Host Family Program
Host families are an important part of the Residential Life Program at OES. The Host Family Program connects dorm and day students outside of the classroom, and broadens the opportunity for cultural exchange. It is our hope that the dorm students will gain a “home” away from home; learn more about Portland, and experience “family.”
Host families also experience reward in meeting a student from a different part of the world and learning about what it is like to live away from home. Through this program, relationships are built that will take you beyond graduation.
Host Families will:
- Welcome a new dorm student and their parents during the opening weekend in September
- Host the dorm student at their home for two scheduled “Host Family Weekends”. The dorms are closed and all of our boarding students spend the weekend with their host family.
- Celebrate the dorm students’ birthday
- Invite the student to spend time with their family throughout the year as schedules allow – family movie night, dinner, shopping trip to the mall, etc.
- Cheer the dorm student on in a sporting event or other performance
Holiday Break Host Families
While the majority of our Host Families are from the Upper School, we do have OES families from the Lower and Middle Schools who open up their homes during the school holidays when the dorms are closed.
If you are a current family at OES and would like to become a volunteer Host Family, please contact , Host Family Coordinator. You may also complete the Host Family Profile form.
Backyard Exchange
Each year the dorms sponsor a program that provides OES day students the opportunity to spend some time living in the dorms. This program is designed to improve and promote interaction between day and boarding students. The intention is to invite day students into the dorm community and encourage dorm students to participate in the lives of day students outside of school. To accomplish this goal, students involved in the program participate fully in dorm life, following the same rules and guidelines. Activities include Study Hall, Formal Dinner, and social activities. Please contact the dorm staff for specific reservations before planning on a visit.
