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Hello everyone, Boardington Bear here!

I have made it to the end of Week 2, although I am not entirely sure how. It has been VERY busy in Boarding this week. I have been learning about academics, celebrating a day dedicated to bears (finally!), practising our fire procedures, waving off our DofE adventurers, taking on the rides at Thorpe Park and welcoming lots of new students into our Boarding family.

And I have some very exciting news…

WE HAVE A FULL HOUSE!

There are now Bears and students everywhere, and I absolutely love it!

I’ve Been Getting Academic

This week I have been learning all about our different year groups at the Academic Information Evenings. There has been lots of information about subjects, expectations, exams, homework and all the different ways our students are supported throughout the school year.

I am not completely convinced that anyone needs quite this much homework, but apparently I am not in charge of the curriculum.

Back in Boarding, I have also been keeping a close eye on Prep. Everyone is beginning to settle into the routine now, with laptops out, books open and students getting organised for the days ahead. Our Boarding staff are always around to offer support, and I have been reminding everyone that there is nothing wrong with asking for help. Sometimes we all need a helping paw.

I have offered my own academic services, but apparently sitting on someone’s textbook does not count as helping.

FINALLY – Teddy Bear Day!

I have been waiting all year for this one.

Teddy Bear Day!

Finally, an entire day recognising the contribution that bears like me make to society.

I celebrated with the students and joined them for some colouring. It was actually lovely to have a quieter moment during such a busy week. Everyone could sit around the table together, chat, colour and relax for a little while.

Obviously, I took my responsibilities as official Teddy Bear Day representative extremely seriously.

I am now campaigning for Teddy Bear Week.

Then perhaps Teddy Bear Month.

I think we all know where this is heading.

I Heard the Alarm!

Just as I was getting comfortable, we had our whole-school fire drill.

With so many new students around the school and Boarding House, it is really important that everyone knows exactly what to do when the alarm sounds. There is no stopping to find things, no wandering around wondering what is happening – we leave the building safely and make our way to the correct assembly point.

I watched everyone evacuate sensibly and was very impressed with how well our students responded.

I did have to move my little legs rather quickly to keep up, but I made it!

Safety is a really important part of Boarding life, and drills like this help make sure that if we ever do have a real emergency, everyone knows exactly what to do.

I Waved Off Our DofE Adventurers

Some of our students had an even bigger adventure this week as they headed off on their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Expedition.

I looked at the size of the backpacks and decided that, on this occasion, my role was probably to provide moral support.

Our students had to navigate their routes, work together as a team, carry everything they needed and keep going even when they were tired. DofE is a fantastic opportunity to develop independence, resilience and teamwork – all the things we encourage in Boarding too.

From what I understand, the expedition involved walking.

Then some more walking.

Then a bit more walking.

And just when everyone thought they had surely finished walking… more walking!

I am very proud of everyone who took part. I hope there were plenty of snacks involved and that everyone found a very comfortable sofa afterwards.

I Went to THORPE PARK!

Now this was more my kind of adventure.

On Saturday, I packed myself up and headed off with the students for our trip to Thorpe Park!

I had been told there would be rides. What nobody explained was quite how BIG some of those rides would be.

Still, I am Boardington Bear. I had a reputation to maintain.

So I bravely took on the rollercoasters and even ventured onto the water rides. There were screams, lots of laughter and some VERY wet students. I am pleased to report that I survived, although my fur may never be quite the same again.

It was brilliant seeing everyone having fun together. Trips are one of my favourite parts of Boarding because students get the chance to spend time with people outside their usual friendship groups and make memories together.

I would also like everyone to know that photographic evidence exists of me on the rides, so nobody can question my bravery.

Then 15 More Students Arrived!

After Thorpe Park, I thought I might get a quiet Sunday.

I was wrong.

This weekend I helped to welcome 15 new Emil Dale students into our Boarding House.

They will be living here with us and becoming part of our Boarding community. I will see them at breakfast, dinner, during the evenings, at activities and throughout the weekends. During the school day, they will head off to Emil Dale, but when they come home in the evening, they will be part of Boarding just like everyone else.

Arrival day was quite something!

Every time I turned around, another suitcase seemed to appear. There were students finding their new rooms, families arriving, keys being handed out, paperwork being completed and people trying to remember which corridor they were supposed to be on.

There were Bears and students everywhere!

I tried to supervise from a safe position, although I nearly disappeared underneath a pile of luggage at one point.

What I really loved, though, was watching our existing boarders begin to welcome everyone. Moving into Boarding can feel a little scary, particularly when you don’t know many people yet, so seeing students saying hello, chatting at dinner and helping our newest residents find their way around made me a very proud Bear.

I Have a FULL HOUSE!

And that brings me to my biggest news of Week 2…

THE BOARDING HOUSE IS FULL!

Every corridor now has students living on it, the Games Room is getting busier, there are lots more people around the dinner tables and there is a real buzz around the house.

I have spent the last two weeks watching new friendships beginning, students finding their feet and everyone gradually getting used to the Boarding routine. Now our final new residents have arrived, it really does feel as though our Boarding family for this term is complete.

To all my new students: welcome! I hope you quickly begin to feel at home here. Don’t worry if you don’t know where everything is yet, if you forget a routine or if you need to ask for help. There are lots of people around who will happily point you in the right direction.

And to all my existing boarders, keep doing what you’re doing. Say hello to someone new, invite them to sit with you at dinner, include them in an activity or help them find their way. Those little things can make a huge difference.

So that’s it from me for Week 2.

It has been busy, exciting, slightly chaotic and a lot of fun.

I now live in a FULL Boarding House with Bears and students everywhere, and I couldn’t be happier.

I am, however, going to try to find myself a quiet corner for a little nap before Week 3 begins.

With a full house, I don’t fancy my chances…

Until next week!

Boardington Bear

Oh, What a Week!

What a week it has been! After a lovely, peaceful summer, the Boarding House has suddenly come back to life, and I couldn’t be more excited!

The week started with lots and lots of preparation. There were beds to make, rooms to prepare, welcome packs to organise and plenty of last-minute jobs to make sure everything was ready for our boarders to return.

Of course, I was a very helpful bear! I was on hand to help the Boarding Team wherever I could. I’m not sure they could have managed without me!

Then came one of my favourite moments – welcoming our new boarders and their families to St Francis’ College. Our new students had a tour of the school, started getting to know one another and enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea with their families. There were lots of new faces, a few nervous smiles and plenty of excitement about the year ahead.

Thursday was another exciting day! Our Year 12 students headed off to Cambridge for the day, where they had a fantastic time exploring and getting to know one another.

Meanwhile, the new boarders who stayed with us had their introduction to life in boarding. They learnt all about the Boarding House, our routines and what to expect over the coming weeks. We even took a walk into Letchworth Garden City so everyone could pick up a few essentials – because there is always something you suddenly realise you have forgotten when you move into boarding!

Thursday was also the day we welcomed back our returning boarders. Suddenly, the Boarding House was full of suitcases, chatter, laughter and familiar faces again. After such a peaceful summer, I was very pleased to have everyone home!

Then, on Friday, everyone had their first full day of school! New classrooms, new timetables, new teachers and, for some, a completely new school to discover.

My First Weekend Adventure!

You might think that after such a busy week we would spend Saturday relaxing… but not in boarding!

On Saturday, we headed off on our first boarding trip of the new academic year to Hollywood Bowl in Stevenage. We travelled there by train, which was all part of the adventure.

Once we arrived, it was time to get our bowling shoes on and see who could get the highest score!

Now, I have a little confession to make…

I’m not very good at bowling!

Apparently having paws instead of hands makes holding a bowling ball rather tricky! I gave it my best shot though, and although I certainly won’t be joining a professional bowling team anytime soon, I had great fun trying!

There was lots of cheering, laughing and a little bit of friendly competition. It was a brilliant way for everyone to spend time together after such a busy first few days.

And, of course, no boarding adventure would be complete without something tasty to eat!

After bowling, we headed to McDonald’s for a well-earned treat. I must say, after all that bowling, this bear had worked up quite an appetite!

Then it was back on the train and home to the Boarding House after a fantastic first Saturday together.

What a first week it has been – new boarders, returning friends, afternoon tea, Cambridge, school, bowling, trains and McDonald’s!

Our Boarding House is full of life again, our wonderful boarding community is back together, and I can’t wait to see what adventures we have this year.

Welcome back, everyone – here’s to an amazing year in boarding!

Until next week,

Boardington Bear

Hello Everyone,

What a lovely and rather busy weekend it has been in the boarding house. Even a bear who enjoys a good nap found plenty to do and see.

On Saturday we celebrated World Sleep Day, which sounded like the perfect event for a bear like me. Bears are very good at sleeping, so I felt extremely qualified to support such an important day. A good rest helps everyone feel ready for the adventures ahead, although I did have to keep my naps quite short because we had a very exciting trip planned.

We travelled by train into London, which was an adventure in itself. I found a very good seat by the window and watched the countryside and city rush past as we made our way into the capital.

Our main destination was the National Gallery, and stepping inside was quite extraordinary. There were so many beautiful paintings, each with its own story to tell. I spent a long time wandering through the galleries, carefully studying the colours, the details and the incredible skill of the artists. I tried to stand very still and look thoughtful, like a proper art critic bear. Some of the paintings were enormous, and I had to tilt my little bear head right back to see them properly.

Before heading inside, I also made a very important stop in Trafalgar Square, where I paused for a photo with one of the famous lions. I must say, the lion looked very impressive indeed, although I think I held my own quite well next to such a grand statue. It was a perfect London moment and a photo opportunity no adventurous bear could possibly miss.

After exploring the gallery, we spent some time shopping around London, which is always full of energy and excitement. The streets were busy, the shop windows were bright and there was lots to see as we walked along together enjoying the atmosphere of the city.

Then something very exciting happened. While we were out and about, we spotted Olly Murs. There was a real buzz of excitement when everyone realised who it was. It was a very unexpected moment and certainly made the day even more memorable. Not every weekend trip includes a surprise celebrity sighting.

On Sunday we marked Mother’s Day, a lovely moment to pause and think about the people who care for us. Mothers come in many forms, and it was a chance to appreciate all the wonderful people who support, guide and look after us. In a boarding community there are many caring adults and friends who help make the boarding house feel like home, and it was a nice reminder to celebrate them all.

From art and shopping to a famous London lion and a surprise celebrity sighting, it has been a very special weekend. Even a bear who enjoys a good sleep would agree that it was worth staying awake for.

Until the next adventure,

Paws on the ground, news all around

Hello Everyone,

Curious bears and science experiments are always a good combination, and this week I had plenty of opportunities to put my investigative bear brain to work.

The highlight of the week was our Festival of STEM, which brought students from across the College, and even some visiting local primary schools, together for a wonderful celebration of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine. The school was full of energy as students explored experiments, demonstrations and hands-on activities.

I padded around the different stations making sure I didn’t miss anything exciting. Our senior students were leading many of the activities, guiding younger pupils through experiments and discussions. It was fantastic to see them sharing their knowledge and helping others discover new ideas. The Prep students and visiting pupils were fully involved, asking questions, testing things out and learning by doing. I sat nearby, looking very thoughtful and nodding wisely whenever something impressive happened.

One of my favourite parts was meeting some fascinating new scientific friends. I came face to face with emperor butterflies, which were very elegant, watched some very busy stick insects, and even met a rather calm gecko who seemed completely unfazed by having a bear admire it so closely.

I also had the chance to take part in a science experiment myself, which I approached with great care and concentration. And perhaps the most magical thing I saw all week was a 3D printer at work. I watched in amazement as it slowly built an object layer by layer. I stood very still so I wouldn’t disturb the process, although I did lean in quite close to see how it worked.

Later in the week we also had Year 13 Parents’ Evening, where students spoke with their teachers and families about their progress and plans for the future. I listened in from a nearby chair, feeling very proud of how confident and thoughtful our students are as they prepare for their next steps.

We finished the week in style with the Dance Showcase, where students took to the stage and performed beautifully. The theatre was full of energy, music and impressive routines. I clapped my paws enthusiastically for every performance and was very glad I had managed to find such a good seat.

From science discoveries and fascinating creatures to impressive performances, it has been a week full of curiosity, creativity and excitement. A very good week for a curious bear.

Until the next adventure,

Paws on the ground, news all around

Hello everyone,

It’s me, Boardington Bear, back with another heart-warming update from the boarding house. This week has been full of kindness, celebration, baking and looking after one another, and my paws have been busy from start to finish.

This week we marked Children’s Mental Health Week, with this year’s theme being “This is My Place”. It has been a special time to reflect on where we feel safe, supported and that we belong. Across the boarding house there have been thoughtful conversations, quiet moments and lots of encouragement to look after ourselves and each other. I made sure to be extra available for hugs, friendly company and listening ears. A bear knows how important it is to feel at home and part of something special.

There was also lots of activity in the kitchen as we baked cookies and cupcakes for the Year 8 bake sale. The kitchen quickly filled with delicious smells and plenty of mixing, decorating and careful taste testing. The bake sale raised money for two wonderful causes, supporting SPACE, a charity for young people who are neurodivergent, and Cancer Research. It was lovely to see everyone working together for such important charities, and I was very proud of all the effort that went into it.

We also had a wonderfully relaxed Loungewear Day, raising money for Place2Be, where students were able to wear their pyjamas to school. The boarding house and classrooms were filled with cosy outfits, soft fabrics and lots of comfortable smiles. It made the whole day feel calm, relaxed and homely, which was a perfect way to support the message of looking after our wellbeing. I, of course, stayed in my cosiest fur and felt very much part of the occasion.

This week we also celebrated three boarder birthdays, which of course meant lots of cake, presents and big smiles. I was on hand to help with the celebrations, joining in the singing and making sure each birthday felt special. A week with cake is always a good week.

We also marked Umbrella Day, which felt very fitting as the weather has been as unpredictable as ever. I made sure to stay close to shelter, although I did enjoy watching everyone splashing through the puddles.

And just like that, the week has come to an end and it is time to pack up for half term. Suitcases have appeared, rooms are being tidied and there is a buzz of excitement as everyone prepares for a well deserved break. I stood by the door, waving goodbye and wishing everyone a happy and restful holiday.

It has been a week full of kindness, community and care, a perfect way to end the half term.

Until the next adventure,

Paws on the ground, news all around