“A Journey Towards Autonomy”

Dear Parents, Families and Friends,
Welcome back to our House Blog!
We have now reached the end of the Marking Period and yesterday, during our last House Assembly of this term, we did not want to miss the opportunity to congratulate our boys on all their accomplishments! You have been informed regularly about our pastoral programme and about the boys’ academic progress through this House blog and emails. We are very grateful to all of you for your ongoing support and for making sure the boys understand the importance of the topics discussed and activities proposed.
Yesterday we wanted to praise the boys showing them what it means to be a “boarder” and clarifying what is expected from them.
What is this journey towards autonomy that they have embarked on about? Which sort of autonomy are we referring to? What are the challenges they need to overcome and what will they learn from this unquestionably meaningful experience?

When our students join our community they immediately become part of a big family. This family will always be by their side and they will have all the support needed to start their journey.

We expect our “boarders” to learn independence through a three steps process:

 

  • Personal care
  • Personal growth
  • Self-awareness

 

Our guiding statement R I S E, with all the activities, discussions, rules and policies we have in place have the same clear objective of raising kind, independent, resilient and mindful human beings.

It is a difficult and challenging journey especially for our boys. At their age, being away from home, away from the loving embrace of their beloved ones, asked to share rooms and spaces with complete strangers when the year starts…

…but this is why our presentation was about that special sense of pride we hope they can feel when someone asks them: “are you/have you been a boarder?”  With all our strength we hope that “being a border” will rhyme to them with being a changemaker, embodying tolerance, observing things with an open mind, be ready to help, be able to appreciate the present moment, be grateful and understanding that the pursuit of true happiness will necessary mean pursuit of meaning.

If you want to find out more about this House Assembly, just need to ask the boys how they feel about “being a boarder”…