At Oliverian School, we believe that learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom. It happens in the dorms, over shared meals, in moments of conflict and resolution, and in the bonds formed during group activities and evening chats.

While we draw on frameworks that support social-emotional development—like the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)—what matters most to us is how these ideas come to life through lived experience. At Oliverian, five core areas of growth drawn from the CASEL framework help shape a student’s time on campus:

• Self-Awareness

• Self-Management

• Social Awareness

• Relationship Skills

• Responsible Decision-Making

These aren’t just skills for success—they’re tools for becoming a more whole, connected, and confident human being.

Self-Awareness

Self-awareness grows when students reflect on their personal identities and lived experiences. In the dorms, they’re not just doing homework—they’re discovering who they are outside of class. Shared spaces and shared time give students daily opportunities to notice what they value, what challenges them, and where they shine.

Self-Management

Self-management takes shape as students learn to balance academics, independence, responsibilities, and relationships. Whether it’s sticking to a study schedule or navigating a tough conversation, students are constantly regulating their emotions and actions in real time. Dorm life provides a natural space to practice—and strengthen—these essential skills.

Social Awareness

Social awareness is built within a diverse and vibrant dorm community. At Oliverian, students live and grow alongside peers with different backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. Learning to empathize, understand, and appreciate these differences helps build deeper connections—and prepares students for life in a global world.

Relationship Skills

Relationship skills develop naturally through community living. Dorm life fosters authentic relationships that require communication, compromise, and care. Whether it’s resolving conflict with a roommate or offering support to a friend, students practice the relational tools that help turn a dorm into a second home.

Responsible Decision-Making

Responsible decision-making is something students practice every day. Dorm life offers endless opportunities to make choices—and learn from them. At Oliverian, we value productive mistakes and view them as part of the learning process. When a behavior affects others or the community, we respond with three steps: loss of privileges, restitution (making it right), and reflection. Most importantly, we partner with students as they figure out how to grow from the experience.

Intentional Activities That Support Growth

We also dedicate regular dorm time to intentional activities and discussions that support social-emotional learning, often through the lens of CASEL’s core competencies. These exercises are designed to help students explore their values, deepen self-understanding, and build meaningful connections with others.

One example is our Values Walk. Different parts of a room are labeled with signs like “Achievement,” “Connection,” “Creativity,” “Security,” “Adventure,” and more. Students walk to the value they most connect with, and then we reflect together. Questions like, “Why did you choose this value?” or “How does this show up in your daily life?” open the door to meaningful dialogue.

Another favorite activity is the Personality Playlist. Students create a short playlist of three to five songs that represent their personality, story, or emotions. They then share it with a partner or group and talk about what each song means to them. These conversations are often funny, sometimes emotional, and always deeply personal.

We also hold Community Meetings twice a week, where the whole school comes together to reflect and share. Each meeting begins with a moment of mindfulness to help clear the mind and foster presence. This is followed by a sharing component and time for personal reflections. After that, we move into announcements—and then the best part: appreciations. Over time, this practice becomes so routine that it naturally carries over into everyday life.

More Than a Place to Sleep

At Oliverian, CASEL isn’t just a framework—it’s part of how we live. Our dorms aren’t just places to sleep and study; they’re where students grow into themselves, supported by connection, structure, reflection, and plenty of room to be human.