Boarding School Hints and Information
(written by someone who has lived the experience!)
Sometimes boarding schools are in a rather small town, and there are things that the school forgets to warn parents about. On top of the uniform that you sometimes have to purchase, always remember that things get ruined when laundry is done through the school's services.
CLOTHES
- Underwear
- Socks
- Two sets of long underwear¸(especially for people who are in Canada)
- A good pair of warm boots
- At least one good outfit and a pair of nice shoes
- Swimsuit
- Jeans
- Dressing gown
- Sets of warm pyjamas
- Dress socks/ tights and nylons
- A good winter jacket/coat
- Slippers
- Sports clothes
THINGS THAT YOUR PARENTS ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ALWAYS FORGET!
- Sheets/towels (if these are not provided by the institution)
- Pillows
- Duvet
- Bucket for the shower to hold toiletries (your stuff always gets stolen if you leave it in the cubbyhole)
- Mirror
- Hair dryer
- Kettle
- Mug & glass
- Bowl& plate
- A set of utensils
- Scissors
- A bar fridge
- Box of pens
- High lighters
- Hangers
- A trunk or a suitcase that can be locked
- Dictionaries (French/English or other languages you may have or want to learn)
- Plug adaptors if required
- Computer power bar, or multi plug bar
- Adaptors for 220V if you are going to Europe
ITEMS ON THE SCHOOL LIST, i.e. paper, binders, note books, etc...
*** You have to remember that all schools have their own makeshift store
but they do not have variety and most of the time young, new kids find that the stress of forgetting something in a new environment can be difficult.
DRUGSTORE (There is nothing worse then having to go out and buy these things on an emergency!)
- Band-Aids
- Tylenol (for females Midol, tampons, and pads and bring a little make-up)
- Shampoo
- Soap
- Washing soap if you have to do you own laundry
- Shaving cream
- Razors
- Nail-file
- Toe-nail clippers
- Q-tips
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- Cream
- Tide-for that emergency hand wash
- Foot powder
THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD DO BEFORE GOING TO SCHOOL:
FULL CHECKUP with family doctor, Optometrist, Dermatologist, Dentist
Get a hair cut
*** Always make sure that there has been an open discussion about sex. For young girls make sure that they have a family doctor that they can see if there is a problem. Don't ever rely on the doctors or the nurses at the schools SINCE nothing is confidential in the health centre.
*** If there are any prescriptions that have to be filled out, make sure they have been filled out before they go to school. Always make sure that your parents are on top of any medication that you may require. (meaning: do not ever rely on the school to fill out a prescription especially if it might be something that you ARE shy about.)
*** Ask your parents to fill out an ADDRESS BOOK of every family member and family friend.
EMERGENCY
- Credit Card
- Telephone Card
- Travellers checks—there is always a school safe that this can be kept in and only given to you when you are travelling
- Booklet with emergency numbers
- Of passport section at DFAIT
- For tickets
- Counsellors in the department
- An emergency number in the Department. Some kids are left stranded not knowing if their parents are O.K. when the post is dealing with an emergency crisis.
- Embassy numbers/after hours included
EXTRAS FOR PARENTS
Give your child a subscription to their favourite magazine and give them lots of pictures of the place that one is living in, so they still feel apart of your life. Although it is sometimes difficult to send your child a gift through the bag — there are a few catalogues that are on the Internet which you can use to send them care packages from your computer abroad. There is even a Canadian web-site that will send baskets that are specially made up of anything that you would like.
ADDRESSES ARE
clubmonaco.com
jcrew.com
chapters.ca
baskits.com
pcbaskets.com
thebodyshop.ca