Huxley Boarding House

Huxley is one of two girls’ houses and provides accommodation for junior and middle age boarders and it can sleep up to 65 girls.

Huxley Houseparents

MRS Vicky Potts	01747 857925	vp@portregis.com
Miss tara Montgomery	01747 857919	tkm@portregis.com

The House

Huxley House has three floors. Showers and loos are on the top floor, dormitories for F, E and D form boarders are on the second floor, while the common room and C and B form dorms are on the first floor, next to the school Health Centre.

 

There are loos on each floor, which are handy if you need to “pay a visit” during the night!

Dormitories

It’s your bedroom! They are homely and colourful, and you’ll have lots of fun with your new friends.

 

What's fun?

There are talent shows, an evening when the tidiest dorm of the week has hot chocolate and crisps, a B form TV night, free time to play with your friends, and weekend video nights, with hot chocolate and toast!  We even try to make bed changing fun and have a lottery, where there’s the chance to win a luxury bubble bath and a lottery prize!

Weekly Timetable

Every morning you will make your own bed and each person takes a turn to hoover their dorm and empty the waste paper bins.  Last term’s timetable looked like this:

 

Day	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Wake up	7am	7.10am	7.20am	7.25am	7.30am	7am	8.15am
Morning Tasks	Strip and remake beds.	Downstairs lift off to aid cleaners Shoe cleaning		Top floor lift off to aid cleaners			Perhaps a pyjama breakfast
Evening Tasks	Big laundry chuck out and lottery	Dorm winners	Upper floor Nit check	Lower floor Nit check	Talent shows / free time to play	Video Night with hot chocolate	Video

 

Who can I talk to?

We all feel homesick at some stage. It’s good to talk about how you feel and have a hug, to help you through these short phases.  So who can you turn to?  There are a number of people:

 

In the boarding house there is Mrs Carter, Miss Montgomery or the Matrons.  You may wish to speak to another adult who helps in the house.

 

Sometimes it is easier to speak to someone who doesn’t teach at school. Mrs Wharton is one of the school’s Independent Listeners and regularly visits Huxley. Everyone will listen and are happy to give advice.

 

During the day there are many other people you can speak to including: your tutor, form teacher, Mrs Carter (Head of Boarding), Miss Ford (Assistant Head of Boarding), Miss Young (Housemother), Health Centre staff, Mr and Mrs Dunhill and of course our wonderful Gaps.

 

So, as you can see, there are lots of people at school who will be happy to listen, help and advise you, if that’s what you want and need.

Top TWENTY Tips

• Bring posters, pictures, postcards and/or a sarong to help make your area cosy.
• Bring white or blue tack to put up your posters with.
• Get a phone card before you come and know how to use it.
• Have an address book with important telephone numbers and addresses.
• Have a small calendar with important birthdays marked in.
• Have a phone routine organised before coming and try to stick to it. Look at the calling time ideas at the back of this booklet to help you. Remember if you are unsure, we can help you.
• Be aware of any time difference you may have if your parent(s) live overseas. 
  (Try phoning during the day if you are homesick, as lessons after calling home will help take your mind off missing people at home. You will also be less tired and be able to communicate better.)
• Everyone gets homesick at some point or other, so don’t worry if you miss people at home, we understand and will help you through.
• Bring a few small presents for people’s birthdays. E.g. stickers, pencils, nail varnish, mini note pads etc.
• It will help you to know how to: a) change a duvet b) make a bed c) hoover and d) fold clothes and keep your things tidily.
• Bring one or two teddies or soft toys
• If you are bringing a CD player, bring headphones too.
• Name everything including CDs and their cases.
• Keep expensive and breakable items at home.
• Shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste etc can all be bought at school and added to your bill if you want to save space in your suitcase.
• Bring a good book or two for reading time to start you off.
• Your shadow is a really good source for information, so try and e-mail, write or phone to find out more.
• Bring a water bottle, a bicycle style one would be good.
• Once you’re here – get involved.
• “Enjoy what you have at school and enjoy what you have at home” – there is a sweet side to both.

Frequently asked questions

 

When will I find out what dorm I am in?

This is generally on the first day of term, when you arrive at school.

 

What rules are there in Huxley?

Not many! 

• As long as you consider others and treat them how you would like to be treated yourself, you can’t go wrong. 
• If tuck comes in, it goes straight in the bin!
• “Reading,” means reading a book. “Lights out” is no talking and time to sleep.

When can I wear my play clothes?

In free time, this is Wednesday afternoon after games, Saturday afternoon and Sunday after church services. So you don’t need many sets – 3 sets is fine!

 

When can I use the phones?

We would suggest you organise two days spread over the week, when it is best to call home. Some people find it easier to call during the day, to give them more time during the evening to play with friends. Others find time to call at night. So organise two days for calling home and stick to the times arranged until you work out what is best. You can always change the times you call home when you are used to the daily routines. Remember, if you are calling overseas you need to know what the time difference is so you don’t wake anyone up!

 

 

Mobile Phones

If you are an overseas boarder or an A or B former you can have a mobile phone in school as long as you and your parents have completed and handed in your mobile phone agreement. Please make sure your phone is clearly named. Mobile phones are handed in to Houseparents for safekeeping at night and for the school day. You may use your mobile to call home in the boarding house during free time.

 

What tuck or fruit can I bring to school?

If tuck comes in, it goes straight in the bin! So don’t be tempted to bring in anything you can eat or drink. (You get tuck in school 3 times a week – on Weds, Sat and Sun).

 

Fruit is allowed to be brought in by A and B formers only; (as long as it doesn’t require a knife for peeling or opening).

 

If I have something special where do I put it to keep it safe?

You have a personal drawer and a lockable play box for your own “special items”, but keep all really precious things at home. Some overseas pupils may have travelling money or mobile telephones. Both are given in to Houseparents for safekeeping.

 

What should I do with any medicines I bring to school?

All medicines and vitamin supplements need to be handed into the Health Centre.  Make sure your medication is named and you explain to the nurse what the medication is for and how often you take it.

Telephoning

The best time for your parents and friends to call are:

 

D, E and F formers	7.00pm – 7.40pm
C formers	7.20pm – 7.50pm
B formers	8.00pm – 8.30pm
A formers	8.15pm – 8.35pm

Ways of communicating with your family and friends

Your parents and friends can also write, fax or email you. The school address is:

Port Regis, Motcombe Park, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 9QA

A handy idea!

If you are going to be a keen letter writer, you or your parent(s) could always write or print out address labels for the letters you intend to write. When you are busily sending letters and cards to friends and family this will make life a little easier!