Madeline Rynne
From late night study sessions, to weekend adventures, and making new friends, North Broward Preparatory School’s boarding program fosters a residential community that gives students a home away from home. The boarding community is where friendships are built, cultures are shared, and memories are made. From the impeccable architecture in China, to the sandy beaches of Brazil,the North Broward residential community is a diverse puzzle. The Eagle Gazette team had the incredible opportunity to interview three boarding students, and one Boarding Parent to give us some insight into daily life at the dorms.
Anna Sophia Lacerda and Isabela Leite
When the Eagle Gazette team first walked into the building, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. While exploring the dorms, a pair of friends instantly greeted us with warm smiles, and they agreed to help us learn the lay of the land.
Our tour guides Anna Sophia and Isabela, are seniors here at North Broward Preparatory School. They came from Brazil in August of 2024, a difficult transition for anyone. They were kind enough to speak with us about their experience. They shared, “We got here last year and there were a lot of Brazilians, so it was easier to feel welcome.” They fell in love with all of the activities and trips available to them, including the annual trip to Halloween Horror Nights and the opportunities to watch their favorite sport, soccer, at Inter Miami games.
Conner Wei
Conner Wei, a junior and an International boarding student from Northeast China, has started his third year at North Broward Preparatory School. Conner has many great things to say about dorm life and this year, he is enjoying getting to know his teachers, especially, Mr. Down, his U.S. history teacher. Like many other students in the dorms, his favorite activity on campus is playing games with his friends. Conner is passionate about extracurriculars and has played Snooker for 5 years. He plans to start a Snooker club at school, with a goal to have a Snooker table available to members within the next few months. Conner is also a Student Ambassador and assists the Admissions Office with welcoming new boarding students to the community.
Dorm students are allocated prep time after school which is used to prepare for upcoming tests and assignments. If a student excels in class, they are permitted to do prep time in their dorms. However, if they fall behind, students are required to complete their prep time in the Learning Commons. Conner takes pride in his prep time to study and prepare for his classes. This helps not only him, but other dorm students to ensure they are on top of their work and up to date with their assignments.
Boarding Parents are vital to the community in the dorms. They dedicate themselves to making students feel at home. They plan game nights and trips for students to attend during breaks or on weekends.
Ms. Tamar
Ms. Tamar is now in her 11th year as a Boarding Parent. She shared her appreciation for the title, ‘Boarding Parent,’ because she is a believer that it makes the students feel more at home.
A Jamaican native, Ms. Tamar has lived in Florida for 13 years. She is married and has a son, who enjoys playing sports. Her favorite aspect of the dorm life is the diversity within the residential community. “Our students come from different countries, different cultures and different personalities,” she explains. “It’s about getting to know where people are from, their ways of life, and that’s what makes it more and more interesting.” She loves helping all the students and watching how they grow, and mature during their time at North Broward. “We’re all one big family,” she says.
In the end, it’s not just the academics and the social life that makes the boarding program here so special. The North Broward Preparatory School dorms are a place to build lifelong friendships, and gain a sense of belonging far away, or close to home. It’s a place that motivates students to excel and encourages them to grow. It’s the incredible diversity of different personalities, cultures, and people that come together to make dorm life feel like, in their words: “One big family.”