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Boarding Routines

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4.1 Timings of the Day 4.2 Mornings and Breakfast 4.3 Lunch 4.4 Afternoons 4.5 Co-curricular Activities 4.6 Dinner 4.7 Homework / Prep Time 4.8 Lights Out and Lockup 4.9 Boarders 4.10 Boarder Outings 4.11 Special Event Meals and Birthdays 4.12 Boarder Whereabouts 4.13 Evacuations and Lockdowns 4.14 Leave Process 4.15 Cars in boarding 4.16 Part time employment 4.17 Forms

4.1 Timings of the Day

Fenton Village has organised its operations around specific routines and rituals. A boarding environment needs to use routines to maintain consistent expectations and provide boarders with a solid foundation to manage their own circumstances. This practice certainly enables much easier management of the Village and the boarders who reside within it. Variations may be implemented in response to specific situations, e.g., COVID Safe practice, special events.

There are two main routines that Fenton Village follows:

      • Weekday routine (Monday - Friday)
      • Weekend routine (Friday 3.20pm - Sunday 5.30pm).

Weekday Routine M​onday to Friday

Time Routine
7.00am
Wakeup
7.00am - 7.45amBreakfast
7.30am - 8.00amSchool preparation
8.00amBoarders depart for classes
3.30pm - 4.00pmAfternoon tea in Dining Hall
5.45pm - 6.15pmDinner
6.45pm - 7.45pmPrep session 1
7.45pm - 8.00pmSupper
8.00pm - 8.45pmPrep session 2
9.00pm - 9.15pmYears 7 and 8 tech handed in & quiet time
9.15pmYears 7 and 8 lights out
9.30pmYear 9 lights out
9.45pmYear 10 lights out
10.15pmYears 11 and 12 lights out
10.30pmFinal lockup and security arming

Weekend Routine Friday to Sunday

The Fenton Village weekend routine is much more relaxed than that of the weekday routine. We determine weekends as the period between Friday 3.20pm and Sunday at 5.30pm. Several influences guide the weekend routines:

      • School events
      • TAS and other sporting commitments
      • Academic timing (exams and assessment time)
      • Planned village events and outings, formal dinners, end-of-term outings, and late-night shopping.
      • Weather
      • Boarder negotiation
      • Risk assessment.

Boarding staff will arrange outings and activities. Weekend Planners will be published for the students and hard copies posted in prominent places throughout the Village.

All boarders are to return to Fenton Village in time to adequately prepare for the school week.

Friday

Time
Routine
6.00pmDinner
Evening activities / personal time
9.30pmYears 7 to 9 lights out
10.00pmYears 10 to 12 lights out
10.30pmFinal lockup and security arming

Saturday


Time
Routine
9.00amWakeup call (If students are travelling to TAS sport, an early wakeup and breakfast is provided)
Activities / personal time
7.00am - 9.00amBreakfast (Dining will be open from 7.00am)
12.30pmLunch
6.00pmDinner
Evening activities / personal time
9.30pmYears 7 to 9 lights out
10.30pmYears 10 to 12 lights out
10.30pmFinal lockup and security arming

Sunday

TimeRoutine
10.00amWakeup call
8.00am - 10.30amDining will be open from 8.00am
12.30pmLunch
5.30pmAll boarders are to return to Fenton Village from weekend leave
6.00pmDinner
6.30 onwardsClean up and tidy personal spaces and Village in general
8.30pmYears 7 to 9 tech handed in
9.00pmYears 7 to 10 lights out
9.30pmYears 11 and 12 quiet time
10.00pmFinal lockup and security arming

4.2 Mornings and Breakfast

The morning routine is the most important of a boarder's day, as it sets the day in motion and generally determines our boarders' tone and preparedness. The morning routine involves a few facets of the organisation:

  • Wake-up call/roll completed
  • Showers/uniforms
  • Breakfast
  • Villa clean up.
  • Prepare and depart for the College

Before the commencement of the school day, boarders who are sick will be expected to present themselves to staff and be assessed by designated boarding staff. If a boarder requires rest, they will be moved to the sickbay.

To ensure a speedy recovery, sick boarders will not have access to phones, laptops, or other devices.

Should a student become unwell during the day, the same procedure is expected for 'Day School' students. The boarder will be directed to the Health Centre. Boarders also have access to the College counselling and chaplaincy staff. This will be directed by the individuals themselves and/or by the Head of Boarding as needed.

4.3 Lunch

Currently, during the week, Boarders' lunch is served from the JPC Tuckshop.

4.4 Afternoons

Boarders return to Fenton Village straight after School. On some occasions, students may not return until later in the afternoon due to further academic or co-curricular commitments.

It is an expectation that each boarder presents themselves to the Boarding Reception in the Administration building when arriving from School, as they would before leaving for school in the morning. This allows boarding staff to conduct an accurate Roll Call. The afternoon routine is a time for boarders to relax, enjoy some free time, or engage in individual study or co-curricular activity.

4.5 Co-curricular Activities

All boarders are expected to participate in at least one co-curricular activity per term, with the selection undertaken in consultation with parents.

The boarding staff will arrange transport arrangements in consultation with the Head of Sport and Activities, Head of Performing Arts and associated coaches and team managers, confirmed and approved in consultation with boarder parents.

All boarders are required to inform boarding staff of their co-curricular commitments.

4.6 Dinner

Dinner is held at 5.45pm every weekday evening at the Village Dining Hall unless otherwise arranged for special dinners or BBQ evenings.

Boarders are expected to change out of their full school uniform and into 'neat casual' attire (Boarder Dress and Appearance Policy). Grace will precede our formal dinners, and then each table will be called to be served. The behaviours exhibited during meals should be when eating in a restaurant or at the family table.

4.7 Homework / Prep Time

Within the context of an educational institution, one of the most important aspects of a student's daily routine is consolidating the concepts and knowledge learnt throughout the day. Prep time is one of the most significant times of a boarder's day.

There are some fundamental expectations of boarders during Prep Time.

  • Prep Time is time to complete set homework and further study.
  • A quiet study environment is to be maintained during Prep Time. The boarder will be removed if they are disruptive to this study time.

During each Prep Time, a boarding staff member, academic tutor, or teacher will make themselves available for academic support.

4.8 Lights Out and Lockup

The routine of closing the house is guided by various activities, including boarders' meetings, chapel services and outings. Please refer to the weekly routine for more detailed information.

4.9 Boarders' Meeting

All boarders are expected to attend our weekly Boarders' Meeting. The Boarders' Meeting is an essential part of the boarding routine. It provides an opportunity to discuss relevant matters of operation, recognises excellence within the Boarding and College community, and, most importantly, sets the tone for the week ahead.

4.10 Boarder Outings

Boarding staff organise frequent events and outings for Boarders. A calendar of events will be prepared and made available to boarders and parents. Many of these events are optional and require boarders to use the sign up via REACH. Every endeavour will be made to encourage boarders to attend.

4.11 Special Event Meals and Birthdays

Each Term will have several themed meals, decided upon by boarders in consultation with the Catering Manager. In addition to these, the boarding community will on occasions gather for a semi-formal dinner such as a Multicultural dinner, Lunar New Year dinner, Boarding Banquet and Christmas picnic.

Birthdays are a special time in anyone's life, an occasion to celebrate. As part of our boarding community, we celebrate these milestones with every boarder. Of course, when that special day arrives, boarders and staff will make every effort to ensure our birthday boarder has a full and happy day.


Birthday Cakes

Boarding staff are more than willing to assist in picking up and delivering personal birthday cake orders. John Paul College is close to Chatswood Central Shopping Centre. Robertos Cheesecake Shop (07) 3209 2771.

4.12 Boarder Whereabouts

Roll calls and headcounts are an integral part of the boarding lifestyle and ensure that boarding staff know where all our Boarders are at any given time. Roll calls and headcounts are a legal obligation and a legal document.

Rolls are taken on a routine basis during the wake-up and breakfast routine, after school return to Fenton Village, during prep/homework session and shut down and lockup of the facility. Students offsite should make themselves contactable (via phone) at all times.

4.13 Evacuations and Lockdowns

Boarders will take part in evacuation and lockdown drills at least once during each term. They will be well briefed of the procedures.

4.14 Leave Process

Boarders lead active lives and frequently attend social, cultural, and co-curricular activities. Therefore, these details must be in our leave system and are up to date to assist in providing these leave opportunities.

At John Paul College, we use a Boarding Management System called REACH, which enables boarders and residential staff to manage to leave arrangements and permissions at any given time. REACH is available through the student portal but is also an Android and Apple app. Boarders and parents will receive a password and username to access their leave request account prior to their arrival.

A list of approved hosts can be generated through the REACH system.


Leaving the Boarding Village

Boarders, their families, hosts, and friends are expected to announce themselves when coming and going from Fenton Village. Staff may ask for identification to ensure the safety of our boarders. It's imperative that we hand our care of boarders to approved adult hosts.

Boarders can only leave the boarding community with the combined approval of boarding staff and parents/guardians. Permission/approval is granted through the Online Boarding Leave Process (REACH). It may sometimes be necessary to contact parents to gather more information about the leave request. Visitors who are collecting students are not to enter villas.

4.15 Cars in boarding

As a rule, boarders who wish to have a vehicle in boarding need to have permission granted by the Head of Boarding. There are forms to complete as part of this process. Misuse of vehicles will result in this privilege being revoked.

4.16 Part time employment

Boarders may have a part time job but may only work on weekends and during daytime hours. Boarding is unable to transport boarders to employment, so guardians are required to transport them or other arrangements need to be organised.

4.17 Forms

The following forms need to be completed and returned to the Head of Boarding:

Special Permission Form

Boarding Medical Permission Form

Vehicle Driver Permission Form​

Boarding Code of Conduct Agreement