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 October 2021

Grades and Comments for Marking Period 1 are Now Available 

Click here to access your student's grades using the following instructions:

• Login into your account.
• Select “Classes & Reports” from the landing page or click the “Reports” tab.
• You will find a link to both the MP1 Grade Report and MP1 Comment Report.

Please note: Course comments in Marking Period 1 are entered only in certain cases, for example, students who have received an "incomplete" or a failing grade ("F"). Dorm comments are provided for preps and lower mids only.

As a reminder, your Veracross username is your email address. If you have forgotten your password, you can click the "Can't access your account?" link on the login page. Please contact Registrar Heather Mechare should you need further assistance.

This is our first grades release with Veracross. We expect it to be accurate and easy to use, but please do alert us if you encounter any issues!

Updated 2021-22 Travel Calendar

Click here for the updated 2021-22 travel calendar. Classes will take place throughout the December assessment period. Classes will conclude on Wednesday, Dec. 15. While students will not have major exams or equivalent projects, many classes will have assessments to conclude the semester. 

As a reminder, students should not depart campus before their last commitment. 

Thanksgiving Break Reminders

Thanksgiving Break is scheduled for November 19 – 29.

Next week, all boarding students will be asked to complete a form notifying the School of their departure and return schedules. Please encourage your student to fill out this form as soon as possible. If travel plans change after the form has been submitted, students should complete the form again, identifying it as an update to previously submitted plans. (Note: parents/guardians should NOT use the Absence Request Form via Veracross for this purpose.)

Transportation Information

Bus reservations are currently on sale through November 3 via the OneCard web portal. Click here for OneCard purchase instructions. See bus transportation schedule below for details.

Bus Departures from Campus on Nov. 19, 2021:

• Buses will arrive at the Main Circle 15 minutes ahead of scheduled departure time and will adhere to prompt departure schedules.
• There will be no returning bus from JFK or LGA airports.

Bus Returns to Campus on Nov. 29, 2021:

• Students may ride whichever Bradley bus fits their schedule (no need to purchase a specific time).
• There will be no returning buses from JFK or LGA airports.

Click here for additional transportation information and schedules. Transportation questions may be directed to Laurie Grusauski via email.

A Note about Unaccompanied Minors: If your student is not 16 years of age and is traveling by air, we suggest that you check with your travel agent before booking flights to see if any restrictions are in place with respect to underage children traveling alone. Some airlines have more restrictive policies than others and demand a higher level of services for unaccompanied minors. Please note that the School does not provide escort services to or from airports. If you need special services, please call one of our area car services to make arrangements. If you have questions about unaccompanied minors, please call Stephen McKibben P'22, dean of community life, at (860) 435-3631 or, after hours, the dean on duty at (860) 435-2591.

Family Weekend Recap

In case you were unable to join us for the virtual events this year, click below to access the replays. Please note, you will need your Parent Portal login credentials to access these recordings:

• College Office Panel Featuring Jeff Selingo

• Student Well-Being Webinar Featuring Dr. Suniya Luthar

And be sure to check out the Family Weekend 2021 photo album!

We thank all families who were able to travel to campus for this special event--it was great to see you on campus!

Upcoming Family Event

Virtual Global Families Forum

November 9, 2021

8 - 9 p.m. ET

Please join us for a chance to gather with parents and guardians from abroad, hear from School leaders, and learn more about the systems at Hotchkiss that support students. 

College Corner

Upper Mid Families: click here for standardized testing information.

Standardized Test Dates: Click here to access a list of 2021-22 dates.

AP Exam Registration: The deadline has been extended to November 1. Click here for more information and registration instructions.

Important Announcements

Reminder to Use the Absence Request Form

Parents/guardians are reminded to login and fill out an absence request form, located within Veracross, to request planned student absences from campus such as doctor's appointments or weekends at home. Forms must be completed by noon on the Thursday prior to departure. Questions may be directed to Amber Jordan in the Deans' Office.

A Message from the Mischianza (School Yearbook) for Families

Each senior receives a complimentary copy of the yearbook. Upper mids, lower mids, and preps may order their copies from Herff Jones. Senior portraits are due December 7. Ads are due January 7.

Details are available on the Mischianza webpage.

2021 "Hotchkiss in the World" Travel Programs Announced

We are cautiously optimistic that we can resume school-sponsored travel, and have planned a number of different programs for March Break and summer 2022. 

Please see below for more information, and remember that all travel depends on the state of the pandemic and guidance from organizations such as the CDC, State Department, our local health district, and International SOS. 

• The catalog of 2021-22 Travel Programs can be found on the applications website:
• Links to applications will be live in the next two weeks.
• Information about grants to support travel can be found on the site.
• The selection process is also described on the site.
• Students are encouraged to speak with their families about the programs they are interested in.
• Students should reach out to program leaders to let them know of their interest.
• The Travel Program section of the website has information on SYA, semester programs, gap years, and researching non-Hotchkiss summer travel programs.

Director of International Programs David Thompson is happy to speak with students and their families about the options available to Hotchkiss students for travel. Please use this link to find time on his calendar.

The Hotchkiss School | www.hotchkiss.org | (860) 435-2591

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