SCHOOL HOUSE PUPIL HANDBOOK
CONTENTS 1. Welcome from Head of House team 2. Welcome from the Houseparents 3. The House Team 4. Your week at Monkton 5. Contacting House Staff 6. School House Socials 7. School Absence 8. Weekend Arrangements 9. Things you should bring 10. Personal Possessions 11. Money and Valuables 12. Occasional Boarding 13. Overnight away from School 14. Phones and Electricals 15. Prayer Meeting and Church 16. Medical 17. Laundry 18. Fire Alarm 19. Road Safety 20. Frequently asked questions 21. School Map 22. Induction Checklist
1. WELCOME FROM THE HEAD OF HOUSE TEAM Hi Boys I’m Ro and i’ll be your head of house when you join in September. Along with a genuinely awesome team of staff and year 13’s, i’m really excited to welcome and get to know you guys. Joining a new school and even the transition from prep to senior school, especially as a boarder, can feel overwhelming at first. But please know that the team and I are here to make that step up easier and to make you feel supported and settled in a home away from home. Having recently taken on the role of head of house myself, I understand what it’s like to be stepping into something new. I can also relate to the feelings that you will feel when you start boarding as I too
Deputy Heads of House
Nick Haynes
Bo Tuck
Albert Marshall
became a boarder fairly recently in year 11. My goal is to build a house where you feel comfortable and valued in the house. I’d like to quickly touch upon the first house event which is a few weeks after the start of term,being house music. This early period really helps to bring the house together as everyone meets after school pretty much every day for 3 weeks or so. If any of you are musical or play an instrument/sing at any level please let the house team know so that we can make sure you’re given a chance to show off your talent if you’d like too. I’m buzzing to meet you all in September, Ro
2. WELCOME FROM THE HOUSEPARENTS Cosmo O’Reilly Cosmo has a degree in Architecture and a PGCE in Design and Technology. He is passionate about design, photography, as well as being a sports enthusiast. Having started teaching with YFC in prisons and has since taught at secondary and prep level and an International school in India. He has two sons called Sholto and Rocco who are thrilled to have so many big brothers in the house. They both love the water and is excellent at jumping off stuff or falling with style, depending on your perspective. Sholto is nearly 4 years old. Rocco is almost 2. . They also have a Springer Spaniel, Omnom, whose name aptly reflects her passion for food and a Working Cocker Spaniel, Ooty, named after the town he lived in in India. In their free time the family like to travel and explore different places and cultures. School House expect every pupil to feel known, loved and valued. We focus on supporting boys to become confident, kind, ambitious young adults, within a caring Christian environment. We seek to ensure that new boys feel welcomed and quickly part of the family with weekly in-house nights enabling them to build strong friendships across year groups. We celebrate each other’s skills and interests, whether they be on the stage, in a classroom or on the sporting field. Along the way we aim is to have fun and make lasting memories!
Alistair and Catherine Stevenson Alistair and Catherine have been working with young people for many years in a range of settings. They’re passionate about seeing young people thrive as they grow in wisdom, confidence, character, and faith. Alistair has a degree in History and Politics, and a Masters in Theology. After completing their degrees and getting married, he and Catherine moved to Scotland, where he worked in public policy for a Christian charity, whilst Catherine completed her architectural training, qualifying as an Architect in 2012. Later that year they moved to Sheffield, where Alistair trained for ordination in the Church of England alongside working as a Youth and Young Adults Minister. Having set up her own business, Catherine juggled architectural work with looking after a growing family and volunteering in church life—particularly with children and families. Before joining Monkton, they spent nearly seven years growing a flourishing church together, with a particular focus on building a community where young people could feel at home and grow in faith. They arrive at Monkton with their three children—Ethan (12), Izzie (11), and Benji (8)—along with Beren the labrador, Plum the corn snake, and Buddy the hamster. Alistair and Catherine love sport, board games, cooking good food and sharing it in community. They're excited about getting to know the boys in School House, and supporting them through the years ahead, whilst growing together and having lots of fun.
Assistant Houseparents Josh and Steph Fuller Josh and Stephanie Fuller join School House as the new Assistant House Parents, bringing with them a wealth of experience and a calm, supportive presence. Josh, Head of Design, has been a member of the School House team for the past five years and has over 14 years of teaching experience, having previously worked at both Bradfield College and Monkton. Before entering education, he spent ten years as a professional designer. Stephanie has a background as a legal secretary and school matron, and now combines her role in the Medical Centre with her responsibilities as Assistant House Parent. They have two children, Rufus (16) and Sophia (14), and are committed to providing a structured, caring, and attentive environment in which students are well supported in both their academic and personal development.
Email is the most effective way for parents to contact either Houseparent. If you need to chat, then we will arrange a time that is mutually convenient. The School House email address is: school@monkton.org.uk Some pointers for parents: You are never bothering us if you make contact • Don’t let any frustrations you might have grow. A problem dealt with quickly can make all the difference. • Don’t assume we know everything. If there’s something we should be aware of, PLEASE let us know. It will help us understand how best to care for your son. • The pupils’ welfare is our most important concern and it’s important that you encourage your son to speak to us whenever they have an issue that they need help with. We are on their team! Beyond the pointers above, we ask you to trust that we will do our very best by your son. It means a lot to us that you have entrusted them to us and our pastoral care will be most effective when we show mutual trust and reinforce the collaboration between parent, pupil and staff.
3. THE HOUSE TEAM Houseparents: Cosmo O’Reilly and Alistair & Catherine Stevenson Assistant Houseparents: Josh and Steph Fuller Resident Tutor: Gregor Stirling Tutor Team: David Barford Alex Aionesei Connie Baques Taya Sellers GTA: Tom Kiel House Supervisor: Aggie Demkiw Cleaners: Tina York and Stiena Jones
Alex Aionesei
Gregor Stirling
Connie Baques
Aggie Demkiw
David Barford
Tom Kiel
Steina Jones
Taya Sellers
Tina York
4. YOUR WEEK AT MONKTON 8.15 am- Brief morning meeting in School House Common Room 8.25 am - Chapel/Principal’s Assembly/House Meeting/Singing Practise Registration in School House Common Room Monday
08:15
18:25
Tuesday
08:15
18:25
Wednesday
08:15
18:25
Thursday
08:15
18:25
Friday
08:15
18:25
Saturday
09:00
18:25
Sunday
13:00
18:25
21:00
Prep time From 6.30pm till 8.30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. After Prep Mondays - Voluntary Year group bible studies. Tuesdays - In-House social for all the house. Wednesdays - Christian Union (6:30 pm) followed by the Sports Hall and Pearce Centre Thursdays – Mentor meetings for Year 9s and In-House by year groups. Friday - Sports Centre and for sixth form the Pearce Centre Bed Times Year 9
Year 10
Year 11
Year 12
Year 13
Weekdays
21:15 (L/O 21:30)
21:30 (L/O 21:45)
21:45 (L/O 22:00)
22:15 (L/O 22:30)
22:30 (L/O 23:00)
Weekends
22:15 (L/O 22:30)
22:30 (L/O 22:45)
22:45 (L/O 23:00)
23:15 (L/O 23:30)
23:15 (L/O 23:30)
Saturdays There are different social events in school each Saturday night. Year 9, 10 and 11 are expected back in boarding houses by 10.00pm. Year 12 and 13 students can stay in the Pearce Centre till 10.30pm on Saturday nights. School Prefects can be in the Prefect Common room till 11.00pm on Saturday nights.
Weekdays and Sundays • All Year 12 & 13 boys must be in the house by 10.00pm on weekdays. • No pupils from other houses should be present in the house later than 9.50pm. • Year 12 & 13 students can be in the Pearce Centre till 10.15pm on Wednesdays & Fridays.
5. CONTACTING HOUSE STAFF Mr O’Reilly will be available most of the time in his house or by contacting him on his mobile. If he is not available below are some helpful numbers. Who do I contact in a crisis? Mr O’Reilly- Houseparent phone
077 19919700
House Duty phone
07701 311345
Medical Centre
01225 721 137 07770 543703 (Mobile)
Mr Youlton- Deputy Head (Pastoral)
01225 721 203
6. SCHOOL HOUSE SOCIAL There are many opportunities during the week to socialise with other boys in the house. There is a whole house in-house social on a Tuesday night after Prep. Then on a Thursday night after Prep different year groups are invited to the O’Reillys’ and the Fuller’s or Stevenson’s homes.
7. SCHOOL ABSENCES For all absences, permission to leave school early or approval to attend a special function during term then permission must be granted by the school via Mr O’Reilly (school@monkton.org.uk) and Miss Toogood (mssregister@monkton.org.uk). We recommend that you do this as far in advance as possible.
8. WEEKEND ARRANGEMENTS FOR BOARDERS There are Saturday night activities but boys can choose to go home any Saturday once they have finished all their school commitments (games, fixtures etc…) They need to be back by 21.00 on Sunday (or by Monday 08.10, if agreed in advance). Please contact us by Thursday night if your son is planning to being away on Saturday evening. If your son is staying with a friend or relative then we need email permission from yourselves and from the people he is staying with. There may be follow up questions around travel, supervision etc. Weekly Boarders should be picked up after Saturday afternoon or evening activities and return to school in time for 08.10 Monday morning. If you wish them to board that weekend, please let us know in advance.
9. THINGS I SHOULD BRING You are allowed to make your room unique by putting posters and photos up on the notice boards. Remember to bring a desk lamp but don’t bring fans, heaters, kettles, fairy lights and kitchen equipment. These can be provided by the school if required. The school provide bed sheets and pillow cases but you need to bring a duvet, duvet cover and pillow. We may have some pillows spare but please check in advance. All school uniform is bought through School Blazer and can be delivered directly to school.
10. PERSONAL POSSESSIONS It is a good idea for boys to have a padlock for their lockable space. Number combinations are better than key ones, as keys tend to get lost. If you lose anything, please let Mr O’Reilly know as soon as possible. You should also check with the Sewing Room and reception - they can lend you spare kit for a short period of time if needed.
11. MONEY AND VALUABLES We will collect in your passport, visa and medical insurance documents (if you have them) and keep it safely locked up for you. When you do need them, you can sign them out. Sums of money should also be left with us and not kept on you. Money: Wherever possible - please use a debit card or travel card (like GoHenry, Monzo, Revolut etc.) for pocket money. The house tuck shop and school cafe use card machines now so cash isn’t accepted.
12. OCCASIONAL BOARDING Day boys are entitled to seven free nights of boarding per annum, which we would encourage them to use. After the free nights are used up there is a nightly fee of £90 per night. Please contact Mr O’Reilly at least two days in advance. We are rather full this coming year, but we hope that we will be able to accommodate day boys when asked. We recommend that day boys consider staying for prep on a regular basis – it is especially helpful at the start when social groups are being formed. Tuesday nights are ‘In House’ nights with the O’Reillys and a good weekly event for day pupils to stay for.
13. STAYING OVERNIGHT AWAY FROM SCHOOL If a boarder wants to stay overnight somewhere other than in school then parents are required to let Mr O’Reilly know well in advance in order to get parental/Guardian permission. Pupils with Travel Visas have to take special care to let Mr O’Reilly know.
14. PHONES AND ELECTRICALS The phone reception around school can be a bit patchy and at present the most reliable network appears to be Vodafone, although a lot of boys have other networks. All phones will be handed in overnight. For 6th Form, phones should not be visible during the school day with the exception of the Pearce Centre where they may be used. For years 9-11 students will not be allowed them during the day. Boarders will be given their smartphones at 6pm. Day boarders must not bring a smartphone into school. Day boarders may carry a ‘brick’ phone (no internet ability) in school with Houseparent permission. More information is in the school’s phone policy. As phones will not be accessible for timekeeping or alarms, please bring a watch and alarm clock with you. Please note that apart from phones, Years 9-11 should only bring chromebooks to school and not other laptops or computers. These chromebooks will also be locked away overnight
15. SCHOOL HOUSE PRAYER MEETINGS AND CHURCH We meet as a whole house for a meeting at 8:15 on a Friday every week. Frequently, older boys in the house organise a short prayer meeting before breakfast to which boys are invited to attend. On Sundays, going to church is not compulsory but there is a minibus
that takes students to some different churches in Bath. At the moment, there are morning trips to St Bart’s, Holy Trinity and The Vineyard church, and evening trips to St Bart’s.
16. MEDICAL What to do if you are unwell and what to do with your medication? If you are too ill to go to lessons or need medication during the daytime, you will be taken to the Medical Centre. If you are ill during the evening or night, then come and find Mr or Mrs Stevenson, Resident flat, Duty staff or the Head of House. We will make sure that you don’t feel alone and that there is someone to take care of you. If you bring any of your own medication into school, the nurses at the Medical Centre need to be aware of this. You are not allowed to keep medication in your room and are not allowed to share your medication with anyone else.
17. LAUNDRY There is a school laundry service. You need to make sure things are labelled and you will have to wait three days for your clothes to return. They will be returned to your shelf in the Linen room. If you would like to do your own washing then there is a washing machine provided and tumble dryer, as well as an iron and ironing board.
18. FIRE ALARM At some time in the first two weeks of every term there will be a fire practice. Whenever you hear the fire alarm (a very loud, continuous bell!): • leave your room immediately • make sure your roommates leave the room immediately • go into the rooms either side of your room and make sure the boys there are awake and leaving their room. • If at night, you may grab a dressing gown and shoes • walk (don’t run) quickly and quietly • leave the House by the nearest available exit • go straight to the lawn by reception, where you will be registered • wait for further instructions from a member of staff
19. ROAD SAFETY Pupils must observe the following for Road Safety: 1. Always use the path alongside Shaft Road and in front of Grange House. Never use the road. 2. At crossing points outside Grange, outside Eddystone and outside Nutfield, always STOP, LOOK, LISTEN before crossing. Do not cross in large groups. 3. Never congregate in the road - this applies especially outside Grange & by the Chapel. 4. Only cross the road at the following places: opposite Grange, Eddystone and Nutfield.
20. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Who will I share a room with? Each year we change the rooms but you are placed with your own year group. Who will look after me? Older boys are keen to help new boys to settle in and feel ‘at home’ in the House. Year 9s have a mentor who is in Year 13. There are lots of members of staff on duty in School House to talk to and to ask for help as well as the residential staff. Most of the boys go first to Mr O’Reilly or their Tutor about any problems in the House or School. There is also a School Listener and other house staff around if needed. If it is a medical issue, they can go to see one of the nurses or Dr Nigel Gough at the Medical Centre, which is strictly confidential. Where will I eat? All meals are in the Dining Hall (the food is good).
When do I get up? Around 7am. Wash, have breakfast and Register at 8.15am in the Common Room. Can I choose activities? These happen before Supper and you get to choose your activities. But in the first term activities don’t start until Week 3 or 4. What happens instead of some activities in the first few weeks in September? House singing practise for House Music Competition. Do I have to sing? Yes - don’t worry ‘we are all in it together!’ It is led by Year 13 and is a lovely way to get to know everyone and the competition is good fun! What happens at the weekend? On Saturday, there are 3 lessons in the morning then in the afternoon there is games or fixtures – most boys play for a team. On Saturday evenings, we do activities with other houses. Sunday tends to be a quieter day - a number of boys sign up for a lift to church. There is also a minibus in the afternoon to allow boys to go into Bath for a few hours. There are also a number of trips organised. When do I do my Prep? 6.30pm till 8.30pm on weekdays other than wednesday (Year 9 it can finish earlier) What are the main things I should bring? Bring a toiletries, towel, pillow and duvet, duvet cover (bed sheet & pillow case provided), an alarm clock, padlock, casual clothes, school uniform, bank card, mobile phone with a UK sim and school equipment. There are shops in Bath, house tuck shop and online shopping to buy any missed items so please don’t worry. Do I need to lock my possessions away? Yes. Please bring a small padlock (combination locks are the best). Who washes my clothes and makes my bed? There is a school laundry service. You put dirty clothes each week in to a central laundry basket which is collected and return twice a week. There is also a house washing machine and dryer if needed. Bed sheets are washed every fortnight and you will be reminded to strip and make your own bed.
21. SCHOOL MAP
22. INDUCTION CHECKLIST Week 1 I have met my Mentor and will get help from them to complete this ☐ Emergencies I know the location of my nearest fire exit ☐ I know the location of all the fire exits in Farm ☐ I know the location of the muster point ☐ I know who to contact in an emergency ☐ House information I have a copy of the House Handbook and have read it ☐ I know who my tutor is ☐ I know where the HPs (Mr/Mrs Stevnson’s) house and office is ☐ I know where the AHPs (Mr/Mrs Fuller’s) house is ☐ I know who the House Supervisor (Aggie) is and have introduced myself ☐ I know that I can contact any of the above in person, by google chat, or by email should I need to ☐ I have met the Head of House and Deputy Heads of House I know which notice boards to look on to find house timings and expectations I know where/how to sign in and out of the house ☐ I know the 3 house registration times ☐ I know what time to attend meals ☐ IT I can connect to the school Wifi on my chromebook ☐ I know never to share my password/log-in details ☐ I know who to contact if my IT is not working ☐ I know how to use classroom and access my emails ☐ General I know where to find the A1 boarding poster ☐ I know who to turn to if I need anything and understand that I can turn to any member of staff that I choose ☐ I know that if I am worried about anything I can contact the Chaplain (Rev Hutch) and I know where his office is
INDUCTION CHECKLIST CONT. Week 2 I know how to sign in and out of the House on Reach – if in doubt, see HPs/AHPs ☐ I know I need to sign back in the evening with duty tutor when back in the house ☐ If I am going to the gym or rowing before breakfast, I know that I must have informed the HPs / AHPs ☐ I know that visitors to the house must sign in on Reach and with duty tutor ☐ I know the process for getting leave to Spa in the week and town on the weekend ☐ I know that if I need to be absent from School during the week then my parents must email mssregister@ and farm@ ☐ If I want to stay away from school at the weekend, then this requires 48 hours notice from both families ☐ I understand the general principle that I need to take responsibility for my own actions and to communicate with the HPs (Palmers), my tutor and my teachers, especially if I need to miss any school commitments ☐ I know the timings for handing in tech ☐ Week 3 I know how to access whisper if I need to report anything anonymously ☐ I know how to use the school laundry or machines in the house and have read the notices in the laundry room ☐ I know how to use the house kitchen safely and have read the notice in the kitchen ☐ I know the address for post ☐ I know the expectations about keeping my room tidy ☐ I know the rules about ordering takeaways during the week ☐ I know about the House Values ☐ I have had a 1-1 chat with my tutor and HPs/AHPs ☐ I know where to find all the information on Socs relating to sports and my activities ☐
I have been able to tick all boxes and have completed my induction: Signed ______________________________________________________________________
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WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR ARRIVAL