Rogers House - boarding for Years 5 - 7

At TSS we understand boys of a younger age need more attention while away from home.  Rogers Boarding House was introduced to support younger Boarders while not overwealming them with all that boarding life at TSS has to offer.

Rogers House enjoys the best of both worlds, situated on the banks of the Nerang River within the Senior School campus.  Its members feel the spirit of the greater TSS community, yet it is still the distinct house for Prep, a haven for younger boys.  The duty of care reflects this spirit of specialty and emphasis upon family.  From Matron to the youngest member of the House, all are moving in the same direction, aiming to provide a safe and nurturing atmosphere for boys whose homes and family may be many miles away.  In many respects the boarding community is a global one, from Kingscliff to Korea, Dirranbandi to Dubai, Thargomindah to Tokyo.

At the same time, Rogers House provides a vital stepping stone into the Senior community and particularly for the Year 7 boys, assists them in a smooth transition into Year 8.  Whilst a separate entity in the wider boarding community, Rogers House recognises its important position within the P to12 educational continuum.

With the total refurbishment of the dormitory areas in 2001, each boy has a larger area that has a bed, desk and wardrobe. A study room is located upstairs in the dorm and large screen TV and Wii are available to all students.

Rogers House is very much a family concern. At the very core is Matron, Judy Cronk. Her affection for and appreciation of each of her boys establishes a tone that sets the House apart. The Housemaster, Ian Browne, with his wife Carlene and children Madison and Mackenzie reside on the middle floor of Rogers House. Assistant Housemaster, Sharon Joss, along with her husband Clive, and children Connor and Dylan reside adjacent to the boys' dorm on the top floor of the House. They are ably assisted by four other Resident Staff members living in the accommodation on the lower level. The house motto is "Families serving families" and this is the very essence of all that is done in Prep boarding.

Once the boys arrive at the Preparatory School, they take up their place within one of the four day houses, "Dixon, Mitre, Musgrave or Shepherd". Throughout the school day, the boys of Prep mix, work and play as one school. Classroom routines and expectations, music tuition and performances, sports practices and matches impact upon every boy, Day Boy and Boarder alike.

Life at Rogers

A Rogers’ boy enjoys a very full day…week… term… year at TSS.  The day starts at 6.30 am; showers, dorms tidied, breakfast eaten and sports practice is the form before the commencement of School at 8.50 am.  Classes finish at 3.30 pm, but the day is often lengthened with specialist sport or choral/instrumental practices till 5 pm.  The evenings present opportunities for formal supervised prep, revision, tuition, sporting and cultural pursuits.  Instrumental practices and personal reading challenges are top priorities for every boy every day and indeed, a compulsory quiet reading period forms part of evening routine.  The 7.15 pm Supper signals ‘cool down’ and the House is usually well settled for the night by 8.45 pm.  It is a very full day.

Whilst the boys have a full and very busy time with a structured and highly organised pattern to the week, the weekend allows more flexibility in their programme. At weekends, boys are taken on “shopping leave”, usually to the local Shopping Centre and during Terms I and IV, have the option of joining the Senior boys on supervised “Surf Leave”.  Other regular excursions include trips to see the NRL games, to the Hinterland and also the cinema. We intend to have a full House excursion, including, if possible, all boys and all resident staff, once each term and a number of appropriate venues are under discussion and are open to suggestion!  Term I is likely to see a fun-packed day at Wet ‘n’ Wild here on the Coast, and of course, we hope to have a weekend camp at Hidden Creek (TSS’s Outdoor Education Centre in Northern NSW) in Term II or III.