Welcome to Glennie boarding
I have to confess that I have never been a boarder. I wanted to be one, and there were certainly lots of discussions around my family dinner table about the idea when I was growing up. I went to school in Goomeri, a small town about two hours from Glennie, with the same group of 15 kids from Kindy to Year 10, give or take a few transient students.
Our school finished in Year 10, so we all went our different ways afterwards. Many left for boarding schools, some went into the workforce or TAFE and Ag college, and the rest went to local schools that catered for Year 11 and 12.
I was always very envious of friends who were at boarding school. When they returned in the holidays, they seemed so mature and sophisticated, so grown up and independent.
I didn’t think there was anything that could match the unique friendships and connections that I made when I went to school with the same small group of friends every day for eleven years.
But then I came to know the boarders.
Fast forward to 2023 and I work in a role that takes these connections to a whole new level. And I am grateful that I am at a school where boarders are at its heart.
I say “heart”, because for 38 weeks a year, our boarders are everywhere. The boarding houses are not only where they sleep, but where they dance through the corridors. The school yard is their backyard. They fill the cubicles with laughter and feel safe enough here to shed their tears.
Boarders are involved in everything: sport, drama, dance, debating, service programs and every co-curricular program on offer.
Boarders can be relied on to be part of whatever is going on. If something needs doing, a boarder will do it. During school hours they provide a lot of the humour and joy that we know as Glennie. They have an outlook that is infectious and fun, and add a special character to every conversation. Every day girl loves her boarder friend.
Ms Sharon Currie
Head of Boarding
Hear our stories
“I am grateful for the opportunity that I have to be a boarder. Over the past few years, boarding has helped me gain a lot of confidence and strength.”
Sarah Neliman (Goomeri, Old) – Year 12
Boarding in Toowoomba
The Glennie boarding community is lively, inclusive and cohesive. It fosters strong and supportive relationships with every girl and her family. Whether your daughter is an extrovert or a little more reserved, she will be welcomed into the Glennie family and embraced for who she is.
In one of the largest Australian inland cities, your daughter will never be short of the opportunity, adventure and connections commonly found in metropolitan areas. Toowoomba’s regional setting offers a friendly and safe community, where your daughter will feel welcome and inspired on her learning journey.
Just a 1.5-hour drive from Brisbane and with direct flights to Toowoomba now available, a Glennie education for your daughter is more accessible than ever before.
Glennie offers flexible boarding options for girls from Years 5 to 12:
- Full-time boarding during term time
- Weekly boarding for families in regional Toowoomba / greater Darling Downs
- Casual boarding for families needing occasional care for their daughter
No Place Like Home
Every boarder at Glennie is a valued individual who is supported and encouraged to achieve her potential.
The great benefit of a Glennie boarding experience is that it encourages girls to make decisions and become confident, trusted, compassionate and capable young women. Christian values underpin our boarding philosophy and the wellbeing of our boarders is paramount.
The Glennie boarding houses are like extended families and enjoy close connections with the boarders and their families. We encourage the strong and open relationships you would find in any caring household.
Boarding is a significant transition for many families and we understand the adjustment challenges it brings. That’s why we have robust systems in place to give your daughter the support she needs right throughout her stay in our care.
We know there is a lot to learn and manage when growing as a young woman. At Glennie, we take seriously our responsibility for creating a comfortable, nurturing and private second home for all boarders.
A History of Boarding
Families have long chosen Glennie for more than just a quality education.
Whether from the Darling Downs, south and north-west Queensland, north and central-west New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Western Australia and abroad, for generations Glennie has provided a home away from home for families seeking boarding for their daughter.
This long association provides Glennie with a trusted framework for boarding families, and a knowledge and understanding of the needs of the students in our care.