Williams. It’s a small school that has a big impact on your life.
It’s a challenge to describe what Williams is like because there is no such thing as a typical school day.
Your schedule is filled with so many different activities and every day is different. In the morning, you might be investigating the makeup of mystery solutions in chemistry and later, during “the Double,” you’re developing a roll of film in the darkroom. After lunch you’re practicing the “three Ps of puppetry” in acting class or walking with your Latin class to the nearby Lyman Allyn Art Museum to view pottery in an ancient art exhibit. It’s never routine.
There are no typical students at Williams either. You will undoubtedly meet biology buffs, poets or future mathematicians—just like you would at any other outstanding college prep school. But you’re also likely to bump into a competitive jump roper or the host of an internet radio show or a teacher who has just returned from a deep-sea research expedition in the Caribbean aboard the exploration vessel Nautilus. What is typical of the Williams experience is this: it has an important, positive—sometimes even life-changing—effect on the students who come here. One of our middle schoolers says it best: “It’s a small school that has a big impact on your life.”
Let us introduce you to Williams. Flip through these pages to see what you might find going on in our school on any given day.
7:45
Good morning!
Everybody is so welcoming.
Fifteen minutes before class starts, students are streaming into the building. Music plays over the loudspeaker in the halls before school, courtesy of Mr. Emanuel, music teacher. He chooses something different every day, often with a sense of humor (he’s been known to play “Help” by The Beatles during assessment week). It’s nice to catch up with friends for a few minutes each morning.
When you walk through the halls, everyone knows who you are.
SARAH, FRESHMAN
8:00 Period 1
8:10 U.S. History (Advanced) History doesn’t have to be your favorite subject in order to love this class. One moment, Mr. Knudsen may be lecturing about Andrew Jackson, and then before you know it, he has segued into a song and dance routine about the rise of the common man. These are history lessons you will never forget.
If you don’t take a Mr. Knudsen class, you haven’t experienced Williams!
CARLY, SENIOR
8:25 On the stairs to nowhere One of the senior privileges that students look forward to is being allowed to hang out with friends and talk during study hall. There are lots of comfortable spots to settle in for a conversation about the upcoming drama performance or the status of your college applications. These students are chatting in the hall on the stairs to nowhere and others are relaxing in the senior lounge, on a cozy window seat or in a favorite teacher’s classroom.
8:33 Up on the ceiling A few steps down the hall, Mr. Bowerman and his Art I students are installing a giant mobile made of oversized origami cranes that they created in the studio. Learning about the craft of origami is a great way to transition from practicing two-dimensional to three-dimensional art.
8:52
Period 2
I couldn’t see myself learning anything in a class with 40 kids. I came to Williams for the smaller class sizes and the attention that you get with that. JACK, SOPHOMORE
9:25 Differential calculus Most students would agree that calculus is a tough subject to tackle. But at Williams, calculus doesn’t carry the usual fear factor. The average class has only 13 students, giving faculty the time and flexibility to get to know how each student learns best, and vary the teaching approach accordingly. You’ll often see teachers walking around the room and working individually with each student.
9:25 Jazz Band The jazz band breaks into sections to rehearse the finer points of a jazz rendition of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” for the Winterfest holiday performance. Students of all grades can join the band—it’s one of the many Williams activities that give upper schoolers a chance to mentor the younger kids.
The holiday season starts at Winterfest with performances by the jazz band and band, the Candle Dancers, actors and soloists.
9:48 Assembly, Meetings and Clubs After second period, there is a break in the schedule for assemblies or advisor meetings. Twice a week there are school-wide assemblies. These are great opportunities for students to showcase their talent, for classes to demonstrate a new project, for an outside speaker to do a presentation—or just to get together as a school community and share thoughts and conversation. On Tuesdays, we meet with our advisory group. These groups are small—just eight to ten students—so that advisors can develop close relationships with each one. The goal is to make sure that every student feels that there is an adult who really knows her or him and is always there to help with any question or problem. Fridays are reserved for student government or special interest club meetings—like the Service Committee or the literary magazine, Bending Bridges.
10:00 Snack Whatever day of the week it is, fifteen minutes are always set aside for a delicious snack and some relaxed conversation. Wait until you taste the chocolate chip muffins!
10:15
Period 3/4 – Double period Mix it up, slow it down “The Double” occurs every day after snack. This extended period—a full 75 minutes—allows a class to explore a topic in depth, engage in a hands-on practical lesson or take a brief field trip out to the 200-acre Athletic Complex to explore the flora and fauna.
10:20 Chemistry Mrs. Thomas-Shapiro (a.k.a. Thom-Shap) believes that “real science is not sitting in a vacuum writing down a whole bunch of notes.” As often as she can, she designs her classes to be experiential: open-ended problems that are solved in a lab practical—the way it’s done in a professional research lab. This class is learning about ionic bonding through experimenting with a method called “continuous variation” that allows students to determine the ratio of two ions in a compound.
11:30
Period 5
11:49 English II (or Chaucer: The 14th Century’s best known sitcom writer) What does “The Miller’s Tale” from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales have in common with a TV comedy? A lot, it turns out: a beautiful young woman of loose morals, a clueless husband, a crazy scheme and a preposterous finale that makes fools of all the characters. Mr. Harris and his tenth grade students decipher the Middle English dialect to reveal the plot, and soon they are acting out the roles with gestures and funny voices. Hilarity all around.
12:10 College advising This senior dropped by the college counseling office for some last-minute feedback on one of her essays for a college application. You might be surprised to see her looking so happy and relaxed, but that’s because she’s confident and well prepared. After nearly three years of group seminars, advising meetings, dozens of information sessions offered on the Williams campus by a variety of colleges, and individual guidance on how to manage the process, she and her counselor have no doubt that she’ll find her way to a college or university that fits her perfectly.
COLLEGES ATTENDED BY RECENT WILLIAMS GRADS American University
Pomona College
Amherst College
Pratt Institute
Boston College
Providence College
Boston University
Rhode Island School of Design
Brown University
Saint Michael’s College
Bryant University
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Bryn Mawr College
Skidmore College
Champlain College
St. Lawrence University
Colby College
Stanford University
Columbia College Chicago
Trinity College
Connecticut College
Tufts University
Elon University
Tulane University
Emory University
Union College
Fairfield University
University of Connecticut
Goucher College
University of Michigan
Lafayette College
University of Pennsylvania
McGill University
University of Rhode Island
Middlebury College
University of St Andrews, Scotland
Mitchell College
University of Vermont
Mount Holyoke College
Vassar College
Muhlenberg College
Vanderbilt University
New York University
Wesleyan University
Northeastern University
Wheaton College
Northwestern University
Yale University
Williams students always end up somewhere where they’re really happy. The college counseling office does a great job of helping us figure out exactly where we want to go. And they’re always so available—you can make an appointment or just drop in whenever you want. SOTIRAQ, SENIOR
12:20
Period 6
Decompress and refuel: Lunch Lunchtime here isn’t just for eating—although the food is so good that some students say lunch is one of their favorite things about Williams. We schedule a full 45-minute lunch period to give kids a chance to catch their breath and enjoy their food. Spend the period hanging out with your friends in the Student Center, go outside on a nice day or head to the gym to burn off some energy. Teachers are almost always available for extra help during lunch if you find yourself with a question that just can’t wait. Middle school students have their lunch during fifth period.
Modern and classical languages We believe that a foundation in Latin gives students an advantage in speaking, reading and writing many modern languages— including English—expanding vocabulary and providing a thorough understanding of English grammar. That’s why we require all students to take first-year Latin. Students may choose to continue their study of classical languages with up to six years of Latin and Greek language and culture study. Or focus instead on a modern language. Whatever language you choose, the Williams curriculum offers courses through advanced levels.
12:52 Spanish I Mr. Cohen’s Spanish I class covers some vocabulary essentials—words for celebration, cake, candles, concert—that no one can do without!
1:12
Period 7
1:23 Beginning dance technique Bo Parish, dance teacher and choreographer, likes her students to call her Mz. Bo—that’s “Mz.” with a Z. She thinks the usual “Ms.” is too ordinary. That should give you a good sense of what her class is like—always fun, never dull. At the same time, Mz. Bo is known for setting extremely high standards. Students in the beginning class work hard to learn basic elements of modern dance, jazz and ballet. For serious dancers, there are three more advanced courses in the dance curriculum.
Comfortable— outside your comfort zone Williams offers a broad array of scholarly, artistic, athletic, leadership and civic opportunities for students to explore. The reason that so many Williams students dive into untried and unfamiliar activities is that their peers and teachers are so accepting and encouraging of their endeavors and passions. When you know that your friends and teachers will cheer you on as you delve into new territory—singing a folk song at Coffee House, going out for soccer for the first time as a junior or trying your hand at movie-making—it’s so much easier to take a risk that will help you learn about who you are and what you love. Or, as one teacher puts it: “The typical adolescent environment crushes uniqueness and is all about conformity. But at Williams, they have the freedom to pursue their own interests, to be themselves, in a way that’s celebrated.”
1:35 P hysical Science—
via satellite from under the waves
Not your typical eighth grade science class! Ms. Barth is teaching from the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Granada, about 1,750 nautical miles away, where she is exploring and mapping submarine volcanoes. She is aboard the exploration vessel Nautilus with a team of scientists and educators led by world-famous oceanographer Dr. Robert Ballard (probably best known for discovering the wreck of the Titanic). During her two weeks at sea, Ms. Barth checks in regularly with her students via satellite to report on her research and answer questions. Every year, one of our faculty members has the opportunity to be an “Educator at Sea” aboard the Nautilus.
2:01
Period 8
2:05 Middle School Enrichment Our middle schoolers are eager to go beyond their academic pursuits to discover a new passion or talent. That’s why we provide a broad array of enrichment courses. Every sixth, seventh and eighth grader rotates through a cycle of introductory arts and co-curricular offerings each year including visual art, music, drama, dance, citizenship, health and physical education and debate. It’s one of the ways we ensure that our students grow, stretch and try new things. Once they reach the upper school, they will be equipped to make informed choices about electives, sports and extracurricular activities.
Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of
CITIZENSHIP Mrs. Hannon wants her Citizenship class to “quote bomb” the school. Each student must find a quotation that is personally meaningful—
value.
here they pore over books of quotations for an
- Albert Einstein
The serious part is thinking about what inspires
idea—and then create a poster to illustrate it. them and why. The fun part is fanning out all over the school to hang the posters wherever they choose.
2:30 Time for college It is amazing having the resources of a world-class college just a short walk away. Williams is located on the Connecticut College campus, and the college generously allows us to use many of its facilities, including its pool, squash and tennis courts, library and arboretum. But even more remarkable, as a Williams student you can seek opportunities to take courses at the college. In recent years, students have taken dance, multi-variable calculus, advanced Spanish, advanced French and statistics at Connecticut College. Here, two students leave eighth period 15 minutes early to head up to their advanced dance class on the college campus.
2:50
Period 9
It’s optional, but almost everyone takes advantage of it. You can choose how you want to use it. It encourages you to be independent. It’s one of the most loved and distinctive features of the Williams program.
Ninth period. Classes are over each day at the end of period 8, but there is still one period left. Ninth period is built into the schedule so that you can catch up, get ahead or just have some quiet time to get organized. Teachers stay in their classrooms, so if you are having trouble with a new Latin declension or structuring a term paper, you don’t have to schedule a special appointment. If you know that your math homework is going to be really tough, you can get a good start on it in your teacher’s class during ninth period—and she’ll be there to help. Ninth period gives you extra time to develop relationships with teachers and to practice important skills you’ll need in college: selfadvocacy and seeking out faculty to ask for support.
Ninth period is fantastic. It’s time to sit in the library and do homework, or go to your teacher’s classroom to talk or get extra help. Or you can go to the school store to buy a snack or a drink and just hang with friends. JUSTIN, SOPHOMORE
3:30 After school The academic portion of the school day is now over! Time for sports practice, a drama or choral rehearsal or a club meeting.
3:45 Rehearsing A Midsummer Night’s Dream Every year, we stage at least two dramatic productions—a play in the fall and a musical in the spring. Students of all ages are invited to audition to act or join the pit band.
4:08 On the playing fields Just a mile away from school, the Williams Blues have sports practice for baseball, soccer, lacrosse and field hockey at our athletics complex, which also features miles of wooded trails where our award-winning cross-country athletes train. Every day after school, a bus takes our athletes to the complex. Back on campus, basketball players practice and compete in one of our two gymnasiums. Squash, tennis and swimming events take place at the facilities of Connecticut College, right up the hill from school. And our sailing team practices at the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club. The advantages of Williams’ small size benefit athletes on the playing fields just as much as students in the classroom. Coaches dedicate the time and attention it takes to develop each athlete to his or her full potential. With varsity, junior varsity and thirds teams, there’s a place in every sport for anyone who wants to participate— whether you’re a beginner or a talented competitor. And at Williams, no one gets stuck on the bench—every athlete competes!
Come visit! Come visit, chat with teachers and students and see what a typical day is like at Williams. We guarantee it won’t be just like the day we’ve described in these pages, because every day here is different. But we can assure you of this: you’ll leave here feeling excited about all the ways that Williams is a small school that has a big impact on your life.
Call or visit us online. for more information and to schedule a visit and tour call:
860.443.5333 www.williamsschool.org
COMPCHOREA This student-driven performance is one of our most beloved traditions. It’s a combination of original student choreography and original student compositions. Dancers and musicians begin working on their pieces in September
Beyond the everyday
for the annual late-winter
When you join the Williams community,
stuff—students take it very
you’ll find that school life extends way
seriously and the concert
beyond the regular school day. Nights,
never fails to showcase
weekends and other “off hours” are often
an impressive level of
filled with great activities too!
talent, hard work and
concert. This is not kid
professionalism.
COFFEE HOUSE On three Friday nights each year, the student Service Committee hosts a Coffee House to raise funds for the cause of their choice. Students of all ages volunteer to perform—sing, dance, comedy—anything they’ve longed to do in front of an enthusiastic audience of classmates, faculty and parents. Proceeds from recent Coffee Houses have gone to an effort to build the Ariang School in South Sudan, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Fund and victims of Hurricane Katrina.