Beyond the Bell

  • Boarding Schools Should Borrow a Page From College Student Affairs

    In higher education, the concept of student affairs is well established. Colleges understand that the learning experience extends far beyond the classroom. Offices dedicated to student involvement, residential life, leadership development, and campus programming exist to help students build identity, community, and independence. In boarding schools, however, this model is far less developed. Many schools…

    Andrew Waugh

  • Stop Calling It Leadership Development If Students Have No Agency: A Winter Wakeup Call for Schools

    Schools talk a lot about student leadership.We praise it.We advertise it.We put it in handbooks, brochures, and campus tours. But here is the truth that becomes obvious every February: If students have no agency, then they are not leading anything at all. In many schools, “student leadership” actually means adult controlled roles with limited decision…

    Andrew Waugh

  • A Decade Later: How One Surprise Visit Still Shapes the Way I Support Students

    Today I turn twenty eight. That number still surprises me. It means that the moment I am writing about now happened almost exactly a decade ago, during my junior year at Brehm Preparatory School. Yet it remains one of the clearest memories I carry into my work as an educator. When I turned eighteen, something…

    Andrew Waugh

  • The Midyear Reset: Why December Is the Most Overlooked Opportunity in Boarding Schools

    Every August, schools pour enormous energy into orientation, community building, and the “start strong” mindset. But by December, that momentum often fades. Students are tired. Dorm staff are stretched. Faculty are buried in grading. Leaders focus on logistics rather than culture. Yet this moment, right before the winter break, might be the most valuable window…

    Andrew Waugh

  • The Retention Gap: Why Admissions and Student Life Still Operate on Different Planets

    In most boarding schools, admissions and student life share the same goal of building a thriving and engaged community. Yet they rarely share the same playbook. One department recruits students, while the other helps them stay. Both depend on one another for success, but their collaboration often fades once orientation ends. This divide creates what…

    Andrew Waugh

  • The Power of Choice: Why Student Autonomy Strengthens Retention

    One of the persistent misconceptions in boarding schools is that student autonomy is a threat. Some believe that giving students too much choice will weaken discipline, erode traditions, or challenge authority. My experience has shown the opposite. When autonomy is cultivated with guidance, it becomes one of the strongest tools for building belonging, engagement, and…

    Andrew Waugh

  • Boarding School 101: Making the Most of Your First Year

    It’s been about 10 years to the day since my amazing mother, father, and stepdad first mentioned they were looking at boarding schools for my junior and senior years. I didn’t know much about the idea of living away from home for the first time, let alone a new school, new people, and a completely…

    Andrew Waugh

  • Beyond the Tour: Why Boarding Schools Need Comprehensive New Student Orientation Programs

    Beginning at a boarding school is a thrilling but daunting experience. Unlike regular high schools, where students can get used to it while still remaining at home, boarding school students are confronted with an instant and drastic change. They have to adapt to a new school life, a living community, and a different level of…

    Andrew Waugh

  • Special Announcement: Beyond the Bell CEO Joins the Royal Thai Scholars Program

    We are thrilled to share some exciting news from Beyond the Bell! Our CEO, J. Andrew Waugh, has been selected to join the Royal Thai Scholars Fellowship at Brewster Academy this summer. This prestigious opportunity will see Andrew working closely with Thailand’s top high school graduates, who are preparing for their academic journeys at U.S. boarding schools. The Royal Thai Scholars Program is a…

    Andrew Waugh

  • From Guidance to Growth: How Boarding Schools Foster Independence

    For students in boarding schools, the experience is about far more than academics. It is a transformative time to develop independence, resilience, and life skills that will serve them for a lifetime. These years lay the groundwork for future challenges and opportunities, equipping students with the tools they need to thrive beyond campus life. At…

    Andrew Waugh