Meet Henry White, our new Head of Corfe House

  • Tell us about yourself

My background, at least that associated with boarding and teaching, is long and varied with a number of different aspects leading to this chosen career path. For the most part, I was schooled in Canberra but had extended periods in Lesotho, Norfolk Island, and Samoa as a result of my father’s work in foreign aid. My schooling was quite disruptive, and I wasn’t a model student! I was always passionate about English; often distracting myself (amongst other things) immersed in a book. I graduated from Lake Ginninderra College, Canberra, in 2010 to pursue a military career in the Royal Australian Navy and was commissioned as a Warfare Officer in 2011. I valued the discipline and character strengths I built when in the Navy, but for the most part, the communal environment within which I had been a part of. Once concluding my time in the Navy, I hoped to pursue a more intrinsically motivating career path and felt that English teaching – and modelling the stable academic support figure that I never really had – would be a worthy cause.

  • What do you enjoy about boarding?

I first became involved with boarding in 2016 during my third year of university, while studying Education and English at the University of Sydney. Believe it or not, I met the Head of Boarding at Riverview, Sydney, at a Wallabies Bledisloe Test. He spruiked the Resident Master role in their Year 10 Boarding House, suggesting it would be a brilliant fit for a young pre-service teacher to sink their teeth into. He wasn’t lying! I spent the next two years there and feel that particular experience was perhaps the most formative in shaping my boarding ideology; I’ve come a long way since then, but cutting my teeth in those early years was invaluable.

From there, I’ve seen boarding as an integral part of my teaching career as it provides a unique experience to connect with, and understand students holistically. It is my core belief that pastoral wellbeing is fundamental to not just academic success, but the shaping of good character. By tapping into boarding as a career path I feel that I can impart a profound impact on youth, particularly the impressionable Middle Years (Years 7 to 8) where students are not just discovering who they are, but what they can and who they should be. Beyond this, I really enjoy it!

  • What will your fiancée, Samantha bring to Corfe House?

Once Samantha joins our ranks here in Corfe, she looks forward to bringing a great deal of energy to the role. She is excited to be an active presence in the House, assisting the boys by driving a supported reading program a few evenings each week, joining us on Corfe runs as part of the Corfe House Running Club – a new initiative I intend to roll out in Term 4 – and being a consistent presence and support figure to the young men of Corfe. Having grown up as a boarder from Years 7 to 12 at Pymble Ladies College, Sydney, Samantha is well-versed in boarding and understands the dual states of challenge and excitement that comes with boarding as a student. I think she will make a cracking addition to our team and a brilliant surrogate auntie!

  • Why do you believe an all-boys' education is important?

I believe single-sex education gives boys an opportunity to step outside gender stereotypes without fear of censure from their peers. In a single-sex environment, boys are encouraged to perceive and enact a varied understanding of what it is to be a good man and a good character. Single-sex education for boys has the potential to bring a wider view to the concept of what it is to be a man; it is my goal in Corfe to open the boys’ eyes to that view, that there isn’t a singular definition of ‘manliness’.

  • What is your boarding philosophy?

As touched on previously, as an educator and as a Head of House, it is my firm belief that close pastoral support and guidance are the cornerstones of student wellbeing and academic achievement, and that the impact of this is most profound within these formative and impressionable middle years. Moreover, from a boarding perspective, enabling young boys to flourish is only achieved within a community that is safe, welcoming, and joyous. These three aspects are at the core of my boarding philosophy and are closely aligned with my fundamental values as a Head of House – acceptance, resilience, and fun.

  • How crucial is this ‘Corfe House’ experience for our younger boarders, setting up their boarding platform for the next few years?

In my eyes, a positive experience in Corfe is vital. Corfe House serves as the entry point for TGS boarding and the skills, relationships, and perspectives they develop during this year will be the bedrock for their following experiences. As a result, I feel I have an important responsibility to guide students into positive and constructive habits and ways of living and interacting with others to ensure that they thrive as they continue their journey.

  • It’s obvious boys will experience home sickness, in all year levels, but particularly these younger boys. How do you deal with that?

Home sickness is a natural thing; I’d be more worried if the boys didn’t get homesick! I don’t think there is a single, hard and fast way to deal with homesickness as boys are so varied in their emotions. However, what remains consistent is ensuring that, independent of circumstance, a boy must be treated with empathy and compassion and must feel supported in their transition away from home. Furthermore, opening and consolidating lines of communication with Mum and Dad at home is vital – from my experience homesickness isn’t a one-way street; if the boys are feeling it in the house, you can expect that Mum and Dad aren’t at 100% either. Care needs to go both ways and I’m only a phone call away.

  • What role do you want families to play in the boys' boarding experience?

I believe a family’s role in the boarding process is incredibly important and equally challenging. For boys to flourish in a boarding environment, they need to feel connected and supported from home, and likewise, for parents to gain trust and confidence in the boarding program, connection and support needs to be reciprocated. Ultimately, this can be funnelled into effective lines of communication between parents and the House. I wish to enact a mantra of 80/20 communication – put simply, my intention is to establish and initiate 80% of communication via weekly newsletters, phone call check-ins at least once a term, and regular upkeep of House communication platforms. In doing so, I would hope and expect that only 20% of communication is initiated by parents due to inevitable and natural concerns.

In playing their role in the student’s boarding experience, I encourage parents to trust our processes and judgement and understand that nobody knows their son better than they do, but that we know boys and we know boarding; their son’s best interest is in our safe hands.

Henry White
Head of House - Corfe Boarding


Mr Henry White



Latest Blog

Community Engagement
/
Friday, 09 Feb 2024

The TGS Interact Club - the Reward for Work Well Done

The Interact Club successfully raised over $10,000 last year for charities and services on a local, statewide and international scale through the hard work and commitment of its members. With these funds, the Interact Club has donated Backpack Blankets to Toowoomba's homeless, helped AEIOU's efforts in supporting children with autism, contributed to the "Are You Bogged Mate?" campaign for rural mental health and raised funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. As well as many other individual…

Read More
Character & Wellbeing
/
Thursday, 01 Feb 2024

A Question of Character

In an age bursting with technological innovations and an overwhelming abundance of information, the present era appears to be characterised by a swift and unrelenting pace of change. Our society, young and old alike, finds itself constantly bombarded with provocative and sensationalist narratives. The media floods our consciousness with constant streams of global dilemmas, highlighting the flaws of our leaders, uncovering corporate or political scandals, and bringing conflicts and tragedies…

Read More
Boarding
/
Thursday, 25 Jan 2024

Coping with Homesickness

Homesickness can be brutal for both your son and for parents. As a parent it can feel like your heart is being ripped out in some cases daily. It is extremely hard hearing how sad your boy may sound on the phone, and then you are left reeling for 24 hours until the next call – you are often left worried that they are feeling like this all day. Rest assured only vary rare cases are that bad and in most cases it’s temporary and things usually improve as your son settles in. The reality is that…

Read More
People
/
Friday, 19 Jan 2024

Introducing Gabe Robbie, the new Head of Curriculum

I am excited to be joining the staff here at Toowoomba Grammar School in the role of Head of Curriculum. I grew up in a small coastal town in NSW and attended the University of Sydney to complete my undergraduate degree. Please don’t hold my NSW origin against me (Go Blues!). Teaching, and education, has always been a passion of mine and ever since I was in high school, the plan was to be a teacher. I graduated from the University of Sydney with a double degree in Education and Arts, majoring…

Read More
Old Boys
/
Thursday, 11 Jan 2024

What Old Boys Have Contributed to TGS Over Time

The Old Boys’ Association has played an integral role in the history and tradition of Toowoomba Grammar School. It was formed on December 29, 1888, when 25 Toowoomba Grammar School Old Boys met at Long’s Imperial Hotel to create a new society. The Toowoomba Grammar School Old Boys’ Association rules were drawn up, and office-bearers elected. The inaugural president was Mr Joesph Vincent Herbert Esq. (TGS 1877-80) From there, the TGSOBA has grown significantly, ensuring that the Blue and Gold…

Read More
Sports & Activities
/
Thursday, 11 Jan 2024

TGS Strength and Conditioning Program

Toowoomba Grammar School has a unique approach to athlete development that focuses on providing students with the skills, tools and mindset required to succeed in sports and life. At TGS, the long-term athlete development (LTAD) philosophy is ingrained in every aspect of the School's approach to sport and fitness. The LTAD philosophy emphasises the importance of age-appropriate training and skill development over a long period of time. This approach recognises that athlete development is a…

Read More
The Arts
/
Tuesday, 19 Dec 2023

We Knew Them Before They Were Stars

Our boys at Toowoomba Grammar School are fortunate that Performing Arts is as popular as sport and academics, thanks to our culture of respect and inclusivity. Boys are supported and encouraged to immerse themselves in music, drama and art and are not afraid to chase their dreams in these fields. The success of our performing arts students dates back decades, with our Old Boys performing all around the world in theatre, music, film and photography and are accomplished and well recognised in…

Read More
Boarding
/
Tuesday, 19 Dec 2023

Country Roads Take Me Home

Toowoomba Grammar School boarding provides the ideal living environment for our boys while they develop the values that will define their character. Throughout the course of this year, I have been privileged to visit many of the towns and properties that our TGS boarders call home. When walking around those towns wearing a shirt with a TGS crest, it doesn’t take long to meet an Old Boy or to be asked about one of the boarders currently at the School. Our boarding staff pride themselves on…

Read More
Boarding
/
Tuesday, 19 Dec 2023

TGS Corfe House - A Home for Young Boarders

In Toowoomba Grammar School’s Boarding Program, Years 5 to 7 students reside at Corfe House – a nurturing environment providing close pastoral support and guidance to the School’s youngest boarders. The skills, relationships and perspectives that boys develop here set them up for the rest of their boarding and school journey. Toowoomba Grammar School understands the challenges for young students transitioning into boarding. Leading the way in creating a ‘home away from home’ is the Corfe House…

Read More