FEATURE
New House, Same Home
Future of the School Boarding Program Under one Roof
STORY BY KRISTIN MANKER (US’13, C’17)
Principia is synonymous with opportunity, innovation, and limitless possibility. But for many, Principia can be summed up in one word: home. For students living away from their families, creating a home away from home is essential to their wellbeing, growth, and success.
Established in 1899, Principia’s boarding program has housed thousands of students from across the globe seeking an exceptional education founded on Christian Science ideals. In this experience, they also find a deep brotherhood and sisterhood, mentors who invest in their growth, and a community that cares. As an extension of the Principia experience, the residential program seeks to ground students in independent, spiritual thinking—preparing them to succeed in a rapidly-changing world. And just as the School continues to innovate—so, too, does the boarding program.
Boarders Know No Borders: Embracing a Modern Approach
Principia has seen exciting and creative growth at all levels in the past few years—including a fresh look at what the word embrace means to the institution. By admitting students from around the world who share Principia’s values and character-focused approach, the School has an opportunity to strengthen its foundation while extending its reach. As Chief Executive Barbara Blackwell (HON’22) puts it, “I believe we can strengthen our Christian Science values as we understand how to live them in an increasingly diverse community.”
In its journey to create an enhanced student experience, School leadership has identified innovative opportunities to transform the boarding program while strengthening our values. It started with a partnership with boarding students, parents, and a national boarding program consultant, Jackie O’Rourke, to explore ways to reinvigorate the program and align Principia with best practices. “I see Principia’s efforts to include families and students from diverse backgrounds and faiths as a perfect example of how to serve the cause of Christian Science unselfishly. This is an opportunity to cultivate a robust program, one that’s centered around the students and their personal and spiritual growth,” says Head of School Dr. Merry Sorrells (C’79).
As a result of prayer and thoughtful consideration, a recent policy update was ratified by the Board of Trustees to provide a limited number of students from families who do not identify as Christian Scientists, but whose values are aligned, to be welcomed in the dorm starting in the 2024-2025 academic year. “We’re building a launch pad for the future. These changes will strengthen the program and allow Principia to continue providing an exceptional education to students no matter where they’re from,” says Assistant Head of School for Enrollment Management and Residential Life Terry Grigsby (US’97, C’01).
New Plans and Transitions: Living Under One Roof
As the boarding program began its metamorphosis, turning inward for evolution, the question was posed: what about the dormitories? A master planning audit revealed the need for a new boarding facility located in the heart of the campus, away from the more publicly used areas of the School. The Master Plan was altered accordingly and a new dormitory was folded into the proposal. And while the School eagerly looks forward to a future with all new student housing, the team focused their attention to Aron House as an interim solution.
“Careful planning has taken place to make sure [Aron House is] safe and appropriate as a co-educational space,” says Grigsby. “[The changes] give us a lot of flexibility to bring everybody together . . . but some unique rules and security measures are being put into place to ensure that we have appropriate boundaries.”
Living under one roof, boarding students can expect a secure and dynamic living environment with community at its center. Boys will live with housepops on the terrace and first floor, while girls will reside on the second floor with housemoms. Redesigned communal areas will provide a co-ed space to study and hang out. Floor-specific living areas will give students the opportunity to relax with members of their halls. New security measures include key card access to student floors and cameras in essential areas.
“It’s exciting to have a family-style atmosphere. Now, there’s a lot of opportunity to have joint study halls and Bible lesson study and really develop that brotherly-sisterly kind of mentality,” says Grigsby. But it’s not, as Grigsby says, a one-size-fits-all model. The program will be “tailored to specific ages and demographics.”
New Dorm Director Marcus Stanley (US’02) emphasizes the program’s new offerings to support character development. Describing the Student Leadership program, Stanley says, “[It’s] finding ways to meet the students at their different maturity, capability, and age levels—to help them layer in leadership, responsibilities, lessons, and understandings at every stage of their development.” This will be especially true in the Spiritual Life program, where students will receive “more agency to run programming on their own with adult supervision and guidance in age-appropriate ways,” adds Grigsby.
A Richer Tapestry: How the Policy Change Propels Principia Forward
Implementation of the policy change to include values-aligned students in the boarding program will be gradual. And the core of Principia’s boarding program will remain the same, grounded in spiritual practice and dedication to a robust educational approach.
Principia School has already experienced the benefits of admitting students who share the School’s values, while honoring our Christian Science foundation to cultivate a diverse community. Investing in the spiritual life of all students aids in the School’s ultimate purpose: to serve the Cause of Christian Science. And now, the boarding program finds itself in a similar position, ready to reap the benefits.
“[Last year] we had a Muslim student in the dorm,” says Spiritual Life Director Brad Warrick (US’90, C’94). “He was very spiritually dedicated and came to all the Bible studies. He was very inquisitive and loved learning about the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. . . . If [students] share Principia’s core values, they’re going to be attracted to what we do.”
“Although this is a big change, it’s also one that’s been approached with intention, love, and willingness to take feedback,” says Stanley. These shifts allow the School to cultivate an inclusive environment that fosters cultural diversity, promotes rich sharing of different perspectives, and helps prepare students to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. After all, more threads make for a stronger and richer tapestry.
Built on the Original Foundation
Principia’s 1900 Prospectus described the newly minted boarding program as having “the same general plan for the development of the true thought of living, which is the foundation of the School.” This shared vision continues today. Even as Principia School’s innovative nature calls for reinvention, it never rebuilds the wheel. “We’re working intentionally to make sure our boarding students continue to have all the benefits of the strong boarding program we’ve always had,” says Dr. Sorrells.
“We are still committed to the spiritual growth and development of all our students,” adds Grigsby. “Students will still be safe. They’ll be known, they’ll be loved, they’ll be nurtured in the dorm. . . . The loving home-like environment we offer and commitment to cultivating well-rounded, spiritual thinkers sets Principia apart. Consequently, the result is that [students] have a sense of safety [that allows them to] thrive academically, athletically, and socially because they have a sense of home.”
Perhaps the most important aspect of the boarding program is the lasting effect it has on students. “My son spent four years exploring his spiritual nature along with his peers [in the dorm],” says Sukie (Bernard) Berberich (C’92). “Developing his identity through this lens serves him every day in school, relationships, and life. He is a confident and compassionate person and a role model to his friends. I am so grateful for Principia’s boarding program!”