Residential life at TAS is based on the understanding that a boarding house is a home rather than just a residence, and the presence of 'motherly' care and more senior adult presence provides greater consistency of supervision.
Boarders have a vibrant and happy social life, especially on weekends, with activities driven by the interests and initiatives of students with the support of the Head of House and staff.
Residential life provides excellent academic support for boarders so that boarding becomes recognised as giving an academic advantage.
Weekend and evening tutoring, opening the library at times on weekends and access to the Literacy and Numeracy Centre after school is available for any boy or girl to take advantage of.
Boarding houses have comfortable and well-maintained facilities, with aesthetically pleasing study space for senior students and good access to other school facilities after school and on weekends.
Being a boarder allows easier access to the school’s additional academic support programs such as HSC tutoring, study weekends and study camps. This is possible in a boarding environment like ours where our Boarding Heads of House are also experienced teachers within the school.
Each boarder is well known, their academic potential understood and appropriate goals are set and achievable and communicated with parents. We have strived hard to ensure that boarding provides a level of academic advantage that is only possible from being in close contact with peers after hours, allowing a more collaborative approach to learning.
The availability of senior staff in boarding houses to assist with homework and to work with individual’s academic concerns is extended to all year levels. Each night our students are supported in guided homework sessions (called ‘prep’) in the boarding houses or classrooms. Close communication between the classroom teachers and boarding house staff ensures that our nightly supportive homework sessions are meeting the expectations of the both the teacher and the student.
We are proud of the programs that exist in our boarding houses to assist our students in maximising their potential in the classroom and to feel success in their academic life at TAS.
The boarding houses provide academic support giving our boarding students a real advantage, as well as an active and rich social and recreational life.
Girls and boys board in separate accommodation, under the care of specialist staff who understand their needs.
White House is home to all Middle School boy boarders, and Dangar House is home to our Middle School girl boarders who are under the care of a Head of House, Deputy Head of House and a Housemother, with assistance of teaching and duty staff. Boys and Girls are accommodated in dormitories of between four and eight, with communal lounge areas and a wireless internet network.
Senior boy and girl boarders – Years 9-12 – are accommodated in Abbott, Croft, Tyrrell and the Girls’ Boarding House. In Senior School, boarders have their own study and bedroom space in shared dormitories of between three or four boys or girls (Years 9-10), twin share (Year 11) and all Year 12 boarders have their own room, including study and a king single bed. All houses are staffed by a Head of House who is a member of teaching staff, a Deputy, a Housemother, and a number of residential and duty staff.
From rising time until lights out, the life of a boarder is an active and fulfilling one, with age-appropriate routines designed to help them flourish academically, physically, socially and spiritually. Parents of current boarders can find out more about what’s happening in their child’s house in the Parent Portal section of the website.
Boarders have a vibrant and happy social life, especially on weekends, with activities driven by the interests and initiatives of students with the support of the Housemaster and staff. The social and recreational program for boarders will continue to develop around the interests of the boarders themselves and with their drive and motivation.
During weekends, organised activities for Middle School boarders in particular, can range from a trip to the coast, roller skating, 10 pin bowling, or the cinema. All senior boarding houses also spend a weekend at the coast at the start of Term 1, strengthening and creating friendships with those who are returning or starting at the school.
Outside of school hours, all boarders have access to the school’s excellent facilities, including the heated indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, gym and weights room. Students can take town leave during the week when they do not have other commitments.
While there is no set number of weekend exeats per term, all boarders are expected to honour their school and sporting commitments, and some weekends are closed due to specific activities.
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