Ascham boarders are accommodated in five boarding houses within the main school grounds. In charge of each house is a Boarding Co-ordinator who reports to the Director of Boarding and who ensures that each house is safe and secure, warm and welcoming.  The boarding houses vary in size and each has its own particular character.

Junior years
Younger girls in Year 6 usually board in Raine House for their first year.  The girls sleep in small dormitories to enhance the formation of friendships within their year group and to learn the daily routines of boarding life.  Some girls from older years are also accommodated in Raine House.

Middle years
Macintosh, Glenrock, Raine and Ferguson Houses have a mixture of girls from Years 7-11. Every six months the girls rotate accommodation, so that they come to know girls in other years.  This extends friendships within the boarding school and enhances the sense of community.

Senior years
Holmwood House accommodates the senior girls in Years 11 and 12 in either double or single rooms. The Patricia Johnston wing accommodates only girls in Years 11 and 12.  Each girl in her final year has a single bedroom/study. 

One of the special features of the Ascham boarding school is the sense of community developed by the girls and staff.  The school has long valued the contribution of its boarding community.

Meals
Ascham is proud of the high standard of its boarders’ meals.  Located near the centre of the school, the dining room is where all meals are prepared. The full-time school chef and staff provide a diet that is nutritious, varied and appealing. The girls eat breakfast and dinner in the dining room and, in summer, in the fresh air on the adjoining veranda, overlooking the school gardens.  During the school week, girls make their own lunch and eat with the day girls in the grounds.

Each boarding house also has a small kitchen for snacks, drinks and supper after homework/prep each evening.

Celebration events
One of the traditions Ascham boarders enjoy is the series of theme dinners arranged between the school chef, boarding staff and girls.  These include Halloween, Easter, Melbourne Cup, Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day, St Patrick’s Day and the Year 12 Farewell Dinner.  Another special evening is the Christmas Appreciation Dinner to thank the many staff who have helped the boarders throughout the year.  This event showcases the talents of Year 6 performers which adds to the night’s enjoyment.

Laundry
Ascham provides an excellent laundry service on site for boarders.  Laundry is washed and ironed and returned within 24 hours.  Girls may also do their own hand washing of delicate garments in the laundry in each house.

Communication
Each boarding house has a student phone available in the morning and afternoons. In addition, there are several computers in each boarding house available for emails. Girls are allowed mobile phones, but in younger years these are handed in at night.