Boarding information

Frequently asked questions

• How and when do I apply for boarding?

  It is important to submit a Boarding Application as early as possible, as interviews start roughly 18 months prior to the boarder commencing at the College. Please contact Sonia Kravinskis, Personal Assistant to the Director of Boarding on 08 8350 2559 or via email at boarding@shc.sa.edu.au if you have any boarding related questions or would like to arrange a tour of our Boarding and College facilities. Boarding Applications can be emailed to the boarding email address noted above or sent via mail marked to the attention of the Boarding Registrar.

• Where can I find important dates?

  All important school dates can be accessed via the College Calendar.

  Important boarding dates (including Boarding Exeats) can be accessed via Sacred Heart College Exeat & Term Dates for Boarding Families.

• What food is provided?

  The College is dedicated to ensuring nutritious, wholesome and varied meals are available to our boarders. This includes a variety of healthy and relevant choices and making provisions for particular dietary requirements. The College provides breakfast, recess, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and supper daily. The Chef Manager caters to the needs of our boarders and is responsible for providing a variety of choices for boarders, which includes quality fresh fruit and vegetables daily.

• Are students allowed to have their own car?

  Only Year 12 boarders are permitted to have their cars on site once they have completed a Boarding Driver Agreement. The intention of making motor vehicle use an option for Year 12 boarders, is to enable some flexibility for these young adults and to assist with the logistical challenges associated with being a boarder away from home. Permission for boarders to drive is a privilege that comes with a high level of individual responsibility. As a College, we also consider our relevant Duty of Care responsibilities and mitigate risk wherever possible to ensure our boarders are safe. 

• What happens when a boarder becomes ill?

  Sacred Heart College has registered nurses at both campuses to care for boarders and day students when they are unwell. Our Health Care Centres are fully equipped facilities and are staffed by registered nurses Monday – Friday from 8.00am – 5.00pm. All medical, dental, physio and other appointments for our boarders are managed through our Health Care Centre and communicated to parents/caregivers. If a boarder becomes unwell outside of Health Care Centre hours, our Boarding Staff liaise with the Boarding Leadership Team who ensure that the appropriate level of care is provided to all of our boarders 24hrs a day.

• Is there supervised homework?

  Our boarders have set study times Sunday to Thursday night. First study for all year levels is generally from 6.30pm – 8.00pm and Year 11 Wellbeing Time or Year 12 second study is from 8.15pm – 9.15pm. All boarders must hand in their mobile phones during study and have the option of studying at their desks  in their rooms or out in our communal learning spaces with other boarders and our Boarding Tutors. Tutors are on hand during study time in both Boarding Houses to support our boarders and we do all we can to ensure we are catering to all learning styles and needs. Once a week, both Boarding Houses will attend the College Resource Centre for group study until 8.00pm with access to additional tutor support as well. The College also offers after school and evening access to Teaching Staff and Day Tutors in the College Resource Centre.

• Boarding House Leadership Opportunities

  Sacred Heart College is committed to the holistic development of all boarders and recognises the importance of fostering leadership qualities in boarders as a part of their intellectual, social, physical and psychological well being.

  One of our focus areas each year is to promote student leadership within our Boarding Community, in order to foster the core values of Sacred Heart College. Leadership opportunities include:

  • Year 10 Boy & Girl Leader
  • Year 11 Boy & Girl Leader
  • Year 12 Boy & Girl Boarding Captain
  • Year 12 Boy & Girl Deputy Boarding Captain

  Boarding leaders are appointed following a comprehensive process which includes nomination, interview, speech and election. This process is facilitated by the Director of Boarding in consultation with College Leadership and Deputy Directors of Boarding.

• Transition for new boarders

  All new students and new boarders are invited to attend Orientation Day. This is held towards the end of Term 4 each year. This provides an opportunity for your son or daughter to meet other new students, as well as the current Boarding House student leaders and staff. Parents/caregivers also get a chance to meet each other and share Morning Tea together, along with our Boarding Staff and Boarding Leaders.

  At the start of the new school year, new boarding students arrive at the Boarding House two days before the first official day of school. This provides a gentle start to settle into new rooms and spend time with the other new boarding students and some existing boarders. The student boarding leaders are present to support and answer any questions that our new boarders may have. During this time, our new boarders have a tour of Marcellin Campus, so they know where their classrooms are prior to the first day. They are also shown the sights and local facilities of Somerton Park and Glenelg. If weather permits, a visit to the beach is always top of the list.

  The transition into a new school and home away from home needs to be meaningful and comprehensive. This transition process is ongoing, and supports each new boarder who enters our boarding family.

• What do boarders do on the weekends?

  Sacred Heart College is committed to the holistic development of each boarder in our care. The College has extensive co-curricular opportunities which boarders undertake and support. On weekends, many of our boarders are involved in school and club sporting commitments.  As part of our Boarding Program, we have an Activities Coordinator who provides our boarders with a number of activities weekly which they can engage in. Outings could include going to the AFL, basketball, netball, paintballing, ice skating, laser tag, tenpin bowling or playing a round of golf, going for walks, and many other activities. Due to the location of the College, our boarders also have the opportunity to access local leave opportunities such as walking to the beach, shopping on Jetty Road Glenelg, going to the movies or catching public transport to Marion Shopping Centre. Our boarders can also be involved in community outreach opportunities and it is a requirement for all boarders to engage in our Boarding Faith Formation Program.

• Dareau Unit

  The College Unit Dareau, is located at the rear of Paringa Hall and is named after Rue Dareau in Paris, where the Marist Hospitality Centre is situated. The purpose of the Dareau Unit is to provide accommodation to members of our Marist Community including our current boarding families. Conditions to access the Dareau Unit can be found here.

• Is there supervision at night time?

  The Sacred Heart College Boarding House is staffed 24/7 and ensures that we can effectively care for and actively supervise our boarders. There are always two staff who sleep over in each House every night and there is also a member of the Boarding Leadership Team who is on-call to manage any issues that may arise after hours. It is reassuring for families to know that their child will be adequately cared for no matter the hour of the day.

• Leave

  During the school term, it is important that boarders are able to take leave and have access to families and friends. The Boarding House utilises an electronic leave system called REACH and details regarding the usage of this system will be made available to boarders and boarding parents at the start of their boarding journey. This system enables families to communicate and approve leave for their children and enter travel arrangements for all leave, including exeat and holiday leave. Requests for leave are approved at the discretion of Boarding Staff and the Boarding Leadership Team to ensure these adhere to our Leave Guidelines.

• Mobile phones

  Boarders are permitted to use mobile phones when in our care and outside of school hours. However, they are held by Boarding Staff during evening study time and scheduled exam preparation sessions. Year 9 & 10 boarders also have their mobile phones stored overnight by Boarding Staff from lights out on weeknights. It is the responsibility of the boarders to ensure they have their device charged. Mobile phones are not permitted to be used in bathroom facilities at any time.

• Marist Spirit

  We provide a quality and unique boarding experience that is committed to each boarder’s holistic development. Our Boarding Community is built upon the foundation of the 5 key Marist characteristics, empowering boarders to achieve their true potential academically, personally and spiritually. 

  LOVE OF WORK

  Staff and students of Sacred Heart College follow the example of the Marist Brothers who built this College on their LOVE OF WORK. The dedication and commitment that staff show to the boarders inspires a love of learning, self-discipline and a sense of responsibility. 

  FAMILY SPIRIT

  Each member of our Boarding Community is valued and will be treated with acceptance and respect. A sense of belonging is fostered and the Sacred Heart College FAMILY SPIRIT becomes evident by the genuine and caring relationships in our community. 

  SIMPLICITY

  We strive to be honest, open and humble in our relationships. We value this SIMPLICITY in our community and recognise it builds integrity where we each value others and ourselves. 

  PRESENCE

  Our caring Boarding Staff maintain a PRESENCE during the boarding journey, being caring, attentive and nurturing while taking an active interest in the lives of our boarders. 

  IN THE WAY OF MARY

  Our Boarding Community has an opportunity to see Mary, the Mother of God, as our role model of being Marist: tender, strong and devoted. We are challenged to live IN THE WAY OF MARY so she may inspire us in our daily lives and our relationships with others. 

  Adapted from ‘In the Footsteps of Marcellin Champagnat: A Vision for Marist Education Today’ (1998) Institute of the Marist Brothers of the Schools.