Residential Life

Our new Campus Center and Residence Hall opened in October 2022. The new residential hall has 70 dorm rooms and 128 beds. The entire Residential Program lives in the new Hall along with faculty and staff apartments.

There is 10,000 square feet of student common space in the new building. The Campus Center has an assembly hall on the first floor that can seat the entire residential program or entire grades for assemblies and programs.

There are individual lounges by grade level on floors 2-5 that are geared toward cooperative learning and recreation.

The building houses a state-of-the-art Health Center, with individual patient rooms, bathrooms, and beds.

Each room is for two students. The rooms all come with two beds which can be bunked or not depending on the students' preference. There are two desks, two desk chairs, and each student will have a built-in closet and wardrobe, with a safe for valuables. Rooms all have central air and heat. Students' rooms all have stunning views of either The Chapel of our Lady on the east or the Bidwell Stadium to the west.

There are two communal bathrooms on each floor for the boys. Each has individual shower stalls with changing areas attached to each for privacy. The bathrooms have cubbies for shower caddies.

Weekends are usually an active time for the residential life program. Boarders are permitted to return home or spend the night with a guardian or friend. For students remaining on campus, there is plenty to do. Prep’s proximity to downtown Washington, D.C. offers students easy access to the attractions, sporting events, museums and sights in the nation’s capital.

There are also planned activities each weekend, which often include going out to breakfast, taking in a movie, running errands at Target or the grocery store, shopping at the mall, and playing laser tag. Every weekend, students can be found hanging out together on campus – relaxing in their hall lounge, working out in the weight room or organizing an impromptu game night.

The Health Office oversees the health and medical needs for all students. The Health Office is staffed by two experienced nurses, and a doctor visits bi-weekly. The nurse is always on call and, if necessary, the Residential Life staff will provide immediate transportation for the appropriate medical care.

Boarders should report promptly to the Health Office at 7:45 a.m. if they feel unwell during the school week. If a boarder feels ill after normal school hours, he should report immediately to a member of the Residential Life staff. A first aid supplies are located in the Residence Life Office. Dorm Parents are CPR, AED, and First Aid certified. When necessary, they provide support and triage and are in constant communication with the school nurse regarding any health issues. In case of a serious emergency, we have a certified EMT living in the dorms.

All prescription medications are stored and administered by the school nurse on a daily basis. In addition, the Residential Life Staff is trained to distribute medication at night.

All meals are served in the South Room in Boland Hall. The Residential Life Staff works closely with Prep’s dining services to provide wholesome and quality meals and to accommodate any boarder’s medical or religious needs. Boarders are permitted to order out, but this practice should not become too frequent a habit as it can become an excuse to avoid interacting with the community. If a boarder is unable to make dinner due to other commitments, the Residential Life Staff will save a meal for him. A snack is served every school night at 9:30 p.m.

There are high-efficiency washing machines and dryers in the dormitory. Students receive a tutorial about the logistics of laundry at the beginning of each year.

A dry cleaning service comes to campus two times/week to collect/drop off clothes, for which the boys can sign up.

Many boarders with local families and guardians choose to bring laundry home with them on the weekends.

Absolutely! Many of our students find the use of laptops and tablets invaluable. When you arrive at Prep, you will register your computer with our technology department. This registration will allow you to access the internet via our wireless network. Students are given a drive on the school’s network to which they may save their school work. Printing facilities are available in the library, during school, after school, and during study hall.

We expect each boarder to use his computer respectfully; this expectation includes the responsible use of technology. A student’s interest in social media should never trump his school work. A student’s enjoyment of internet gaming should never take precedence over his, or his roommate’s, sleep.

Prep’s teachers are extraordinarily dedicated to our students and often stay for several hours after school each day to provide academic assistance. After-school activities and sports do not begin until 3:45 p.m. to allow all students access to extra help.

Students are also welcome to take advantage of the tutoring center and writing lab on campus. The tutoring center works with students who may need or desire consistent, one-on-one work with a learning specialist. The writing lab is open three days a week, including Wednesday evenings during study hall for boarders.

We have 12 senior prefects, many of whom are members of the National Honor Society, who assist other guys during study hall.

The Residential Life Program has a designated full-time Academic Coordinator, who tracks student performance and, where necessary, acts as a liaison between students and teachers. Because a good number of our Dorm Parents are teachers themselves, they can provide homework support during the evening hours.

Mr. Joe Harkins '96,
DEAN of Residential Life

Mr. Harkins attended Georgetown Prep as a day student, graduating in 1996. He grew up in Potomac, Maryland, giving him a familiarity with the D.C. Metro area. After high school, he continued his Jesuit education at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland, studying English at both institutions. He played baseball in high school and college, and remains a diehard Washington Nationals fan. He enjoys reading, watching movies, cooking and spending time with his family. His wife Melissa is a senior dorm parent, and his daughter Abby, who has grown up amongst Prep’s Resident Program, seems to think that she has over 120 big brothers! Mr. Harkins has been working at Prep in the Residential Department since 2011.

Suggested Packing List

Wondering what to pack for your stay at Georgetown Prep? No worries, here's a list of some things we suggest you bring:

• Dress pants (3-5 pairs)
• Blue sport coat
• Solid-colored dress shirts (5-8)
• Assorted ties
• Leather dress shoes
• Belt
• Dress socks (10 pairs)
• Undershirts
• Socks
• Casual wear (jeans, shorts, t-shirts, etc)
• Athletic wear
• Polo shirt(s) for dinner and social activities
• Pajamas
• Winter clothes, including coat, hat, gloves, sweater, scarf
• Raincoat/umbrella
• Shower shoes
• Bath towels (1-2)
• Washcloths (2)
• Bathrobe
• Toiletry items
• Laundry bag/hamper
• Swimsuit
• Lightweight jacket
• Athletic shoes
• Snow/rain boots
• Bed sheets (twin size, normal length)
• Mattress cover
• Blankets or bed spread
• Alarm clock
• Lamp (especially for Boland residents)
• Coat hangers
• Flashlight
• Extension cord/power strip
• Pictures/decorations
• Small fan
• Sporting equipment/musical instrument

What Not to bring

• Refrigerator (seniors exempt)
• Television (seniors exempt)
• Computer monitor over 20"
• Game consoles
• Microwaves, hot pads, George Forman grills or similar appliances. Electric water kettles are OK.

Note: There are stores available very close to Prep to purchase any necessary supplies (Target, Best Buy, Costco, Dick's Sport Goods, etc.)

Here is the list as a PDF if you would like to print it.