Technology Strengthening Human Connections in Boarding

How Technology is Enhancing — Not Replacing — Human Connection in Our Boarding Houses

By Hannah Whittemore, Head of Girls Boarding at Kinross Wolaroi School

At Kinross Wolaroi School, we understand that boarding is about more than just living away from home. It’s about community, connection, and growth — both personal and academic. In today’s world, where technology plays a central role in everyday life, we’re committed to finding the right balance: embracing innovative digital tools while ensuring our boarders continue to develop strong interpersonal skills and meaningful relationships.

Using EdTech to Strengthen Care and Connection

While we leverage education technologies (edtech) to enhance the boarding experience, our core focus remains on people. Living together in the boarding houses naturally fosters countless opportunities for students to build interpersonal skills — whether it’s navigating friendships, supporting each other through challenges, or sharing in co-curricular and weekend activities.

We use software called ‘Orah’ as a key wellbeing tool. This platform provides our staff with data-driven insights, allowing us to monitor patterns in leave, engagement, and day-to-day interactions. It helps us spot changes in behaviour early, so we can tailor our support to each individual. In this way, technology becomes a means to deepen care and ensure no student slips through the cracks.

At the same time, we’re deliberate about creating healthy boundaries around device use. Just as families manage screen time at home, boarding schools have a responsibility to teach balance. By limiting screentime, we encourage boarders to be truly present with one another — forming friendships that often last well beyond school.

Keeping Parents Connected from Afar

Boarding today is worlds apart from the past, when parents might not hear much until the end of term. We see boarding as a partnership between parents, staff, and students, built on open and regular communication.

Providing daily scheduled and defined times for use of mobile phones promotes this connection, while nights after lights-out are device-free, and mobile phones are banned during the school day.

Orah plays a significant role here too, giving parents visibility over key aspects of their child’s boarding life, such as leave requests, sign-ins, and wellbeing check-ins. Beyond this, we maintain connection through fortnightly newsletters, regular phone calls and emails from Heads of House and the Head of Boarding, and our dedicated Boarding Instagram page.

Each boarding house also uses online ‘Hub’ Pages (the school’s parent portal), where staff share weekend activity updates and photo wrap-ups. These touchpoints give parents a vivid window into the rich, vibrant lives their children are leading, helping to bridge the distance and keep them closely involved.

Preparing Boarders for a Tech-Rich Future — With Balance

We know our students are stepping into a world where technology is not just present — it’s foundational to many careers and day-to-day life. Like all schools now, our students all have laptops for school days and homework times. But boarding gives us a unique opportunity to help them develop not only digital fluency, but also the wisdom to use technology responsibly.

By using platforms like Orah, students see firsthand how technology can strengthen human connection, not replace it. At the same time, our Boarding Digital Device Policy sets clear expectations around screen use, with defined hand-in times that create space for rest, reflection, and face-to-face interaction.

We also draw on best practice research to guide students in distinguishing between screen time that is productive and enriching, versus time that might lead to fatigue or disconnection. These are habits we want them to carry forward, so they can thrive in a tech-driven world while knowing when to switch off.

Changing Attitudes Towards Technology in Boarding

Naturally, introducing new systems can bring some hesitation. But we’re finding that both parents and students are increasingly open — even enthusiastic — about digital tools that enhance connection and wellbeing.

Parents send their children to boarding out of love and a desire to give them the best opportunities. They welcome technologies that keep them informed and involved, from platforms like Orah to our newsletters and photo updates.

Our students, as digital natives, often embrace these tools quickly and intuitively. It’s our role to meet them where they are — guiding them towards healthy habits while also learning from their comfort with technology.

What we’re seeing is a clear shift: from caution to collaboration. Technology, when used thoughtfully and with care, is no longer viewed as a disruption but as an integral part of the modern boarding experience — one that supports connection, wellbeing, and personal growth.