|  | Boarding students live in dormitories that have the look and feel of private homes. Not only are our dormitories former residences, but our house directors are on duty each evening, and they are available to their students throughout the day. Their doors are always open, and they often invite students into their apartments for snacks, movies, and group discussions.
At Porter’s, we know students transition to boarding school best when there are adults in their lives who are present and available to provide guidance, just as families do. As such, our Porter Plan is one of the distinguishing features of our school. The Porter Plan requires that our house directors’ primary responsibilities on campus are within our dormitories. This requirement ensures that they are able to concentrate on building strong, interactive bonds with each student in their dorm without the additional responsibilities of teaching or coaching.
Porter's unique residential life program teaches students essential social skills, such as communication, compromise and cultural awareness, and students are empowered by assuming responsibility for the choices they make in structuring their own lives in a residential environment. | | |
| Residential Expectations Porter's residential expectations govern behavior in the dormitory and equip students for success later in life by teaching skills that foster both independence and effective community living. House directors are responsible for holding students accountable for these expectations, ensuring that students understand the impact their behaviors and decisions have on themselves and their dorm community. House Directors also actively monitor the emotional and physical well being of their students so that they can be proactive in expressing concern for a student. They work with students individually to teach them to be assertive, empathic communicators, who are able to express their own feelings while respecting the feelings of others, particularly in relation to roommate negotiations and other social situations in the dormitory. House Directors create a dorm environment based on mutual support and understanding, kindness, acceptance, honesty, and respect for other people, including their beliefs, opinions, and belongings.
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| Junior Advisors Junior Advisors are the student leaders appointed in the spring preceding their junior year, to serve as peer counselors and mediators in the underclass dormitories. Two Junior Advisors live in each underclass dormitory, providing assistance to House Directors and peer support to students. They help New Girls adjust to life at school, act as liaisons between the House Director and students, help enforce dormitory expectations, mediate roommate conflicts, serve as role models, and provide guidance and support to all the girls on their floor. They are responsible for teaching eight wellness meetings throughout the year, which help New Girls in their transition to school. Junior Advisors also add some lighthearted fun to dorm life by delivering baked goodies after study hall, organizing dorm runs to local restaurants, and facilitating ice-breakers, games, and activities throughout the week. The Junior Advisor position is a well-respected leadership position at Porter’s. |
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| Dormitory Accommodations Porter’s students live in several spacious and comfortable houses located centrally on campus.
Most dorms house between 20 – 40 students; two are senior dorms, two are ninth grade dorms, and five house students of mixed grade levels. New students are assigned roommates based on grade level and common interests, while returning students may choose their roommates. |
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| Dormitory Activities Each dormitory holds a dorm meeting once a week to review upcoming calendar events, discuss issues relevant to boarding life, raise concerns, play games, or simply enjoy a group snack. Students enjoy these opportunities to gather as a community and connect with friends at the end of a full day. Dorm meetings usually occur at check-in in the evening, so the tone of the meetings is lively and fun -- a relaxing reprieve after study hall.
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| Day Students and Dorms All day students are affiliated with a dormitory in which they participate in traditions, celebrate birthdays, attend wellness meetings, hang-out in the common rooms and spend weekend nights with their friends. House directors assist in building relationships between boarding and day students affiliated with their dorms during activities and events.Residential Expectations
Porter's residential expectations govern behavior in the dormitory and equip students for success later in life by teaching skills that foster both independence and effective community living. House directors are responsible for holding students accountable for these expectations, ensuring that students understand the impact their behaviors and decisions have on themselves and their dorm community. House Directors also actively monitor the emotional and physical well being of their students so that they can be proactive in expressing concern for a student. They work with students individually to teach them to be assertive, empathic communicators, who are able to express their own feelings while respecting the feelings of others, particularly in relation to roommate negotiations and other social situations in the dormitory. House Directors create a dorm environment based on mutual support and understanding, kindness, acceptance, honesty, and respect for other people, including their beliefs, opinions, and belongings.
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