Welcome to Boarding 2020

We welcome you all back to another exciting year, and hope that you and your sons enjoy all that the year ahead has to offer. 2020 will see many wonderful changes take place, with a refreshing outlook and perspective on several fronts.  Shore has warmly welcomed our new Headmaster, Dr Petterson and his family this year, and already we have seen a strong interest and investment in the boarding programme.  The RAI Grant Sports Centre will open soon, and this will offer the boarders an opportunity to enjoy one of the great facilities in the country, on its doorstep.

Our HSC results were outstanding, with 49% of the 2019 boarders achieving an ATAR of 90+.  This is a reflection of the culture and work ethic of our boys, while the resources on offer such as boarder academic tutoring continue to underpin these tremendous results.  We would still encourage our boys across every Year group to utilise the tutoring; to be proactive in seeking help to stay ahead of the game.

We also welcome Mr McGee (Robson), Mr Henniker (Hodges) and Ms Dowdell (Barry) as new Assistant Housemasters this year.  They have settled in already, and the boys have been fantastic in helping this transition be as smooth as possible.  Our numbers are up from 2019, with some boarders still to start later in the year.  Our Year 7 intake is at maximum levels in 2020, and they have made a great start.  We thank especially Mr Pienaar and Mrs Murray for the considerable time they have invested in our Year 7 Boarder Transition programme.  They have equipped them to take on the many challenges that boarding presents, while also looking after them on trips to Manly and Balmoral Beaches, Sydney Harbour cruises, local walking tours, as well as providing academic and organisational support.

I would like to remind parents that boarders should not have cars on or near the School.  This is specified in the Boarding Handbook and is in place for their protection and for those who are tempted to travel with them.  I also encourage parents to actively check on their son’s leave requests to ensure that they are heading to safe places with adequate supervision.  Ringing hosts and double-checking intended destinations are always methods we here at Shore encourage before signing off.

The Shore Boarding Staff wish everyone a fabulous year ahead.  We look forward to catching up soon, either at the cocktail party on March 20 or some other time in the near future.

Best wishes,
Brendan

Photos are of Thursday Night BBQ

Headmaster Commissioning and Installation Service

On Friday 31 January, the Commissioning and Installation Service of Shore’s new Headmaster, Dr Timothy Alan Petterson took place in Shore Chapel.

The eighth Headmaster of Shore was welcomed by Archbishop Glenn Davies, with Council members, other Heads of schools, previous Headmasters, family members, staff and Year 12 boys in attendance to mark the event.

Other students across the school were able to witness the Service via a live stream to various locations throughout the North Sydney campus, including the War Memorial Hall, Playfair Hall and Preparatory School MAC.

The ceremony was followed by a morning tea on the Chapel lawn.

Boarding Sub-Prefects for 2020

Congratulations to Ben Broadley (Robson), Jooya Kalantar (Hodges) and Charlie Murray (Barry) on their selection as Sub-Prefects. Very well-deserved for three outstanding young men.

School House Enjoys A Transformation

The renovation of School House was one of the many building projects scheduled for the Shore Facilities Team over the Christmas break. The last of the four houses to benefit from a renovation, stage 4 of the refurbishment programme has seen the oldest of the boarding houses receive; a new Welsh slate roof; interior and exterior painting; relocation of the recreation room with inclusion of three split system air conditioning units; a new kitchen; bathrooms and dormitory refurbishments to bring School House in line with the other three houses.

Commenting on the project Shore Facilities Manager, Mr Tim Oyston shared, “to deliver this renovation over the Christmas break, 24 trades were utilised with 15,083 man hours worked over the course of the project. During the 2020/2021 break we hope to complete this project (subject to DA approval) with additional ground floor improvements to the kitchen area, a new laundry and the opening up of the recreation room to a newly refurbished private external courtyard.”

Darren Junee said: “The house is cleaner and fresher and the boys seemed very impressed when they arrived back, ‘wow – it’s unbelievable’ was the main comment I heard. We are looking forward to the final improvements at the end of the year which will improve the flow of School House.”

New Staff Join Boarding

Robson House

Mr Marshall McGee joins the team looking after the boys in Robson House this year together with Mr Sam Walker and Mr Adam Stocks. Many of the boys already knew Marshall from his role as a strength and conditioning coach for Shore over the past 3 years, so were happy to see him become a member of the Robson House team.

An approach to strength and conditioning he adopts that will be part of his approach to boarding, is to work in groups with the boys and focus on involvement to ensure no one is left out.

Sharing his experience of boarding, Marshall said: “I’ve really enjoyed the boarding experience so far, the boys have made me feel very welcome and I’ve met a lot of parents. It’s a family driven environment and being the eldest of five boys growing up, reminds me of my own family experience so feels very familiar.”

Marshall is also currently studying for a Masters in Strength and Conditioning from Edith Cowan University, training for the Canberra Marathon in April, and enjoys playing guitar.

Hodges House

Joining Shore in 2019 as a history teacher and the Commanding Officer of the Shore Cadet Unit, Mr Phil Henniker has also become Assistant Housemaster in Hodges House this year.

Enjoying the experience of boarding he shared, “the boys have been very welcoming and are always keen to have chat and some fun. There is a strong community spirit and it was great to meet so many of the parents at Hodges’ Christmas dinner last year“.

With many years of experience as a Year Master and as the Cadet Unit’s Commanding Officer at Knox, Phil is focussed on providing greater opportunities for peer led pastoral care for the boys involved in Cadets, and extending this focus on pastoral care for the boys in Hodges House.

Barry House

Barry House had some tough shoes to fill with the farewell of Ms Jess Wickenden last year, but have been fortunate to replace her with Ms Zoe Dowdell, who is in her third year of teaching at Shore.

Zoe teaches commerce to Year 9 and 10 students, and business studies to Year 11 and 12 boys and shared, “knowing around half the boys in Barry House already from teaching them previously has made the transition into boarding very easy. Being an only child it’s a vibrant and fun House to be in, and I think it is important for the boys to have female role models to relate to”.

Water polo is a keen passion for Zoe, who coaches at Shore and also referees at State and National level.

Raising of the Flag Ceremony

In a special ceremony in School Assembly during Week 3, The Headmaster officially unveiled the new flag poles recently erected in Benefactors’ Quad.  Jonah Edlington (Robson), Jye Peters (School) and Rishad Cook-Sabatino (Hodges) raised the three flags together for the first time; Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.  It was wonderful to see the whole school body, staff and boys, acknowledge this significant occasion. 

Dessert with Kim!!

Last Wednesday night the Year 12’s enjoyed dessert with Kim, their second in two nights!  With a few boys absent, it left only 6 of us to dig into the orange and poppy seed cake.

Kim hosts these evenings with the senior boys every term, which is something we’d all been looking forward to.  Talking all things Robson House, the boys found it to be fundamental to setup the house for the year ahead.  Discussing the activities for this year, ensuring everyone is enjoying and will continue enjoying their time as a boarder in Robson House.

I’d like to thank Kim for her second to none chef skills and her hospitality.  We’re all looking forward to the next one!

Ben Broadley
House Captain

SPEC Update

Following is the latest progress update on the RAI Grant Centre/SPEC Development.

Current Status
Finishes and fit-off and commissioning works are being conducted across the site.
Final works landscaping, pedestrian pathways, roads and paving works are being carried out externally across the site.​​​​​​

Next Steps
• Commissioning Works.
• Cleaning and preparation for handover.
• Demobilisation of the site and refurbishment of site amenities.
• Public domain works, street lighting and road restoration works to be completed by an external contractor / council.
• Shore will officially open the Shore Physical Education Centre as the R A I Grant Centre in May 2020.

School House Morning Walk-Run

Wednesday 12 February 2020 marked the return of the All-inclusive Boarders Morning Run/Walk with representation from all houses.  It was a terrific turn out with 24 boys and 2 young at heart adults resisting the temptation to throw the alarm across the room thus not allowing that little voice inside your head to come up with some lame excuse as to why not to go.  It was this same voice who reappeared at about the halfway point of the run questioning the will to continue.

We paused quickly at Bishopsgate for a happy snap before the fun began.  Jo and some of the boys were not overly impressed with the idea of a photo so early in the morning as the early start limited the time to apply the product.

I gave clear instructions on taking care crossing roads, mindful of pedestrians etc. and off we went.  Jo and I positioned ourselves at the back of the pack purely because of our Duty of Care.  There is a rumour going around that it was because we were slow which is totally unfounded, it’s disappointing to see that the ‘Tall Poppy’ syndrome has penetrated so early into our youth.

It really is a great part of the day and a great part of Sydney.  The only issue was we left at 6:30am and the Café at Balls Head, ‘The Coal Loader’, didn’t open until 7:30am….. Note to self, talk to owner about opening times.

It was clear that the boys enjoyed this experience.  There was a diverse range of ability but that is not an issue, it’s about having a dig!  We had Year 7 all the way up to Year 12 from all houses….. It’s so great to see.

As we made our way up the final hill approaching Bishopsgate, Ashton Gresham (Year 11) jogged back towards Jo and me to see if we were OK.  In my mind I was bounding like a gazelle across the Veldts but maybe I was delusional.  This was verified when I looked across the road and a lady jogging with a pram was pulling away…… not to be deterred, we will do it again every Monday, Wednesday and Friday…. J

Tribal Warrior Visit

Tribal Warrior – This mentoring program is a grass roots community, holistic exercise, assistance and referral program designed to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth of all ages.

The concept is simple in design.  It’s all about forming good habits, guiding by example, acknowledging our achievements and including everyone.

The boys enjoyed a great session run by Jacob and Josh from Tribal Warrior.

This was the first opportunity that all of the boys were able to meet and greet each other through all the Year groups, both day and boarding.  We are hopeful of organising more events like this in and out of school.

Cay Camden
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Is School Counsellor Shore

A Tribute to Hodges HSC Scholars

On Friday 14^th February, the HSC scholars of 2019 returned to Shore for the annual Tribute Assembly to celebrate their outstanding achievements.  This also provided a great opportunity to catch up with a number of the young men from Hodges House. Pictured below from left to right Mr Fitch, Angus Colman, Oscar Simons, Jeremy Elliott, Lachlan Caldwell, Broc Allen, Ben Henchman, Will Basil-Jones and Michael Wong.

Boarding Excursions Timetable Term One

February 2: Manly Beach

February 23: Luna Park February

March 1: Strike Bowling / Laser Tag

March 8: Watson’s Bay

March 15: Raging Waters

April 5: Skyzone

Manly Beach Excursion

Aside from all of the wonderful activities undertaken by our Year 7 boarders, many of the whole boarding cohort enjoyed a trip out to Manly Beach for a very enjoyable excursion.  Well over 30 boarders caught the ferry there and back, spending several hours in the water and on the sand, a great way to see in the first weekend of the year.

Farewell Ludmilla

After 16 years lovingly caring for the boys in Barry House, our beloved Housekeeper, Ludmilla bade farewell earlier this term.  The boys presented her with a gift of appreciation and gave her a resounding three cheers for all she has done for them, while many past boys and parents sent in their best wishes and thanks as well.  Thank you for 16 years of dedicated and loving service.  We wish you all the best for the future.  You will be sorely missed, Ludmilla. 

Robson Year 12 Supper With Dr Petterson

On Tuesday night the Robson House Year 12 boys were invited to Dr Petterson’s house for supper.  Dr Petterson and Professor Petterson served a beautiful sticky date pudding with a side of ice cream.  The Headmaster and his wife were extremely welcoming for us into their home.  Everyone took a seat in the lounge room to discuss matters around boarding, School, Year 12 and life in general.

The conversation began with a discussion on our time boarding at Shore.  The boys discussed the highs and lows that they have experienced through the years in boarding along with things that could be done better and about the highlights in Robson House.  One thing everyone was looking forward to is the opening of the new SPEC centre and it was established that it would be a vast improvement on boarding life at Shore.

We then spoke about how year 12 was going in terms of our study and past/future assessment tasks of this year.  Dr Petterson was pleased to know that the school was not putting too much pressure on us to do well but it was a healthy amount of pressure to optimise what Shore has to offer.

Finally, the most important part of the conversation, Rugby.  The Headmaster revealed plans for this up-coming rugby season.  It was established that Shore has an outstanding culture around rugby in the crowd and that hard work and persistence in the team will reap the rewards this season.  The 1^st XV hooker, Redmond O’Connor couldn’t agree more.

As we went to depart, the House captain Ben Broadley thanked Dr Petterson and Professor Petterson for having the hospitality to invite us into their home to discuss things to benefit us in our last year and Shore and benefit the boys in the years to come.  All the boys in Robson Year 12 were very thankful for this.

Ollie Brooks, Year 12, Robson House.

1st IV Success, Ben At The State Championships

The State Rowing Championships will be a memory that all the boys in the 1^st IV, with three boarders in the boat, will never forget. On February 8 this year, the Shore Senior Squad travelled to Penrith for the 2020 State Championships. This was the first race back after the Christmas holiday break and we were all very nervous, not knowing what the other crews would produce. Up against strong crews from Victoria and Canberra, the 1^st IV, consisting of Charlies Murray and Clift, along with Jooya Kalantar of Hodges, finished well, winning our heat pretty convincingly. This was a good confidence-builder for the crew heading into the A final. We lined up against the best IV’s in Australia and faced a very tough race with a crew from Victoria in front for most of the way, while a crew from Canberra pushed us hard as well. We were coming into the final stages of the race and we pushed back on St. Patricks College from Ballarat, to take them with about 100m to go; now, all we had to do was hold on. We did, and what a great feeling it was, taking out the gold medal with a fast 6:47minute time. The 1^st IV is made up of three boarders – Stroke: Charlie Murray (Barry), 3: Charlie Clift (Barry), 2: Jooya Kalantar (Hodges), Bow: Gus Gregg and Cox: Michael Bartlett.

Charlie Clift (Year 12)

I went to Port Macquarie to play in the Junior State Touch Football Cup, a three day tournament. We played seven round games in total with four wins and three losses. This put us into third place and in a good spot for the finals. On the last day we played against the Northern Beaches team, a game that was a must-win for us to make it to the next level but unfortunately we lost 1-0 which knocked us out. We had a fantastic time and I enjoyed both the competition and the opportunity to play with my team-mates at the top level.

Ben Howarth (Year 10)

Year 7 Boarding Reflection

Elliot Perkins
Boarding in year 7 has been amazing, in just 3 weeks we have been up to a whole lot of amazing stuff.  Since the 28th, Mr Pienaar has taken us on so many adventures including a harbour cruise, a trip to manly beach and have started a kick tennis tournament(go SL3).  The food at Shore is amazing especially the Meat pie and BBQ night, all the catering staff do such a good job.  The school house pool table has been the stadium for so many amazing battles.  It is amazing at all the opportunities you will have.  Despite missing home my experience with boarding in year 7 has been amazing and I am looking forward to keep on going.

Nick Bennett
My expectations were high as I walked through the towering gates on the first day of school.  Hundreds of boys with the same expectations alongside me.  After a week of only leaving the grounds for training it was time for the one thing everyone was excited for, Greenwood!  Walking out of the now seemingly smaller gates, sleep deprived was ready for my next adventure.

The next Saturday came all too fast as the first match against Kings started.  Winning the toss and sending them out to field was definitely the right choice as the pitch was as soft as a pillow.  Our openers did well and a total of 83 runs altogether in the first half.  Personally, was not a good innings getting out for 4, going to field on 142 runs.  A comfortable win at all out for 59 runs.  As boys back at School House congratulated friends came together and went down the street for well-deserved lunch.  So far my boarding experience has been a fantastic experience, I‘m looking forward to being able to hang with friends every day of the week.

My First Fortnight As A Boarder

Tom Gordon (Year 10, Bourke, NSW)
My first fortnight in Barry house has flown by and has been very enjoyable so far.  All of the boys were very welcoming and were quick to give me pointers on what to do and what not to do. I also have been lucky enough to have had Hugo Pearce as my mentor, he is a man who I believe to be a better navigator than Siri.  Over the last two weeks I believe I have made some really nice friends and also improved my forehand in ping pong.  

Will Harding (Year 11, Mosman, NSW)
Since I have Joined boarding and Barry House, the community and the friendships that I have made have been very special to me. I have enjoyed my past couple of weeks and am very excited to see what my future in Barry looks like.

Josh Lai (Year 9, Hong Kong)
After more than two weeks of being a boarder at Shore, I can happily say that the school has already had a major impact on my personality and identity and has shaped me into a better person.  I was welcomed with open arms to the Shore community and with the help of my fellow classmates and the staff at Shore, the transition to my new school has been really smooth and pleasant.  The close-knit and friendly community of Barry House is something that no other school can have and the experiences from the past two weeks as a boarder is something that I will cherish forever.  I look forward to the rest of my stay at Shore and the experiences that I will encounter.

Robson House Round Up

Since arriving on the first day of Week 1, the boys have settled into the routines with a particular attitude that would be expected in Robson House.  I would at this point in time like to welcome the new parents, boys and their families to Robson House.

On Friday of last week in the Chapel, Ben Broadley was inducted as a Sub Prefect, attended by the Year 7 boys.  For Robson House this is an exciting time for our boys, and in particular the service that Ben has accomplished to achieve this leadership role.

Our boys have settled into Robson very well. They are understanding what is required and are busy during prep and sleeping from about 9.30pm to 7.00am.

It’s very important that your son is totally involved in all aspects of this school, from class, to sport, to the religious life of the school and the social aspects.  On the whole, they seem like are a good bunch of boys who need to be kept busy throughout the day and sleeping well at night.  The Assistant Housemasters of Robson House, Mr Adam Stocks and Mr Marshall McGee are really looking forward to the year ahead and the boys are very fortunate to have a mixture of a teacher at Shore with Mr Stocks and Mr McGee as a strength and conditioning trainer.

It has been wonderful to walk around and chat to the boys, to find out about their families, what they did during the holidays and generally get to know them as everyone benefits. Being part of the boarding community at Shore is a great opportunity for these boys to appreciate other peoples’ experiences in life, from the bush, to overseas and weekly boarders living in Sydney.

Phillipines End of Year Trip

On the behalf of Harry Litchfield (School), Billy Moore (School) and Julius Andres (Robson), I, Chris Wong personally found this trip to be a life changing moment.

My highlight from this trip would be seeing the joy from the children and parents after an intense day of manual labouring.  Nothing makes me happier than seeing them smile, knowing that I was the one who made a little contribution in improving their lives.  The smiles and the tears are priceless as it makes you forget all the hardship you have just endured out in the fields.

This trip has allowed me to gain an insight into what poverty looks like; it has taught me a valuable lesson in appreciating what I have and not taking things for granted.

Overall, the trip was a lot of fun; the only sad thing is not being able to go on the trip again.

We would also like to give a big shout out to Mr Kriedemann, Mrs Frazer and Mr Scouller for making this trip so memorable and successful.

Year 7 Study Skills

The Study Skills Night was a great night to share with our parents our goals for study and how to get organised for the busy year ahead. The information will be especially useful for preparations for exams and assessments in the future. Ms Doran managed to keep it interesting by giving us time to talk to our housemasters.  She also chose a few people to participate in quizzes and if you won you received prizes such as pencils and glue sticks.  Overall I think that this night was a success and gave us the opportunity to talk to our housemasters about study skills that could help us solidify good habits for our future academics at Shore.

Barry Boys Out And About

After Cabin Fever Sunday at the end of Week 2 because of the rain, Mr Separovich took the boys out on a beautiful Sunday to take in the local sights, one of the great advantages of boarding here at Shore.  A trip to Luna Park was followed by a leisurely stroll over to Kirribilli for gelato at Gelatissimo.  There were some hilarious moments as the boys tackled The Rotor and The Hair-Raiser, Hugo Pearce and Lachie Clift in particular a source of great amusement.  Bravery was certainly put to the test, but all in good fun.

First Impressions

Angus Reardon and Beau Shoemark are Year 8 boarders in Hodges House.  Having spent Year 7 in School House, the Hodges experience is new to them.  They have enjoyed getting to know boys in the house from a range of different backgrounds and socialising with the full time boarders on weekends.  Beau says “one highlight was when Mr Fitch had Batch Burgers in Kirribilli deliver food to the house on a Saturday evening with a torrential downpour.  It was great watch the Waratahs and eat delicious burgers and fries with our mates in the comfort of our common room!”  Angus reports that the boys have settled in well, enjoying the culture and vibe throughout the house.  He commented that “staff have helped guide us through new routines and procedures after moving across from School House”.  In particular, the boys are looking forward to being part of the future of Hodges House as well as getting involved in activities that are on offer in the wider boarding community.

Friday Lunch

Every Friday, the boarders have a sit-down lunch served to them at their tables.  It is an opportunity to dine in a more formal setting where etiquette and components of basic courtesy are practised.  Protocols when special guests enter, behaviours in formal settings and handshaking are just some of the elements the boarders experience in this setting.  Every fortnight, the Headmaster distributes the pink cards, after which he joins the Year 12s of the House-on-duty for lunch.  Last week he joined Mr Walker, Mrs Rhodes and the boys from Robson for a butter chicken lunch to celebrate the end of another big week of school at Shore.  The boys at the head table are always the best-behaved for some reason…

First Few Weeks in Robson House Ben and Tom Duddy

My brother, Thomas, and I started in Year 8 and Year 10 respectively at Shore this year.  We live on a property south of Tamworth where we have Angus cattle.  It was our decision to return to Shore to continue the long family tradition after starting our secondary education as boarders at the Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie), in Brisbane.  Our dad was Second Prefect in 1983 and Robson House Captain for two years but it is the lifelong friendships, memories and stories that he recalls so fondly that we are now fortunate to experience first-hand.

Our Grandfather, Maurice, watched the Sydney Harbour Bridge being built from his room in Robson House and it gives me a real sense of belonging to now be in the same room looking out of the same window.  It is hard to believe that we have already been at Shore and a part of Robson House for three weeks.  From the moment you first enter Robson you sense from the outset a real sense of warmth and family.  Everyone from Mr. Walker and Mrs. Walker, Mr. Stocks, Mr. McGee and all of our fellow boarders have been very welcoming, inclusive and helpful and as a result you instantly feel a part of your new home away from away home. This has given both Thomas and I a real sense of belonging.

Shore has been very inclusive and welcoming and I spent the first ten days at rowing camp before my first regatta in Geelong.  Apart from half a dozen training sessions in an eight at Churchie dodging the City Cats on the Brisbane River I had never raced in an eight before as my age group are still in quads until the beginning of next year so it has been a steep learning curve.  This has been made so much easier by the support and encouragement from everyone involved the Shore boat-shed.  Thomas has enjoyed being apart of the 14A’s water polo team but cannot wait for the rugby season to begin.  Thank you to everyone for making us feel so welcome and we look forward to enjoying everything Shore and in particular Robson has to offer.

Mrs Emily Murray On Boarding in School House

Since joining the boarding community in August 2019, I have come to realise what a cornerstone of Shore this community really is. H aving gained experience as a teacher in the classroom to then moving into boarding, I have witnessed first-hand the importance of clear and effective pastoral care systems, of which Shore offers.  Working alongside housemasters and assistant housemasters on a daily basis, in a residential setting, highlights to me the ever increasing demands that our teenagers are facing in the world today.

Boarding offers another, very significant, dimension into the role of a teacher and mentor.  I feel extremely fortunate to be in this role.  To be entrusted with the care of our boys, but also to be welcomed into the lives of our boarders as they navigate the unpredictable and sometimes stressful times of being an adolescent in the 21st Century.

In 2020, I have been excited to take on a slightly different role in assisting Mr Werner Pienaar with the new Year 7 boarders in School House.  We have run various outings and activities aimed at welcoming the boys to Shore and providing a platform for them to find their own feet in this new territory.  It has been enjoyable to watch the boys find their way in their new home. It is not always easy to learn new structures and it can be difficult to understand what it means to live in a close boarding community.  I have felt privileged to be able to walk them through some new experiences, but also to encourage them to develop their own independence in some circumstances.

I feel honoured to have a small part in it all.

Rishad Attends An Indigenous Basketball Competition

From the 17th to the 23rd of December, 2019, I had the privilege of competing in the Australian Indigenous Basketball under 18’s National Tournament in Cairns, Queensland.  I was chosen to represent the Torres Strait Islands.  Even though I was the youngest player in my team and possibly the youngest player in the competition, I wasn’t overawed to be competing against older guys.  There were many teams from all over Australia including Melbourne, Brisbane, Darwin and the Torres Straits.  We had a strong start to the tournament, winning our first two games.  As the competition unfolded the games became tougher, so it was difficult to progress to the finals.  Our team won 3 out of 6 matches, which was a pleasing result.  Overall the tournament was a wonderful experience for me and all the other competitors.  Of course, it was fantastic to play basketball, but even more exciting was the opportunity to connect with many people from different Indigenous cultures around Australia.

Rishad Cook-Sabatino (10HS)

Cooking Lessons

With 15 new boarders joining Barry House this year, we have had several opportunities on weekends especially to teach them some cooking skills, while BBQs continue to be a favourite on Sunday mornings and during the odd Tutor Group.  Spaghetti bolognaise and Mexican tacos have kept the boys busy, and they now have a couple of recipes to take home to cook for the family. With 25+ boys in, the second-biggest challenge was preparing so many meals in the one sitting. 

The biggest challenge for a couple of boys was using a can-opener – thank you, Jeremy Morison and Callum Simson for the laughs…

Working out the can opener on cooking night!

Hamish Walls – Year 7 – Study Skills Evening Reflection

The Study Skills Night was a great night to share with our parents our goals for study and how to get organised for the busy year ahead.  The information will be especially useful for preparations for exams and assessments in the future.  Mr Doran managed to keep it interesting by giving us time to talk to our housemasters.  She also chose a few people to participate in quizzes and if you won you received prizes such as pencils and glue sticks.  Overall I think that this night was a success and gave us the opportunity to talk to our housemasters about study skills that could help us solidify good habits for our future academics at Shore.

Oprah Update

Oprah has turned out to be a very “chilled” dog who is not really flustered by anything.  She loves relaxing with the boys and hanging around the games room in free time.  Early in March, Oprah will be assessed for her suitability as a working dog.

Hugo In Exchange In Japan

Over these last summer holidays I went on exchange to Japan for two months, which was one of the best and most interesting experiences of my life.  I lived in a town called Shizouka which is about three hours by bus south of Tokyo near Mount Fuji, where I lived with a Japanese family with three young children who attended school Monday through to Saturday.  Whilst furthering my Japanese language skills, this also taught me how to overcome challenges as I was regularly traveling in a country speaking a language in which I am not fluent.  If you ever get the chance to go on exchange to whatever country, I would highly recommend that you go to Japan and for as long as possible.  You will not only learn a language but learn about a whole new culture as well.