The Crest: Student and Parent Handbook 2024-2025

STUDENT AND PARENT HANDBOOK

WELCOME

With this 2024-2025 edition of The Crest, The Storm King School’s student and parent handbook, we would like to welcome you to The Storm King School and to provide the information you will need for the upcoming school year.

This handbook contains information necessary for students and parents to understand both what is important to Storm King in terms of behavior and community, and all of the structures and processes that help govern our daily lives here at the School. Sections in this handbook include Academics, Student Life, Residential Life, and Discipline. This guide serves as a reference for students and parents detailing the expectations of The Storm King School.

Please understand that no set of rules or guidelines can cover every conceivable situation that might arise at a school. The rules, policies, and procedures set forth in this handbook are intended to apply under most circumstances. From time to time, there may be situations that require responses not fully outlined here. This handbook does not limit the authority of The Storm King School to deviate from the rules and procedures set forth in this handbook, and to deal with individual circumstances as they arise in the manner deemed most appropriate by the School, taking into consideration the best interests of the School, its faculty, employees, students, or overall school community. The policies may also be revised or updated periodically during the School year. All changes in policy will be communicated directly to parents and guardians. Any student or parent with a question about any policy statement should feel free to speak with the Asst. Head for Student Life , the Asst. Head for Academics, or the Head of School. We are proud to be a part of an ongoing tradition of excellence in education at The Storm King School. Each member of our community is valued, and each of us is most likely to achieve our goals when the framework in which we are living and working is clear, our responsibilities apparent, and our purpose shared. This handbook will help clarify our shared purpose and individual responsibilities.

Lisa Shambaugh Head of School

Dr. Timothy Lance Asst. Head for Academics

Emily ColeChu MacSwain Asst. Head for Student Life

Mission Statement

The Storm King School, a global community, prepares students by inspiring them toward academic success and confidence in an inclusive and diverse learning environment that embraces character, balance, and trust (Adopted by the Board - April 8, 2017).

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

As an extension of our mission, The Storm King School believes in a culture of mutual respect that is fair and free of bias. Our diverse yet close-knit school community thrives on the discovery of new perspectives and embraces uniqueness and individuality. We value every opportunity to learn and grow from the multitude of lived experiences, challenges, strengths, and personal beliefs held by all members of our community, past and present. As such, we are committed to creating a welcoming environment conducive to learning, living, and working where everyone feels they belong and have the support they need to reach their fullest potential.

Motto

“Esse, Quam Videri” - To be, rather than to seem

Belief Statements—we believe that:

● Young people learn best in a personally supportive and safe environment

● Students should be assisted in realizing their fullest potential in their intellectual, physical, creative, and moral growth

● A diverse and multicultural community provides important learning opportunities for everyone

● Students should be guided in their development of a moral and honest character

● An open and receptive environment should be provided that respects and encourages the individual ideas and

Core Values TRUTH, RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY

intellectual pursuits of every student and faculty member

● Education is a developmental process for each individual

● Character development and education are inseparable

● The Storm King School community should encourage healthy choices about body, mind and spirit

● The arts, athletics, cultural activities, outdoor education, and community service enhance life and growth

● Respect, dignity, and acceptance should be accorded each individual regardless of race, creed, gender, or orientation.

A Brief History of The Storm King School

Established as the Cornwall Heights School in 1867 by Reverend Louis P. Ledoux, an Amherst graduate and pastor of the Cornwall Presbyterian Church, the School later became known as the Stone School when Dr. Carlos H. Stone took over the Headmastership. Its present name, The Storm King School, dates from 1923, during Headmaster Alvan R. Duerr’s tenure, and reflects the name of the mountain where the School is located. Storm King was an all-male boarding and day school until 1970, when the first girls were admitted as day students. Girls became boarding students in 1975, and since then the School has been a coeducational, college preparatory school for grades 8 through 12.

The Storm King School was chartered in 1928 by the Board of Regents of the State University of New York as a nonprofit institution governed by a self- perpetuating Board of Trustees. Today, it is accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS), and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), and the College Board, among other professional organizations. A 20-member Board of Trustees, of which approximately half are alumni, governs the School.

Located on the West Bank of the Hudson River near the crest of Storm King Mountain, the 51-acre campus offers a commanding view of the Shawangunk Mountains and distant Catskills. The Storm King School is a member of the Black Rock Forest Consortium, which administers the Black Rock Forest, a 3,800-acre wilderness that abuts the campus. The School makes maximum use of these natural surroundings for its science, environmental, and recreational programs. The School maintains its position as a founding member of the Consortium Board. The Consortium membership also includes the American Museum of Natural History, Barnard College, Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, Brookhaven National Laboratory, the Browning School, City College of New York, Columbia University, Convent of the Sacred Heart, the Dalton School, Friends Seminary, New York Academy of Sciences, New York University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Newburgh School District, and Teacher’s College of Columbia University.

Administration

Head of School: Lisa Shambaugh

Asst. Head of School for Finance; CFO: Ray Hecht

Asst. Head of School for Admissions & Marketing: Marek Pramuka

Asst. Head of School for Academics: Dr. Timothy Lance

Asst. Head for Student Life : Emily Cole-Chu MacSwain

Dean of Faculty: Tim Gillett

Director of College Counseling: Daniel Constantinidi

Director of Athletics & Head of Summer Programs: Dr. Nicole Cervantes

Asst. to the Head of School: Anne Marie Coleman

Admin. Asst. to the Dean of Academics & College Counselor: Ingrid Ciunga

Asst. Dean of Academics: James Bennett

Assoc. Dean of Student Life: Sara Sandstrom

Director of Communications: Elizabeth Taviloglu

Creative Director: Michaela “Mika” Pramuka

Director of Annual Giving & Development Coordinator: Sarah Fulton ’09

Director of Alumni Relations & Leadership Support: Lynn Crevling ’72

Director of Health Services: Cindy Neville, RN

Business Office Manager: Kathy Syvertsen

Executive Chef: Andrew Comey

Academic Department Chairs

English: Dr. Alexandra Finn-Atkins

History & Social Sciences: Tim Gillett

Science: Dr. Paul Feffer

Mathematics: Dr. Timothy Lance

Performing Arts: Anne Fulton

Visual Arts: John Carruthers

Academic Support Program: Heather Cosgriff

Community Service Coordinator: Dr. Mark Rigg

ESL Chair: Leigh Katz

ACADEMICS SECTION 1

Introduction

The Storm King School seeks to develop excellence in all of our students. Our motto is TRUTH, RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY. We expect our students to value these principles and intentionally practice them as members of our community.

Truthful character: We expect our students to be truthful in what they say, in their work, and in their interactions with others.

Respectful citizens: treat others - teachers, fellow students, teammates, and the other team - according to the golden rule.

Responsible young adults: We help students understand the need to make good on commitments to finish what they start; to do the work that needs to be done whether it is picking up litter or completing homework.

In preparation for college and life, we work with our students to develop a temperament that leads to success and helps each individual reach his or her potential. Here are the key academic traits we foster;

Storm King School students:

1. Develop endurance: We ask our students to develop the ability to sustain effort in the face of academic challenges while problem solving, writing, discussing, and when working independently or collaboratively. We help our students build “grit.”

2. Pursue an active commitment to learning and literacy: We ask students to read regularly, write often, be prepared, collaborate well, and have an inquiring mind. We help them learn how to ask good questions to themselves, their teachers, and their peers. We help them develop a healthy and lifelong pursuit of knowledge for its own sake.

3. Discover how they learn: Storm King students learn how they learn, what requires more time, and what tools they require to accomplish their work.

4. Learn deeply: Students pursue knowledge beyond the surface and understand what they know deeply, and what they do not. We encourage our students to be thoughtful and self-reflective at times– to pursue wisdom and learn to decipher facts versus ideas driven by mere opinion.

5. Learn to solve problems as a scientist would: We teach students to use the

language of mathematics and demonstrable evidence as a writer or artist might as they resolve a problem of aesthetics.

6. Make things: Students produce meaningful and original ideas, art, experiments, and solutions.

7. Learn to demonstrate their knowledge: We help students gain the confidence to publish, perform, or show others what they know.

8. Learn to be technologically savvy and healthy: Students come to understand how to use the tools of technology, but also to know when to put them away and how to operate without technology.

9. The attitudes we help students to develop: Beyond the classroom and in preparing to lead meaningful, purpose-driven lives, we provide experiences and opportunities that help Storm King students discover how to take care of themselves physically, emotionally, and practically.

10. Care for our world: We assist students in developing an attitude of active stewardship of the environment. Living on the shoulder of Storm King Mountain, overlooking the Hudson River, our community is nestled in a sometimes serene, sometimes rugged, but always beautiful landscape. Our students will become the guardians of the planet’s health and its preservation.

11. Learn to be servant-leaders: Students’ experiences at Storm King show them that they can lead through service.

12. Become citizens of the world: Students seek to understand, embrace, and learn from those who come from other neighborhoods and nations.

Curriculum Overview

Curriculum at Storm King is built to spark creativity, encourage risk-taking, promote critical thinking, and foster collaboration. Broad course offerings and a flexible academic schedule allow students to discover their passions and take a leading role in the creation of their own personal trajectories. Their enthusiastic participation, not only in academics, but in everything the School has to offer, results in a love of learning and sets the foundation for them to become life-long inquirers.

The ultimate goal for both teachers and students is the achievement of deeper learning. Our faculty relies on approaches that actively engage students as they master the necessary content in various disciplines while encouraging

the perfection and application of academic and life skills through traditional, experiential, and project-based learning experiences. Discussion and collaboration are active components of all of our classes.

As much as possible, teachers ensure that learning grows from authentic, interdisciplinary problems and projects. While content is a necessary focus, the way information is processed, verified, and used is at the forefront. Students need to understand how they learn and evaluate, make decisions, and master knowledge by actually constructing it themselves.

What Our Faculty Teaches and Our Students Learn:

● Necessary content and skills in the disciplines of Math, Science, Humanities, English, Arts, and Foreign Languages

● How to think critically, thoughtfully dissect a subject or issue, ask incisive questions, and solve problems/bring solutions

● How to step beyond one’s comfort zone, take risks, fail gracefully, and succeed through persistence and hard work

● How to collaborate, be flexible, and be adaptable

● An understanding and appreciation for the Arts—music, theater, creative writing, visual arts—as a means of personal and creative expression

● Global and cultural awareness

● How to be effective leaders and citizens of their local and global communities

● How to maximize benefits from using technology, and how to use it responsibly and ethically

● How to use information, conduct research, create a hypothesis, acknowledge sources, and present findings

While students attend classes daily in our classrooms, we also embrace the extension of learning beyond direct instruction. Project-based application, international travel, collaborative and interdisciplinary work, and experiential vehicles such as community service, the use of Black Rock Forest, trips throughout the surrounding Hudson Valley and New York City, as well as extracurricular activities, athletics, and other experiences are built in to our academic and student life programs.

Expectations

The Storm King School is an academic institution designed to help each student make the most of his or her intellectual abilities in preparation for college. We expect students to take an active role in their own education. This means that students must take responsibility for their own learning and act in an appropriate way both in their classes and in preparing for them each day. Examples of this include:

1. Attending every class unless ill.

2. Working earnestly to complete every assignment to the best of their abilities and in a timely fashion.

3. Coming to class prepared to participate in a positive way, which includes entering class in dress code, opening books and notebooks immediately, having technology charged and ready for use, or otherwise preparing themselves appropriately for their classes without being asked.

4. Bringing a laptop that meets the minimum requirements set forth by The Storm King School. This laptop is intended primarily for academic use and should be treated as any other academic requirement. All digital texts and applications required by teachers should be downloaded as expected. The acceptable use policy for computers and technology applies to this device.

5. Listening actively and participating in class discussions and other activities in an appropriate manner; being polite, positive, and respectful to their teachers and classmates alike.

6. Staying alert and attentive throughout classes, taking notes and focusing on the work being presented, and working in earnest with others when classes are doing group work or laboratory work.

7. Responding to criticism, setbacks, and requests in a mature way.

8. Actively seeking help from teachers and attending tutorials or other extra help sessions when needed.

In addition, the consumption of food, beverages, and chewing gum in class is not allowed. When participating in off-campus trips for classes, school dress code and classroom decorum are expected.

All academic work must be completed with integrity. This means that students must acknowledge sources or help received in an appropriate fashion, and neither give nor accept help without permission or knowledge of teachers.

As part of the School’s ongoing commitment to honesty, integrity, and longterm development of good character, all students must sign and adhere to The Storm King School Code of Academic Honesty. Students are expected to follow the letter and spirit of the code in all academic work (see pages 21-22).

Graduation Requirements

All students that enter The Storm King School in ninth grade must complete 24 graduation credits in these areas:

Students starting after the ninth-grade complete graduation requirements on a prorated scale. Each student must complete at least one Mathematics class, at least one Science class, at least one English class, and at least one History/ Social Science class each year. Students whose first language is English must also complete two semesters of a world language as well. Students must carry at least six credits per year with at least three per semester.

Eighth, ninth and tenth graders have a number of required classes to complete; eleventh and twelfth-graders have more choice in areas of concentration within the yearly guidelines.

Additional Graduation Requirements

Visual and Performing Arts

Students who attend The Storm King School in grades 8-12 are expected to meet both a visual and performing arts requirement. This can be accomplished by taking a class in each area, but also through a number of other means. One student might be active throughout the year in the theater program; another might come as an accomplished guitar player or vocalist and perform frequently at school events; a third might have experience as a photographer and contribute significantly to school publications. Faculty and

activity advisors will determine whether students have met the criteria for this requirement. Students who enter The Storm King School after their sophomore year are only required to meet or earn one credit in visual or performing arts.

Physical Education and Health

Students are required to participate in after school activities each term. Because students in grades 8-12 meet their physical education credit through our after-school athletics program, two seasons of a physical activity are required. These include: interscholastic and club sports, outdoor activities, dance, and other physical activities.

Our Health Program is delivered through our student life curriculum, which includes a freshman and sophomore-targeted health course, speakers on key health topics, specific advisory discussion topics, and presentations by coaches and teachers.

Community Service

Each student is required to complete 20 hours of community service per year. This requirement provides an extraordinary opportunity for students to connect their classroom learning to their ability to create positive change in the world; thus, empowering them in their own educational journeys. Community service opportunities are delivered through the Student Life Office.

The Academic Year

The academic year is divided into two semesters and a Q-Term. Each class lasts one semester, which consists of three grading periods. Each grading period tracks progress from the start of the semester until the end of that grading period. Grades and effort marks are awarded at the end of each of the grading periods. Semester grades are determined by the grading period grades together with a final exam or final project. Some classes may also include a term project or term paper as a major part of the semester grade.

Course of Study

Each new student is provided a schedule by the Academic Dean based on the student’s previous academic record. This can be adjusted, if possible, when the student receives the schedule for approval or at registration for the year. Returning students work with advisors in the spring to determine an appropriate program of study, and this list is reviewed and finalized during the scheduling process in the summer. All students are required to carry a minimum of six full credit courses. All students will be enrolled in at least one

class in the fields of Mathematics, Science, History & Social Sciences and English each year that they attend The Storm King School. In general, at least four of the full credit courses must be academic in nature, while the fifth and sixth class may include performing, visual, or creative arts classes. In order to graduate from The Storm King School, students must meet the requirement of six full credit courses in the senior year, even if they have already obtained the credits required for graduation.

Change of Schedule

Students who wish to change their course schedule must explain the proposed change to the Academic Dean. The Academic Dean, the student’s advisor, and all teachers involved must discuss all proposed changes with the student before a decision will be made. Schedule changes must occur within one week of course matriculation. In addition, juniors and seniors must get approval for a change in course schedule from the College Counselor.

No schedule changes will take effect until the form has been returned to the Academic Dean and approved.

A student receiving a final grade in the D range may need to complete a review before moving to the next level in some disciplines.

If a student fails a course, he or she may earn a passing grade and credit through an approved summer course or the completion of coursework through an approved tutorial. Credit will be granted only through the Academic Dean’s Office.

Grading & Reporting

Progress reports are sent home a minimum of four times per year: During Semester One, reports of progress are sent home in early October and at the end of the semester in December. An interim report is sent home in early November for students with a C- or lower, or who have moved by a letter grade or more in either direction. During Semester Two, reports of progress are sent home in February and at the end of the semester in May. An interim report is sent in late March for students with a C- or lower, or who have moved by a letter grade or more in either direction. All reports provide detail on student progress and teacher recommendations regarding student improvement.

A student receiving a final grade in the D range may need to complete a review before moving to the next level in some disciplines.

If a student fails a course, he or she may earn a passing grade and credit through an approved summer course or the completion of coursework through an approved tutorial. Credit will be granted only through the Academic Dean’s Office.

Progress reports are the primary means by which the School communicates with parents about student academic progress. Parents should email their child’s advisor or the Academic Dean if any concerns arise. Students review their progress reports and interim reports with their advisor.

Effort Marks

Effort marks assess student behaviors such as class attendance, participation, and preparation; homework; initiative and motivation; and the degree of care put into the work.

5 Outstanding

Student demonstrates most or all of the following: exceptional class participation, consistent thoroughness in preparation, work over and above course requirements, consistent requests for extra help, attempts to relate the course material to other discipline areas, or exceptional initiative in making up work missed because of absences.

4 Above Average

Student demonstrates most or all of the following: very good effort represented by class participation, thorough preparation, an eager attempt to master the material of the course, and regular requests for extra help when appropriate.

3 Average

Student demonstrates most or all of the following: acceptable class participation and adequate fulfillment of course requirements with consistently prepared work and assignments carefully prepared and submitted on time.

The student has met Storm King’s normal expectations for class involvement and academic effort.

2 Below Average

Student demonstrates most or all of the following: below normal effort, reflected in occasional absence or lateness, occasional lack of preparation for class or inattentiveness in class, or the student may fail to submit required work or the work may be poorly prepared. The student neglects to ask for extra help.

1 Unsatisfactory

Student demonstrates most or all of the following: consistent failure to complete assignments, a lack of class participation, reluctance to ask for extra help, consistent inability to participate in class when called upon, and a lack of initiative in making up missed work.

Invitation to Return

As a self-selecting, independent school, The Storm King School reserves the right to invite back, year by year, only those students who show an effort and desire to make The Storm King School a happy, healthy and cooperative community, and those students who show the ability and motivation to progress in preparation for college acceptance. Academic achievement, contributions to the School community, attitude and manner, tolerance and charity toward others, and a willingness to work with the School are all factors in this decision.

Q-Term

The Q-Term takes place at the end of the school year between final exams and graduation. Q-Term classes are short, intensive courses that provide Storm King faculty and students a chance to explore more deeply subject matter for which they have a particular passion and curiosity. During the Q-Term, students meet with the same class and instructor every day and pursue the subject of their choice. This focus creates an arena for hands-on learning, outdoor adventure, creative design, and service opportunities that enrich and deepen students’ connections to the subject matter at hand. Each year, Storm

King faculty create an engaging roster of Q-Term courses that appeal to a wide range of interests from engineering and the sciences to history, art, music, travel, and many others.

Independent Study

Independent study at The Storm King School offers coursework that enables students to explore their passions and deep-dive into their areas of interest. Independent study is allowed on a case-by-case basis for students who work well independently and have high academic performance overall.

Students interested in earning credit toward graduation through independent study take the lead by finding a faculty member to advise the study. Then, the coursework is developed in collaboration between the student and the teacher to supplement the School’s departmental offerings. Recent examples of Independent Study areas have included Environmental Science Policy, International Relations, Physics, Mechanics, Photography, Psychology, English Literature, Law, and Fashion.

Honor Roll

At the end of each semester, Honor Roll status is determined by averaging all grades received in academic courses in which the student is enrolled. Honors distinctions are only awarded on the work of an entire semester. When grades are determined at semester end, Honor Roll standing will also be awarded.

Qualifying students are given special recognition by being placed on Honors or Honorable Mention level as determined by the following criteria:

Highest Honors: A+ to A average with no grade below A

Honors: A- to B+ average with no grade below B+

Honorable mention: B average with no grade below B-

Honorary Societies

Students who distinguish themselves over the course of their secondary school careers may be recognized by receiving membership in the Cum Laude Society and/or National Honor Society, if they qualify.

Cum Laude Society

The purpose of the Cum Laude Society is to promote learning and sound scholarship in secondary schools. The primary requirement for membership

in the society is academic excellence. The society was founded in 1906 and patterned after Phi Beta Kappa of the college level. The Storm King School has the distinction of having one of the oldest chapters in the nation, enrolling members since 1921.

National Honor Society

The Storm King Chapter of the National Honor Society was formed in 1981. Qualified juniors and seniors who have compiled an outstanding record in several aspects of school life are elected to the society. A cumulative grade point average of 3.4 is the minimum academic criteria for consideration. Leadership, scholarship, service, and character are the other criteria for membership.

Common Work Period and Extra Help

The Common Work period occurs each academic day with the exception of Wednesdays and days abbreviated due to weather or early dismissal before a break. The Common Work period is a dedicated time when students can seek out teachers for extra help. Teachers can also require students to report to their classroom during this period. Students may also use the time for quiet study or for group projects. This is a dedicated block during the School day, unfettered by outside commitments, in which students can stay ahead of their workload and decrease stress. Teachers may also be available at other times such as free periods or in the evenings or weekends when on duty, and students who need extra help should work with their teachers to identify appropriate times to get extra help. Faculty members are expected to post these “office hours” in which students can seek additional help.

Study Hall

During the school day

All students at The Storm King School, regardless of year or grade point average, are required to attend daytime study hall during periods in which they do not have a scheduled class or other commitment. Students will be assigned to report to a dedicated space on campus. A complete set of behavioral expectations governing study hall will be posted and reviewed regularly.

All students who are struggling academically may have additional study hall time assigned at any point during the afternoon or even on weekends if deemed necessary. Missing a study hall carries the same disciplinary consequences as missing a class.

In the evening

The Storm King School believes in providing an appropriate environment in the evening for the student body to focus on their studies. Boarding students, and any day students remaining on campus are required to report to an assigned location from 7:30 pm and until 9:00 pm. The majority of students will be assigned to room study in their dormitories, which is governed by a set of standards and expectations reviewed each fall. Any student may be assigned to the structured study hall in Ogden Hall. Reasons for this designation include a student’s academic support plan, poor homework habits or academic standing, and non-compliance with room study behavioral standards.

Advisory and Faculty Advisors

The advisor system is a fundamental element of The Storm King School experience; students and parents are urged to take full advantage of this special arrangement. Faculty members have a small group of advisees with whom they interact with frequently, including a weekly group meeting. The faculty advisor serves as an academic counselor and mentor, as well as the primary liaison between the School and the student’s parents. Parents are encouraged to contact the advisor should a situation need immediate attention. At the beginning of each advising relationship, the advisor will contact a student’s parent or guardian and establish the most effective means of communication specific to that relationship.

One of the primary responsibilities of the advisor is to monitor the academic performance of each of his or her advisees. In the event that a student begins to struggle academically, the advisor and academic dean communicate about the best way to improve the student’s performance. When a student has problems with motivation and/or managing his or her work in specific academic courses, or he or she requires acute supervision of his or her academic program, other teachers or staff members are brought into the discussion as necessary. They may include classroom teachers, administrators, the dormitory parents, and the director of health services, among others. In this situation, an individualized Academic Support Plan is created through communication with all parties with the specifics clearly communicated to the student and progress of the plan regularly checked.

In this way, each student has a working group of adults ready to respond as necessary. The team’s goal is to help the student improve his or her work habits and achievement. The student may be assigned additional supervised study

halls, required to work with a tutor or the academic support staff. Restrictions on weekends and during other times may also be required. In the end, each student must become responsible for his or her work. If grades remain below an acceptable level and adequate effort is not demonstrated, the student will be placed on academic probation.

Academic Probation

If a student’s cumulative GPA falls to C- or below in any semester, he or she is placed on academic probation for the following semester. At the beginning of each marking period that a student is on academic probation, the student will meet with her or his advisor and the Academic Dean in order to develop a study strategy, usually in the form of an Academic Support Plan referenced above. These will include structured and assigned study halls as well as other time restrictions. If a student remains on academic probation for a second semester, the student’s invitation to return will be reviewed at the end of the academic year. At any point during a student’s academic career, they are returned to academic probation, the invitation to continue as a student will be reviewed. As a result of that review, the School may not invite the student to return the following year, or the Academic Dean may require additional coursework or remediation during the summer before the student is eligible to return.

To be removed from academic probation, a student needs to maintain a C (2.0 GPA) or better for a full semester and demonstrate more consistent work habits. In particular, regular daily assignments and long-term assignments need to be completed in a timely manner throughout the semester.

Academic Honesty

As an academic institution, The Storm King School holds the integrity of academic work sacrosanct and as part of an inviolable trust between students and teachers. In addition, academic honesty is a natural and real extension of our core ideals of “TRUTH, RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY.” Consequently, the School will consider any violation of this trust to be a very serious matter, and acts of academic dishonesty are viewed as violation of a major school rule.

Within the first few days of their arrival at The Storm King School, students are required to sign The Storm King School Code of Academic Honesty. This code outlines the basic principles of academic honesty, and defines critical violations. Faculty members in each class will review the basic tenants of the

code and help students understand appropriate steps to avoid plagiarism and other acts of academic dishonesty in their particular discipline.

All violations, regardless of ultimate decisions on sanctions, will be reported to the Academic Dean. The School’s response is determined by the dean, the teacher and the appropriate department head. Consequences will generally include a failing grade on the work involved without the opportunity to make up the work, and it may include other consequences, such as restrictions. It is common for the School to ask the student to notify his or her parents personally about a violation, prior to a formal letter of notification sent from the Dean of Academics. In most cases, first offenses will be limited to these consequences.

However, students who violate the academic honesty code repeatedly may be required to leave the School. Also, students involved in violations of a larger type, for example sharing test answers with many other students, may be asked to leave the School based on such an offense alone.

The Storm King School Code of Academic Honesty

All work submitted by a student must be done by that student. If the student turns in academic work that has received help from someone else, including parents, friends, consultants, agents, dorm parents, faculty, or classmates, or from any other source, that help must be acknowledged. It is generally inappropriate to receive any help on a test or a quiz from anyone but the teacher administering the test. Authorized help can be determined only by the teacher of the course where the questions occur, or by those responsible for overseeing the work in question. Practices may vary somewhat among the disciplines, but there are certain principles that the student must keep in mind. Violations of trust include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

It is dishonest to:

● Copy and submit someone else’s homework or in-class work as one’s own (e.g., exercises, lab reports, math problems, computer programs)

● Get test questions before a test unless having those questions beforehand has been authorized by the teacher

● Employ, during a test, any “crib sheet” or unauthorized notes of any kind

● Receive unauthorized help from anyone during a test, including standardized tests such as the SAT, PSAT, or ACT

● Allow another student to copy or submit one’s homework or in-class work

● Give another student information about questions on a test

● Give unauthorized help to another student during a test

● It is dishonest to plagiarize. Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s ideas or words as though they are your own. The student should avoid:

• Using the exact written words of someone else without using quotation marks and acknowledging the source (including textbooks)

• Changing a single word or a few words of someone else’s written work without acknowledging the source (including textbooks)

During the college search, it is dishonest to submit essays or other materials that are not the applicant’s original work. Help with editing is permitted, but the application must be the applicant’s work. It is also dishonest to violate the rules protecting the integrity of standardized tests such as the SAT, PSAT, or ACT. If any testing organization (such as the College Board or ACT) reports a breach, the School reserves the right to take disciplinary action.

When writing a research paper or any other kind of paper in a course, the student should ask the teacher for help in avoiding plagiarism. To be on the safe side it is a good idea for the student to acknowledge any help he or she has received in writing the paper. For example, on a sheet attached to the paper, the student might state that a teacher helped in the editing process or in organizing an outline.

Violations of this code will lead to disciplinary action as outlined later in this handbook.

Missed Work Due to Absence

ANY WORK MISSED DUE TO AN ABSENCE, INCLUDING TESTS AND QUIZZES, SHOULD BE TURNED IN OR COMPLETED UPON RETURNING TO CLASS OR WITHIN A REASONABLE PERIOD OF

TIME

AS DETERMINED BY THE TEACHER.

If at all possible, students should communicate with their teachers in person prior to missing a class. In the event that prior communication is not possible, the student should, via email to the teacher or another student, or through Blackbaud, find out what was missed in order to prepare for the next class. Students are expected to be proactive in keeping up with all assignments in any situation.

The Academic Support Program

The Academic Support Program (ASP) at The Storm King School is designed to work with bright, college-bound students who need additional support. All students in the Academic Support Program enroll in our base class. While this class is dependent on the learning needs of individual students, it generally focuses on helping each student understand their learning differences.

The class is taught by a teacher who has experience working with students who have language-based learning differences, executive functioning needs, or other similar challenges that sometimes stand in the way of a bright student’s preparation for college.

The goals of the Academic Support Program include:

● Practicing strategies for critical reading and reasoning

● Enabling students to strengthen self-esteem and self-monitoring in the academic arena

● Guiding students to develop and maintain systems for managing schoolwork, extracurricular responsibilities and free time

● Providing them with organizational techniques to fit their needs and styles

● Providing support so that their natural talents may be demonstrated

● Teaching students to be constructive self- advocates in and out of the classroom

● Working together with the Academic Dean’s Office to secure testing accommodations for College Board tests, including the PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP exams and the ACT, in cases where students have documented learning differences

● College planning and transition support for students with documented learning differences Involvement in the Academic Support Program is by recommendation only.

Blackbaud

The Storm King School uses Blackbaud as its online educational platform. Students and parents can access various elements of this robust system, thereby monitoring homework, academic development, and achievement. Parents will receive instructions on how to access this system during the enrollment and registration processes, and students will learn how to navigate this system during student orientation.

College Counseling

The Storm King School takes great pride in the amount of personal attention each student receives when planning for life after secondary school. The most important aspect of the process is matching each student with the appropriate undergraduate program. There are several “right” colleges for each student, and graduates of The Storm King School enroll in a variety of diverse institutions.

Our college counselor coordinates and manages the college search process, working together with students and their families, the Academic Dean, the Assistant to the Academic Dean and College Counselor, and the faculty and staff. All juniors and seniors and their families should work closely with the college counselor to ensure the college application process goes smoothly.

Prior to the junior year, the college counselor is available to parents and students to discuss any questions about the college search process. Parents are encouraged to be very active participants throughout this extended process and to contact the college counselor as early in the process as possible. Parents may schedule appointments in person or by phone and attend information sessions when they are held on campus.

In the college search process, much of the focused work with students, families and the college counselor takes place during the winter and spring semester of a student’s junior year and continues through the spring of a student’s senior year. During the summer before the student’s senior year, if not earlier, families are encouraged to visit colleges and, if possible and where necessary, have formal interviews.

Although it is possible, students are discouraged from taking time off while The Storm King School is in session, as missed classes may affect grades, which, in turn, could affect chances of acceptance to college. As visiting colleges may be difficult during the school year, the college counselor coordinates visits from universities across the country during the Fall semester. In the fall of a student’s senior year, frequent group and individual conferences take place, often with parents.

Some families choose to engage an outside consultant to help coordinate their son or daughter’s college search process. While this is not necessary, the School will work with this outside support as long as the consultant coordinates their work with our college counselor.

It is particularly important to remember that all college applications, including essays, must be the original work of the students. Teachers, the college counselor, and others may help with editing and proofreading to a reasonable extent, but the work must be the applicant’s own original creation. Because students applying to college represent The Storm King School, all application, records, recommendations, and other documents associated with the college search process must go through our College Counseling and Academic offices. In order to coordinate all elements of the college search, we manage the process through the Scoir software system. We help all students establish a Scoir account. Parents also have access to view this account.

Examinations and College Applications

The College Counseling Office works with students to establish a College Board Account to facilitate signing up for the PSAT, SAT, and AP Exams. It is important to maintain only one account with the College Board to ensure all test scores are forwarded when needed. All students in the 10th and 11th grades take the PSAT each year in the fall. Students may also take the American College Test (ACT) if they wish.

Although standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT are not required for graduation, students are strongly encouraged to take either test at least twice (either once in the Spring of Junior year and once in the Fall of senior year, or twice in the Fall of Senior year). As many universities have adopted test optional policies, students are encouraged to work with the college counselor to determine whether it is in their best interest to submit test scores.

All seniors must apply to at least two colleges, unless accepted to their first choice through early decision.

STUDENT LIFE SECTION 2

STUDENT LIFE

Student Life at The Storm King School is vibrant and challenging. The School offers a multitude of programs and opportunities to its students. There are interscholastic sports, fine and performing arts, clubs, leadership positions, guest speakers and performers, and campus activities. Students who are successful at The Storm King School have great appetites for new experiences. The Storm King School teaches its students how to best manage their time.

The highly diverse population also offers our students the opportunity to expand their understanding of the world by building relationships and networking with individuals from around the globe.

The Storm King School functions well when its members act with honor and treat one another with respect. Individual expression is encouraged and lauded at Storm King, as long as students maintain a healthy respect for the community as a whole.

The Student Life Team and Deans on Duty

The Student Life Team is led by the Assistant Head of School for Student Life. Members of the team include (but are not limited to) the Associate Dean of Students, the Director of Athletics and Summer Programs, and the school nurse.

Typically, during the school day, the Assistant Head of School for Student Life and the Associate Dean of Students are the main points of contact for overall student well-being, activities and permissions, and any non-academic student concerns.

When the academic day ends and on weekends, duty of care transfers to the assigned Deans on Duty (DoD) and their small team of faculty members. Correspondence with the DoD is conducted in person or via the Dean on Duty phone: +1 (845) 629-0344. This phone number is intended to be for signing out and signing back in, urgent questions only when other resources have been exhausted, and emergencies.

Students may text or call the DoD phone for non-emergencies between the hours of 7:00 am and 10:00 pm. Contacting the Dean on Duty during the overnight hours is prohibited unless there is an urgent need. For example, if a student is experiencing a sudden onset/serious worsening of an illness or has a

fall/accident or is experiencing a mental health crisis, they should not hesitate to call the DoD phone. Overnight texts will not be responded to until the morning and should never contain urgent or emergency correspondence.

Student IDs

During the registration process, students pose for pictures that will enable the creation of a Storm King School ID card. This card will enable all Storm King School students to have an additional picture ID when in transit and when taking standardized tests. Lost IDs must be replaced immediately for a fee.

Leadership

The Storm King School recognizes the importance of developing leadership skills among its student population. Consequently, there are several opportunities for students to hold leadership positions. In addition to the official positions listed below, we expect students to emerge as leaders in their classrooms, as captains on the athletic fields, and as leaders in all activities on campus.

Prefects

The Prefect program includes both boarding prefects and day prefects. These are student leaders who dedicate themselves to fostering connections amongst fellow students, assist faculty and administrators with supervision in dorms and around campus, educate students about school rules, policies, and procedures, cultivate a warm, safe, and meaningful community culture, and hold themselves to the highest standards of a Storm King student. Prefects may also be asked to participate as voting members in Judicial Committee hearings. These leaders are given several privileges, but are also held to a high standard. Prefects may lose these privileges, or their positions, if they do not meet the required expectations and standards.

Boarding Prefects

Boarding Prefects assist dorm parents in running dormitories and are role models for the entire Storm King community. They are returning members of the student body who apply for a one-year position in the spring. Prefects serve as the head of each residential hall or floor and help to maintain accountability for their group. Boarding Prefect responsibilities include assisting with evening check-in, educating residents about the rules and procedures of the dorm and the School, enforcing the dormitory rules, and modeling appropriate behavior.

Day Prefects

Day students who wish to take on a leadership role in service to the day student community and to help bridge the connections between day and boarding students may apply for consideration to be Day Prefect. Day Prefects are role models for the entire Storm King community and hold themselves to the highest standard. Day Prefects assist in the successful implementation of registration, orientation, day student locker assignments, ongoing resources for connection and support of new day students and create unity between the boarding and day student populations.

Judicial Committee Members

Prefects, both Boarding and Day Students, generally comprise the pool of students who are called upon to participate in Judicial Committee hearings. Other students in good standing may be called upon to participate as voting members of a Judicial Committee. This is at the discretion of the Asst. Head for Student Life. A full description of the role of the Judicial Committee can be read in the Discipline portion (Section 4) of this handbook.

Core Value Pins

The Storm King School Core Value Pin award informally recognizes acts that exemplify the tenets of our core values: TRUTH, RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY. The award is a legacy SKS school crest lapel pin that can be worn on the SKS blue blazer uniform jacket. Nominations for the award are submitted to the Student Life Office on a rolling basis. Any school member (student, faculty, or staff) can nominate any other member.

Nominations include a brief description of the act and how it exemplifies the core values. The Asst. Head for Student Life and the Asst. Head for Academics review and approve the award. Awards are not presented on any schedule, but rather when they merit. The person who submitted the nomination will be offered the opportunity to present the award at an All School Meeting. If that person declines, the Asst. Head for Student Life will present the award or arrange for an appropriate student, faculty, or staff member to present.

Dress Code

The Storm King School Dress Code exists to unify the student body in general appearance. Every Storm King student is subject to the same set of expectations detailed here. The code also exists to elevate the aesthetic on campus and to heighten our collective academic focus.

TOPS

All students are required to wear a collared shirt. The shirt may be an oxford (full button-up), polo, or collared blouse. Dress code shirts may be long-sleeve or short-sleeve. Acceptable colors are white, navy blue, or light blue. Dress code shirts may have the SKS logo, but are not required to have the logo. No oversize brand logos are acceptable. Students may wear a navy blazer, SKS sweater (navy or gray) or SKS sweatshirt/hoodie as a second layer. Coats or jackets may be worn, but must be taken off when entering any classroom. No other outerwear is permitted.

BOTTOMS

Pants and shorts must be navy or khaki colored in a straight-leg chino style, appropriately fitted, with shirts tucked in. Capri pants may be worn. Students are not permitted to wear denim jeans, leggings, athletic pants/joggers, yoga pants, or jeggings. The hem of the shorts must fall no higher than 2 inches above the knee. Cargo shorts are not permitted.

Skirts/skorts must be navy, khaki, or SKS plaid, and appropriately fitted. The hem must fall no higher than 2” above the knee. Solid colored leggings/tights may be worn under skirts. Permissible colors of the leggings/tights include navy, nude, white, and black. Fishnets or visible garter belts are not allowed.

FOOTWEAR

Students should be able to transition easily from interior spaces to our outdoor pathways and classrooms. The weather and school schedule often impacts what footwear is appropriate on any given day. Therefore, the following types of footwear are permissible during the school day: Dress shoes, boots, work shoes, hiking shoes, or sneakers (sandals, open- toed shoes, and Crocs are prohibited for safety reasons).

List of clothing items that are not acceptable on campus at any time:

● Shirts that expose the chest or midriff

● Clothing that displays any offensive or derogatory language or imagery

● Clothing that references drugs/alcohol

● Clothing that displays violent imagery

Shirts must be worn at all times, even during sports practices.

No hats or head coverings are to be worn in any of the academic buildings, including the Art Center and Orr Commons. Exceptions will be considered for religious and/or cultural reasons. Students seeking an exception to the rule regarding head coverings should speak to the Asst. Head for Student Life.

Athletic Practice Apparel

All students are required to purchase SKS athletic practice apparel for the 2024-2025 school year. Only students attired correctly in official SKS athletic practice apparel will be permitted to participate in after-school athletic practices. Those not adequately dressed will receive punitive measures.

It is recommended that each student purchase at minimum:

● 1 sweatshirt

● 2 t-shirts

● 1 pair of shorts

● 1 pair of athletic pants

The Storm King athletic apparel can only be purchased here: https://sideline. bsnsports.com/schools/new_york/cornwallonhudson/storm-king-school.

For questions, please email the Athletic Director, Dr. Nicole Cervantes, at ncervantes@sks.org.

Activities

The Storm King School offers a full program of activities, including interscholastic athletics, fine and performing arts, and various recreational and instructive clubs. Interscholastic teams are fielded in soccer, cross country, volleyball, wrestling, fencing, basketball, lacrosse, tennis, outdoor adventure, baseball, and crew. * We believe that participation develops self-esteem, selfdiscipline, confidence, and sportsmanship in our students, and contributes to their overall growth as individuals.

All students are required to participate in an interscholastic sport or noncompetitive physical activity in each season (fall, winter, spring). This participation constitutes satisfaction of the physical education requirement necessary for graduation. However, students may substitute a non-physical afternoon activity, such as an academic club or class, during one of the three seasons.

Attendance at a student’s afternoon activity is taken daily and students are required to attend every practice or meeting scheduled by the coach or club leader. Failure to attend afternoon activities is treated the same way as failure to attend class, and students who do not attend will be given consequences as outlined in the attendance section of this handbook.

*Extra fees apply

Experiential Education & Community Service

At The Storm King School we use experiential education to actively engage students in posing questions, investigating, experimenting, being curious, solving problems, assuming responsibility, being creative, and constructing meaning. Whether it is a class examining the concept of “Wilderness,” building 3-D models of campus, climbing the majestic cliffs of the Shawangunk Ridge, making original films, or exploring the Galapagos Islands, Storm King School students have many opportunities to learn from their failures and successes.

At The Storm King School, experiential education includes academic offerings, afternoon clubs and sports, weekend outdoor adventure activities including overnight trips, special guest lecturers and presenters, domestic and international trips during breaks from school, and regular community service opportunities. All students are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities.

The Storm King School places a great value on service learning, requiring each student to complete a minimum of 20 hours of community service during each academic year. This graduation requirement is tracked individually by students and their faculty advisors, and school-wide by the Community Service Committee. Opportunities are presented regularly as part of the Weekend Activity schedule, and numerous other opportunities are available throughout the school year. Students participating in service activities not sponsored by the School are required to provide proof of the work completed to their advisors.

Weekends

The Storm King School values students who have a breadth of experience, and weekend activities are organized so that students have regular opportunities to participate in a variety of activities. Specifically, each regular open weekend at Storm King will include several scheduled activities in one or more of the

following areas: outdoor recreation/education, fine and performing arts, and community service. For example, a fall weekend might include a kayaking trip, a Broadway show, and a day’s work for a local charity. In some cases, these activities will either be fully or partially funded by the School while at other times, it is the responsibility of the student and their parents/guardian to cover the cost upfront or via billing. In addition to these outings, The Storm King School regularly offers weekend shopping and movie trips to various local destinations. All sign-ups and accounting for these activities will be coordinated through the Student Life Office.

Student Center

The Student Center is located in the basement of Orr Commons, and includes a snack bar, eating area, assigned lockers for day students, and a lounge area. The student center rules and hours of operation will be posted and discussed during Orientation. Failure to follow these rules may result in a student’s prohibition from the student center. In addition, all boarding students ordering food from off-campus vendors are required to receive deliveries and eat in the student center. Students will not be allowed to have food delivered to their dormitories or to bring take-out meals to their dorms for consumption.

Attendance Policy

The Storm King School recognizes a myriad of reasons that cause both domestic and international students to occasionally be absent from school. Absent students will either be considered excused or unexcused. Examples of excused absences include a medical appointment or illness, a school athletic event or field trip, or documented transportation/visa difficulties. Students with unexcused absences may face disciplinary action including restrictions, loss of privileges, Dean’s Hours, Saturday Detention and more formal discipline if unexcused absences persist. The Storm King School does not consider recreational travel or undocumented late return/early departure as excused absences.

Excessive absence of any kind compromises a student’s quality of education and the contribution that students are able to make to the Storm King School community. Students amassing 20 full days of absences (including both excused and unexcused) or 15 total absences per class in any school year will likely be dismissed based on lack of participation, or required to repeat that academic year. The Storm King School administration does recognize that students may have a serious medical condition that necessitates prolonged

or multiple absences from school. In these cases, we work directly with the family to minimize the impact of these absences with the goal of not losing the present year. This may or may not be possible depending on the situation.

Students accruing the following number of absences will trigger the stated consequences:

10 full-day absences or 8 absences in one class

Letter sent to parents/guardians stating dates of the absences, actions taken, and reiteration of attendance policy. The Behavior Intervention and Support Committee (BISC)* Meeting – Step One and the student is placed on probation, among other possible consequences.

*see page 50 for description of the BISC

20 full-day absences or 15 absences in one class

Letter of Admonition sent to parents/guardians stating dates of the absences, actions taken, and reiteration of attendance policy. Judicial Committee meeting resulting in likely dismissal from The Storm King School

Tardiness

All students, both boarding and day, are required to report to their first academic period each morning. Students arriving after this appointed time will be reported tardy by their first period teachers. Students arriving more than two hours late or departing more than two hours before the end of the School day will be considered as absent for one-half of the School day and assigned that value according to the policy explained above.

Day students arriving on school grounds after the first period are required to check-in with a member of the Student Life Office or Assistant to the Head of School.

Chronic tardiness is grounds for disciplinary action.

Cutting Class

Students who willfully “cut” or skip class may face immediate consequences on campus, including, but not limited to, temporary or permanent loss of automobile privileges for day students, campus restrictions for boarding students, Dean’s hours and/or Saturday detention. Chronic offenders will meet

with the BISC and face more serious disciplinary consequences, up to and including dismissal from The Storm King School.

Communication

Students are assigned a school email address. Students are required to check this email address routinely, as this is the official way that the School will communicate. Usage of this email account is governed by the School’s Internet/Network Acceptable Use Policy. Inconsistent checking of the student’s email account does not exempt a student from any consequences due to missing important information contained within emails.

For safety reasons, all boarding students, including international students, must provide a domestic (United States) cellular phone number where they can be reached while off campus.

Cellular Phones

Students are permitted to carry cell phones, but these may not be used during class time, a school-wide meeting, or study hall, unless specifically designated by an instructor/proctor for the purposes of a lesson or homework. Cell phones are also prohibited from Thursday evening meals and all assemblies, school programs, or productions unless otherwise indicated by those leading these events.

During class time, instructors may require that cell phones be collected and held during any period. Students must silence or turn off their phones prior to any class, meeting, or study hall so as to eliminate distraction.

Students may use their cell phones between classes and during meals. Students needing to contact home for any reason during a scheduled class may, with permission, proceed to the Administration Building, and then use the terrace or lobby respectfully to contact home. Parents or guardians who need to contact a student are encouraged to do so without distracting the student. In the case of a family emergency, parents or guardians should contact the main branch of The Storm King School’s phone system.

If a student fails to comply with the cell phone policy, a faculty member may report this infraction via Blackbaud, and the student will be required to serve Dean’s Hours or Saturday Detention at a time determined by the Asst. Head for Student Life. A faculty member may also request that a cell phone be collected and held until the completion of a class or event. If a student refuses

this request, they may also be reported for insubordination. Students who accrue multiple cell-phone infractions will be summoned to a BISC meeting and potentially face more formal disciplinary action.

Technology

Each student is required to bring a laptop. The primary purpose of technology at SKS is for education and research. SKS’ robust wireless network supports all types of wireless devices. SKS does not provide any wired Ethernet connections. Additional specifications for the laptop requirement can be found on the School’s website. Laptop usage is governed by the School’s Internet / Network Acceptable Use Policy.

Internet/Network Acceptable Use Policy and Form

The School’s detailed Internet/Network Acceptable Use Policy is published on the School’s website. All students and parents/guardians must familiarize themselves with it and parents must sign the Storm King School Internet/ Network Acceptable Use Form made available through the Blackbaud/ Magnus Health Portal. Students must sign the form upon their arrival in the fall and agree to abide by all the policies and practices described therein. Failure to do so will result in appropriate disciplinary action as described in the policy.

Gaming

The playing of video games is not permitted during any academic class, study hall, or school meeting. Students in violation of this policy may be reported for an infraction via Blackbaud and required to serve Dean’s hours. Chronic offenders of this policy will meet with the BISC and face additional disciplinary consequences, including restrictions, loss of privileges, and if unchecked, dismissal from The Storm King School. Students who display a serious addiction to gaming may be required to participate in counseling if deemed beneficial.

For rules regarding gaming in residential houses, please reference Section 3: Residential Life of this document.

Campus Safety

For safety reasons, skateboards and drones are prohibited on campus. Boarding students may bring a bicycle to campus but must wear a helmet while riding at all times and must follow the Dean on Duty’s instructions as to where they can ride.

Students are generally not allowed to go off campus without prior permission. This includes excursions into nearby Storm King Mountain or Black Rock Forest. Students who wish to explore these areas must ask the Dean on Duty and must always travel with at least one other student or staff member.

Meals

Storm King School students are expected to be respectful of their peers and staff in the dining hall at all times. Students are not permitted to cut in line or save a spot for another classmate.

Breakfast is served from 7:15 am until 8:15 am Monday through Friday.

There are two lunches served during the week, the first from 11:35 am to 12:20 pm, and the second from 12:40 pm to 1:25 pm. There is a 20-minute period between lunch services when the Dining Hall is cleared and cleaned, preparing for the second service. Students may be asked to help coordinate this effort.

On Wednesdays, due to sports schedules, there is only one lunch from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

When weather permits, students are allowed to eat on the terrace and in the student center downstairs. This permission is suspended for all if students do not responsibly clean up after themselves.

Dinner begins at 5:30 pm and ends at 6:30 pm during the week. Periodically, the School hosts formal dinners; these dinners are mandatory for all boarding students. Dress is formal (i.e.- nice academic dress code). Students are given ample notification of these formal dinners. Often, the formal dinners are accompanied by a presentation or event which is also required for boarding students.

On weekends, students are served two meals daily. Brunch begins at 10:30 am and concludes at 11:45 am, while dinner is from 5:00 pm to 5:45 pm.

Ordering Food from Outside Vendors

Storm King School students are permitted to receive food deliveries only during specified weekend hours. Deliveries are prohibited between Sunday evening at 7 pm and Friday afternoon at 5 pm. Therefore, students are permitted to order food from off-campus vendors on Friday from 5 pm to 9:30 pm (time of last

delivery), Saturday until 9:30 pm and Sunday until 6:30 pm. For safety and security reasons, all deliveries from off-campus vendors must be made to Orr Commons. Students are prohibited from receiving deliveries at the dormitories or in any other part of campus besides Orrs Commons.

Security and Boundaries

Students should not leave their belongings and valuables unattended on The Storm King School grounds. Lockers are assigned in the student center for day students to store their belongings. Please see a member of the Student Life Office to register for a locker. There are also lockers available in the basement of the gymnasium for students who are members of in-season athletic teams. Students are not permitted to leave belongings in the front entryway of Orr Commons. These items will be confiscated and brought to the Administration Building.

The Storm King School recommends that student passports and I-20s be kept in the Administrative Offices for safe-keeping. Students should not keep large sums of cash on themselves or in their rooms without a proper safe. Hotel-style safes are available for rental in the school store. Cash, jewelry, electronics, and other valuables should be stored in a safe or lock box. The Student Life Office reserves the right to ask a student to unlock any safe or other locked box, bag, or container.

During the academic day, all dormitories are locked until the conclusion of the academic day. Students are not permitted in the dormitories while they are locked. If found inside, students will meet with a member of the Student Life Office and will be given disciplinary consequences.

Storm King School students are residents of the Village of Cornwall-onHudson and the Town of Cornwall. They must respect private and public property, and give respect to all residents and visitors. Any visitor or guest to campus must first enter the Administration Building and sign in with the Asst. Head for Student Life or the Assistant to the Head of School.

All students should be familiar with the boundaries of the School. The northern boundary is the boys’ dormitories Dempsey and McConnell. The eastern boundary is Mountain Road and Spy Rock House. The southern boundary is Route 9W and the western boundary is the Art Center and Abbott Lane. Boarding Students exiting these boundaries must always communicate with

a faculty member on duty. Students wishing to hike, jog, or walk in Black Rock Forest, Storm King State Park, or the trails west of campus must be accompanied by at least one other peer, and must sign out with the Dean on Duty or another faculty member on duty.

Day Students

The day student population at The Storm King School represents a significant proportion of our student body. Day students are subject to the same rules and policies as boarding students. Day students are encouraged to enjoy all meals during the academic week, and to attend all contests, activities, and productions that occur on campus.

Day students must communicate regularly with the Student Life Office so that accountability is maintained. All day students are required to report to their first period class or All School Meeting promptly. Students arriving on campus after the conclusion of first period must stop by the Administration Building and report to a member of the Student Life Office or Assistant to the Head of School to sign in for the day. Absent day students must have their parents email attendance@sks.org prior to the start of school to report the absence.

In addition, when leaving campus early for the day for any reason, day students are required to check out in the Administration Building with a member of the Student Life Office or the Assistant to the Head of School. Students requiring bus transportation to and from school must communicate regularly with their respective public school districts and/or bus garages to ensure consistent service.

Day students wishing to drive to and from campus must register their vehicle with the Student Life Office and sign a driving contract at the beginning of the school year. Required parking stickers will then be distributed. The parking sticker must be displayed on the vehicle. All day students are required to park in areas designated by the administration. Once their academic day has begun, day students are not allowed to leave campus without permission until their final commitment is complete.

Students who abuse these rules will lose their driving privilege and/or face disciplinary consequences. Lastly, students are not permitted to exit the campus on foot without express and agreed upon permission from parents and the Student Life Office.

Day students are not permitted to enter residential student housing on campus without clear permission from a member of the Student Life Office or the Dean on Duty.

Day students are permitted to spend a night on campus, but this must be coordinated in advance through the Student Life Office. There is a 2-night limit per semester. Exceptions to this limit will only be made in extraordinary circumstances and will be decided upon by the Asst. Head for Student Life. The Student Life Office retains the right to deny a student this privilege for a variety of reasons, including behavioral concerns and space in the dorms.

RESIDENTIAL LIFE

The Storm King School boarding population is a multicultural community of students, faculty, staff members, and their families. In order to maintain a safe, working, and happy community, it is absolutely essential that all members of the community remain respectful and honorable in their actions toward each other and themselves. With so many people living in a relatively small space, occasional discord is inevitable. It is in these situations we must remember our ideals of truth, respect and responsibility, and take care in how we resolve disputes and handle adversity.

Guardian Policy

The Storm King School requires international students in the 8th and 9th grades to have a local guardian and strongly recommends that all international students retain a guardian. This ensures continued care and safety for students while off campus during vacations, weekends, and should a student develop a moderate to severe illness. Guardians help the School communicate with families overseas as well as support the School with students on campus. Ideally, this person would be a family member or a family friend. Understandably, this is not a possibility for all students. The Storm King School does have several local families, including present and former parents, who have experience as guardians and may be able to provide some or all of the services described below.

A guardian should provide services to include but not limited to the following: Facilitating communication between the School and family; Providing home stays during weekends or breaks; Assisting in formulating vacation plans; Managing transportation to and from the School; Coming to campus to provide assistance or support when the need arises; Providing proper permissions for off-campus trips as needed; Responding promptly to all communications from the School.

Any arrangements or agreements made between a family and student’s guardian are made separate from the rules and expectations of The Storm King School. Therefore, it is understood that The Storm King School is not responsible or accountable for the relationship or agreements made between the family or a family member and the guardian.

The Storm King School also reserves the right to require a change of guardian should a conflict of interest or problem arise.

Families are required to complete and sign the Storm King School Guardian Form made available through the Blackbaud/Magnus Health Parent Portal to ensure the School has the most current and accurate information on file.

Breaks and Transportation

During 2024-2025, we are returning to our expectation that all Storm King School students must vacate the campus for the three major breaks:

THANKSGIVING BREAK

November 23 – December 2: Students may leave after classes or by 5 pm on Friday, November 22 and boarding students must return after 12:30 pm on Monday, December 2. Classes resume Tuesday, December 3.

WINTER BREAK

December 19 – January 6: Students may leave after their last exam or by 5 pm on Wednesday, December 18, and boarding students must return after 12:30 pm on Monday, January 6. Classes resume Tuesday, January 7.

SPRING BREAK

March 1 – March 17: Students may leave after classes or by 5 pm on Friday, February 28 and boarding students must return after 12:30 pm on Monday, March 17. Classes resume Tuesday, March 18.

Note: For vacations and long weekends, students may not leave prior to their last regularly scheduled class, assessments, or co-curricular assignment; schedule changes should not be requested to accommodate travel plans. All students should arrange to be off campus by the time dorms close.

Transportation to and from local airports may be provided by the School for a fee and arranged through the Student Life Office. Individual and shared ride options and current rates are available by contacting the Student Life Office. Students requiring a shuttle must respond to the Student Life Office when signups are open. Students and families also have the option of arranging their own transportation. The Storm King School recommends Intrepid Taxi service as a preferred provider. The ride options and rates of all outside providers are independent of the options offered by the School.

Dormitories

The Storm King School has six dormitories in total, two houses on the lower campus, and three houses on the upper campus. Each dormitory has a set of rules that are common to all dormitories, but may have slight variations that are due to the uniqueness of each setting. Dormitories are run by the faculty who reside within them. Each residence is run by a head dorm parent, an assistant dorm parent, and several faculty members who live outside the dormitory but assist throughout the year.

Boarding students are assigned to one of many dorm halls on campus. This is the central unit of the residential experience at Storm King. Dorm halls consist of a small group of students who live in the same area of a dormitory. Each hall has a student dormitory leader called a Boarding Prefect. This is a one-year leadership position on campus that must be applied for each spring.

Prefects have a variety of specific responsibilities within their hall, and work in conjunction with dormitory parents and the various faculty members who supervise student leaders. In general, Prefects act as role models for each hall, and are charged with the responsibility of helping to organize and encourage those students within their group.

Boarding Prefects, depending on the policies of each building, assist with morning wake-up, evening check-in, lights out, and help to organize and supervise dormitory jobs. Prefects receive training each fall so that they may better perform their myriads of functions.

Dorm Rooms

Each room is equipped with the essentials: a bed, mattress, closet, desk, chair, bookshelf, and window blinds. Students should be careful not to overpack; bring only what is necessary at the beginning of the school year, and then acquire additional items as the year progresses.

Safes are available for rent and are strongly recommended if students bring any valuables or excess cash.

Packing list for boarding students:

● sheets/blankets/bedspreads

● pillows/pillowcases

● towels/washcloths

● laundry bags or basket

● clothes hangers

● desk lamp/floor lamp

● music/sports/art equipment that you may need for fall semester courses and/or sports

The amount of non-academic dress code clothing brought by each student should be kept to a minimum, as space is limited, and superfluous clothing can overwhelm a room. Students should have some warm weather clothes for the first and last month of the school year, but more importantly, students should have appropriate cold weather clothes and gear.

All students should have the following items:

● winter hat and gloves

● winter jacket

● waterproof winter boots

● wool (or other warm fabric) sweater/ long underwear/lined pants

Accountability and Evening Check-in

During evening free time between dinner and the beginning of evening study at 7:30 pm, students have the options of remaining in their own dormitory, visiting a fellow student in another same-sex dormitory, or remaining on the School grounds in plain sight. Students may also use the gymnasium and student center during this period. Weekday check-in is at 9:00 pm directly following evening study and weekend check-in is at 10:00 pm. Sunday night check-in is at 7:00 pm.

Students are required to be in their rooms at these specific times so that RAs and Dorm Parents can account for them. Dorm Parents conduct nightly room checks at these appointed hours.

Lights Out

Lights out times are consistent for the entire campus. From Sunday through Thursday, students are required to be in their own rooms with overhead lights out at 10:00 pm. Students may work at their desks with the use of a desk lamp until no later than 12:00 am. At this time, all lights must be out in student rooms. The internet will be cut off to each dormitory at 11:00 pm on school nights, and 1:00 am on the weekend.

On Fridays and Saturdays, check-in is in the dormitory lounge at 10:00 pm. Students are required to exit the common area and be in a room in their dorm at 12:00 am. At this time, the lounge and hall lights will be turned off by a dorm leader. Individual rooms may remain lit on Friday and Saturday night until 1:00 am, but the dorm should be quiet so that students and faculty can sleep.

Gaming in the Dorms

Boarding students, while permitted to play video games during free time in the student lounges, must maintain a respectful noise level in the dorm. Any student found to be gaming past 12:00 am on weekdays and 1:00 am on weekends (appointed time for all room and desk lights to be off) will be made to surrender their laptops and/or other gaming devices at lights out for a to-bedetermined period of time.

Shipping

Trunks and other baggage may be sent to:

Student’s Name

The Storm King School 314 Mountain Road Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY 12520-1899

Summer Storage

Returning students may box and store items at school over the summer for a fee. These items are returned at the beginning of each school year.

Dormitory Fire Safety

For everyone’s safety, students must not:

● Have an open flame in any building

● Use a fireplace

● Be in possession of or use any weapons, firearms, ammunition, fireworks, or other explosives

● Tamper with or cover over fire extinguishers, smoke/heat detectors, fire alarms, etc.

● Hang tapestries in the rooms or hang anything from the ceiling or sprinkler pipes

● Arrange furniture in such a way that it hinders their ability to exit quickly

● Have electrical appliances for cooking, heating, or making food (i.e. a blender) in the room

● Use any electrical cord not UL-approved

A faculty member who notes a violation of a Fire Safety Guideline will warn the student(s) responsible, point out the consequences of a continued violation, and may confiscate the item(s) violating the guideline. Students must immediately correct any violations. Continued noncompliance or repeated offenses may result in the student being placed in the Formal Discipline process.

Fire/Emergency Drills

Fire drills are important and necessary. All students and faculty will be expected to treat them with the utmost seriousness. When students hear a fire alarm ringing, they should immediately exit the building in a quick and orderly fashion and report directly to the designated area to check-in with the appointed dorm leader or resident faculty member from their building.

When students hear a fire bell ringing, they should report to the following places at the following times:

8:00 am –3:45 pm: The main field between Orr Commons and the Administration Building, unless in their dormitory (see below).

3:45 pm–9:00 pm: Outside the building they were in and report to the faculty member in charge of the building.

9:00 pm– 8:00 am:

● Cottage: The athletic field in front of the dorm

● Highmount: The lawn between the dorm and Art Center road

● McConnell: The lawn between the dorm and Deer Hill Road

● Dempsey: Next to McConnell

● Stone: The lawn in front of Ogden Hall

● Spy Rock: the front lawn in front of the dorm

Room Condition

Whenever a student is either moving in or moving out of a dormitory room, a room condition form must be filled out by the dorm head or another faculty member together with the student. This ensures that any and all damage to the dorm room is charged to the appropriate person responsible. Keeping a clean room is one of the most important factors to a successful boarding experience. Rooms will be inspected regularly by dorm parents. If a room does not meet the agreed-upon standard, the student(s) responsible may be reported to the Student Life Office. The Student Life Office, in conjunction with the dormitory parents, is responsible for tracking and implementing consequences for room cleanliness.

Room Searches

SKS is obligated to ensure that illegal contraband materials, dangerous items, or stolen articles are not kept in students’ rooms. For the health and safety of the community, the School reserves the right to search student rooms. In most instances, the items sought will be described before the search, and the student whose room is being searched is present. In some exigent situations, rooms may be searched without the presence of the student in question. If any contraband other than what was originally sought is discovered during the search, or if the search reveals any other violation of the School’s expectations, the faculty members conducting the search will confiscate any illegal items, and the student will be subject to disciplinary action. Students are responsible for their rooms and the contents within them.

The School also retains the right to conduct reasonable searches of a student’s backpacks, attire, cell phones, and other electronic devices in the interests of the health, safety and well-being of the student and other students upon a reasonable belief that a violation of School policy or law may have occurred, taking into account the nature of the suspected violation, the age and gender of the student, and other relevant circumstances.

Keys and Room Security

Room keys are issued at the beginning of the school year. Fees will be assessed for each lost key and any lock damaged due to student usage. Students who lose their keys must report the loss immediately to their dorm parent or the Student Life Office. They will then be directed to the Business Office to have their key replaced. Any student in possession of keys reported lost or stolen may be subject to dismissal or severe consequences that include the replacement of recently missing items. Failure to turn in found keys immediately is a punishable offense.

Students who exit their dorm room and building must lock their room, and conversely, students in their rooms must leave their door unlocked. This is a fundamental rule to dormitory life at The Storm King School. Anyone entering a room must knock first before entering.

Guests

If a student wishes to have a guest on campus, they must obtain permission from the Student Life Office in advance. Day students are the only people who may be authorized to stay overnight as boarding student guests. All other guests must leave campus before evening check-in, and are only permitted to enter the lounge areas of a same-gender dormitory, unless permission is granted by the administrator on duty.

Laundry

The Storm King School provides washers and dryers free of charge for students to use. Students are reminded not to overload machines or leave laundry in them for extended periods of time. Detergent is available in the school store.

Mail

All student mail, both incoming and outgoing, is received by Security and sorted by the Business Office. Mail is delivered to the dorms Monday through Friday (except on post office holidays). Students and family members are encouraged to limit the number and scope of packages sent to campus, remembering that dormitory rooms are limited in size and space. Packages may be opened with the student present in the Student Life Office if the staff believes the packages contain over-the-counter medications, supplements, narcotics, or any other items prohibited on campus.

The School Store

The SKS School Store is located on the bottom floor of Orr Commons. It sells school uniforms, snack food, beverages, personal items, and some nonessentials as well as Storm King athletic apparel and academic supplies. The store hours will be posted regularly. Students may purchase items using cash, credit, or debit cards.

Automobiles

Boarding students may not have access to or drive an automobile while they are at school, either by having it on campus, storing it nearby, or borrowing one from a day student. Day students seeking permission to drive to and from campus each day must have permission from the Student Life Office (forms are available at registration), and must abide by the contract contained in the form. Any violation of the contract may result in the loss/suspension of oncampus driving privileges.

Weekend Leave Policy

Students in good standing, who do not have academic, athletic, or other school obligations, are permitted to leave The Storm King School on weekends unless the weekend has been designated a “closed weekend”. Closed Weekends require students to remain on campus as a way of acclimating them to boarding school life after vacations, or to promote participation in large school events such as Homecoming or theater productions. Other weekends are considered “open weekends”, and students are permitted to sign out and leave campus with permission. Any boarding student wishing to leave campus for personal reasons (i.e. non-school activities), must use the REACH leave request system to seek approval for leave. REACH leave requests are required for off-campus plans spanning any length of time: for some of a day or all day or overnight(s), students must submit their initial leave request by Wednesday evening at 9:00 pm. Once a student submits a leave request, there is a two-step approval process. In addition to approval from the Student Life Office, parents and guardians are required to approve these requests through REACH. Phone calls or text messages are not sufficient to sign a student out for the weekend. Fully completed leave requests must be submitted in REACH no later than the Thursday at 12:00 noon preceding the weekend.

Please note: students may NOT leave campus until all approvals have been granted. Additionally, the age of the student is irrelevant – students who are 18+ are still required to obtain permission.

Students are never permitted to approve their own REACH leave request either openly or on behalf of their parents/guardians. If parents and guardians are having difficulty with REACH then they or the student should contact us.

The Student Life Office reserves the right to deny a leave request if it is made too late or if there are inconsistencies or uncertainties in the travel plans.

Students who decide to remain on campus after having a weekend leave approved must notify the Dean on Duty as soon as possible and no later than dinnertime on Friday.

Weekends begin after a student’s last obligation on Friday. Once a student has left campus for the weekend, they are not to return temporarily for any reason unless given permission by the Dean on Duty. Students who return from a weekend early are to check in with the Dean on Duty immediately.

Students must be back on campus from their weekend no later than 7:00 pm Sunday (or 7:00 pm Monday in the case of longer school vacations) to report to their dormitories for check-in. Students returning late from a weekend without communication will face disciplinary action from the School. If, for any unavoidable reason, the student cannot return to campus by the specified time, students/parents should call the Dean on Duty to inform the School of the student’s expected return time to campus. If a student has not reported for Sunday check-in, the Dean on Duty will contact the student’s parent or guardian to determine the student’s whereabouts.

Day permissions, in which students venture off campus and return on the same day, are only granted with parental permission and the authorization of the Student Life Office or the Dean on Duty, using the REACH leave process (see above). Students are required to be back on campus by check-in.

DISCIPLINE SECTION 4

DISCIPLINE

Discipline at The Storm King School revolves around the core ideals of Truth, Respect, Responsibility. Members of the community who understand and live by these ideals are welcomed and celebrated at The Storm King School.

We do recognize that, as emerging adults, students will make mistakes and momentarily disregard our core ideals. In these instances, the goal of the disciplinary process is to educate and support students in their quest to improve themselves, and to live up to the expectations of the community. The Storm King School does recognize that some violations of the disciplinary code are so egregious that separation from the School is necessary to maintain order and uphold our values as a community.

All members of The Storm King School community have a hand in maintaining our high standards. Students are expected to manage both their own discipline, and to help their peers when they stray from the School’s core values. Faculty and staff members are expected to model our core values and to exercise sound judgment when interacting with and interpreting student behavior. As a school that values cooperative and collaborative work, discipline is not solely the work of the Student Life Office, but a duty that all members of the community should embrace. The Asst. Head for Student Life is the point person for all incidents that allegedly violate the disciplinary code. In this way, an accurate record of behavior may be kept to help ensure consistency in the administration of the process.

In addition to the Student Life Office, there are other committees and structures that help to maintain discipline at The Storm King School. The Behavior Intervention and Support Committee (BISC) is a group of faculty members who meet regularly to discuss general discipline issues as well as specific incidents and students. Students may be required to meet with this committee when they are in violation of the disciplinary code. The goal of this committee is to provide strategies and guidance to students so that they may better understand the expectations of the community.

The Judicial Committee (JC) is composed of both faculty and student leaders. This committee may be convened when there is a question of fact regarding an alleged violation, or when a student reaches a point in the discipline process when separation from SKS is a strong possibility. Finally, the Head of School is sovereign with respect to determining whether a violation has occurred and the

appropriate discipline for such violation. At their sole and absolute discretion, students may be disciplined up to and including immediate dismissal from The Storm King School or be remanded to a different committee or step in the formal discipline process.

General Expectations

All students are expected to understand and abide by the letter and spirit of the standards and expectations of The Storm King School. The principal expectation of the School is that students value the truth, and conduct themselves in an honest manner. One part of conducting oneself with honor and integrity is to admit when a mistake has been made, or when one has not been truthful. When confronted with a question concerning one’s own behavior, a Storm King School student must honorably and completely report the truth regardless of the consequences. Students who are found to habitually lack the ability to be truthful are working against what it means to be a member of The Storm King School community, will face disciplinary action from the School.

Furthermore, it is each student’s responsibility to understand the policies and procedures of The Storm King School. The Storm King community understands that adolescents are prone to making decisions that are not fully grounded, and that, through the course of discovery and maturation, students may exhibit behavior that is challenging and/or unacceptable. Our goal in these situations is to educate students as to what is acceptable behavior, and then to work with them to develop strategies and behaviors that encourage growth and self-discipline within the community standards.

The Storm King School is committed to providing all students a safe school environment in which all members of the community are treated with respect.

Individuals have a right to feel both safe and respected in the environment in which they live and learn. Thus, The Storm King School recognizes that some actions are absolutely unacceptable, as they threaten the safety of the community and its individuals. As a result, The Storm King School has deemed the following to be violations of major school rules.

These violations may result in the dismissal of the student responsible:

● Theft

● Distribution, possession or use of drugs or alcohol

● Violation of fire safety policies

● Sexual harassment, hazing, or bullying

● Physical violence

● Possession of weapons or explosives

● A demonstrated unwillingness to abide by school rules

● Computer/internet/technology abuse

The following are breaches of expected conduct at The Storm King School. Consequences for these infractions may range from a verbal warning to dismissal, depending upon the behavioral record of the student in question:

● Check-in/sign-out/curfew violations

● Sexual impropriety

● Vandalism

● Unlawful entry

● Disrespect/insubordination

● Unexcused absences

● Excessive tardiness

● Dormitory violations

Formal/Informal Verbal Warnings

Prior to placing a student at Step One of the formal disciplinary processes, a student may be verbally warned and counseled by a member of the Storm King School faculty or staff. These warnings are known as informal warnings, and may or may not be reported to a member of the Office of Student Life. A formal warning is always administered by a member of the Student Life Office and noted in the Student Life records.

Dean’s Hours

The Student Life Office or the Asst. Head for Student Life may assign students Dean’s Hours for behavior that contradicts the expectations and policies of

the School. Dean’s Hours are designed to be specifically tailored to a student’s needs and indiscretions while also supporting the needs of the School. For example, a student may be assigned to supervised study hall, clean-up crew, etc. Dean’s Hours generally cannot be contested by a student. A student who skips their Dean’s Hours will be considered truant, incurring further penalty. A student who accrues multiple sets of Dean’s Hours may be placed at Step One of the formal disciplinary process, necessitating a BISC meeting, parental contact, and one or more of the consequences outlined at the end of this section.

Saturday Detention

The Student Life Office or the Asst. Head for Student Life may assign a student to Saturday Detention for behavior that contradicts the expectations and policies of the School. Saturday Detention might be issued on its own or in addition to Dean’s Hours. Saturday Detention is typically held at 9:00 am and lasts two hours. If a student skips Saturday Detention, they will incur further penalties and advance in the School disciplinary process.

Formal and Expedited Discipline

At The Storm King School, we provide both a formal disciplinary process that takes into account the need for justice and an ethic of care, and reserve the right to take expedited disciplinary action where the Head of School, in their sole and absolute discretion, determines such action is necessary under the circumstances. The formal disciplinary process is designed to be developmental in nature and provides a structured context in which a student can learn a healthy value system and sound decision-making skills.

In general, the formal disciplinary process is a two-step system. The two-step process is designed to enable students to examine their behaviors and take appropriate, supported actions to modify these behaviors. The placement of a student at either step of the formal process represents a clear indication from The Storm King School administration that the student is not meeting the expectations of the community. Depending on the nature and severity of the incident in question, and on the history and record of the student involved, a student may be placed directly at Step Two of the formal process.

Despite the availability of the formal disciplinary process, the Head of School may take expedited disciplinary action including the determination of whether a violation has occurred and the appropriate discipline for such a violation. At the Head of School’s sole and absolute discretion, students may be disciplined

up to and including immediate dismissal from the School and thus bypassing the formal disciplinary process entirely, or be remanded to a different committee or step in the formal disciplinary process.

Step One

A student placed at Step One of the formal disciplinary process has either accrued multiple infractions or committed a single violation of a school rule.

The declaration of a student at Step One initiates the following actions taken by the School administration:

● Parental notification: Parents and/or guardians will receive written notification of the Step One placement

● BISC meeting: Student will meet with the Behavioral Intervention and Support Committee to discuss and implement strategies to improve behavior

● Disciplinary consequence: Student may be given one or more of the consequences described later in this section

Step Two

Placement at Step Two of the formal disciplinary process is a clear indication from The Storm King School that a student’s position at the School is in jeopardy. A student will be placed at Step Two as a result of his/her failure to change their behavior following Step One procedures. Students may also be placed immediately at Step Two for egregious infractions or violations of major school rules. The declaration of a student at Step Two initiates the following actions taken by the school administration:

● Parental notification: Parents and/or guardians will receive written notification of the Step Two placement prior to a Judicial Committee hearing

● Judicial Committee hearing: Student may appear before a joint student/ faculty committee to discuss a specific incident and/or cumulative behavioral record

● Disciplinary consequences: Students may be given one or more of the consequences described later in this handbook

The Judicial Committee hearing yields a disciplinary recommendation, which is forwarded to the Head of School for a final decision. If the student is allowed

to remain a member of the community, they may be placed on probation, meaning that any subsequent violations may result in immediate dismissal from The Storm King School.

Judicial Committee Procedures

As stated before, the Judicial Committee is a joint student-faculty committee that meets as a consequence of a student being placed at Step Two of the formal discipline process. Depending on the nature of the violation, the Head of School and Asst. Head for Student Life may choose to convene an allfaculty or all-student Judicial Committee or a combination of the two. Typically, two students and two faculty members are chosen from a preselected pool of eligible members, and constitute the voting body of the Judicial Committee. The committee is chaired by the Asst. Head for Student Life or their designated proxy. The Asst. Head for Student Life and Assoc. Dean of Students will have conducted the investigation and gathered incident reports and any related documents, and will lead the questioning of the student.

Before appearing at a Judicial Committee hearing, the student in question is given appropriate notice, and encouraged to communicate with their advisor regarding the hearing. The advisor is asked to accompany the student to the hearing and to act on behalf of the student during the hearing. If a student wishes to substitute their advisor for another faculty member, they may do so as long as the Student Life Office has been notified. In addition, the Student Life Office will attempt to notify a parent or guardian of the student in question prior to the hearing. A parent or guardian is not permitted to come to campus and participate in the Judicial Board hearing.

Students are expected to be forthright and honest during Judicial Board proceedings. Dishonesty or lies of omission during these hearings shall be viewed as a clear indication that the student is not capable of being a member of The Storm King School community.

As stated before, after deliberation and vote, the Judicial Committee gives a recommendation to the Head of School, who ultimately makes the final decision in collaboration with the Asst. Head for Student Life.

Reach of the School

Members of The Storm King School community are always under the jurisdiction of all local, state, and federal laws. Once students have initially

enrolled at The Storm King School, they are responsible for their actions regardless of location, and can be held accountable. Thus, The Storm King School reserves the right to discipline students for an act committed while not under the School’s direct jurisdiction or supervision, or on the School’s premises. Such acts will be evaluated at the sole and absolute discretion of the School, which reserves the right to deviate from the regular disciplinary process as deemed necessary under the circumstances.

Violence Policy

Students must never resort to physical confrontation to resolve their differences. Fighting for any reason will not be tolerated and may result in disciplinary action including possible suspension or dismissal, loss of privileges, parental conference, probation, or other disciplinary action deemed appropriate. Fighting includes (but is not limited to) the throwing of punches, knees, or kicks, or a serious physical struggle. Likewise, threatening another student will not be tolerated. Threatening includes any behavior which purposely places or attempts to place another in fear of imminent bodily injury or physical contact.

The possession of a weapon or other dangerous object in a school building or on school property, or at school functions is prohibited and may result in suspension, police intervention, and possible dismissal. Dangerous objects include (but are not limited to) items such as guns, firearms, explosive devices, knives, slingshots, and pepper sprays.

Theft Policy

In the case of theft in a dormitory or on school grounds, a student should immediately report the theft to the dorm parent on duty, and as soon as possible thereafter to the Office of Student Life. An incident report must be completed, and the School will do what is reasonable to locate the missing or stolen items. In some cases, it is necessary to involve the local police department. The School assumes no responsibility for money or personal property stolen from students. In order to reduce the risk of theft, it is important that students lock their doors when they are absent from the room and keep cash and valuables locked up, preferably in a safe.

Theft is not tolerated at The Storm King School. A student found in violation of this major school rule may be dismissed immediately.

Policy on Bullying, Hazing, & Sexual Harassment

Bullying, hazing, and harassment of any kind are not tolerated at The Storm King School. Any student found to have engaged in these activities shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal. The Storm King School may also be bound to report such actions to the appropriate authorities.

Bullying occurs when a student is the target of negative actions, usually in the form of intentional, repetitive, hurtful acts, words, or other behavior such as, but not limited to:

● Intimidation

● Name-calling

● Social alienation

● Physical aggression

Hazing is defined as any conduct, coercion, or intimidation used as a method of initiation into a group, organization, team, or activity which is likely to endanger the mental or physical health of any student.

It is a crime to participate in any student hazing. Under the law, the implied or express consent of any person toward whom any act of hazing is directed is not a defense to a student or students committing an act of hazing.

Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Some examples of sexual harassment include:

● Sexual innuendo

● Verbal harassment, including derogatory comments or slurs

● Inappropriate comments about a person’s body or appearance

● Physical harassment such as unwanted touching, patting, pinching, or physical interference with movement or work

● Visual harassment such as drawings, posters, or graffiti

Any student who believes that they have been the victim of bullying, hazing, or sexual harassment must report the incident to the Student Life Office, dorm parent, advisor, Head of School, or any trusted faculty member. In addition, any student who is aware of harassment of any kind involving other members

of the community is obligated to honorably report this information to one of the aforementioned authorities on campus.

Reporting Violations

Each student is required to follow the School’s procedures for registering a complaint about any act of unlawful discrimination or harassment to enable the School to deal swiftly, efficiently, and fairly with the situation and the fellow students, faculty, or staff involved, and to maintain a safe and nurturing educational setting.

Students who believe they have been subjected to wrongful discrimination or harassment must do the following:

Take immediate action: Tell the person, if it is safe to do so, to stop the unwelcome or offensive behavior. Remove yourself from harm’s way.

If the unwelcome or offensive behavior is by a student and persists, or it is not safe to confront the person: Immediately advise a member of the school faculty of your complaint and the details of the occurrence. Your complaint will then need to be made in writing and signed by you. The faculty member will bring your written complaint to the attention of the Asst. Head for Student Life. If for any reason you do not feel comfortable discussing the matter with a faculty member or the Asst. Head for Student Life, find a member of the School’s administrative team with whom you are comfortable talking.

If the unwelcome or offensive behavior is by a faculty member and persists: Immediately advise the Asst. Head for Student life or another member of the School’s administrative team of your complaint and the details of the complaint. Your complaint will then be made in writing, and signed by you. The Asst. Head for Student Life or the administrative team member will assist you in writing your complaint, if you request. They will bring your written complaint to the attention of the Head of School.

The Asst. Head for Student Life and the Head of School or their representative will investigate your written complaint and make a determination as to the charges and the appropriate remedy, which may include disciplining, expelling, or terminating the alleged offender, providing counseling, or modifying

the alleged offender’s schedule, depending on the circumstances. The complaining student will be notified of the determination.

A student or parent of a minor student making any complaint may ask that the student’s name not be disclosed to the harasser or that nothing be done about the alleged harassment. Requesting confidentiality may limit the School’s ability to respond. Notwithstanding any confidentiality request, the School will take all reasonable steps to investigate and respond to the complaint consistent with the student’s request as long as doing so does not prevent the School from responding effectively to the harassment and preventing harassment of other students.

Retaliation against a student complaining of harassment is prohibited by federal law. A student should notify the School if they are afraid of reprisals from the alleged harasser. The School will take steps to prevent retaliation and respond strongly against any retaliatory action.

Every student has the right, at the student’s expense, to consult an attorney or file a complaint with the Federal Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights, and possibly bring a legal action to recover damages. Note that there are strict time limitations on your right to file complaints under state and federal laws.

In addition, any student who is aware of harassment of any kind involving other members of the community shall report this information to one of the aforementioned authorities on campus.

Drug and Alcohol Policy

The Storm King School is a drug-free and alcohol-free campus. Students who distribute alcohol or drugs on campus will likely be dismissed immediately. In addition, students shall be subject to disciplinary consequences if they are found using or test positive for or are in the possession or the presence of drugs, alcohol, or related paraphernalia.

The Storm King School recognizes that drug and alcohol abuse is an issue to both health and community welfare. Students who violate this policy are placed at Step One or Step Two of the disciplinary process based on the severity of the transgression. Both steps necessitate parental notification and mandatory counseling. The Student Life Office and the School’s health professionals will work closely with the student’s family and Head of School to create and implement the appropriate actions as a consequence.

The Storm King School reserves the right to administer drug and alcohol testing to any of its students. This testing may only be mandated by the Student Life Office or the Head of School, and is executed on campus by the Director of Health Services/School Nurse in conjunction with the Student Life Office. Should a student refuse the screening, the School retains the right to dismiss the student. In many cases, students who violate the Drug and Alcohol Policy are placed on regular testing schedules to ensure compliance. Students and their families are responsible for the cost of these tests.

A second drug and alcohol violation may result in the placement of the student at Step Two of the formal disciplinary process or immediate dismissal from school.

Fire Safety Policy

The Storm King School does not tolerate students that jeopardize the safety of all by creating fire hazards on campus. This includes, but is not limited to, using an open flame or heating element (candles, irons, hotpots) in or around the dorms; smoking or burning any substance inside a school building; and tampering with any fire and/or safety equipment. Students who violate this important rule are subject to immediate dismissal from The Storm King School.

Tobacco Policy

The Storm King School is committed to a nicotine- and tobacco-free campus. Therefore, Storm King School students may not smoke cigarettes, use smokeless tobacco, possess any tobacco products, or knowingly be in the presence of such behaviors while under the School’s jurisdiction. The Storm King School considers electronic cigarettes and vape pens, regardless of whether the oil contains nicotine, included in this prohibition on campus. The most egregious violation of the smoking ban occurs when a student smokes tobacco or any other substance inside a campus building, as this also violates the School’s fire safety policy. This behavior will not be tolerated, and offenders will be dismissed from The Storm King School.

If a student is caught smoking outside whether on school grounds or off, they will be placed in the formal disciplinary process and be given consequences associated with this process. The student will also be required to meet with the school nurse for a health evaluation. Repeat offenders may be mandated by The Storm King School to enroll in and complete an accredited smoking cessation program as a criterion for continued enrollment at the School.

Students and their families are responsible for any fees associated with this program. Refusal to enroll in a smoking cessation program will be considered noncompliance by The Storm King School, which reserves the right to dismiss any non-compliant student.

Publicity of Disciplinary Action

The Storm King School reserves the right to raise at any school meeting any issue of discipline regarding a student for the purpose of furthering the educational learning exposure of students and the school community overall.

Disciplinary Consequences

Students who violate The Storm King School community standards are subject to disciplinary consequences based on the two-step formal process previously outlined or by expedited disciplinary action. These consequences are not vindictive, but intended to reinforce student understanding of the expectations of the community, and to protect the community. The following are examples of disciplinary consequences:

Dean’s Hours

Students may be assigned Dean’s Hours as described in the preceding pages.

Saturday Detention

Students may be assigned a Saturday Detention as described in the preceding pages.

Campus Restriction

Students given this consequence are allowed to leave campus only on trips approved by the Student Life Office. Weekend restriction includes any work mandated by the Dean on Duty including community service or campus work.

Room Restriction

Boarding students on room restriction lose their free hour in the evenings and are required to remain in their rooms unless reporting to an obligatory event or meal. This consequence is used when it is deemed necessary to separate individuals to allow time for conflict to abate, or as a means of keeping individuals more closely supervised.

Loss of Privileges

Students may lose their right to participate in athletics, arts, room study, student leadership, or other community events if in violation of community standards.

Counseling and Outpatient Education

Students may be required to meet with professional counselors either on or off campus if in violation of certain school rules. In some instances, outpatient education programs (at the cost to the student) may be required before a student can re-enroll at The Storm King School.

Formal Warning

A student who receives a formal warning by the Student Life Office is being made aware that their behavior is not meeting the expectations of the School.

Probation

Probation alerts a student that their position at The Storm King School is in jeopardy. Students may be given probation when they reach Step One of the disciplinary process. The Judicial Board may also recommend probation as a result of a hearing. A student on probation who incurs a major violation or repeated minor infractions may be dismissed from The Storm King School.

Suspension

School suspensions may be either internal or external. External suspensions require physical separation from the School. Students will be released into the custody of parents or guardians. Upon return, a suspended student must meet with the Asst. Head for Student Life to discuss their standing at SKS. Internal suspension places a student in the Administration Building during classes and with faculty members during meals, and includes loss of privileges and room restriction for boarding students.

Dismissal/Expulsion

Students who are dismissed or expelled from The Storm King School are required to leave campus immediately. The Asst. Head for Student Life or their proxy will communicate with the parent or guardian to facilitate the earliest possible departure. Any student dismissed or required to withdraw from The Storm King School for disciplinary reasons may not be on the School’s campus for any reason. Should it be necessary for the student to return to campus for any reason, prior consent must be received from the Student Life Office. The

Head of School is the only individual who may dismiss a student from The Storm King School.

Student Dismissal Policy

The Storm King School recognizes that students sometimes make poor decisions that unfortunately result in forced separation from the School. Understanding that there is a range of behaviors that would result in such a separation, the School has instituted the following policy that establishes three types of separation:

Suspension

Students found to have violated a major school rule are oftentimes suspended from school. Suspension is a temporary separation from the School that is intended to offer the student and their family a time to discuss the student’s behavior and reach consensus regarding the necessity of adhering to school rules in the future. While away from school on suspension, the student is responsible for any missed academic work and must make up any missed tests or quizzes immediately after returning to school. Upon returning from suspension, students will be placed on “social probation” for a period of time that is determined during the disciplinary process that led up to the suspension. During social probation, if that student violates another major school rule, the likely consequence is dismissal or expulsion.

Dismissal

Students who have committed an egregiously serious offense, or who have violated a major school rule while on social probation, are likely to be dismissed or expelled. Dismissal is a complete separation from the School. However, after a period of time determined by the Head of School, dismissed students may reapply for admission. Their application will be considered as are those from other prospective students and an admission decision will be rendered based upon the student’s academic and social progress since leaving The Storm King School, as well as other current circumstances the Admissions Office and the Head of School find relevant. Re-admitted students may begin their new enrollment under probationary status, at the sole and absolute discretion of the Head of School.

Expulsion

Students who have committed the most serious of offenses are subject to expulsion. Expulsion is a complete, permanent separation from the School.

Expelled students are barred from campus presence for as long as the Head of School deems appropriate. They may not reapply to The Storm King School for readmission.

Nothing in this Student Dismissal Policy limits the sole and absolute discretion of the Head of School to take expedited disciplinary action where they determine such action is necessary under the circumstances.

Important Contact Information

Main Phone Number: 845.534.7892

Toll Free: 800.225.9144

Dean on Duty Cell: 845.629.0344

Admissions: 845.534.9860

Campus Security: 845.762.6213

Head of School

Lisa Shambaugh, 845.458.7511, lshambaugh@sks.org

Asst. Head for Finance; CFO

Ray Hecht, 845.458.7518, rhecht@sks.org

Asst. Head for Admissions & Marketing

Marek Pramuka, 845.458.7542, mpramuka@sks.org

Asst. Head for Academics

Dr. Tim Lance, 845.458.7539, tlance@sks.org

Asst. Head for Student Life

Emily Cole-Chu MacSwain, 845.458.7516, emacswain@sks.org

Asst. to the Head of School

Anne Marie Coleman, 845.458.7534, acoleman@sks.org

Director of Athletics & Head of Summer Programs

Dr. Nicole Cervantes, 845.458.7544, ncervantes@sks.org

Director of College Counseling

Daniel Constantinidi, 845.458.7515, dconstantinidi@sks.org

Director of Student Health Services

Cindy Neville, RN, 845.458.7524, cneville@sks.org

The Storm King School

314 Mountain Road, Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY 12520 sks.org