Opening in September, the new boarding residence at St Peter’s International School in Lisbon offers a “home away from home” experience for students, and new Head of Boarding, Troy Looms, aims to ensure that every student gets the very best from their time boarding at the school.
The state-of-the-art facility, which will be composed of twin rooms with en-suite bathrooms, personal study space and air-conditioning, will be available for 14 to 18 year olds and has been designed to offer a welcoming environment for students to help them develop both socially, emotionally and academically.
Heading up the new facility is Troy Looms, who is looking forward to not only immersing himself in the school but also in the Portuguese local culture as he makes the move from Malaysia to Lisbon with his family to begin this new journey. “St Peter’s is an ambitious school and it is exciting to be able to pioneer these new facilities”, he told The Portugal News.
“The boarding residences are due to be finished in August before then being open to welcome up to 36 students and it looks like it is going to be a very homely and welcoming place for students, especially thanks to the design of the building, to keep everyone together and to foster a sense of inclusivity.
“There is no separation between students and staff which will help to make sure that all students feel comfortable in a secure environment, something that is very important for boarders.”
With 16 years of experience already in boarding schools, Troy understands the importance of ensuring that every child feels included and cared for as this directly translates to their academic performance.
“I have seen hundreds of students truly flourish in a boarding school environment. Our aim is to make sure that every child’s boarding experience is unforgettable, which is a huge responsibility but one that I embrace, especially when you see boarders leaving and the rewards that they have reaped from the experience, on a social, emotional and academic level.”
Read the complete article in The Portugal News here.
