Final Weeks In Boarding 2019

Raging Waters

It was another fabulous Sunday afternoon at the end of Week 5 as nearly 20 boarders headed out on a Sunday afternoon to Raging Waters (formerly Wet ‘n’ Wild) for a brilliant afternoon of fun. It has continued a great year of community-driven boarding experiences that make Shore such a special place in which to live.

Inter-House Basketball

On the last Wednesday night before Camp Week, and after a beautifully-cooked BBQ on Graythwaite Lawn, the four boarding houses squared off for the final inter-house competition night of the year. The cauldron was the Bishopsgate Courts, and each House was raring to take the last trophy on offer and bragging rights along with it. In a thrilling contest, congratulations go to Hodges House who emerged victors. Well done everyone – it was a great way to see off 2019.

Farewell and Thank You 2019

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for being such a special and supportive boarding community, boys, families and staff alike. It has been a wonderful year, and I am so deeply appreciative for everything you have done to help me in my first year as Senior Boarding Housemaster. Numbers are up in 2020, and as each day passes, I see more and more why Shore is so unique; I am thrilled to watch as it continues to grow stronger.

Have a wonderful Christmas – you deserve it. May God bless you over the break, and we look forward to seeing you all again in the new year.

Brendan Morris
Senior Boarding Housemaster

Open Parent Rep Meeting Minutes

By clicking here you will find the minutes to the Open Boarder Parent meeting held on Friday 8 November 2019.

Farewell Mr Davis

Mr Davis has been with us in Hodges House for just over four years now, and his impact on the house will never be forgotten. He has always been a place of comfort for all the boys that have been and gone through the house, as an assitant housemaster, tutor and a friend. We will never forget the Friday night feasts that he provided for us, the superiority of his Fifa skills, and his amazing and endless chats about literally anything. The boys will never forget Mr Davis, and even if he says it, it will be so difficult replace him.

From a personal experience, Mr Davis was my assistant housemaster, tutor and basketball coach. His way of being able to comfort the boys if things are not going well in the house is a testimony to his amazing character and, sometimes, youthful personality. He always put the house first and wanted the boys to feel at home. When I first walked into Hodges, he welcomed me and the other year 8 boys with open arms, beginning of an amazing friendship. His organisation in tutor group made it a time where we could clear our heads after the first two, sometimes challenging, lessons and relax and enjoy ourselves. Whether it was card games, diary cricket, somewhat educational videos, or a barbeque in the house, we always enjoyed ourselves, and Mr Davis made it so.

The house will greatly miss Mr Davis. He was a pivotal part of the house and we only wish him well in his future endeavors. Thank you sir, and good luck. 

By James Wallace (11HS)

Farewell Ms Wickenden

Thank you and Farewell from Ms Wickenden

I have loved being part of Barry House over the last two years as an Assistant Housemaster and it has been a pleasure getting to know the boys and their families over this time.  After 7 years at Shore, I leave with treasured memories of my time in the boarding community.  From the events like the Barry House Concert, the Year 12 Farewell Night and Golden Boots to some of the Barry House weekend activities, there was always something exciting to look forward to and days on duty were punctuated by the quick wit and laughter with the Barry boys.  I will not forget the rugby nights (who can forget the State of Origin excitement?) and cooking adventures where we tried our hand at a few sweet treats alongside lots of homemade staples like pumpkin soup and spaghetti bolognaise.  The boys certainly did not appreciate how many vegetables I tried to sneak into those dishes but they could never taste them once cooked! J

Above all, it was the quieter interactions sitting in the House foyer, chatting as the boys return from sport, music or their school day that provided the most enjoyment.  The Barry boys share stories about their families, their homes and are often sitting with different year groups squished together on the foyer couches as they dissect the school week and discuss their plans for the weekend.  Invariably the boys would always throw a question my way, “And how was your day, Ma’am?” asked with genuine interest, and this speaks volumes to the character and tone of the House.  The Barry boys have been a considerate, articulate group of young men to work with and I wish Barry House, and the boarding community more broadly, all the very best for 2020 and beyond. 

I do hope to cross paths with many families on the sporting sidelines in the future.  Whilst I might be wearing new colours, I will always be looking out for the Shore boarders on the field!  

Merry Christmas.

Ed. We will miss you greatly, Ms Wickenden. You have been such a huge part of our lives over the last 2 years that it will be very hard to imagine life in the House without you. Along with Mr Jenkins, Barry House has lost two wonderful mentors this year, onto greener pastures. Thank you for everything!

Year 7 2019 Farewell Reflection

Journey

As I was reflecting on the journey we have been on this year, I thought of three themes which emerged throughout our time together – transition, building bonds and friendships and learning to flourish at Shore.

Transition

Being away from home can challenge the most resilient young person. For many of the boys it was quite daunting going from a small class of 5 or 6 out in the bush where everyone knew your name to a class of 20+ where initially you don’t know everyone but maybe a familiar face you would have seen the day before in School House. Getting use to the routines, duties in the house, ringing the bell or simply where to be at any particular point in time can be overwhelming. After a sensational camp down by the river in Port Hacking, the illusion that Senior School is all about sailing, beach cricket and water slides, has well and truly been shattered. I won’t forget in the first week having a conversation with one of the boys and asking him about how his first week was going and getting a response of “there are so many opportunities. I have a chance to hang out with my friends or just go out to Greenwood, although the homework can be lessened, all the teachers have been friendly so far.”

Building bonds and friendships

A real strength of this group of young men is that they have really embraced each other’s strengths and differences. During our Friends for Life program in Term 2, we openly discussed some of the ways in which we manage the busyness of schoolwork, study, sport and boarding life and also shared some strategies we can use when things are not going so great. I was encouraged by their willingness to learn from each other and although they might not have known it at the time, firm friendships were being forged which will last a life time. We went to Luna Park, saw the seals at Taronga Zoo, destroyed each other at Laser Tag, Sky Zone and Touch Footy, and explored our surroundings at the Coal Loader, swims at North Sydney Pool, lots of Gelato under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. More swims at Balmoral and Freshwater Beaches, showed the girls of PLC, Abbotsleigh and Ravenswood a few moves on the dance floor. The list goes on!

Learning to flourish at Shore

One of the key aims of the boarding staff is to help the boys get organised for success, whether that be through using your diary properly, how to organise your locker and room to avoid misplacing books (a never ending battle for some) or just aiming for consistent effort through application in and out of the classroom. The boys have made great strides in that endeavour, evidence by a majority of positive comments and effort grades in their reports.

Thank you to all who have contributed to a wonderful year.  All the best for Year 8!

Mr Pienaar

Hodges Christmas Party

Twas the night …that Hodges parents got a glimpse into Hodges Life.

A new tradition was born in Hodges house last Wednesday evening as parents and boys celebrated Christmas Dinner family style in the house. A fabulous evening was organised by mums Sameh Kalantar and Peta Nicholl, along with many helping hands coming together to create a fabulous festive atmosphere.  Christmas was in the air with boys, parents and staff enjoying delicious food, Christmas crackers (Inc. bad jokes) gorgeous table and room decorations, and a variety of Christmas fayre.

As a parent it was wonderful to have a firsthand view of the boys interaction together in the house, to share in their friendships and their relationships with the house staff. (How the staff manage 40 boys on a day to day basis is a wonder, but how they manage 40 boys with a boys “dream buffet” was a miracle!) The boys Kris Kringle gave us a lot of laughs, with some amusing gifts, giving us a glimpse in to what is often the hidden life of our boys!

It was a pleasure to participate in Hodge life, and to witness the family they have built away from our own, and a lovely way to welcome in the Christmas season.  Thank you for bringing us together.

By Tamsin White (Oli White 11HS)

KRB Social

Thank you Kincoppal, Rose Bay Year 7 & 8 boarders who joined us with Robson and School for a fantastic BBQ and games. Thanks also to our seniors who, with the KRB leaders did a great job organising the afternoon. We will be heading over to KRB for a return social on November 28 with our Year 10 and 11s.

Barry, Robson and Hodges Open Their Doors To School House

As most would be aware, School House is enjoying a shot of Botox.  As we speak the roof is being replaced and the entire insides gutted.  As a result the boys of SL have been dispersed amongst Barry, Robson and Hodges.

With displacement comes opportunity. Mr Junee has instructed all boys to be on the lookout for any process or procedures that we should trial in School House next year.  One that immediately jumps to mind is Mr Fitch’s Christmas Party which was a great success.  As a small token of our appreciation for the care that Hodges has shown, we presented them with two small Ginger Bread Houses…..they didn’t last long…… J

Fin Hancock

Reflecting On My Time In Boarding

I have been an assistant housemaster in Hodges House since Term 4 of 2015.  In two weeks, I won’t be any more.  This is a very strange sensation.  Over the last 5 years, I have seen enough Hodges Boys become Hodges Men to know that students who leave the house never really leave the house.  The memories, the lessons, and above all the relationships which they have developed stay with them forever and make them part of an elite and exclusive club which they can’t get out of, no matter how much some of them might want to.  I hope that the same is true for assistant housemasters.

However, I fear that the great and terrible truth about schools like Shore and houses like Hodges is that everyone is replaceable – Hodges has survived the departure of a legion of enthusiastic, genuine, passionate young men while I’ll been living in it and I am sure that it will proceed past my departure without so much as a wobble.  However, given that I have been given a soapbox to rave from for a few paragraphs, I offer three pieces of advice to those left in Hodges.

Firstly, be positive about everything life throws at you.  Whether it’s a morning roll-call, 2 hours of prep or an admittedly somewhat crazy lip-sync battle, you will find ways to enjoy the experience if you approach it with positivity and the goal of making it worthwhile.  The inverse is also true – if you go into something expecting it to suck, you’re almost certainly right.  Whatever else you do with your life, do your best to choose to be happy.

Secondly, take responsibility for whatever communities you choose to be a part of.  Be a leader who stands up for others and who does unpleasant jobs which no one else wants to do.  The World needs more role models and everyone values that kind of person.  Besides, if you approach unpleasant jobs with positivity, they may not turn out to be that unpleasant (see point 1) – one of my favourite memories of Hodges House is deep cleaning the kitchen with Lachy and Angus on a Friday night while blasting Cher and trying to work out what some of the things in the fridge once were.

Finally, take the time to thank people who matter to you (and not just a ‘thank you sir’ on the way out of a classroom – put some thought into it).  On that note, thank you to my housemasters (Mr Morris, Mr Dobes and Mr Fitch), my colleagues in Shore Boarding other than Mr Separovich, and above all to the many boys in Hodges House with whom I have had the privilege of sharing a chat, a meal or a joke with over the last 5 years.  They’ve been great and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

By Mr Davis

Tacos and Cooking Practice for Home

Taco night in Barry House was a hit recently, with dessert smores to finish, served up by Ava Morris and KRB boarding friend, Sarah (from Warren) to finish.

We try to give the boys (those in on weekends get most opportunities) 3-4 recipes to take home for the holidays, to cook for Mum and Dad over the break. Simple but tasty is the key, and the secret is that it should be easy to buy the ingredients at the local shops.

Experiences With The New Boys 2020

My experiences of the new boys coming to the school were great and really exciting for me and even some of my friends being in Robson House.  The new boys in my opinion enjoyed being here and had lots of fun, being kept busy with a lot of activities and talks about boarding.  The new yr 7 boys into Shore for 2020 kept me busy that weekend with asking loads of questions about what it is like to board here at shore.  I also got to play touch with them which I believe we all enjoyed.  The new boys got to stay the night in the Robson and Barry boarding houses which they enjoyed a lot with most of them sleeping in a boarding house for the first time.  Overall my experiences I have had with the new yr 7 boys coming to shore and staying a night in the boarding houses have been really exciting and I have really enjoyed it all.

From Wylie Hockey

Year 7 Boaders Thank You Gathering

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. This speech is a vote of thanks towards the staff.  The tutors helped us and educated us; they were there when we needed to talk to them about issues that we had. They also organized all the fun stuff we did in tutor group like kick tennis, or touch footy, or handball etc.  They also made sure that everyone was included and had fun.  They were a great part of our Year 7 experience and those who are leaving School House will never forget you.

The Dining Hall staff made us food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and they tried their best to make it taste as good as it can.  Even though dinner on the weekends are not the best, they still tried to keep it up to standard.  The cleaning staff made sure that the areas we used every day were clean and the bins were taken out and lined.  They also washed our dirty clothes and made sure they came back nice and clean.  These staff were a part of our experience and we won’t forget.

To Sisters.  They helped us when we were sick, or just when we needed Panadol or Strepsils.  They helped us get our flu vaccination so we would have less chance of getting sick.  They also helped all the boys that got sick towards the end of Term 3 and made sure that they got better.  They helped us when we needed to be treated and we are truly grateful for that.

To Ms. Fryda.  She helped us through the first term of the year and tried to make our transition to Shore as smooth as possible.  She also made the ‘Friends for Life’ program to help us grow closer together as friends.  She was a caring person and she made us heir priority during the first term and during the ‘Friends for Life’.  Although I or the other boys probably don’t see her as much now, she was an important part of the first term and we thank her for her effort.

To the Housemasters.  They helped us and made sure that we got our duties done.  They were the ones that reminded us about events happening and stuff to do.  When we were being silly, it was them that made sure that we got on track and stayed responsible.  They also did some fun stuff as well, like opening the gym on a Friday night to play some basketball, or when we made burritos with Ms. Pickering.  They played a major role this year and we thank you for that.

To Mr. Pienaar.  You were one of the biggest parts of Year 7.  Whenever we were feeling down, or need help studying for exams, you were there.  You also gave us advice that helped us, and made sure that we were on track.  All the fun activities that we went would never have been possible if it wasn’t for you, and would like to thank you for all things that you have done for us.

And to Mr. Junee.  You have cared for us and done things for us.  Without your funding, we wouldn’t have gone on these amazing activities that we have done.  We also would not have gotten those pizzas at State of Origin or those berries to make our own smoothies.  You also helped us with and problems we needed.  Sure, Thursday night role calls with Mr. Junee were long, but they were helpful, and meant he really cared about what he was talking about.  He made sure that everyone in the house was cared for and that nobody was being bullied or being made fun of.  For me, he was probably the most important part of Year 7 and I will never forget about it, and I’m sure that those who won’t be in School House next year will forget about you too. 

Thank you.

LipSync Battle

On the night of Friday the 15^th of November, Hodges House hosted the Ravenswood boarding community for a LipSync battle in the Smith Auditorium. The night kicked off at 6:30pm with a BBQ in the Hall Quadrangle that was enjoyed by all. During this time, the two communities began to mingle, and get to know one another, through beginning the planning of acts for the night. At around 7:00pm everyone moved into the Smith Auditorium, and the LipSync Battle commenced, a mention goes to the dedicated stage crew who stayed for the night to coordinate the audio and lights for the event. Future Hodges members Beau Shoemark and Aaron Chen opened the night with a strong performance of “Old Town Road”. Other notable routines include; Rishad Cook-Sabatino “Shallow”, Jamie Clark “A Thousand Miles”, and Ryan Wong “All I Want for Christmas Is You”. Gus Allen-Burton added to the entertainment with his crowd pleaser, “Hot N Cold” by Katy Perry the crowd favourite was a powerful performance by Mr. G. Davis’ of “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith. In addition the surprisingly strong dance moves from Mr. R. Fitch did not go unnoticed. There were a great deal more performances, and the night proved to be a great success. Images and videos of the night are available on the Hodges House Instagram page, @Hodgesboarding. #Hodgelyfe

By Tom Scott (11HS)

My Boarding Experiences – Angus Reardon

Good evening boys, I’m Angus Reardon and I am in year 7 at SHORE this year. I just want to talk to you tonight about my experiences throughout my first year here. I came into this school and boarding, pretty nervous to face the challenges, like a change of daily routine and the fact that you will be away from your parents for long periods of time. Some of you boys may get pretty homesick and that is completely normal. I got homesick throughout my first term and it is hard but you will eventually get over it.

If you do get homesick when you ring your parents, make sure you tell them all the good things as well, because they will be more devastated than you if they think you are not enjoying yourself.

SHORE boarding provides plenty of fun and enjoyment. Mr. Pienaar put in a lot of effort this year to get activities organized and takes great responsibility in our welfare and health to make sure we enjoy our first year.

Boarding here at SHORE is probably one of the best experiences you will have. It is a great privilege to be able to just play touch footy on the oval or whack a ball around at the cricket nets. You will get heaps of mates within the boarding community and have a chance to meet loads of friendly new people.

Probably one of my favorite things to do this year was to be able to go down the street with mates or onto the oval to play footy. There are many opportunities at SHORE, including sport, music and drama. If any of you are interested, you should just get into it and enjoy it.

You will get stressed sometimes with homework and exams or you might have a few problems. Just talk to Mr. Junee or Mr. Pienaar or get help with the excellent tutors offered at this school. Overall I really enjoyed my first year here at SHORE and the experiences I had have been great. I’m sure you’ll love it.

Steve Smith Visits

Australian Cricket legend Steve Smith visited Shore recently to discuss youth mental health with Gus Worland. It was a great initiative to support a very important global concern. Sam Hill (3rd from left) was able to give Steve Smith some tips during the break. He was joined by Will Kowalski (HS), Sam Andrew (SL), Jack Horwood, Wylie Hockie and Jye Peters (all SL)

Oprah Update

Oprah joined Hodges earlier this year as part of the “puppy raising” programme.  She has been a joy to have around the house and will be missed when she leaves us mid next year. She continues to attend her weekly training sessions and enjoys catching up with the other puppies in the programme, as seen in the picture above.  Oprah is second from left and her sister, Orion, is directly to her left.

One the highlights of Oprah’s week is the clean up after the Sunday morning BBQ.  Firstly, she meanders around the boys looking for any small morsels of bacon that may have fallen from their egg and bacon rolls.  Then she moves over the BBQ, where she licks the grease from the underside of the BBQ with tail trashing from side to side.

Oprah loves her best friend Nero.  They have become inseparable buddies and spend time chasing, play fighting and generally causing mischief.  They will certainly miss each other when she is gone.  Actually, I think we all will.

Shore Arts Week

As part of Shore Arts Week, several music groups and individuals performed for an array of enthusiastic audiences, from parents to staff and boys. These performances were held in various locations throughout the school, from outdoor venues at dusk to the MAC Centre in the Prep. Barry House’s Adam Daley, Adrian Lai and Jack Davis were superb in their music group, having spent several weeks rehearsing in the House or and the Music Rehearsal Room.

Report by Adrian Lai

As the bass player of the band, it’s been an enjoyable experience playing with Hunter Black (School House, singer/keyboard), Jack Davis (guitar) and Adam Daley (drums). Having formed a band to compete in Battle of the Bands earlier this year, we decided to play in Performing Arts Week to gain more experience. With a relatively short time to prepare, we spent night after night practising in the school music studios (until we were kicked out by the security guard), and managed to pull off two performances in the end, playing Heart-Shaped Box by Nirvana, Tribute by Tenacious D and The Less I Know The Better by Tame Impala. This was made possible with the dedication of Hunter, Jack and Adam, and I look forward to our future performances together.

Wednesday Chapel

In Wednesday Chapel service, Reverend Dudley spoke about a helicopter flying over the school on Sunday evening beginning at about 9.00pm.

We all had the new boys staying over on this evening so you can imagine what this would be like for a sleep over in Sydney.  Naturally Mr Walker went for a walk outside the House and sure enough, there it was high up in the sky.  Police cars were located outside Blue Street front gate and of course Mr Walker had to investigate.  Talking to the police about what was inside the gates (boarding school), was rather difficult and then the sniffer dogs began barking/attacking and entered the school.  Mr Walker walked the police dog to the oval, across the tennis court and the investigation was complete. 

What a great way to begin a boarding experience at Shore for next year, 2020!

Collaborative Learning (and Cramming)

One of the great advantages of vertical boarding is the opportunity to seek on-tap advice from a mate or work collaboratively in preparation for assessments and exams.  Pictured here are the Barry House Year 11s getting ready (read cramming) for the first Geography HSC assessment in Week 6.

Henry Douglas-Menzies

Congratulations to Henry Douglas-Menzies on his recent success at Armidale Horse and Pony Club at their annual interclub gymkhana.  Henry achieved the first place for the under 15 and 17 age groups.  Well done.

Noises Off

The 2019 senior play ‘Noises Off’ has just concluded, a high comedy, farce production about a play that goes disastrously wrong. The play was directed by Ms Bell with a 12-person cast, with some great boarder participation. Tom Merriman, Billy Moore, Julius Andres and Michael Mingay from the boarding community were in the play, with Julius and Michael from Robson. The show had great performances from all cast members and raving reviews from all who watched mentioning in particular how chaotic and hilarious it was. Thanks to everyone who came to watch, and all involved. 

Michael Mingay

New Boarders’ Sleepover

A huge date on the boarding calendar is the new boarders’ sleepover.  New boys coming into boarding in Years 7-12 get the chance to enjoy a boarding experience overnight, while boarding families can meet their city-host families over dinner in the boarding dining room.  Beds are made, bags unpacked, rules are covered and then it’s time for some pool and Ping-Pong before lights out.  This year we had nearly 50 new boys attend, while the dining hall was crammed with 200 people for dinner.  Overall, it was a huge success and we look forward to welcoming everyone again on January 28.

Shore Design Thinking Week

Adrian Lai and I attended the Shore Design Thinking Week, in Darling Harbour during Week 6 this term. It was a week involving the process of learning about and participating in design thinking exercises to come up with a solution, strategy, or product to assist survivors of domestic violence.

In partnership with Mary’s House, a North Shore women’s refuge, we as a cohort of around 45 Year 10 boys, went through a process of learning how to think in a human-centred design mentality, with talks about domestic violence from key stakeholders such as Mary’s House volunteers and police officers, involving thinking exercises in between. This process took place over the first two days at the Commonwealth Bank Innovation Lab in Darling Harbour.

For Wednesday and Thursday, we were at school, prototyping and trying to actualise our solution. Finally, on the Friday, we returned to Darling Harbour to try sell our solution as a group to a panel of four sharks, in a ‘Shark Tank’-like pitch. Overall, the week was incredibly productive and introduced us real-world employment skill of design thinking, and provided us with a chance to make an impact and help reduce the too-large impact of domestic violence in Australia.

Adrian Lai and Jack Davis

Year 7 2019 Farewell

It is crucial that Year 7 boarders can feel that they have joined a community that is fun, safe and one that gives them every opportunity to thrive. There is no doubt that this Year 7 has been one of the most settled ever to start in boarding at Shore.  We offer our thanks to Mr Pienaar, Mr Junee and the special School House staff for creating such a beautiful environment for our young boarders. Recently, out Year 7 boarders bade goodbye to their city-host families and School House staff. It was a lovely function with lots of laughs, tears and reminiscing.

Moving to Robson House

My name is Jake Hebblewhite, and I’m a year 7 boarder. Boarding for me was the next part of my school life, the first year I was in School House and about 6 weeks into Term 4, the House needed a renovation.  Now under construction School House needed me to find a new home, so I packed my stuff and walked 50 steps to Robson House.  Robson House is amazing, mainly that all the year 7s in the house, got year 11 rooms but also so are the staff and Housemasters.  I moved into my room with my new room-mate, Beau.  After the 3 days of unpacking, I started to get used to the House and what I need to do.  A few weeks into Term 4, the new boarders had their sleep over just last week.  While they were here we welcomed them with opened arms and played them in a game of dodge ball.   After dodge ball we showed them their rooms and had roll-call.   After roll-call we had free time from 7-8, during this time we played touch rugby on the oval, then at 8 o’clock we put our phones in the phone box and had showers, getting ready for bed at 9.00pm.  It was certainly a lovely weekend. All the boys have thoroughly enjoyed being in Robson House and now cannot wait until we move back to School House in 2020.

Helping our Shore Farming Families

Barry House rose early on Friday in Week 6 to cook breakfast and add to our current drive to raise money for our Shore farming families. Our aim is to provide the opportunity for cheaper accommodation in Sydney for our rural families when they come to visit their sons. Final confirmations are to come in, but our hope is that we can secure some subsidised local hotel accommodation support. So far we have raised over $1000.