Boarding (G8–12)

Involvement and participation are central to boarding life. Boarders are expected to contribute to the boarding community by showing individual initiative, and are encouraged to get involved in a range of diverse activities specifically for the boarding community. 

The boarding programme is deliberately structured to develop independence by gradually allowing boarders, as they progress into Grades 11 and 12, to adapt their personal routines to self-manage. This is done under the watchful eyes of our Houseparents, who provide advice and guidance where necessary, with the ultimate goal of equipping our students to make a smooth transition into the next stage of their life.

Our network of care and supervision in each boarding house includes:

• Resident Houseparents: teachers in the school who live with their families as part of the residential community. Their homes are within the boarding houses. One Houseparent is rostered on duty at all times and holds the 24hr emergency contact number.
• Assistant Houseparents: teachers in the school who are rostered on duty to support students after school (for example during homework, dinner and bedtime routines) and also on weekends.
• Day staff: during the school week, our boarding services staff help boarders with personal organisation i.e. finances, air tickets, school trips and visas. 
• Boarding counsellor: a qualified counsellor is available for boarders who need individual support and care 

At the start of the year, new boarders are assigned to a ‘house family’ (a group of fellow boarders across age-ranges, who together with a houseparent, form a ‘house family. 

Houseparents meet with their family on a regular basis, and are responsible for the wellbeing of the boarders in their ‘family’, supported by a team that includes Assistant Houseparents, day staff and other specialists. 

On Monday nights we have a ‘House Assembly’ to run through operations for the week and share and celebrate the achievements of our community.

Breakfast and dinner are buffet style, served indoors in Santai Cafe. Each school day, boarders eat lunch in the school canteen, using a pre-loaded stored-value card. All boarders gather for a House Dinner on Sunday evening.

Asian, Indian and Western options are available every meal, including vegetarian.

East Campus kitchens are Halal certified.

Homework, prep, call it what you will, every weekday except Tuesday, Grades 8 and 9 are in the 6th floor Common Room; Grades 10 and 11 are in the Kishore Mahbubani Library; and Grade 12 in their own rooms. 

On Tuesdays, if students are up to date with school work, they can join a community activity with their ‘boarding family’. This can be anything from sharing ‘My Story’, to a sports or art activities, baking or a film night.

At 9pm, students and houseparents gather for CommuniTea, a bed time snack and time for a relaxation and a catch up with friends and Houseparents to hang out, get ready for the next day, extra study, make a snack or read. 

Students in Grades 8–10 hand in devices at ‘technology curfew’ before bed time

In Grade 11 the main lights go off at 10.30pm, and reading lights at 11pm. 

WiFi curfew starts at midnight and runs until 5.30am.

There are a host of recreational options in Singapore which boarders are encouraged to explore on the weekends, including bicycle and exercise trails, libraries, parks and performance spaces. Those who are religious are able to connect with and participate in activities and worship in their religious community in Singapore.

A wide array of events and activities on campus and outings around Singapore includes cultural talks (in which boarders introduce the rest of the community to their country and culture), themed evenings, movie nights, thought-provoking discussions and presentations, sports such as dragon boating and trips to The Esplanade for concerts and other festivals. 

A boarding orientation programme welcomes new boarders before the ‘day school’ orientation starts and returning boarders re-join the house community. Experienced staff ensure our new boarders are immersed in a schedule of planned activities that include Singapore and campus exploration days, as well as time to get to know each other and the daily routines of the house. 

Following the start to the school year, the whole boarding house then travels together for a weekend away in the first month of the academic year to help all our boarders get to know each other in a relaxed environment away from Singapore.

Students are housed by grade on each floor, with hotel-style, individual key-card security access to the residential living areas. Room configurations are decided by grade: 

Grade 8 and 9: four-bedded rooms
Grade 10 and 11: two-bedded rooms
Grade 12: single rooms with sink

Individual provision for each student includes: 

• bed, desk, wardrobe, storage space
• daily cleaning (not tidying!) is provided
• regular, scheduled laundry service

Bathrooms are shared, single gender facilities, located on opposite ends of the building. They are attached to each residential group and are shared only by students resident in that wing; they are not accessible to other boarders.

Multiple indoor and outdoor common areas with recreation facilities including TV, pool tables, computer and board games, movie room, reading room. 

There are full kitchen facilities to prepare snacks and other meals and BBQ areas.

Washing machines, dryers, iron and ironing board are available for boarders who need off-schedule laundry services.

A boarding office main desk is located at the entry lobby; all students pass by the main desk on their way to the lifts and can collect mail and arrange support from their day parents through this central area.

Access to school facilities is scheduled but includes the conditioning gym, dance studio, swimming pool, and other sports facilities, as well as music practice rooms and the secondary library for homework. 

There is a medical clinic in the boarding house with:

• Registered nurses dispense and manage medications
• A weekday Doctors clinic provides boarders with priority access to consult a GP; prescribed medications are delivered and dispensed by the nurse
• Sick bay is staffed by registered nurses
• Nursing staff and day and houseparents assist students with follow up medical appointments

Changi General Hospital is nearby for medical treatment and emergency care 

House rules on signing out mean that students are given age-appropriate levels of independence and, in younger grades particularly, have strict guidelines for off-campus leave passes. 

All students must have a valid Singapore handphone number and be contactable via this number whenever they are off campus. 

There is a managed process that involves parents when students request overnight leave; students are required to apply and gain approval in advance for any overnight leave passes.

The campus has 24 hour security with additional reception and monitored access with a touchpad sign-out/sign-in system in the boarding house. 

Students do not return to the boarding house during the school day unless they have prior permission. Coded security restricts access within the boarding houses to those who are resident on that floor. 

Day students are not permitted in the residential accommodation. 

Passports and other valuables are kept in a central safe deposit box in the office.

If we have any concerns, we contact parents directly. A 24hr emergency number is held by the Houseparent on duty. 

Our group policy covers hospitalisation and personal accident insurance for all boarders. Please ask Admissions for details of the levels of cover; some families elect to purchase additional insurance.