182 Mohegan Avenue Ne w L ondon, CT 06320 860 443 5333 860 439 2796 fax w w w.w i l li amss cho ol.org
7:46 a.m.
“P eople here wel c omed me with open arms.” —Jillian McK ay ’08, up on moving to Williams from C hicago.
St i rr i n g St a rt t o th e D a y Time is a re mark ably ma l le abl e e xp e r i e nc e.
Yo u
B e l o n g
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W i l l ia m s
Wh e n y ou e nt e r ou r f ront d o or y ou c a n i m m e d i at e l y f e e l a c o l l e c t i v e , p o s it i v e e n e r g y a m on g t h e s t u d e nt s , f a c u lt y, a n d s t a f f . We w or k v e r y h a rd t o g e t t o k n ow a l l c h i l d re n a n d d e v e l op t h e m i nt o s u c c e s s f u l c o l l e g e s tu d e nt s , l i f e l on g l e a r n e r s , a n d s e l f - a d v o c at i n g y ou n g a du lt s . O u r a c a d e m i c pro g r a m i s t r a d it i on a l i n t h e s e n s e t h at a l l of ou r c ou r s e s a re c o l l e g e pre p a r at or y a n d w e re qu i re a l l of ou r s tu d e nt s t o t a k e at l e a s t on e y e a r of L at i n . Int e r t w i n e d t h rou g h out ou r c u r r i c u lu m i s a s t ron g e mp h a s i s on w r it i n g a n d s t u d y s k i l l s t h at bu i l d s a c h i l d’s f ou n d at i on f or s u c c e s s . We prov i d e a l e a r n i n g e x p e r i e n c e t h at i s appropr i at e f or e a c h s t a g e of a s t u d e nt’s a c a d e m i c a n d e m ot i on a l d e v e l opm e nt . O u r e x t r a c u r r i c u l a r opp or t u n it i e s i n at h l e t i c s a n d t h e a r t s prom ot e e x p l or at i on a n d g row t h . A l l of ou r f a m i l i e s a n d f a c u lt y e nj oy b e l on g i n g t o a c a r i n g a n d c om m it t e d c om mu n it y w h e re re s p on s i b l e a n d t h ou g ht f u l b e h av i or i s t h e s t a n d a rd . Te a c h e r s a re a d v i s or s , m e nt or s , a n d f r i e n d s t h at e n c ou r a g e ou r s tu d e nt s t o t a k e m e a n i n g f u l r i s k s i n a s a f e a n d s upp or t i v e e nv i ron m e nt . C om e s e e f or y ou r s e l f !
The first few moments of waking up can stretch languidly, but once the rush of morning preparations gets under way, the minutes fly by. Mornings at Williams mirror this crescendo of activity and the “soundtrack” to the burgeoning hustle and bustle is provided through the courtesy of music teacher Mr. Emanuel. He mark s t he op e n i ng moment s e a ch d ay as mor n ing DJ for stu d e nt s ar r iv ing at s cho ol, shar i ng d ivers e, but a lw ays e ne rg iz ing mus i c f rom cl ass i c ro ck to B e e t hove n . O n t he
— Mark Fader, Head of S chool
mor n ing of t he A P e x ams , he’s b e en k now n to encourage students with a little “Help” from the Beatles.
C l a s s R o tat i o n : R e c o g n i zing t hat no sing le t ime of d ay is t he i de a l p e a k for e ve r yone, Wi l l i ams’ d ai ly s che du le rot ates s o students me et e a ch cl ass at dif fe re nt t imes t h roug hout t he we ek.
W i l l i a m s W i d e C o m m u n i ty Each school morning, young eyes awaken around the state and focus on the road to New London. Students come from Rhode Island, the New Haven area, Hartford suburbs, Fishers Island and all points in between. Many car pool or take one of Williams’ bus lines.
8:00 a.m.
The c omplete C ourse C atal o g is avail able at www.williamsscho ol.org.
M i d d l e Sch o o l C u rr i c u l u m C ourses in grades seven and eight develop the
P e r io d
ONE
M i d d l e Sch o o l S n a p s h o t Stepping into a Middle S chool classroom, one can see the seed for all future learning at Williams. The seventh and eighth grade curriculum is based on a middle school philosophy responsive to the developmental needs and learning styles of younger students. Teachers engage students’ senses, relate lessons to real life, and spark imaginations to build skills and confidence and foster lifelong learners. In E i g ht h Gr a de Eng l ish cl ass , students put charac ters in t he L ord of the Flies on t r i a l, a c t ing as l aw ye rs and w it ne ss e s to e xplore i n dept h t he charac ter i z at ions, mot iv at ions, and plot of t he novel. L o c a l attor ne y s have e ve n help e d prep are t he cl ass es on l ega l pro ce e d ings and st rateg ies b eforehand. Stu d e nt s b e come p assionately investe d i n a de ep re adi ng of t he tex t to f ind nug get s t hat supp or t t he i r c as e s and disprove t he opp os it ion’s c ontent i ons . A S eventh Grade life science class may venture to the “Antientest C emeter y” in New London to take gravestone rubbings and collect data on lifespans. Back in class, students analyze the data to compare f indings based on gender and occupation, then compare the data to modern statistics. Local histor y, biolog y and statistics come together in fascinating discoveries with such a hands-on activity. Stu d e nts br ing t he ir b est r ig ht-brain and lef t-brain t h in k ing to b e ar for t he an nu a l Ma ch ine Ni g ht . E i g ht h g r a de rs de monst rate t heir ingenuit y and und erst and ing of ma ch ines, s cient if ic work, and me chanic a l a dvant age. T he y des i g n and c onst r uc t c omp ound ma ch ines to d et ai l t h re e to four of t he si x t yp e s of simpl e mach ines — le ver, pu l le y, i ncli ne d pl ane, s cre w, w he el, and a x le. The y may st ar t w it h s impl e ma chine s, but t heir f in ishe d pro duc ts are d elig ht f u l ly complic ate d cont rapt ions t hat wou l d ma ke Rub e G oldb erg proud, w it h pur p os es as v ar ie d as d eliver ing spr in k les to a c up c a ke and fe e d i ng a gol df ish.
cognitive and study skills that are the foundation of a successful star t in high school. Williams places an emphasis in the Middle S chool on the development of effective communication, writing skills, and analytic skills as it exposes students to a wide range of courses. In grade seven, students take English, American History, Math (Prealgebra), Life Science, French or Spanish (the first half of Level I), Physical Education, and Enrichment (Arts and Life Skills). In grade eight, students take English, Geography, Algebra I (students placed by the department), French or Spanish (the second half of level I), Physical Science, Latin I, and Enrichment (Physical Education, Arts, and Life Skills).
8:48 a.m.
“Our classes are lively, and sometimes even freewheeling. We share an enthusiasm and passion for our discipline that is clear to our students.” —Ms. Melissa Moss, chair of C l assics D epartment
P e r io d
T WO
S l i c e o f Upp e r Sch o o l We re c o g niz e t hat stu de nts’ ye ars at Wi l li ams are but a fe w steps in t he j our ne y of life. To get t he most out of t his t ime, we ke ep in mind t hat c ol lege prep arat ion is t he st ar t ing p oint ; Wi l li ams’ core va lue s are t he sig n p o sts; li felong le ar n ing , t he p at h ; and honorable, a c t ive cit iz ens, t he d est inat ion .
Th rou g h Wi l l i ams’ Upp er S cho ol prog ram, students fo c us on a t ra d it iona l c ur r ic u lum , en hance d
by te ch nol og y, w hich st re ss es t he c on ne c t ions among t he v ar ious subj e c t s. A h istor y te a cher d e e p e ns t he appre ci at ion of a d anc e cl ass t hat chore og raphe d a work ab out S oma li a by prov id ing t he ge op ol it ic a l conte xt ab out Af r i c a. L at i n te achers dovet ai l less ons w it h biolo g y col le agues to rei n forc e t he u nde rst anding of s c i ent if ic name ro ots and me an ings. A mat h te a cher and b as eb a l l co a ch g ives a p assi onate pre s e nt at ion on b as eb a l l and st at ist ic s to an Amer ic an h istor y cl ass.
Wi l l i ams g r a du ate s are wel l t aug ht, wel l in for me d, and re a dy for t he d emands of col lege and d ivers e cha l-
le nge s of l i fe. For e xampl e, ge omet r y cl ass es a l l prep are a for ma l res e arch p ap er on t he applic at ion of ge om et r y i n any one of a my r i a d of topic s f rom sp or ts , arch ite c ture and d esig n , ar t , nature, gemstones, teles cop es, d anc e, supp or t syste ms, and f rac t a ls . Many of t he subj e c t s involve l aw s of phy sics ( w h ich t hes e stud ent s have not ye t t a ke n) and stu de nt s must att ain a b as i c underst and ing of t hes e concept s. Stud ent s t hen pres ent an asp e c t of t he ir re s e arch, shar ing t heir k now le dge as s emi-ex p er t s in t heir f ield. S ome have e ven bui lt Me d ie v a l s i ege e ng i ne s k now n as t rebuchets to i l lust rate ge omet r i c concept s, d emonst rat ing t hem for cl assmates on t he C on ne c t i c ut C ol l e ge f iel ds .
Upp e r Sch o o l C u rr i c u l u m Students re a lize t heir p otent i a l at The Wi l li ams S cho ol. At it s mo st prag mat ic le vel, t he ai m of t he prog ram is to e quip stud ent s w it h t he sk i l ls ne cess ar y for success in col lege and i n l i fe. At it s most ide a list ic , t he aim is to fo ster intel le c tu a l c ur io sit y and t he love of le ar n ing . The c u r r i c u lu m put s its f ait h in t he c iv i li z ing ef fe c t s of t he human it ies and of t he ar t s and in t he p owe r of t he s c i e nt i f i c met ho d. Te achers put t heir fait h in t heir stud ent s and in t heir d is ciplines, b elie v i ng i n t he p ote n t i a l of t he students and in t he imp or t ance of t he subj e c t s t aug ht . D et ai le d cours e de s c r ipt i ons and c ur r i c u lum re quirement s are av ai l able at w w w. w i l li amss cho ol. org .
9:33 a.m.
“ The old story-tellers respect your intelligence, and they care enough about you to serve up stories in which things do not always go so well. You have a choice between the Hollywood version and the real thing.” —English teacher Mr. Dick White on the imp ortance of story telling
L i e u t e n a n t B e n n e tt C hr i s t m a n ’ 9 7 sp oke w it h stu d e nt s ab out t he Nav a l Ac a d emy and h is c u r re nt role as a nav a l of f icer on t he USS Spr i ng f i el d.
A s se m b ly
L e a r n i n g a s a C o m m u n i ty Wh e re c a n y ou s e e a n a lu m n a m a k e c on s t r u c t i on e qu ipm e nt d a n c e a b a l l e t ?
He note d how h is ex p er ienc e u nd e rs c ore s Wi l li ams’ chara c ter ist ic enc ou r age me nt for young p e ople to ex plore t he i r ow n p at h .
A l o c a l a r t i s t br i n g s h a d ow s t o l i f e a n d ot h e r pupp e t w i z a rd r y ? A r a b bi t a l k a b out i s s u e s of t o l e r a n c e a n d re s p e c t ? Stu d e nt s pre s e nt a h i l a r i ou s m o d e r n i z at i on of t h e G re e k p l ay Me d e a ? C o l l e g e s tu d e nt s h a r m on i z e a c app e l l a ? Wi l l i a m s a s s e m b l y of c ou r s e ! At l e a s t t w i c e w e e k l y, a l l s tu d e nt s a n d f a c u lt y m e e t i n t h e D a re n Pe r f or m i n g A r t s C e nt e r. T h e t opi c s a re a s v a r i e d a s t h o s e l i s t e d a b ov e , a n d t h e n s om e . As s e m b l y i s a k i n t o a n o l d - s t y l e v a r i e t y s h ow. O n e n e v e r k n ow s w h at t o e x p e c t , but it i s a l w ay s t h r i l l i n g , e n l i g ht e n i n g , or m ov i n g , s om e t i m e s a l l t h re e . A lu m n i re tu r n t o t a l k a b out t h e i r p o s t - Wi l l i a m s e x p e r i e n c e s ; s t u d e nt s , t e a c h e r s a n d p a re nt s s h a re t a l e nt s ; a n d t h e He a d of S c h o o l s p e a k s d i re c t l y w it h t h e s t u d e nt s . It i s t h e i d e a l f or u m f or s tu d e nt a n n ou n c e m e nt s re g a rd i n g d a n c e s a n d c lu b s , d r u m m i n g up f a n s upp or t f or s p or t s t e a m s , a n d h on or i n g t h e a c c omp l i s h m e nt s of f e l l ow s t u d e nt s . Ass e mbly is an e ss e nt i a l p ar t of t he Wi l li ams exp er ience. We t a ke t h is t ime to bu i l d c ommunit y, to fo c us on ach i e v i ng exc el lenc e of ef for t , to t a l k ab out bui l d i ng char a c te r, to dis c uss v a lues and to pres ent b a l ance d lives. Ass embly is an i mp or t ant p ar t of ma k ing s cho ol an engag ing , st i mu l at ing ex p er ience.
A s s e m b l y tr a d i t i o n s j
S en ior Ha l lowe en C o stume Par a de
j
Spir it We ek C ontest s
j
Honor ing Veterans D ay
j
Mar t in Lut her King Jr. C el ebr at i on
j
Holo c aust R emembrance
j
Holid ay sing-a -long
j
S en iors G o o dbye ass embly
10:14 a.m.
“When I went off to c ollege the foll owing year, I watched other freshmen struggle to adap t. With the preparation I had received at Williams, I fell into my new role very easily.” —Jennifer Dauster-Bevac qua ’89
A dv i si n g
Gr o u p s
Stu d e nt s have a te am of e duc at i ona l profess i ona ls at t he re a dy to help in t heir cours e pl an n ing , i nclu d i ng de p ar t me nt chairs , t he Ass ist ant He ad of S cho ol, col lege couns elors, and ind iv idu a l f ac u lt y a dv is ors. E a ch student is matche d w it h an adv is or w ho overs e es h is or her a c a d em ic life at s cho ol, c ommunic ate s ab out problems and suc c ess es , and st ay s in cont a c t w it h p arent s. Adv is or g roup s me et we ek ly to dis c uss s cho ol life, world e vents , or just to chat .
C o l l e g e
C o u n se l i n g
Wi l l i ams c ol l e ge cou ns el ors and te achers shepherd student s and p arent s t h roug h t he col lege s e arch
Adv is or g roup s s e g u e i nto
pro c e ss by fo c using on a sup erb prep arat ion for any c ol le ge ex p er ience and f ind ing t he b est col lege
a cher ishe d, d ai ly t r a di -
f it for i nd iv idu a l stude nts. St and ardize d tests have t heir pl a ce in t he s ele c t ion pro cess, but col leges
t ion at Wi l l i ams — s na ck .
g ive more we ig ht to t he e f for t ref le c te d i n t h re e and a ha lf ye ars’ wor t h of work comp are d w it h t he
D is c ussi ons b e g u n i n t he
t hre e and a ha l f hours of a st and ardi ze d test.
a dv is or g roup s , or sp arke d
at ass embly, of te n c ont i nu e
The Wi l l i ams e mphasis on intens ive re ading and w r it ing prep ares stud ent s for col lege
t hrou g hout a l l g r a de s. The Midd le S cho ol prog ram bui lds go o d study habit s and hones sp e cif ic
over a m i d- mor n i ng
abi l it i e s, such as answe r ing ess ay quest i ons and study ing for comprehensive ex ams. In Upp er
b agel ( or t he o c c as i ona l
S cho ol, Wi l l i ams te a che rs work w it h students to f ind t he cours es t hat w i l l cha l lenge t heir
cin namon bu n ) .
abi l it i e s, af ford t he m t he chanc e to sh i ne, and bui ld a c onsistent a c a d em ic p or t folio. L i ke w is e, t hrou g h Wi l l i ams’ w ide ar ray of ar ts , at h let ic s and ext rac ur r ic u l ar of fer ings, stud ent s c an ex plore t he i r i nte rests, l e ar n go o d t i me management sk i l ls , and demonst rate t he ent husi ast ic p assion and long - te r m commit me nt t hat c ol leges s e ek.
C o l l e g e M a tr i c u l a t i o n As a college preparator y school, Williams has a long histor y of successful college placement. The following is a sampling of colleges attended by recent Williams graduates. The complete list is available at w w w.williamsschool.org. Ame r ic an Un ive rs it y Am he rst C ol l e ge B ate s C ol l e ge B oston C ol l e ge ( 3 ) B oston Un ive rs it y ( 6 ) Brow n Un ive rs it y ( 2 ) Br y ant Un ive rs it y ( 2 ) Br y n Maw r C ol l e ge Bu ck nel l Un ive rs it y ( 3 ) C ar ne g ie Mel l on Un ive rs it y C hampl ai n C ol l e ge ( 5 ) C olu mbi a C ol l e ge ( 2 ) C olu mbi a Un ive rs it y ( 2 ) C on ne c t ic ut C ol l e ge ( 4 ) C or nel l Un ive rs it y D ar t mout h C ol l e ge ( 3 ) D i ck ins on C ol l e ge E me rs on C ol l e ge Eu ge ne L ang C ol l e ge T he Ne w S cho ol for L ib e r a l Ar t s Fai r f i el d Un ive rs it y ( 4 ) Fr an k l i n and Marsha l l C ol l e ge ( 3 ) G e orge Mas on Un ive rs it y G ouche r C ol l e ge Ham i lton C ol l e ge - N Y ( 2 ) Har v ard Un ive rs it y Have r ford C ol l e ge Hob ar t and Wi l l i am Sm it h C ol l e ge s Hof st r a Un ive rs it y ( 4 ) Hu nte r C ol l e ge of t he C UNY It hac a C ol l e ge
L af aye tte C ol le ge (3) L as el l C ol l e ge (4) L e sl e y Un ive rs it y L oyol a Un ive rs it y C hi c ago L oyol a Un ive rs it y Mar y l and (2) L oyol a Un ive rs it y Ne w Orle ans (4) Mi d d l ebu r y C ol le ge (2 ) Mou nt Holyoke C ol le ge (3 ) Mu h l e nb e rg C ol le ge (3 ) Ne w York Un ive rs it y (8) Nor t h Park Un ive rs it y Nor t he aste r n Un ive rs it y Nor t hwe ster n Un ive rs it y O b e rl i n C ol le ge (3 ) Prov i d e nc e C ol le ge Q u i n n ipi a c Un ive rs it y (2 ) R e nss el ae r Poly te chn i c Inst itute (3 ) R i c e Un ive rs it y R o ge r Wi l l i ams Un ive rs it y S ai nt Ans elm C ol le ge S ai nt Mi cha els C ol le ge S ar a h L aw re nc e C ol le ge S cho ol of Visu a l Ar ts Sk i d more C ol le ge (2) Sm it h C ol l e ge (2) S out he r n C on ne c t i c ut St ate Un ive rs it y (2 ) St . L aw re nce Un ive rs it y (6 ) St an ford Un ive rs it y Ste t s on Un ive rs it y (2 ) Su f fol k Un ive rs it y T he C at hol i c Un ive rs it y of Ame r i c a (3 )
T he G e orge Washi ng ton Universit y (4) The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill T he Un ive rs it y of Te xas , Aust in Tis ch S cho ol of t he Ar ts Tu f ts Un ive rs it y (3 ) Tu l ane Un ive rs it y (2) Un i on C ol le ge (2 ) Un ite d St ate s C o ast Gu ard Ac ad emy Un ite d St ate s Me rchant Mar ine Ac ad emy Un ite d St ate s Mi lit ar y Ac ad emy Un ive rs it y of Ab e rde e n Un ive rs it y of C on ne c t i c ut (4) Un ive rs it y of C on ne c t i c ut at Aver y Point (3) Un ive rs it y of E di nbu rg h (3) Un ive rs it y of Mar y l and, C ol l ege Park (2) Un ive rs it y of Mi am i Un ive rs it y of Mi chi g an Un ive rs it y of Ne w Hamp shire (2) Un ive rs it y of Pe n ns y lvan i a (2) Un ive rs it y of R ho de Isl and (3) Un ive rs it y of R i chmond (3) Un ive rs it y of R o che ste r Un ive rs it y of St. Andre ws ( S cot l and ) Un ive rs it y of Ve r mont (5 ) Urs i nus C ol le ge (2 ) Vass ar C ol le ge (4 ) Vi l l anova Un ive rs it y (2) Webb Inst itute We st Vi rg i n i a Un ive rs it y (2) Whe aton C ol le ge Wi l li ams C ol le ge
A br i e f l ist of not abl e a lumn i i ncludes : Anton i a v an der Me er ’7 5 , e d itor-in -ch ief of Mo d er n Br id e; Ste ven Trask ’8 4 , aw ard- w i n n i ng comp o s e r and ly r icist; Aaron Mc Br ide ’92, Hol ly wo o d ar t d ire c tor ; Jess e Metc a lfe ’9 6 , a c tor ; and C assie Ventura ’0 4 , s i nge r.
10:33 a.m.
Every so often, you might see a l o cker or t wo c overed in wrapping paper. This usually means that it’s the l o cker owner’s birthday.
T h e
D o u b l e
“ The Double” caps off each morning with a two-period class that allows teachers the extra time needed for certain in-depth, hands-on projects, labs and off-campus explorations such as the science depar tment’s research at Oxoboxo Brook. For several years, the environmental science class has used the Double to conduct fall and spring f ield assignments at Oxoboxo Brook. Sponsored by the C onnecticut Department of Environmental Protection’s Project SEARCH, Williams students collect data on water chemistr y, assess the overall habitat, and measure the creek’s f low rate. The intrepid biologists-in-training send this data to the DEP for compilation and analysis. At a recent C onnecticut Water Quality C ongress, students even presented their f indings, which compared several years’ data on habitat and water quality at an industrially impacted vs. a pristine site on the brook. O t he r te a che rs us e t he t i me to c apit a lize on C on ne c t ic ut C ol lege’s c ampus, t a k ing t he shor t wa l k to t he C onne c t ic ut C ol lege Arb oretum for hands -on ex plorat ion and d is cover y l ab s. Biolo g y cl ass e s ob s er ve and e xamine t he ef fe c t of human inter vent ion in an env iron ment by comp ar ing t he d i f fe re nc e s in t he te nde d garden s e c t i ons v s . t he w i lder are as of t he Arb oretum . Mid d le S cho ol li fe s c i e nc e stu de nts map out t he lo c at ions of a v ar i et y of pl ant life around t he Arb oretum Pond and hy p ot he siz e ab out t he pl ants’ env i ron ment a l ne e ds b as e d on t heir ob s er v at ions. D rama cl ass es rehe ars e and p e r for m ancient Gre ek pl ays agai nst t he stu n n ing natura l b a ckd rop. Stud io ar t cl ass es us e t he c ampus’ b e aut y for p ai nt i ng en plei n ai r.
The D oubl e a ls o g ive s t i me for sp e c i a l cl ass e vents , such as l angu age lunches w here stud ent s
pre p are d ishe s f rom t he count r ies studi e d in French , Sp an ish , or L at in cl ass and t hen enj oy t he me a l w it h d is c ussion in t he l angu age of study.
“ The best part ab ou t Williams l o ckers is that there are no l o cks. You d on’t need to waste time fiddling with a c ombination when you should be on your way to cl ass or lunch.” —K ate Hangac ’07
11:52 a.m.
Wi l l ia m s s t u d e n t s hav e ac c e s s t o t wo c o m p u t e r l a b s , t wo S m a rt R o o m s , c o m p u t e r wo rk s tat i o n s i n t h e S c h o o l L i b r a ry, C o n n e c t i c u t C o l l e g e ’ s l i b r a ry, a n d a D i g i ta l i m ag i n g s t u d i o.
Williams Sch o o l H i s t o ry The s cho ol op e ne d in 18 9 1 as Wi l l i ams Me mor i a l Inst itute, w hich re mains t he l e g a l name of t he s cho ol. Pr ivately e ndowe d by a b e qu e st of re a l e st ate and p e rs ona l prop e r t y f rom t he e st ate of Har r ie t Pe ck Wi l l i ams as a me mo r i a l to he r s on, Thomas W. Wi l l i ams, t he s cho ol s er ve d as t he hig h s cho ol for g i rls of Ne w L ondon. Wit h t he op e ning of Ne w L ond on Hi g h S cho ol in 1 9 5 1 , t he s cho ol e nrol l me nt d e cre as e d, and t he pro g r am b e c ame c ol l e ge pre p ar ator y rat he r t han comprehe nsive and, i n 1 9 54 , t he s cho ol move d to its pre s e nt l o c a t i on on t he C onne c t ic ut C ol l e ge c ampus. A midd l e s cho ol w as a dde d in 19 5 5 . In 1 9 7 1 , t he s cho ol b e c ame co e du c at i ona l. Stu de nts now c ome f rom approximately 4 5 c ommunit ie s to atte nd Wi l li ams.
P e r io d
F I V E
Gr o u n d e d i n T r a d i t i o n / F o c u s e d o n th e F u t u r e Si nce t he s cho ol’s found ing in 1 8 9 1 , Wi l li ams has a lw ay s b e en for w ard t h i n k i ng . Har r iet Pe ck Wi l li ams’ v ision to prov id e g irls w it h a cl assic a l e du c at i on , p ar t ic u l arly in mat h and s cience, w as quite pro g ressive and unusu a l at t he t i me. T he s cho ol is now co -e d and ut i liz es computers and w h iteb o ards r at he r t han ab a c us es and cha l k, but st i l l embra ces a g round ing in t he cl assi c s .
To ols such as Smar t R o oms en hance te a chers’ te ch n iques. Subj e c t maste r y
and bui ld ing f rom b asics are st i l l ke y. For ex ample, in t he Smar t R o om , a Mid d le S cho ol E ng lish less on re v ie w ing p ar t s of sp e e ch b e come s an i nte r a c t ive, mu lt is ens or y ex p er ience. C l ass w r it ing assig n ment s c an b e share d among t he ro om’s computer workst at ions for p e er re v ie w w it h e d it s ex am i ne d i n re a l - t i me. T he Mat h Smar t R o om a d ds anot her d imension to ge omet r y less ons and br i ng s st at ist ics ex plorat ion to life using g raph ing c a lc u l ators. St ate-of t he ar t e qu ipme nt i n t he s cience cl assro oms a l low s stud ent s to conduc t s afe, cont rol l e d e x p e r i me nt s . T he Phy sics l ab fe atures a susp end e d t r uss c ap able of b e ar ing t he we i g ht of a s ma l l c ar, w h ich enables a w id e range of ex p er iment s and l ab s. Stud ent s are wel l t raine d in on line res e arch . Wi l li ams In for mat i on Te ch nolo g y st af f works w it h te a chers, p arent s and stud ent s to ke e p t he Inte r ne t a us ef u l and s afe to ol.
12:37 p.m.
“D iversit y Day shows that we’re not just the scho ol up on the hill. We care ab ou t our c ommunit y.” —David M artineau ’06 quoted in the New L ond on Times
P e r io d
Si x
/
L u n ch
h u n d r e d s o f h o m e t o w n s , o n e c o m m u n i ty Wi l l i ams stu de nts come f rom dozens of c ommun it ies around C on ne c t ic ut , Ne w York and R ho d e Isl and. Wi l l i ams’ commit ment to divers it y is a ke y asp e c t of our st rengt h as a com mun it y. As C on ne c t i c ut C ol l e ge profess or Sandy Grande expl aine d at a Wi l li ams D iversit y D ay pro g ram , c u ltu r a l i ntel l ige nce, i.e. underst andi ng of divers e p e ople and w ay s of liv ing , is v it a l ly imp or t ant in our g l ob a l busine ss cl imate. Our mix of Middle S chool and Upper S chool students is also a strength. S eventh and eighth graders build confidence learning the ropes f rom older students in arts, athletics, and ser vice activities. Williams assemblies are a safe haven where a seventh grader can speak in front of the whole school and be assured of a respectful audience. C onsequently, some of Williams’ most effective community ser vice leaders have come f rom the Middle S chool ranks. Upper S choolers likewise benefit f rom the opportunities to mentor and f ind that there is no better way to learn than by teaching.
Fa c u lt y me mb e rs are a ls o le ar ners w ho br ing to t he pro g ram ef fe c t ive p e d ago g y and s chol ar-
sh ip w h i l e mo del ing a l ifelong love of le ar n ing . Wi l li ams fa c u lt y a c t ively s e ek d ivers e ex p er iences to ex p and t he ir inte re sts and re charge t hei r le ar n ing b atter i es. Te a chers av ai l t hems elves of Wi l li ams Stu dy Gr ants to pu rsu e cross -dis c ipline studies or hone k now le d ge of a hobby, such as a music te a che r re s e arching t he histor y of t he s cho ol founder’s f am i ly, a mat h te a cher study ing Sp an ish in an i m me rsion l ang u age prog ram i n C ost a R i c a, a d anc e te a cher pursuing arch iv a l stud ies at t he Nat i ona l Archive s, and a chemist r y te acher attending a le a d ersh ip and w i ld er ness sur v iv a l pro g ram .
D i v e r s i ty D a y E a ch ye ar, Wi l l i ams stud ent s work w it h f a c u lt y to pro du c e D ive rs it y D ay. The mass ive u nde r t a k i ng br ings gu e st sp e a ke rs and com mun it y l e a de rs to s cho ol to share e xp e r i ences of c u ltu r a l di f fe rences, rel i g i ous f re e d om or oppression , r a c e rel at i ons , and s ex u a l or i e nt at i on issues. Wi l l i ams f am i l i e s are of ten e n l iste d to share c uisine re pre s e nt i ng t he d ivers e e t h n i c it i e s pre s e nt at s cho ol. Stu d e nt s and fa c u lt ies have ar r ange d workshop s on topi c s as far-rang i ng as c omp ar at ive relig ions , r a c i a l prof i l i ng , Isra eli and Af r i c an fol k d ance, and su m i - br ush p aint ing . Ke y note sp e a ke rs have inclu de d a Hol o c aust sur v ivor and note d e xp e r t s on mu lt i c u ltu r a l issu e s .
1:22 p.m.
Arts facilities include the Daren Performing Arts Center, Drama Studio, Sound Studio, Digital Imaging Studio, and two studio art rooms.
P e rf o r m a n c e o pp o rt u n i t i e s Ar t is not pro du ce d in a vac uu m ; audie nce s are a ke y c omp one nt of t he pro c e ss. Ac cording ly, Wi l l i ams a c tors, d ance rs, s i nge rs, and musici ans f re qu e nt ly have opp or tu nit i es to pre s e nt mate r i a l to t he i r p are nts, p e e rs and com mu n it y t hroug hout t he s cho ol ye ar, including : j
Fa l l Pl ay
j
Spr i ng Music a l
j
C omp chore a
j
Wi nte r fe st
j
Spr i ng C once r t
j
Stu d e nt Fi l m Fe st iva l
j
E nv i ro (Site - sp e cif ic D anc e )
j
Lu nch Ti me The at re
j
D anc e Ass e mbl ie s
j
The spi an Ass e mbl ie s
j
Si ng i ng Ass e mbl ie s
j
Musi c C omp o sit ion Ass e mbl ie s
P e r io d
Sev e n
St e pp i n g O u t o f th e R o u t i n e Whet her d anc ing b efore t he b an k of m ir rors, pra c t icing fencing te ch n i que in Adv ance d Ac t ing , or c aptur ing t he Ly man A l ly n Mus eum f aç ade on c anv as, t he Wi l li ams ar t cl ass es move students , b ot h b o dy and s ou l.
Wi l li ams Ar ts are t he “not -s o -com mon” com mon g round
for a l l man ner of stud ent s— a c a d em ics, at h letes, ar t ist s, t he out going , t he shy, t he a c t ive and t he quiet — w ho m ig ht not ot her w is e f i nd t hems elves work ing to get her. O f ten , w hen students explore an ar t ist ic end e avor, t he y f in ish t he pro cess w it h a dif ferent lo ok in t heir e yes, a st ronger phy sic a l c ar r i age, an op en ness , a s ens e of s elf, and a b elong ing , w h ich may not have b e en t here b efore. The y b eg in to sh ine. At Williams, students have safe opportunities to take artistic risks on various personal, academic, and performance levels. Students dancing, acting, singing, playing an instrument, or exhibiting art work in a public forum are showcasing some level of personal expression and this is always an uncharted risk. Physically, emotionally, and intellectually, students in the arts make connections and build confidence. Whether it be performing an interpretive and symbolic dance about the women of S omalia, researching, writing and performing a theatre piece on Women on the Home Front in WWII, bringing dramatic meaning to the nonsense language of the poem “Jabber wocky,” setting a L angston Hughes poem to music, presenting songs within the Martin Luther King, Jr. and Holocaust Remembrance assemblies, or creating artwork that makes a statement on current events in US politics, connections are made across the disciplines and presented in various performances and exhibits.
2:07 p.m.
“ The roads will always be here, but I will only be a sophomore learning in France once.” —M aggie G oldberg ’08
St u d y Abr o a d Program Wi l l i a m s h a s a l o n g histor y of international education exchange. Wo r k i n g w i t h t h e American Field Ser vice ( A F S ) , Wi l l i a m s h a s h o s t e d s tu d e nt s f rom c ou nt r i e s a rou n d t h e w or l d a n d h a s h e lp e d ou r s t u d e n t s s t u d y a b r o a d . Wi l l i a m s faculty works closely with students to navigate the application process and prepare for international s t u d y. Mo s t i m p o r t a n t l y, t e a c h e r s o p e n s t u d e n t s’ eyes to the possibilities.
P e r io d
E i g ht
D i s t i n ct i v e l y W i l l i a m s
E ach ye ar, approxi mately 5 0 Wi l li ams stud ent s s core h ig h ly enoug h on t he Nat iona l L at i n E x am to e ar n an aw ard f rom The Amer ic an C l assic a l L e ague. A numb er of stud ent s f rom e a ch s e n i or cl ass rout inely e ar n eit her S em i-f ina list or C om mend e d honors f rom t he Nat iona l Mer it S chol arsh ip prog ram. Such resu lt s b e ar out t he success of Wi l li ams’ cl assic a l c ur r ic u lum . Tr ue to ou r fou nd e r, howe ver, we do not rest on t ra d it ion a lone. Wi l li ams fe atures d ist inc t ive pro g rams to e n hanc e t he cl ass ic a l mo del.
S e n i o r P r o j e ct s T he c apstone of a Wi l li ams e duc at ion , S en ior Proj e c t s have a long h istor y and have pro du c e d s ome ext remely t houg ht-provok ing res e arch and impressive a ccomplish ment s. Thes e t wo- we ek , i nd e p endent studi es of ten have a profound ef fe c t on a stud ent’s e ventu a l c are er p at h . In a ddit i on to a v ar i et y of i nter nsh ip s in me d icine, l aw, j our na lism and business, s en iors have t ransl ate d t he L ord’s Prayer into t he Mohe gan l angu age, comp o s e d and re cord e d C Ds of or ig ina l music , worke d at t he Hait i an He a lt h Found at ion’s clin ic in Hait i, and stud ie d t he archa e olo g ic a l sig n if i c anc e of stone c i rcles i n t he Un ite d Kingd om .
N e w L o n d o n Sch o l a r s Williams students benefit greatly from the S chool’s connection with C onnecticut C ollege. The school makes use of a number of the C ollege’s facilities, and selected students are able to take courses at the C ollege in their senior year through the New London S cholars program. S eniors have taken courses ranging f rom Astronomy, Russian, Chinese to Electroacoustic Music/S ound Design and Anthropolog y. In turn, C onnecticut C ollege students can pair with Williams’ faculty as teaching interns.
A d va n c e d Placement Off e r i n g s at W i l l ia m s j
Biolo g y
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C a lc u lus A B
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C a lc u lus B C
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C hem ist r y
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Eng lish I V ( A P l e vel )
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Fre nch
j
Phy sics
j
Sp an ish
j
U. S . Histor y
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Verg i l
2:54 p.m.
“ Wi t h o u t Wi l l i a m s ’ g e n e r o s i t y, t h e fa m i ly wo u l d n e v e r h av e t h i s o p p o rt u n i t y f o r s e l f - s u p p o rt.” —Dr. Jeremiah Lowney,
parent of alumni and president of Haitian Health Foundation, thanking Service Committee for the gift of a breeding goat
P e r io d
Helping Hands
N i n e
Wi l l i ams’ c ore va lu e s of charac ter and c ommun it y emphasiz e t a k ing t he t ime to help ot hers. O ur f ac u lt y mo dels t his commit ment and our students embrac e it w holehe ar te d ly. In a d d it ion to d e ep k now l e d ge of and p assion for a subj e c t, t i me is w hat t he te a chers w i l l g ive e a ch stud ent . Wit h sma l l cl ass e s (t he ave r age cl ass si ze is 12) te achers sp end much t ime w it h stud ent s in and out sid e t he cl ass. Wi l l i ams’ nint h p e r io d a l low s students and te achers t ime to answer t he quest ion t hat d id n’t get aske d i n Sp anish, to re v ie w t he dif f ic u lt problem i n a lgebra , or to d is c uss t he t hesis st atement for t he ne x t Eng l ish or Histor y p ap er. T he t ime outs i de t he cl assro om is such a st rong ex p e c t at ion t hat Wi l l i ams ma de it a sp e c i a l p er io d. Students av ai l t hems elves of t h is d ist inc t ive res ource and appre c i ate t he ir te a che rs’ d e di c at i on .
By t he s ame toke n, w hi le t here is no s er v ic e re quirement at Wi l li ams, stud ent s f ind w ay s to
g ive b a ck and g ive of t he ms elves . It is s imply an i nt r ins ic p ar t of t he c u lture at s cho ol. The S er v ice C omm itte e hol ds a Volunte er Fai r at t he st ar t of e ach s cho ol ye ar to h ig h lig ht t he bro a d ar ray of s e r v i c e proj e c ts Wi l l i ams students t ack le. Students ident if y a ne e d and organ iz e volunte ers to help w it h opp or tunit ie s su ch as:
E a ch ye ar, Wi l l i ams’ stud ent S e r v i c e C om m itte e pl ans a d ay- l ong prog r am for E ar t h D ay, i nv it i ng env iron me nt a l e xp e r t s to s cho ol and s e ndi ng te ams of Wi l li ams stu d e nt s out to sites arou nd s out he aste r n C on ne c t i c ut for e du c at i ona l
A Move abl e Fe ast
E l C e nt ro
Adu lt E duc at ion of Ne w L ondon
Hait i an He a lt h Found at ion
A l li anc e for L iv ing
Holi d ay Angels
Bi g B ot he rs /Big Siste rs of SE CT
Hung r y C ount r y Lunch D ay
BP L e ar ne d Hous e
Ly man A l ly n Ar t Mus eum
C hi l d re n’s Mus e um of SE C T
Ne w L ond on C om mun it y Me a l C enter
C i nd e rel l a Proj e c t
T han ksg iv ing c an d r ive
C o at D r ive
Wa l k-a -t hon
C of fe e Hous e for dis aste r relief
Women’s C enter of SE C T
E ar t h D ay
E a rth D a y
and cle an - up prog r ams . Whet her fo c us i ng on “A C le an C on ne c t i c ut ,” “Ma k ing He a lt hy C hoi c e s for t he E nv i ron me nt” or “O ur R eg i on’s Wate r w ays ,” t he cohes ive prog r ams a lw ay s re pre s e nt an ambi t ious com mu n it y out re a ch ef for t d r ive n pr i mar i ly by t he stud e nt s t he ms elve s .
3:30 p.m.
Williams 23-acre Athletic Complex features baseball, soccer, field hockey and lacrosse fields. The swim team practices at Connecticut College’s state-of-the-art Natatorium
Aft e r s ch o o l
Go Blues! Whether f rom the side of the field, in the bleachers, or on the court, the rallying cr y is the same. The Williams community enthusiastically supports its 30 sports teams (including 14 Varsity teams). E ach season, dedicated coaches lead Williams teams to league championships in the C onnecticut Independent S chool Athletic C onference and New England Prep S chool Athletic C ouncil. The annual Sports Day and Fall, Winter and Spring sports assemblies honor Williams athletes, who are often selected for all-area teams by The Day and Nor w ich Bulletin. Annual traditions bring faculty, parents and alumni into the mix, such as the Varsity Field Hockey vs. Faculty game, the B oys Varsity S occer vs. Alumni match, and the Middle S chool Girls
C lu b s a n d e x tr ac u rr i c u l a r s C a l c u l u s , c h e m i s t r y, a n d Shakespeare are defi-
Basketball vs. Moms.
nitely worth devoting
W i l l i a m s Ath l e t i c T e a m s i n c l u d e :
a l s o y e a r n s f o r… k n i t t i n g ,
B oys Sp or t s
b r a i n c e l l s t o, b u t t h e s o u l C o - E d Sp or ts
j
Cross C ount r y (7–1 2 ) ( Fa l l)
j
S qu ash ( 7 –1 2 ) ( Winter)
j
S o c c er (7– 12) (Fa l l)
j
Sw im m ing ( 7 –1 2 ) ( Winter)
j
B asketb a l l (7– 12) ( Winter)
j
Ten n is ( 7 –1 2 ) ( Spr ing)
j
B as eb a l l (7– 12) (Spr ing)
j
Varsit y S ai ling ( 9 –1 2 )
j
L ac ross e (7– 12) (Spr ing)
( Spr ing) j
Varsit y G olf ( 7 –1 2 ) ( Spr ing)
A n i m e , a n d d o d g e b a l l ? At l e a s t s o m e s o u l s d o, w h i c h is the main tenet of extrac u r r i c u l a r s a t Wi l l i a m s . Students are encouraged to find their passions and explore them with others. The exact mix of clubs
j
Ac afel l as
Girls Sp or t s
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Am ne st y Inte r nat iona l
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Cross C ount r y (7–1 2 ) ( Fa l l)
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An i me C lub
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Field Ho cke y (7– 12 ) ( Fa l l)
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B e nd i ng Br idge s L ite r ar y
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S o c c er (7– 12) (Fa l l)
Mag a z i ne
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B asketb a l l (7– 12) ( Winter)
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C he ss C lub
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S of tb a l l (7– 12) (Spr ing)
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C h r ist i an B o ok C lub
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L ac ross e (7– 12) (Spr ing)
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C o ok i ng C lub
faculty moderator and get
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D anc e Te am
the ball rolling.
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D e a d Po e ts S o cie t y
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D o d ge B a l l C lub
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G ay / St raig ht A l l i ance
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Har v ard Mo del C ong re ss
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Hipp ol o g y C lub
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Kn itt i ng C lub
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Mo ck Tr i a l Te am
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Mou nt ai n Bi k ing C lub
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Ne w sp ap e r C lub
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Pro du c t i on Work shop
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S el e c t C hor us
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S e r v i c e C ommitte e
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Stu d e nt C ounci l
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The spi ans
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Unite d Stu de nts for
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Ye arb o ok
S o c i a l Just ice
and activities varies from year to year according to s t u d e n t i n t e r e s t . To s t a r t a c l u b, e n t e r p r i s i n g e n t h u siasts simply work with administrators to find a
A dm i s sio n
P r o c e s s
The Williams School admission process focuses on mutual discernment, allowing families to get to know the School by experiencing it for themselves and providing Williams with an in-depth understanding of each prospective student. Application steps include:
1) Visit : A l l applic ant s to The Wi l li ams S cho ol must complete an inter v ie w
w it h a memb er of t he Ad m ission O f f ice st af f. Inter v ie w s are b est a ccomplishe d
From th e S ay bro ok Are a j Ta ke I- 95 to E x it 83 b e fore t he G old St ar Me mor i a l Br idge. j Tur n le f t at lig ht onto Wi l li ams St re et. j At stop li g ht atop t he h i l l, tu r n r ig ht onto R oute 3 2 Nor t h. j At 2nd stop lig ht, tur n le f t i nto t he main ent rance of C on ne c t ic ut C ol lege. From R h o d e Isl and j Ta ke I- 95 to E x it 84 just af te r cro ss ing t he G old St ar Me mor i a l Br idge. j C omi ng of f t he exit, st ay i n t he center l ane and fol low R oute 32 Nor t h for one mi le. j At 2nd stop lig ht, tur n le f t i nto t he main ent rance of C on ne c t ic ut C ol lege. From th e Nor w i ch Are a j Ta ke 395 S out h to E xit 78. j Fol low R oute 32 S out h he ad i ng toward Ne w L ond on for 2.6 mi les. j Tur n r i g ht into t he mai n e nt rance of C on ne c t i c ut C ol lege. O n th e C onne c ti c ut C ol l e ge C ampus j At t he top of t he dr ive way, stop at t he gate hous e to obt ai n your temp orar y p ark i ng p er mit. j Tur n le f t and cont inue p ast t he col lege l aw n on t he le f t. j Af te r t he ro ad c ur ves in f ront of The Wi l li ams S cho ol bui lding , t a ke t he f i rst le f t into t he S out h Park i ng L ot.
w it h i n t he c ontext of a d ay v isit to c ampus. D ay v isit s a l low pro sp e c t ive stud ent s t he opp or tun it y to sha d ow a c ur rent stud ent for t he d ay, sit in on cl ass es, engage w it h f ac u lt y and exp er ience stud ent life f irst hand. Parent s are welcome d for t he f i rst p ar t of t he d ay v isit , dur ing w h ich t he y enj oy a stud ent Amb ass a d or le d tour of c ampus and t he opp or tun it y to convers e w it h a memb er of t he Ad m ission Of f ic e st af f. Most i mp or t ant ly, d ay v isit s a l low pro sp e c t ive stud ent s and t heir f ami li es to deter mi ne if The Wi l li ams S cho ol is t he b est f it for t hem .
Fami li es lo ok ing for a more genera l int ro duc t ion to t he com mun it y pr ior
to s che du li ng a d ay v isit are encourage d to t a ke a dv ant age of our an nu a l O p en Hous es and we ek ly Wind ow on Wi l li ams in for mat ion s essions. C ont a c t t he Admiss ion Of f ic e at ( 8 6 0 ) 4 3 9 -2 7 5 6 or a d m issions@w i l li amss cho ol. org to s che du le a c ampus v isit or v isit our web site to s e e d ates for up com ing O p en Hous e and Wi ndow on Wi l li ams e vent s.
2) Appli c ati on Forms : Applic at ion mater i a ls are av ai l able for d ow n lo a d
v i a our webs ite, w w w. w i l li amss cho ol. org , or by subm itt ing a re quest to t he Admiss ion Of f ic e at ( 8 6 0 ) 4 3 9 -2 7 5 6 or a d m issions@w i l li amss cho ol. org . Application materials, including a $50 application fee, are due to the Admission Office by Februar y 1. The application itself may be submitted by the applicant at any time prior to Februar y 1, but supporting documents, such as the Request for Transcript(s), English and Math Recommendations should be submitted to the appropriate teacher/administrator upon conclusion of the first marking period of the fall semester. Those teachers/administrators will be responsible for mailing the complete forms back to The Williams School Admission Office by Februar y 1. A l l re qui re d st and ard iz e d test ing ( S e cond ar y S cho ol Ad m ission Test ) must b e c omplete d pr i or to t he applic at ion d e a d line of Febr u ar y 1 .
3) Testing: Students must submit official results of the S econdar y S chool
Admission Test (SSAT) as part of their application for admission. Families may register online for the SSAT at w w w.ssat.org/f lex if they wish to test at The Williams S chool. Test administrations are offered at the school in December and Januar y. Families are reminded to include The Williams S chool code (8220) as both a score recipient and the test center. If a student wishes to test at The Williams S chool, the application for admission must be submitted prior to the test date.
4) Af ford abi lity : Financi a l assist ance is av ai l able to qu a lif ie d fam i lies
v i a p ar t i a l g rants rang ing in amount and aw ard e d exclusively on t he b asis of f inanc i a l ne e d. In ad d it ion to complet ing t he Parent s Financi a l St atement ( PFS ) at sss . nais . org by Janu ar y 1 5 , copies of a l l t a x for ms f rom t he pr ior ye ar shou ld b e a ls o submitte d to T he Wi l li ams S cho ol Business O f f ice by Janu ar y 1 5 . Cur rent ye ar t ax for ms shou ld b e subm itte d to t he Business O f f ice by Apr i l 1 5 .
T he Wi l li ams S cho ol a d m it s stud ent s of any ra ce, color, cre e d, hand ic ap
or nat i ona l or ig in to a l l r ig ht s, pr iv i leges, pro g rams, and a c t iv it ies genera l ly ac c orde d or made av ai l able to stud ent s of t he s cho ol. The Wi l li ams S cho ol d o es not dis c r i mi nate on t he b asis of ra ce, color, hand ic ap or nat iona l or ig in in t he admin ist rat ion of its e duc at iona l or a d m ission p olicies, s chol arsh ip or any ot her prog rams admin istere d by t he s cho ol.
C opy : Tim Reitz; D esig n: G o o d D esig n, LLC; Photog raphy : B ob Fa lcett i, Tom Kates; Pr int ing: L eb on Press
D i r e ct i o n s to Williams
7:46 a.m.
“P eople here wel c omed me with open arms.” —Jillian McK ay ’08, up on moving to Williams from C hicago.
182 Mohegan Avenue Ne w L ondon, CT 06320 860 443 5333 860 439 2796 fax w w w.w i l li amss cho ol.org