WE’RE ALL FOR WHAT GIRLS NEED NOW
NULLAS HORAS NISI AUREAS
NONE BUT GOLDEN HOURS Ethel Walker chose this motto for our school. It’s still the best way we know to describe her vision of life for everyone who learns and teaches here.
WE’RE ALL FOR GIRLS thinking + doing + standing up for themselves.
WE’RE ALL FOR raising our voices + rising to challenges + readjusting unjust norms.
WE’RE ALL FOR competing together + lifting each other up + being authentically who we are.
WE’RE ALL FOR the unshakeable + unstoppable champions all girls can be.
Welcome to Walker’s, not just an all-girls school, but a place and a family that is all for girls.
I’M THRILLED TO EXTEND A HEARTFELT INVITATION TO JOIN OUR REMARKABLE COMMUNITY. We inspire girls to become exceptional
women who will inspire others; our students
wholly embrace their true potential and talents, unhindered by gender norms and unafraid to explore a world of abundant possibilities.
Every girl here is cherished, stretched, and
encouraged in their journey of self-discovery, resilience, and growth. It’s our joy to see girls
thrive academically, physically, personally, and socially, guided by passionate educators who
nurture love of learning within themselves and for their students.
Join us in shaping a future where all girls can
shine brightly, lead boldly, and create a lasting, positive impact on the world.
DR. MEERA VISWANATHAN HEAD OF SCHOOL
TRANSCENDING LIMITATIONS: OUR CAPABILITIES APPROACH PROGRAM
Owning skills + honing resilience.
Walker’s groundbreaking Capabilities Approach Program truly sets us apart. Girls enjoy an unparalleled learning experience that prepares them for college and beyond by developing competencies that extend well past traditional academic subjects. Grounded in the core principles of justice and inclusion, our girls become skilled individuals who boost one another and confidently go out into the world knowing that they can make a real difference.
Our Rhetorical + Digital + Financial Fluencies allow girls to bolster each other and flourish. WE ARE SKILLED COMMUNICATORS
WE ARE DIGITALLY AGILE
RHETORICAL FLUENCY is a key part of our Capabilities Approach. Walker’s students learn to speak in front of groups and make presentations with confidence, then showcase their abilities in a Senior Speech that is presented to the entire school.
DIGITAL FLUENCY gives our students a holistic digital education. They learn cyber civility, awareness, and safety through the Digital Citizenship Seminar, and foundational coding skills through the Coding Seminar and integration of coding with academics.
WE SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF MONEY Our students gain FINANCIAL FLUENCY through immersive experiences that include managing a real-time portion of our Endowment Portfolio. They also become IRS-certified tax preparers who take part in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA), and learn Personal Finance and Tax Code.
THE FLUENCIES, DISCOVERIES, AND AGENCIES OF OUR CAPABILITIES APPROACH GIVE GIRLS CONFIDENCE TO BOLDLY TAKE ON CHALLENGES AND LEARN FROM SETBACKS. IT’S THE
“WALKER’S WAY.”
WE ARE STRONG SWIMMERS
WE CONNECT WITH OUR PLANET AND ONE ANOTHER
Walker’s girls learn to become proficient swimmers and certified lifeguards.
Through our Sustenance and Sustainability Seminar, Sustainability Clubs, and Climate Science courses, Walker’s students gain a better understanding of climate change and its effect, and nurture their well-being outdoors.
WE’RE IN THE WORLD AND OF THE WORLD International travel takes Walker’s students across the globe through student exchange programs in Jordan, Australia, and Switzerland, course-related travel in Panama, and department trips to other countries, including Spain, France, and England. By seeing the world up close, they learn to better understand themselves.
WE HAVE VITAL LIFESAVING SKILLS Our students become Red Cross Certified in first aid, CPR, and AED (Automated External Defibrillator).
WE’RE READY TO DEFEND OURSELVES Staying safe matters. We teach our girls self-defense in both our College Prep Seminar and our Wellness Fair Workshops.
WE’RE HEADED FOR PROMISING FUTURES We believe in giving Walker’s graduates tools that will help them further excel. Through our alumnae network, our students have the opportunity to be part of transformative summer internship experiences right after graduation. This real-world learning provides an invaluable way for girls to continue on their path to a promising future.
ACADEMICS FOR LIFE AT WALKER’S
Curiosity + wonder + loving to learn. At Walker’s, learning is a rigorous, fulfilling journey during which girls grow intellectually, take on real-life challenges, and become citizens of the world. We believe that education invites each student to embrace boundless possibilities nurtured by curiosity and imagination.
REAL-LIFE LEARNING EXPERIENCES From exploring breakthrough technologies to expanding the understanding of women’s global issues, our courses take students on a life-changing path of discovery that stays with them all through life.
AN ALL FOR GIRLS CURRICULUM With a modern lens, Walker’s curriculum explores classic subjects like science, math, history, English, languages, and arts. New and tenured teachers use discussions and projects to make learning exciting. It’s a curriculum that opens minds, inspiring girls to become inspiring women.
STUDENTS TAKING CHARGE Our Academic Support Center (ASC) is here for students who want to better their academic performance, from managing time and keeping things organized to studying smarter for tests.
OUR RENOWNED RIDING PROGRAM
Boldly taking the reins. At Walker’s, we embrace the thrill of riding. One in four of our girls compete with our illustrious riding team — many at the highest levels, locally and nationally. They’re inspired by trainers who are teachers in an environment where teammates turn into friends and friends become family.
Our riding facilities act as outdoor classrooms, and our program is pedagogically based.
Walker’s girls compete at national horse shows and all major national finals.
Walker’s nationally recognized trainers teach all levels of riding.
Our facilities are some of the best of any school in the country, with a main barn, indoor and outdoor riding rings, winding trails, and extensive turnouts, all right across the street from our main campus.
We love our horses! Our riders take part in weekly horsemanship sessions, including first aid, vet care, nutrition, shoeing, and more.
Riding has been in our DNA for over 100 years.
There’s something for everyone, with IEA teams for both Middle and Upper School and options for group or private lessons.
IGNITING THE SPIRIT: OUR ATHLETICS PROGRAM
Leaders + champions + changers.
Team sports are a meaningful part of the experience for many Walker’s
students. Girls learn to take on challenges with confidence and to become well-rounded, grounded individuals, proud to represent their teams and their school. It’s in these moments of inspired competition that friendship and leadership shine the brightest.
WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
Walker’s athletes charge towards shared goals, forge
unbreakable bonds, and stand strong, cheering for one another through every challenge and championship.
It’s not just about winning or losing. It’s about choosing to be confident, resilient, team-spirited people, now and all through their lives.
OUR ATHLETICS PROGRAM PLAYLIST FALL
WINTER
SPRING
CROSS COUNTRY (V)
BASKETBALL (MS, JV, V)
GOLF (V)
FIELD HOCKEY (V)
SKIING (V)
LACROSSE (MS, V)
SOCCER (MS, JV, V)
SQUASH (V)
SOFTBALL (JV, V)
VOLLEYBALL (JV, V)
SWIMMING (V)
TENNIS (V)
WE’RE PROUD COMPETITORS IN THE FOUNDERS LEAGUE.
Our athletic teams compete in the Founders League, a highly selective league of college prep schools, known for its rigorous competition and stellar reputation.
HALL OF FAME, HERE WE COME! Our Athletics Hall of Fame celebrates remarkable athletes who have inspired a team spirit that continues to shine brightly. Together, they embody what makes Walker’s a place where character is shaped and champions are made.
WE’RE ALL FOR SUMMER CAMP CHAMPS AT WALKER’S. Athletes can enjoy a summer full of sports with us, including our Wildcat Field Hockey Camp, Equestrian Summer Riding Experience, Soccer Masters Camp, Lacrosse Masters D3 Prospect Camp, and more.
EMBRACING OUR CREATIVITY: THE ARTS AT WALKER’S
We’re all for showstopping. Walker’s offers an amazing range of opportunities for students who love the arts. From acting and dance to digital photography and ceramics, there’s something for everyone. Through exhibits, competitions, and even community partnerships, we encourage our students to use their many talents to make a positive impact on the world.
LEARNING THAT KEEPS US (JOYFULLY!) ON OUR TOES. Modern, ballet, jazz, or tap. Whether you’ve been dancing since you were two or it’s all new, Walker’s has many great classes from which to choose, plus two dance companies for high-intermediate and advanced dancers. Our students get to showcase their skills and moves by performing in dance concerts, too.
ON CUE, EN POINTE, ON CANVAS, WALKER’S GIRLS SHINE.
ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE. Walker’s students embrace the art of acting, singing, and dancing. They sharpen their skills in these disciplines, bringing them to life in captivating mainstage classic and modern-day productions.
WE’RE ALL FOR OPENING EYES AND MINDS. Walker’s girls find their creative muses in our art program, from drawing and painting to ceramics and beyond. They learn to analyze and appreciate art while connecting it to other subjects. Through hands-on learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving, their creativity thrives.
THIS IS WHAT CONFIDENCE SOUNDS LIKE . Discover your voice and join our inspiring music scene by singing with our choir, a cappella, gospel, and rock groups. Or be part of exciting instrumental groups like African drumming, orchestra, and handbells (performing on and off campus!). Build your confidence in local and regional competitions, like the epic KO Wyvern Invitational a Cappella Festival.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT AND CLUBS: GIRLS IN CHARGE
Strong leaders + leadership in action. Girls’ leadership at Walker’s thrives through our “Big 7,” the Senate, and our student-led clubs. In the Senate, girls learn teamwork, decision-making, and effective communication — major skills for becoming strong leaders. Our studentled clubs encourage girls to follow their passions by creating their own facultyadvised groups. Through these pursuits, Walker’s girls take charge, learning to become confident women who will someday be in charge.
ACADEMIC CLUBS
Classics Club, Daemon Club (Art & Literary Magazine), Debate Club, French Club, Justice League, Poetry Club, Science Club, Sustainability Club, Writing Fellows
AFFINITY GROUPS
Asian Student Collective, Black Student Union (BSU), Jewish Student Union, Latinx American Student Organization (LASO), WINGS (Gender and Sexuality Alliance)
PERFORMING CLUBS
Dance Club, Drama Club, National Arts Society, Photography Club
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Key members of the Walker’s Senate include the “Big 7” and “Fabulous 5“ along with freshwomen, sophomore, and junior class presidents, vice presidents, and School administrators. Together, they work with teachers and fellow students to solve any problems and keep things running smoothly.
WE’RE ALL FOR UNITY WITH OUR COMMUNITY
Working together to create better. Walker’s Community Partnerships teach students that working together over time toward a shared goal is the key to creating better communities for everyone. Through this program, Walker’s girls learn valuable skills, gain different perspectives, build relationships, and make a real difference. We’re proud to play a role in supporting and strengthening the bonds of community within our local area.
HORIZONS AT THE ETHEL WALKER SCHOOL
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Our program is the nation’s first all-girls Horizons program, offering a six-week summer enrichment experience at no cost to underserved students attending Hartford Public Schools. Walker’s students serve as teaching assistants to over 100 girls in pre-kindergarten through 8th grade.
Each year during spring break, Walker’s students participate in new home construction as part of this national and international program. Most recently these service trips have been in West Virginia and Texas.
WITH 10+ COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS EACH YEAR, our students play a key role in guiding how and where we partner with our community.
SPIRITHORSE THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER As sidewalkers and instructors, Walker’s students help children with disabilities experience the joy of horseback riding.
VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) Since 2017, our students have been IRS trained to be personal income tax preparers for filers with low incomes in the greater Hartford area. To date, our students have secured more than $780,000 in tax refunds and credits for families in our community.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF WALKER’S DAY AND BOARDING STUDENTS
It’s always a full life here. At Walker’s, you’re always close to familiar faces. Abra’s provides a cafe-style seating area offering daily meals and a great variety of snacks all day. It’s the perfect spot to relax and connect between classes as well as commune with teachers and advisors. Our boarding population includes students from 17 states and 15 countries, reflecting a diverse world where girls experience many cultures and perspectives. Whether you’re a day or a boarding student, you’re always welcome and valued for being you.
Students at Walker’s have space to be themselves and to lift one another up.
Walker’s boarding students spend enjoying their freedom and findin
Walker’s weekends are packed with fun options. Go out dancing, get out in the fresh air, enjoy your days off!
d their time exploring and g new ways to be heard.
Dorm faculty and fellow residents create a community that quickly becomes a home-away-from-home.
WHETHER YOU’RE A DAY OR BOARDING STUDENT, FRIENDSHIPS ARE FULL TIME.
All Walker’s girls get to travel to local fairs, festivals, and amusement parks.
OUR VISIONARY HISTORY AND TIMELESS TRADITIONS
Suns + Dials + Ethel Walker Days. Back in 1911, Ethel Walker’s vision was to create a top-quality education that prepares young women for college and fosters a lifelong love of learning. Her vision is still what we live by. We have so many amazing traditions that Ethel Walker started, and we've created even more since then. They bring us together to celebrate special occasions and to form lifelong friendships. It’s another way our school feels like home.
Bryn Mawr College awarded a citation to Ethel Walker in 1960: “A woman of wit and vigor, a great lover of the outdoors, she has always emphasized strongly the necessity of the development of character as well as of brains.”
MOUNTAIN DAY Surprise! Every Fall, when students don’t expect it, our Head of School tells them that Mountain Day is coming the next day. Students and teachers hike up a trail on Talcott Mountain nearby. When they reach the top, they’re rewarded with hundreds of miles of amazing views.
DOGSWOOD DAY
WILL YOU BE A SUN OR A DIAL? YES! Suns and Dials are our spirit groups. All year, they compete in small contests, culminating in the fun and games of Dogswood Day. Wherever in the world our alumnae meet, their first question is: “Are you a Sun or a Dial?!”
BANANA
LET’S GO BANANAS! The Ba-Na-Na is a party where we get to dance, dress in spirit colors, and have fun.
D.E.A.R
DROP EVERYTHING AND READ It’s what D.E.A.R stands for. Each week, Walker’s students meet with their advisory groups and share snacks as they celebrate the significance of reading in our lives.
Our Dogswood Day tradition began as Walker’s May Day in 1916.
WHY AN ALL-GIRLS SCHOOL?
Always + assertively free to be ourselves. An all-girls school gives girls opportunities to pursue a broader range of interests and subjects without feeling pressured by traditional gender stereotypes. Girls are free to develop a strong sense of identity and selfconfidence. To make their voices heard and to advocate for themselves. To express their thoughts freely and become powerful communicators. It’s where girls learn that the world out there is as much theirs as anyone’s.
THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. AND SO DO OUR GIRLS. “Walker’s is a very special community that promotes
character, leadership, and lifelong learning. My four years there
launched me with confidence into life, and my friends are always there for me no matter where they are in the world.” — Leila Wetmore ’82, P’18
“Walker’s made me into the
young woman I am today, and I couldn’t be happier.” — Georgia Paul ’16
“This is a community where everyone
is accepted and being different is embraced. At Walker’s, there is only being yourself and doing what you love.“ — Ku Paw '22
6X 80
%
GIRLS SCHOOL GRADUATES ARE SIX TIMES
GIRLS SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO REPORT MOST
SCIENCE, MATH, AND TECHNOLOGY, COMPARED
THEIR FULL ACADEMIC POTENTIAL VS. 4% OF
MORE LIKELY TO CONSIDER MAJORING IN TO GIRLS WHO ATTEND COED SCHOOLS.
66
%
STUDENTS AT GIRLS SCHOOLS WHO EXPECT
TO EARN A GRADUATE OR PROFESSIONAL DEGREE.
OF THEIR CLASSES CHALLENGE THEM TO ACHIEVE GIRLS WHO ATTEND COED SCHOOLS.
93
%
GIRLS SCHOOL GRADUATES WHO SAY THEY WERE OFFERED GREATER LEADERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES THAN PEERS AT COED SCHOOLS.
Source: International Coalition of Girls’ Schools
OUR EXCEPTIONAL ALUMNAE
Walker’s women make waves + build dreams+ break barriers. Wherever they go in life, Walker’s alumnae embody confidence, determination, and leadership. They remind us all that gender knows no boundaries when it comes to forging ahead and shaping a brighter future. They’re a shining testament to the transformative power of a Walker’s education, and the limitless potential within each of us.
MORGAN LOCANDRO ’16 MECHATRONICS ENGINEER, NASA Morgan’s interest in mechanical engineering began in her junior year during one of our Lacuna programs. Encouraged to check out Walker’s robotics club, she fell in love with robotics after just one meeting. “I enrolled in computer science and advanced calculus and physics classes, which really solidified my interest in mechanical engineering and coding. I think the opportunity to take these types of classes while in high school was super helpful in guiding me toward becoming an engineer.”
DID YOU KNOW? Decades earlier, alumna Caroline
Reed ’76 worked at NASA’s JPL with Hubble telescope imagery.
DR. LATOYA COFFEY ’92 VP OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY AND OPERATIONS, CHINOOK THERAPEUTICS, INC. LaToya earned a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and now focuses on mental health and nephrology. Initially focused on lab research, LaToya realized during her doctoral work that interacting with people – and the exchange of ideas – was truly her passion. Throughout her career she has learned a lot about inequities in healthcare, and now uses her status and influence as a Vice President to help her company prioritize equity in their corporate goals.
DID YOU KNOW? LaToya was a featured speaker in a
conversation about Global Health with Dr. Shelley Marks ‘81 and Walker’s
science faculty member Dr. Suzanne Piela, who teaches our Public Health course.
SHINTA WIDJAJA KAMDANI ’85 CEO, SINTESA GROUP Shinta leads an Indonesian conglomerate with 17 subsidiaries in the areas of industrial and consumer goods, real estate, and energy. She holds key leadership roles in several organizations and advocates for bolstering women-led businesses, enhancing infrastructure support for women entrepreneurs, and boosting the digital skills of the female workforce.
DID YOU KNOW? Walker’s Capabilities Approach
Program now teaches coding and digital fluency to girls of all ages.
ENAJITE IGHO ’15
MEREDYTHE GOETHE ’05 VP OF OPERATIONS, FINMKT
CLINICAL CONTENT EDITOR, DOXIMITY
Meredythe’s path to finance began with
Enajite, a first-generation Nigerian
which led to a gap year that landed
American poet and storyteller, explores how storytelling can soothe intergenerational wounds among women of color. Originally interested in a medical degree, she shifted toward a Narrative Medicine degree at Columbia University, where she learned how the power of listening and creativity can bridge the humanities and healthcare. Currently with Doximity, a professional medical network for physicians, she creates narrative content to help bolster the mental health and wellness of healthcare workers. Enajite's poetry is featured by the Johns Hopkins Center for Medical Humanities & Social Medicine.
DID YOU KNOW? Walker’s English department offers diverse classes like Literature and
Medicine and a Visiting Writer Seminar featuring a living female writer.
a fine arts degree from Tufts University, her in the restaurant industry. After managing large restaurant groups, she pursued an MBA from Harvard Business School. She eventually joined the female-founded company, FinMkt, a leading multi-lender marketplace for consumer and small-business loans. Meredythe notes that being a varsity athlete and pursuing academic excellence exemplifies the great opportunities Walker’s offers.
DID YOU KNOW? Our Scholar-Athlete/Artist program
recognizes students who compete or
perform at the highest level all year and achieve a GPA of 3.5 or greater.
JADE CHE ‘15 SOUND DESIGNER, PICKLE MUSIC Jade is a graduate of Berklee College of Music with a degree in Video Game Scoring and Contemporary Writing & Production. Born in China and raised in the United States, her studies with distinguished musicians such as Chihiro Yamanaka, Alain Mallet, Vadim Neselovsky, and Rob Lewis have cultivated her unique sound. One of Jade’s favorite memories was performing as the lead pianist with the orchestra at the Boston Symphony Hall. As a composer and arranger, she has worked on video games such as Elementary and CODENAME SAG.
DID YOU KNOW? Also in the performing arts world, dialect coach Carla Meyer '64 is
currently working with Ubisoft on
an Avatar game, having previously
worked to develop the Na'vi dialect for the movies, and even coached fellow alumna Sigourney Weaver '67.
HOLLY GUZMAN ’02 MARKETING DIRECTOR, MELISSA & DOUG Holly’s career has included roles at Procter & Gamble and Henkel before joining Melissa & Doug. Being a woman in a leadership position in corporate America, she reflected on how Walker’s influenced her. Seeing that there were fewer women in executive positions led her to start a women’s leadership organization at Henkel. Now at Melissa & Doug, she appreciates the unusual dynamic of having two-thirds of the leadership comprising women. Her advice to
LU FANG ’13 ASHLEY JACKSON ‘99
MECHANICAL ENGINEER, TESLA
CO-FOUNDER AND CO-DIRECTOR, CENTRE ON ARMED GROUPS
Before joining Tesla, Lu was a member
Ashley lives in Niarobi, Kenya and
relative motion. She thrives on creating
communicates with armed groups
new models in the field, backed by
directly to gain understanding of their
results never discovered before. Her
perspectives on conflict. Her end
academic journey at Walker’s allowed
goal is to use that information to help
her to connect with off-campus
others communicate, negotiate, and
engineers and conduct research,
alleviate suffering for people who live
serving, Lu says, as the “springboard
in areas of conflict. After earning a
for what I do now.”
PhD from Kings College London, she
of UPenn's Carpick Research Group, where she studied tribology, the science of interacting surfaces in
gained experience with organizations
DID YOU KNOW?
comfort zone and try all opportunities.”
such as the United Nations and the
Walker’s now offers over 15 courses
DID YOU KNOW?
her the impetus to explore the world,
students? “Take risks outside of your
Jeanette Pelizzon ’07 also works to
address women's issues in her career
Red Cross. She says that Walker’s gave and advises today’s students to “keep asking questions.”
as a UX Designer and Product Manager
DID YOU KNOW?
on an app tracking maternal and infant
Ashley and fellow alumna
at TIP Global Health. Her recent work health is saving lives in Rwanda.
Leah Wawro ‘06, Director of Global
Threats at Independent Diplomat, co-led a Walker’s Women in the World virtual
conversation on Conflict Resolution for alumnae, students, and faculty.
in the Science department, including
Engineering as an elective for students in grades 10-12.
OUR MISSION +VALUES The Ethel Walker School mission is to create a nurturing and stimulating environment in which girls can emerge joyfully in their full potentiality and diversity as astute and collaborative thinkers and doers who will, through their lives, powerfully and positively impact the world. Our grounding values of respect, love of learning, confidence, courage, conviction, and integrity provide a solid framework for personal, ethical, and social growth.
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