-
Beyond the Bell Announces New Chapter for Andrew Waugh at Franklin Academy
Some opportunities feel professional. Others feel personal. For Andrew Waugh, accepting the role of Admissions & Student Engagement Associate, Research Fellow at Franklin Academy feels like both. After spending the past several years working in boarding school communities across the country, Waugh will officially join Franklin Academy in August, bringing with him a background in student life,…
-
The Adults Students Trust Most Are Often Not the Ones on the Org Chart
Boarding schools are full of titles. Head of School. Dean of Students. Department Chair. Director of Admissions. Director of Residential Life. Titles matter. Leadership matters. Structure matters. But if you ask most students who they trust most, the answer often has very little to do with the organizational chart. It is not always the person…
-
What I Learned Living in a Dorm Where 98% of Students Are International
When I was a boarding school student, our dorms had international students, but the community was still mostly domestic. Roughly 70 percent of the students were from the United States and about 30 percent came from abroad. That balance shaped the culture in ways I did not fully appreciate at the time. Fast forward to…
-
Admissions Is Only Step One: Why Student Life Determines Whether Students Actually Stay
Every boarding school invests enormous energy into admissions. Schools travel across the world recruiting students. Admissions teams read hundreds of applications. Families tour campuses, interview with faculty, and carefully consider whether a school is the right fit for their child. When a student finally enrolls, it often feels like the work is finished. In reality,…
-
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…