Boarding

Brandon Hall is metropolitan Atlanta's only traditional, college preparatory boarding program.

Boys and Girls Boarding Grades 7-12 (PG)

On June 25, 2010, the Board of Trustees of Brandon Hall School unanimously voted to change the by-laws of the school to include the female boarding component. The following week, a generous gift from an interested Foundation helped set things in motion for converting and renaming a building on campus to serve this need.

Incorporated into the residential portion of girls boarding is our Director of Women's Services, Samantha Williams, who is dedicated to providing girls counseling support, coordination of activities, and a well-molded plan for adjustment to boarding school life.

Benefits of Boarding

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 and women to come and take advantage of the school's unique opportunities.
The program allows for more consistent, organized and structured days, in which there is a close accountability for both personal and 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 during the week to watching a lot of television, playing computer games, 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. Boarding removes the parent from the day-to-day supervision and provides a more objective situation.
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 Second Language benefit from being immersed in the English language and American culture. American students enjoy the benefits of knowing students from other countries and cultures.
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 Sandy Springs in metropolitan 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 Dormitories

Sipple Hall
Built in 1988, Sipple Hall is the school's dormitory. It includes an administrative office, common room, recreation room, and two middle school annexes.

Michelsen Cottage
The Michelsen Cottage can serve as the home for up to seven boarding students. It allows for a small group of students to develop interpersonal and organizational skills with each other without the distraction of a full dorm.

Adjusting to Boarding Life: What Parents Should Anticipate

Parents and students should anticipate that boarding normally takes a period of adjustment as students must learn to acclimate to 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.
While harassment, bullying, horse play, etc. are not permitted, there is a period of adjustment as adolescents learn to live in proximity with each other. The goal is to assist the residents in learning how to handle or ignore these sorts of situations as necessary. Students are encouraged to confide in a teacher or administrator when they feel provoked or upset.
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. While a parent should listen, the parent should direct the student to call or meet with the Director of Resident Life. 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.
Seven-day boarding students should remain on campus during the first four or five weekends.

Daily routine

Time	Instructions
6:30 a.m.	Wake-up (shave, shower, and clean rooms)
7:10 a.m.	Check out of dorm
7:15 a.m.	Breakfast/announcements/medications
7:45 a.m.	Report to advisory group/school day begins
2:45 p.m.	School day ends/dormitory opens
2:45 p.m.	Change for activities
3:15 p.m.	Boarder recreation, activity, or sports (required) *
5:00 p.m.	Personal time *
6:00 p.m.	Dinner (required) *
6:45 p.m.	Supervised study *; additional time may be required; work must be completed
8:45 p.m.	Recreation, continued study, gymnasium activities, personal time
9:30 p.m.	Report to rooms (hall duties, organize materials, etc.)
10:00 p.m.	All students, lights out; older students may have extended time

*Times do shift slightly depending on the sports seasons

Early Morning

The morning faculty team awakens students, with the exceptions of juniors and seniors, who are responsible for setting their own alarms. Students make up their beds, take a shower, shave (facial hair is not permitted), brush teeth, dress in the proper uniform, straighten up their rooms, gather their books and materials, and perform other routine tasks.

All boarders must check in prior to departing for Corley Hall, our dining facility. At all meals, students should exhibit good table manners and common courtesies. They should take only food that they plan to eat. They may return for limited second portions. Once they have completed their meals, they are to clean their tables and return their trays to the counter.

Students are responsible at breakfast to check with the nurse or her designee to take their pre-packaged medications. Students must take the medication in front of the nurse/designee and sign that they have received their medication. It is the student's responsibility to see the nurse and take the medication as directed. After breakfast, students report to the courtyard, where they may visit with other students, or go to the classrooms where teachers may be available for assistance.

During School Hours

Boarders do not return to their rooms during the day. They are to lock their drawer and their own rooms and take with them all items needed for school.

Lunch

Boarders eat one of two lunch periods with day students. The nurse distributes medication to students during their lunch hours. It is the student's responsibility to see the nurse and take the medication as directed.

After School

At the end of the school day, boarders should make certain that they have not left any books or materials needed for homework in academic buildings. If they have questions about assignments, students are also expected to check with teachers before leaving the academic buildings. They then report to the dormitory to change for a team sport or after school activity. All boarders must participate in some form of after school activity. After the afternoon physical activities, the students return to the dormitory to relax, make telephone calls, watch television, and to prepare for dinner.

Dinner for Boarders and Resident Faculty

All students are required to attend all meals. Dinner is a community time for the boarders to enjoy each other's company and to hear evening announcements. The students recognize their peers who have birthdays. Parents often arrange for a special cake or pizza for their sons or daughters on their birthdays. The resident life staff will gladly assist parents with special plans or orders. A parent should call the Director of Resident Life at least one week before a student's birthday if the parent wishes to order a special cake, pizza, etc. Throughout the year and at various holiday periods, the food service staff also plans theme or special dinners.

Evening Supervised Study

Except for Fridays and Saturdays, there are supervised study periods in which students report to their rooms or the designated study hall to complete homework assignments.

Students in the study hall area are assigned seats.
Talking or distracting others is not permitted.
Students may not use cell phones. Computer use is permitted only for academic purposes. Students may listen to music using headphones.
Faculty review student work prior to completion of study hall.

During supervised study, all students must have their textbooks and materials with them. Teachers are available for guidance and assistance. The boarder will be encouraged to go to the teacher the next morning before class begins if any assignment is not understood.

Weekends

The boarding curriculum encourages students to take advantage of the cultural, educational, historical, and recreational activities afforded in the metropolitan Atlanta area. The resident life faculty plans weekend outings to various venues as well as to local shops for students to purchase needed items. A goal of the curriculum is to have students doing a variety of activities. Discouraged are "couch potatoes" or students who spend excessive amounts of time watching television or playing computer games.

Sunday: Boarders Return to Campus

All boarders must arrive and sign in by 6:00 p.m. in the commons (or otherwise designated location). Students must report in neat, casual attire. Parents and hosts are to anticipate traffic and weather conditions in making plans to return to campus.

In emergency or other situations, parents or hosts should call the school at 770-394-8177, ext. 250, to notify the school of the late arrival time.

Activities

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 or as otherwise indicated), 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 a minimum number of activities. Faculty members supervise all activities and give specific directions regarding conduct, meeting places, and expectations.

Weekend activities include professional and college sporting events such as football, basketball, baseball, and soccer games; cultural activities such as professional theatre productions, movies, museums, musical performances; visits to historical sites; recreational activities such as Six Flags Over Georgia, White Water, Renaissance Festival, Stone Mountain, Lake Lanier and the North Georgia Fair; and outdoor activities, including skiing, 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. Since participation in some activities may be expensive, parents should advise the resident life staff of any financial restrictions or limits.

Weekend Activities – Winter 2012

Weekend	Activity
January 7	Atlanta Hawks vs Chicago Bulls
January 14	Monster Jam Monster Truck Rally
January 15	Martin Luther King National Historical Site
January 21	Snow Mountain at Stone Mountain
January 28	Shen Yun Chinese Dance
February 4	Gwinnet Gladiators (Professional Hockey)
February 10–12	Annual Ski Trip to Winterplace WV
February 18	Professional Bull Riders Rodeo
February 19	Dolphin Show at Georgia Aquarium
February 25	AMA Supercross Races

All dates are subject to change. For the most up to date information, check the online calendar.

A boarder who desires to leave campus on a weekend must complete all academic and conduct obligations before departing campus. If the boarder is taking another boarding student with him for the weekend, the other student must also remain on campus until the host student has completed his obligations.