Parents Handbook

Parental advice from past and present boarders and their parents ‘During the first few weeks’ boarders need to bond. Solitary electronic games and equipment can get in the way of the process. Introducing them later is not a bad idea.’ ‘Have a copy of your son’s daily boarding routine with you at home so that you can call him at an appropriate time of day. Don’t call after bedtime or during prep, as this will only create problems.’ ‘Encourage your son to speak to the boarding staff rather than phoning home when he has a problem. A phone call home can sometimes exacerbate the situation and make both you and your son more upset.’ ‘On Friday, if your son is coming home, check his pupil planner. This should contain all the information about any homework that may need to be completed.’ ‘Do contact your son’s boarding tutor. The better the communication between home and boarding staff, the more your son is cared for in the best possible way.’ ‘Our son was a bit homesick at first, but it did not last long. Actually, the more we rang and the longer the conversation, the worse it seemed to make it. Once we talked to the boarding staff and encouraged him to do the same, he seemed to relish boarding life.’ ‘Settling in may take a while, but it will happen. You may think that your son is the only one, but other boarders will have felt the same. Let the boarding staff know; they are very experienced and help is always at hand.’ Comments from Boarders: - ‘Boarding has helped me develop into a more balanced person, where the chance of living with my friends is something I enjoy a lot.’ ‘Get organised! Use your private study periods wisely and if you need help, always ask.’ ‘Use your pupil planner; it actually helped me get on top of things.’ ‘Try to make friends with everyone. It is a great community to talk and hang out with.’ ‘Feels like a second home.’ ‘If you really like a dish ask the chefs to make it again, normally they will and the food is pretty good.’ ‘Get involved in everything you can, both in school and in boarding. Things like sport and music will help make lots of new friends.’ We hope that you will find this handbook useful. It has been compiled following detailed discussions with boarding staff, students and parents. The National Minimum Standards for Boarding have been taken closely into account, but above all, we want this resource to help you. If you have any comments regarding this handbook, including suggestions for improvement or inclusion, please address them to Mr Jon Scourfield, email: boarding@ rgshw.com . Our aim is to work closely with parents and students to provide the best possible care for all boarders. Please do not hesitate to let us know of anything that could benefit the RGS boarding experience.