BOARDING
FAIRCOTE
This last year has been crazy , especially in boarding ! We may not have been here for the whole year , but it has been amazing ! We didn ’ t get to go out for a lot of activities or events this year due to Covid ; however , we were still able to organise our own in the boarding houses . For example , in Faircote , we had our Christmas dinner – which the girls helped to plan and cook – we all got dressed up and had a fantastic meal !
Another thing we had to get used to was quarantining for international boarders ; the boarding house accommodated us for these periods of times , supplying us food and putting on activities in which we were , of course , socially-distanced and had masks on . During the lockdown period of this year , we did a Faircote Zoom . This was so lovely as we got to see all the girls who couldn ’ t come back to school . The boarding houses did stay open and upper and lower houses merged . It was a very strange time , but we were so well looked after and had lots of fun cuddling up watching movies and , of course , doing our online learning !
There haven ’ t been as many of us in the boarding house this year , and it has been a shame that we couldn ’ t have the odd flexi boarder or extended day pupils to be a part of the boarding community ; however , we have had a lot of our old flexi boarders become weekly boarders . I don ’ t think the boarding house has ever felt more full of life ; we all sit in the office every day and chat about the latest gossip . People always ask what boarding is like , and wonder how it feels living with 15 to 25 other girls and , it may sound clichéd , but we really are a big family ! This year has , honestly , been one of my favourites in my time here at Pocklington as we have all gelled together so well . From firepit birthday celebrations to camping outdoors , this year has not disappointed .
I have to say a special thanks to all the staff who give up their time to look after us , especially Miss Thackray , Mrs Speight and Miss Shephard – without you I don ’ t know how any of us would ’ ve survived this year !
Katie Phelps
24 THE POCKLINGTONIAN