Boarding Q & A with Headmaster Chris Post

Headmaster Chris Post answers a few questions about Boys' Latin's new boarding program. 

1.  Can you tell us why Boys' Latin chose to open a residential life program? 

Boarding allows us to provide a Boys' Latin education to boys in grades 9 - 12 from across the country and around the world — in a time when the education of boys and the formation of young men has never been more important than it is today.  Boys have opportunities to pursue their passions, discover new interests and receive world-class instruction from faculty members at the top of their fields. Boys are supported by a tight-knit community and discover friendships that last a lifetime. And, perhaps most importantly, a Boys' Latin education will help hone a boy's character so that he can become a man of courage, compassion and integrity.

Our boarding program benefits not only our boarding students but our day students, faculty and the greater community. Our boarders bring with them diverse perspectives that enrich and enhance the experiences of our boys, allowing us to advance our goal of providing students with national and global perspectives. Additionally, numerous alumni and friends, who live outside of Baltimore, will now have the opportunity to provide their sons with a Boys' Latin education.  Providing boys with a life-changing education requires us to prepare students for an ever-changing and interconnected society. 

2.  How do you see the current boarding students integrating into the Boys' Latin community and contributing to life at the School?

Our boarding students were immersed in our community from the first day they arrived on campus. As families pulled up to the new dormitory, they were greeted by teachers, students and School leadership. Upper school students made quick work of emptying cars. The boys quickly connected with their new classmates and embraced their home away from home. 

Through the first weeks, the boarding students have become fast friends. They hiked Point Lookout, attended an Orioles game, worked together as a team through a high ropes course and enjoyed a real Baltimore crab feast.  

Our program is intentionally designed for boys to become an integral part of our larger Laker community.  You can often find day students visiting the dorm to collaborate on a history project, play video games or simply spend time with their new friends, or as they like to say, their brothers.  Additionally, each boarding student is paired with a day student and his family to enjoy a home-cooked meal, a movie night or maybe even a Ravens game.  Every Wednesday, boarding students have a family dinner joined by other faculty members and students to form deeper bonds with our newest Lakers.

Last month, more than 200 lower schoolers and their families joined us on the western campus for pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating through the dorm, and campfire songs and not-so-scary ghost stories.  One of the highlights for me was seeing the interaction among our lower schoolers and our boarding students, who helped with the event.  It was a great reminder of the power of mentoring and the enduring personal relationships that we foster here on campus.

Like our day students, being involved in school life is an expectation for boarders and one they have embraced. Our boarders bring with them a variety of interests and talents and they have "jumped right in." Our boarding students are participating in athletics, the arts and clubs. They are building sets for theater productions and cheering loudly in our student section.  It has been great to watch, and I have no doubt that this is only the beginning of the many ways they will contribute to life at Boys' Latin.

3.    What are the School's long-term plans for boarding? 

We are deeply committed to the boarding program and providing a Boys' Latin education to boys from across the country and around the world.  We are a small school by design and a small boarding community by design. Over the next several years, the boarding community will grow to about 40 students.

Here at Boys' Latin, every boy is known and valued. Our teachers get to know each boy well, really well.  They learn what drives him, what activities he enjoys and what books he loves. With 625 students in grades K-12, 315 students in the upper school and 40 boarding students, our plan is for our boarding community to mirror our broad community — small and exceptional.  And since our boarding program was designed from the ground up, our program allows us to create a cutting-edge curriculum and experience for boys. 

We hope you will consider taking a closer look at Boys' Latin.  Because we know, the closer you look, the better it gets. Click here to inquire today and learn more.