SACO — When Kelli Corrigan, director of Residential Life and Dean of Residential Students at Thornton Academy, welcomed back boarding students from semester break, she found students were excited to return. One even exclaimed they were happy to “come back home.”

The 39 international high school students have settled in after beginning the program’s inaugural year in September.

In the dormitory are four faculty apartments that house dorm parents. There will be seven adults, seven children, and two dogs living in faculty apartments in the dormitory. Additional residential staff live in nearby apartments.

“It’s like a big, big family,” said Denitsa Atanasova, a 17-year-old junior from Malta. “It’s a home away from home.”

On a recent weekday afternoon, both young faculty children and boarding students hung out in common areas, playing video games and enjoying free time.

The students interviewed said they enjoy dorm life.

Chaoqiang “Tommy” Qi, of China, said that he enjoys living with his roommate, Lin Feng “Patrick” Zhu, also of China.

“Patrick is a good friend, and he’s funny,” said Qi.

The two boys showed off their tidy room during a tour. Students are subject to nightly room checks, and must keep their room clean. They take part in a rotating schedule for other chores in the building ”“ which aren’t so bad, said Zhiruo “Elaine” Hu, a freshman from China.

The students have done a good job at adjusting to community living, said Corrigan. She attended private boarding school herself, at Kent Hill School, and later worked there before coming to Thornton Academy. In all her years at boarding schools, she said, the students at Thornton Academy are among the top.

“They’re great kids,” she said.

Hu described Corrigan as “our boss as well as our mom.”

On a recent weekend, Corrigan picked Zhu up after a late night at the movies when he watched “Avatar” and “Sherlock Holmes.”

“Everyone treats us so nicely, just like our own parents treat us,” said Atanasova. When she told Corrigan that she would like to play softball, but needs someone to teach her, she was assured that it would all work out and a teacher would be found, she said.

A large number of local students are serving as student ambassadors, spending time with boarding students and tagging along on scheduled activities. Through this, “natural connections have occurred” between day and boarding students, said Corrigan.

Qi said that he has made a very good friend with one of the local student ambassadors and has enjoyed spending time with him and his family.

“He’s a really good guy,” he said.

The students said what they missed the most was their friends and family from home. They use Skype ”“ an online video phone service ”“ to communicate with their families and said they could not imagine being without their computers.

Some students miss the food from home, and Corrigan said the kitchen staff is working with students on how to prepare some of their traditional foods.

The students said they enjoyed the variety of classes at Thornton.

Atanasova said she liked dance class a lot, and she also liked marine science and physics.

“There are quite a few interesting classes,” she said.

Elaine said that her favorite classes are the English as a Second Language classes because she’s “learned a lot.”

Qi and Zhu said they liked advanced placement classes.

School work is a high priority, as is getting good grades. All students interviewed are preparing to go to American colleges.

Zhu said he is thinking about University of Pennsylvania or Duke University, and Atanasova said she wants to go to an Ivy League school.

“They study a great deal,” said Corrigan.

In their spare time, the boarding students do activities typical of teenagers ”“ watching movies, playing video games and foosball, reading and spending time with friends.

The students also take part in planned activities with residential staff, including a trip to Boston, various athletic events, rollerskating, shopping at the mall in Portland and snow tubing.

The weather in Maine has been an adjustment for many students.

“It’s freezing,” said Qi.

Hu said that when she saw the first few inches of snow, “I was so excited!”  However, the novelty wore off. “Now I hate it,” she said.

 Atanasova said it was particularly hard after coming back from winter break. She said in Malta the coldest it gets is about 55 degrees.

Zhu decided to try skiing for the first time and has joined the ski club. The first time was hard, he said, but it got easier.

“I love it,” he said.

The boarding program does not operate in the summer and during other breaks in the school year, students go back to their home country or stay with local host families. Zhu is planning on going on a student trip to Florida during an upcoming break.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.