Boarding parents building connections

It was a night of banter, hilarity, and friendly competition when boarding parents gathered at a quiz night at the Elmwood Tavern on Thursday 25 June.

“We had another great night of boarding community connection,” says Richard Sidey, chair of the Boarding Parents Reference Group which organises events for boarding parents each term to strengthen their connections and ensure they feel part of the wider boarding community.

Richard says many St Andrew’s boarding parents catch up with each other on the sports sidelines, but those from further afield, in places like Marlborough and Otago, have fewer opportunities to connect.

“We try to arrange outings at the end-of-term to coincide with parents picking up their children from the boarding houses,” he explains. “The connections are often practical too, as they connect parents whose children are friends in the boarding house, and who they might end up hosting or sending their children to the friend’s home for a weekend or time in the holidays.”

In addition to the popular quiz night in June, the group ran a parent evening at the Pegasus Arms Hotel earlier this year. Future events include a mystery bus trip and potentially a night at the races, says Richard.

“We get great support for the functions, with around 100 boarding parents turning up each time.”

Richard has been Chair of the long-standing group for around eight years, and says its focus has shifted from a forum solely for parents to provide feedback and share perspectives on boarding life with boarding management, to adding the more social element of connecting parents.

“Director of Boarding, Matt Parr, and Assistant Director of Boarding, Struan George, still come to our meetings and give us a report on the state of play in the boarding houses, and talk about anything they’d like the parents to help out with, such as supporting the no phones policy,” says Richard. “We give them any feedback too, then discuss how we’re going to bring our boarding parents together.”

Richard says around six regular committee members attend the meetings, however they are open to all boarding parents.

“We call a meeting and anyone is welcome to join us. It’s a great way to meet other boarding parents, and do our bit to foster St Andrew’s fantastic boarding culture.”