Dear Laker Families,

It is with a profound sense of responsibility that I introduce myself as the Director of Residential Life at Windermere Preparatory School. After ten years as part of the Laker family, most recently serving as Assistant High School Director, I am honored to begin this new chapter. During my time at Windermere Prep, I have come to appreciate the relationships, traditions, and shared sense of purpose that make this community so distinctive. I look forward to continuing that work alongside the Laker Family.

Residential Life, also known as our boarding program, occupies a unique place within the educational experience. It is not simply a place for students to reside; it is a living-learning community where some of the most formative aspects of adolescence unfold. Here, students develop independence, exercise sound judgment, navigate differences, cultivate meaningful relationships, and discover more about themselves and the world around them.

Our responsibility extends beyond providing a safe and comfortable environment. We have the opportunity to create a community where every student feels known, valued, challenged, and supported. Belonging is not simply given; it is built through respect, empathy, accountability, and a willingness to contribute to the lives of others.

Some of the most meaningful moments in a young person’s education occur beyond the classroom: a conversation over lunch, an evening activity, a challenge navigated with the support of a mentor, or a friendship formed across cultures. These experiences help students develop the character, confidence, resilience, and perspective necessary to navigate an increasingly complex world.

My vision for Residential Life is grounded in the belief that education is both intellectual and human. We will cultivate an environment that values academic achievement alongside character, leadership, cultural understanding, personal responsibility, and community. Through meaningful traditions, engaging programming, leadership opportunities, academic support, and intentional community-building, we will encourage students to grow beyond what is comfortable and become the people they aspire to be.

At the heart of this work is our international residential community. Our students bring cultures, languages, traditions, experiences, and perspectives from around the world. Their presence enriches Windermere Prep and challenges all of us to see the world through different lenses. In this sense, Veritas, Unitas, and Virtus are more than words; they are principles we strive to live each day. Truth encourages understanding. Unity reminds us that our differences can strengthen us. Virtue calls us to lead with integrity, courage, compassion, and purpose.

Every Laker has a role in creating this culture. Our residential students are an integral part of the Windermere Prep community, giving us an extraordinary opportunity to build a truly global community.

The world our students will inherit will demand more than knowledge. It will require curiosity, adaptability, empathy, resilience, and ethical leadership. Windermere Prep has the opportunity to prepare students not only to succeed in that world, but to contribute meaningfully to it.

As we continue to progress into this school year, I hope we are guided by a simple aspiration: Be better today, and create a better tomorrow. Achieving that requires all of us—students willing to grow, educators willing to inspire, and families willing to partner.

Thank you for welcoming me into this next chapter and for entrusting us with the privilege of supporting your students. Together, we can make Residential Life a place where students not only live, but belong, learn, lead, and become.

Humbly yours. 

Mr. Paul V. Villatico, M.Ed.

Director of Residential Life