Boarding has been a part of Hackley School since its founding in 1899, but not many people can truly appreciate what it is like to live five days a week at school.
The Boarding community, which includes just over 20 students, has been described as strong and meaningful by its members, and not only does it provide one with easy access to teachers and extra help, but it also serves to connect fellow students across grade levels, who one gets to know better through the shared experience of boarding.
On boarder said that, “People hang out in the lounge together and this helps you get to know people better, and across grades. Upperclassmen will also sometimes help lowerclassmen with homework.”This camaraderie helps to facilitate a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere among boarders.
The average boarder will start their day by rising from bed, walking downstairs from their room to the dining room, and eating breakfast which is catered by Flik, the food platform through which students receive their breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.
After eating breakfast, students will proceed to their first class, where they will be greeted by their friends and fellow peers. Their days will, for the most part, mirror those of their fellow peers. However, on weekdays not including Friday, once the school day ends and sports practices and games finish, students will not return home. Instead, they will eat the dinner provided to them, or, if they arrive back to school from a sporting event too late to eat with everyone else, they are permitted to order food.
But when they do eat with the other boarders, some students have commented that there is not consistently a wide range of meal options to choose from. The food is not substandard, but if one does not like what is given to them, they do not really have any other choices. As a result, many boarders to keep a stock of snacks on hand, should they find themselves hungry.
Additionally, boarders participate in a wide range of organized events after school together. These activities include Thursday movie nights, traveling to H-mart together, going to laser tag, and making pasta. One of the boarders even shared that they have eaten Chipotle at Mr. Franklin’s house together several times. If it happens to be one of the boarder’s birthdays, people organize for that person to receive a special birthday treat of their choice.
Boarders have also commented that the process of boarding has made them more self-reliant and independent, and that they have learned to do things by themselves and advocate for themselves in ways that would not be possible for them, were they not members of the boarding community.
