Boarding
Six Pillars of Boarding
Boarding students will immerse themselves in the school community and take advantage of all extra-curricular activities and the sports available. Learning outside the classroom, whether it is on the sports field or in a club or activity, will help students develop social and learning skills for success. Students will be a model for their peers and recognize their unique place in society. Students will also understand the value of social service by giving back to the community through outreach programs and activities, which will enable students to understand their place within society while understanding the important trait of having humility.
Community
Self Awareness
Home Away from Home
Independence and Accountability
Academic Achievement
Caring and Nurturing Environment
| Grade level | Average Age |
|---|---|
| 5th Grade | 10 years old |
| 6th Grade | 11 years old |
| 7th Grade | 12 years old |
| 8th Grade | 13 years old |
| 9th Grade | 14 years old |
| 10th Grade | 15 years old |
| 11th Grade | 16 years old |
| 12th Grade | 17 years old |
A Word From Our Director of Boarding
Our Boarding Program is a pathway for students to succeed and reach their full potential in all aspects of their life. This program will allow your child to leave school ready to face the obstacles and challenges of university, college, and professional life.
Our carefully structured boarding program includes both regular academic study sessions and a wide variety of extra-curricular activities, clubs, and sports to ignite the passion within your child. Our primary goal is to ensure that your child is exposed to a rich, exciting, and vibrant environment that will allow them to learn holistically and develop into a global citizen.
Happiness is a crucial ingredient to a child’s success, both academically and socially. With this in mind, the RAS Boarding Program serves as a “home away from home,” a place of comfort, relaxation, study, and recreation.
Most importantly, the boarding house at Raffles American School provides a safe, secure, and nurturing environment for all of our boarding students. The environment will provide your family with peace of mind, knowing that a team of dedicated and experienced staff has your child’s best interests, safety, and development at heart.
– Christian Choyce
Mission Statement
The boarding program at Raffles American School aims to provide each student with a safe, nurturing environment that allows them to build upon their character strengths while challenging them to excel both academically and socially. We actively apply these principles in our boarding programs, guiding students ages 12 to 19 through their development into well-balanced young adults ready to take on university life challenges and beyond.
Our Senior Boarding Program follows the “Six Pillars” of Boarding: Community, Self-Awareness, Home Away From Home, Independence and Accountability, Academic Achievement, Caring, and Nurturing Environment. These pillars form the foundation of the skills and values we teach each child, allow them to realize and harness their academic potential, and become global citizens. Senior Boarding students are expected to demonstrate empathy towards their community and their fellow peers; exhibit critical thinking skills that allow them to troubleshoot problems and challenges; develop self-awareness of their strengths and character; show accountability for their decisions and understand there is a reaction to all actions; and gain a level of maturity that allows them to be academically, socially, and emotionally prepared for college and beyond.
In the RAS Boarding program, our motto of “Live.Learn.Play” is a part of all that we do. At RAS boarding, we Live as part of a supportive community, Learn academically, socially, and emotionally through all we do, and incorporate Play into every day, as we teach students to balance responsibility and enjoyment of life.
The Raffles American School program consists of five boarding houses, each with five floors that house students, teachers, and boarding staff. Each floor has eleven to thirteen private rooms. Each room has two comfortable beds, a personal safe, desks, chairs, notice boards, and an adjustable air conditioner in every room. Linens are available upon request. A sophisticated security system secures all boarding facilities with guards on duty 24 hours a day.
A cozy common room area is designed with our students in mind on each floor, fitted with a television with satellite channels, comfortable seating, and bean bags. The first floor of every boarding house also has a larger common area with a fridge and small kitchenette for students to store and prepare their snacks as they please. Each floor has bathrooms with private showers and sinks. All boarding buildings are separated by gender, meaning that male and female students can only access their same-gender boarding house.
As part of the boarding program, students are monitored by Resident Assistant (RAs) Teachers who live in apartments on each floor. This means that at all times, students can rely on their RAs in times of need or during study times. Staff members are on duty in pairs for one night a week and for one weekend a month, ensuring that students have the support and guidance they need when they need it. There is a dedicated RA on duty every night to monitor our scheduled routines and offer guidance. There is also a fully functioning medical clinic within RAS boarding with a nurse on staff 24/7 to provide first aid and care to minor illnesses. Should there be any additional medical attention required or an emergency, Gleneagles hospital is less than 10 minutes away.
On the ground floor is a central state-of-the-art co-ed common space where students from the different boarding houses socialize, interact, and hear school announcements from the heads of boarding. This area is fitted with televisions and equipment for other recreational activities, such as table tennis, foosball, billiards, and more. There is also a student store where students can purchase snacks after school. Students may also use the facilities on campus, such as the swimming pool, gymnasiums, and soccer fields during leisure time.
Boarding Schedule
Weekdays
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 6:30am: | Morning Wake Up |
| 6:30am–7:00am: | Shower time |
| 7:20am: | Roll call and uniform check. Staff check to make sure rooms are neat and tidy. Be ready for inspection at 7:20 |
| 7:20am – 7:50am: | Breakfast and announcements |
| 7:50am: | Classes– students bring school bags and materials to breakfast. Students may visit the clinic. |
| 11:45am– 1:00pm: | Lunch– according to academic timetable |
| 3:15pm – 5:00pm: | Extra-curricular activities |
| 6:00pm: | Dinner. Staff to check all students at dinner. |
| 6:30pm – 6:45pm: | Shower time (Thursday meeting at 6:30pm) |
| 6:50pm: | Roll call and announcements on 1st floor. |
| 7:00pm – 7:50pm: | 1st study session |
| 7:50pm – 8:00pm: | Break (10 minutes) Snack time |
| 8:00pm – 9:00pm: | 2nd study session |
| 9:15pm – 9:45pm: | 3rd Study session (Grade 11, 12) |
| 9:00pm – 9:30pm: | Free time if not in the 3rd study session (laptop for games, etc.) or shower time. |
| 9:30pm – 10:30pm: | Bedtime (Quiet time according to age and grade.) |
Saturday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 10:00am: | Morning Wake Up |
| 10:30am: | Shower time |
| 11:00am – 11:30am: | Brunch and roll call (Roll call taken at brunch) |
| 12:30pm: | Lunch with roll call |
| 1:00pm – 5:00pm: | Depart for trip to mall or excursion |
| 5:00pm – 6:00pm: | Shower time and free time |
| 6:00pm – 6:30pm: | Supper with roll call |
| 7:00pm – 9:00pm: | Movie Night or Games Night / free time |
| 9:00pm – 10:30pm: | Shower time and free time |
| 11:00pm: | Bedtime for all students |
Sunday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 9:30am: | Morning Wake Up |
| 9:30am – 10:00am: | Shower time |
| 10:00am – 10:30am: | Breakfast and roll call |
| 10:30am – 12:30pm: | Free time (students may play and use facilities on campus). Use the sign out sheet. |
| 12:30pm: | Lunch with roll call |
| 1:00pm – 5:00pm: | Free time (students may play and use facilities on campus). Use the sign out sheet. |
| 3:00pm – 5:00pm: | Study session (for all students on academic probation. |
| 5:00pm: | All boarders must return from home |
| 5:45pm: | Room inspection before dinner |
| 5:45pm: | Roll call and announcements on the first floor |
| 6:00pm – 6:30pm: | Dinner |
| 6:30pm – 7:00pm: | Free time/shower |
| 7:00pm – 7:50pm: | 1st study session |
| 7:50pm – 8:00pm: | Break |
| 8:00pm – 9:00pm: | 2nd study session |
| 9:00pm – 9:30pm: | Free time |
| 9:30pm – 10:30pm: | Bedtime and quiet time according to age and grade |
“I have been living in boarding since I joined RAS. I have to say that it’s my home in Malaysia. I’m so grateful for the boarding principles that helped me develop a healthy lifestyle, which is a crucial factor for achieving a high GPA. These principles gave me a more self-disciplined attitude and finally helped me to receive an acceptance letter from my dream university, NYU. The boarding staff has also played an essential role in my high school life. Their meticulous care and love made me who I am today. They were there for me when I lost the basketball game, and they celebrated with me when I finished the triathlon. They are so supportive that I feel like I’m capable of doing anything; this improved my confidence and also taught me how to respect others.”
Hannah, Senior 2020/2021
