DOCUMENT

Boarding today Living in Queen Margaret House in 2019 is very different from the life experienced by boarders of the past. Students have their own bedrooms and more freedom to spend their afternoons studying, taking part in extra-curricular activities or relaxing after a day of learning. Year 12 student Cassidy Hughes is one of our inaugural boarders, beginning her journey at QMC and Queen Margaret House in 2018. She gives her impressions of boarding in the 21st century. Cassidy Hughes, 2018 – In the morning, we are woken by a bell rung by one of the staff members at 7am. For girls who want to sleep in, there is a final call at 7.30am. All girls have to finish their breakfast by 8am. It is up to us on whether we come down to breakfast in our pyjamas or school uniform. Breakfast consists of two different cereals, various fruit, yoghurt, toast and some hot food cooked by the chef. There are spreads available throughout the day and are refilled regularly. We all leave for school before 8.25am and are not allowed to go back during school hours, as it is locked for security reasons. After school, there is always afternoon tea prepared for us, for example, spring rolls, mini pizza or chicken tenders. Following this, we do either after-school activities or have leisure time until dinner at 6pm. We then have Prep [study time] from 6.45pm–8.30pm. Year 9 and 10 students have supervised Prep in the downstairs lounge. Year 11, 12 and 13 students are allowed to do Prep in our rooms, provided that we leave our doors ajar. After Prep, we have leisure time until we have to hand our phones in. The time that we hand our phones in depends on what year you are. For example, Year 11s have Left to right: Pinn Sriherunrusmee (year 9), Ryoh Hirata (year 9), Elle Bradley the Assistant House Manager and Kiak and Lynette Bradshaw (year 10). to hand their phones in at 9.45pm and Year 12s are 15 minutes later. As soon as we hand in our phones, we have to go to bed and turn our lights out. In the weekends, I watch movies, clean my room and finish off any homework. Our breakfast time is prolonged in the weekendand we get to sleep in. On Sundays, we have a big brunch. We get bacon, eggs, pancakes, hash browns, mushroom sauce, platters of fruit and the usual supply of cereal and toast. My favourite activities in the boarding house are our movie nights and quick sports games with each other in the weekend. I also really love the dinners, especially the pasta. The staff are always interested in our well-being, and I have made so many new friends. GLOBAL 55 Queen Margaret Calling :: ISSUE 63 :: May 2019