By: Katherine Brewer, Head of School at The Village School
The boarding school experience is often thought of as out of reach, like something you only see in a movie. Most recently, in “Into the Spider-Verse,” Spiderman participated in a five-day boarding program. In reality, it’s much more common than you might think – and not just available on the East Coast. There are countless benefits to boarding during the work week that offer the best of both worlds.
The Village School in Houston, a pre-k through 12th grade day and boarding school, has added a 5-day Boarding Program for students 7th grade and up. Here are some of the benefits The Village School community has found when students stay on-campus all week to focus on academics, athletics, and extracurriculars, before heading home on the weekends to relax and reboot.
Increased Development of Independence and Interpersonal Skills – With five-day boarding, students are able to gain independence through control over their schedule and downtime. Not only do students manage their time, they learn how to live and communicate with other people from around the world. This helps ease students into college life and beyond, preparing them to build relationships and create a safe and inclusive community with those they spend time with – even those from different backgrounds, cultures and experiences. Additionally, students are able to develop their individual passions and interests as they are surrounded by opportunity. According to boardingschools.com, students who board are more likely to focus on extracurriculars such as music, theatre, and sports, rather than TV and video games.
Value Quality Family Time – Without the stress of day-to-day life to put a strain on family time, families are able to enjoy each other’s company and make memories that last. Time together can be focused on each other rather than the busy day to day schedules that need to be managed. Time with loved ones builds confidence and improves communication skills with others. While students might be away during the week, the parent-child relationship has the potential to be stronger than ever with five-day boarding.
Stay Focused on Academics – Without the many distractions that come with a typical household, students are able to maintain a consistent schedule and remain focused on school. Five-day boarding school students can focus better on their studies as they are surrounded by peers who also value academics and campus involvement. These young scholars have a great opportunity to perform better academically because they live in an environment that is conducive to learning. At Village, someone is always available to help guide students in whatever they may need.
Ease Parental Stress – According to Care.com, roughly 60 percent of parents feel stress surrounding after-school activities. By boarding on campus throughout the week, parents don’t have to worry about arranging transportation, coordinating dinners and juggling schedules. Additionally, five-day boarding provides parents with work schedule flexibilty when they are freed from the daily carpool runs. Instead of sitting in Houston traffic, students can be studying with their classmates or gearing up for soccer practice.
While boarding can often seem like something unattainable or unrealistic, it’s happening all over the United States and setting students up for success at school and at home. For more information on five-day boarding, visit https://bit.ly/2Y5DVa9
