While Guildford Grammar School offers unmatched opportunities and connections, for our boarders, holidays are a return to something equally powerful – home.

Over the April break, our boarding students ventured far and wide: from the Kimberley to Chennai, from quiet farm tracks to bustling stadiums. Their stories are as diverse as the land they come from, and they remind us why boarding is more than just accommodation – it’s a bridge between two extraordinary worlds.

Grounded in the Rural, Open to the World

For Year 9 student Chase Lavender, holidays meant reuniting with Timmy the sheep, helping stack winter firewood, and greeting the season’s first calf on the family farm in Williams. In Kununurra, Kate Petherick immersed herself in the rugged beauty of the Kimberley, while Patrick Moore delved deep – literally – into his family’s gold mine in Goomalling, already 500 metres underground and digging further.

Others soaked up nature in quieter ways. Charlotte Gardiner and her brother Albert got friendly with the animals at Wadderin Wildlife Sanctuary, visiting grandparents in Narembeen. Matthew Ashworth split his time between tennis tournaments, golf and a peaceful Easter by Lake Leschenaultia with cousin Emma from Harper House.

Global Perspectives, Grounded Students

Boarders like Arosh Kafil show how boarding broadens horizons. He marked ANZAC Day in Chennai, India, sharing a gunfire breakfast with Australia’s High Commissioner before watching an IPL match at the iconic Chepauk Stadium. In Singapore, Teodor Pilarczyk experienced a different cultural rhythm altogether.

Closer to home, Jasmine White spent her break welcoming a new puppy and visiting her brother in hospital – a reminder that boarding allows families to keep their deep personal connections strong, even while growing in independence.

Creative and Active

The Bradley siblings showed what balance looks like. Year 12 student Clare cooked up a storm, while James (Year 9) mixed mountain biking with ballet workshops led by the Artistic Director of New York’s Joffrey Ballet. They also enjoyed simple pleasures: fireside chats, bushwalks, and time with the family dog.

And whether it was Miller Bantock riding his KLX 140 across ‘Cardo’ in Miling or Stephanie Tighe simply soaking up time at home, these students returned to Guildford Grammar with renewed energy and deeper stories.

Boarding at Guildford Grammar

With 78 hectares of natural bushland on our campus, Guildford Grammar’s boarding program doesn’t ask students to leave behind who they are – it strengthens it. Boarders gain access to academic excellence, leadership opportunities and lifelong friendships while staying deeply connected to the rural and regional communities they call home.

This week, as part of National Boarding Week, we’re proud to showcase just a few of the stories that define our boarding community – resilient, adventurous and rooted in both legacy and possibility.