in October 2016 , teaching General Science was relocated to the new facility , freeing up the space in which it had been taught since 1976 . The vacancy at this facility provided the School with a unique opportunity to trial the provision of House-specific Home Rooms . The three levels were converted into six home rooms for Gilray , Monash , Morrison , Selby Smith , Forbes and Bond Houses in 2017 . The response to this initiative has been phenomenal , including :
• improved pastoral care ;
• improved amenity ;
• boys having a place to call home at school ;
• increased connectivity between boys from different year levels ( Years 9-12 ), and the accompanying mentoring opportunities ; and
• closer connection facilitated between the Heads of House and the boys , with the Heads of House located in the shared space ,
rather than in separate offices . The success of the trial has , however , created a problem of inequity . At the end of 2020 , six Senior School Houses had Home Rooms and six Senior School Houses did not . However , the School is committed to delivering Home Rooms for all 12 Houses , and a staged approach is emerging .
Over the summer holidays , the former rooms 12 and 19 in the Quadrangle were converted into House Home Rooms for Lawson and Davidson Houses . Boys moved into these Home Rooms when they returned to school , and the feedback from boys and staff has been positive .
Head of Lawson House , Michael Waugh , said Lawson ’ s new home in room 20 has revolutionised the way that boys are able to relate to each other and how he is able to work with them .
‘ During House Chorals rehearsal , we were able to crowd around the lockers and practise , under the watchful eye of our chorals leader , Victor Jiang ,’ he said . ‘ I ’ ve noticed that our House Captain , William Hutchings , has almost permanently placed himself at a table facing the door so that he can greet each boy as he arrives – the boys feel like they ’ re coming home .
‘ I ’ ve also noticed that boys have been able to come in more regularly to see me in my office . But it has also meant that I ’ m able to check in with them more as they arrive at school , while they ’ re studying in the room , or while they are hanging out at break times . I really feel that it has changed the culture of the House – it feels more welcoming , friendly , focused , and connected .
‘ We eagerly await the toasty machines and microwave that will bring more warmth to the space as we move into the winter months .’ Head of Davidson House , Steve Holding , described the Home Room as ‘ advantageous for the boys ’. He said : ‘ They have respected the space and it has been good coming into a calm environment at the start of the day , where boys are sitting chatting or working at a table , or organising themselves for their classes . It enables me to keep a closer eye on all the boys , and it ’ s easier to chat with them .’
Jordan Haratsis , Captain of Davidson House , said the new Davidson Home Room had ‘ come as a breath of fresh air ’ for the boys . ‘ We ’ ve been gifted with a tremendous space that allows us to meet and interact with mates ,’ he said , ‘ and we have continued to strengthen our bonds as a very tight-knit group across all year levels in the House .’
According to Lawson House Captain William Hutchings , ‘ the House Home Rooms have created an inviting and cohesive environment for boys in different years to spend more time with one another ’.
Jerry Lin of Year 9 said , ‘ You can talk to your friends more easily and there is a place to check notices – everything is right there ,’ while William Challingsworth , also of Year 9 , added : ‘ There ’ s more space and it ’ s easier to be organised ’.
With the relocation of the English Department into the Lithgow Centre in early 2020 , the Language Department is now using levels two and three in the Language and Culture Centre for their classes . The new teaching and learning spaces for languages have been well received by boys and staff .
Head of Languages , Kristy Irwin , said the Language Department is fortunate to enjoy a variety of teaching and learning spaces on these levels , all of which support boys in their acquisition of languages .
‘ Languages classrooms are equipped with wireless projectors which provide an interactive whiteboard display ,’ she said . ‘ This enables teachers to conduct language classes primarily in the target language , because students are well supported by visual cues which teachers can then annotate in real time . In addition to this , the Language Centre also includes :
• the Language Learning Space , which is a flexible learning space complete with moveable furniture and a Harkness table .
This space has been specifically designed for differentiated , collaborative and conversational learning ;
• the Languages Demonstration Kitchen , which is perfect for engaging students in hands-on , immersive culinary experiences ,
in which they apply their language skills while deepening their intercultural competencies ; and
• the Language Tutorial Rooms , created for students to work one-on-one or in small groups with teachers and language
assistants on their conversational skills .’
Freeing up the ground floor in the Language and Culture Centre has created a space to relocate another four Home Rooms to accommodate Littlejohn , Field , Fleming and Eggleston Houses .
Works on these Home Rooms began during the summer holidays , and have been put on hold until the mid-semester holidays to minimise disruption in the busy St Andrew ’ s Square precinct . It is anticipated that all 12 Houses will have their own Home Rooms by the start of the 2022 school year .
The St Andrew ’ s Square precinct , of which the House Home Rooms will be an integral part , will form a marketplace of engagement for Senior School boys and staff at the very heart of our School . The Keon-Cohen Dining Hall , the Home Rooms and the square itself will be a home for the boys , their aspirations , conversations and collaborations .
With the Keon-Cohen Dining Hall forming the hub of this precinct and the Home Rooms facing onto the square , this will very much be a space that the boys will own ; a space which will encourage meeting , collision and conversation , between boys , and between boys and teachers . They will gather to converse , and to share news and ideas , as they take time away from routines and let their minds wander to all that might be possible .
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