Boarding Structure

Boarding life at Kinross Wolaroi School is a natural extension of family life at home. Our accommodation and pastoral care are of the highest standards. We are actively committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and wellbeing of all children.

We operate under a horizontal house system for our two Year 7 boarding houses. Within these houses there are senior students who are selected for their ability to mentor the younger boarders as they navigate their first year away from home. Our other houses accommodate students from Years 8 to 12. This structure allows us to provide for the needs of the younger students in separate Houses. In turn, this facilitates a feeling of family, with students of all ages living together. They become surrogate brothers and sisters during their time at school. Our boy boarders live at the Wolaroi site, whilst our girl boarders live approximately four kilometres across town on the PLC site. Buses are in operation between the boarding sites each day, enabling our students to participate in an extensive co-curricular program before and after school each day and on weekends.

Boarding is overseen by a Head of Girls' Boarding and a Head of Boys' Boarding, both of whom report to the Head of Senior School.

There are eight boarding houses, each with a Head of House who reports directly to their respective Head of Boarding. Each house has a House Mother and three to four Resident Assistants. Most houses also have an Assistant House Parent.

Each Boarding House has one or two parent representatives on the Boarding Parents’ Committee. The Boarding Parents’ Committee meets twice a year to discuss a range of issues of particular interest to our boarding community, enabling parents to be involved in developments within the boarding school. Any new policy implemented by the boarding staff and/or parents however, must be in line with the general school policy.

Facilities

Across both the boys Wolaroi and girls PLC boarding sites, boarders have the following facilities available to them:

• Secure accommodation
• Dormitory, double or single room
• Common room in each boarding house, with kitchen facilities, TV, Foxtel, Netflix, etc.
• Individual study spaces
• Access to Wi-Fi
• Swimming Pool
• 50 acres of beautiful grounds and gardens
• Ovals and various courts
• Barbeque facilities
• Recreation centres and gym facilities
• Library on Wolaroi Site, open 8am-5pm Monday to Friday
• Onsite 24/7 Medical Centre staffed by fully qualified and experienced nursing sisters.

Meals

The School employs several qualified chefs to prepare meals for our boarding students at both the Wolaroi and PLC sites. The catering team provide fresh, seasonal and nutritionally balanced meals to students and cater for a variety of dietary requirements.

A sample Boarding Menu can be found below:
Boarding Menu

Adjusting To Boarding

With boarders coming from regional and metropolitan communities across NSW, Kinross Wolaroi School offers a Boarders' Sleepover Program to Year 7 students to assist new students and their families prepare for life in boarding. Students are introduced to key aspects of boarding life, meet other students and sleep over in their boarding house, while parents are able to attend an information seminar and meet other parents.  Orientation for school and boarding takes place during Term 4.

Activities

Boarders have both compulsory and non-compulsory activities.

Compulsory activities include:

• Attendance at school each day
• Attendance at sport
• Attendance at Cadets (from Term 3,  Year 7 until Term 2 , Year 9)
• Attendance at Boarders’ Church services if in residence
• Attendance at Prep Sessions for study and homework
• Attendance at meals.

Non-compulsory activities include:

• Activities organised within the house.
• Activities organised on each individual boarding site.
• Activities organised across both sites.
• Examples of the above include movies, ten-pin bowling, picnics, movie nights, craft, and twilight sport.

Academic Support

Academic support is a cornerstone of our boarding program. We offer structured Prep sessions in the evenings, supervised by our academic staff, along with access to our free Study Hub. Our focused literacy programs for new Year 7 boarders ensure every student has the opportunity to excel academically.

'Prep' in boarding context means 'Homework'. 

Prep is set by the day school teachers. From Mondays until Thursdays inclusive there is a formal prep time each evening. This set time does vary from site to site, however generally boarders are supposed to be studying from 6:45pm until 8:45pm.

The Heads of Houses maintain a constant overview of their boarders with assistance provided by other members of staff. The junior boarders (Years 7-9) do their prep in a central location while senior boarders (Years 10-12) may do prep in their rooms.

Boarding is in our DNA

Generations of families have chosen boarding at Kinross Wolaroi for their children. The majority of the school’s boarders are from rural families from across regional and remote New South Wales, where for many there are limited schooling options in their home communities.

Boarding regionally at Kinross Wolaroi School is increasingly being considered as a strong option that keeps kids grounded and connect to family without missing out on the opportunities of attending a respected independent school.

Country Boarding for City Kids

In today's fast-paced world, many families are discovering the unique benefits that boarding school can offer, both socially and academically. Boarding provides opportunities that can be hard to replicate at home, creating a more relaxed and stress-free environment for children.

At Kinross Wolaroi School, students enjoy a country lifestyle that is free from the pressures of long city commutes. This means more time for study, extracurricular activities, and personal growth. Our boarders live on campus, using their time wisely to engage in a variety of enriching activities.

Parents often seek a broader perspective for their children, wanting them to understand that Australia extends far beyond the edges of Sydney. Boarding at Kinross Wolaroi School helps students step out of their suburban comfort zones, fostering resilience, independence, and character development. This invaluable experience prepares them for a successful and well-rounded future.

Boarding and Personal Growth

Our families relish the boarding extras that many would be hard-pressed to match at home – supported homework study, a busy weekend activity program, strong wellbeing programs and opportunities to develop friendships that will last a lifetime. Even homesickness is increasingly a thing of the past, with mobile phones and wifi connected boarding houses ensuring plenty of contact with families.

Boarding life helps students to develop a strong sense of self. Research has shown that boarding sets up students with the independence and confidence to really thrive when they enter university or the workplace.

A Leader in Co-education

As a leader in coeducation for fifty years, our students learn to appreciate their own unique value as well as that of their peers, laying the groundwork for building respectful and meaningful relationships in the future.

For families, our coeducational environment offers the convenience of a 'one-stop-shop' where all children can attend together. This integrated approach not only simplifies family logistics but also fosters a supportive and inclusive community where every student can thrive. 

Inclusive and Supportive

At Kinross Wolaroi School, we are committed to providing a caring and inclusive environment for all our boarders, including those who are questioning their gender identity or who are gender diverse. We understand the importance of exercising wisdom, care, and effective support strategies to ensure every student feels valued and supported. Our dedicated staff are trained to provide the necessary guidance and create a safe, welcoming space for all students to thrive