Same atmosphere, new pastimes: What’s changed for PLC boarders
This Tallarook teen has been looking forward to moving back to the boarding house all summer, but some COVID-induced changes will still be in place when she arrives for term 1.
TALLAROOK’S Holly Dawson can’t wait to return to the Presbyterian Ladies’ College boarding house this month, for what she hopes will be an uninterrupted school year.
This is the Year 9 student’s third year boarding on the Burwood campus.
“Contrary to what most people imagine about boarding, I actually really want to be doing it,” Holly said. “It is an experience that most people don’t get, so I really like it.”
Taking part in aerobics, softball and boarding excursions have been some of her favourite experiences at the school so far, and she sorely missed them during remote learning last year.
Despite the enforced separation, Holly said COVID lockdowns strengthened relationships between boarders and staff, and she hoped this year would include events that they all loved, such as outings to water parks and whole-house social activities.
Head of boarding Stuart Manderson said staff had been working continuously since March last year, and that a few differences would be evident in the boarding house this year.
He said social activities might be held on campus more frequently, to minimise students’ social contacts, and some new local excursions had been rolled out during summer, to keep international students busy and engaged.
“During summer we stayed open because we still have girls who can’t go home,” Mr Manderson said. “We have done lots of other things … gone to see the penguins, to a chocolate factory, to the lavender farm, Arthur’s Seat, gone cherry picking.”
PLC Melbourne’s boarding house caters for students from Years 7-12, with three staff who sleep overnight for supervision. The house can cater for about 80 girls, but will start term 1 with closer to 60 because some international students have not been able to return to Australia.
Boarding scholarships and bursaries are available.
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