OPENING UP THEIR ‘BOARDERS’

THE Southport School held its sixth annual Adopt A Boarder weekend, allowing students boarding from across rural Australia to spend a weekend with Gold Coast families.

The event is a pet project of Ian Browne, Housemaster of Year 7 Rogers House, who himself was a boarder many years ago.

“Because we’re such a tight-knit boarding community and you only talk with guys who are similar … they actually get to know some of the Gold Coast people,” he said.

“By getting to know some of the locals they then can rely and build on those relationships. They play in teams together, they’re in class together so this is just the next step.”

Families are now invited to spend their next school holidays with the boarders’ families, strengthening a country-city bond on the Gold Coast.

FINISHING high school is already a confusing time, what with choosing a university, taking your last exams and waving goodbye to all your old teachers.

But it’s still important even as that scary and wonderful time approaches to be sure of everything that’s happening — important changes are coming to the system.

Students who graduate in 2020 won’t be getting an OP.

Instead they’ll be getting an ATAR, which means assessments and exams are both taken into account for your final mark.

Never fear, because you’ll actually be better off — if you’re bad at exams, you can succeed in assignments, and vice-versa.

Visit studygoldcoast.org.au for more information.