1. How does AIC supply lunch to the boarders?
Monday and Fridays students make their own lunches from breads, salads, meats and condiments that are available at breakfast time. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday our catering company delivers a variety of lunches to students at the College Cafeteria. A copy of the menu is available on line for parents. Click here to view
2. Who washes the boarders' clothes?
Boarders are provided with washing machines and dryers in both the Tower and Loft. The supervisors are able to teach students how to use these machines and what powder to buy. All personal laundry and towels are washed by the students themselves and all sheets and bathmats are laundered by a laundry company every week. Students are provided with laundered sheets, pillowcases and bathmats delivered to their room every Friday and all used items are collected on Monday.
3. Is there a laundry room in the boarding house? Can students use it anytime?
Yes. There are washer/dryer combo machines in each Loft apartment and the Tower has many washing machines and dryers for students to use until 10.30pm.
4. How can parents communicate with boarding staff, if parents cannot speak English?
AIC supervisors are from a range of nationalities and speak a number of our common languages. In emergencies the staff are accessible to assist. For non-urgent emails and other communications the marketing departments assist with translations. Our boarding newsletters are emailed to parents in English and translated into the languages of our largest nationality groups.
5 How and where can boarders have private tuition after regular school hours?
Students are able to arrange for private tutors after school. These lessons can be arranged to be hosted in the Tower or Loft if scheduled for after 6pm. If they are before 6pm the students can travel to the tutor using public transport, taxi or walking.
6 How many students share a room at AIC boarding?
In the Tower most rooms are for two students of different nationalities, who share one private bathroom. In the Loft two students of different nationalities share a room with up to four girls sharing one private bathroom.
7 How often are roommates changed?
Roommates are changed in July at the start of the new academic year and again in January after the Christmas holiday break in order for our boarders to develop a range of friendships. There are some changes that need to occur during the term time, as new students arrive and others depart, but this is kept to a minimum.
8 Do all boarders need to bring their own laptop computers?
No, the Tower and Loft have basic desktop computers for students to use in monitored rooms.
9 How does AIC support students' academic goals?
All the regulations in AIC Tower and Loft are designed to support the best academic success: quality and nutritious food, routines that support sleep and rest in balance with structured study, and respecting the students need for pastoral care. The AIC Boarding Handbook can explain this more fully.
10 Can boarders access the internet?
Wireless Internet at the Tower can be accessed on the ground floor and on various laptops in the study rooms. Loft boarders have wireless internet access in level 2 after 6pm at night as well as access to the College computer room.
11 How does AIC boarding management work?
An Accommodation Manager, Ms Cara Ferris, oversees and implements the policies of AIC Council and ensures that the New Zealand regulations regarding safe boarding environments are all meet. There are two Managers, one in AIC Tower and one in AIC Loft. They are responsible for the day-to-day running of the boarding houses and staff. There is a full complement of supervisors who are from a variety of nations, ages and life experiences. All staff live on site.
12 Is AIC boarding house safe enough for teenagers? Is the boarding house close to AIC building?
AIC Tower and Loft meet and exceed all the regulations for safety in residential care of teenagers. Staff (and some senior students) are trained in first aid, fire safety and complete the Duty of Care, a specialist course in residential care for boarding houses. AIC Tower is a ten minute walk to the College. AIC Loft is in the same building as the College. .
13 How many students live in the boarding house?
AIC Tower is home for approximately 144 boys and girls. AIC Loft is home for up to approximately 91 girls.
14 Do boys and girls live in the same building? If so, will it cause any problems?
AIC Tower is a co-educational facility. The floor levels are separate for boys and girls, and cameras monitor the entrance and exits to every floor level. As the College is co-educational there are always opportunities for special friendships to develop. The staff at AIC Tower monitor this carefully, and remind students that a boarding house is like a big family, where we expect them to behave like brothers and sisters. AIC Loft is for girls only.
15 Will boarding house staff arrange any activities during the weekend and holidays?
The staff facilitate some compulsory activities and also respond with assistance in planning and providing transport for student initiated activities. The weekend and holiday programs are full of ideas and options for students, and staff are supportive of a balanced lifestyle - which means getting out and about!
16 How to apply to become an AIC guardian?
To download and complete the AIC Guardian application forms please click here. These forms should be posted to Cara Ferris, AIC Accommodation Manager.
17 What food do students normally eat? Is food enough for students?
Each week a menu is available for parents to view online on the AIC Boarding pages of the AIC website. Students are surveyed regularly on the meals we provide and feedback is provided to the catering company so that they can adjust the menu accordingly. Boarders are provided with three meals per day which ensures both sufficient quantity and a balanced diet.
18 If a student is sick, what is the first step he/she should take?
Contact the supervisor/s on duty. From there they will be assessed. Students should not be taking medication without the knowledge of a staff member. We have excellent relationships with several medical and dental facilities. Our main doctor service has Korean and Mandarin speaking health professionals on staff to assist. AIC Tower and Loft staff have basic first aid training which prepares them to deal with many types of illness and injury.
19 Do staff supervise students' evening study?
There are two supervisors on duty for students each evening and each morning. The staff are often able to assist with academic questions, but they always maintain an atmosphere of study between 7:30pm -10.00pm.
20 How does AIC ensure that boarders have adequate sleep?
Laptops are collected at 10:30pm for Years 11 and 12 during week nights in order to assist boarders with time management skills and to ensure they have adequate sleep.
