The Stuartholme Boarding mission is to make every girl feel at home, loved as she is, comfortable and secure. When young women feel like this, they can do anything. They are ready to be challenged and extended to become the very best people they can be.
There are many benefits to boarding at Stuartholme. In addition to learning the independence and resilience that goes hand-in-hand with being away from home, the boarding community fosters a sense of family, belonging and inclusiveness with girls developing and building lifelong friendships. We know that when they exit the Stuartholme boarding community, each of these young women has the ability to make a profound difference to the communities they come from, to their families and to the wider world. Located at the base of Mt Coot-tha, only 6kms from Brisbane’s CBD, Stuartholme is close to everything yet provides the girls with a beautiful, peaceful and safe environment where they can live, learn and flourish.
Boarding has developed formal structures to promote student leadership. The Big Sister/Little Sister Program allows Boarders in Year 11 to care for an individual Year 7 girl as she starts her new life in the boarding community. Other new Boarders are mentored by buddies from their year level. Each floor has its own House: Amiens and Grenoble. Elected by their Boarding peers and staff, each House has a Captain and Vice-Captain, who work with the Deputy Principal Boarding to give ‘voice’ to boarders’ issues and perspectives. The Captains run weekly House meetings and special events including ‘Boarders’ Got Talent’ and the ‘Anzac Cup’ weekend. There are also elected Year 12 Student Mentors for Years 7 to 10. The mentors run activities for the younger girls, and act as role models and peer helpers. Year Level Representatives from Years 7 to 11 work also with the Boarding Leadership Team to plan year level activities, raise student issues and concerns and propose creative and positive solutions.
Accommodation And Dining
Stuartholme School is a strong advocate of good overall health and wellbeing. Boarders are provided a varied and well balanced range of food, as assessed by a Dietician. Special dietary needs can be catered for. On school days, morning tea and lunch are provided to takeaway, so that Boarders can freely interact with the Day students. Evening meals are set in a homely dining setting where girls are encouraged to develop good eating habits and table manners.
Accommodation
The Boarding House is centrally positioned over three floors in our Main Building, originally built in 1920. The House has a capacity for 160 Boarding Students and provides an individual space with bed, wardrobe and ‘study nook’ with high speed wireless broadband for each girl. Boarders are encouraged to make it ‘their own’, by decorating their living space with items that mean something to them. The bathrooms have been refurbished with many mirrors and ‘Hollywood lights’ for those special occasions ie. semi-formals, formals and supervised dances. There is a common room known as ‘The Nest’ which includes kitchenette facilities and couches, and also a TV room with comfortable leather lounges for relaxation. The Senior girls have their own Common Room with cooking facilities, lounges and relaxation spaces. The girls also have access to other School facilities including the library, art department, tennis courts, music practice rooms and the pool.
Our Boarding House has a Wellbeing Program to address the specific needs of boarders. Based on best practice psychology, the program is age specific and sits alongside the day school program. The strengths-based approach of the program focuses on increasing girls’ self-esteem, confidence and resilience. Boarding staff work closely with the Health Centre and School counselling teams along with the Deputy Principal – Student Wellbeing and Leaders of Student Wellbeing to ensure that each girl has a network of support if and when she needs it. Every boarder is inspired to achieve her personal best, and academic and/or vocational excellence. To do this, she is supported by a contemporary academic care program which includes the provision of academic tutors specifically for boarders. Each Stuartholme student is an individual with her own needs and story. Our dedicated Boarding staff strive to make each girl feel safe, comfortable and happy. An integral part of the School ethos is to ensure each student adopts a healthy balance in her daily life. All girls are encouraged to develop early independence in their study habits, to enjoy and contribute to their community and to participate in the many programs on offer. This is supported by the pastoral care structure of The House. Professional and caring guidance from the School Counsellors and Careers Advisor is also available to Boarders.
Health Centre
The well-appointed Sharon Beirne Health and Wellness Centre is staffed by a Nurse Manager and her team of registered nurses who support and work in close co-operation with the Boarding House staff. The Health Centre offers onsite GP, Physiotherapy and Podiatry services.
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