Aquinas College Year Seven boarder, Ben Ross is enjoying his new home away from home. Photo: Supplied.
Aquinas has a long and outstanding tradition in residential care. Carrying on the tradition from CBC Perth in providing a home environment for boarding students, its new purpose-built boarding house will offer Year Seven students a home away from home.
With the construction of a new Year Seven boarding house now complete, boarding students are enjoying their new home this term.
Year Seven boarders from across WA, from Bremer Bay to Broome, live at the College during term time while studying at the College (alongside Years Eight-Twelve boarders).
The boys’ new house, named Brothers House, includes all the comforts of home including spacious bedrooms, plentiful living areas, a large kitchen/dining area and an outdoor area for the boys to enjoy.
Bremer Bay student, Ben Ross said he liked his new home and is enjoying living with his classmates.
“It’s good. We are making more friends by all being together. We get to know each other better because we are all living here instead of in three different houses,” Ben said.
Aquinas College Deputy Head, Boarding Michael Dempsey said the new house has helped the College’s youngest boarding students adjust more readily to being away from home.
“Coming to boarding school initially is a huge adjustment for a student. The new Brothers House offers Year Seven students an opportunity to form friendships with fellow boarders in their year group by grouping them all into one house,” Mr Dempsey said.
He said the College’s ‘Aquinas Connect Program’, aimed at Year Six students entering boarding the following year, is designed to create social connections for the boys before they started their boarding experience.
“Aquinas Connect Program is an initiative which sees the Year Seven boarding cohort of the following year engaging with one another at events at the College and via the internet, building friendships and connections ahead of their official start at boarding school.”
“The program also runs for the first six months of the boys’ boarding experience in Year Seven to ensure the students are adjusting to living away from home and understand and use the support networks available to them.”
He said the Aquinas Connect Program and purpose-built Year Seven boarding house were vital to maintaining positive transitions to boarding for Year seven students.
“The Year Seven boys have settled into their new house well this term, getting to know the space and enjoying the sense of home, the new place has for them.”
The existing three boarding houses at Aquinas College are also undergoing renovations. Gibney House has been completed and reopened this term. All renovations will be completed by mid-2018.