednesday we have a formal dinner (Well-dressed Wednesday) and the signup sheets for recreational activities are available for sign ups. Once your name is on the list your account will be automatically charged for the event. Most activities cost $10-$20. We will soon introduce a new electronic signup process through our Reach system.

 

What do I do when I need new items from the Clothing Shop?

If your parents have submitted an online credit card form the Clothing Shop can debit their card directly each time you require new clothes. Alternatively, students can pay on their own debit cards.

 

Who washes girls’ laundry?

All sheets and towels are collected once a week and washed off-site. All girls’ clothes are washed by the Housemother on a daily basis within Malcolm Hall. If girls have items of clothing they do not wish to go in the dryer this needs to be communicated to a member of staff.

 

Who washes boys’ laundry?

All sheets and towels are collected once a week and washed off-site. Boys have the option to place their clothes in the laundry baskets where they are taken to a local dry cleaner for washing and returned to their pigeon holes, usually within
2-3 business days. Both Halls of Residence have  washing machines and dryers and students are welcome to wash their own clothes in their free time.

 

What happens if I am sick?

If you have been assessed by our medical staff and are deemed not fit to stay in boarding you must be collected by parents/guardians or a host as soon as possible to reduce the likelihood of infection to other boarders.

 

Who do I contact regarding after hour’s needs?

For any needs between the hours of 11.00pm-6.30am you should contact the Head of Junior Hall, Mr Lewis Jones, Head of Girls' Boarding, Mrs Sophie Carroll, or Mr Matthew Weston (Senior Hall).

 

How do I submit leave?

We use an online leave system called REACH. We will create an account that you will use to submit leave. The request is then directed to the appropriate Boarding Year Coordinator or Head of Boarding for approval. Once approved it is in the system and you need to advise staff when you head off on your leave. Parents or hosts collecting students from the boarding house need to enter the Hall and make themselves known to staff before proceeding to the room. Any questions concerning REACH may be directed to our Boarding House Coordinator, Mary O'Donovan.

 

Can I bring a pet?

No. We don’t allow pets of any sort in the boarding houses for a variety of reasons but mostly as it may impact other boarders living in adjacent rooms.

 

Can I keep my own food?

Yes, students can purchase and store some types of food in their bedroom. The Boarding House has fruit, milk, cheese, milo, biscuits and bread available at any time of the day on each level of the Boarding House. We ask that students do not bring excessive amounts of soft drink, lollies or other foods that may impact our ability to best look after your health. If unsure of what foods can be brought, students can check with their Year Coordinator or Head of Boarding.

 

What meals are provided in boarding?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided for all boarders every day of the week. On weekdays, the Dining Hall also provides recess and afternoon tea is served in your Hall. Meal times may change slightly on weekends due to other events, but at least three meals are provided every day. In Terms 1 and 4 we have a community BBQ every Saturday night.

 

Can we order takeaway on the weekends?

There may be the occasional time that Boarding House staff will allow you to purchase takeaway for delivery or pick up with a staff member, but this must always be approved prior to purchasing as it is only occasionally allowed on weekends.

 

What is the procedure for taking leave?

We offer three different types of leave – local, day and overnight. An explanation of each can be found in the Boarding Handbook. 

How do I get to club sport?

Some of our boarders participate in community sport at local clubs outside of Guildford Grammar School. If you wish to do this you should have a discussion with your parents and Year Coordinator/Head of Hall prior to registering. You will need to
arrange a parent/host to transport you.
 

Who do I talk to about dietary  requirements?

Any specific allergies or dietary needs should be brought to the attention of boarding staff prior to your arrival. If you have suggestions for the Dining Hall you may choose to direct this to a member of the Guildford Boarding Food Committee, which all
boarders are welcome to join.

 

How often can I go home?

There is only one official closed weekend for the year and this is the first weekend of Term 1 when we have our Boarding Prefects’ Cup, which is fun day and a great way to meet other boarders. For junior and new boarders we recommend not taking leave more than once every three weeks for the first few terms to alleviate homesickness and to allow you to build important new relationships in the Halls.

 

What do I need for my room?

Please refer to the Boarding Handbook for a comprehensive list.

 

When can I phone home?

If you are a junior boarder you will need to hand in your phone at 8.30pm each night to avoid it distracting you while sleeping. We also ask that you don’t use your phone during prep/study times. Ideal times to call home are in the morning or after school between 3.30pm-5.30pm.

 

Can I take friends home for the weekend?

Yes, you can. Whether it’s a day student or another boarder if both parties have parental approval then this is fine.

 

How much money do we need?

There is no recommendation for how much money you will need and this will depend on your circumstances. We do not hold cash unless under specific circumstances so you will need a debit/savings card or pre-paid debit card to spend your money.
 

Can I bring a bike?

Yes, you may bring a bike to boarding if you wish but your parent/guardian will need to complete a Bicycle Agreement Form prior to bringing it in and this can be arranged through our Boarding House Coordinator, Mary O'Donovan.

 

Can I go for a run/exercise in the morning?

Yes, you can. We ask all junior boarders to communicate this the evening before going for a run/gym session in the morning. Year 7-8 students must go in pairs or groups of three or more. Year 9 students may go on their own. All boarders are expected to remain on campus for this exercise unless previously arranged.

 

Can day students come into my Hall?

Day students are welcome to come into the boarding houses at appropriate times but must always remain in common areas. No day student or visitor may enter the bedroom of a boarding student unless prior approval is given by boarding staff.

 

How often do we change rooms?

Students in Years 7-11 change rooms at the end of every term. This gives you a chance to share a space with a variety of other boarders and make our community more cohesive. Year 12 students may be allowed to select their own rooms, pending their Good Standing within the community.


 

Questions for Parents

 

Can I collect my child directly from sport?

Yes, this is possible but we ask that you communicate this directly to the Hall, ideally by phone, before doing so. Boarders can then be signed in and out correctly.

 

How should we prepare for boarding?

Moving into boarding is a significant change and something that should be discussed as a family. Sitting down and reading through the Boarding Handbook, speaking with the Head of Boarding or a Year Coordinator or talking to other boarding families you know about their experience can really help. Use the checklists and ensure you have everything you need before coming to the school also helps students to start on the right foot. If you have any specific concerns for your child we recommend having an honest conversation with your Head of Hall about this so that strategies can be put in place to help.

What is the local community like?

We are very lucky at Guildford Grammar School to have all of our Year Coordinators, Head and Deputies of Boarding, Senior Chaplain, Head of Senior
School and other residential staff all living on site. These people and their families help to make up our wonderful community and are available whenever you need them, not just during business hours. Throughout your time at Guildford Grammar School there will be opportunities to attend sundowners, dinners and other functions that are a great way to meet these people and get to know the community better.

 

When can fathers and mothers enter bedroom areas?

We ask that fathers only enter their daughter’s bedroom area on the first and last day of each term. If they require entry outside of these times it must be with the explicit permission and accompaniment of a boarding staff member. Mothers must also make themselves known to boarding staff prior to entering boys or girls’ bedroom areas.

 

Should my child bring their own sheets?

Bed sheets, towels and pillow cases are provided but students are encouraged to bring their own fitted single sheet and pillow cases. Please ensure these have your child’s name clearly marked on them.

 

What support is proved during homework/prep times and can my child access an external tutor if needed?

The location and times of prep varies depending on the year group, but supervised prep occurs every night from Sunday-Thursday. During this time boarders have access to teaching staff and academic tutors provided by the School at no cost. If you would like to arrange one-on-one tutoring for your child you may do this but please first discuss this with your Year Coordinator.

 

How often do boarders go to Chapel?

Unless there is a specific service due to the Christian calendar we provide a boarder’s service every Sunday, generally from 6.15pm-7.15pm and occasionally in the morning. Access to the Chapel Card is provided through the website each term.

 

How many students sleep in each room?

This depends on the cohort. In general the Year 7-8 students will have four per room, Year 9-10 students will have two per room and we aim to provide single rooms for Year 11-12 students.