Life at STA
Boarding
Be one of the thirty international, domestic, and local Upper School students who call St. Albans and our dorm in the historic Lane-Johnston Building home. Building upon the brotherhood of day-to-day life in St. Albans, the dorm is a welcoming community supervised by five dorm faculty and their families.
The dorm doesn't just allow students who live far from campus to have access to a St. Albans education. For local families overwhelmed by long commutes and busy Upper School schedules, the dorm blends day-school life with a traditional boarding experience—boys live away from home, but families are close enough to come to games, concerts, and other on-campus events.
The Dorm
The dormitory is located on the top two floors of the historic Lane-Johnston Building, adjacent to the Cafritz Refectory (dining hall) and the Upper School. The dorm has single and double rooms. Each student is provided with a bed, dresser, desk, chair, wardrobe closet, and wastebasket. Students are free to organize the layout of their rooms with approval from a dorm leader. There are multiple common areas within the dormitory and throughout the school for students to relax. Boarding students use their free time after dinner or before bed to watch TV, shoot hoops in the gym, and hang out with one another. A supervised study hall is held each night. Students may also receive academic support from the Teaching and Learning Program.
A Day in the Life
List of 12 items.
-
Good morning!
It’s Thursday, which means it’s freshman laundry day. I throw my clothes in the wash, shower, and head downstairs to breakfast—a spread of eggs, sausage, waffles, and plenty of fresh fruit. Ms. Reid serves the food, and we always greet each other with a warm “Good morning” when I walk in. I take a seat at a table with some of my teammates. -
Classes begin!
It’s a B Day, which means I begin the day with English I, where we’re studying The Odyssey. We have a test today, so last night I studied for an hour with my friend in the dorm. Let’s do this. -
My test went well!
I had geometry next — my last class before Ensemble. I stopped by Sam’s Bar to grab a bagel before heading to the chorale room for rehearsal. We’re preparing for the Fall Music Festival, so we ran through our set a few times before having to leave for chapel. -
Time for Chapel
I ran into my friend on the way, and we entered the Little Sanctuary and took a silent moment before the captain of the crew team spoke to us about how being grateful for challenges has allowed him to find success at St. Albans. It was a great message, and I went up and thanked him after. -
Off to biology!
We’re doing a fun lab about bacteria. My teacher always tries to make class as hands-on as possible, which I love. -
Family-style Lunches!
Lunch provides an opportunity to get to know faculty members and students from other grades. Today, my table chats about our favorite TV shows over a meal of General Tso’s chicken, rice, and broccoli. -
Office Hours
I only have one more class—history—after lunch. During office hours, I hand my teacher a draft of my English paper and ask for suggestions on how it can be improved. -
Basketball Practice!
We’re preparing for our first game in two weeks. I can’t wait. After practice, I head back to the dorm and hop in the shower before dinner. -
Dinner
On the menu tonight: pizza and pasta. In the refectory, I sit with a few of the dorm faculty and some guys from my hallway. -
Personal Time
I call home to check in with my parents and sister. They tell me they’re coming to my first basketball game. After, I chat with the dorm faculty on duty about our fantasy football teams. -
Study Hall
Study hall in the library. I pull out my laptop and work on a draft of my English paper. I finally finish my geometry and then practice my French conjugations. I join some friends in the rec room and play some video games. -
Lights out!
It feels good to lie down after a busy day. I’m soon fast asleep.
Meet the Dorm Faculty
List of 6 members.
Located in Washington D.C., St. Albans School is a private, all boys day and boarding school. For more than a century, St. Albans has offered a distinctive educational experience for young men in grades 4 through 12. While our students reach exceptional academic goals and exhibit first-rate athletic and artistic achievements, as an Episcopal school we place equal emphasis upon moral and spiritual education.