Residential Life

RESIDENTIAL

LIFE

ACADEMIC SUPPORT

The dorms are connected to the school in many important ways including continued learning support. Opportunities to expand English speaking, listening, and reading skills, easy access to peers and adults for academic support, and our Evening Study program all assist dorm students in their academic growth.

This year, we have adjusted Evening Study to provide more teachers each night of Evening Study, a more appropriate length of time for our younger students, and a Peer Tutoring program for High School students to assist Middle School students with their learning.

LIVING SPACES

Each dorm has 105 rooms. Most students, grades 6-10 are assigned a roommate and share a room. Learning to live appropriately with a roommate and learning to be a good roommate are very important skills. Students in grades 11 and 12 are given a single room when there is one available. Each wing of each dorm has a kitchen with a shared refrigerator, microwave, and tea kettle, while each floor has a water filtration system as well. There is one oven/stove in each dorm that all students have access to.

Each floor also has a common room with cable tv, couches, chairs, and comfortable spaces to sit with friends. There are 2 ping pong tables in each dorm, a pool or billiard table, and a foosball table. Each dorm has a karaoke room with frequently updated machines as well. Finally, each dorm has a small study room on each floor and one large study room that is equipped with individual lockers where students can store and charge their computers and phones.

This year, we have improved our current spaces by adding murals in several study rooms and the art room. We have added a Clay Room and a Multimedia Room, as well as a piano in each dorm. Each afternoon, the halls are filled with the sounds of students joyfully singing karaoke or playing beautiful tunes on the pianos. All of these spaces are on the first floor of the dorms, so all dorm students have access to use them, regardless of which dorm they live in.

Finally, after major construction in 2021, we had zero problems with mold in the dorms this school year. There was no flooding, and no mold as students’ living conditions were up to our standards of safety and comfort.

INQUIRY & ACTIVITIES

When students are not in classes, there are many opportunities for personal growth, connection, and fun. Dorm students all participate in After School Activities. Clubs and sports meet during this time, and dorm students often find themselves as captains or leaders of these activities. After dorm students and a dorm proctor started our first SJA Jeju baseball team last year, this year, we had 2 MS teams at the school and 1 HS team. Next year, three of the GEC schools will have baseball, following the lead of the dorm program from last year. On weekends, we have required activities for MS students and optional activities for HS students when available.

This year, we are finally able to go off-campus occasionally after not being allowed due to COVID. Students have been able to play on Go-Karts, go to a Jeju United soccer match, hike waterfalls, hike Halla, go fishing, and explore local beaches. On-campus, students have learned many cooking skills, have improved our Makers’ Room with some woodworking projects and model rocketry, and they have enjoyed many board games and active games. In addition, we have been able to consistently open the pool this year for students who want to swim. Some students were certified in pool diving, and others learned to play water polo.

Boarding students have many opportunities to learn responsibility, leadership, and followership. Keeping track of their daily schedule, keeping their rooms tidy, participating in weekend activities and after-school activities, and problem-solving with proctors are important ways that our students grow.

CHARACTER AND LEADERSHIP

Dorm students have many opportunities to formally lead. Our three leadership groups are the Dorm Leadership team, Dorm Ambassadors, and Peer Tutors. These organizations lead activities, plan events, suggest changes to dorm policies, provide guidance to new students, care for faculty children during faculty meetings, and provide academic support for younger dorm students.

This year, in addition to organizing activities and discussing dorm life, Dorm Leadership led two important service activities. First, they organized money to donate Christmas gifts for children at a local orphanage. Second, a group of dorm leaders participated with KG, 4th grade, and HS STUCO to raise community awareness, educate their peers, and donate food to the Jeju Food Bank as they addressed poverty on Jeju.