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32 <strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Wednesday <strong>July</strong> <strong>28</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
BOARDING SCHOOL<br />
The experience of a lifetime<br />
Sammy Hood is a keen advocate of all<br />
that boarding has to offer.<br />
She’s been boarding at St Margaret’s<br />
College since she started in Year 9. Now<br />
in Year 13, Sammy is the school’s Head of<br />
Community Relations.<br />
“I was buzzing with excitement to start<br />
boarding at SMC. It was a whole new<br />
experience but it didn’t take me long to<br />
get used to the boarding life. The friendly<br />
and compassionate staff definitely made<br />
the transition from home in Ashburton to<br />
boarding much easier. They helped us all<br />
adjust to the new rules and to living with<br />
other girls.<br />
“Living in the dorms during my first<br />
two years made it very easy to form<br />
new friendships and these connections<br />
definitely helped when I did feel home<br />
sick.”<br />
The boarding community is at the<br />
heart of St Margaret’s and the culture is<br />
closely aligned with the school’s vision<br />
of a holistic education, embracing the<br />
spiritual and emotional wellbeing of the<br />
girls, as well as their academic growth<br />
and their development in sport and the<br />
arts.<br />
The three boarding houses are arranged<br />
in year groups and structured to the<br />
specific needs of each developmental<br />
stage. In Julius House (Years 7-10) the<br />
environment is structured and nurturing<br />
for the girls to make the transition into<br />
boarding. Kilburn House (Years 11-12)<br />
encourages the girls to begin personally<br />
integrating these skills. Cranmer House<br />
(Year 13) allows for more freedom to<br />
help them develop life skills and become<br />
driven, self-managed young women, all<br />
in a monitored setting. These senior girls<br />
thrive as they become the leaders of the<br />
boarding school and the ‘older sisters’ of<br />
the younger girls.<br />
Sammy says boarding at SMC has<br />
helped her to become more independent.<br />
“As you progress through the year<br />
levels, your independence grows. The<br />
connections and relationships you<br />
build in the SMC boarding community,<br />
whether it be girls in your year group or<br />
the staff, are all valuable and also help you<br />
grow as a person. The academic support<br />
and pastoral care provided by staff is<br />
exceptional. It helps the girls to strive to<br />
their full potential. At the same time, staff<br />
are always keeping a close eye on each<br />
girl’s wellbeing.<br />
“I’ve built strong friendships that will<br />
last a lifetime, and it’s a lot of fun! You get<br />
to meet a diverse range of people from all<br />
backgrounds and everyone is treated as<br />
equals.”<br />
To learn more about life at<br />
St Margaret’s College, visit<br />
www.stmargarets.school.nz or call<br />
03 379 2000 to arrange a personal tour<br />
of the Boarding House and College.<br />
Empowering Girls<br />
to Learn, Live & Lead.<br />
Learn more about a St Margaret’s<br />
Contact Susie Campbell,<br />
Admissions Manager<br />
College education for your daughter (03) 353 2563<br />
– book a personal tour today.<br />
enrol@stmargarets.school.nz Balanced<br />
foundations,<br />
bright futures.
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