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Provided is metropolitan Atlanta’s only
traditional, college preparatory boarding program for boys in grades
6-12 (PG). In rare exceptions, a fourth or fifth grader may board,
depending on his maturity and adaptability to the program. Enrolled
are students from throughout the United States and the world. There
are two types of boarders, those five-day boarders who live in proximity
to the school and go home on the weekends and those seven-day boarders
who are full-time boarding students who go home on holidays and
special weekends or occasions. The boarding program is an integral
part of school life. The following information should be helpful
in understanding the benefits of the program as well as the policies
and procedures that contribute to the program’s effectiveness.
Given the students served by the school and the school’s mission,
there are several major benefits to boarding:
- Since there are few schools in the United
States with a college preparatory academic program that provides
one-to-one and small group classes, the boarding program allows
young men to take advantage of the school’s unique opportunities.
- The program allows for more consistent, organized,
structured days in which there is a close accountability for study
habits and the completion of homework. Faculty supervise evening
and, in some cases, afternoon study halls to give students the
time and focus to do their work.
- For students accustomed to watching a lot
of television, going out evenings with friends, or simply ignoring
homework, the program provides an objective situation that minimizes
distractions.
- In some cases, parents have become frustrated
as they try to impose schedules and standards. Again, boarding
provides a more objective situation in which parents do not constantly
have to be the taskmasters.
- For students who enjoy athletics and other
extracurricular activities, the program allows for designated
times for the activities while consistently upholding the academic
emphasis.
- International students learning English as
a secondary language benefit from being immersed in the English
language and American culture.
- Students also learn to live in a community
with their peers not only by sharing accommodations but also by
helping keep their rooms, halls, restrooms, and common areas neat
and clean. Areas of student leadership are afforded through the
student prefect program.
- While located in suburban Atlanta, Brandon
Hall is only minutes to the southeast’s leading sports, recreational,
and cultural centers. Planned weekend activities utilize these
important resources that enhance a student’s living.
The Director of Resident Life and his assistant work with a staff
of approximately thirty (30) faculty members and their spouses who
serve on weekday and weekend teams to supervise students in the
dormitory and at boarder related weekday and weekend activities.
Three faculty members reside in the dormitory and are on call after
hours. Other resident faculty members live in apartments on campus.
Day faculty members also assist with boarding activities on the
weekends. In addition, the school employs security personnel who
remain awake throughout the night and monitor the halls throughout
the night. Video cameras are mounted in the halls and outside the
building to monitor and record any unusual activities after hours.
Any student who becomes ill during the evening is referred by the
security personnel immediately to the resident faculty who will
assess the situation and insure that the student receives medical
attention.
Parents and students should anticipate that boarding normally takes
a period of adjustment as students must learn to acclimate from
being away from home and in a more structured, disciplined environment.
Often, boarding is the first time students have been away from home
other than a week or two at a camp. For many students, the loss
of some of the comforts of home, living in close proximity with
other students, and the imposition of consistent rules and regulations
can be a major challenge and adjustment. Students also have to learn
to go to the resident faculty and administration for advice and
direction. There may be the tendency for some students to try to
call their parents whenever there is a problem or situation, which
they may not like. Parents must defer the students to the school
and its course of action. Whenever there is a parental concern,
the parent should contact the resident life administration. The
period of adjustment is usually three to six weeks, depending on
the student. During the period of adjustment the school plans orientation
sessions and works closely with students in anticipation of their
concerns or behavior.
Five-day boarders report to the school not later than 8:00 p.m.
on Sunday evenings and remain at the school through 3:30 p.m. on
Friday afternoons. Five-day boarders with Friday academic and conduct
obligations must remain at school until their obligations are completed.
If they have Saturday obligations, the students must remain at school
over Friday night (costs deducted from students’ supply accounts)
unless they live locally, in which case they may go home and return
on Saturday morning. If a boarder has plans for another boarder
to visit him on the weekend, the guest may not check out until the
host student has completed his Friday or Saturday obligations. A
student having conduct or academic obligations on Saturday will
be campus-restricted Friday evening and not allowed to participate
in off-campus activities, unless granted special permission in advance.
When a five-day boarder signs out for the weekend, he must indicate
his destination, which the school expects to be his home. In those
infrequent instances where a student plans to go to a destination
other than his home such as to visit a relative or with another
student’s family, the parents must send (fax or mail) the school
a written invitation indicating the destination and phone number.
If the student is taking another boarder, the friend’s parents
must also concur that they know where the student will be going.
The school cannot be held accountable for five-day boarders who
leave on the weekends. When a student departs school, he is expected
to proceed directly home or to the destination for which he has
signed out.
On the weekends, seven-day boarders remain on campus to participate
in diverse, well-supervised weekend activities or check out to go
with their parents or with other students whose parents invite them
to spend the weekend. Given the planning of activities, the school
prefers that seven-day boarders normally check out for the entire
weekend. If there is a checkout for only a portion of the weekend,
the boarders must return to campus to participate in the planned
activities or face not being able to go on an activity. Written
permission via mail or fax from the student’s parents must
be received by the Wednesday preceding the weekend. Unless the student
is checking out with his parents, the school must approve all visits.
It reserves the right to restrict certain homes or places for students
to visit, especially when there is doubt to the type of supervision
or activities in which the student may be participating. Parents are asked to complete forms regarding
the activities in which they desire their children to participate
on the weekend as well as the amount of money they desire to be
spent.
Sipple Hall is a modern air-conditioned facility containing the
dormitory rooms, commons area, recreation room, nurse’s office
and infirmary, and study hall. The commons contains a living room
atmosphere for relaxation, reading, or television viewing. The recreation
room located on the lower level also houses a television, drink
machines, a pool table, a ping-pong table, an air hockey table,
and board games.
Each dormitory room features comfortable beds and study areas. Built-in
closets, drawers, and shelves provide adequate space for clothes,
books, and personal items. A drawer with a lock is provided for
wallets, valuables, and other personal items. Washers and dryers
are provided on each hall for washing sheets, underwear, wash and
wear clothing, and other non-dry cleaning items. Eight boys (four
rooms) share bathroom facilities, which include four showers with
privacy curtains, three sinks and two commodes with doors. Boarders
are responsible for keeping their rooms and assigned bathrooms clean
and in good order. Students vacuum and dust their rooms, empty their
trash containers, and share general responsibilities involving the
common areas.
Except for Fridays, there are supervised study periods in which
students report to the study hall or to their rooms to complete
homework assignments. Only those students who have above average
grades, an excellent record of turning in their homework fully completed,
and who have a good conduct record may study in their rooms. Students
permitted to study in their rooms must do so at their desks. They
may not listen to radios and stereos. Computer use is permitted
only for assignments. Students in the study hall area are assigned
seats. Talking or distracting others is not permitted. During supervised
study, all students must have their textbooks and materials with
them. Students not conforming to the supervised study policies receive
disciplinary action for the evening or the following weekend. Teachers
are available for some assistance. If a student is having a problem
and there is not a teacher familiar with the particular assignment,
the proctor will write a note of explanation to the student’s
teacher, and the boarder will be encouraged to go to the teacher
the next morning before class begins.
Middle School students have a somewhat modified evening schedule,
which varies due to their age, amount of homework, and need for
greater supervision.
After supervised study, students may change into more comfortable
clothing and relax or study in their rooms. Room visitations may
occur with the permission of the Teacher-In-Charge (TIC). Students
may either visit the commons or recreation room or use either their
cell phones or the school’s telephones. Students using the
school phones are to be mindful of other students needing to use
the phones. During free time, doors are always left open for faculty
supervision.
Unless there is an urgent need to go to the restroom or a student
becomes ill, all students are to remain in their beds. Video cameras
monitor the halls and exits, and a security guard patrols the halls
to insure that students are in their rooms. If a student becomes
ill, he is to find the security guard or knock on the door of one
of the faculty members living in the dorm. At that time, personnel
will assess the situation and alert the administration or, in case
of an emergency, arrange to take the student to the emergency room.
Based on the number of boarders remaining on campus, the activities
available in the metropolitan Atlanta area, the students’ interests,
and reasonable costs of the activities (deducted from each student’s
supply account); the school plans both recreational and enriching
weekend activities. Except when choices are given or students have
conduct or academic obligations, all students are required to attend
all activities. Faculty members supervise all activities and give
specific directions regarding conduct, meeting places, and expectations.
Unless otherwise approved, students rotate attending religious services
at local churches as part of the educational process of knowing
and understanding religious culture. In some cases, students may
choose between two or three churches. A student is asked simply
to attend with a respectful attitude. There are no requirements
to participate in communion or specific religious rites. The school
avoids attendance at churches where there is proselytizing. Jewish
students may attend services at local synagogues on Friday evenings,
provided parents assist in making arrangements at local synagogues.
Students of other religious faiths may attend services provided
the parents assist in making arrangements with the local institution
for transportation and supervision. The school perceives church/synagogue
attendance as part of the curriculum and cultural awareness emphasized
by the school in developing the "whole person."
Weekend activities include: professional and college sporting events
such as football, basketball, baseball, and soccer games; cultural
activities such as symphony concerts, professional theatre, movies,
museums, musical performances; visits to historical sites; recreational
activities such as Six Flags Over Georgia, White Water, Renaissance
Festival, Stone Mountain, Lake Lanier, Callaway Gardens, and the
North Georgia Fair; and outdoor activities, including camping, canoeing,
or boating. Students also have recreational activities at school
such as viewing movies, free time in the recreation room, and physical
activities. Activities are usually planned for Friday evening, Saturday
afternoon, and Sunday afternoon. The school deducts the costs of
the activities from the student’s supply account.
Each family provides an initial supply deposit for a boarder’s
account from which he can draw funds for items needed throughout
the year. As they occur, charges are deducted. If a student's account
exceeds the initial deposit, parents will be billed to replenish
the account. Parents should anticipate that the initial deposit
will be exceeded due to deductions for weekly allowances, weekend
activities, transportation, possible medical expenses, textbooks,
workbooks, school supplies (pencils, pens, notebooks, etc.), book
bags, school tie, required school rings for juniors and new seniors,
rental fees for athletic uniforms, science lab and fine arts fees,
yearbook, student photographs, student activity fees, long distance
phone or fax calls on behalf of the student, college application
fees (seniors), field trips, and Parents Guild membership. Other
deductions for boarders include the non-refundable room damage deposit,
laundry and linen services, dry cleaning, etc.
Boarding helps students organize and budget not only their time
but also their money as the students plan ahead and spend wisely.
Seven-day boarders receive $20 per week spending money that is deducted
from their supply accounts. When requested by the student and approved
by the parent and school, additional funds may be granted.
Professional dry cleaning and laundry services are available at
an additional expense, which is charged to the student’s supply
account. Washers and dryers are located in each dormitory floor
for student use.
There are phones available to receive calls or make collect calls
in the dormitory. Students may use the phones at designated times,
provided they use standard phone courtesy and keep their calls to
a minimum time.
: If a student has a cell phone, he must immediately
register it with the Director of Resident Life by completing a form
that asks for the student’s name, type of phone, and phone
number. The resident life staff keeps the phones in the office and
distributes them at the designated times.
Selected by the administration, Prefects serve as dormitory leaders
on each floor. To be eligible for selection, students must have
an overall "C" average and a good conduct record.
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