Toowoomba Grammar School

About Boarding

How Many Boarders?
Our Catchment Area.
The Boarding House Structure
The Daily Routine
Clothing and Laundry
The Living Arrangements in the Boarding House
Leave arrangements
What can my son bring to the Boarding House?
School Policies
Academic Work
Sport
Other Co-Curricular Activities
Health Care
Preparing for Boarding Life
Christian Fellowship

Toowoomba Grammar School is one of the oldest and most well established boarding schools in Australia. Boarders have lived at the school and have been educated with us since 1877. We are extremely proud to say that boarding life has always been an integral feature of the school. Today there would be only a handful of schools in Australia with a larger boarding enrolment. The boarders bring to Toowoomba Grammar School particular personal qualities and give the school a soul, a life and a sense of community. Toowoomba, being a large regional country centre in Queensland with a population of approximately 100,000 people, provides the ideal location for boys experiencing living away from home for the first time.

How Many Boarders?

Boarders constitute approximately one third of total enrolments. There are approximately 300 boarders in the school and it is in the school's strategic plan that similar numbers are maintained in the future. Boarders may commence in any year level from Year 7.

Our Catchment Area.

The boarders at Toowoomba Grammar School come predominantly from Northern New South Wales, throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory - "from Dubbo to Darwin".

The Boarding House Structure

There are five Senior School Boarding Houses at Toowoomba Grammar School and these are each managed by a Housemaster who reports directly to the Head of Boarding, the Deputy Headmaster and the Headmaster. Typically, the Housemaster is a married man with a family living in, or adjacent to, the Boarding House. All Boarding Housemasters are members of the teaching staff of the school. Each Boarding Housemaster is supported by three residential staff members. In every Senior School Boarding House there is a full-time Boarding Resident Master who is an adult employee, solely employed in the Boarding House for the care and supervision of the boarders.

Each Boarding House has approximately 55 - 65 boys from Years 8 - 12. They are vertically structured where the senior boys are encouraged to be leaders and role models to younger boys. The boys are accommodated in year group blocks of cubicles. A "family" atmosphere is created and a positive relationship is encouraged between the older and younger boys. The School has a specialist boarding facility for boys in Years 5 - 7 in the Junior School.  In addition to the Boarding Housemaster and Assistant Housemaster there is also a full-time House Mother (residential carer) living in the Junior Boarding House.

The Daily Routine

On weekdays, the boarders wake up by 6:45 am. They shower, dress and have breakfast in the School Dining Hall. The boys then return to their Boarding House, make their beds, tidy their cubes and organise their bags for the day.

At recess break the boarders can interact with the dayboys after collecting their morning tea. They also mix with the dayboys in all classes throughout the day. A fully prepared lunch, usually hot, is provided for all boarders in the Dining Hall.

Following afternoon classes, the boys enjoy afternoon tea and usually sports practice. The evening meal takes place at 6:00 pm. Catering is arranged by the school's professional Executive Chef. In addition to every meal, there is always side salad and fruit available to the boys. After dinner, the boys are allowed a short time to watch television news and current affairs programmes if they wish. The boarders can also access daily metropolitan and weekly rural papers during the day in the Library. The Boarding Houses also purchase magazines for the boys' reading such as Outback, Time, National Geographic etc. "Prep" or study time is divided into two parts: the first part must be completed in silence. In the second part of prep, after a supper break, boys can work with others if necessary. The computer classrooms can also be accessed by the boarders on Monday to Thursday evenings. Wireless technology in each Boarding House also provides internet access to every boarder with access to a personal computer. The time for "lights out" varies according to the year group.

On the weekends, the boys generally are involved in school sporting matches in the Great Public Schools (GPS) sports competition. In the senior years there is an expectation that part of the weekend be devoted to study. The beautiful, immaculately maintained grounds of the School complete with vibrant bird life provide a relaxing, tranquil background for study, or quiet reflection. Following Saturday sport the boys have access to the swimming pool, the gymnasium and the School's six sporting ovals. On Sunday afternoon they can visit the Library. Boarding Housemasters also organise House functions and excursions for the boys in both Toowoomba, Brisbane and the Coast. Social opportunities exist for the boarders with neighbouring girls' boarding schools including Fairholme College and The Glennie School.

Each Boarding House has a well-equipped and comfortable common-room. The common-room has a pool-table, table-tennis table, soft furnishings, refrigerator, microwave, toaster, jug, and Austar television. Television viewing is strictly monitored.

Clothing and Laundry

The school operates its own laundry off-campus to wash boarders' uniforms and everyday items such as underwear, socks and handkerchiefs (once a week for each Boarding House). The School Laundry does wash non-uniform clothing but it must be named. A washing machine and a dryer are provided in each Boarding House if the boys wish to wash their own non-uniform clothing.

The Living Arrangements in the Boarding House

The five Senior Boarding Houses at Toowoomba Grammar School offer cubicle accommodation. These cubicle areas are predominantly single but some have dual occupancy. Each cubicle has a study desk, bed, wardrobe, storage area and a reading light. The boys' cubicles are arranged in year groups.

Leave arrangements

Boarders are allowed to take leave at the discretion of their Housemaster. For overnight leave and tea leave, parents must contact the Housemaster at least 24 hours prior to make this request. The person who is hosting the boarder must be a responsible adult and will be required to come in to the Boarding House to see the staff member on duty and sign the boy out. This must also happen when the boarder is dropped back from Leave. The host will be asked to agree to the duty of care conditions outlined on the boarder's Leave Card. Boarders will only be granted leave if they have fulfilled all their school commitments, including their participation in co-curricular activities.
Good communication is essential to the leave process because it is vital that boarding staff know the whereabouts of boarders at all times to ensure their safety.

What can my son bring to the Boarding House?

In addition to enthusiasm and a positive outlook, his school and casual clothes, the boarders are welcome to bring personal assets and a small lockable toolbox for their wallet etc. Boys are permitted to bring assets such as a laptop computer, mobile phone and so on if they wish. School policy exists on the appropriate usage of mobile phones, and personal computers.

School Policies

Toowoomba Grammar School has a well documented and thoroughly researched policy statement on bullying. Whilst we acknowledge that there can be some "rough and tumble" in a boys' boarding environment, any physical or verbal harassment will not be tolerated. Boarding Housemasters are explicit in their instruction to the boys in this regard. Obviously smoking, the consumption of alcohol and drug taking is prohibited. As in the family home, we promote general courtesy, good manners and respect for one another and the property of others.

Academic Work

The boarders benefit from the daily supervised "prep" (homework / study) times. They also have access to the academic staff living in the Boarding House who can provide assistance with homework and projects. In recent years, boarders have attained some particularly pleasing academic results. The curriculum at Toowoomba Grammar School includes a range of academic subjects and a number of boarders also enrol in practical Vocational Education and Training Courses.

Sport

Most boarders love their sport. The sporting competition ranges from the top schoolboy GPS elite competition to more informal matches encouraging participation, depending upon one's skills and interests.

Other Co-Curricular Activities

The boarders have access to music tuition, drama, outdoor education, specific sport, hobby and interest groups to fully complement their studies.

Health Care

A 24 hour, seven day a week modern specialist Health Care Centre is situated in the middle of the school campus. Staffed by Resident Nurses as Health Care Professionals, the health care is also complemented by the attendance of the school doctor several times per week. The Health Care Centre has doctor's rooms, isolation wards, ensuite facilities and lounge areas. All medical and dental appointments for boarders are made by the Health Centre staff.

Preparing for Boarding Life

The first step is to have your son visit Toowoomba Grammar School and meet with senior staff. Following a tour of the Boarding House to experience its atmosphere and prior to your son's commencement at the school, please assist him with the following:

• How to maintain personal hygiene;
• Respect for others, their property and communal property;
• Highlight the importance of co-operation and punctuality;
• Having respect for adults and colleagues and a tolerance for others;
• Being positively involved in as many varied activities as possible;
• For younger boys, the ability to tie neckties and shoelaces, clean shoes and wash casual clothes is important.

Christian Fellowship

Toowoomba Grammar School is a Christian, non-denominational school. Boarders have the opportunity to attend monthly church services at school and also at local youth groups and churches.

At Toowoomba Grammar School we provide an environment where boarders feel safe, happy and connected to their home away from home. It is an environment where all boarders are encouraged to be involved and do their best.