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boarding handbook 2023 24 august v2PDF 11
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11 | P a g e
HOMESICKNESS
Some boarders will find it difficult being away from home in the first few weeks. Should homesickness
arise it is helpful to treat this as perfectly normal, knowing that staff are here to assist with such temporary
challenges. We have found that boarders who are involved fully in school life rarely suffer from
homesickness. Here are some helpful suggestions:
•
Parental understanding, patience and firmness would appear to be the most important qualities
necessary to make a quick and relatively smooth adjustment to boarding. If homesickness strikes it
will most likely be detected first by boarding staff. If not, please contact your child’s
Housemaster/mistress immediately to discuss any difficulties resulting from your child being away
from home. We are here to help. Often it is a good idea to go back over why you chose boarding
and what your child expected from it. This is a good way to deal rationally and calmly with
problems. Remember, always try to isolate issues that cause unhappiness rather than accept ‘I just
don’t feel right’. Dealing with obstacles is the path to maturity.
•
The parent who does not allow their child to develop independence will inadvertently make it more
difficult for that child to accept the legitimacy of his or her new environment. Remember that
children normally adapt very quickly with positive reinforcement from school and home. It is
advisable to keep phone calls to a minimum, twice a week, in the early period of boarding. Arranging
approximate times of contact will help your child manage the early period of being away from
familiar surrounds. Parents who are unwilling to allow independence should think carefully before
considering boarding as an educational option. Remember, independence is not the same thing
as isolation.
•
We appreciate that parents also suffer from the absence of their children. Please feel free to
communicate your feelings to us. Boarding is a partnership between school and home.
•
Homesickness can strike boarders of any age –it can be triggered for all sorts of reasons not always
readily identifiable. What is certain is that if a school is caring and pro-active about homesickness
then the child should not find it difficult to bring things quickly back to normal.
COMMUNICATION
Mobile Phones
Mobile phones are a senior boarding privilege only, but not allowed during school hours. Misused phones
are confiscated. Should parents wish to contact a house or leave a message during the school day, it is best
to contact the Housemistress or Housemaster on their mobile. As a rule:
•
Boarders can access school phones for calls home. Parents and guardians can call back on that
number and privacy is assured.
•
Incoming calls are not transferred to students during class time, meals, prep time or after lights out
•
Boarders are expected to check the notice board for messages