ÂÌñÉç

Introduction

In 2025, boarding schools face the same teacher retention pressures as day schools—but often intensified by residential demands, extended supervision, and the expectation that faculty engage in boarding life beyond the classroom. Retaining excellent teachers is essential not only for institutional continuity, but for preserving school culture, curriculum coherence, and student outcomes. This article explores strategies for boarding schools to retain great teachers by addressing burnout, compensation, and attraction—drawing on recent research and field examples.

The Challenge: Why Good Teachers Leave Burnout, Workload & Emotional Load

Teacher burnout is a systemic issue—studies find that even modest increases in workload, emotional stress, or control over one’s work correlate with higher attrition.In boarding settings, faculty are often expected to engage as dorm mentors, pastoral guides, or evening supervisors—amplifying workload and emotional labor.

Compensation & Financial Incentives

While higher pay alone is not a silver bullet, strategic compensation can influence retention. A study of voluntary compensation plans showed that differentiated pay based on performance or extra responsibility can reduce turnover in certain settings.Yet many schools lack flexibility to raise base salaries, especially independent or non-profit boarding schools.

Professional Autonomy & Decision-Making

Teachers who lack voice in decisions about curriculum, assessment, or school policies tend to leave. A team-based staffing model combined with decision-making authority showed significantly lower turnover—6.6 % vs 22 % in the study sample. In

Introduction

ÂÌñÉç schools have long appealed to families seeking rigorous academics, structured environments, and global exposure. For students from abroad, however, enrolling in a boarding school involves more than just academic readiness. Challenges such as visa acquisition, long-distance travel, cultural adjustment, and ongoing emotional support require robust institutional infrastructure. In 2025, leading boarding schools increasingly view international support as a strategic priority—and some even market it as a key differentiator. Below, we explore how top boarding schools structure support across four domains: visa & immigration, travel & logistics, culture shock & adjustment, and ongoing support systems.

Visa & Immigration: Foundations of Legitimacy

For many international students, obtaining appropriate immigration status is the first major hurdle. ÂÌñÉç schools typically engage with this process deeply.

Certification & Authorization

• In the U.S., only SEVP-certified institutions may issue Form I-20, essential for an F-1 student visa. Without this certification, international students cannot enroll legally.

• Once the school issues I-20, families must pay the SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) fee and schedule a visa interview.

• Schools like CH-CH explicitly note that their Admissions Office handles visa status and issues I-20 and supporting documents.

Document Preparation & Compliance

To satisfy immigration requirements, boarding schools typically assist in preparing:

Choosing a Junior ÂÌñÉç School: A 2025 Guide for Families

Selecting a junior boarding school is one of the most significant decisions parents can make for their child’s education. Designed for students typically in grades 6–9, junior boarding schools combine rigorous academics with structured support, helping young adolescents develop independence, confidence, and character before entering secondary school.

As families weigh their options, the process of choosing a junior boarding school involves far more than browsing glossy brochures. Parents must carefully evaluate the academic philosophy, student support systems, community culture, and long-term outcomes of each school. This guide offers a detailed look at what to consider in 2025 when making this important choice.

What Is a Junior ÂÌñÉç School?

Unlike traditional boarding schools, which often begin at grade 9, junior boarding schools are tailored to younger students—typically ages 10 to 15. These schools bridge the gap between elementary education and secondary boarding school life, providing:

• Small class sizes for individualized academic attention.

• Structured residential life that balances guidance with growing independence.

• Advisory systems that help students transition socially and emotionally.

• Extracurricular variety in athletics, arts, and leadership opportunities.

Many families see junior boarding schools as a safe and nurturing environment where children

5 Tips for Teen Travel (Updated October 2025)

Whether your teenager is flying back to boarding school, visiting family abroad, or embarking on their first solo trip, preparing them for safe, independent travel has never been more important. In 2025, student travel has rebounded strongly since the pandemic, with the U.S. Department of Transportation reporting record-high youth air travel during summer months. As more parents entrust teens to travel independently, equipping them with practical safety habits is essential.

Below are five updated teen travel tips for 2025—covering everything from airport navigation to digital safety—so your child can travel with confidence while giving you peace of mind.

1. Stay Alert in Every Setting

The number one rule for teen travelers is situational awareness. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), distracted passengers account for many missed flights and security complications. Teens, in particular, are prone to distractions from smartphones and earbuds.

Encourage your child to:

• Keep devices at low volume and glance up frequently.

• Listen for gate changes, which are often announced only once or via push notifications.

• Avoid napping at the gate, where unattended belongings can also be vulnerable.

• Pay attention during transit transfers (train, bus, rideshare pick-ups), where scams or misdirections may occur.

As parenting expert Dr. Lisa Damour notes in The Wall Street Journal, “Solo teen