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Home Boarding Why Choose Tudor?

Why choose Tudor for boarding

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mates

 

For country boys, boarding school opens up opportunities that far locations cannot ever hope to provide. Our boys have access to friends, farm and quality learning.

For city boys, boarding school offers care and openness. As so many boys comment, Tudor House offers freedom. With more double income families relying on after-school care facilities, or keeping boys indoors with computer nannies, boarding for primary school boys offers a modern-day relevance. We allow our boys to ride bikes, climb trees, go yabbying, watch kangaroos and scare wild bunnies. We give our boys a life on a farm only 1.5 hours south of Sydney.

Primary school boarding prepares boys for secondary boarding. Our special programme revolves around preparing boys to enter their secondary boarding school of choice with firm friendships and confidence. Day boys often take the opportunity to board for a Term in either Year 5 and/or Year 6. This helps with the development of independence, organisational skills and prepares boys for secondary schools if they are to be boarders. The transition into secondary boarding for our boys is far less stressful and much easier for parents.

For local boys, boarding school offers another opportunity for sleep-overs in a home you can trust. If there is the need to have a boy cared for over night, or for short periods of time, when parents are away or because of a sports trip or meeting, we are happy to provide that care and support as well. We provide a home-away-from-home with reliable caring staff in a familiar setting.

Last Updated ( Monday, 27 July 2009 11:23 )  

Weekend arrangements

  • On weekends, we allow our boarders to return home unless we are holding a closed weekend. Families also link up with other parents of boarders, and establish friendships and networks that sees many of our boys staying over at friends' houses.

  • For boarders who stay on campus, our weekends are supervised and relaxed. Boys have a BBQ dinner every Friday evening. On Sundays, the boys have a buffet style breakfast and are free to rise as and when they like. This relaxed atmosphere mirrors home-life.

  • The boys are free to ride their bikes around our 160 acres. They can swim in our 25m pool, or make full use of our gymnasium and cricket nets.

  • Crazes and fads are encouraged - such as marbles, skateboarding, diablo spinning, yo yos and other boyhood interests.

  • The school encourages exploration and camping. After first term and a programme developing bush skills and safety, the Year 6 boys are allowed to book out a camp site on the property. Boys then gather up their swags, collect food from the kitchen and camp out. There is a Kahiba Badge awarded to boys who camp out for a specific number of evenings each year. Parents are asked NOT TO SUPPORT their boys in driving back swags and camping equipment - we want to place the responsibility on the boys. This is a Tudor tradition that we steadfastly uphold.

  • Many of our boys like to build forts in our Wilderness Area.

  • Supervised trips are also arranged, with the boys travelling to Old Boys' properties and other locations on the Southern Highlands.

  • All boys are asked to return to Chapel for a 6:00 o'clock service.

What boarding offers...

  • Teacher to pupil ratio – 1 teacher for every 9 boys!
  • 160 acres! That's 1.07 acres for every boy – we have space! Our boys are able to ride bikes on the new BMX track, climb trees, camp out, explore and play as boys, experiencing the freedom past generations took for granted.
  • Every student has two periods of English to start the day – uninterrupted!!
  • Outdoor Education - Tudor has long held been recognised for its quality outdoor education programme called Kahiba. In 2005, Tudor House was awarded the Australian Boarding Schools Association Award for outstanding program for Boarders
  • We have a greater proportion of our time focusing on Creative Arts – we want our boys to discover.
  • Over Christmas, $4 666 was spent on every student! This money was spent on new Smartboards, new computer infrastructure, new multimedia opportunities in the Hall, new desks and chairs, new dormitory and hall, new classrooms (and arguably the best).
  • Every child from Years 3-6 studies woodwork aligned to Design Technology – a subject that is a High School focus. We want hands-on!
  • You can take full advantage of our After School Care – and assign homework battles to us!

    • Boarding routines develop independence

    Our boys sleep in dormitories that allow groups of boys to be in larger rooms. We operate a Box Room, a storage room where our House Mother groups and organises all of the boys uniform and clothes.

    Each boy has their own area in the shared dormitory where they sleep. The focus of the dormitory is really their area of rest. Outside of school hours, the boys have access to classrooms and the other facilities available at the school: such as 25m swimming pool, ping pong tables, gymnasium, cricket nets, outdoor education area, bike track, common room - where the boys can settle down for a game of pool or watch television.

    The boys do live in a structured environment - but that is how many families operate. They wake and prepare for school around 6:45am. The boys assemble for breakfast at 7:10am. Breakfast concludes at 7:30am and the boys then go back to their dorms to prepare for school. School opens at 8:15am. In the evenings, the boys are encouraged to play actively. They complete school as per the normal timetable and then play until 4:45pm. At 4:45pm they have prep (homework) supervised in the classrooms.

    We have just introduced fifteen minutes of activity after the boys conclude their supervised Prep.  This allows the boys to unwind and prepare for evening meals.

    After Prep - 6:00pm - the boys have dinner. When dinner concludes, the boys return to the boarding house for showers and preparation for bed.

    At 8:00pm the boys go to their dorms for half-an-hour of quiet reading before lights out at 8:30pm.

    If a boy is sick during the night, we have a hospital that is staffed to care for the boys.

    As a boarding school for primary aged boys, we carefully ensure we promote a structured but caring environment.