Living at school

We are a full boarding school. Every student lives on campus during term, in either the boys dormitory or the girls dormitory. Each dormitory has its own warden, its own routine and a roll call every night.

Full boardingNo day students

Two dormitoriesBoys and girls apart

Every nightRoll call by the warden

Joining in 2027

Applications are open for Senior 1, Senior 5 and transfer students.

A home for the term

Students live at school for the whole term and go home in the holidays. That means we are responsible for each student all day and all night, not only in class.

The boys and girls dormitories are separate buildings, well apart on the campus. Each has its own warden, who is with the students from the end of lessons until the next morning.

"When parents send their child to us, they trust us with that child for the whole term. We honour that trust every night."

The girls dormitory at St. Joseph of Nazareth High School

The two dormitories

Boys and girls live apart, each with their own warden.

Boys dormitory

Who lives here: all boys, Senior 1 to Senior 6
In charge: a male warden
Rooms: roomy, not crowded, every boy has his own bed
Where: away from the girls dormitory
Roll call: every night, reported to the administration

Girls dormitory

Who lives here: all girls, Senior 1 to Senior 6
In charge: a female warden who lives close by
Rooms: roomy, not crowded, every girl has her own bed
Where: away from the boys dormitory
Roll call: every night, reported to the administration

More about the dormitories

The warden is the adult in charge of every student in the dormitory from the end of lessons until the next morning.

What the warden does

Takes the roll call every evening
Keeps order in the dormitory outside class time
Wakes students and makes sure they are ready for assembly
Is the first person to call for any problem at night
Works with the school clinic when a student is unwell
Reports repairs and welfare concerns to the administration

The nightly roll call

When: every evening, after supper and before lights out
Who: the warden, in each dormitory
How: every name is called and every student is seen
Report: sent to the administration the same night
If someone is missing: the duty teacher and administration are told at once

1
Room to breatheRooms are not crowded. Crowded dormitories spoil sleep and spread illness, so we keep enough space for every student.
2
Your own bedEvery student has their own bed for the whole term. The school gives the bed. Students bring a mattress, bedding and a mosquito net.
3
Space for your thingsStudents have space to keep their belongings and food. They keep their bed area neat, which is part of learning to look after themselves.
4
WashingEach dormitory has washrooms. Students bring their own basin, bucket and soap. The warden checks that everyone is washed and neat before assembly.
5
Clean and repairedStudents share cleaning duties, checked by the warden. Broken beds, taps or lights are reported and fixed.
6
SafeBoth dormitories are inside the school fence, and staff are on duty at night. No visitors enter the dormitories, and boys and girls do not go into each other's dormitory.

1
Wake upStudents get up at a set time, wash, make their beds and dress. The warden makes sure the morning is calm and on time.
2
Breakfast and assemblyStudents go to the dining hall for breakfast and then to morning assembly, together, on time and in uniform.
3
AfternoonAfter lessons there is time for sport, clubs and rest. Students may go back to the dormitory to change. The warden is there through the afternoon and evening.
4
Evening prepEvery student does supervised private study in the evening: reading, homework and revision. This is for every class.
5
Roll call and lights outAfter prep the warden takes the roll call. Lights go out at a set time and the dormitory is quiet. No student leaves the dormitory after lights out without permission.

How do I know my child is safe at night?The warden takes a roll call every night and reports to the administration. If a student is not there, the administration is told straight away.
Are boys and girls kept apart?Yes. The dormitories are separate buildings, well apart, each with its own warden and its own washrooms. Students do not enter the other dormitory.
What does my child need for the dormitory?A mattress, bedding, a mosquito net, a basin, a bucket, a jerrycan, soap, toilet paper and a water bottle. See the full list in the joining instructions.
Can I visit my child in the dormitory?Parents do not go into the dormitories. Visits happen on visiting days in the places set aside for them. Ask the school for visiting dates.
What if my child is ill at night?The warden is the first to help. If a student needs medical care, they are taken to the school clinic.
My child has never boarded. Will they cope?Most Senior 1 students have never boarded before. The warden keeps a close eye on new students in their first weeks, and older students help them settle in.

Worried about your child? Contact the school yourself, not through other students. Email info@jonahs.ac.ug or call +256 788 262 797.

Places for 2027

Apply for Senior 1 or Senior 5, or come and see where your child will live.

Start an application Arrange a visit on WhatsApp