Director of Boarding

Megan Christie

I have struggled to write this newsletter report. It is the last one for the year and my last one for St Patrick’s College Townsville. How do I say goodbye to my boarding babies?

Being the Director of Boarding at St Patrick’s College has provided me with immense professional growth as well as personal growth. I have found this role incredibly rewarding because I have had the privilege of getting to know these girls on a totally different level to being just their teacher in the day school. I guess that is a natural process when you live, eat and play together day by day and night by night. Although my time was shorter than I thought, after just a year and a half I feel honoured that I know and understand these girls so well; their thoughts, feelings and motivations.

My time in boarding has been filled with laughter and joy, mostly because these kids say and do the funniest things. I appreciate the girls’ sense of humour and ability to laugh at themselves. My top three favourite student ‘bloopers’ were: #3. when Salu came to breakfast in her school uniform even though she had a study day; #2. when Verona wore a jumper to school without her academic blouse but then got hot and had to beg me to allow her to go back up to boarding to change; #1 Alyssa’s ‘performance’ in Belna’s room not realising I was actually present in the room (I will have to leave it to the boarders to tell you about that one)! I am definitely leaving with many funny memories.

There were a few times when the girls found the rules and routines of life in boarding a little over-the-top. Deep down I know they understand the purpose of these expectations and, perhaps later, they will appreciate the positive role I played in their socialisation. It is the high expectations that we have of our boarding students that enable them to develop integrity and independence, which will serve them well in their lives.

I would like to end with a few thank yous:

To our boarding parents and carers, thank you for trusting me to take care of your beautiful daughters.
To our Supervisors, our Health Centre Officers, Miss Liz and Miss Beth and Boarding Assistant, Miss Hayley, thank you for your patience and compassion and for providing a caring home away from home for the girls.
To my Senior Boarding Supervisors, Miss Sarah, Miss Alex and Miss Amanda, I will never find the right words to express my sincere gratitude to you for the support you have given me.
To our boarding students, always do your best and always choose kindness.

I bid you farewell and wish you best of luck for the future. God bless!