Together we are stronger, together we are Seondeok!
By Stephen Baker, Head of Seondeok House
Finally, after a year of numerous conversations, detailed discussions, and meticulous planning, Seondeok, the boys’ boarding house, is finally OPEN. It is difficult to believe what we have achieved in the first few weeks and it is a testament to both the staff and the students that such rapid progress has been made. In particular, I have to thank Mr. Finaughty and Miss. Arias for all their hard work, their insatiable enthusiasm, and their desire to make the BHA boys’ boarding not only the best in the GEC, but one of the very best in Asia.
As the Head of Seondeok House, my number one priority is to ensure that all my boys feel safe and happy so they can thrive both academically and pastorally. These two strands share equal importance to me and it is why my staff and I pay so much attention to the needs of all our boys. To give you a small glimpse into what happens during a normal week and what the boys have access to, please take a look at the chart below:
|
Supported Study Hall five times a week! |
The opportunity to play basketball |
Experts in English, Maths, and Science available every night! |
Friday night fun activities! |
Endless opportunities to improve and use English! |
Use of the soccer pitch |
|
Learning to cook and iron their own clothes! |
Regular visits to the BHA fitness suite! |
24 hour medical care |
Sunday Funday! |
The opportunity to play badminton. |
Three healthy meals a day |
|
Day trips around Jeju island! |
Daily access to an experienced guidance counselor |
Use of the swimming pool. |
Use of the BHA ice-rink! |
Birthday celebrations! |
Electronics are handed in at 21:45 to ensure the boys have regular sleep patterns! |
|
Wake up at 7:00am during the week. |
Daily conversational English with HOH and Dons! |
Deepening knowledge and understanding of the IB Learner Profile |
Film nights! |
Idioms and Words of the week! |
Daily table tennis! |
Although this is not an exhaustive list, hopefully it gives you an insight into the life of boys’ boarding here at BHA!
Having been in education for over twenty years, I can honestly say that for the boys (and girls) who experience boarding, they genuinely heighten their chances of success at university.
Boarding provides students with the opportunity of living a balanced life that takes into account both their pastoral and academic needs.
Boarding provides students with endless opportunities to grow and develop with a strong network supporting every step they make.
Boarding provides students with the opportunity to learn the necessary life skills like cooking, cleaning, and ironing.
Boarding provides students with the opportunity to practice their English everyday and really integrate the attributes of the IB Learner Profile into their daily life.
When I speak to my former students, many of whom have attended Harvard, Princeton, Cambridge and Oxford, they all tell me that their time in boarding fully prepared them for life after school. This, in many ways, is the ultimate goal of boarding and it is why I feel such pride at being the inaugural Head of Seondeok House.
If you or your son would like to find out more about the boarding provision, or if you would like a guided personal tour of Seondeok House, please send me an email.