JUST LIKE HOME
Learn about the benefits of family boarding at Toowoomba Anglican School in Queensland.
“The thing I enjoy most about being at TAS is how much these people have become my family.”
IN THE REGIONAL QUEENSLAND CITY of Toowoomba, 128 kilometres west of Brisbane, it’s a common occurrence to be greeted by a student in a maroon and navy baggy cap. Toowoomba Anglican School (TAS), which offers co–education from kindergarten through to year 12, embraces the CAPS Code, which stands for Courtesy Counts, Active Learning, Positive Thinker, and Safe and Responsible Conduct. It was this long-standing custom that caught the attention of Ian Basset, TAS Director of Boarding, almost two decades ago after he had emigrated from South Africa. “I was driving around eastern Toowoomba and stopped at the pedestrian crossing to allow the children to cross and the lads tipped their caps to me and the girls smiled and I thought to myself, “Wow, I have not seen that since I was back in school 1000 years ago! It was impressive and it still remains so to me today when I see the faces of the motorists smiling,” Ian says. Courtesy remains an important value at TAS, as is its unique point of difference — family boarding. The school caters for co–education boarders from year one through to senior, allowing siblings to maintain a bond throughout their education. For many rural and regional families with boarding school a necessary part of life, this extends the opportunities for children to embrace academic, cultural, co–curricular or life experience opportunities, regardless of their age. “We provide an option to not only start their schooling and boarding years with us but to transition right through their secondary years to graduation as well. There are clear educational, pastoral, events and logistical benefits of having children at the same school. Our focus is on providing as close to a natural and happy ‘family’ environment as possible,” Ian adds. Established in 1911, TAS has 605 students, which includes 90 boarders who come from all over regional Queensland, interstate and overseas. Seven–year–old Emaya Fegan from a sheep and cattle property near Julia Creek, Queensland, began boarding last year in year one and has two older siblings at the school, Jedd 10, and 12–year–old Mehar. “I love how I see my sister and brother all the time and look forward to sitting with them at breakfast,” she says. “We do fun things in boarding like craft, gymnastics and playing with the dogs.” Mehar, Jedd and Emaya return home at the end of each term and in the meantime, says Emaya, the best way to embrace boarding life is to “enjoy it, be yourself and make it like your home.” Sixteen–year–old Ben Anderson from Narrien Station, west of Clermont has been a boarder at TAS for the past seven years. “The thing I enjoy most about being at TAS is how much these people have become my family,” he says. “It’s a smaller school so we all know each other well and enjoy spending a lot of time together. Some of these people I’ve grown up with, lived with. We’ve shared our lives with each other; they’re my siblings.” During his time at the school Ben has been involved in a lot of different extracurricular activities and sports, including tennis, rugby union, cricket, basketball, soccer, touch, AFL and rugby league. “I also do have a lot to do with performing arts,” he says. “I’ve been involved with the annual TAS productions since 2013, a number of choirs, and the school rock band. I’m also super fortunate to have been involved in or selected for a handful of acting ensembles and workshops in Toowoomba, Brisbane, and Sydney, and these have been so valuable to me as someone working towards a career in performing arts.” While many boarders come from rural areas, others live in the city. It’s their shared experiences and learning, which creates a strong sense of community within the school. Year 11 student Macey Roberts from Nanango, just under two hours north of Toowoomba, was also a boarder at TAS last year. “Every day is like a huge sleepover and the friendships that you develop and the bond you have with the girls in the house is incredible,” says Macey. “My house has become like my second family and it’s all thanks to the people that I am lucky enough to live with. “For me, I think the greatest opportunities here at TAS are the creative subjects available to the students. For example, I am doing drama and film and television. They are my two favourite subjects because I get to be creative and express myself through my school work. I love that I am able to continue these subjects into my senior years and have them go towards my ATAR,” she says. Four boarding houses are located on campus, close to the academic, sport and arts facilities. At weekends, Macey joins her house or the other boarding houses for an excursion and she also competes in running and triathlon.“when we go to the movies or on town leave, it gives us a chance to enjoy things outside of school as if we would if we were at home” she explains. This year Macey has joined the school volleyball team, rugby sevens, school debating team, performance choir and she is currently rehearsing for the school play. “Extracurricular activities are definitely a great way to meet people and get out of the dorm, but they are just overall a good thing to take part in because you get to join groups of people that are interested in the same things you are. This would be a great thing to do if you are a new student — join a team or group within the school and get to know people around the school community,” says Macey. For more information, visit taschool.qld.edu.au