When you look up mother in the dictionary it reads: female parent of a child.

When you look up boarder, it simply reads: a child who lives away from home.

So, put “boarder mother” together and we have: the female parent of a child who lives away from home – if only it were that simple.

My definition of boarding mother is: a strong, dedicated unbelievably great female parent of a child who has the wisdom to put her son’s educational needs, wellbeing and lifelong endeavours before her own. A woman who journeys with her son for every change in life, is there for every hallmark moment as well as everyday life moments, but sometimes from a distance.

A boarding mother teaches her son to be passionate about life by sending him to a school where he has unlimited opportunities. We have unconditional love for our sons, we teach them lifelong lessons and never stop caring.

We give undying, unending support. We trust out sons, we trust boarding staff. We are always there, whether physically or over the phone. Boarding mothers have incredible inner strength.

Perhaps the definition of a boarding mother should also read: a female who has the ability not to pass out from the fumes emitted when she opens her son’s suitcase after a term away at school.

Boarding mums are simply amazing. We know the sadness that comes with dropping our son’s to school and we also know the joy of having him back for holidays. We carry the load well, but it doesn’t mean the load isn’t heavy.

For me, being a boarding mother at TGS was always a lifelong dream and the past six years have been wonderful for Clancy. I will be ever so thankful to TGS for Clancy’s boarding journey. He has been blessed by warm and dedicated boarding staff and the experiences in boarding have given him lifelong skills that will enable him to cope beyond school. TGS boarding, in partnership with parents, produces outstanding young men. Men of good character, a wicked sense of humour and good grounding.

My first experience with TGS boarding was 11 years ago when I came to pick up my nephew, Sam. I was greeted by a tennis ball bouncing down the stairs of Stephens House, followed by a cry of “Howzat!” At that moment I knew I had picked the right school. It was a cold, rainy day the boys were ‘being boys’ and playing cricket up the hallway of the boarding house.

There was a polite boy who stopped and asked if I needed help and then a Head of House who genuinely cared but, didn’t sugar coat things and tell me my nephew was fine. He told me Sam had been struggling but he was getting better.

That’s what I wanted for Clancy. A boarding school that was going to be honest, straight to the point and caring and let boys be boys!

It hit home for me just a couple of weeks ago that this dream is now coming to an end. It was a Sunday afternoon and was raining lightly, as I got out of my car, I had a giggle at the boys running around in the rain playing touch footy, being boys! The music blaring was Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream it’s Over” - a sure sign my perfect dream is coming to an end.

I have loved every moment of being a boarding mother at TGS. Yes, there has been a few ups and downs, but it’s been a very positive experience and I have always felt well supported by parents. It’s been an honour and privilege to be President of the Boarding Parents Support group for the past five years. The School has always valued my opinions, whether they be my own or on behalf of the Boarder Parents’ Support Group.

All boarder mums have been through homesickness, the teary phone calls, the happy phone calls, the ups and downs of it all, and we are all watching our boys grow and flourish at this great School.

We are TGS Boarder Mums! We have our boys at one of the best boarding schools in the country and at Toowoomba Grammar School we produce outstanding fine young men. We are not a school with boarders, we are a boarding school. We really are lucky mums.

- Kym Wright,
Year 12 mum and President of TGS Boarder Parents’ Support Group (2018-23)

Kym Wright and some TGS boarding mums




Latest Blog

Boarding
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Monday, 13 Nov 2023

Boarding Families - Surviving Homesickness

Homesickness can be brutal for both the child and their 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 24hrs 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, they usually improve as they settle in, and it is temporary. The reality is that most boys tend to save…

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Boarding
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Monday, 13 Nov 2023

Helpful Tips for New Boarding Parents

Name absolutely everything! Socks, undies, phone chargers, water bottles, caps. EVERYTHING!! Make sure you name items with Boy’s name & House number; most parents will put their senior house number if printing the tags so they don’t have to rename items when they move the following year (Corfe House doesn’t have a house number). Some boys find a double bed doona is a better option than single doona as it hangs down the sides of the bed a little more to keep them warmer in winter. An…

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Character & Wellbeing
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Wednesday, 08 Nov 2023

Parenting Styles: Parties and the Holidays

As the holiday season approaches, parents and caregivers find themselves immersed in the joy and bustle of festivities. Amidst the celebrations, it’s essential to pause and reflect on the pivotal role our parenting styles play in shaping our children’s attitudes and behaviours, especially concerning alcohol and other drug use. As a father of four young people with my fifth child coming into our family on 8 December 2023, I’m particularly mindful of my parenting style and my role as School…

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Boarding
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Thursday, 02 Nov 2023

Building the Boarding Experience - at Home

Family connections is a vital aspect of our Toowoomba Grammar School boarding program that we hold close to our heart. Our Heads of House regularly make the effort to visit our boarding families so they have a better understanding of our boarders' lives, the challenges and experiences, and staff always enjoy the warmth and hospitality provided by families. Head of Corfe House, Henry White and his wife, Samantha recently spent a weekend with the Acton family on Dalgonally Station near Julia…

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People
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Thursday, 26 Oct 2023

A New Season for Coach Kabe

Highly respected Head of Basketball and 1st V Coach, Kabe Ciccolini is embarking on a new and inspiring chapter. This season, he takes up the role of Assistant Head of Corfe House, guiding our youngest boarders with a warmth and passion that is uniquely his own. Kabe’s decision to transition into the role of Assistant Head of Corfe House reflects his unwavering commitment to mentorship and leadership. For him, this move signifies a positive step in his career. “It’s an opportunity to further…

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Senior School
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Wednesday, 18 Oct 2023

Embrace Every Moment

In the words of one of the greatest leaders of all time, Albus Dumbledore, “it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” The wise wizard spoke these words to Harry as he stood before the Mirror of Erised, a magical artifact that reveals one’s deepest desires. These words tell the story of the balance between our dreams and the richness of the present moment. We live in a world that often urges us to focus on our aspirations; , sometimes we get so lost in our dreams that we do not…

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Sports & Activities
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Wednesday, 11 Oct 2023

What is the TGS Athletic Development Academy?

As a TGS Old Boy (2003-14), sport has always been an integral part of my upbringing. As a young boy I discovered the joys of cricket, track and field and touch footy. This love of being active led me to studying Exercise Science at University and I was fortunate enough to work with a range of national and international level athletes, culminating in an internship at the Brisbane Broncos. This experience launched my career in the strength and conditioning space, allowing me to work with…

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Boarding
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Wednesday, 04 Oct 2023

The Boarding and Day Family Connections

My husband Ben and I are four years into our boarding journey at Toowoomba Grammar School, we have two boys in Mackintosh House, Josh in Year 10 and Archie in Year 9, and a daughter Ella who is home with us for one more year before we become empty nesters. We are in the fortunate position that we live reasonably close, so we have the privilege of taking our boys home often and can attend most School events. For many of our boarding families, this is not the case, they live great distances away…

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Student Contribution
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Thursday, 21 Sept 2023

Streamline Success

Education is a transformative journey where the path we choose exerts a profound influence on our ultimate success. A streamed class is like an express locomotive: swift, efficient, and filled with eager passengers zooming towards their educational destination. Meanwhile, an unstreamed class resembles a motley group of hikers who accidentally wandered onto the wrong trail, stumbling and bickering as they struggle to find their way. Imagine the express locomotive of streamed classes, full of…

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