The TCIS Boarding Care Program has more than 60 years of history caring forfamilies. Parents can rest assured that we understand the importance of “home” in the lives of young people. Students have come to us from all parts of the world and have found a loving home away from home.
The principles that drive TCIS as a school are the ones that shape our boarding culture. A holistic ethos that builds healthy, responsible, and balanced children is foundational. A spectrum of support helps meet the academic, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of each student. Full- and part-timedorm staff areteacher-certified and have experience working with adolescents.
Academic Excellence
A prime focus in the dormitory houses is to provide support for students to do well in their studies. Daily study halls, private study areas, group workspaces, and teacher availability are important. Close communication with teachers helps dorm staff to encourage students in helpful ways.
Caring Christian Community
A family-like atmosphere is the ultimate goal of the TCIS boarding culture. A child that feels safe and properly supported is one that can achieve at their personal best in any area. Built on Christian values of peace, kindness, and love, the atmosphere is one of warmth and welcome. Students of diverse cultures and faiths come together as close community.
While students of any faith are welcome, there are many strong opportunities for Christian teens to grow in their faith. Devotions and faculty mentors are at the foundation of daily encouragement for students. Bible studies, youth group, Sunday services, and a host of faith-based school activities are available as well.
Structure for Personal Growth
The format of the boarding program helps students to grow in character and life skills. Students learn time-management, communication skills, conflict resolution, community living, leadership skills, and others. Our boarding families often remark on the growth in maturity that they see in their children. Alumni return to tell us how much their time in boarding prepared them for university.
Strong Relationships
Students work together and live as family in the dorm. The friendships formed are typically very close ones that last a lifetime. Students in the same class year become especially close as they work and play together. Each year group has its challenges, and there is no one more understanding than those who are dealing with the same challenges. These student relationships remain especially strong throughout their school years and beyond. We are blessed to have so many boarding alumni come back to visit often.
Balance and Enjoyment of Life
We find that the most successful and fulfilled students are those who find balance in life. Students spend time engaging in clubs, building healthy relationships, and exploring their interests. The dorm environment is set up to be conducive for studying, but it is also full of laughter and fun times.
More Than a Place to Stay
Families often approach us with the idea boarding is merely about providing for basic physical needs. These are, of course, foundational to what a program must provide. There is also rich potential is for helping children to also grow and develop character.
The TCIS Boarding Care Program, together with academic programs, magnifies the learning processes. An intentional structure cares for the entire person – physically, emotionally, and socially. Students continue their growth by learning to contribute to their house community. This is promoted in lifestyle, mentor relationships, peer interactions, leadership roles, and in reflective goal setting.
The TCIS Residence Life Program cares for student boarders from grades 6-12. While there is no bad time to join the boarding family, there are key times we find that students experience particular benefit from the structure and support in the boarding program:
Grade 7
Students joining in grades 6-7 are at a prime age for needing and establishing personal care and learning habits. As these students are experiencing great changes developmentally, the structure and support help bring stability and understanding to this time. Children learn good self-management habits, and entering the Residence Life Program at this grade gives many years for children to benefit from the character building and college preparation built into the program. For this reason, students that join early and graduate high school in our boarding program are generally the most academically and personally prepared for an easy transition to university.
Grade 9
Students in 9th grade benefit greatly from the academic structure and support in the dorm. As the MYP program progresses, it builds in academic rigor and the amount of work required so that students are ultimately prepared for entrance into the Diploma Program. Grade 9 is a pivotal year, and the boarding program has comprehensive support in place to help students through their high school years.
Grade 12
The senior year is one of the most stressful and, ironically, one of the most enjoyable years in the dorms. Seniors have many large projects and assessments as well as college preparation requirements. On the other hand, students in grade 12 have some of their best friends living and working alongside them, going through the same processes. Combining these peer relationships with the academic structures in the dorm and the supportive mentor relationships with boarding staff, grade 12 students have some real advantages that aren't available to most students.
Built in 2012, the beautiful TCIS campus holds a large on-campus dormitory complex. Students living in the dorms not only receive intentional and supportive care from our faculty and staff, but they have access to a variety of on-campus facilities to help meet their needs and make the dormitories feel a bit more like home.
Student Rooms
Student rooms are spacious and boast beautiful views of the soccer field, mountains or the local golf course. Most student rooms are set up for two- and three-person occupancy, and they are equipped with beds, desks and multiple areas for storage and comfort. All student rooms enjoy private bathrooms, large windows, and individual air conditioning/heating control.
Faculty Apartments
Faculty apartments are located in each dormitory, with dorm parents located by the central common area and resident assistant apartments at the end of each student hall for easy accessibility to students. Students are invited to enjoy the “comforts of home” in faculty apartments and experience the warmth of home they provide.
Study Rooms
These rooms are part of the common area but slightly removed from the main flow of the dorm. These rooms are available in each dorm to accommodate both small study groups and individual study times, after school and during study hall. Study rooms are also located close to the dorm offices for academic support and supervision when required.
Dorm Offices
Dorm Offices are located in the main student commons of each dorm, and they serve as both a communications and supervision point.
Recreation Areas
These spaces are provided for students in each dorm to meet with friends to enjoy table tennis, pool, and a variety of other social activities.
Television Rooms
Located in each dorm, TV rooms serve as a great place for media entertainment and/or to meet with friends or study groups.
Athletics & Fitness Center
Students can foster a healthy lifestyle, practice their skills, and stay in good physical shape with access to the school's athletics facilities and fitness center.
Cafeterias
Dining facilities are conveniently located on the ground floor of the dorm building so that students can come and go from the cafeteria without having to leave the building.
Dorm Nurse Office
Located adjacent to the residence building, the nurse's office provides easy access for student's injuries, medications, and consultations.
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