Let’s chat about something close to my heart – the beautiful friendships that find us when our kids venture into the world of boarding school. It’s a journey filled with good times and lasting connections that I have experienced firsthand.
When our children head off to boarding school, they’re not just embarking on an educational
adventure; they’re stepping into a world where mutual bonds are formed, both socially and
emotionally.
We, as parents, also share a common thread – a set of mutual values centred around our
children’s growth, happiness, and success. It’s this shared purpose that often binds us together,
often transcending the other first markers of friendship.
We cover a lot of ground here in Australia to be with our children while they’re at boarding school.
Only a generation or so past, parents might see their kids once a term (only three terms in those
days) if at all. It was a long time between visits or school holidays. Imagine that!
Whether it’s a short drive or a cross-country flight, the effort is a testament to the depth of our
commitment as parents. And amidst the hustle and bustle of these visits, we find solace in
reconnecting with other parents, forging friendships that bring laughter and truly great times.
Supporting each other as we support our children.
But it’s not just parents who understand the importance of these connections – the schools
themselves play a pivotal role in fostering enduring friendships among the parent cohort.
Through a myriad of events and functions organized throughout the year, they provide us with
opportunities to come together as a community. Whether that’s the parent-teacher gatherings to
boarding house dinners, or standing on the sidelines of school sport, these events serve as
catalysts for building and strengthening bonds that withstand the test of time.
If I take you down memory lane for a moment, 16 years ago, when my children first set foot in
boarding school, little did I know the beautiful friendships that were headed my way.
Fast forward to today, and I find myself surrounded by a circle of friends who have become like
family. We make it a point to reconnect at least once a year (and for a couple of us more regularly),
sharing life and all it’s roundabouts just as friends do.
There’s something truly special about watching our children grow up alongside their boarding
school peers. From saying “I do” to navigating career paths, we’ve been there every step of the
way.
It’s something I often talk to families about when they’re in the decision making process – to
remember that the boarding school needs to suit the whole family, not just the child.
A boarding school that truly believes in their boarders as an essential part of their cultural fabric –
not simply offering a school with boarding as an adjunct – will be a school that ensures their
‘parent cohort’ is swept up in the community as a whole.
If you’re still in the decision making process, start with our detailed SCHOOL DIRECTORY – each
boarding school featured puts their own profile together and as a result there’s a lot to be gleaned
from them. Take a look, reach out directly to the school and build your ‘shortlist’.
You can meet close to 80 of these schools this year, face to face, at one of our six in-person Expo
events. I can’t wait to hit the road, starting with Dubbo NSW and finishing in Mount
Isa, QLD this year and I look forward to meeting you – introduce yourself.
Our events are FREE to attend, always have been and always will be. Bringing boarding schools
closer to the places you call home.