BOARDING INFORMATION BOOKLET
Contents
INTRODUCTION
BOARDING HOUSE CONTACT DETAILS
TERMLY BOARDERS
WEEKLY BOARDERS
SIGNING OUT
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AND HALF-TERM BREAKS
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
THE DAILY WEEK DAY PROGRAM
CHAPEL
MEALS
PREP RULES (HOMEWORK / STUDY TIMES)
POCKET MONEY
LAUNDRY
CHORES
BREAKAGES AND MAINTENTANCE
MEDICAL CARE
DEVICES
COMPUTER USAGE
CLOTHING, LINEN & SUNDRIES LIST
GENERAL RULES FOR BOARDING
MEALS
ORDERING IN OF FOOD
PREP SESSIONS
TUTORS
LIGHTS OUT
SIGN OUTS (Pink Slips)
UBER TAXIS
WEEKEND OUTINGS
CHAPEL
VISITORS
THE BRIDGE
DRESS CODE
BATHING/SHOWERING
CLOTHING/LAUNDRY
VALUABLES AND PADLOCKS
MEDICATION
OUT OF BOUNDS AREAS
BEARS LAWN
SWIMMING POOL
GENERAL
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Mary Williams Boarding House. The boarding house consists of Lambs boarding for Upper IV’s, Lower V’s and Middle V’s, and Bears boarding for Upper V’s, Ante Matrics and Matrics.
BOARDING HOUSE CONTACT DETAILS
The Head of BoardingMandie Agrella
011 647 3276 or 083 610 9710
Assistant Head of Boarding and Lambs MatronLiza Williams
011 647 3277
Bears MatronVicky Maphosa
011 647 3275
Boarding Administrative AssistantTshidi Mogodiri
011 647 3200
The boarding matron is responsible for the supervision of routines in the boarding house and at meal times. The emotional, physical and academic wellbeing of the boarders in her care is her primary concern. She also oversees aspects such as personal hygiene, good study habits, bedtimes, eating times and respect for others in the boarding house.
The boarding matrons are available to the boarders and their parents at all times during the term. If you have any concerns or wish to discuss any matters, please contact the Head of Boarding directly.
TERMLY BOARDERS
Termly boarders are girls who remain in the boarding house over weekends. One of the boarding matrons and a student tutor are on duty eachweekend. Entertainment and activities may be arranged for the boarders during the weekends, depending on schoolcommitments. Most weekends, the boarders are given the option of going to one of the nearby shopping malls where they may do their shopping, meet with their friends for coffee or watch amovie. Termly boarders are required to inform the Head of Boarding of their weekend plans for outings, but permission for such visits must be obtained in writing from the boarder’s parents by Friday at 15h00, at the latest. Full details must be provided regarding times of departure and return, along with information about the “responsible adult” who will sign them out, according to the sign-outprocedure.
From 2018 we will also have closed weekends in the Boarding House when all girls will be asked to leave the Boarding House, only to return on the evening before school starts. These dates will be given to you in advance and will include weekends where a public holiday falls on either a Friday or a Monday. Other dates may also be given as per the discretion of the Head of Boarding.
WEEKLY BOARDERS
Weekly boarding offers the chance for girls to stay at School for five nights a week (Sunday to Thursday, with Friday lunch inclusive), and to enjoy being with their friends in the Boarding House, engage in Boarders’ activities and work on their prep under the supervision of the Boarding staff. This allows pupils to be in School during the week and then to enjoy the weekend with their families. Boarders are to be fetched between 14h00 and 19h00 on Fridays. Arrangements need to be made with the Head of Boarding if this isn’t possible.
Weekly boarders may return on Sunday evening between 17h00 and 19h30. Alternatively they may return to the Boarding House on Monday mornings before 06h50 fully clothed in uniform. They will operate in exactly the same way as full boarders during the week, but will be allowed to return home for the weekend after they have completed their Friday afternoon commitments.
Weekly boarders who wish to remain in School on a Friday or Saturday night will be able to do so, subject to parents giving the Head of Boarding advance notice of this. For each additional night’s accommodation, an additional charge will be made. However, we realise that our Weekly boarders may have several activities that could possibly fall over a weekend; therefore, we will have 1 weekend a term when the Weekly boarders are allowed to stay in the Boarding House without any additional costs involved.
From 2018 we will also have closed weekends in the Boarding House when all girls will be asked to leave the Boarding House and only to return on the evening before school starts. These dates will be given to you in advance and will include weekends where a public holiday falls on either a Friday or a Monday. Other dates will also be given at the discretion of the Head of Boarding.
SIGNING OUT
For the safety of our boarders, the signing out rules are strictly enforced. Any boarder who needs to leave the boarding house or school property must arrange this with her boarding matron in advance. She must fill in the “signing out” form. She must also ensure that the person who collects her signs the form in the presence of the boarding matron or student tutor on duty and indicates the time at which she expects toreturn. Boarders may leave the boarding house or school property only with people whose names are on the list provided by the boarder'sparents. Arrangements may be made for boarders to go out with people who are not on the original list of approved names ONLY if consent is provided by the boarder's parents in writing.
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AND HALF-TERM BREAKS
Parents are requested to take careful note of the dates of the school holidays and half-term breaks which are published in the school calendar.
The boarding house closes during school holidays and half-term breaks. The house is locked and no staff members are on duty. Arrangements must be made for ALL boarders to leave the boarding house during theseperiods. All boarders are required to leave the boarding house before 15h00 on the day on which school closes for holidays andhalf-terms. After a long school holiday, boarders must return to the boarding house by 17h00 on the day before schoolre-opens. Boarders are expected to remove all their possessions from their rooms. This assists with the facilitation of deep-cleaning of the boardinghouse. All valuables should be removed from the boarding house over half-term breaks and holidays. Any valuables (e.g. money, jewelry, laptops, iPads, cellphones etc.) kept in boarders’ rooms are at their own risk. The boarding staff cannot take responsibility for items which have been lost, stolen ordamaged.
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
Parents whose daughters travel to and from Johannesburg by air are asked to take careful note of the following points:
- Please make your travel arrangements in good time. Dates of holidays and half-term breaks have been provided for the entire year and lower prices are often available when bookings are made well inadvance.
- Girls travelling should not leave before the day school closes and should return the day before schoolre-opens.
- Passports and air tickets are to be handed to the boarding matron for safe keeping.
- Transport to and from OR Tambo International Airport can be arranged by the Head of Boarding. Please note, however, that this needs to be arranged at least one week in advance. Late requests may not beaccommodated.
THE DAILY WEEKDAY PROGRAM
Time / Programme06h30 / Breakfast (available from 06h30 to 07h20)
06h45 / Boarders leave for school - girls must be fully dressed, beds made and rooms tidied
07h30 / School begins
10h20 / Morning tea on the boarders dining room patio
13h00 / Lunch in the boarders dining room
(girls must eat lunch in the dining room before attending any meetings or lunchtime activities)
14h40 / Afternoon activities begin (sport and cultural)
17h00 / First prep session begins
18h00 / Supper followed by free time
19h00 / Second prep session begins
20h30 / Free time
21h00
or 22h00 / Bed time and lights out (time dependent on grade)
CHAPEL
Boarders’ Chapel is an integral part of the boarding experience at Roedean and has been a part of the tradition of the school since its beginning. Boarders are expected to attend an informal chapel service at the boarding house every Sunday morning and a more formal service at St Georges, in Parktown, once a term. Girls will also be taken to other churches on a monthly basis. When travelling to St Georges, girls leave Roedean at 8:30am, straight after breakfast, and return to Roedean at 10:30am. When travelling to other churches girls will be given a time beforehand. All Boarders’ Chapel services are indicated on the white calendar, which is made available to the girls. No tutoring or extra lessons will be held on a Sunday, and no sign outs will be done before the chapel services.
MEALS
Our catering company is Fedics.
Breakfasts
These are prepared and served in the boarders’ dining room each morning between 06h30 and 07h20. A selection of fruit, yogurt, cereal, porridge as well as a “hot” breakfast is available. Fruit juice, tea and coffee are also available.
Morning tea
This is served on the boarders’ dining room patio.
Lunch
Lunch is served in the boarders’ dining room. A full “sit down” meal is served. Salad and fresh fruit are also always available.
Afternoon tea
Tea, coffee, hot chocolate and biscuits or rusks, as well as fruit, are available in the boarding house common rooms.
Supper
This is served in the boarders’ dining room. Every evening a balanced meal with vegetables or salad is served. Dessert is provided each evening.
Additional food
There is a small kitchenette in each of the boarding house common rooms which is equipped with a fridge, kettle and microwave. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate and biscuits or rusks as well as fruit are available. Girls may bring items such as Cup of Soup and Two Minute Noodles to eat as snacks. Any items such as cold drinks which are stored in the fridge must be clearly marked with the owner's name. Food may be eaten only in the common room. Crockery or cutlery may not be taken to the bedrooms. Eating may not take place in front of the computers.
Please note:
- Boarders are not allowed to cook their own meals in thecommon rooms.
- Boarders are not allowed to substitute snacks or microwave meals for the meals provided.
Special dietary needs
If your daughter is allergic to certain foods, please notify us in writing before she becomes a boarder so that we can try to accommodate her. Please also notify us in writing, if your daughter is vegetarian or if she does not eat pork, for religious reasons.
PREP RULES (HOMEWORK / STUDY TIMES)
There are two prep sessions each weekday.
First Prep/Study: 17h00 - 17h45
Second Prep/Study:19h00 - 20h30
All girls should be on time for Prep. There is to be no talking or chatting during prep time. All boarders are to keep their doors open during official prep time. All Lower V’s to do prep in the common room on the ground floor. Lower V’s and Middle V’s to use computers in the ground floor common room. Upper V’s, Ante Matrics and Matrics are to use computers in the first floor common room. No food or drink may be consumed near the computers. No tea, coffee or hot chocolate may be made during prep time. Laptops may only be used for academic purposes, research or schoolwork during prep. No boarders may watch movies or play games during prep time. Should it be absolutely necessary to work in pairs, this can be done in the upstairs telephone room - quietly, without disturbing the others. Boarders may not visit each other’s rooms during prep time. Cellphones may not be used during prep time. Lower V and Middle V girls must hand their devices to their boarding matron to keepovernight. The work area must be tidied at the end of the prepsession. All belongings must be removed from the common room at the end of the second prep session.
As from 21h00 the boarding house needs to be quiet as some girls may have retired for the night.
POCKET MONEY
Pocket money is issued at the discretion of the boarder’s parents. This money should be kept in a bank account which can be accessed from an ATM machine. Boarders are responsible for looking after their ownmoney.
LAUNDRY
All clothing must be clearly marked with the boarder’s full name. A laundry slip must be completed and placed in the laundry bag. Only clothing that is in a laundry bag with a laundry slip will be washed. Any bag that does not have a laundry slip inside will be returned to the room number with the clothes unwashed. All boarders must wash their own underwear, including socks and stockings. No underwear will be washed by the ladies in the laundry. Boarders may use the green sunlight soap available in the bathrooms and then hang their clean underwear in their rooms on the towel rails, if necessary. Please make sure that all excess water is squeezed out in the bathroom basin before hanging in your room, so as not to damage the carpet. Boarders may ask a matron for a laundry drying rack if it is needed. All clean laundry will be delivered to the appropriate rooms in the afternoons. No students are allowed to enter the laundry at any time without permission or look through another student’s laundry. Bed linen must be changed every week and can be taken home to launder. Girls aren’t allowed to have irons in their rooms. Irons are to be handed in to the front office at the boarding house and are only to be used in the laundry room and handed back to the front office after it has cooled off.
CHORES
Each boarder is required to make her own bed and to keep her room or section of the room tidy and to ensure that her cupboard space isneat. Rooms must be tidied and beds made beforebreakfast. Matrons will do adhoc inspections of the rooms. Dirty clothing must be placed in the laundrybag. After meals girls must take their own used crockery and cutlery to the kitchen and scrape them carefully so that they are ready to bewashed. Bathrooms are to be kepttidy. Baths and showers are to be cleaned afteruse. The kitchenettes in the common rooms must be tidied after use and items returned to theirplaces. The girls are responsible for keeping the common rooms tidy.
BREAKAGES AND MAINTENTANCE
Boarders should report any breakages to the Head of Boarding. Boarders are also asked to report anything that requires maintenance to the Head of Boarding so that the appropriate action can be taken e.g. if light bulbs need replacing.
MEDICAL CARE
Sister RozGungaram is our nursing sister. Boarders who are ill are examined by her and will be referred to a doctor if necessary. Ill pupils will stay in the SAN during the day while they recover. Any boarders who take any form of medication should discuss this with Sister Gungaram who will ensure that it is properly controlled and administered. In keeping with South African legislation, all medication should be handed over to the nursing sister. Girls may not keep any medication in their rooms. Any girl found in possession of medicine without Sister Gungaram’s permission will be in breach of the Boarding Code of Conduct. Random spot checks will be done by Sister Gungaram, the Matron in charge, with the pupil’s consent. Should consent not be given by the pupil, parents will be contacted.
DEVICES
Boarders are allowed to have cellphones but their use may be restricted. Cellphones must be switched off duringprep. Cellphones are not allowed in the dining room duringmeals. Girls in Lower V and Middle V must hand their devices to their boarding matron to keepovernight. Cellphones must be switched off from lights out until the girls wake up in the morning. Parents are requested not to phone their daughters during prep times, meal times or after lightsout. Inappropriate use of cellphones will result in confiscation for a period of time deemedsuitable.
COMPUTER USAGE
All boarders have access to computers with internet and email facilities in the Lambs and Bears common rooms. Boarders are welcome to bring their own devices, at their own risk, for use in the boardinghouse.
CLOTHING, LINEN & SUNDRIES LIST
Every article brought to school, should be clearly marked with the pupil’s name.
Boarders’ Leisurewear(not more than quantity specified - all washable please)
Each article must be clearly marked
5 pairs panties
1-2pairs low-heeled shoes or sandals
2 simple dresses or skirts
2 pairs slacks/jeans
5 blouses/T-shirts (long-sleeved in winter)
2 jerseys
1 bathing suit
1 warm jacket and extra warm tracksuit for winter
2pairs shorts
1 casual tracksuit
Boarders’ Linen
1 duvet (washable synthetic) with 2 covers (single bed only)
2 fitted sheets
2 pillowcases and 1 pillow
2 bath towels and 2 hand towels
1 rug or blanket (winter)
1base cover (compulsory)
Boarders’ Sundries
1umbrella/raincoat
1 sewing/darning kit with thread in uniform colours
1 soapbox in toilet bag and toilet necessities