Boarding News Desk

April Boarding Update

The students had a busy April with an abundance of activities to enjoy at boarding. The students had an evening of balloon games and sports with Mr Jason, the idea is to create social skills and allow students to work together in the activity. It was a great success.

We celebrated Easter with an Easter egg hunt in and around the boarding house with each student filling their baskets and tummies with chocolates. Staff hid and explained to students what Easter is and how it is celebrated worldwide.

The students also celebrated with a karaoke party on one of the weekends, treats all around and even some staff sang. Experiences like this are essential in a child’s emotional development.

We now need to focus on exams and end-of-year goals. Over the last few weeks, I have been speaking to students constantly about the importance of the upcoming exams as well as assignments that are due. With the summer break around the corner, it has been a great year and we have had some exceptional achievements at boarding. I will mention all in my end-of-year letter.

Christian Choyce, Boarding Director

Update from Director of Boarding

It’s been an action-packed term for boarding thus far. The students have had an array of activities to choose from both on and off campus.

The kids had a fun-filled weekend playing charades and word games with Ms.Val and Mr. Jason, which encouraged students to speak English and participate with each other creating camaraderie. Laser tag, which was off campus, was well attended by our students. The winning team was treated to bubble tea and extra shopping time at the mall.

Our famous BBQs are always a hit with the boarding staff on duty, Mrs. B and Mr. Langley. Kids were treated to traditional “braai broodjies” and marshmallows. The students really enjoy cooking and using the BBQ. In addition to good food, there were quizzes which are always filled with laughter, while the students learn new topics and facts.

With the upcoming exams, the girls had a blast making stress balls for all the kids with Mrs. B which will hopefully take away some of their anxiety.

I have also gone over the report cards for term 3 and am pleasantly surprised that our boarding students listened to advice and their grades improved from term 2. This term is vital as it is the last chance to improve grades and once again exams will be done. Our students continue to excel academically as well as outside the classroom with a vast majority attending off-campus beach clean-ups etc. Thank you for putting the community first.

I look forward to a great last term and hope that all students finish the year off well.

Christian Choyce – April 6th, 2023

Weekend Update: Feb. 17-19

What a great few weekends we have had at boarding. The new students have settled in well and we continue to help them adjust and understand the expectations of boarding students. Academics are at the core of our expectations and becoming fine young boys and girls through manners and communication. As mentioned to students at weekly meetings, one day you will need to appreciate everyone from the people who clean your office, to the next CEO – an organization or business doesn’t work unless all moving parts are working in tandem. Never underestimate the ” small people ” who are sometimes forgotten.

We had planned pizza parties and laser quest off campus. Unfortunately, this has been postponed to this weekend as there was a road closure due to the lunar new year. We had a wonderful general knowledge quiz, which has become quite popular amongst the students. It is a great way to bring a little competitiveness to boarding while learning and working together on questions from around the world.

With report grades due soon, I continue to encourage students to hand in assignments and ask for help from boarding staff if they need it. I’m happy to see some students ask for extra help and tutors have been assigned to these students for various subjects they need help with.

The boarding students had great fun this weekend, with Mr. Langley and Mrs. B. On Friday night, students competed in balloon-related activities, like water balloon hot potato and balloon stomp. Some students displayed some really good hand-eye coordination when it came to catching the water balloons. They also did really well when it came to avoiding their balloons from getting stomped by other boarding students.

On Saturday, some students took part in Raffles’ first-ever school honor band performance after practicing with their instruments in boarding over the last few weeks. The students were then able to play some board games in the evening after dinner. The highlight of the weekend definitely seemed to be the game of charades, which had students acting various words and phrases out, guessing what they could be, and laughing a lot.

Langley Anthony – February 17th, 2023

Update from Director of Boarding

What a great two weeks it’s been back at boarding. We have welcomed new students as well as our returning students. There has been lots of fun over the last two weeks, the school hosted the winter formal, which was well attended by our boarding students. The students also led an initiative to decorate the boarding common room with lunar new year decorations which looks great.

This past weekend, the students did creative arts and crafts had a movie night, and managed to still do some baking. In addition to this, we ended the weekend with a lovely Lunar new year dinner.

The students seem happy and focused and are settling into the new term. I will be going over term two reports with students that warrant a closer look. Please remember that students have access to tutors and academic help should they need it.

As always I thank you for your continued support of the boarding program. Enjoy the photos and videos

Christian Choyce, Boarding Director – January 24, 2023

Weekend Update: Nov. 18-20

It has been an exciting two weeks at boarding. Last weekend we had charades with Ms Val which was very funny trying to see the students guess the correct thing. This past weekend we had a food-tasting challenge whereby students has to describe blindfolded to their friends what they were eating, of course, there was hysterical laughter and fun. We also celebrated all November birthdays with a cake in Sunday evening.

With exams and WIDA testing approaching fast we have limited weekend activities to only 1 event per weekend but will continue the mall trip. I have also spoken to students and explained the importance of planning and studying for exams. Academics is a major priority for us and we intend to support the students in the best possible way.

Mr. Christian Choyce – Nov 22, 2022

Weekend Update: Nov. 4 – 6

The Boarding students had an action packed weekend filled with a variety of activities. On Friday evening they played the ever popular chocolate game, where students were in a battle for time to see who could eat the most chocolate. Students wear different objects as gloves and have to attempt to cut chocolate in a specific time period. The students were in hysterics with the pie face game that inevitably turned into a shaving cream fight. Check out the photos to see more. From scary movies to card games, the student nights were full of fun.

The weekend ended with a special treat from Mr and Mrs B’s home country, South Africa. The girls and boys really loved the traditional snack made of dough and butter known as a “vetkoek” that is served with mincemeat. The students also had the opportunity to make some of these snacks with the supervision of staff. A great weekend was had by all and the laughter and hysterics just show how important it is for students to have down time away from academic work.

Mr. Christian Choyce – Nov 7, 2022

Stranger Halloween: Boarding & StuCo Dance

This past weekend was a great success for the boarding family as we hosted the Halloween Dance. This has become an annual event and has always been well attended by all students across the school. This year was no different as over 80 students descended on boarding to enjoy the show. A special thanks to Ms Natalie who coordinates, makes the props, and does the layout of the event. It was a great success this year.

Some older boarding students were also fortunate enough to watch some international field hockey at the national stadium in Johor. As I used to be part of the South African hockey setup, we decided to go and support the side in a tournament against Australia, the students didn’t know anything about the sport but their passion for supporting South Africa was much appreciated and they received an arousing thank you from the players after the game.

Finally, one of the most important aspects of boarding is academic achievement and progress. I am happy to announce that more than 50% of the boarding students attained a Term 1 grade (GPA) that put them on the Principal’s list or Honor roll. This is remarkable that more than half of the boarding house is achieving a GPA of over 3.30. A warm congratulations to all the students on such success.

Mr. Christian Choyce – Oct 31, 2022

#ICYMI Term 1 Fun!

This weekend the students at boarding had an exciting and fun-filled time with various activities by our awesome staff Mr. and Mrs B.

Friday started with a pizza party which the students enjoyed downstairs while interacting with each other.

The rest of the weekend entailed face painting fun, a great 90s quiz to see what students knew about life in the 90s and if they could guess some old technology like a fax machine or telephone. There was huge laughter with some of the answers. The winners were given some bubble tea as a reward.

Students also played basketball and got some fresh air in the double gym. What’s great to see is that regardless of age or gender the students included everyone and that is what boarding is about… A community learning to respect and engage each other.

XPark

This past weekend we took students to X Park Adventure for some friendly competition in paintball and go-karting. It was a fun day and students enjoyed being off campus and spending time with one another having fun. Scheduled time away from academics can be as good for information processing and retention as studying is. Our students possess some great emotional intelligence and it’s important to harness this with off-campus activities and events.

Chris Choyce

Mooncakes in Boarding

We are lucky to have such caring and loving parents! Today a few of our Raffles’ moms met in Boarding to make and hand out homemade mooncakes for students. Such a fun way to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival together!

Excursion to EnerGX

Saturday, August 27th

On Saturday boarding students enjoyed their first big trip to EnerG X Park at Sunway Big Box! Once a month Mr. Chris, Raffles’ Director of Boarding, schedules fun excursions for our students. With the endless love and care he and Ms. Nat provide, it is easy to see how they are considered the Boarding Parents. Our modern, and spacious boarding facilities create a home-away-from-home residential experience for all our students.

Message from the Director of Boarding

This semester has been fruitful here at Boarding. Our teachers at Raffles do a phenomenal holistically serving students throughout the academic year, and some of our faculty choose to live on campus as Resident Assistants. Our RAs this year may be the best we have had yet! When on duty, faculty facilitate study hours, keep students accountable to the boarding nightly schedule, and most importantly, prepare events and activities for students to attend on the weekends.

We love celebrating birthdays and just had a party with cake for all of the August birthdays this past week. Suffice it to say, our students enjoyed the cake almost as much as the fellowship.

As teachers are presenting marks for student work, I’ll be monitoring each of their progress and provide support as a tutor if needed. Academic growth as well as emotional support to get through those gloomy days, are the top priorities.

Our boarding students are doing really well and there is a sense of authentic community this year. It is a pleasure to be around every one of our students.

Chris Choyce

Boarding News Desk

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