S T U D E N T/ PA R E N T H A N D B O O K 2 013 – 2 014
SCHEDULE FOR OPENING THE SCHOOL YEAR
No returning students should arrive earlier than the designated time without prior permission of the Dean of Students. SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2013
îƒť FALL SPORTS TEAMS arrive
THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013
v SENIORS need to be on campus by 4 p.m.
JV ans will depart LAX in the afternoon to transport students to campus.
JF or transportation arrangements e-mail Ms. Vyhnal, tvyhnal@thacher.org, by August 1. SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 2013
î § NEW STUDENTS should plan on arriving at Thacher between 9:00 and 11:30 a.m.
g RETURNING STUDENTS should plan on arriving at Thacher in the afternoon. We will meet you at the front gate of the School where you will receive detailed information about the orientation period, and a senior will escort you around campus. If you are a new student traveling alone to the campus, please call the Dean of Students, Ms. McMahon, so that she can make appropriate transportation arrangements. ALL NEW STUDENTS, both day and boarding, and their parents should attend a meeting at 1:15 p.m. in the Milligan Center for the Performing Arts. If you require transportation from the airport to school, please contact amerlini@thacher.org to make arrangements. The office of the Dean of Students is responsible for maintaining school rules and policies and for the content of this handbook.
INTRODUCTION
This “Student/Parent Handbook” is a resource for all of you. What you need to bring, what you should wear, as well as information about horses, camping, clubs, and sports are but a few of the entries. While we want you to read this carefully, please understand that this is a reference book and need not be studied in one sitting. Do not hesitate to write or call if you have questions. Parents may wish to keep this copy, as students will receive their own copy of this “Handbook” on campus. Whom to Contact
As you prepare to arrive at Thacher in September, you and your family will have many questions. Please use this quick reference guide as a resource to gain answers to your queries. For general new and returning student concerns, travel, and student activities please contact: Sabina McMahon Dean of Students tel: 805-640-3201 x214 smcmahon@thacher.org The Thacher School 5025 Thacher Road Ojai, CA, 93023 tel: 805-646-4377 fax: 805-646-9490
questions? Academics Blossom Pidduck bbpidduck@ thacher.org 640-3201 x213 Admission Bill McMahon bmcmahon@ thacher.org 640-3210 Athletics Pete Fagan pfagan @ thacher.org 646-4377 Directions/Calendar Sara Edwards sedwards@ thacher.org 646-4377 Health Services Carolyn McMahan cmcmahan@ thacher.org 646-2439 Horse Program Cam Schryver cschryver @ thacher.org 640-3201 x228 Mail/Student Store Cindy Kosinski ckosinski@ thacher.org 640-3201 x235 Student ACCOUNTS studentaccounts@ thacher.org 640-3201 x266 Technology Systems Jerry Holden jholden @ thacher.org 640-3201 x257 Website/Publications Chris Land cland @ thacher.org 640-3201 x264
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The Thacher School Introduction 3 Whom to Contact 3 The Honor Code 5 A Digest Of Community Rules 6 Major Rules 7 The General Expectations 17 Permissions and Signing Out 19 Thacher from A to Z A The Academic Program The Advising Program Appearance and Dress Assembly Athletics
22 22 28 29 31 32
B Bicycles 34
Birthday Celebrations
C The Camping Program
Cell Phones CdeP Connection Class Attendance Policy Clubs and Other Activities College Visits Commencement The Community Council Community Service Program Computers Concerts Copier Counseling Cultural Weekends
D Day Students
34 37 37 37 37 39 39 40 40 41 42 43 43 44 44
Departmental Weekend Detention Dining Services Discipline Dormitory Boundaries Dorm Overnights Dress Code Driver’s Education
47 50 50 52 52 53 53 54 54
E Emergency Contacts Extra Day Trips—EDTs
55 55
F Family Weekend
56 56 56 56 57
Fire Alarms Fire Regulations Florists Formal Dinner
G Guests at School
Guns and Firearms
58 58
4 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
Gymkhana Weekend
H Head’s Invitation
Health Services Horse Program Hotels Human Relations/Sexuality
I The Independent Program J The Judicial Council
58 59 56 62 65 66 66 12, 67
L Laundry 68 Library
68
M Mail 70 Maintenance Meals Medication The Milligan Center for the Performing Arts Money The Morning Jobs Progarm Music Guidelines
70 70 71
71 71 72 72
O The Outdoor Program
74
P Parents 75
The Performing Arts Program 77 Permissions 19–20, 36, 37, 81, 87–88 Pets 77 Phones 77
R Repairs 78 Roofs Rooms
78 78
S School Supplies
82 82 83 83 83 84 84 85 85 85
T The Thacher Room
86 86 86 87
Senior Leadership Sign-out Procedures Skateboards Spirtual Life The Student Store Study Hours Study Skills/Tutoring Summer Storage Swimming TOAD Town Runs Transportation
V Vacations 88 W Weekend Program
89
HONOR and trust
The Thacher School Honor Code is essentially the expectation that all students will be honest, forthright, kind, and respectful in all of their dealings, thereby supporting, in actions and in words, the fundamental principle of honor behind the Rules and Regulations. The Honor Code and the Thacher community are only as strong as the individuals who live here and make it work. Each person is trusted as far as he or she proves himself worthy, and generally acquires the privilege of a great deal of liberty. One weak person can compromise the strength of honor and integrity in the whole community unless the community chooses to demand strength in the face of weakness. We must all, therefore, strive to uphold and protect the integrity and spirit of this Honor Code by which we willingly choose to live and to help each other help our School community stay strong. The expectations we have of each other are very high, and there will be missteps and failures; however, as a community of teachers and learners, we will reward earnest attempts to learn and grow with patient guidance and compassion. The spirit of the Honor Code pervades the Digest of Community Regulations that follows. Though we do list specific rules to guide our behavior, it is the spirit of honor that should prevail in all actions and words. For this reason, all expectations of student behavior are not listed; if you govern your life according to the spirit of the Honor Code—living a life of integrity, one filled with honesty, forthrightness, kindness, respect, courage, and determination—you will meet and exceed the high expectations we have of you. Ultimately, students ought to ensure that wrongful behavior is stopped and that which is good and right prevails. While students are not expected to turn each other in for rule violations (except in cases of danger to others or themselves), students may do so if talking with that person fails to bring a stop to wrongful actions. Students are always encouraged to discuss these issues with faculty members.
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The Thacher School The Thacher School stands for honesty, trust, and respect for others. These qualities make living together in a supportive community possible. All members of the School are expected to accept responsibility for their actions and to abide by the basic rules necessary for an atmosphere conducive to study and to personal growth. The School will not countenance behavior—academic or social—contrary to these standards, which Thacher deems essential to maintaining the best climate for learning and personal growth. Students unable to comply harm themselves, the School, and the spirit of cooperation on which Thacher is founded. The School does not stop caring about its students when they leave the front gates, just as parents do not stop caring for their children when they leave home. The values expressed in the Community Rules are ones by which we hope students will live, on and off the campus. Behavior contrary to these expectations occurring anywhere is the concern of the School’s, and though no disciplinary consequences should be expected when our rules are broken by students in the care of their parents, we do believe in addressing with students and their parents all of our concerns about a student’s behavior. We strive to be a community with no physical boundary; no matter where we may be, we all should feel connected by a belief in the School and the values for which it stands. As members of the Thacher community, students are expected to uphold the good name of the School, even when they are not under the School’s jurisdiction.
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The Major Rules
The following five rules are of paramount importance to this community. Violations of these major community rules will result in formal disciplinary action. We hold in highest regard the principle of honor and the maintenance of a drug- and alcohol-free community, a community that also supports and nurtures the differences among people and strives to make the School a safe and comfortable place for all, regardless of race, gender, religion, social class, or sexual orientation. I. Honesty
Dishonesty of any kind, including plagiarism, lying, cheating, or stealing constitutes a violation of our rules. Students are expected to be forthright and tell the entire truth when asked about their involvement in any kind of offense, taking full responsibility for their own actions. Penalties are more severe for those who lie than those who do not. II. Respect for Self, Others, and Community
Actions dangerous to the health, safety, or well-being of other persons, including the expression of racial, ethnic, religious, or gender-related intolerance, or other forms of willful and malicious harassment; the infliction or threat of personal injury; hazing; the willful destruction of property constitutes a violation of our rules. Students may not use their age, size, or position in the School to intimidate, threaten, or physically harm another student. All students present and involved in these types of situation are liable for disciplinary action, including the possibility of suspension or expulsion. A. Policy on Hazing
Hazing is not tolerated at The Thacher School. Hazing refers to “any activity that humiliates, degrades or risks emotional and/or physical harm, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate.”*
* From StopHazing.org
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The Thacher School B. Policy on Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is not tolerated at The Thacher School. It is the School’s policy that no member of the community— faculty, staff, or student—may sexually harass another. Sexual harassment is defined as inappropriate attention to an individual’s gender and “has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with [that individual’s] work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive atmosphere.”* Sexual harassment can be verbal or physical. Verbal harassment may include:
5 Sexual innuendoes and comments; suggestive remarks about one’s clothing, body, or sexual activities; and suggestive or insulting sounds 5 Personally offensive humor or jokes about sex 5 Sexual propositions, invitations, or other pressure for sex 5 Comments in writing or e-mail, including social network sites Physical harassment may include:
5 Inappropriate touching or feeling 5 Obscene gestures 5 Deliberate brushing against body 5 Attempted or actual kissing or fondling 5 Sexual assault
*From the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
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C. Response to Harassment and Hazing
Any student who feels victimized by any form of hazing or harassment, or has witnessed it, is urged to report harassment of any kind to a prefect, faculty member, school nurse, Dean of Students, or Head of School. All complaints will be investigated promptly and handled in a supportive and confidential manner. A committee will be convened to establish the facts of the case and the victim of harassment will be offered the consideration of choosing a more formal (more public, i.e., Judicial Council hearing or Faculty Committee with dorm meetings to follow) or informal inquiry, though the punishment itself will be determined by the adjudicating body and not the victim. It is important to remember that actions can and will be judged regardless of intent; harassment is often unintentional and the result of ignorance, and though it can sometimes be understandable, this behavior is never acceptable and will always be addressed.
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The Thacher School
III. Drugs and Alcohol A. Use, exchange, possession, smoking any substance, or being
under the influence of unauthorized drugs, marijuana, or alcohol constitutes a violation of our rules.
udents in the company of someone using such substances, even S if they themselves are not using them, are liable for disciplinary action. Students supplying drugs or alcohol to other students will be expelled. 1. For first-time use, exchange, or possession of drugs
or alcohol, students can expect to be expelled. The Dean of Students will determine the facts of the case and then convene the Judicial Council. The student will appear before the Council and then will go home. The recommendation for punishment will be decided in the absence of the student. If there are mitigating circumstances that are sufficiently compelling to make a return to the School possible, the student will return on Probation, counseling will be required, and regular drug testing may be expected.
2. For a second offense involving drugs or alcohol, expulsion
is likely. The offending student will appear before the Judicial Council or a Faculty Committee so that the specific circumstances of the case can be considered.
B. Returning to campus under the influence of alcohol or
drugs, regardless of whose jurisdiction a student is under, is a violation of our rules. Parents should not serve students alcoholic beverages at meals off-campus, especially not when a student will be returning to campus.
C. Drug and alcohol paraphernalia, including clothing and room
decorations, drugs, or alcohol is not allowed, but will not constitute a major rules violation. Failure to comply with the request to remove the drug and alcohol paraphernalia will result in a formal disciplinary hearing.
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IV. Dormitory Visitation
Unauthorized presence of a student in the dorm areas of the opposite sex is strictly forbidden and will result in a Judicial Council hearing. All involved are liable to disciplinary consequences, including the possibility of suspension and/or expulsion. V. Wandering
Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are expected to remain in the dormitory after check-in and may not leave the dormitory area at any time before 6 a.m. for any reason without the permission of the Dorm Head or the faculty member on duty. Seniors are expected to be at and remain at check-in and then are allowed to participate in wandering. Seniors are expected to be at and remain in their dormitory at the close of wandering and may not leave the dormitory before 6 a.m. without the permission of a faculty member. Failure to abide will result in significant disciplinary consequences and may result in a Judicial Council hearing. School Jurisdiction
Boarding students are under the School’s jurisdiction at all times except during official weekends, vacations, and occasions when students are in the company of their parents or legal guardians off campus. Boarding students should remember that they are under the School’s jurisdiction until they have reached their final, approved destination. Leaving the School grounds does not in itself constitute leaving the School’s jurisdiction. Day students place themselves under the School’s jurisdiction every time they come on or near the campus when the School is in session or when they participate in any School-sponsored activity off campus. Behavior contrary to the Honor Code expectations is the concern of the School regardless of whether it is an official weekend or vacation. Though no disciplinary consequences should be expected when our rules are broken by students in the care of parents, when behavior concerns come to the School’s attention, parents will be notified as well as Dorm Head and Advisors. Ultimately, this information could have an impact on the student’s role and responsibilities on campus.
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The Thacher School The Judicial Council
Although minor infractions of the Community Regulations may be adjudicated through the Prefects, Advisor, Dormitory Head, or Dean of Students, major infractions are channeled, at the discretion of the Head of School, either to the Judicial Council (six students and two faculty) or to a Faculty Committee. Faculty Committees are selected if there are exams in progress or if there are aspects to the case that are confidential and, therefore, not appropriate for sharing with students and the School as a whole. The Judicial Council, on the other hand, shares the details of each case with the entire School after the case is closed, offering to the community both the specifics of the case and the logic for their recommendations to the Head of School. Time is taken for questions and answers as well as for discussion within the dorm and with the dorm faculty and Judicial Council representatives. A case is brought before the Judicial Council or a Faculty Committee once it has been established that a rule violation has occurred. The Dean of Students interviews all people involved and presents the facts of the case to the Judicial Council or the Faculty Committee, and it is the job of these groups to determine the appropriate disciplinary response. Many factors are taken into consideration in determining the outcome, including a student’s past disciplinary record. Recommendations for disciplinary action from both groups are made to the Head of School, who ultimately decides to accept or amend the recommendation. Students who wish to serve on the Judicial Council must write an essay and be interviewed by members of the Student Leadership Council. Those students who are deemed most worthy, regardless of class, are then selected by a vote of the School. Such qualities as integrity, thoughtfulness, articulateness, and maturity are carefully weighed. Students who are on social probation are not eligible for a position on the Judicial Council.
12 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
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I. Health And Safety
A. Tobacco and Tobacco Products.
Use and possession of tobacco is strictly forbidden. Failure to comply with this rule will result in a Judicial Council hearing, even for a first offense. Repeated violations will result in increasingly severe disciplinary responses and could result in separation from the School. Smoking in a School building will constitute a violation of the fire regulation as well and will result in severe disciplinary consequences. B. Firearms, Fireworks, and Fire. 1. Conventional gauge shotguns and .22 rifles may be kept on
campus as long as they are properly kept in the secured gun shed as part of the Trap Shooting Program. Other firearms and shotgun loads are prohibited. Only those students who have parental permission and who have passed a rangesafety test may use legal firearms. They may only be used on the School range and under the supervision of a faculty advisor of the Gun Club. Students must store ammunition and reloading supplies only in the shed.
2. No fireworks are allowed on campus.
Students using fire are endangering the safety of others. No volatile materials, including lighters, matches, candles, or incense, may be lit in any dormitory room, hallway, or dorm area (except in fireplaces, with permission). Students may not tamper with any fire equipment in any way.
3. Knives.
Students may only have knives of the appropriate length specified by our camping and horse programs— about 5 inches in length. Knives should be kept in pockets when out camping or riding, or stored safely in dormitory rooms. Destruction to school property is not allowed, nor is dangerous recreational play. Any knives longer than 5 inches must be checked in with the Dormitory Head.
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The Thacher School C. Airsoft, BB, Pellet, or Paintball guns are not permitted on campus D. Swimming
Only students who have passed the swim test may use the swimming pool and then only when three swimmers are present within the pool enclosure; after dinner, a teacher must be present. Students may not be in the pool area during the class day. Further rules are posted at the pool. E. Horseback Riding After Hours
No horseback riding by students is allowed between dinner and breakfast unless approved by one of the directors of the Horse Program. II. Motor Vehicles A. Boarding students are not permitted to keep a motor vehicle
closer to the campus than their own homes.
B. At no time when the School is officially in session may a
boarding student drive a motor vehicle unless accompanied by one of his or her parents or guardians. Exceptions include School-licensed drivers driving School vehicles on campus under the direct supervision of faculty.
C. While under the School’s jurisdiction, boarding students may
ride only with members of their immediate family (provided the member is of college-age or older) or with their guardian, with parents of another student, or with members of the faculty and designated staff, including spouses.
D. A boarding student may not ride in a motor vehicle driven by
a day student unless the driver is accompanied by one of his or her parents or guardians.
E. Any exception to the above rules can be granted only by the
Dean of Students in consultation with the student’s parents or guardian.
F. Hitchhiking is forbidden at all times, including to and from
School, and on official weekends and vacations.
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G. Students may not leave campus in a car driven by another
student or a recent graduate, but must leave in the company of an approved adult, ie: family members or persons at least 25 years of age. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary consequences.
H. Day Student Drivers: 1. Must meet individually with the Dean of Students when
they initially get their license
2. May not drive boarders 3. Cars need to be parked in designated areas at all times
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The Thacher School III. Expectations On Intimate Behavior
The School has equal expectations for students regardless of their sexual orientation, and we expect all students involved in romantic relationships to follow the School’s policies and respect the rights and privacy of others. A. Public Behavior
In private but public situations, such as in movies or in conversations on campus, mild displays of affection including hand-holding, taking an arm while walking, or putting an arm around a shoulder are normal. In gatherings such as classes and Assemblies, however, even such mild displays of affection are inappropriate. In public, (at Assembly, in classes, the Dining Room, or at games) behavior should be discrete and circumspect. B. Private Behavior
The School does not grant students the freedom to engage in intimate sexual activity. The School’s policy is that students must refrain from intimate sexual involvement. Those who ignore this policy will receive a letter of warning in their file and will meet with the Dean of Students, who will arrange a meeting with parents. Continued sexual activity will be grounds for disciplinary action and can lead to suspension or dismissal. C. Exploitation
Exploitation, of any nature, of another student is a violation of the Community Regulations and will lead to serious disciplinary consequences. IV. Gambling
Any practices, such as the exchange of significant amounts of money or goods or the taking advantage of someone, are prohibited. Small wagers and School-wide guessing and trivia contests do not fall into this category.
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The General Expectations I. Hours
In general: Students are expected to be quiet and studying during the school day and during the evenings before school days. Further, all students are expected to be physically present at check-in every night. After 7:30 p.m., all students are to stay within central campus areas unless they have special permission from their Dorm Head or the faculty member on dorm duty. Classrooms are only to be used for academic purposes and lights must be on when classrooms are in use. Students may not leave their dormitories until 6 a.m. without permission from the Dorm Head. A. The Class Day 1. Freshmen and Sophomores, when not in class or a
supervised activity, must be in an academic area—their dormitory room, the Library, art studio, laboratories, Math/Science Computer Labs, study hall, or The Thacher Commons.
2. Juniors and Seniors have no restrictions concerning where
they can be on campus during the class day, though they must maintain the quiet expected during the academic day and may not use the pool.
3. A ll students are expected to refrain from partaking in
TV/DVDs/TV streaming/gaming during academic hours.
4. A ll students are expected to be at Assembly and will be
responsible for information given there.
B. Afternoon Activities Period (3:35 – 5:05 p.m., daily) 1. Students are expected to participate in an afternoon
activity.
2. During the activities period on Monday, Tuesday, and
Thursday, the dorm areas should be quiet.
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The Thacher School C. Study Hours 1. Quiet must be maintained campus-wide by all students
from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Preparation for study must be completed by 7:30 p.m. and quiet must be maintained for the duration of the study period (until 9:30 p.m.).
tudents must be quiet whether actually in a place of study S or in transit to a place of study. Students may not loiter in going from one place of study to another. 2. C lub meetings and extracurricular activities are not to
take place during study hours. Games—electronic (video/ computer), movies, DVDs, TV and TV streaming and others are not allowed.
D. Class Rules During Study Hours
All students have study hall Sunday through Thursday from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Freshmen must be in proctored study hall in the Study Hall or Room 14 for the first few weeks of School; thereafter, they must study in their rooms or the proctored study hall. Sophomores must study in their rooms. Students seeking extra help may ask permission from the prefect or faculty on duty to go meet with a teacher. Juniors must study in their rooms or any academic area on campus. Seniors may study in their rooms or in any area within the Perimeter Road during study hours. Seniors should remember their obligation to set an example for younger students by maintaining campus quiet and by using the Study Hall for academic pursuits.
18 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
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E. Check-In 1. A ll boarding students, including seniors, must be
physically present in their dormitory at 9:30 p.m. on Sundays and Wednesdays and 10 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
2. Friday check-in is at 10:30 p.m. and Saturday check-in is
at 11 p.m. Physical presence in one’s dormitory is again required.
3. Students may sleep in another dorm area only with
permission of both Dorm Heads on Friday or Saturday nights only.
F. Post Check-In 1. Freshmen: Lights out at 10:30 p.m. on study nights. Lights
out on Friday and Saturday is midnight.
2. Sophomores: Lights out at 11 p.m. Sunday through
Thursday. Late-lights can be granted by the Dorm Head.
3. Juniors: Lights out at midnight Sunday through Thursday. 4. Seniors: After check-in, seniors are granted wandering
privileges within the Perimeter Road, subject to the restrictions stated under Dormitory Boundaries until midnight Sunday through Thursday, and 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Seniors must return to and be in their own dormitories at wandering check-in. The School assumes that seniors will use good judgment in wandering. Seniors on probation and those with academic warnings do not have wandering privileges and are subject to junior rules after check-in.
Wandering is a privilege that will be revoked whenever there are abuses such as lateness for curfews or wandering beyond Perimeter Road.
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The Thacher School G. Policies Governing the Use of TVs and DVDs. 1. Students may not have TVs, projectors, or computer
monitors devoted to entertainment in their rooms.
2. Students are expected to refrain from partaking in TV/
DVDs/TV streaming/gaming during academic hours.
3. Students should follow specific Dorm Area policies for
TV/DVD/Game/Video use on weekends.
4. T he School’s technology equipment (i.e., TVs, DVD
projectors and Data projectors, and cords and connectors) in all academic areas, may not be used by students without permission of a faculty member. They should also not be removed from academic areas. The Thacher Commons and dorm common rooms are equipped for student technology use.
II. Permission
In general: Students must sign out electronically on Gmail. If they are going somewhere other than Ojai without a faculty member, students must secure permission from their dormitory head or Dean of Students as well as have their parents grant permission. Excursions with faculty and day trips to Ventura on the public bus are allowed without parental permission as long as those on campus who need to know are advised. Students leaving campus with someone other than a family member, must be driven by a person 25 years or older. A. Sign-out Procedures: Daily 1. A ll students must sign out whenever they leave campus
or whenever they expect to dine at a faculty residence or other place outside the Dining Room. Failure to sign out at any time will result in a week of campusing. Students must sign out for dinner by 3:30 p.m.
20 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
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Students must write down the name of their faculty or adult host on the form when signing out electronically for formal meals. Faculty should invite students out; they should not invite themselves in order to get out of Formal Dinner. 2. Students who leave campus during the day must return
for dinner, unless they have permission.
3. Students who wish to dine on or off campus with anyone
other than a faculty member (including parents) must must sign out electronically by 3:30 p.m.
4. From Sunday through Thursday students may go out to
dinner with a faculty member if they are back by 7:30 p.m. Permission to stay out later than 7:30 p.m. or to dine with anyone other than a faculty member must be obtained from the Dorm Head or Dean of Students.
5. On Wednesday, students may sign out for Ojai after their
last class or after Assembly, whichever is later. They must keep all afternoon appointments.
6. On Friday and Saturday nights: a. Freshmen and Sophomores can be in Ojai. They must
return to campus by check-in.
b. Juniors and Seniors 1. May use public transportation to go to Ventura or Santa
Barbara. They must inform their Dorm Head or the Dean of Students and return by check-in;
2. May be in Ojai. They must return by check-in. B. Sign-out Procedures: Weekend (see Weekend section on page 87)
2013–2014 21
The Thacher School The Academic Program
As the central activity and main focus of life at The Thacher School, the academic program requires rigorous application, great commitment, and love of learning. Without these three qualities, students can find life here frustrating, unfulfilling, and incomplete.
Aa
With them, however, no place can offer more stimulation, more close interaction between faculty and students, and more intellectual excitement than Thacher. The School offers a broad and diverse program, an emphasis on individual achievement, and increasing opportunities for students to work independently under the close supervision of a faculty member. From the basics of Freshmen English projects to the complexities of Senior Exhibitions, the academic program presents appropriate challenges and exciting possibilities. Academic Requirements for Graduation
Students must meet the departmental requirements outlined below and must complete the requisite number of courses each term. Department Requirements: English Mathematics
4 years
3 years (through trigonometry/analysis)
Foreign Language
3 years or third-level proficiency
Science
2 years – Physics and Chemistry
History
2 years – World History and U.S. History
The Arts
2 years
Senior Exhibitions: Each senior must design, research, and present an Exhibition that demonstrates mastery of the topic. Each Exhibition must have both an oral and a written component, and must culminate in a public presentation.
22 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
Course Load Requirements
A z
Each student must take five courses each term. Four of them must be solid courses, and the fifth may be either a solid or a non-solid course. A solid course is defined as one having substantial written homework. In general, studio classes such as ceramics and chorus, as well as such non-departmental courses as computer skills, receive full credit but are classified as non-solids. Courses in art history and music theory, like most courses in the other academic department, are classified as solids. Students who take two or more Advanced Placement programs may take only four courses, all of which must be solids. In general, ninth grade students take the equivalent of five and a half full-year courses; upper-class students generally take the equivalent of five full-year courses. Students may elect to take additional courses with the approval of their advisor. Course Sign-ups
Each year in May, students sign up for their courses for the following year. Often, course selection follows a logical order (Spanish 2 to Spanish 3) and does not need much discussion. However, there are often choices about whether to take an AP or regular track course. You will receive a letter from the Director of Studies prior to the course selection urging you to be in contact with Advisors and teachers regarding your child’s courses for the following year. Advisors work with students to help them to choose their classes with attention to graduation requirements, balance of load, and student interest. Parents should feel free to be in contact with advisors at this time to ask any questions that you may have. If you don’t have one, you can request a course catalog from the Director of Studies so that you are familiar with the requirements and offerings.
Aa
2013–2014 23
The Thacher School Academic Reports
Instructor Reports are written for all new students and for students with inadequate grades at the end of the first grading period in October. These reports will be emailed to parents at Family Weekend. In November, March, and June at the end of the trimesters, all students will receive written comments and grades from each of their teachers. These reports are available electronically. Advisor Reports, in which a student’s overall record is reviewed, are sent to parents in December and June. Grading System
Aa
The four passing grades are “A” (high honors), “B” (honors), “C” (fair), and “D” (poor). All can be accompanied by pluses or minuses with the exception of “A+.” The failing grade is “F.” “I” signifies incomplete, and “P” indicates a pass in a pass-fail course. All grades are given by trimester; there are no year grades. Academic Exchange Programs
Thacher participates in a number of exchange programs. The duration of these range from a few weeks to a full academic year. Students are encouraged to broaden their perspectives by participating in these well-established and challenging programs. Information regarding the Maine Coast Semester and School Year Abroad is available from the Director of Studies. Academic Warning and Academic Dismissal
Any student who ends a term with two or more grades of C- will automatically receive an Academic Warning. Any other student who is judged by the Director of Studies, the Advisor, and the Dorm Head not to be working to capacity or whose total academic performance is of concern may be placed on Academic Warning at the end of any marking period. The Director of Studies will notify both the student and the student’s parents of the action.
24 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
A z As a consequence, a student is placed on probation. The full faculty will discuss any student who receives two or more Academic Warnings during an academic year in June. The faculty will determine if that student should be dismissed for academic reasons or, if a senior, should graduate. Such decisions are not reached automatically, and in certain cases, a student who has not received two Academic Warnings also could be dismissed for academic reasons. All such cases are considered individually on the basis of what is best for the student and the School. Academic Honesty
If, in a paper, you copy the language of someone else from such documents as another book or paper, you must put all such language within quotation marks and indicate the source in a footnote. “Language” includes even part of a sentence if the phrase is distinctive, tables of statistics, or the like. To omit the quotation marks is to pass off another’s work as your own. If you imitate the language or thought of someone else or are restating another’s thought in your own words, you are paraphrasing. In such cases, you may omit the quotation marks, but you are plagiarizing unless you specify in a footnote the source of the thought. The problem can often by handled within the text of your writing by such phrases as, “This concept is parallel to Plato’s idea that...” or, “As Professor Williams suggested...” In a long paper or book, scholars often make a general acknowledgment of indebtedness in a foreword. Fundamentally, your integrity is at stake. Unless you make specific acknowledgment, you are, in fact, claiming the credit for yourself for anything that you write.
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The Thacher School Common sense must obviously be used in applying these rules. If you say, “Shakespeare is a great poet,” you need not use quotation marks or make footnote acknowledgment because the statement is of wide and general acceptance and has been made by many people. But if you say, “Shakespeare’s analogies may perhaps seem too much like exploding nebulae in an expanding though hardly ordered universe,” you must use quotation marks and make acknowledgment because this quotation comes directly from an article by Reuben A. Brower entitled, “The Mirror of Analogy.” In general, it is better to say too much about your sources than too little. NOTE: This statement of plagiarism has been adapted from a similar statement provided by Wesleyan University.
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It is academically dishonest to turn in, for an assignment, work you have prepared for another class, a previous assignment, or on your own on an earlier occasion. If, in response to a particular assignment, you wish to make use of work you have done earlier, you must obtain explicit permission from your teacher in advance. If you wish to use a single piece of work to satisfy assignments in two classes, you must obtain the permission of both instructors. Otherwise, any work you submit should be prepared solely for the particular assignment. Here are some additional guidelines to follow to be sure the work you turn in is appropriately your own: Extra Help
You should turn first to your teacher for extra-help. Other teachers in the department, advisors and the study skills coordinator serve as good second choices. Individuals who are not part of our teaching community (tutors, parents, siblings) should not be consulted without first discussing their involvement with your teacher. Students should always note when they have received extra-help and from whom on their work.
26 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
Editing
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A necessary and beneficial part of the writing process—editing— sometimes requires a second set of eyes. Again, students should rely on on-campus resources as much as possible and follow their individual teacher’s instructions in regards to peer editing practices, but should always note when they have received editing help and from whom. Citations
Different disciplines require different forms of citations, but they are always necessary when students use information other than their own (or that is not considered general knowledge). In most cases the citation format dictated by the Modern Language Association (MLA on Noodlebib) is acceptable. Students should seek out their teachers to settle any confusion they have about citations and format. If a student has a question or concern about citation and cannot find a teacher, advisor or librarian for answers, he/she should provide as much information as possible about the sources of information, ideas and help used in an assignment.
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Proper Scholarship
Sloppy or careless scholarship (reading an article and then forgetting where it came from or accidentally using words or ideas from a source glanced at earlier) is not an acceptable excuse for lack of citation. Sloppy scholarship is plagiarism, a violation of the School’s major rule regarding academic integrity. As a general rule, students with questions or concerns about these issues should turn to their teachers before consulting others or taking action on their own.
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The Thacher School The Advising Program
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All Thacher students are assigned an advisor who works within their dormitory area. The advisor is responsible for attending regularly to all aspects of the advisee’s life at school. The advisor oversees the academic, extracurricular, and social progress of the student, and also writes letters to the parents twice a year assessing the student’s strengths, weaknesses, progress, areas of concern, and achievement. The role of the advisor is to be available to the student as counselor, mentor, and friend. The advisor is also the central link between parents and the School. Advisees are encouraged to seek out their advisors just as advisors will seek out advisees for both formal discussions and informal fun and entertainment such as birthday parties, dinners, and other social activities. Parents should feel free to call on the advisor for all manner of information ranging from questions about student progress to planning academic programs to giving permission for weekends or other events. Advisors will establish contact with families in the beginning of each school year in order to introduce themselves and set the stage for developing a working relationship that will last the entire year. In general, students will not have the same advisor two years in a row and will switch advisors as they move from one dorm area to another. Returning students sign up for their choices of advisors within their dormitory areas. The Dean of Students and the Director of Admission assign new Students advisors.
28 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
Appearance and Dress
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The Thacher School’s expectations for the appearance of its students are based on tradition, good sense, and community consensus. Community consensus reflects, in part, not only student sentiment, but also the sentiment and concerns of the faculty, parents, and a larger society outside. We would like all of our students to find their places here based on their accomplishments rather than on their outward appearance; extremes in fashion and appearance obscure more substantial inner worth and detract from the qualities of unpretentiousness, unselfconsciousness, and humility that we hope Thacher students will possess. Dress
Thacher is a very casual campus and we do not have a strict dress code. However, in all situations, clothing should be neat, clean and in good repair. Shoes are to be worn on campus at all times; no bare feet. No clothing or shoes with rips, tears or holes are permitted and hats are not to be worn inside any public building. Certain types of clothing are appropriate for different times of the day and for different activities such as athletic clothes for the afternoon sports period, and formal clothes for formal dinner. Levels of Dress 1. Formal dress is required for the family-style Formal Dinners in the Dining Room four nights a week. At Formal Dinner, clothing for boys and girls should be appropriate for a typical multi-generational special occasion—coat and tie for boys and the equivalent of a suit or conservative dress for girls. Since students will wait on tables, it is important that Formal Dinner clothes allow students to work comfortably without compromising decorum and propriety. We ask students to exercise their good judgment in dressing for Formal Dinner; thrift store clothing should not violate this spirit of decorum and propriety central to Formal Dinners. Students who are improperly dressed will be sent back to their rooms to change.
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The Thacher School Specific Guidelines for Formal Dinner: For boys: Boys wear suits or sport coats, dress shirts, ties or turtle-necks, long dress slacks, and socks. Jeans are not to be worn. Boys are expected to wear close-toed shoes (no sandals, flip flops or athletic shoes). For girls: Girls wear dresses, skirts and blouses, or dress slacks and a blouse or sweater. Dress and skirt length should be 2 – 3 inches above the knee. Dresses should not be skin tight nor expose inappropriate cleavage. Students will be serving tables and carrying trays and should be dressed appropriately. T-shirts are not allowed to serve as a blouse, nor may a girl wear shorts to Formal Dinner. Inappropriately revealing outfits are not appropriate; specifically, no revealing midriff, cleavage or excessively short skirts. Girls are expected to wear appropriate dress shoes (no flip flops or athletic shoes).
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2. Informal attire is worn during the class day, which includes Monday through Friday from breakfast through sports; all meals and official or required functions are included as well (lectures, concerts, etc). Appropriate clothing for the class day includes jeans, casual slacks or skirts, tailored shorts (no cut-offs), sport shirts and T-shirts, blouses, sweaters and sweatshirts, and athletic clothing that is clean. All clothing worn during the work day must be clean, and be both in good taste and good condition. Students may not wear clothing with suggestive slogans, or wording associated with alcohol/drugs. They may not wear clothing with revealing midriff, that has holes, tears, or frayed hems, or is excessively short. 3. Dormitory attire includes other clothing that might be more appropriate for wear in the dormitory than in public areas. Pajamas, boxer shorts, and old, comfortable but “distressed” clothing would be considered appropriate in the dormitory.
30 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
Hair
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In general, hair must be clean, well groomed, under control, and not extreme in any way as to call attention to itself. Unruly hair of whatever length is not permitted. Boys must keep their hair a length which fits in with the above guidelines and as determined by the Dean of Students. Hair dyed unnatural colors and shaved heads, as extremes, are not permitted. Beards, mustaches, goatees, long sideburns, etc. are not allowed; boys should be clean shaven. Earrings and Piercings
Students should not have facial piercings, and any body piercings should not be visible to the community. Exaggerated earrings, such as gauges, that draw unnecessary attention to the wearer, are not permitted. Boys may wear one earring of modest appearance in each ear. Guidelines will be determined by the Dean of Students. Students should not have visible tattoos. Assembly
Assembly is an important part of our weekly schedule. Many community announcements are made at this time, along with performances and skits by various campus groups. Students are expected to attend each Assembly and are responsible for any information disseminated there. Students may speak with their advisor if they feel they might have difficulty attending Assembly on a particular day.
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The Thacher School Athletics
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Athletics enjoy great popularity at Thacher despite the fact that our teams compete without the adulation of huge crowds. Nonetheless, every student will play a team sport before graduation. The emphasis at Thacher is on participation, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Winning and losing are means for learning about commitment, friendship, cooperation, competition, limits, and stress. While most Thacher students play sports throughout their careers, all students are required to play on at least one Third, J.V. or Varsity sport prior to graduation. Freshmen may compete and practice or play games that do not interfere with their Horse Department requirements. For freshmen, it is essential to understand that the Horse Program is their first priority. All students are required to have annual physical examinations and submit the results on the School Health Form at the beginning of each school year. No student may participate in any afternoon activity until this information is complete. ALL students must also pass a SWIM TEST at the beginning of the year. Students who do not know how to swim are urged to begin learning, if possible, over the summer. A swim test will be administered during the first few days of the school year and consists of swimming two lengths (2 x 25 meters) of the pool and treading water for five minutes. The following are the team options: FALL: (September to November) 8 Person Football: Varsity, J. V. Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country: Varsity Girls’ Tennis: Varsity, J. V. Girls’ Volleyball: Varsity, J. V.
Thacher’s Athletic Rivals
Cate Rams
Besant Hill Co yotes (formerly Ha ppy Valley) Dunn Earwig s
Ojai Valley Sc
Laguna Owls
hool (OVS) Sp
Midland Oak s Oak Grove Ra inbow Villanova Wild cats
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uds
WINTER: (November to February) Boys’ Soccer: Varsity, J. V., 3rd
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Girls’ Soccer: Varsity, J. V., 3rd Boys’ Basketball: Varsity, J. V. Girls’ Basketball: Varsity, J. V.
SPRING: (February to May) Baseball: Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse: Varsity, J. V. Boys’ Lacrosse: Varsity, J. V. Boys’ and Girls’ Track: Varsity Boys’ Tennis: Varsity, J. V.
The School provides game uniforms and protective gear for all sports except for the following items: tennis rackets, lacrosse sticks and gloves, cleats and/or running shoes. These may be purchased at home or through the School. It is a good idea to have already purchased and “broken-in” your cleats prior to coming to School. Missed practices and blisters await you otherwise. School equipment is available for those who need it. Talk to your coach or the Athletic Director if you need help acquiring equipment or advice about equipment.
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The primary competition for the School is the Condor League made up of The Thacher School, Dunn, Cate, Midland, Ojai Valley School, Laguna Blanca, Cornerstone Christian, Oak Grove, and Besant Hill. Most teams also compete against local high schools outside the league for games and scrimmages and occasionally, take to the road for tournaments and round robins in the San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego areas.
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The Thacher School Bicycles
Some students bring bicycles to campus. Mountain bikes are the most versatile given our geography, though some students do elect to bring road bikes. All cyclists must wear helmets (required on trail rides and on the roads off-campus), and should bring a bike light and a strong lock. Students must sign out if they are leaving campus for a ride and they must return before dark. Each year bikes are stolen from our campus, so students must take due care in locking up their bikes. It is a good idea for expensive bicycles to be insured; serial numbers for bikes and all valuables should be noted and registered with parents and insurance companies. Birthday Celebrations
Bb
Robin in the Thacher Kitchen will make birthday cakes, cookies, brownies, and any other treats for a small fee. Please call 805-646-4716. Ojai Pixie Cakes will make handcrafted gourmet cupcakes for special events, 805-794-2088 or 805-646-7383.
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The Camping Program
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As with horses, camping shares a long and rich history at Thacher. In the old days, the boys took weekend trips on horseback to the Los Padres Forest and Sespe River. We undertake the same trips today, as well as backpacking, winter camping (on skis or snowshoes), and river- and sea-kayaking trips. All trips stress “minimum impact” camping skills and group/self-reliance and sufficiency. Communing with and enjoying nature, coping with physical and emotional challenges, learning teamwork, and developing a sense of “ecological” perspective are all goals of the camping program. Fun and friendship, too, are inevitable and important outcomes. The Thacher School offers one-week camping trips in the fall and in the spring. These “Extra-Day Trips” (EDT’s) are the highlight of The Camping Program, and all students and faculty go on them. Students and faculty are also encouraged to take weekend trips when possible throughout the year. Students are also allowed to miss a day of classes each marking period to take an approved three-day trip. A 3-day Weekend Camping Slip must be filed with the Academic Office. In addition, freshmen take at least one horse trip during the year to learn how to horse camp.
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There may be a temptation to purchase lots of camping equipment prior to your arrival here. Thacher has a fairly extensive “camp supply” and will rent personal equipment (sleeping bags, pads, backpacks, and rain gear) to students who do not have their own equipment. Furthermore, the School supplies all community gear such as cookware, tents, water pumps, stoves, and the like. We can also purchase top-flight camping gear at a discount for our students. Many students wait to experience a couple of Thacher trips before they endeavor to make any substantial purchases. Many parents and students, however, do want to know what is needed to be properly prepared and comfortable on a high country wilderness trip. The following list of items is essential for enjoying a Thacher camping trip to the Sierra:
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The Thacher School Checklist of Personal Gear for Camping Trips Note: each student is responsible for bringing to school all gear items, except for a backpack, sleeping bag, and water bottles, which can be borrowed or purchased from Thacher. b ackpack: internal or external frame—well-fitted to student (can be purchased through Thacher) s leeping bag rated to “0” degrees, preferably filled with a synthetic fiber (can be purchased through Thacher) closed-cell foam sleeping pad or “Therma-Rest” self-inflating pad good quality rain gear (top and bottom) s turdy hiking footgear: hiking boots (broken-in light-weight or midweight boots) or rugged running shoes in good condition; cowboy boots for horse trips long underwear tops and bottoms – synthetic fiber
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wool or expedition weight shirt (second layer for upper body) 1 pair shorts 1 cotton or synthetic (Capeline/polypropelene) T-shirt underwear wool or pile hat wool or synthetic gloves or mittens 3 – 4 pairs wool socks 3 – 4 pairs synthetic liner socks sunglasses sunscreen and lip screen insect repellent flashlight or head lamp pocket knife moleskin (for blisters) mug, plastic bowl and spoon 2 plastic 1-liter/quart water bottles (can be purchased from the Thacher Student Store) P ersonal hygiene (toothbrush and small amount of toothpaste) and medication.
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For a more detailed discussion of camping gear and camping at Thacher, please refer to The Thacher Camping Manual which is located at www.thacher.org.
Please remember that warm and light are key! Wool retains heat even when wet; this is not true for other natural materials, especially cotton. Cotton sweatshirts, sweatpants, and jeans are not good for camping! The new synthetic materials for under- and over-garments developed and supplied by wilderness’ outfitters such as Patagonia, L.L. Bean, REI, and Eastern Mountain Sports are excellent for back-country use; these new clothing materials are lightweight and retain heat even when wet! Cell Phones
Cell phones are permitted on campus, but may only be used in a student’s dormitory area. Cell phone numbers must be registered with the dorm head. Use of cell phones in other campus areas can result in the cell phone being taken away from the student. CdeP Connection
(See Parent Communications on pg. 73) Class Attendance Policy
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Students are expected to attend all classes, and penalties for unexcused absences are progressively severe. All students who have an unexcused absence are notified by Thursday afternoon that they are required to attend detention study hall held on the following Saturday evening form 8:00–10 p.m. Students may not miss that obligation for any reason other than family emergency or required involvement in a School activity. Permission to postpone detention may be obtained only from the Director of Studies. After the second cut in a trimester, the advisor is notified by a formal note and is asked to speak to the student. After the third cut, the student meets with the Director of Studies for a discussion. Both the parents and the advisor are informed. The third cut places any student on attendance probation. For a senior, that means loss of wandering until the end of the marking period.
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The Thacher School After the fourth cut, the student is subject to suspension or some other appropriate punishment. The advisor, the Dorm Head, and the Director of Studies will meet to review the student profile and to make a recommendation. Parents are notified. Students who will miss a day of classes for a special occasion will need to secure permission from the Director of Studies or Dean of Students before they make any arrangements. Students who are in the Health Center and miss class will be reported to the Academic Office. Students who receive detention for lateness to class are not subject to the same progressive penalties as are those who cut class. In all cases, students with questions about punishments regarding class attendance are to see the Director of Studies.
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Closed Weekends
Students are expected to remain on campus for the weekends listed below. First weekend of the year
September 6 – 8
Family Weekend
October 25 – 27
Departmental Weekend
November 15 – 16
Winter Camping Weekend
February 7 – 9
Exam Weekend
February 21 – 23
Senior Exhibitions
April 24 – 26
Gymkhana Weekend
May 9 – 11
Exam Weekend
May 30 – June 1
Freshmen may not take weekends between the opening of school and Family Weekend. Families of freshmen may come to campus on the weekends during this time to take students out to dinner or to town during the day. Other students have no restriction on the number of official weekends they take, but the School discourages the excessive use of this privilege.
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Clubs and Other Activities
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There are two kinds of clubs at Thacher: those that are officially School-sanctioned such as the El Archivero (yearbook) and The Notes (newspaper), and those that are more informal; that is, they wax and wane with the interests and leadership of individual students. Students who wish to start clubs must find a faculty advisor and submit a proposal to the Dean of Students. All students are encouraged to make the clubs at Thacher both energetic and productive. College Visits
Thacher allows seniors to petition for up to five days of excused absences to visit out of state colleges during the school year. Students are encouraged to visit California schools during weekends. This minimizes the loss of significant senior presence and leadership on campus and/or during fall camping trips. In addition, many colleges are best seen well into the fall season rather than during the Labor Day Weekend when we take EDTs. Itineraries must be submitted to the College Counselor prior to purchasing tickets or making binding reservations. In addition, students are required to discuss their plans with each of their teachers and advisor to insure that they can make up missed course work or other Thacher obligations during the academic year. Athletes must make the additional effort to consult with their coaches. These days include designated fall camping days. We limit this policy to schools outside of California because we know that it is possible to visit in state schools during the weekends. Since colleges also do not encourage students to miss school, they have made a concerted effort to offer visit and orientation programs on Saturdays and Sundays.
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Therefore, if you are planning to visit schools, you and your parents must do the following: 1. Notify the College Counselor of your plans to visit schools prior to purchasing tickets and/or making binding reservations. This will allow an opportunity to provide guidance and/or suggestions about other schools to visit during your trip.
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The Thacher School 2. Submit your request and final itinerary to the Counseling Office two weeks in advance of your departure. 3. Discuss your plans with each of your teachers, coaches, and anyone else who may be affected by your absence. Insure that all required work, papers, tests is completed in a timely fashion. 4. Notify your Dormitory Head and Advisor of your plans. Commencement
Commencement takes place at the end of the school year, usually the first Saturday in June. Freshmen and sophomores will depart from campus that Friday morning after exams and packing. Juniors and seniors will depart late Saturday afternoon. The Community Council
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The Thacher School Community Council is comprised of the School Chair, the four class presidents, the six head prefects, the six dorm heads, a day-student representative, a community service representative, an Indoor representative, an EAC representative, and the Dean of Students. The purpose of the Council is to discuss issues of concern to the School and, if appropriate, to make recommendations to the Head of School. In the broader sense, the Council works to ensure the integrity of the School and look after the welfare of its constituents. Issues may be brought before the Council by any of its members, although the elected School Chair determines the agenda. The Council meets on a regular basis and works, primarily, on a consensus basis. The key to the effectiveness of the committee is that it represents not merely one constituency, but rather the core community: students, faculty, and administration. There are monthly meetings open to the entire Thacher community in which a range of concerns and comments can be voiced. The School Chair, during each Wednesday’s Assembly, announces the central issues being addressed by the Council. Finally, regular class and dorm area meetings allow any student to bring issues of concern before the Council.
40 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
The Community Service Program
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The Community Service Program (CSP) at The Thacher School has two distinct functions. First, it serves a very real need in the local community, providing bright and able volunteers to fulfill a wide variety of jobs. Second, it offers our students an opportunity to provide that service in a way that is meaningful, necessary, and appreciated. To do this, CSP has developed a broad program to involve, inspire, and inform as many students as possible. During the 2008-09 school year, students worked at local elementary schools, tutoring students and also serving as volunteers at Head Start, the local Humane Society, Senior Day Care, and The Special Olympics. The Thacher School has also become a sponsor of the seasonal Ojai Homeless Shelter program, providing both food and volunteers in the winter months. The Thacher School students help feed patients at two convalescent hospitals four nights a week and have also been involved with the sorting and distribution of food through Food Share and with major beach clean-ups through the Ventura County Parks Commission. The overriding commitment is that, while the School has no community service requirement for its students, we believe that every student who wants to serve can serve, in a structured, meaningful and satisfying way; moreover, if there are enough programs, nearly every student will want to help in some way or another. Generally, about 75 percent of the students perform volunteer work at some point during the year, either by taking on a weekly commitment or by working at one of the weekend programs.
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The Thacher School Computers
Students bring their own computers to School; with every student room on-line, there are real advantages to students having either a PC or a Macintosh to make full use of the Thacher Network. For those who do not have a personal computer, the School will make every effort to provide the loan of a machine for the year, and there are a number of computers and printers in the Library and in the computer labs for public use. A brief introduction to the School’s network, file system, and e-mail program is provided at the beginning of the year for all new students. The School holds site licenses for a large number software applications that are used by faculty and students in their classes.
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Acceptable Use Policy for Technology at The Thacher School and Acceptable Use/Network Use Agreements Computers and Their Use at The Thacher School
Students bring their own computers to School; with every student room on-line, there are real advantages to students having their own computers to make full use of the Thacher Network. Laptops are strongly encouraged as there will be in-class computer activities. A brief introduction to the School’s network, website, and e-mail system is provided at the beginning of the year for all new students. Use of computer services at The Thacher School is a privilege, not a right. Students are expected to make responsible, ethical, and appropriate use of computers and information services at all times. Network and computer services include: use of personal and School machines and peripherals, use of the Internet, use of campus e-mail, and use of all associated software. Students should realize that these services are finite and costly and that such things as time, money, and hardware are wrongfully appropriated when these services are abused.
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The Thacher School Acceptable Use Policy
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A. Thacher’s rules and regulations regarding daily life also apply
to computer services.
. As students are held responsible for their own actions
elsewhere at Thacher, so are they held responsible for all activity conducted on their accounts or under their passwords. . The School holds specific expectations for students at
each grade level for how they use their time during official study hours: the academic day and evening study hall. Each student’s use of the campus network and the Internet is to conform to these expectations. . Game playing is not permitted on School-owned
computers in academic areas, excepting School-owned computers given to students for personal use. . We recognize students have the ability to access the
Internet using smartphones, cellular modems, etc. and we expect that all School guidelines will be followed in regard to appropriate uses and times for use. B. Thacher’s technology resources are an essential academic and
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communication tool.
. A student’s account may be suspended when abuses occur,
or disciplinary consequences of a more severe nature will result from a student’s failure to comply with this Acceptable Use Agreement. Repeated failure can result in separation from the School. C. T hacher’s Honor Code and Major Rules apply to information
services in very particular ways:
Use of Hardware, Software, and Connectivity . Students may use only their own passwords. . Students may not reconfigure or tamper with the network
system in any way, nor attempt to access or alter files without proper authority.
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The Thacher School . Students may not unlawfully copy software or information. . Students may not use illegal software or files. . Students may not use any software or sites intended to
circumvent the School’s filtering or security policies. Students have ample access to appropriate sites and information and should recognize and respect the filters the School has put in place. If a student feels there is an educational need to access a site that is not accessible, they may contact Mr. Holden or Ms. McMahon. Information and Content . Students must cite properly all information that is acquired
from electronic sources and used in their assignments.
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. In all electronic communications, students are expected to
express themselves as though in a public forum, even in “private” e-mail, which, of course, is not at all private. . Anonymous, reckless, or harassing uses of electronic
communications lie in direct opposition to the standards of honesty and community for which Thacher stands and are not permitted. . We expect students to follow our guidelines even when using
alternative sources which are not plugged into the network. D. Technical Acquirements and Agreements . WAP’s: Wireless access points (eg. Apple AirPort, Linksys,
NETGEAR) and networks are not allowed. . P2P: Peer-to-Peer communications are not allowed within
or outside of Thacher’s network, regardless of whether you are using third-party software or features built in to your own operating system. Windows® file and printer sharing must be removed. (If you have a special need for transferring or sharing files, please ask the System Administrator to help you.)
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. Identification: The name you assign to your computer on
the campus network must consist of your first and last name. Students are required to provide their computer’s MAC address (or physical ethernet address) or allow this information to be obtained by the System Administrator. This information must be updated anytime you bring a new computer to campus for use on Thacher’s network. . Anti-Virus Protection: The School requires that anti-
virus software be installed on all computers and that virus definitions are up to date. Microsoft Security Essentials for Windows and Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac Home Edition are two programs that are available as free downloads. . Security: The School reserves the right to install security
updates and check for spyware or virus activity on your machine. Students will be expected to provide their machine login and password to facilitate this work. . IP Addresses: All computers on the network will be issued
IP addresses via DHCP, and this is the only IP address you are permitted to use. Students may not set an IP address manually.
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E. Digital Media (Music, Video, Image) Files . File Storage: Digital media files, or documents containing
such material, may be stored on the Thacher server (such as your student file space, your e-mail account, or other servers) only if they are associated with a school project or activity (e.g. Yearbook, Senior Exhibitions, a course, independent study, etc.). Media files used for other purposes must reside on a student’s personal computer storage device only (hard drive, iPod, etc.) and are not to be transferred or copied anywhere on the Thacher network. . File Transfer: No copying of files of this type is permitted
at any time or anywhere on Thacher’s network. File streaming is permitted only through School-approved
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The Thacher School software (iTunes only, at this time). Capturing streams for conversion to digital media files—or “ripping” media streams—is strictly forbidden. Possession and/or use of software that enables this type of unauthorized file acquisition (such as LimeWire, bitTorrent, MyTunes, ourTunes, Acquisition, Morpheus, Deluge, eDonkey, etc.) is strictly forbidden; cases of this nature will be heard by the Judicial Council. Concerts
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Traditionally, the School has not allowed students to attend concerts during the week. Occasionally, students will attend a concert on a weekend with a faculty member chaperone or with parents. Permission for a weekend concert can be granted through the Dean of Students. Copier
A photocopier machine is available in the library for your use. Photocopier cards may be purchased from a librarian or the student store. Counseling (see Health Center)
We have many options available for counseling opportunities. A list of resources can be found under the Health Center section of the Handbook. Cultural Weekends
Cultural Weekends provide students an opportunity to attend cultural events such as plays, musicals, concerts, operas, museum trips, and films with faculty members. Each faculty member organizes a trip and students sign up for trips based on their interests. Some trips last a day, while others last the entire weekend.
46 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
Day Students Information and Policies
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Absences
Parents of day students who must miss classes because of illness should notify the School Nurse as soon after 8 a.m. as possible. Medical appointments should be reported to the Health Center prior to the appointment. Permission to miss classes for reasons other than illness or health concerns is given only by the Dean of Students. Day students who must be excused from nonacademic obligations, such as sports, should seek permission from the Dean of Students. Day-Student Rooms
Day students are provided with space for personal belongings and an area to change clothing. The School provides day student rooms in the various dorm areas if there is space available. Day students, once established in a dorm area, are expected to comply with dorm rules regarding inspections, morning jobs, etc. Departure for Vacations
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All students are permitted to leave campus for a School vacation after their last class or examination. They must meet their last class or take their last examination as scheduled, unless they have been granted special permission to do otherwise by the Director of Studies.
DELIVERY
Domin o (805) 6 s Pizza 40-008 0 Ojai Piz (805) 6 za 46-787 8 Golden (805) 6 Moon Chine se 40-020 1
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The Thacher School Evening Check In
Day students should be in their respective dorms at check in each evening if they are still on campus and have not yet left for home. Senior day students may leave the dorm for wandering after check in, just as boarders do. They should be heading home at the close of wandering Sunday through Thursday. If they need to stay later for academic reasons they should check with their dorm head earlier in the day for permission. At the end of wandering on Friday and Saturday nights, senior day students must be in their assigned dorm or driving off campus to their homes. Any day student wishing to spend the night in their dorm on weekend nights should notify their Dorm Head and the faculty member on duty that evening.
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Invitations to Boarders
If a day student wishes to invite a boarder to dinner on any evening, including Saturday, the parents of that day student should email or telephone the advisor to confirm the invitation. Leaving the Campus Between Appointments
It is conceivable that a day student who drives to School will be finished with classes after Assembly on Wednesday, yet has an athletic or horse commitment in the afternoon. If that student wishes to leave campus during the time in between, he or she must use the same system as the boarders窶馬amely, sign out electronically and wait for a ride at the gate. This policy is consistent with the rules governing day student driving. Exceptions, if any, can be granted only by the Dean of Students. Meals
Day Students are welcome to have meals, including dinner and breakfast, in the Dining Room when they need to be on campus. Day Students who are on campus during Formal Dinner must attend this required meal. Otherwise, they must go home.
48 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
Motor Vehicles
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Day students may drive themselves and other day students to and from School under the following conditions: A. They must meet individually with the Dean of Students
when they initially get their license.
B. When they are at School for any function, they are to park
in the designated parking area and must display a Thacher parking permit.
C. When they arrive in the morning of a class day, they may
not drive their vehicles again until they have finished all commitments for that day and are ready to go home for the evening. Exceptions, if any, can be granted only by the Dean of Students.
D. They may not give rides to boarders under any circumstances. E. Day students who invite boarders to their homes must have
their parent pick-up and return the boarders or must have one of their parents in the vehicle when they themselves transport the boarders to and from School.
F. All special requests or questions regarding the above
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conditions should be addressed to the Dean of Students.
G. Any violation of the driving regulations is grounds for
revocation of the School’s Driving Permit.
School Hours (first through ninth period)
Juniors and Seniors: They have no location restrictions during the time they are required to be on campus, except that they must meet their classes and appointments. Freshmen and Sophomores: When not in class or a supervised activity, they must work in an academic area: the Library, art studio, laboratories, Mathematics/Science Computer Labs, empty classrooms, Study Hall, or other clearly academic location. They may also be in the dormitory.
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The Thacher School Study Evenings (7:30 – 9:30 p.m., Sunday – Thursday)
Freshmen and sophomores may participate in non-academic activities only until 7:30 p.m., but if the appropriate Dorm Head grants permission, the student may engage in extracurricular activities such as meetings, rehearsals, and lectures. Freshmen and sophomores who remain on campus during study hours must check-in to proctored study hall or their dorm, depending on the individual dorm’s policy. Juniors and seniors who remain on campus during the evening study hall must follow the same rules as boarding juniors and seniors. A day student involved in an activity may either go home for dinner and return for the activity period or remain at School for the evening meal.
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Departmental Weekend
Every other year one academic department plans a weekend involving various activities, lectures, and programs for students and faculty. This is a closed weekend for all students. Detention
Detention is the response for being absent from, for being tardy to, or for being disciplined in an academic commitment. Commitments include academic classes, college counseling sessions, study skills classes, and detention. A. Receiving Detention 1. Absence a. Any student with an unexcused absence from an
academic commitment receives a detention.
b. Faculty members are obligated to report all unexcused
absences.
c. Only the Director of Studies and the Dean of Students
can excuse an absence or defer a detention
50 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
A z
2. Tardiness a. A student who is more than ten minutes late to an
academic commitment will receive a detention.
b. A teacher may give a student a detention for being
less than ten minutes late to an academic commitment and will normally do so after a clear warning or after establishing the ground rules for unacceptable lateness.
3. Discipline
A teacher may give a student a detention if that student’s conduct warrants that response, whether the student is asked to leave the class or not. B. Serving Detention 1. Detention is served on Saturday night from 8:00 – 10:00 p.m. It is monitored by the TOAD or the faculty designee of the TOAD. Unless otherwise informed, students will report to the Study Hall. 2. Students are informed of their detention status on the Wednesday afternoon prior to serving. Students who receive a detention after the notification deadline may choose to serve that Saturday or to defer their detention until the following Saturday.
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3. Students may defer their detentions if they are involved in a school activity, such as an athletic event, a play performance, or the like. In these cases, as in all other deferrals, students must contact either the Director of Studies or the Dean of Students. 4. Students are to bring academic work to detention. They are not to sleep, listen to their headsets, use their cell phones, play on their computers, read magazines, or the like. Students are obligated to bring sufficient work with them to last the full two hours.
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The Thacher School Dining Services
Thacher is lucky to have an excellent dining service, Bon Appetit, headed up by Richard Maxwell. The Dining Hall provides a wide variety of foods, including vegetarian entrees, at every meal, so even the pickiest eaters should have no trouble. All meals are informal buffet except for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday dinner, which are formal dress and each student is required to attend. Because Formal Dinner is an integral party of the Thacher tradition and community, we request that you do not take your children out to dinner on formal dinner nights. When you are visiting, we encourage you and your family to join us in the Dining Hall for meals. Be respectful of the times listed and clean up after yourselves. MEAL TIMES are roughly as follows:
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Breakfast:
6:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Monday – Friday
Brunch:
8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday
Lunch:
11:15 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Monday – Friday
Dinner:
6:15 – 6:55 p.m. 5:30 – 7 p.m.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
Discipline
Thacher is very clear with students and parents about expectations regarding behavior. We expect each of our students to follow the rules we set before them, both in letter and in spirit. When these rules and expectations are violated, there are invariably disciplinary consequences. Discipline is handled through the Office of the Dean of Students and is dealt with in a variety of ways, depending on the seriousness of the infraction. Problems in the dormitory, such as being late for check-in, not keeping a clean room, etc, are handled by the Dorm Head. More major infractions or patterns of bad behavior are handled by the Dean and are usually accompanied by a punishment, parent meeting, and letter in the file documenting the infraction.
52 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
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Major rule violations (see section on major rules) are automatically sent to the Judicial Council or, if it is during finals or another difficult time, to a Faculty Committee. These bodies do not establish guilt or innocence, but determine punishments by taking the facts of the case and the student’s record into account. A recommendation is then made to the Head of School, who either accepts or modifies the punishment as he sees fit. The facts of the case are then shared with the whole community. Questions about disciplinary procedures should be directed to the Dean of Students. Dormitory Boundaries 1. In the evening, students are expected to stay within the central campus areas. 2. Students may not be in the dorm area of the opposite sex except in the clearly defined adjoining spaces to that dormitory. Where a student may or may not be can be more clearly demonstrated than explained. Each dorm area has a border over which students of the opposite sex may not venture. 3. Each week, on Friday evening, dorm areas may have an open house for all students planned and organized by the prefects and the Dorm Head. Such gatherings will be held at specific hours in clearly delineated common areas and may include room visitation. 4. Students’ brothers and sisters of School or college age may not visit in a dormitory of the opposite sex unless accompanied by a parent or teacher.
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5. On Friday and Saturday nights, from 7 p.m. until check-in, dormitory common rooms are open for visitation unless a Dorm Head has indicated that the room is not open. At the discretion of the Dorm Head, the common rooms may be opened from 9:30 p.m. throughout 10 p.m. during the week, especially during inclement weather. Dorm Overnights
If a student wishes to spend a weekend night (no weekday nights) in another dormitory of the same gender, they must get permission from the Dorm Heads of both dorms involved.
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The Thacher School Dress Code (see Appearance) Driver’s Education
Thacher does not provide a Driver’s Education program, but there are a number of local driving schools that will come to Thacher to do the necessary training on the weekends. You should call them directly for information regarding Driver’s Education classes. Sunshine Driving School
(805) 646-2113
Dollar Driving School
(805) 653-6475
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TOP 10 THACHER SNACK FOODS
1. Soft s
er ve ic e c rea m dining hall 2 . Ro n d ele an d brea d 3. C o o k ie do ugh 4 . Fr o z en gra pes 5. Robin ’s cook ies 6. C e r e al in LP 7. Ram en in t he
8. D o m
inos
9. Quiz n
10. Ore o
54 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
s
os
Emergency Contacts
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Call the following people directly in the order indicated. You should avoid making calls to the following people to simply deliver messages to your child. 1. Advisors: Check with your student’s Advisor. 2. Dormitory Heads: Casa...............................Megan Carney....................640-7221
Lower School................Alice Meyer.........................242-6402
Middle School...............Ann Merlini..........................603-520-4717
Los Padres.....................Aaron Snyder......................646-0961
The Hill/Sespe...............Kara Hooper .......................646-8635
Upper School................Tony Franco........................781-974-2882
3. Dean of Students: Sabina McMahon..........640-3201 x214 (office).....646-3763 (home) 4. Director of Studies: Blossom Pidduck..........640-3201 x213 (office)
5. The Health Center:....................................................646-2439 6. TOAD:.........................................................................798-0653 7. Maintenance:.............................................................630-4801
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Extra-Day Trips—EDTs
Extra-day trips will take place the weeks of September 2 – 7, 2013 and May 18 – 23, 2014. Please refer to the camping section for more detailed information. Extracurricular and Afternoon programs (see Horse, Outdoor, Camping, Athletics, Independent)
2013–2014 55
The Thacher School Family Weekend
Family weekend is held each year at the end of October (Oct. 25 – 27 in 2013). Family Weekend begins on Friday evening with dinner and concludes Sunday mid-afternoon. Activities include visits to your child’s classes, meetings with advisors and teachers, sporting events, a riding exhibition, and an arts presentation. All family members are welcome to attend Family Weekend and all of the events. Dress is casual for the weekend. You will be receiving more information regarding this event later in the year. Fire Alarms
Dismantling or tampering with fire alarms anywhere on campus is not permitted. If there is a problem with the fire alarm in your room or elsewhere, please contact Maintenance immediately at 630-4801.
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Fire Hazard Regulations 1. No storage in furnace rooms, hot-water heater rooms, or within 12 inches of individual room heaters is allowed. 2. No obstruction of dormitory hallways of stairways in or near the dormitories, or emergency exits in the dorm rooms is allowed. 3. No paints, varnishes, lacquers, thinners, Coleman fuel, or other volatile liquids are allowed in or near the dormitories. 4. Decorations (tapestries, etc.) must not obstruct sprinkler heads or smoke detectors, and may not cover lamps. Students must not remove batteries from the smoke detectors. 5. Please ask maintenance to light the room heaters, students are prohibited from taking on this task on their own. Florists Angela’s Flowers................................... 805-646-5404 The Curly Willow................................... 805-646-6999 www.curlywillow-ojai.com The Village Florist................................. 805-646-6252
56 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
A z
Formal Dinner
Formal dinner occurs from 6:15 – 6:55 p.m. on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday and is required of all students. Students are assigned to tables with faculty. Tables are rotated about every three weeks. Students may sign out of Formal Dinner for a school event. Dress is formal attire. Boys should have a minimum of 1 dinner jacket, 1 belt, 2 – 3 ties, 1 pair of dress shoes, 3 – 4 non-wrinkle dress shirts, 2 – 3 dress pants (khakis are acceptable), and 2 – 3 pairs of dress socks. Girls should have a minimum of 3 – 4 different outfits which include skirts, blouses, dress slacks and dresses. It is very common for students to borrow outfits from their friends and to adjust their needs once they have been at school.
TRADITIONS FOR FORM AL DINNER
on’t D take yo ur unless the TO jackets off AD gra permis nts sion. n The se rving o rder is on the posted table li st. n For he ad serving waiters and seniors is opti , onal. n No flip flo ps as fo rmal w n Ask be ear. fore yo u get u replen p to ish foo d or dri nk. n Wait u ntil acknow the faculty m ledges e it is tim mber begin dessert e to . n
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2013–2014 57
The Thacher School Guests at School 1. Visitors on campus must be invited by a Thacher student who has received permission from his/her Dorm Head or the Dean of Students. Guests are not normally allowed during the academic week. 2. Students who wish to have an overnight guest must make the arrangements with the faculty member on dorm duty and secure permission from their Dorm Head prior to that guest arriving on campus. 3. Permission for having guests to dinner and/or for the early evening must be granted by either the Dorm Head or the Dean of Students. 4. Guests are subject to the Community Regulations, and those doing the inviting are responsible for the conduct of their guests. Guns and firearms
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Any guns/firearms need to be stored at the trap-shooting range in the secured gun shed. If it is not open, then please contact your Dorm Head for temporary storage. At no time should there be any type of firearm in a student room. Pellet, Airsoft, BB, and Paintball guns are not permitted on campus. Gymkhana Weekend
In May (May 9 – 11 in 2014), there is the Big Gymkhana weekend. The focus of this weekend is the Big Gymkhana riding competitions and The Parents’ Auction. Again, all family members are welcome to join in for all events. Dress is casual for the weekend. You will be receiving more information regarding this event later in the year.
58 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
head’s invitation
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When a Head’s Invitation is extended to the community it is a special all-school meeting, lecture, concert, or event at which attendance is required for all students, including day students. Students must receive permission from the Dean of Students to be absent. Health Services
The purpose of The Thacher School Health Center is to provide nurturing care to our students. Procedures for treating injuries and illnesses are based on standard outpatient protocols that have been approved by Ojai physicians. 24-hour coverage
The six-bed infirmary and examining room are staffed 24 hours a day by a registered nurse. The clinic is open during the following hours: Monday – Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Saturday: 12 – 3 p.m. At all other times, a nurse will be reached by calling 646-2439. The TOAD can also be called at anytime 798-0653. Students should time their visits during breaks and free periods, and should not leave classes to see the nurse unless it is medically necessary. After 10 p.m., students must be accompanied by their Prefect if a visit to the Health Center is necessary. If the Prefect is not available, the Dorm Head should be contacted.
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Health Center Admission
If the nurse determines a student is too ill to attend class, that student will be admitted to the Health Center. Teachers, coaches and advisors will be notified. Students will be evaluated for sports participation. In most cases, students who miss classes while at the Health Center will not be able to attend their afternoon activity. Students in the Horse Program, admitted to the Health Center, are still responsible for the care of their horses. Prior to admission, the student should arrange to have a classmate feed and care for the horse temporarily.
2013–2014 59
The Thacher School Doctor Visits
Parents are notified, if at all possible, of all illnesses and injuries. Arrangements will be made for the student to be examined by a doctor whenever the student, nurse, or parents deem it advisable. Rides to doctors appointments will be arranged for the student and billed to the parent. Medications
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All prescription medicines must be kept at the Health Center and accompanied by a physician’s statement listing the reason for the prescription. The nurse administers all prescription medications and no prescription medication may be kept in student rooms. Please notify the Health Center if your family doctor prescribes/sends to you a new medication and send it to c/o The Health Center. Please do not send it to your child. Under no circumstances may students keep prescription medications in their rooms. Counseling
Thacher provides counseling by a licensed family therapist from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday. Private sessions can also be arranged for other times of the day or week. Confidentiality is always maintained, unless the seriousness of the case warrants the involvement of others. The first few halfhour sessions are offered at no cost. Appointments may be made through the nurse or you can e-mail therapists directly. Services of outside counselors, therapists, psychiatrists, and physicians are arranged through the Health Center with parental permission; fees for these services are billed to the student’s family. Students needing financial aid should see the Dean of Students. Resources: Julie Sardonia, Nicole Miller, Monica Lowe (nutritionist).
60 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
Sports Excuses
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A student may be excused from afternoon sports if the nurse deems it advisable. Students requesting to be excused must see the nurse for evaluation by 11 a.m. (after 11 a.m. only if a significant issue develops). A written excuse will be provided to the coach with a copy to the student’s advisor. Health Education
There are dorm talks scheduled in the evenings throughout the year for freshmen covering issues related to nutrition, sleep, drug and alcohol abuse, and sexuality. Substance abuse and related issues are discussed in-depth in seminars for all classes. During the sophomore year, Human Relations and Sexuality Seminars (HR&S), are given which cover personal growth, peer and social pressures, and decision-making. Juniors and seniors have ageappropriate programs throughout the year. In addition, noted speakers are invited who address the student body on topics like substance abuse, AIDS, nutrition/eating disorders, gender roles, and human sexuality. Students are always invited to visit the Health Center where the nurses will provide information on any topic relating to health issues.
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2013–2014 61
The Thacher School Horse Program
Part of the Thacher tradition is the Horse Program. Horses have been integral to the School since 1889. Today, the Program encompasses over 90 riders each athletic term and a remuda of 110 horses, 15 burros, and two mules. Western trail/pleasure and gymkhana is the core of the Program, although the School offers instruction in English, horse/mule packing, advanced horsemanship/ vet care, and some rodeo events. The ranking system for both horse camping and advanced riding recognizes those students with unusual skill and dedication. Students are encouraged to advance as far as they can in the Program.
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Once the means of transportation to School, the horse is now, most importantly, a means of helping us learn about ourselves. And in truth, part of the fun and reward of attending Thacher is learning to master the horse and therefore, to a large extent, ourselves. Learning aside, adventuring over mountain ridges, racing on the Gymkhana Field, and camping next to green meadows and running waters are unforgettable adventures. Freshmen are required to ride for the year, while new students entering in the tenth or eleventh grade must ride at least one athletic season prior to their graduation. It is important for freshmen and their families to understand that during the ninth grade year, the horse program is the main priority outside of academics. Freshmen may play on sports teams, but only if they are successfully meeting their riding requirements. If a freshman is having difficulty meeting the challenges that the programs presents, that student will not be allowed to play sports at all. The majority of students come to Thacher never having ridden. Our instructors will teach you what you need to know, starting with the most basic elements of horse care on your first day. What you need to bring to School is simple: a pair of jeans, cowboy boots, shirt, and hat to ward off the sun. Boots can be purchased at School if you desire. If money is an issue, let us know; the Horse Department has a supply of second-hand boots. We do not recommend that you spend money on fancy riding paraphernalia.
62 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
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Some Details about the Horse Program 1. Traditionally, because of the mountainous area and the Camping Program, most of the riding at Thacher has been Western-style. This is still the case; however, an English riding program is available to students after they have satisfied certain proficiency tests and participated in trail riding. Since freshmen have certain requirements to fulfill in horse camping and gymkhana, it is necessary that they continue to ride predominantly Western except for specific times when they may obtain English instruction.
2. New students are asked not to bring their own horses to the School until at least the winter riding period (after Thanksgiving recess). This allows students to participate fully in all phases of Thacher’s Horse Program on horses better suited to local conditions and terrain. Students also have an opportunity to learn what demands the Program makes on horses, which will better enable them to determine whether their own horse would be suitable. Most of the major “horse problems” over the years have been with private horses brought to the School. Thus, this policy has been established for safety reasons and to avoid disappointment. Any student who later decides to bring his or her own horse must agree to the following: Horses are kept in individual, assigned pipe and cable corrals at all times, except during vacations when all horses are turned out together in pasture. Students bringing their own horse must use that horse to fulfill all Horse Program requirements.
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3. To protect our horse community, we require a series of vaccinations suited to our area. Any student bringing a horse shall provide proof of up-to-date inoculations for the following: Eastern-Western encephalitis, tetanus, rhinopnuemonitis, and equine distemper (strangles). Should you be unable to document the shots, or have them done before arriving at Thacher, your animal may face a quarantine period, which would interfere with your participation in the Riding Program. 4. There is only a limited time to provide private instruction on a one-toone basis. Most instruction is done at the group level. It is therefore difficult to spend the time needed to prepare a few “top riders” for outside showing. Because of this, as well as the other significant demands on a student’s time here, outside showing is limited, for the most part, to local shows in Ojai, nearby Ventura, and occasionally Santa Barbara. Any student planning on following a show circuit will be disappointed.
2013–2014 63
The Thacher School 5. Students who remain in the Horse Program during their sophomore, junior, and senior years are able to take advantage of more advanced instruction through the advanced rider, horseman, and top horseman programs. These programs involve training and veterinary skills. 6. If you bring your own horse, the charge for horse keep is $375 each term. This fee covers feed and housing only. Any other services will be charged an additional fee. A saddle, saddle pad, bridle, and halter may be leased through the Thacher stable shop. Since the stable shop inventory is limited, students are given the opportunity to purchase other horse and riding supplies and equipment through a nearby horseman’s store that bills parents directly. The Horse Program staff does its best to see that students do not buy unnecessary items and welcome parental guidelines regarding purchases.
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At the time a student leaves the Horse Program, equipment leased from the stable shop must be turned in. Parents will be charged the replacement cost for any item not returned by the student. If equipment is not returned in satisfactory condition, a maintenance fee will be charged. 7. Veterinary expenses on School-owned horses are paid by the School except in the case of negligence. Routine vaccinations and worming are done by the Horse Program staff and are included in the horse keep fee. Veterinary costs for privately owned horses are billed directly to the parents by the veterinarian. 8. Although riding helmets are not required, students and parents are urged to discuss whether a student should wear a helmet while riding. Parents NOT REQUIRING their son or daughter to wear a helmet must sign and return the enclosed waiver form, which also includes a place for ordering a riding helmet from the School.
64 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
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Hotels: The Blue or Emerald Iguana Inn.... ($100 – $280)..............805-646-5277 www.blueiguanainn.com
Capri Motel........................................ ($80 – $150)..............805-646-4305 www.ojaicaprimotel.com Casa Ojai............................................ ($85 – $140).............. 805-646-8175 www.bestwesterncalifornia.com Chantico Inn..................................... ($150 – $300)..............805-646-8100 www.bestwesterncalifornia.com Hummingbird Inn.............................. ($80 – $140)..............805-646-4365 www.hummingbirdinnofojai.com The Lavender Inn............................. ($120 – $300)..............805-646-6635 www.lavenderinn.com Meditation Mount............................ ($115 – $125)..............805-646-5508 www.meditation.com Ojai Rancho House............................ ($85 – $120).............. 805-646-1434 Ojai Retreat.........................................($65 – $175)..............805-646-2536 www.ojairetreat.com Ojai Valley Inn................................. ($360 and up)...............805-646-1111 www.ojairesort.com Rolling Thunder Lodge................... ($395 – $695).............. 805-728-0203 www.ojairollingthunder.com
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Suite 1 Inn..........................................($150 – $185).............. 800-646-7869 www.suite1innojai.com Theodore Woolsey House...............($105 – $185)..............805-646-9779 www.woolseyhouse.com Human Relations and Sexuality (HR&S)
HR&S is a program for the sophomore class during winter term. Sophomores meet in single sex and/or coed groups to discuss issues of drugs and alcohol, sexuality, sexual orientation, personal growth, peer and social pressures, and decision making. These meetings occur once a week during winter term.
2013–2014 65
The Thacher School The Independent Program
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Those few upperclassmen, particularly seniors, who have both demonstrated a record of excellence in the traditional afternoon programs and shown an outstanding record of commitment to a specific talent or interest, may apply for an “Afternoon Independent Project” in lieu of the regular afternoon offerings. Only those projects that represent a substantially different opportunity than those we already offer are eligible for approval. Athletic-related independent projects are rare and are handled by the Athletic Director and the Athletic Council. Also, eligible students must have a specific goal in mind, be willing to demonstrate their accomplishments before the School, and have completed their riding and athletic “team” requirements. Applicants must secure approval from their advisors as well as have a project advisor. Applications and requirement criteria are available in the Administrative Office.
Top 10 thin buy ags to studte the nt store
Chapsti ck Small c ereal b oxes n F ruit ro ll-ups a n d gush n S ers purs n
n
Sweatp ants Sweats hirts n L aundry deterg ent n D eodora nt n P encils n
n
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66 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
School
supplie
s
The Judicial Council
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Although minor infractions of the Community Regulations may be adjudicated through the Prefects, Advisor, Dormitory Head, or Dean of Students, major infractions are channeled, at the discretion of the Head of School, either to the Judicial Council (six students and two faculty) or to a Faculty Committee. Faculty Committees are selected if there are exams in progress or if there are aspects to the case that are confidential and, therefore, not appropriate for sharing with students and the School as a whole. The Judicial Council, on the other hand, shares the details of each case with the entire School after the case is closed, offering to the community both the specifics of the case and the logic for their recommendations to the Head of School. Time is taken for questions and answers as well as for discussion within the dorm and with the dorm faculty and Judicial Council representatives. A case is brought before the Judicial Council or a Faculty Committee once it has been established that a rule violation has occurred. The Dean of Students interviews all people involved and presents the facts of the case to the Judicial Council or the Faculty Committee, and it is the job of these groups to determine the appropriate disciplinary response. Many factors are taken into consideration in determining the outcome, including a student’s past disciplinary record. Recommendations for disciplinary action from both groups are made to the Head of School, who ultimately decides to accept or amend the recommendation.
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Students who wish to serve on the Judicial Council must write an essay and be interviewed by members of the Community Council. Those students who are deemed most worthy, regardless of class, are then selected by a vote of the School. Such qualities as integrity, thoughtfulness, articulateness, and maturity are carefully weighed. Students who are on social probation are not eligible for a position on the Judicial Council.
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The Thacher School Laundry
Laundry and dry cleaning service, which usually take one week, are available. The dormitories are equipped with washing machines and dryers. There is no charge affiliated with the machines. Bring a hamper or heavy clothes bag so that dirty clothing is not strewn about the room between washes. Dry Cleaning may be brought to Olympus and will be returned in one week. The Library – Policies and Procedures
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The library is available for use throughout the day, evening and weekends. You will be in the library many times with classes and the librarians are available to help you individually at any time as well. If you can’t find the information you need, see a librarian for help as we can borrow materials from libraries across the country and access information through many on-line services. Checkout
Library materials are checked out on the honor system. The borrowing period is 28 days from checkout. You are responsible for anything you check out from the library. Materials should be returned as soon as you are finished with them. Materials are returned through the slot in the Checkout desk. Books may be renewed for one additional checkout period (28 days) by contacting a librarian. As a courtesy, once books are overdue, you will be sent a notice and advisors will be informed. If library material is not returned after this point, it will be assumed to be lost and charges will be incurred. If you cannot find the library material and assume it is lost, please come to the library immediately to inform the librarians.
68 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
Charges for lost materials are as follows:
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In addition to replacement charges, a $25.00 non-refundable processing fee will be added to all lost items to help cover the labor involved in replacement. If an item is paid for and later found, replacement charges will be refunded. A photocopier machine is available in the library for your use. You may purchase photocopier cards from a librarian or at the student store.
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2013–2014 69
The Thacher School Mail
Students have their own mailbox located in The Commons. All packages and mail are delivered there. The mailing address for students is: The Thacher School 5025 Thacher Rd Ojai, CA 93023. No mailbox number is necessary. If you have questions regarding mail service, please contact Cindy Kosinski. Maintenance – Emergency and Damage Reports
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It is your responsibility to report any maintenance needs or damage to Maintenance by e-mail as soon as possible. The sooner these repairs are made, the better; and usually at the least cost. In case of problems that need immediate attention—plumbing emergencies or leaks, for instance—please call the Maintenance phone at 630-4801. Meals
Breakfast
All boarding students, except seniors, are required to attend breakfast Monday through Friday, except for the specified number of permitted cuts. Students must check in with the TOAD by 8:15 a.m. (Freshmen are allowed one breakfast cut each month; sophomores, two; and juniors, three.) Breakfast cuts: Those who accrue more cuts than can be reasonably taken care of will be assigned a work crew.
Each “early morning” will count towards reducing a student’s number of cuts. One “early morning” equals one breakfast cut. Those who accrue more cuts than can be reasonably taken care of will lose class privileges, will be required to attend proctored study hall, and will be assigned work crew. Chronic breakfast cutters will meet with the Dean of Students, the Dorm Head, and the advisor to determine what further response is necessary. Lunch
Attendance is always optional.
70 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
Formal Dinner
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Everyone must be off the courts and fields, out of the pool, and away from the stable area by the 20-minute bell. All boarding students must attend dinner a minimum of three times a week unless they are with a faculty member or excused by the Dorm Head or Dean of Students. Day students who remain on campus are expected to attend Formal Dinner. Informal Dinner
Attendance is always optional. Medication
Prescription medication must be kept at the Health Center, administered by the School nurse, and accompanied by a physician’s statement showing the name of the medication and the reason for taking it. Students are not allowed to give medication of any kind, including aspirin, to other students. The milligan center for the performing arts
The Milligan Center for the Performing Arts is a wonderful facility used for a variety of performances, weekend events, and at times assembly. Please be respectful of the following guidelines: do not bring in any food or drink other than water, do not put your feet up on the seat in front of you, be respectful about start times for events so as not to disturb the performance, do not use any of the equipment unless you are accompanied by a faculty member.
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Money
It is not a good idea for students to have large amounts of cash around School. Banks in Ojai offer various types of checking and savings accounts, and students are encouraged to open such accounts for easy management of allowance and spending money. Students will need cash for drinks and snacks sold in vending machines, and for food purchased in town or delivered to campus. Approximately $15 per week seems to suffice. Students may cash personal checks for no more than $50.00 in the Business Office.
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The Thacher School The Business Office will advance cash to students to be charged against their parents’ account only when a student’s account is up-to-date. Parents should, as much as possible, arrange directly with their son or daughter all matters pertaining to allowances and money. The Morning Jobs Program
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All Thacher students who are not involved in the Horse Program and who do not otherwise have extracurricular work responsibilities, such as senior prefects, are assigned work on campus. Morning jobs are performed on weekday mornings before classes and are inspected by morning job supervisors. Such tasks as cleaning classrooms, sweeping stairs and hallways, and recycling are among the duties asked of students. These jobs are in addition to the normal maintenance and cleaning tasks required of all students in the dormitories. music guidelines
Many students arrive with music equipment. This should be accompanied by headphones because undue sound from music in the dormitories is not permitted. Also, there are times when music may be listened to only with headphones. Large speakers and subwoofers encourage violation of the right of all students to a quiet place to live and study and so we suggest they not be brought to school. We recommend that any expensive equipment be covered by insurance and that you keep a record of serial numbers. We have an engraving tool to put names on equipment and strongly recommend that students take advantage of it. In fact, all student belongings should be labeled somehow with the student’s name.
72 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
Music Rules
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All Students: Music must be played only within the dormitory rooms at a volume which does not disturb a person outside the room who may hear it. In other words, respect for others’ rights should be observed. Each Dorm Head shall be the final arbiter of what constitutes reasonable volume. 1. At no time may portable radios and the like be played on campus outside the dormitory rooms, except by teachers in their classroom work. Only the Dean of Students may give permission for the playing of music outside, such as for dances and open houses. 2. Televisions, projectors or computer monitors devoted to entertainment are not permitted in student rooms. 3. Ipods and the like are appropriate for the dormitory, pool side, and on bus and van trips. They are not welcome, however, when camping, riding, or traversing the campus. They inhibit discourse and impair communication, both of which are essential in a community like The Thacher School and for the education we provide one another. Music Hours and Use
Music for personal enjoyment must be played quietly enough not to disturb others. 1. Monday through Thursday: Music without headphones may be played from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., and from after the last class period until checkin in the upper-class dormitories as long as the music can’t be heard outside the room. Seniors in other dorms should consult with their Dorm Heads.
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2. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: Music may be played from after the last class until check-in each night as long as the music can’t be heard outside the room. After check-in, headphones must be used. Music Lessons
Instrumental and vocal lessons are available and students interested should have parents sign the School’s permission form for lessons. Students will sign up for the actual lessons once they are at school.
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The Thacher School The Outdoor Program
Offered as an afternoon activity during each of three athletic seasons, The Outdoor Program is a natural outgrowth of our Horse and Camping Programs. Experienced instructors teach skills ranging from technical climbing, bouldering, and winter camping techniques to white water and ocean kayaking. Regular weekend camping trips are offered as part of this Program. Students learn life-long recreational skills—ones that many Thacher graduates continue to enjoy throughout their college and adult lives.
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At the outset, no special equipment is required for this Program. The School supplies climbing gear and protective equipment, kayaks, cross-country and Nordic skis, snow shoes, etc. After students have garnered some experience, however, they may wish to invest in special climbing shoes but this should only occur after consulting the instructors. Outdoor Program offerings will include rock climbing, B and A Camper training, and trail crew.
74 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
Parents
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Reaching Students.
Every student has a personal E-mail account, and we have found that this is the easiest way to reach any student at any time. Personal cell phones are also convenient for families, but can only be used by students in their dorm areas. Before arriving at Thacher, please discuss with your child the means by which you will communicate during the year. It is also a good idea to set up a weekly time to talk with your child; for example, Sunday afternoon. It is difficult to reach students by phone and a prearranged time is the best way to ensure a conversation. To reach a student by telephone, call the School office at 805-646-4377, and a note will be sent though the in-school mail asking that the student call home. The office is open from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. In Case Of Emergency
Call the following people directly in the order indicated. You should avoid making calls to the following people to simply deliver messages to your child. 1. Advisors: Check with your student’s Advisor.
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2. Dormitory Heads:
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Megan Carney.......................640-7221
Lower School
Alice Meyer............................242-6402
Middle School
Ann Merlini............................603-520-4717
Los Padres
Aaron Snyder.........................646-0961
The Hill/Sespe
Kara Hooper .........................646-8635
Upper School
Tony Franco...........................781-974-2882
3. Dean of Students: Sabina McMahon
640-3201 x214 (office).......646-3763 (home)
4. Director of Studies: Blossom Pidduck 640-3201 x213 (office)
5. The Health Center: ................................................646-2439 6. TOAD:
................................................798-0653
7. Maintenance:
................................................630-4801
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The Thacher School Parents’ Association
The purpose of the Parents’ Association is to enhance and personalize the relationship between parents, faculty, and administration; support the financial needs of the School, and to help create a friendly atmosphere for families to experience all that The Thacher School has to offer. The heads of the Parents’ Association will be in contact with you in the fall to solicit your help in various activities. Participation is strictly voluntary. Parent Communications
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Thacher uses a range of print and electronic tools to communicate with parents about the full range of school life, from news and multimedia about student life at Thacher to the less interesting but necessary administrative forms that must be completed every year. In addition to the various letters, summer mailings, and forms you will receive throughout the year, you can expect several major publications: Thacher, the Community Directory, the Annual Fund Report. In addition to occasional e-mail messages from School administrators, we use the following electronic vehicles to communicate with you: . The Thacher public website (www.thacher.org), which includes a school calendar, news items, and a media gallery. . The myThacher section of the website, where you can gain access to both public content and secure content that is available only to members of the Thacher community with user accounts. This is where you can find information tailored to parents—some of it (grade reports, for example) visible only to you personally. . CdeP Connection, a periodic e-mail we send to parents to push relevant and timely information your way, call your attention to items of interest on the website, and connect you through the site to information about your child and the School.
76 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
The Performing Arts Program
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The Thacher School Performing Arts Program is comprised of a number of activities including Dance, Chorus, Chamber Singers, the Instrumental Ensemble, and the Thacher Masquers. Besides these more structured, faculty-directed activities, many informal opportunities exist for students to make music, dance, and act. All students are invited to participate in this Program regardless of their previous experience. Lessons can be arranged for voice and most instruments, and instruction is available in dance and acting. Dance is offered as an afternoon activity in the fall sports term and includes classes in ballet, modern dance, and jazz. The focus of these classes is in improving strength, flexibility, and alignment and in learning combinations of steps in a variety of dance styles. Beginners and experienced dancers are invited to participate. Dance Ensemble is a repertory dance company that is selected by audition. Members of Dance and the Dance Ensemble put on performances each term. The Thacher Masquers is a theatrical ensemble selected by audition. It stages the fall play, a winter musical, and a number of one-acts in the spring. Auditions are open to all. The Chorus, Chamber Singers, and the Instrumental Ensemble are part of the academic program and are taken as elective courses. These groups perform each term at the term-end concerts. Instrumental and vocal lessons are available, and interested students should sign-up in the early fall when they are at school.
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Pets
No pets are allowed in the dormitories. Phones
There are phones in each dorm. To use these phones you must dial ‘9’ first. Local calls are free and long distance calls require the use of a credit or phone card.
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The Thacher School Repairs (see Maintenance) Roofs
No student is allowed onto any roof at any time. Rooms
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A Thacher room contains basic furniture (bed, desk, chair, bureau, bookcase, closet, trash can), but you should bring a desk lamp, a rug if you wish (probably not over 4 x 7 feet), an alarm clock, and some wall decorations. Rooms are supplied with either shades or curtains. If you wish to have both, they should be purchased locally because window sizes vary. A night table sometimes proves useful. Some students bring an easy chair with them; sometimes second-hand furniture is available for purchase from other students. Second-hand shops abound in the area, as well. Rooms are small, so don’t be too ambitious in your interior decorating and furnishing! R
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emem ber Reduce the three R’s the wa ste you n R euse produc m e aterials We suggest you bring, as a minimum, discard before ing two blankets, a mattress pad, a n R ecy cle pa per, gla bedspread or comforter, four sheets, alumin ss, and um aft er use one pillow, two pillowcases, three Here’s w towels, and a laundry bag or basket. at Tha hat you c an do cher: n T urn off All beds are single width; however, a light! n M since their lengths vary, we ake conscio us dec what y recommend bringing extra long isions ou buy about (Where it com e does from? twin size sheets or full-size fitted Consid amoun er the to sheets. really n f packaging. Do you eed it? ) n T ake a w alk. En joy the n M Earth. ake food c h oices th are he at althy fo r you a enviro nd the nment. n R efu se a ba g at th bring y e store our ow , n. n P artic ipate in the En Action vironm Comm ental ittee o n camp us!
Bedding and Linen
78 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
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Electrical Regulations 1. Only one item should be plugged into an outlet. A single fused outlet strip (six receptacles) is permitted.
2. No resistance heating type appliances are allowed—toasters, toaster ovens, portable heaters, coffee makers, hot plates, immersion heaters, popcorn poppers, irons, etc. 3. No electrical wire may be affixed to walls. 4. Major appliances such as refrigerators are not allowed. These appliances will be provided by the school in each dormitory. Fire Hazard Regulations 1. No storage in furnace rooms, hot-water heater rooms, or within 12 inches of individual room heaters is allowed. 2. No obstruction of dormitory hallways of stairways in or near the dormitories, or emergency exits in the dorm rooms is allowed. 3. No paints, varnishes, lacquers, thinners, Coleman fuel, or other volatile liquids are allowed in or near the dormitories. 4. Decorations (tapestries, etc.) must not obstruct sprinkler heads or smoke detectors, and may not cover lamps. Students must not remove batteries from the smoke detectors. 5. Please ask maintenance to light the room heaters. Students are prohibited from taking on this task on their own.
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Furniture 1. No moving, dismantling, or exchanging the bed, mattress, chairs, pillow, desk, etc., is allowed without permission of the Dorm Head and notification of the Maintenance Department. 2. No borrowing, or removing of any School furniture from a vacant room for use in another dormitory room, section, or Common Room is allowed without the permission of the Dorm Head. 3. If you change rooms, the School-owned furniture belongs in and must stay in the room being vacated.
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The Thacher School Miscellaneous Items
Several students have commented that they wished that a number of miscellaneous recommendations had been made to them in addition to the ones offered above. Students have found it useful to have some or all of the following:
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hangers
shower sandals
bedside table or trunk
robe
fan
swiss army knife for camping
power strip
laundry basket
thumb tacks
one or two small lamps
hammer, nails, screwdriver
bulletin board
sewing kit full length mirror if you want one
l ightweight flip-flops for camping
hooks for over the door
duct tape
c omputer printer is not necessary to have, but is permissable
l ong sleeve white shirt for freshman riding
small rug memo board for your door
b lack skirt for girls and dark or khaki pants for boys for 9th and 10th graders serving at banquets
mat for outside your door
dust buster
shower caddy
water filter pitcher (Britta type)
Items you should NOT bring. The following items are not permitted:
An electric heater
A hot pot
A microwave
A refrigerator
A television
Toaster or toaster oven (See School Supplies for a suggested list of materials with which to start the year.)
80 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
Room Cleanliness
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Student rooms are expected to be kept generally clean for reasons of fire insurance and health standards. Also, we believe that a tidy and organized room can lead to tidiness and organization of mind. Rooms are inspected daily by prefects (Monday through Friday) and once each weekend at a designated time by the dorm faculty. Perishable foods should be kept in sealed containers. Room Decorating
The condition of a student’s room, the walls especially, must not deteriorate during the course of the year. At the end of the year, there should be no damage to the room brought about by careless decorating. Painted walls of wood, plaster, and unpainted wooden walls all need to be approached differently and carefully. Nails, tacks, and tape can often damage the wall surface. Even mounting putty (Blue Tack, etc.) can leave marks. Please take care when you hang pictures and posters. Ask a dorm faculty member for advice before you do anything you will be billed for later. No removal of screens from windows is allowed.
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The Thacher School School Supplies
Below is a suggested list of materials for the start of the year. Each student will organize their things individually so preferences may vary. The Student Store will also have supplies available for purchase. A Thacher Assignment Planner will be distributed at school to all new students. Returning students may purchase one at the Student Store. 5 one-inch binders (one for each subject) or a few large binders. They each should contain a spiral notebook and dividers with pockets and lined paper. Binders should have sections for homework, tests and quizzes, and handouts. 5 spiral notebooks lined paper
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3-hole punch index cards for flash cards pens pencils highlighters scissors tape stapler/paperclips graph paper Senior Leadership
The School relies heavily upon the leadership, direction, and maturity of all seniors. Expected to set examples and help others adjust to and thrive at The Thacher School, seniors are asked to help direct and administer many aspects of the School’s program. The School Chair is elected by students in the spring of each year. He or she also chairs the Community Council, participates as a member of the Judicial Council, helps to run Assemblies, and works closely with the administration to ensure that the entire community is working together to achieve the goals for the year. Head Prefects for each of the dormitory areas are selected by the Dorm Council after the student body as a whole has had a chance to vote for those whom they feel would be best suited for the job.
82 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
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Other important leadership positions open to seniors and other qualified upper-class students include: Heads of Community Service, Editors of The Notes, Indoor Committee Heads and Technical & Stage directors, to name a few. Seniors are chosen for positions on the basis of interest, ability, and motivation. The key is that all seniors are expected to take some responsibility for the welfare of the School and its constituents by helping to organize and run extracurricular activities. Sign-Out Procedures
Students must sign-out electronically on Gmail whenever they leave campus. (Refer to pp. 19 and 88 for more details.) Failure to do so at any time will result in a week of campusing or more significant consequences. Students who plan to be away from campus for dinner must sign-out before 3:30 p.m. Skateboards
Skateboarding is confined to areas within the Perimeter Road. It is not allowed on the Pergola, parking lots during business hours, tennis courts, in the gym, library courtyard and amphitheater, in the dormitory hallways or common areas, or any area that might disturb others. Students may not skateboard anywhere on campus where cars drive. Students may not skateboard on any school property, such as benches, roofs, railings, etc. On Sunday afternoons, skateboarders are allowed to set up ramps in the Middle School parking lot as long as they remove the ramp by formal dinner. No skateboarding after dark is allowed. Failure to abide by these rules will result in a loss of skateboarding privileges.
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Spiritual Life
Although nonsectarian and nondenominational in nature, the School recognizes the importance of religious and spiritual study and insight for the overall growth and well being of the individual and the community. Thacher does not require chapel, but we offer students a number of spiritual and religious options. Blessed with a magnificent outdoor chapel, the School offers nondenominational
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The Thacher School services on various religious holidays, as well as regular convocations for the purpose of investigating spiritual, religious, and ethical concerns. All students are encouraged to attend these services. The School arranges transportation to various churches in Ojai each Sunday for interested students. Last year, students worshipped with local Catholic, Christian Scientist, Episcopalian, Jewish, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Seventh Day Adventist congregations. Throughout the year, a variety of faith-oriented student organizations hold meetings, invite outside speakers, and plan events that offer opportunities for spiritual and religious exploration and development. The Student Store
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The Student Store, located in The Commons, has a range of school supplies such as soap, shampoo, laundry detergent, toothpaste, batteries, notebooks, pens, and other items you may need. The Store also sells T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and other Thacher merchandise. Students may use cash, check, or their school charge account to buy things in the student store. Study Hours
Study hours begin promptly at 7:30 p.m., Sunday through Thursday nights. We often call the period from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. at Thacher the “Golden Hours” because we feel that it is essential that evening study hall always be a student’s first priority, regardless of age. To that end, we ask that if your child is in your company during the school week, that you return him back to school well before study hours begin. In addition, students on a weekend must return by 7:30 p.m. Students who fail to return from a weekend on time will be punished and could lose weekend privileges. Freshmen and Sophomores may not receive phone calls during study hours, except in the case of an emergency. In general, incoming phone calls during study hours to any student are disruptive. We ask parents’ cooperation in keeping the study hours an uninterrupted, quiet time.
84 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
Study Skills and Tutoring
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Students sometimes find the adjustment to Thacher’s rigorous academic demands a great challenge. To meet the needs of students who desire some extra help in organizing and completing their work, Thacher has an on-campus, part-time study skills teacher. She is available to work with students by appointment. Please contact your child’s advisor or Dorm Head for further information. Summer Storage
Thacher does not provide storage for students over the summer. Instead, we contract with a local storage service to store student gear. They charge a flat rate of approximately $115 per summer. Students may buy boxes from the school to store things such as linens, towels, books, small lamps, camping gear, clothes, etc. Larger furniture can also be stored with the company for the summer. These items are then stored by the storage company and will be dropped off at dormitories in the fall. A local UPS and US Mail shipper, Ojai Business Center, is here during the last week of school to help students with their shipping needs. For overseas students, shipping and storage are more problematic and we will do our best to help meet their storage needs.
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Students with storage difficulties should see the Dean of Students or the Dorm Head for assistance. Swimming
ALL students must also pass a SWIM TEST at the beginning of the year. Students who do not know how to swim are urged to begin learning, if possible, over the summer. A swim test will be administered during the first few days of the school year and consists of swimming two lengths (2 x 25 meters) of the pool and treading water for five minutes. Only students who have passed the swim test may use the swimming pool and then only when three swimmers are present within the pool enclosure. After dinner, a teacher must be present. Students may not be in the pool area during the class day or after dark. Further rules are posted at the pool.
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The Thacher School The Thacher Room
The Thacher room is located in The Commons. This space is available for students to use in conjunction with faculty for meetings and events. This room is only to be used by students when adults are present. TOAD (Teacher on Active Duty)
Each day throughout the year there is a faculty member on duty. They are available 24 hours a day for students, parents, and faculty. They can be reached at 798-0653. TOwn runs
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Twice a week there is a bus available for trips to the town of Ojai. Pick up and drop off in town is at the parking lot across from the intersection of Montgomery and Matilija Streets. The schedule is as follows: Wednesday Pick up at the Upper Field 12:15 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. Pick up in Town 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m. 4:15 p.m. Saturday Pick up at the Upper Field 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. Pick up in Town 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m.
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Transportation
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During set vacation times, we arrange bus transportation to and from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and other area airports as needed. We also arrange for a bus to the Bay Area for all vacations, except departure in June. Transportation to all other destinations at other times needs to be arranged by students or parents, though we can provide assistance. For help, email Theresa Vyhnal, tvhynal@thacher.org. A list of airport shuttles follows: Roadrunner Shuttle: 1-800-247-7919 (Door to door service provides transportation to/from LAX, Santa Barbara, and Burbank. May be charged to a credit card or to your school account.) Super Ride: 1-800-683-9636 (Door-to-door transportation to Santa Barbara) Ventura County Shuttle: 805-382-3800 (Provides door-to-door transportation to/from LAX) Ventura County Airporter: 805-650-6600 (Pick-up and drop off in Ventura, provides service to LAX)
Remember that a ride from campus to the bus stop in Ventura can take upwards to fifty minutes, and LAX is two-and-a-half to three hours away, depending on traffic. Don’t cut flight times too close as you make plans for next year! Special transportation arrangements are not always easy to make and are always very expensive. Schedules for public transportation to Ventura, Los Angeles International, and Oxnard Airports, as well as various shuttles are available in the Administrative and Business Offices or you can call them directly.
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Students should be prepared to pay the fare and gratuity for taxi services in cash, though with enough notice, this charge can be billed home to a student’s account.
2013–2014 87
The Thacher School Independent travel arrangements can be made with the following people. It is up to the student or parents to make any special arrangements for transportation. For rides off-campus to any destination for whatever purpose, a student should plan ahead and: 1. Ask the ADVISOR for suggestions; 2. Place a message on the Electronic Kiosk. Do not make an announcement at Assembly; 3. Check with the HEALTH CENTER (for rides to Ojai, Ventura, or Oxnard only). You will be billed at home for these rides. 4. Check with Ms. McMahon in the Dean’s Office – she can often arrange rides with advance notice. Vacations
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Except in emergencies or by prior arrangement, students must plan to leave for and return from vacations at the designated times. Although the School frequently organizes transportation from the Los Angeles area airports and the Bay Area to the School, students must make the bus on time. If they miss it, they must arrange their own transportation back to the School. Students should not expect to be transported back to School in a School vehicle unless they have signed up for the transportation in advance, since space may not be available. Students delayed in returning should inform the Dean of Students. Following vacations, students are to return by 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
88 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
Weekend Program
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Thacher provides a variety of activities for students on the weekends. There are camping trips offered almost every weekend of the year, and we urge students to take advantage of this opportunity. Each Friday and Saturday night, events of a social nature are offered, ranging from dances, trivia contests, films, dormitory open houses, concerts, and plays; to trips off campus for roller-skating, movies, dinner, and sports events. The Indoor/Weekend Activities Committee comprised of faculty and students, works very hard to organize activities that are fun, relaxing, and safe. Each Saturday night, in addition to the planned activities, Mr. and Mrs. Mulligan host an informal Open House, where students and faculty come to bake cookies, watch movies, play games, dance, and just hang out and talk. Weekends 1. Boarding students who wish to leave the campus for the weekend must follow their dorm’s guidelines, which will be explained by the Dorm Head and will either complete a written Weekend Permission Form or an electronic version. Both the Advisor and the Dorm Head must give permission. Parents should give permission for a student to return home by phoning, faxing, e-mailing, or writing the Dorm Head well in advance of the weekend. If a student is not going home, then an invitation from the host family, along with parental permission must be sent to the Dorm Head by phone, E-mail, or fax. Transportation off campus must be by an approved adult driver who is 25 years of age or older or the student must have permission from the Dean of Students. Permissions should be in place by Friday at 3:30 p.m.
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2. Weekend Procedures: a. Freshmen may NOT take weekends between the opening of School and Family Weekend; they may take one weekend between Family Weekend and Winter Break. Beginning in January, there is no restriction on the number of weekends a freshman may take, but the School discourages the excessive use of this privilege. b. Although there is no restriction on the number of official weekends any other student may take, it is important to remember that The Thacher School is a seven-day boarding school. Again, therefore, the School discourages the excessive use of this privilege.
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The Thacher School 3. Students must sign out for all days they will be away. 4. All students in good standing are permitted to leave campus for a weekend or vacation after their last class or formal commitment, including games, performances, or scheduled meetings. They must attend their last class and fulfill their afternoon and evening commitments as scheduled, unless they have been granted special permission to do otherwise by the Dean of Students. 5. When students have gone on a weekend, it is their responsibility to arrange their own return transportation. The School does not assume liability for students who have gone on an official weekend or on vacation after they have left campus unless in a vehicle owned or rented by the School.
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6. Students on official weekends may return to campus for social and athletic events, provided they follow School regulations. Day student motor vehicle regulations (except A) apply. Students on a weekend may not return to campus or leave campus in a vehicle driven by another student. 7. Following official weekends, students are to return on Sunday by 7:30 p.m.
90 T H A C H E R S T U D E N T/PAR E NT HAND BO O K
THACHER VOCABULARY
Casa de Piedra............................... Spanish for “House of Stone,” the original name of the School and the ranch; it is now the name of a dormitory CdeP................................................. Abbreviation of Casa de Piedra that is used in place of “class of” to indicate graduation from Thacher (e.g, John Smith CdeP 1995) CFC................................................... Christian Fellowship Club Chambered Nautilus..................... One of the School’s symbols and the title of a poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes that is read aloud at the beginning of each school year Community Council....................... The SLC and the Dorm Heads meet to discuss school issues EDT................................................... Short for Extra-Day Trip, the five-to-seven-day camping trips taken in fall and spring Gmail................................................ Thacher’s internal e-mail and electronic bulletin board system The Handball Courts..................... Faculty apartments above Upper School The Kidney...................................... The raised area outside of the dining hall on the Pergola Kiosk................................................ An area in the Thacher Commons to post events, sign-up forms, etc. Indoor.............................................. The student planning committee for weekend activities LP...................................................... Los Padres dormitory SLC.................................................... Student Leadership Council (comprised of head prefects, heads of Indoor and Community Service, class presidents and the School Chair) Olympus.......................................... The administrative offices above the Dining Hall The Putting Green......................... The grassy area between the Dining Hall and the Library PTS.................................................... Thacher Pack and Spur Club TOAD............................................... “Teacher On Active Duty,” a position rotated weekly among faculty. The TOAD is responsible for the ordinary running of the School. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors must check in with the TOAD for weekday breakfast UCT................................................... United Cultures of Thacher
THE THACHER SCHOOL CALENDAR 2013-2014 Opening of School Fall Sports Teams....................................................................Sunday, August 25 Seniors return.......................................................................Thursday, August 29 New Students arrive in the morning,................................. Saturday, August 31 Returning Students arrive in the afternoon,...................... Saturday, August 31 First Semester Freshmen to Golden Trout...................................September 2 – 6 (Mon. – Fri.) Upperclassmen Camping Trips..........................September 2 – 7 (Mon. – Sat.) New Year’s Banquet.............................................................. September 8 (Sun.) First Day of Classes................................................September 9 (Mon., 8:30 a.m.) Fall Board Meetings.................................................October 3 – 5 (Thur. – Sat.) Family Weekend (Closed Weekend).....................October 25 – 27 (Fri. – Sun.) Fall Play..................................................................... November 8 – 9 (Fri. – Sat.) Departmental Weekend (Closed Weekend)..... November 15 – 16 (Fri. – Sat.) Thanksgiving Break................................... (begins) November 23 (Sat., 8 a.m.) .........................................................................(ends) December 1 (Sun., 8 p.m.) Winter Trimester Classes Resume...................................................December 2 (Mon., 8:30 a.m.) Holiday Concert.................................................................. December 17 (Tues.) Winter Break.............................................(begins) December 18 (wed., 8 a.m.) ............................................................................ (ends) January 7 (Tues., 8 p.m.) Classes Resume.........................................................................January 8 (Wed.) Alumni Day................................................................................. January 11 (Sat.) Community Service Day..........................................................January 22 (Wed.) Winter Board Meetings.......................................Jan. 30 – Feb. 1 (Thurs. – Sat.) TOAD Music Fest..............................................................................Feb. 1 (Sat.) Winter Camping Weekend (Closed Weekend)...... Feb. 7 – Feb. 9 (Fri. – Sun.) Winter Musical....................................................... Feb. 14 – Feb. 15 (Fri. – Sat.) Review Days.......................................................Feb. 25 – Feb. 26 (Tue. – Wed.) Final Exams (Preceding Weekend Closed)...... Feb. 27 – March 1 (Thur. – Sat.) Spring Break ........................................................ (begins) March 2 (Sun., 8 a.m.) ......................................................... (ends) March 16 (Sun., 8 p.m.) Spring Trimester Classes Resume........................................................ March 17 (Mon., 8:30 a.m.) Grandparents Days........................................................April 8 – 9 (Tue. – Wed.) Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament.................................. April 24 – 27 (Thu. – Sun.) Senior Exhibitions (Closed Weekend)........................ April 24 – 26 (Thu. – Sat.) Spring Board Meetings................................................... May 7 – 9 (Wed. – Fri.) Gymkhana Weekend (Closed Weekend)....................... May 9 – 11 (Fri. – Sun.) Spring Camping Trips.................................................... May 18 – 23 (Sun. – Fri.) Review Days (Closed Weekend).......................... May 30 & Jun. 2 (Fri. & Mon.) Final Exams..................................................................Jun. 3 – 5 (Tues. – Thurs.) Freshmen and Sophomores Depart..................................... June 6 (Fri., 8 a.m.) Commencement................................................................... June 7 (Sat., 9 a.m.) Juniors and Seniors Depart..............June 7 ( Sat., following Commencement) Reunion......................................................................... June 13 – 15 (Fri. – Sun.)