The Foreign Service Journal, December 2020

80 DECEMBER 2020 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT schools are often possible. Whether parents are in Washington, D.C., abroad for an extended period or abroad for a short term, they will have the peace of mind knowing that their child is well taken care of. College Prep Plus Schools that are primarily board- ing institutions will tend to offer more features and services for students whose parents live far away. An international student office, or a dean charged with the boarding student experience, is decisive in creating and maintain- ing programs that are important to a boarder. Weekend activities, health care, supervision, dormitory and food all head the list of topics of interest for boarding students, but especially for those for whom the campus is their home away from home. In addition to faculty who live on campus to support the well-being of the boarders, these schools often have a “guidance team” that supports the needs of teenagers who negotiate a world with far more variables than their parents experienced. A well-staffed nurse’s office with close ties to nearby pediatricians, departments of health and other health specialists is common. On-campus behavioral health counselors, chaplains, dorm staff and academic advisers support students through the inevitable ups and downs of teenage life. A college counselor is instru- mental in helping every student navigate their higher education options. Foreign Service parents exploring the boarding school option should inquire about the possibility of a four-year financial aid package rather than the typical annual arrangement.