We’re excited to share an important and energizing step forward in how we support our students—one that reflects our continued commitment to helping every young person thrive, both in school and beyond.
The updated space supports an even more integrated and holistic model of student support. This approach is designed to mirror the kinds of environments students will encounter in college and adult life—where self-awareness, independence, and the ability to seek support are essential skills.
What This Means for Students
At the heart of this transition is a simple goal: to give students more agency, more access, and more meaningful ways to regulate, connect, and grow.
Student support is now centered in a newly designed, collaborative space within the library. This serves as a welcoming hub where students can access a range of resources—whether they need a quiet place to reset, opportunities for movement in the gym, creative outlets like art, or simply a space to connect with peers and staff.
Student support is available throughout the day, with expanded afternoon access. Our support team operates on a staggered schedule between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., allowing for greater availability, including dedicated time after the academic day.
Because support will be available through the late afternoon—right up until dinner—students will also have more opportunities to engage in structured, supportive after-school activities, making this time of day more active, social, and connected.
Over time, this model will expand to include greater access to our recreation center as a flexible, student-driven resource. Students will be able to choose how and where they engage in support, building independence and self-regulation skills in a structured and supported way.
Why We’re Making This Change
The shift allows us to better support the whole student body by:
- Encouraging students to advocate for themselves and seek support proactively
- Expanding access to diverse tools for regulation—movement, creativity, social connection, and quiet reflection
- Creating a more collaborative and responsive support system among staff
- Providing more engaging after-school outlets, helping students stay active and connected through the end of the day
- Enhancing spaces on campus so they are more vibrant and widely used
- Aligning our approach with the real-world environments students will experience after Oliverian
What Will Stay the Same
Even as we evolve, the relationships and consistency our students rely on remain strong:
- Students continue to meet with their support staff regularly in crew
- Ongoing connection with counselors and support staff remain a core part of each student’s experience
What Will Feel New
Students are beginning to experience:
- More choice and flexibility in how they access support
- Opportunities to engage in sessions that include movement, creativity, and social interaction
- A more integrated approach that blends wellness, academics, and community
We are guiding students closely through this transition, ensuring they understand how to use these new spaces and systems with confidence.
Looking Ahead
This is an exciting step toward a more dynamic and student-centered model—one that not only supports students in the moment, but also helps them build lifelong skills in self-awareness, balance, and independence.
As always, our focus remains on creating an environment where students feel supported, empowered, and inspired every day.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more, we welcome your outreach and partnership. Contact Kenzie Keefe, Dean of Counseling.
Oliverian School sits in the space between traditional and therapeutic boarding schools. We offer strong academics with a high level of personalization—a college-prep curriculum that stays flexible, small classes built around how each student learns best, and real opportunities for students to rebuild confidence. At the same time, we provide meaningful support without feeling clinical. Students form close relationships with counselors, team leads, dorm parents, advisors, and teachers, and that support is part of everyday life, not something separate. Students have real independence and a voice in their experience, while still being held within a steady, supportive structure that helps them grow into responsibility. At the core of it all is a whole-person approach that values academics, creativity, social development, and emotional well-being equally.
