Washington Academy

Boarding Students

There's no place like home. That's why WA works hard to make students feel like they're with family. Boarding students have two options when making Washington Academy their home - living in a dormitory or staying with a host family.

Dormitories

Most students live in the Academy's spacious dorms. The Cates Dormitory for girls houses 32 students. There are two boys' dormitories: the Larson Dormitory which is home to 12 students and the Talbot Dormitory which houses 48 students. All of the dorms at WA are bright, comfortable, and kept tidy by a professional staff. Each dorm has wireless internet. Dorm parents live in the dorms, providing 24-hour supervision and support. All of our dorm parents are also teachers, so students have the chance to get to know them inside and outside of the classroom. Additional residential staff take students shopping, to the doctor if needed, and provide a listening ear. All students eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the school cafeteria. Family-style meals can be prepared in each dorm's kitchen. The dorms also have lounge areas, storage, and laundry rooms.

Host Families

Each year a few WA students live with a local host family. The host families are carefully chosen. They are friendly and eager to open their homes and lives to WA students, sharing meals, going to the movies, and taking family trips. Frequently, students and their host families stay in touch long after graduation.

Weekends and After School

Washington Academy provides numerous after school programs between 3:00 and 5:30pm for all residential students. Students are encouraged to participate in clubs, sports, open gym or trips to town. Once a quarter, the entire Residential Life community gathers for Color Games. Washington Academy’s Residential Life Curriculum is a deliberate plan that aspires to help students reach their full potential through the experience of living in a diverse, educational setting. Learning is not limited to academics, but also takes place after class, in the dorm, on the athletic fields, and during free time. WA’s Residential Life Curriculum creates a safe, healthy, cooperative, comfortable, educational experience that helps each student learn to:

• Manage his or her own time and studies
• Live respectfully and responsibly with others
• Develop individual strength of character and understanding of others
• Become prepared to function confidently and competently in a college environment

WA’s Residential Life Curriculum provides:

• Unique “Placed-Based” Experiential Educational Curriculum to take full advantage of the Machias area, as well as Washington County and the entire regions of Downeast Maine.
• State-wide activities and events on weekends, plus fine arts performances and local events. Shopping and recreation are also included on a regular basis.
• Activity options for 3:00-5:30pm that include community service, sports programs, and clubs/activities.
• Community-based extracurricular activities
• Family style dinners where faculty and community members can come to enjoy dinner with students from around the world.
• A dorm parent program that strives to ensure academic progress and success for each individual student living in the dormitory.

Weekends

Weekend trips for Residential Life include:

• Orono Trampoline Park
• Paintball
• Portland, Freeport
• Pirate Fest in Eastport
• Boston Trip
• Ski Trips
• Laser Tag
• Trips to the Bangor Mall, movie theater, and bowling alley