PENRYN COLLEGE

BOARDING

INTRODUCTIONOne and All

Penryn College is a top independent , co-educational school situated between Nelspruit and White River in Mpumalanga, South Africa that provides quality holistic education with a Christian Ethos. Penryn’s unique and spectacular setting overlooks the Crocodile River valley and provides

an idyllic space for all our scholars to grow and learn . Our innovative approach to nurturing the intellectual, physical , spiritual and emotional wellbeing of our scholars sets us apart as a leader in education in the area and beyond.

Boarding at Penryn is a unique experience filled with opportunities for personal development and lifelong friendships. Our five boarding houses cater for 138 boarding scholars from all over South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, Botswana, Portugal, Brazil and India. All our boarders receive the individual attention they need from dedicated house parents in a nurturing setting. Creating a home from home, we accommodate brothers and sisters as well and extended family members in the same hostel to truly assist in maintaining family values and a sense of belonging for the

duration of their school career.

ACADEMIC SUCCESSAcademic excellence is expected at Penryn and

our scholars strive to improve each year!

Our scholars’ diligence, together with the support of parents and teachers, has produced exceptional achievements. For 20 consecutive years the Matric scholars of Penryn College have maintained a 100 % pass rate.

We are particularly proud of our 2017 Matriculants, who all qualified to study at tertiary level with 96.4% of them achieving university exemption.

Our top matric academic boarder in 2017 achieved four distinctions with two subjects on 79% and was in the top 1% nationally for Portuguese.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCHOLARS

Dreams are encouraged and anything is achievable!

When you send your child to Penryn College’s boarding facility , you are presenting them with

an unique opportunity to experience all roles and activities that a co-educational private

school can offer . There are unlimited opportunities within the extensive extra

curricular programme, tailored to be inclusive for all boarding scholars, which enables them

to grow to their full potential. A full life is guaranteed for all boarders with house,

educational, spiritual, cultural, sport and leisure activities.

In a structured and caring environment our boarders thrive and invariably take on the

growing leadership responsibilities within the boarding house and the wider school

community as well as internationally through the Round Square affiliation.

INDEPENDENCEInspiring scholars to be confident, self-assured in the knowledge

that they have the freedom to be themselves.

At Penryn we build confidence and as your child recognises their growing capacity for self-reliance and self-determination they will learn to take responsibility for themselves in a supportive environment. They will be mastering new skills, taking calculated risks – whether at a challenging school excursion, an Inter House sports-, drama - or music competition, or through their academic studies - improving their resilience in the

process. Through out the journey we acknowledge and nurture their unique identity while striving to instill our school’s Honour code:Honour God

Honour OthersHonour Oneself

Honour the CollegeHonour the Society and Environment

HEART BEAT OF THE CAMPUSA home from home.

At Penryn we make every effort to ensure that your child is comfortable in their boarding surroundings. Our boarding houses (named after indigenous trees: Marula, Mahogany, Kiaat, Acacia and Waterberry) consist of a common room where boarders can visit, relax and watch TV. The boys and girls are accommodated in separate bedroom wings. Each room accommodates two scholars, each with their own cupboard space , a

study desk and bookshelves. Scholars can decorate their room with their own bedding and photographs of family and pets. Technology provides plenty of opportunities for them to stay in touch through the school’s WiFi. The house parent will also ensure that your child will receive

medical attention and assistance from our dedicated matron and local hospital facilities should they need it.

A typical boarding day starts at 06h00 in the morning and ends at 21h45 after the 2nd study session.This includes a fully balanced menu, tailored to any specific dietary needs should your child require it. All main meals and a snack during school

break are served in our dinning room.

LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPSPenryn Family.

Friendships that develop in Penryn’s unique boarding environment have at their heart a deep and shared understanding that transcends geographic and cultural borders and bind them together as a proud Penryn family. Their boarding experience grants scholars exposure to a

tremendous wealth of cultural diversity and they gain an understanding of issues facing young adolescents around the world.

WEEKEND ACTIVITIES Never a dull moment!

Organised boarding activities and excursions (for example: picnic at the Mac-Mac pools, day trip into the Kruger National Park, etc.) occur throughout the year during

those rare weekends when the Penryn campus is quiet.

There is a healthy spirit of competition between all the boarding houses and all boarders thoroughly enjoy themselves

when they participate in soccer, touch rugby and netball during the Inter boarding house competitions.

On a Sunday our boarders are welcome to attend church services.

James Goldschmidt‘s story (Head Boy of Boarding)

I came from a small school in Hazyview and arrived at Penryn College in Grade 8, 2014. I have nearly completed my high school career and during that time I have spent it all in boarding. From the beginning of my boarding experience at Penryn College I would learn that there are such strong friendships between the boys in each house. From academics, social and sports I received help from house parents and older scholars that have made my high school career gone by in a flash. It has been an amazing experience through the years and I am looking forward to go to University with valuable life skills that I would not have been able to learn if I were not in boarding at Penryn College.

Sphe Mavimbela’s story (Head Girl of Boarding)

As a young Grade 8 coming into high school, I was excited about the new adventure that Penryn College held for me, but at the same time I was shaking with fear at the thought of leaving home, my family and friends behind in Swaziland. When I arrived at Kiaat House I was warmly received by all. It was in Kiaat that I found other foreigners who shared my fears and gave me guidance on everything regarding school. It became a home away from home.

What will a new scholar need to bring with them to the boarding house.

• School uniform

• Sports kit(s)

• Boarder uniform

• A total of four sets of appropriate civvies to wear to

church and/or on Civvies Days will be adequate.

• Pyjamas, slippers and a gown.

• Shower shoes.

• Coat hangers.

• 2 Fitted single bed sheets; pillows and pillow cases;

duvet; extra blanket.

• Laundry bag.

• Hand-held steam iron without an element.

• Hand-washing powder and pegs for socks and

underwear which must be done by hand.

• 2 Towels and face-cloth.

• 1 Bedside mat (optional)

• Study lamp and spare globes.

• Rechargeable or battery-powered lamp - essential

thanks to Eskom!

• School bag and prescribed stationaries.

• Coffee mug; bowl; side plate; spoon; fork;

knife for the common room kitchen.

• 2 Locks for your cupboard doors - a spare

key with a name tag must be left with the

Boarding parent.

• Medication. We suggest some Panados,

plasters, Dettol, Corenza C; throat lozenges.

• Toiletries.

• Shelving paper for cupboard (optional)

• Shoe polish and brush

• Small sewing kit for simple repairs (optional)

• Permanent black marker

• Sunscreen and mosquito repellent.

• Umbrella.

• Cell phone; desktop or notebook; hi-fi, hair

dryer(optional).

• Ream of printing paper.

Boarding UniformThe hair, jewellery and make-up rules outlined in the Penryn Uniform policy, apply to Boarders when they wear the Boarder uniform.The following is considered to be boarding uniform: Penryn board shorts or skorts; College track suit or a plain navy blue track suit; long blue denim jeans; a Penryn t-shirt or golf shirt of any description; trainers; navy blue slops.Boarding uniform may under no circumstances be mixed or matched with school or sports uniform.This uniform must be worn at all times when Boarders are not in school uniform or sports kit. This includes weekends.

CivviesCivvies may be worn to classes on official Civvies Days when a small fee will be charged to raise funds for an approved charity.Boarders who attend the church service at Manna Christian Church may wear civvies to breakfast on Sundays as well as to church. As soon as they return to the campus, they must change into the Boarder uniform.Boarders may only wear civvies for outings to which they are accompanied the entire time by their parents or other adults approved by their parents.

Daily Routine: Weekdays

There are no bells or sirens at Penryn. Scholars rely on their watches or cell phones and punctuality is expected from all.

06:00 The Teacher on duty switches the alarm off and the scholars wake up. 06:40 -06:45 The Head boy and Head girl inspect the cubicles.06:50 All the Boarders leave for breakfast and the doors are locked.

When the doors are locked, no Boarder may under any circumstances return to the Boarding house to change into sports kit or to fetch books, projects or equipment until after lunch.

07:00 Breakfast is served in the dining hall.07:30 Lessons start. From Monday to Thursday, first break is from 10:45 - 11:10, but on Fridays it is from 11:10 - 11:35.

During this break, snacks are served in the dining hall.13:50 - 14:15 Lunch is served in the dining hall from Monday to Thursday. On Fridays, lunch time is from 13:35 - 13:55.14:15 - 15:00 Meetings, Exec Time, academic support, Grasp, etc.15:10 - 17:00 Sports.17:00 - 17:35 Shower time for the sports players.17:35 Supper is served in the dining hall.19:00 Boarders attend a house meeting, watch the news and do evening devotions.19:15 - 20:15 First prep session. Grade 8's and 9's study in the common room and senior scholars at their desks in their

cubicles. During this prep session, Boarders may obtain written permission from the staff on duty to work with peers in the common room of another Boarding house on assignments or projects.

20:15 - 20:30 Break20:30 - 21:15 Second prep session. All Boarders must now be in their own houses.21:15 - 21:45 Break21:45 Lights out.

Seniors who need extra Prep time, must ask permission from the Teacher on duty and will be allowed to work until 22:30.

Daily routine for Boarders staying IN over weekends

On a Friday

Boarders who booked have lunch from 13:35 to 13:55 and then return to their Boarding house. Boarders are encouraged to make use of the facilities on campus (game of tennis, gym, soccer, etc.)

The Boarding houses will be unlocked by 13:40 so that those scholars who have signed out for the weekend withoutbooking lunch, can fetch their luggage.

17:45 - 18:15: Roll-call is taken and supper is served in the dining hall.19:00: Boarders return to houses.

Quiet time is observed for scholars who need to work. Boarders who are free may watch TV or relax in the common room, play table tennis, but noise levels must be kept down.

22:30: Lights out.

Daily routine for Boarders staying IN over weekends

On a Saturday

If there are sports fixtures, times will be adjusted accordingly and Boarders will be informed of the weekend programmeat supper on Wednesday. If there are no fixtures, the Teacher on duty will switch the alarm off at 07:30.

08:20 The Boarders leave for breakfast and the doors are locked.08:30 Roll-call is taken and breakfast is served.

At breakfast, the Boarders will be informed when the shopping trips to the Mall will take place. The Teacher on duty will have a form on which those who need to go shopping will sign up. Preference will be given to termly Boarders.

13:00 Roll-call is taken and lunch is served in the dining hall17:45 - 18:15 Roll-call is taken and supper is served in the dining hall.19:00 Boarders return to houses.22:30 Lights out.

Daily routine for Boarders staying IN over weekends

On a Sunday

08:30 Roll-call is taken and breakfast is served.At breakfast, the Boarders who want to attend the church service at Manna Christian Church will be asked to sign up on a form. They will be transported to Manna immediately after breakfast and the rest will return to the Boarding house on duty.

13:00 Roll-call is taken and lunch is served in the dining hall.17:45 - 18:15 Roll-call is taken and supper is served in the dining hall.19:00 Boarders return to boarding houses.19:00 - 20:00 Prep time.21:45 Lights out

Catering and special diets

Catering is outsourced to a professional catering firm and all meals are served in a central dining hall. The menu is approved by a dietician and offers healthy, balanced and delicious

food – meal times on campus are happy occasions! To ensure that the Boarders are satisfied, they get the opportunity to comment on the menu and the quality of the food via the Boarding Exec on a monthly basis and regular surveys are

also conducted.Scholars with special dietary requirements due to medical conditions or religious and/or

cultural rules are catered for if Mr Hayward has been informed in writing by their parents. Please hand a hard copy of a letter explaining the special needs of your child to the Boarding parent on the first day you bring your child to Penryn. Support this where applicable with a

medical certificate.Boarders must attend all meals while they are on campus. They may only be excused by the Teacher on duty if they are sick, in which case a friend will collect a packed meal for them.If a Boarder is going to miss a meal due to a sports fixture or a school commitment, they

must inform Mr Hayward or Bridgette at least 24 hours in advance. He will prepare a packed meal for them and will inform them when it can be collected.

We do not encourage 'fad' diets of any kind and cannot cater for them at all.On special occasions like birthdays, Boarders may ask for food to be delivered to the

Campus. This can only happen with the permission of the Boarding parent. That Teacher will inspect the food that has been ordered before the scholars will be allowed to pay for it and

collect it from the delivery person.

Compulsory out weekends and holidays

Boarders' parents are responsible for their children's transport to and from the College before and after out weekends and holidays.Should a Boarder need to make use of a transport service, we suggest that Lowveld Link be contacted because they fetch and

deliver from the Penryn campus.No Boarders will be accommodated on campus during out weekends or holidays.

Boarders attending sports matches, tours or field trips on out weekends must arrange to stay with a day scholar goingon the same trip. On the day an out weekend commences, the Boarding houses will be locked one hour after lessons ended.The same applies on the last day of term. The Boarding houses will open at 14:00 on the day before lessons start again and

only supper will be served that day.

Unwell Boarders

Our matron will be available every morning at 6:30 to assist any unwell boarder. If a boarder is sick enough to stay in bed, they will be sent back to their Boarding house and our Matron will ask the Caterer to send packed meals for the rest of the day to

the boarding house. Spending a day in bed means SPENDING A DAY IN BED. A Boarder may not get up and attend meals or visits your friends all over the campus after school. Should the Matron decide that the boarder needs to

see a doctor, she will make an appointment, and arrange transport to and from the doctor.

If a Boarder has to take medication prescribed by a doctor, the parents must please inform the head of the boarding in writing.The boarding staff are prepared to manage and control acute and chronic medication for their Boarders provided the

parents of that Boarder asks them to do so in writing and give clear instructions on how and when it should be administered.We advise parents to pack a small emergency kit for their Boarder at the beginning of each term.

In case emergency treatment is needed, Boarders are taken to Kiaat Hospital across the road from Penryn or Medi-Clinic.If a boarder has not medical aid they will be taken to Rob Ferreira Hospital in Nelspruit.

Boarding rooms

Boarding rooms contain the following: Bed and matrass, study desk, chair, bookshelf, pin board, cupboard, curtains and ceiling fan. Boarders bring their own bedding and will be

allowed to decorate their room to their liking with posters and photos, these must be of a suitable nature. House parents are the sole and final judge in this regard.

Boarders are responsible for keeping their rooms neat and clean at all times and the bed must be made every morning before they leave for breakfast. The head boy and head girl will inspect each room every morning before leaving for breakfast. Regular inspections of

the rooms and its contents will be undertaken by the boarding staff to ensure that undesirable items do not go unnoticed.

You may listen to music in your room, but it may not disturb anybody.

Laundry

Penryn have engaged Sanbonani Laundromat to do the Boarders’ washing. Sanbonani fetches laundry on Tuesdays, Wednesdaysand Thursdays and each boarding house is allocated one day per week to hand laundry in. The House parents will issue laundry slips on

which the boarder list the items that they hand in and that slip can then be used to check that everything is returned. The cost for the laundry service is charged to the boarders school fee account and due every month. I few of our houses have their own washing machines and

boarders are allowed to do their own washing.

For more information regarding Penryn and our boarding facility please contact:

admissions@penryn.co.za

Tel: 013 758 9000