Absence from School
If boarders are going to be away from School, parents must phone or email both the Boarding House and the Day School of this intention when it occurs at the last minute because of unforeseen circumstances. Planned absences can be completed as a leave request on REACH. Boarding staff inform the Day School of students who are away.  

Activities
It is an expectation that boarders make the most of their opportunities during their stay in the Boarding House. It is a way of forming lasting friendships, developing character, building resilience, and testing the limits of their abilities in various fields. Activities are organised for boarders staying in over the weekend.  

Sport
Each boarder is encouraged to participate in at least one school team sport each semester. Where a preferred sport is not offered by the school, we will support boarders participating in other sports outside the school.  

New boarders may find it difficult to get into teams as most competitions start in Term 4 of the previous year. They are advised to seek assistance from the Head of Boys / Girls Boarding if they are interested in joining a team.  

Boarders are asked to seek permission before entering individual arrangements with external or social teams.  

The following is a list of activities: Winter Team Sports (Boarders are to sign up with teams at the Day School): Football, Tennis, Basketball, Hockey, Netball, Water Polo and Sporting Shooters Summer Team Sports (Boarders are to sign up with teams at the Day School): Cricket, Tennis, Basketball, Netball and Sporting Shooters.  

Activities arranged outside the school: 
Parents / Boarders may organise privately. Please discuss with staff before signing up. These include: Dancing, Karate, Indoor Soccer, Mixed Twilight Hockey, Soccer, Boxing, Rugby League and Rugby Union, AFL, Cricket, Netball.  

Activities within the school:
Gym classes, basketball and netball training are available every Tuesday and Thursday from 6.45am for Boarders who wish to participate.  

Additional activities are often organised by Boarding staff if there is sufficient interest. Activities offered include: fitness, tennis, weights training, dancing, swimming, FoodShare, RFDS Cadets, and Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.  

Boarders are encouraged to take some responsibility for their own fitness programmes. From 6.30am boarders may go for a run, walk or bike-ride. Aerobics, yoga, or swimming are also possible if numbers are sufficient. Boarders in Years 7 – 10 are required to go in groups of a minimum of two when participating in unsupervised activities for their own safety. All Boarders are required to carry their personal mobile phone when out and off-campus. Boarders are encouraged to make use of the library and read more widely. The library has a daily supply of newspapers to keep students informed of current affairs.  

If individuals or groups are interested in participating in any other activity not offered at school, they should discuss with the Heads of Boarding.  

Music
Many boarders take lessons and participate in choirs, orchestras, Pipe Band, and other music groups. Practice rooms are available in the Cultural Centre before and after school. The Boarding House also has a dedicated music room, which contains a piano and electronic drum kit. With the permission of MODs, students may use this facility during their leisure time. It is the responsibility of students to act in a responsible manner when in the music room.  

Weekend Activities  
All students who stay in the Boarding House over the weekend are encouraged to participate in the free activities offered to them by staff. These might include excursions to nearby towns e.g., Beechworth, Bright, and Wagga. Trips to the Albury Swim Centre, The Albury Cinema or Lake Hume are popular in summer.  

Amenities  
Each Boarding House has a variety of recreational rooms, which have kitchen facilities and TVs for entertainment.  

Other Facilities  
Depending on staff availability to provide supervision, boarders may also use many of the school facilities such as tennis courts, gymnasium, volleyball courts, Design & Technology workshop, and swimming pool.  

Banking Arrangements
The average amount of pocket money that students need is $15.00 - $20.00 per week. This, of course, is determined by what students are required to purchase with their pocket money and in consultation with parents. The Boarding House staff do not issue pocket money. Students will need to set up an accessible bank account. They may access this on the days that they take street leave.

Bicycles, Scooters and Skateboards  
Bicycles, scooters, and skateboards may be kept at school for fitness training and recreational use. Bicycles, scooters, and skateboards should not be lent to other students. Use of the equipment may be withdrawn if these conditions are not met.  

Bicycles are to be kept locked in the bicycle shed located next to Wilson House. Senior students may lock their bikes in the racks provided outside the Health Centre. Students are advised to place a padlock on their bicycles. Students must comply with the law – including lights when it is dark, and Helmets must be worn. Please refer to NSW Transport regulations for further information http://www.transport.nsw.gov.a... customers/cycling/laws-and-penalties.  

Birthdays  
Birthdays are recognised each week with a birthday cake being provided at dinner on Wednesday nights. Daily acknowledgement of birthdays is also given at breakfast. Students are encouraged to celebrate the important occasion of birthdays and parents are welcome to arrange a birthday cake to be delivered to the Boarding House for their child. Details of local cake shops which deliver may be obtained from boarding staff.  

Boarder Parent Flat
There is a fully furnished flat located at the end of the Sellars Boarding House which is available for boarder parents to use if they are in Albury overnight on school business. The flat is booked via either Director of Boarding or Head of Wilson House. The flat has a twin bed and a double bed fold out sofa.  

Boarder Parent Group (BPG) 
The BPG has been established to provide a support network for parents and a communication link between boarding parents and staff. They offer advice on areas of interest and expertise, including strategies to cope with the number of issues that arise for boarders and their families from homesickness, to travel, to surviving the HSC. The group meet at the beginning of each term. They have assisted with the induction of new boarders and can give good advice to those anxiously waiting to join us. All boarding parents are invited to attend the Boarder Parent Group meetings.  

Boarding Leadership  
The Senior Boarding Leaders are responsible to the Heads of Sellars and Wilson Houses. They represent the Boarders in developing innovative ideas, providing feedback, and helping with the communication channel. Senior Boarding Leader elections are held in August when all boarders have an input into the leadership team.  

Boarding Students’ Council (BSC) 
The BSC is a representative body of students that acts as a channel of communication for the community. Any boarder can nominate to serve on the Council. The Council comprises year level representatives appointed after consultation with the boarding community and boarding house staff. The Council is made up of the student leadership team with the DoB or designate taking responsibility for attending these meetings and ensuring they are effectively run, that activities are fully planned and details communicated to the boarding and school community as appropriate.  

There is a regular, minuted fortnightly meeting of the Council. Students are encouraged to bring concerns to Council members. Maintaining open lines of communication is respected and is important for all members of the boarding community. During the year, the Council is active on matters to do with improving boarders’ lives and the boarding community overall. Other areas of Council involvement include fundraising, social events such as movie evenings, common rooms, resources, food menus, monthly birthday celebrations and Boarding House events and routines. 

Cars  
Please refer to the school Driving policy, which can be found here.  

Change in Boarding Status • Boarder to Day student and Fulltime to Weekly Boarder  

As is set out in our Enrolment Terms, a full Term’s notice, in writing, of intention to change the enrolment status of a student from Boarder to Day student must be given to The Principal. Written notice to move from a fulltime to weekly boarder must be given to The Principal prior to the last day of the term before the enrolment status change is required.  

Chapel/Reflection Time  
The boarding community meets bi-weekly to spend some time and space to reflect on personal lives and values. Reflection Time challenges our view of the world and our position in it. It is an opportunity for the boarding community members to develop their inner lives to become better at being who they are, and to seek answers to life’s bigger questions.  

Damages and Lost Property  
Damages to property will incur a consequence for the offender as well as a bill for the replacement. This will be communicated to parents and charged to the student account. Honesty is expected from students. The school insurance does not cover the loss of personal items, except in the case of fire. Each child is responsible for the safekeeping of iPads, computers, and other valuable items. It is important that these items are labelled and are locked away when not in use.  

Any lost items must be reported to the Boarding staff. The staff will consider the report and decide on the appropriate action as outlined in the Boarding Policy on Loss, Search and Confiscation.  

Dress Standards for Formal Dinner
The Scots School Albury Formal Dinner dress code requires attire that reflects modesty and good taste. Dress should not only be modest and appropriate but also fit properly and be neat and clean. All students are expected to be well groomed.

Driving Lessons
Students of the appropriate age may arrange to have driving lessons, take the test for their Learner Permit or for their Provisional License. The most appropriate time for these lessons is either before or after school.  

Duties
All boarders are expected to do a certain number of in-house duties. Lists of duties and current rosters are to be found on the house notice boards. Duties may include; supper clean up or assisting with putting younger students to bed.  

For example: there is a boarder roster in place for the clean-up each night of the communal areas where the Boarders prepare food and beverages.  

Exeat Weekends

On Exeat Weekends, all boarders are required to travel home by 5.00pm on the Thursday evening. See our School Calendar for EXEAT Weekend dates.

Fire Drill & Evacuation

• Evacuation
  There is an established routine for evacuation from each Boarding House. Evacuation is rehearsed regularly throughout the year.  
  Upon hearing the Fire Alarm, Boarders are to exit via the nearest exit. Boarders are to assemble in year groups on the steps in front of the Luff Pavilion at Wilson Oval where there will be a roll call. 
  It is essential that students always sign in and out of their Boarding Houses on REACH so that their presence or absence may be noted in the event of a fire. Students bringing visitors back to the Boarding Houses must ensure that they also sign in and out. 
  Instructions for Fire Evacuation Procedures are on all major doors and exits.  
• Lockdown
  In the event of intruders or a danger outside, the Boarding House will lockdown. A tone will be sounded which will mean all boarders are to return to the house. A roll will be checked and boarders will be kept safe.  

Homesickness  
It is perfectly normal for a child living in completely new surroundings, such as the Boarding House, to feel strange and to want to go home. Children must realise that they are likely to feel homesick from time to time and it is something they should not try to hide. All boarders have, at some time, felt this way. To help children manage their homesickness, we allocate senior students to support junior and new boarders.  

These students, along with the rest of the House Staff, play a vital role in the settling-in process for the new Boarders.  

Laundry  
Washing will be done on Monday and Thursday each week. Students are to collect clean clothes from the laundry or storage shelves. Personal items such as underwear and socks are to be placed in a large mesh laundry bag. All clothing items should have a fabric name tag already affixed before putting the clothing out for washing. School blazers and kilts only are dry-cleaned.  

All items are to be clearly marked with a woven name-tag.  

Students change linen and towels each week under the supervision of staff. Students can opt to use the laundry service provided by the laundry staff or students are welcome to do their own washing in the washing machines and dryers provided.  

Returning to the Boarding House  
Boarders are expected to be fully prepared for the school day when leaving the Boarding House in the morning. There are times, however, when students do find it necessary to return to the Boarding House during the school day; this must only occur in an emergency.  

When students do return to the Boarding House, they are required to obtain permission from the Duty Staff, if it is before school or during school times, student should present themselves to Reception where permission will be sought from the Head of the relevant Boarding House or a senior staff member.  

Upon arriving at the Boarding House, the student must present to the laundry staff who will then allow the student to enter the premises. If students do not present to the laundry staff, the laundry staff will inform the Heads of Houses who will follow up the breach of protocol.  

Rooms  
Room allocations will be drawn up by the Head of House each term. This encourages boarders to mix with one another and allows all boarders to share the more favoured positions. Boarders are expected to keep their rooms tidy always.  

The following conditions apply: 

• Lockers/Locked Drawers under beds
  Lockers should not be considered ‘secure’ places for valuable items especially when the owner is away from school for extended periods. Such valuables should be handed to staff for safekeeping. Lockers, drawers, and cupboards may be inspected at any time. Personal items such as bags and swags may be inspected where the staff believes prohibited items may be stored. Boarders are responsible for providing locks for their lockers. Keys for locked drawers need to be returned to the Head of Boarding at the end of the year. 
• Decorations 
  Boarders are encouraged to personalise their rooms with mementos from home including posters, fish bowls (small), decorations, special linen, and so on. All items must be presentable, appropriate and non-offensive.  
• Music
  Boarders may play music through speakers if they do not interfere with the quality of life within the Boarding Houses. Headphones are to be worn when listening to music via a laptop during Prep once permission has been given by Boarding House or Prep staff.
• ClothesAll clothes must be put away in a neat and tidy manner. Rooms are inspected throughout the week.  

Security  
Gates: The vehicle and pedestrian gates to Wood Street are locked and boarders will be issued with a gate card for entry. Visitors will need to contact staff on duty who will allow entry onto school grounds. Boarders and their parents are expected to treat their personal gate cards like a key. The initial gate cards are provided free of charge, boarders will be charged the cost price ($20) for replacement cards.

Doors: All doors are locked except for the front doors during the evening. Gates and doors are all automatically unlocked in emergency situations.  

Storage Facilities  
All belongings must be removed from the rooms at the end of each term. Some items may be stored in the storage areas. These must be clean and stored properly in a box with their name clearly marked. A Storage Room is provided for storage of luggage, swags etc. during term.  

Taxis  
Taxis are sometimes used to transport students to destinations after dark because student safety is para- mount. Boarders will be requested to show their Scots Student ID before the taxi driver will allow them to travel. The taxi fares are charged to the student’s account. Students should take note of the Taxi driver’s number before the commencement of the journey and the fare indicated at the destination. When possible, the school bus or the Boarding House car will be used for the group transportation of students. All students travelling by Taxi must carry a mobile phone.

Travel  
Boarders are encouraged to organise their own travel home at weekends. Travel concession information can be found for NSW and Victoria through Transport for NSW and Public Transport Victoria. Boarding staff will assist in acquiring a concession card, if required. Please note that Victoria and NSW have differing concession arrangements.  

Those returning on Sunday night by public transport should contact the duty MOD who will collect them on arrival.  

Visitors  
Scots’ student visitors to the Boarding House are made welcome and are given assistance to find whomever they are seeking. Visitors must report to the Boarding House staff and sign in on the visitor’s book when they arrive at the Boarding House for any amount of time other than a pick up or drop off. Visitors must inform the Boarding House staff when they leave and sign out on the visitors’ book. Visitors are permitted to visit with boarders in the communal areas only.  

When a boarder receives a visitor, they are to be introduced to the Boarding House staff on arrival. Visitors may only be taken into the Boarding Houses with the approval of the Duty Staff. Visitors are expected to observe all school and house rules. The host should report the visitor’s departure to the MOD.  

Visitors of the opposite sex are not permitted to be taken into the Boarding Houses beyond the front foyer.