Our Philosophy of Boarding

Becoming a boarder at St. Michaels University School is so much more than having a place to live and eat during your high school years. Boarding is a way of life that offers unique opportunities: to meet friends from around the world, develop confidence as you deal with life with support from your houseparents, live with your friends and expose yourself to a very diverse and multi-talented group of youths.

The decision to become a boarder at SMUS is at the same time a decision to join a community – it really is a way of life. The boarding houses function on the principles of trust and respect. The school's mission is as true in Boarding as it is in all other facets of school life. Students are expected to be honest with their peers and their houseparents, to always strive to do their best and invest passion into their vibrant and exciting community, and to deal with each other with compassion.

The boarding school is a community where both day and boarding students form friendships they will maintain for their entire lives. Teaching and learning occur in every facet of the school, from the dormitories to the dining room, from the locker rooms to the laboratories. Issues of morality and ethics, of social, physical,and spiritual growth are addressed. For a "round-the-clock" community to be in harmony, its members must be sensitive to the needs of everyone else. They have many opportunities to learn the skills of compromise and negotiation, of patience and tolerance, of tact and diplomacy. Strength of character, self-discipline, and personal integrity are of prime importance.