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Guardianship Form and FAQ

The primary purpose of a boarding student guardian is to serve as an emergency point of contact within the continental United States in the case of an emergency where the student must leave campus. A parent or legal guardian of the student appoints a boarding student guardian to act on their behalf, ensuring that the student will have a safe place to stay temporarily if needed. In addition, boarding student guardians are encouraged to check in regularly with the student, providing any needed support. (Note: students over the age of 18 still require a boarding student guardian.)

International boarding students must have a guardian in order to be on campus. If you are having trouble securing a guardian, we recommend working with Student Health Advocates (SHA), a concierge service that helps link international boarding families with guardians in the US. Click here for more details.

Note that an educational consultant is not a child’s legal guardian in the sense of "parent or guardian."

Forms are due on August 1; students who do not have a completed form by Orientation will not be able to stay on campus.

FAQ About International Boarding Student Guardians

Why does GFS require guardians for international boarding students? Requiring a guardian for every boarding student whose home address is not in the continental United States is a way to ensure all students have someone with whom they can reside in the case of an emergency where they need to leave campus. It is a safeguard for students, to ensure they know where they will be going and with whom they will be staying if they need to leave campus; for families, who may not be able to easily travel to the US to pick up their child; and for the school, so that we are aware of your wishes for caring for your student in the case of an emergency.

What are the requirements for guardians? Boarding Student Guardians must be able to:

• Provide an immediate point of contact for parents, students, and school when needed.
• Provide transportation and/or housing within a 24 hour period of time.
• Attend a virtual guardianship orientation to meet the Office of Residential Life.
• Inform the School in writing about all details of suitable arrangements made prior to the student leaving school for a weekend or for a longer holiday period (ex, Thanksgiving break, Winter break, Spring break). The School must know the exact details of a student’s accommodation and methods of transportation.
• Act with delegated parental authority in the case of an emergency, crisis, or medical issue as well as other matters where delegation has been agreed by parents.
• Communicate with the Director of Residential Life on a regular basis regarding the welfare of the student when the student is with them.

They must also be:

• Over 25 years old.
• Able to get to the Garrison Forest School campus within 24 hours in the case of an emergency.
• Willing and able to provide temporary housing for this student in the case of an emergency.

The boarding student guardian may be:

• a professional educational guardian employed by the parent
• another family member who meets the requirements
• a friend of the family who meets the requirements

What if I can’t find a suitable guardian for my child? A guardian is required. If you’re having trouble finding someone, please reach out to the Director of Residential Life for guidance. You might also consider working with Student Health Advocates (SHA), a concierge service that helps link international boarding families with guardians in the US. SHA is not affiliated with Garrison Forest School; families who are considering working with SHA or have questions should contact them directly: https://studenthealthadvocates.com/. Families choosing to use this service are responsible for any fees.

What information about my child is released to the guardian by the school? Necessary health and wellness information, per permission between the School and the parent, will be released to the guardian.

How will I know if my child needs to be picked up by her guardian? The School will be in touch with the parent prior to reaching out to the guardian to arrange pick-up. If parents do not respond to the School within a reasonable time, the School will reach out to the guardians without parent conversation.

What interactions will the guardian have with my child? While the school requires a guardian for students who do not live in the United States, the relationship between the students and families and the guardian is up to them to define. Some families simply select someone who can provide a safe and reliable place to stay should their daughter need to leave campus in case of an emergency, while other families forge more substantial relationships with their guardian.

What if I need to change my child’s guardian in the middle of the school year? This is not a problem. We will need to go through the same process as when you selected your initial guardian. Please communicate with the Office of Residential Life and we can accommodate a change.

What if a boarding student needs to be picked up but the guardian cannot get to campus? The guardian should be in touch with the parents of the student as well as the Office of Residential Life to create a plan.

How often should guardians expect communications from the school or interactions with the student they are the guardian for? We will communicate with the guardian on all major school communications as well as necessary information as it pertains to the student.

What will it entail for guardians if their student needs to be picked up? The guardian will be in communication with the Office of Residential Life to arrange a plan for picking up the student from campus. The School will work with them on arrangements for transportation, timing and directions.