Miss Elliott: From our Head of Boarding

This first highlight of the year was the opening of The Elms boarding house for the Sixth Form, in addition to Mary Ward House, the boarding house for Years 7-11.

A full refurbishment of this previously-used boarding accommodation over the summer of 2020 included the installation of a brand new boarders’ kitchen, a newly decorated common room featuring a flat-screen TV and Nespresso machine(!), new bathrooms, new curtains/blinds and re-decoration throughout. The boarding prefects also worked hard to plan and deliver Covid-safe induction games at the beginning of the Autumn Term and a party to celebrate the end of quarantine for all boarders.  
 
To mark Black History Month in October, members of the boarding community worked collaboratively to deliver an assembly to the boarders highlighting the issues they have faced living as an ethnic minority in Britain today. To celebrate Chinese New Year, Mary Ward House was decorated and we enjoyed a Chinese takeaway meal. Our Easter egg hunt took place just before the Easter holiday. This boarding tradition takes place in Mary Ward House garden each year

In a very difficult year, the boarders have shown immense resilience and adaptability. The Sixth Form have had to familiarise themselves with their new home, The Elms, and all the boarders have had to adapt to a completely new daily boarding routine.

In addition, our international boarders have had to contend with the agony of deciding when/if they should return home and had the added concerns about flight disruption, the extra Covid-19 testing prior to flying and quarantine.

But, what this year has shown is just how adaptable and flexible we, as a community of staff and students, can be. Through hard work and determination, we have come out stronger, and in some cases, having established closer bonds.

Miss Elliott would like to say a sincere ‘thank you’ to the boarders and boarding staff, all of whom have shown tremendous adaptability and resilience, often in uncertain and difficult circumstances this year. They have adapted superbly to new roles, new ways of working and new routines.

Miss Elliott, Head of Boarding

Return to Magnolian 2021