A “lunch leave” means that boys can have lunch outside the dining room during the school lunch time break. Otherwise all boys are expected to be in the dining room having lunch with their year group.
Over the years they have developed as an opportunity for boys to have lunch on the front lawn with a parent or other adult, often for a special occasion such as a birthday. Boys are able to invite their mates to join them on a lunch leave. As the boys must not leave College grounds, approval from the parents of the other boys is not required, however each boy must submit a leave in Orah so we know where they are.
Lunch leaves shouldn’t really be a frequent/weekly occurrence. Firstly, there are social benefits to the boys from mixing with different boys in their year group which happens in the dining room during lunch each day. Secondly, country and overseas boarders often have less opportunities to host a lunch leave, so it can be difficult for them if day students are frequently attending lunch leaves in large numbers.
Guidelines for lunch leave are as follows:
- Boys are not to leave College grounds
- Boys must be supervised throughout lunch by a parent or other adult who brings food in for them
- Each student must submit a leave request in Boardingware for lunch leaves (parents are not able to do this for them).
- Year 12 students eat their lunch from the outdoor dining area in Year 12. Therefore the tables in the Year 12 quadrangle area (including the volleyball court, Year 12 Common Room and tables outside the Year 12 Common Room) are not to be used for lunch leaves.
- Parents/adults are asked to assist in ensuring that boys are on time to Period 5 classes after lunch. Being at a lunch leave is not a valid reason to arrive late to class. Lunch times vary and are shown below:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 12:50pm – 1:30pm
Wednesday: 12:30pm – 1:00pm