Charles House
Trinity Grammar School, Kew has a small, friendly boarding house adjacent to the school in Kew. The boarding house accommodates boys from rural Australia and overseas. The boys live as a large family with the Boarding House Master, his family and House Tutor in each house. They share the duties of a normal household, have access to all School facilities and participate in weekend activities and excursions. It is a wonderful, caring environment that provides a home away from home.
A sentiment they uphold in the boarding house at Trinity is that the quality of human relationships is the most powerful influence upon the education offered within any institution. Through the boarding staff and the support network of the school we endeavour to build meaningful relationships with young men which assist them in receiving an outstanding education.
We aim to build a strong community which is diverse in its composition whilst being united in its mission. This is a place where teacher and student live and learn together. We believe that our boarders will thrive in the structured freedom offered by our sensitive, principle centred boarding program.
History of boarding at Trinity
Boarding has been a large part of Trinity Grammar School’s history. It was the intention of the founders of the school that Trinity have a boarding house and it is recorded in the minutes of the meeting of the 14th November, 1902 when the founding of the school was discussed, “that arrangements be made of a limited number of boarders”.
The first boarder, Reginald Harris enrolled in 1904 and the first official boarding house was established when the School purchased ‘Roxeth’, now known as Henty House (current staff common room and administration area) in 1906.
By 1975, however, the need for a boarding house at Trinity seemed to have diminished and it was no longer considered feasible for the boarding house to be open. For those who had been associated with Trinity for many years, it was difficult to accept the loss of this significant part of the school.
In 2002, a new and exciting era of boarding at Trinity began. The current boarding house precinct consists of two residential houses; Charles House which fronts 18 Charles Street & College House which fronts 17 College Parade. The two houses back onto each other and share a large backyard. In 2002, Trinity re-opened with 8 boarders, the maximum number that could be accommodated at that time. In 2008, 20 Charles Street (which was the original house when it closed in 1975) became available and enabled extra bedrooms and facilities to support 15 students.
Boarding house mission statement
“To provide a homely environment where individual boarders are able to grow into responsible and confident young men.”
Trinity’s boarding philosophy
We hope all boarders feel happy and cared for at Trinity. We believe our set-up is unique and that the boarders and staff can foster a homely environment from which we can all benefit and in which we can all live.
Surfing Trip
The two boarding houses are set-up and furnished in a manner that reflects living in a large house. Boarders have access to the kitchen and food at all times. They also have their own drawer in a bathroom and their own living and studying space.
Boarders feel comfortable bringing guests to the boarding house. Friends are welcome to visit after school or at any stage over the weekend. With prior notice, it can also be arranged for friends to come over for dinner or a friend may even complete schoolwork with another boarder during prep time. On special occasions, a boarder could also request a friend staying over for the night or weekend.
A boarding house staff member will always be present within the precinct when boys are in the house. Boarders’ progress and behaviour is closely monitored; however, we cannot possibly supervise each boarder individually for every minute of every day. We also have no intention of doing this, because along with boarding comes the opportunity for independent growth and responsibility.
The boarding house needs to (and does) operate from a basis of trust and honesty. As a parent, if you feel you cannot trust your son, then it is quite likely that Trinity’s Boarding House is not the right place for your child.
The Heroem is a publication produced by the boarders and has interesting articles about life in the boarding house. Please click here for the latest edition of the Heroem.
The Boarding House Guide Book can be found here
