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Ming House: Where pupils flourish and find a home at WCCH

18 Sep 2023

Ming House: Where pupils

flourish and find a home at WCCH

When delving into the origin of boarding schools, we cannot overlook the profound influence of Britain.

We experience the unique allure of British boarding schools in many classic films and television series, such as "Harry Potter," "Downton Abbey," and "Merlin." These residential independent institutions have been highly sought after by affluent British families for generations, standing as a hallmark "British elite."

Throughout the history of world education, British boarding schools have been a unique presence. Families entrusting their children to boarding schools has been a venerable practice in the United Kingdom since the 12th century. As the cornerstone of "holistic education," this educational philosophy has been passed down for over a thousand years and continues to possess great vitality in contemporary society.

Following the prestigious traditions of Wellington College, one of the most renowned independent schools in the UK, Wellington College Hangzhou campus offers children an unparalleled boarding experience. It upholds its heritage of over 160 years of boarding tradition and distinctive features.

The boarding house at WCCH is called "Ming house". It serves as a witness and chronicler of the children's growth.

Different from traditional Chinese boarding schools, Ming House is established based on the experience of British boarding schools, providing qualified care and happiness. Boarding life represents a unique and outstanding opportunity for pupils, enabling them to grow into 21st century global citizens.

In terms of British proficiency, boarding pupils make faster progress compared with day students. Expatriate teachers and bilingual Chinese educators also reside within the boarding house and provide assistance when pupils need it, encouraging children to use English first and immerse themselves in an English-speaking environment, continuously developing their English skills outside of class. Unconsciously, children become more confident in their daily lives and are able to use English more fluently, benefiting greatly.

Ming House serves as a home away from home for the boarders. It is where they live and learn while building lifelong friendships. The staff here are welcoming and passionate in providing a listening ear, guidance, inspiration, motivation and advice to the boarders. Here, we care about every individual pupil and attend to their wellbeing with the utmost attention.

We understand the significance of boarding and the opportunities and challenges it presents to our pupils. Boarding is not simply about providing children with accommodation; it is about establishing a home away from home that cultivates their independence, social skills, and global perspectives.

Focus on the intrinsic happiness

关注自身的快乐

Planning activities for children can be joyful yet challenging. Such delight arises from being able to observe from a child's perspective and interact with our inner child when we are imagining what activities they would enjoy. However, it presents challenges because as we grow older, we may lose touch with what children truly need and what their interests are.

Yet our staff at Ming House are always proactive.

They are dedicated to seeking innovative directions to provide fun-packed activities for the pupils, such as clay sculpture, fitness, musical instruments, board games, reading, karaoke, and arts and crafts, enabling the boarders to live an enriching and enjoyable life. Pupils are also encouraged to participate in decision-making by proposing activities for each night.

Ming House has a multi-purpose games and activities room where boarders can enjoy some downtime and socialise during their free time. It provides an opportunity for pupils to develop their social skills and enjoy quality time fostering lasting friendships.

Whenever Katy, our Boarding Mistress, speaks about the children engaging in activities at Ming House, we cannot help but imagine the enriching experiences they are having.

Ming House is a relaxing place for the children. It releases them from the constraints of strict discipline and encourages them to be creative and use initiative while having fun. As adults, we can also benefit from children’s ideas and perspectives as they allow us to see the world around us with fresh eyes and appreciate the joys that might have been overlooked in our daily lives.

Our warm support

来自我们的温暖

Transitioning from living at home to a boarding house can be a significant step for children of any age. However, we are well-equipped to support pupils to embrace the challenges.

At Ming House, we go beyond simply attending to the needs of our boarders because we genuinely care about them and comprehensively support them in every aspect of their lives.

We recognise that good health is the key to every opportunity for children. Ming House has an independent medical facility that is staffed with fully qualified nurses. Moreover, an overnight nurse is on duty every evening to address any unforeseen emergencies. We have posters and logos displaying the safeguarding team members and related organisations, ensuring that our children always have someone to talk to should any need arise.

We pay attention to even the smallest details and listen to each child.

Our staff members are perceptive and proactive, diligently observing pupils' wellbeing. For example, recognising when a child has had an argument with their teammates on the basketball court or is experiencing a sudden drop in their academic performance, etc.

Ming House staff will communicate these observations discreetly to the Boarding Mistress and class teachers. This process ensures that any recurring or concerning behaviour is documented, enabling parents to stay informed of their child's health and wellbeing. Through these measures, Ming House upholds a relationship of trust between the school, parents and pupils.

We aim to guide our pupils to become independent, empathetic, and compassionate individuals capable of leading happy and fulfilling lives as global citizens. We are confident that with the nurturing care provided by Ming House, pupils will thrive and create exciting lives of their own.

The wonderful memories from boarding will undoubtedly be cherished by pupils even after they bid farewell to Ming House. They will remember the time they spent together with this big welcoming family. Here, boarding transcends warmth, it allows pupils to feel an enduring sense of home.

Hiba Academy Hangzhou

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