Student Life

Build community first and from that comes academic excellence.  At the Academy we believe that what takes place ouside the classroom is just as critical as what happens within it.  Our student life program strives to make every student feel challenged, supported and connected.
Student Life

Residential Life

A Sense of Community, Belonging, and Home

Students quickly build relationships with peers and faculty that span cultures, genders and ages as they share a school, community and campus. This feeling of community also stretches into the village of Fryeburg, and to the outlying towns where many day students live. Many students who live off campus open their homes and families to boarding students during weekends and vacations.  Many students who do not live in the dorms, but live nearby, also spend a lot of time on campus, utilizing the academic and research resources, eating in the dining hall, or catching up with friends in the student union.

Weekend Activities

It's Friday, school's out...

And there are plenty of fun, educational and exciting opportunities for students to experience throughout the region. Whether it's a shopping excursion to the outlets in nearby North Conway or a hike up Mount Washington, there is always something to do.

We offer plentiful activities on the weekends primarily for boarding students, but we invite and encourage day students to participate, as well. There are no fewer than a dozen activities on any given weekend both on and off campus. We take students to concerts, plays, museums and professional sports events in Portland, just an hour away, or Boston, a mere three-hour drive.

For outdoor enthusiasts the Mount Washington Valley offers opportunities for hiking, biking and rock climbing adventures plus easy access to beautiful rivers and lakes. With an average snowfall of over six feet, our location is ideal for both alpine and cross country skiing, snowboarding, and tubing throughout the winter. We provide trips to fine ski resorts such as Bretton Woods and Sunday River, with daily trips to Mount Cranmore in North Conway.

Afternoon Activities

Afternoon activities are held Monday-Thursday from 3:15-5:00pm. Required for all boarding students, activities range from cooking lessons to swimming and playing tennis at a local fitness facility. Activities change weekly and are designed according to student interest.

If a student plays on any one of our 24 sports teams, he/she is exempt from the afternoon activity requirement during that athletic season.

Sample Day Schedule

 
7:15am – 7:45am Breakfast
 
8:00am – 2:34pm Classes
*Most students enroll in six courses with one study hall.  Some students elect to enroll in seven courses per semester.
 
11:20 -12:00pm Lunch

3:15pm -5:00pm Athletics/Activities
 
*Boarding students are not required to play competitive sports but must participate in an organized activity after school Monday – Thursday
 
5:15pm - 6:00pm Dinner ( Monday - Thursday)
 
7:30pm – 9:30pm Study Hall
 
*Study hall is  Sunday – Thursday
 
9:30pm – 10:00pm Free Time
 
10:00pm In dorms
 
10:30pm In Rooms
 
11:00pm Lights out

Fryeburg Academy Homestay Program

Fryeburg Academy is looking for families who are interested in providing short-term homestays for our boarding students, both international and domestic.  We are not looking for host families for a semester or full academic year.  The homestays would be during school vacations and on weekends.  Please contact residentiallife@fryeburgacadcemy.org.

Homestay: Frequently Asked Questions

List of 14 frequently asked questions.

  • Q1: Why do students want homestays, and why would I want to provide one?   

    Students have several reasons for wanting home stays. Many of our boarding students live too far away for a week-long trip home to be feasible. Spending a vacation with a family offers these students the opportunity to become better connected to the community and gives them the chance to take a break from dorm life. It also offers international students a chance to work on their English skills and a better understanding of American lifestyles and values. You, as a host family, in turn, have the opportunity to experience the culture and background of students from across the U.S. and from a variety of countries; and while there’s no guarantee that a student who stays with you will become a lifelong friend, this has certainly been known to happen!
  • Q2: What kind of family makes a good host family?

    You may think that having teenage children is a requirement for being a host family; this is not at all the case. Families with children of any age – or without any children at all – can provide valuable, enriching experiences. We also have no parameters on the age or marital status of host parents. The only requirement is that you be open to and excited about welcoming a student in your home.
  • Q3: What kind of accommodation is expected?

    Students must have their own bedroom but do not need their own bath. If you host more than one student, they do not each need their own bedroom. Having an internet connection is not a requirement, but given how important web connectivity is to some students, we would like to be able to know if access to the internet is available at your house.
  • Q4: What kind of food do students expect?

    Students expect three meals a day. No matter where they are from, our boarding students will be accustomed to American food, so you needn’t prepare special meals. Of course, if you are curious about the food from a student’s country, you are welcome to include him/her in the planning and preparation of meals. We will only place a student with dietary restrictions with you if you are willing/able to accommodate.
  • Q5: What should I expect of students who stay in my home?

    Part of the process of becoming an adult is learning how to be a good guest. We will coach students on how to do this, e.g. to say please and thank you, clean up after themselves, offer their help with meals.
  • Q6: What do students expect of families?

    Every student is different, but most students hope to have experiences that they are missing by living in a dormitory (like home-cooked meals and feeling part of a family); or experiences that they cannot have in their home state or country (like apple picking or canoeing).
  • Q7: What about language barriers?

    Most international students at the Academy are conversationally-fluent English speakers, and their time with you will only help them become more so.  Others are good readers and writers but have lacked the chance or motivation to practice speaking.  Being in an American home is a great way to force them to practice!  We usually have a few beginning speakers (who are great fun to communicate with!), but we will not place a student like this in your home if it would be uncomfortable for you.  If you are willing to host more than one student at a time, we would not ask you to host two students who speak the same language.  
  • Q8: What about transportation to my house?

    A student will feel most welcome if you come to campus to pick him/her up, but the Academy can arrange transportation to your home at the expense of the student.
  • Q9: Will I receive compensation for hosting a student?

    Families will receive a modest per diem compensation. Hosting a student, therefore, should not be seen as a source of income. Students understand that they are expected to pay for the cost of any activities during a homestay (e.g., a movie ticket, a lift ticket). This, however, does not mean that you cannot pay a student’s way. Some of our students come from quite limited means, and if you were able to absorb the cost of the entire homestay, you would be giving a gift.
  • Q10: What about medical issues?

    All Academy boarding students are required to have medical insurance. Therefore, if a medical emergency arises, you should not hesitate to take a student to the emergency room or to call an ambulance and then contact the emergency number at the Academy which we will provide. If a student becomes ill while at your home, please contact the administrator on duty to discuss the best course of action for the student.
  • Q11: Do I have to be available to host a student every vacation and every weekend?

    Of course not! You are free to choose when you open your home. You could either provide us with a list of dates that work for you, or we could contact you as the need arises.
  • Q12: Can I pick the students I want?

    If you or a member of your family has already made the acquaintance of a boarding student and would like to host him/her, you may contact us with a specific invitation for that student. Beyond that, you may indicate your preference for gender, age, or country of origin, but we ask that you be open to all students.
  • Q13: How do I become a Fryeburg Academy host family?

     
    Because we want to make sure that our students are safe and comfortable during a homestays, we have established an application process. The first step is to submit the on-line Host Family Application or contact us at 207 935 2013 to have an application sent in the mail. Once your application is complete, we will contact you to set up a time to visit you in your home.
  • Q14: When do students need homestays?

    Academy boarding students most often need homestays during Thanksgiving, February, and April vacations. Most students go home for the longer Christmas vacation. While dorms are open during long weekends, these would be wonderful opportunities for “mini-homestays”, as would any other weekend.



List of 4 members.

  • Photo of David Kenney

    David Kenney 

    Dean of Student Life
  • Photo of Nicki Chewning

    Nicki Chewning 

    Director of Residential Life
  • Photo of Tyler  Wilson

    Tyler  Wilson 

    Residential Life Associate
  • Photo of Luci Shepherd

    Luci Shepherd 

    Residential Life Associate

Recent Weekend Activities

Aquarium/Faneuil Hall in Boston
Canoeing
Dinner and a movie in Bridgton
Dinner in North Conway
Horseback riding
Moose Tour
Red Claws game in Portland
Shopping at the Maine Mall
Skiing in North Conway
Swimming
Trip to Freeport
Tubing
Wii tournament in the student union
Winter campfire on campus

Recent Afternoon Activities

Chess Club
Cooking
Fitness center
Movie Club
Outdoor Club
Tennis
Ultimate Frisbee
Walking Club
Yoga

Fryeburg Academy

FRYEBURG ACADEMY
745 Main Street
Fryeburg, ME 04037
p. (207) 935-2001      
f.  (207) 935-5013      
admissions@fryeburgacademy.org
Fryeburg Academy is an independent boarding and day school, serving grades 9-12 and postgraduate. We invite you to explore our site and learn how students from around the globe find their place in the world through our exceptional academic, art, and athletic programs.