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Important Back-to-School Information We are looking forward to welcoming students to School this August! Take note of the following in preparation for the upcoming academic year. Please read carefully and note that a number of actions are required!
Reminder: COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
All students are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 in the fall. Families should make arrangements for students to complete a full course of vaccine (a second shot in the case of Pfizer or Moderna) at least two weeks prior to the student's return to campus or participation in any School-offered programs (such as pre-season athletic training). Proof of vaccination should be submitted with student health forms unless the vaccine was received on campus in the spring. Exceptions will be provided only for documented medical or religious reasons that are filed with the School in accordance with state requirements. Recent changes to CT law regarding religious exemptions are outlined here. For students unable to obtain a vaccine approved by the World Health Organization in their home country, Hotchkiss will provide access to the Pfizer vaccine in September. Students in need of vaccination should plan to arrive on campus on August 31 in order to quarantine for seven (7) days prior to the start of classes in accordance with current CDC recommendations for travel. If your student will require vaccination on campus, please contact Director of Health Services Danielle Shippey to reserve an appointment. |
 Move-in Dates and Times
Arrivals on campus will be staggered on the following dates. All students should arrive at the Mars Athletic Center (MAC) for registration according to their designated date and time (GPS address: 22 Lime Rock Road). STUDENT ACTION REQUIRED: Registering for an Arrival Slot
Each student must sign up for an arrival time slot via the 2021 Student Arrival Form. Please note that this form is only accessible to students as they will need to be signed into their Hotchkiss account to select a slot. Students should coordinate with their parent/guardian the date and time of their arrival. Students should make every effort to arrive on campus by the dates outlined above. If your arrival will occur beyond these timeframes, please contact Amber Jordan in the Deans' Office at (860) 435-3739. Sibling Students with Different Arrival DaysIf siblings are scheduled for different arrival days, they may both arrive on the day that works best for your family. Note that all new students should arrive on September 3. Please contact Amber Jordan at (860) 435-3739 to confirm the arrival date for your siblings. A Note about Dorm Move-InAfter students complete registration in the MAC, they will move into their rooms where they will have the opportunity to unpack, decorate, and start making it feel like home. Family members will be permitted in the dorms to help their student(s) get settled. Please note that if you are not vaccinated, you must remain masked when you are inside dorms and School buildings. (These are our current intentions, however note that protocols are subject to change.) Additional information about move-in day and new student orientation will be provided in August. |
 Required Summer ReadingPlease note that all students have required summer reading assignments. These must be completed before the start of the school year. Books by Class Level
Prep (9th Grade): Septembers of Shiraz (2007) by Dalia Sofer Lower Mid (10th Grade): Educated (2018) by Tara Westover Upper Mid (11th Grade): A Lesson Before Dying (1993) by Ernest Gaines Senior (12th Grade): The Things They Carried (1990) by Tim O'Brien All-School Reading Assignment (to be completed by all students):
This summer, we will read a selection of shared essays from Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Beyond this common set of excerpts, you will choose one of three strands for further reading within the book: field, woods, or water. Each set of essays corresponds to a natural space on our campus.
Details about the All-School reading assignment are outlined in this helpful study guide.
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Ordering 2021-22 Textbooks
Online book ordering will take place starting August 1. We will email you the necessary information regarding the ordering process at that time.
Roommate Assignments
These will be made available in August. Stay tuned for further information.
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 Laundry Options for 2021-22
There are laundry machines in the basements of Buehler, Dana, Edelman, Flinn, Garland, Memorial, Tinker, Watson, and Wieler dorms. The use of machines by students is free of charge, but students will need to provide their own laundry supplies (soap, dryer sheets, etc.).
An optional laundry and dry cleaning service, E&R (the Campus Laundry), is located in the basement of Tinker Hall. Check out TheCampusLaundry.com for further information. Please note there is a fee for this privately arranged service.
How to Ship Items to Campus
If you are shipping items or supplies to campus, please do not send packages until August 20. We accept packages sent via all common carriers--e.g., U.S. mail, UPS, FedEx, DHL.
Please send mail and packages to students (using their legal name if possible) at this address:
Student's Name (first and last)
The Hotchkiss School
11 Interlaken Road
Lakeville, CT 06039
Any shipped parcel or package will be available for student pick-up at the Hotchkiss Post Office during Orientation. Please note the School does not deliver packages directly to the dorm room.
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 Try-Outs for Varsity Athletic Teams
Students interested in trying out for a fall varsity team should contact the head coach via email.
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For Families New to Hotchkiss
New Student Hotchkiss Email Accounts Now Active
On July 6, Hotchkiss's Information Services Technology Department sent an email regarding the activation of new student Hotchkiss email/login accounts. These instructions were sent to both the student's personal email as well as at least one parent/guardian email.
New students should login as soon as possible as this is now the account the School will use to correspond with them moving forward.
Those with questions about their new account should contact Darren Visconti at (860) 435- 4487.
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Student Photo Reminder
If you have not already submitted a headshot photo of your student, please do so ASAP as we are currently in production of the 2021-22 Names & Faces student directory. In addition, this photo will be used to create your student's ID card. Photos should be sent directly to Associate Director of Communications Danielle Sinclair.
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Due July 15: Final Official Transcript
Your child's final official transcript must be sent to Hotchkiss by July 15 in order to be registered for courses in 2021-22. The official transcript must have a raised seal or school stamp.
Please send it to: The Admissions Office The Hotchkiss School 11 Interlaken Road Lakeville, CT 06039 or via email: [email protected] |
August Webinar: Getting Ready to Come to Hotchkiss
Details about this event will be sent soon!
New Family Webinar Replays Available
In case you were unable to join us, remember to watch the informational webcasts hosted for new families. They contain useful information for those joining the Hotchkiss community. Click here to watch these videos.
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 Upcoming Parent Events
"Welcome to Hotchkiss" Events
Please join us for one or more "Welcome to Hotchkiss" events for new and returning families! Visit the Parent Events webpage for more details, and to register.
Chicago: Wednesday, July 21
Greenwich: Tuesday, August 10
New York City: Monday, August 23
Findings from High-Achieving Schools Survey
In 2020 the School conducted a High-Achieving Schools Survey (HASS) in partnership with Authentic Connections. We will host a webinar for all families with Dr. Suniya Luthar, chief research officer of Authentic Connections, and will share the full results of the HASS survey with you. Dr. Luthar brings decades of experience researching adolescent well-being to her work.
Date: August 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Please look for more information coming soon.
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 Save the Date for Family Weekend 2021!
Family Weekend planning is well underway and we look forward to hosting an in-person event in October. A more detailed schedule will follow in August, but please mark your calendars to join us in Lakeville on Friday, October 15 and Saturday, October 16. A few important details to help you prepare:
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Appointments with Advisors and Teachers: We recognize that meetings with advisors and teachers are one of the most important parts of our program. It is likely that these will be conducted both in person and via Zoom, but we would greatly appreciate your input. Please click here to complete a brief survey to help us provide you with the best options for these meetings.
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October 14 Parent Reception: If your schedule permits, please join us for an early evening parent reception on Thursday, October 14. This event has no formal programming and is a great opportunity for parents and guardians to meet and engage with one another.
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COVID Protocols: We are fine-tuning our campus visitor policy and may have special protocols surrounding Family Weekend given the size of this event, depending on how the pandemic develops over the coming months. Unvaccinated visitors may have restrictions and additional safety protocols required of them.
If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Brown, director of events and special projects, at (860) 435-3188.
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