Summer Programs at The Hotchkiss School
Summer Programs at The Hotchkiss School
Come Open the Door! Dean of Summer Programs, Stephen McKibben A recent addition to The Hotchkiss School faculty, I have served as teacher, coach, consultant, administrator, and headmaster in independent schools, colleges, and public schools since my graduation from Wesleyan University in 1984. Along the way, I have been recognized by my teachers for contributions to the classroom, honored by my students for the quality of my teaching, awarded a Klingenstein Fellowship for Independent School Leadership from Teachers College (Columbia University), and coached the number-one-ranked high school lacrosse team in the country. A life-long student, I have earned graduate degrees from Springfield College, the Bread Loaf School of English (Middlebury College), and Teachers College, and am currently completing doctoral work at Columbia. At The Hotchkiss School, in addition to working with Portals, I teach in the sophomore Humanities program, serve as an affiliate in an upper-school boys dormitory, and coach basketball and lacrosse. I and my partner, Andrea Baier, a former Dean at Middlebury College, are the proud parents of Cady Scout, an elementary school student who loves chocolate, climbing trees, and cats. I grew up in Maine and, with the exception of a five-year tenure as Headmaster of Lake Tahoe School, have spent most of my life in New England; however, my family and I are inveterate travelers and have trekked and biked through Canada, the United Kingdom, Eastern Europe, Vietnam, and Cuba. In addition, as a passionate environmentalist, I spend as much time as I can outside of school hiking, climbing, biking, and backcountry skiing. The child of two teachers, I live my professional life committed to schools, to the liberal arts, and to educational leadership. I am honored to be a part of the Portals community because I believe our exceptional teachers and world-class artists transform the lives of our students. I believe in the power of Portals innovative and distinctive programs to inspire students to take action, whether it’s through environmental activism, making music, or making new friends from around the globe. Join us here at Portals and see what change can do for you and the world.
We don’t call the Hotchkiss summer programs “Portals” for nothing. We want you to open the doors in your life, let your brain out so it can learn new things and meet new people, and let your body out so it can soak up the sunny Connecticut summer. All of our programs have you learning by doing—whether it’s learning how to be present in a moment, sequencing DNA, wading along a stream, or singing a cantata in a new language—you’ll be engaged. Check out what Portals has going on for summer: Vocal Music • High School Vocal • Middle School Choral program Environmental Science American Literature and Theater Speech and Debate Piano DNA Science Core Leadership Each one lets you pursue your passions, learn from professionals, meet new people, and broaden your mind. So step up to that door, turn that knob, and cross the threshold of Summer Portals. Hotchkiss Summer Portals believes that wonderful learning takes place in a variety of ways and contexts. We know that students learn from teachers and from other students; they learn in the classroom and while walking by the lake; they learn by watching, listening, and doing. If you can enjoy a passion for learning while working in your classes, performing on stage, listening to a visiting scientist, going off on a field trip, playing around on the athletic fields, or just hanging out in the dorms, then Portals may be just the thing for an awesome summer. Finally, we truly hope that spending some time here with kids from a wide range of backgrounds will help you to grow in ways that will open new doors. Differences are embraced here, for it is through learning about others that we are able to appreciate the world and grow as people. Everyone at the Summer Portals Programs should feel free not only to interpret their world in their own ways but also to share those impressions and personal expressions with others. We invite you to join the Portals community with kids from different ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. Friendships are waiting to happen! Stephen McKibben
See what summer at Hotchkiss is all about! It’s using your head and your hands— Hotchkiss Summer Portals’ programs are innovative, with an emphasis on learning by doing. No matter which program you choose, you’ll be developing new skills, thinking critically as you wrap your head around new challenges, and seeing the world in new ways. It’s working with pros— We have awesome people working here. Distinguished faculty, renowned guest performers, and prominent scientists will share their passions with you. It’s doing your own laundry— Okay, it’s really about learning to live away from home, making new friends, and growing both intellectually and personally. Adjusting to new environments and dealing with different people and different rules – they’re both important challenges. But we also know that summer away from home can mean pink underwear – the classic consequence of doing laundry yourself for the first time! It’s feeling happy and safe— Our faculty—both teachers and resident teaching fellows—care about every student. You can turn to them as teachers, advisors, role models, and confidantes. Dorm parents and resident teaching fellows will help you adjust to life on campus and make sure that you are healthy and happy. With a student/adult ratio of 5:1, you’ll have all sorts of friendly support. It’s making friends— Yes, the programs will be interesting; and yes, the teachers will be super talented; and yes, the facilities here are incredible. But your time at the Portals Program will be really memorable and rewarding because of the friends you’ll make. You’ll remember the fun times with new friends—both teachers and students—long after you pass out the campus gates and head home. Indeed, former Portals kids e-mail and facebook their teachers and classmates all year long. So get ready to keep in touch!
Hotchkiss and the surrounding area Hotchkiss was founded in 1891 by Maria Harrison Bissell Hotchkiss. At the urging of Timothy Dwight, then president of Yale University, Mrs. Hotchkiss founded the School to provide preparation for students who would enroll at Yale. Since that time, Hotchkiss has grown into a nationally recognized, coeducational, independent boarding school of 600 students and over 120 faculty members, most of whom live on campus. Quite simply, the School is stunningly beautiful. Perched over Lake Wononscopomuc (trying saying that three times fast!) and encompassing 800 acres, Hotchkiss enjoys gorgeous views of the southern Berkshires and glorious sunsets. Graceful elm trees, delicate birch trees, climbing ivy, and colorful flower gardens brighten the main campus. At the heart of the School is the Main Building, where you will learn in the classrooms and the terrific Edsel Ford Library, relax and hang out with friends in the Frantz Student Center (complete with comfy furniture, games, and television), and enjoy meals in the Dining Hall. The Esther Eastman Center is the heart of the music programs, housing classrooms, practice rooms, and the glass-encased Katherine M. Elfers concert hall.
With state-of-the-art laboratories and classrooms, the Griswold Science Building—completely refurbished and expanded in 1999—is the center for the environmental program. Of course, kids studying environmental science will also take advantage of the surrounding outdoor laboratory: hundreds of wooded acres with hiking trails and streams, two lakes (Wononscopomuc and Long Pond), and the Blum Farm (with its own pond). The Appalachian Trail is just a couple of miles away to the northwest as are the cooling waters of the Mt. Riga falls, and just east of the School is the beautiful Housatonic River. Nearby Bear Mountain, the highest peak in Connecticut, offers awesome views of the surrounding area and Litchfield. When you need a break from all that nature, spend some time in the town of Salisbury, a quaint New England village with nice shops and really good restaurants. Also, just west of the School is Millerton, New York, which has more good restaurants and cafes, a fine book store, and a movie theatre. You’ll find everything you will need, from pizza places and ice-cream parlors to artsy tea houses and the fanciest dining.
Life at Hotchkiss When you pack your bags to come to the Hotchkiss Summer Portals, be sure to include a keen sense of adventure; you should definitely come ready to enjoy all the activities that go on outside of the classroom. Be open minded, be eager to try new things, and be willing to contribute and cooperate. Hike, swim, explore, dance, rock climb, throw a Frisbee, play all sorts of field games, or work out in the Mars Athletic Center (aka the MAC). Your time here will be so much more rewarding and fun when you complement what you do in class with a wide variety of activities beyond the Main Building.
Accommodation You’ll have a room in a Hotchkiss dormitory; most will come with a roommate. Every dorm room has a bed, desk with chair, closet space, and a phone hook-up. Bathrooms are located on each corridor, and there are washing machines and dryers available to you. Faculty members and resident teaching fellows live in the dorms, so you’ll always have some adult support. Meals All meals are provided in the Dining Hall, located in the Main Building. Our Food Service will always offer you lots of choices, including salad and deli bars, hot entrees, soups, desserts, fresh fruits, and all sorts of drinks. Special dietary needs can be accommodated. Vegetarians welcome! School Facilities You’ll have access to lots of other cool facilities besides the academic buildings and dorms. You can relax and play games in the Frantz Student Center. You can get and send mail at the School’s post office, and buy supplies and Hotchkiss stuff at the campus bookstore. The Edsel Ford Library is an excellent place not only for academic support but also for personal interests, with books, magazines, newspapers, and tons of videos and DVD’s. The Library and the Watson Computer Labs offer plenty of computers, printers, and Internet access.
Life at Hotchkiss The Rules Hotchkiss Summer Portals believes kids are best served by communities with clear expectations. So…you need to honor all scheduled appointments and respect the rules regarding boundaries and curfews. Our biggest penalty—immediate dismissal—applies to matters of dishonesty and use of drugs or alcohol. The faculty and resident teaching fellows will make sure you understand and are comfortable with the rules. As always, Portals relies on your exercising good judgement and behaving in a considerate, respectful, and honest manner. The curfews, by the way, are as follows: you need to be in your dorm for check-in by a faculty member at 9:30 every night, except Saturday, when check-in is at 10:00. The half hour between 9:30 and 10:00 is for relaxing and in-dorm socializing, but lights are out by 10:00. On Saturdays, lights are out at 10:30. Recreational Sports From 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. each weekday, you’ll be participating in some sort of recreational activity that clears your mind and gets your body moving. Activities include swimming in the MAC’s beautiful pool or down at the beach on Lake Wononscopomuc (supervised, naturally), playing soccer on the athletic fields, golfing on the School’s nine-hole course, hiking on local trails, rock climbing on the School’s Malkin Walls, playing Ultimate, or a bunch of other fun things. Evenings While you’ll often spend evenings from 7 to 9 preparing for classes, certain evenings will be set aside for special events – such as guest performers and speakers or documentary films. Of course, the Edsel Ford Library will also have evening study hours. Weekends Each weekend will offer some fun and supervised activities. The ones for the coming summer are still being planned. Weekend events from the past include trips to Tanglewood, summer home of the BSO, in Lenox, Massachusetts, where you might chat with a professional musician, have a picnic on the lawn, and then hear a great concert. It’s likely you’ll celebrate July 4th in classic American style, with a minorleague baseball game in Pittsfield, MA, complete with hot dogs and a fireworks show! We have also arranged for groups to head to New York City to enjoy museums, shows, restaurants, and shops or New Haven to walk around the campus of Yale University. There’s always the chance to hike on the Appalachian Trail or maybe go camping and tubing on the Housatonic. On campus events include dances, impromptu performances, and movies. If you’re interested in attending local worship services on Saturday evenings or Sunday mornings, we can arrange for a faculty member to drive you.
Director of Admission and Residential Life, Christie Gurney Rawlings, H’85
“Hotchkiss Summer Portals seeks to open minds and unlock talents.” Robert Barker former Dean of Summer Programs
In May, 2003 Christie Gurney Rawlings was appointed the first Director of Admission and Residential Life for the Hotchkiss Summer Programs. Mrs. Rawlings came to Summer Portals after seven years in the Hotchkiss Admission Office as an Associate Director. During her tenure in the Admission Office, she was responsible for reviewing files for the Prep and Lower-Mid classes (9th & 10th grades), interviewing over 1,000 candidates for admission, managing the admission office travel schedule, overseeing the annual Orientation program, planning the daily interview schedule, and coordinating the efforts of the Regional Council. Before her work in admissions, Mrs. Rawlings was Director of the Hotchkiss Annual Fund, a position she held for two years. Her interaction with alumni class agents helped her reach the highest annual giving figure up to that time in Hotchkiss history. In addition to her responsibilities with Summer Portals, Mrs. Rawlings is the assistant varsity volleyball coach and the head varsity softball coach. She was Head of Dana Dormitory, an upper-class boys’ dormitory, for thirteen years and has served on a number of committees including the Student Assistance Team. As a member of the Student Assistance Team, Mrs. Rawlings and her fellow faculty members helped students with life decisions in a confidential and nurturing way. She now serves on the Student Assistance Team’s Advisory Board. Mrs. Rawlings was educated at The Hotchkiss School, the University of Colorado, and UCONN, where she received a Bachelor of General Science. Mrs. Rawlings lives on campus with her husband, Roger Rawlings, and their three children Alexandra, Parker, and Bradford.
Directions From Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine: Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90 West) to Lee (exit 2). Follow Route 102 to Stockbridge. In Stockbridge, take a left onto Route 7 South. Follow Route 7 South to Canaan, CT. In Canaan, take a right onto Route 44 West and follow it into Lakeville. In Lakeville, take a left onto Route 41. Follow Route 41 approximately one mile to the four-way stop sign with the blinking light at the top of the hill. Take a right onto Route 112. The School entrance is 100 yards ahead on the right. From New York City: Take I-684 North until it becomes Route 22 North in Brewster, NY. Follow Route 22 to Amenia, NY. At the one traffic light in Amenia, take a right onto Route 343. Follow Route 343 to Sharon, CT. In Sharon, take a left onto Route 41 at the four-way stop sign with the stone clock tower. Follow Route 41 approximately 5 miles, until it intersects with Route 112. Take a left onto Route 112. The School entrance is 100 yards ahead on the right. From the Taconic State Parkway: Exit at Route 44 and Millbrook. Follow Route 44 to Amenia and go straight through the one traffic light onto Route 343. Follow Route 343 to Sharon, CT. In Sharon, take a left onto Route 41 at the four-way stop sign with the stone clock tower. Follow Route 41 approximately 5 miles, until it intersects with Route 112. Take a left onto Route 112. The School entrance is 100 yards ahead on the right.
From Bradley Field (Hartford - Springfield Airport): Take Route 20 to Route 219 West. Continue on Route 219 to Route 318 West. Follow Route 318 until it intersects with Route 44 near Winsted, CT. Follow Route 44 West to Lakeville. In Lakeville, take a left onto Route 41. Follow Route 41 approximately one mile to the four-way stop sign with the blinking light at the top of the hill. Take a right onto Route 112. The School entrance is 100 yards ahead on the right From I-84 (Hartford Area): Follow I-84 West through Hartford. Exit in Farmington onto Route 4. Follow Route 4 through Torrington and into Goshen. In Goshen, take a right onto Route 63. Go approximately 12 miles, then take a left onto Route 126. Follow Route 126 to Route 7. Take a left onto Route 7 South, and follow this approximately half a mile to Route 112. Take a right onto Route 112, and follow it approximately 5 miles to the intersection with Route 41. Go straight through the blinking light. The School entrance is 100 yards ahead on the right. From Albany and Upstate New York: Follow I-87 to the intersection with I-90. Get on I-90 East and follow signs for the Massachusetts Turnpike. Before crossing the Massachusetts state line, exit at Route 22 (exit B3). Follow Route 22 South to Millerton, NY. In Millerton, take a left onto Route 44. Follow Route 44 through Millerton and across the state line into Connecticut. After approximately one mile, take a right onto Route 112. Follow Route 112 approximately one mile, through the blinking light and up the hill. The School entrance is located on the left approximately 100 yards before the junction with Route 41.
Apply! Mail your completed application to:
Summer Portals
The Hotchkiss School
11 Interlaken Road
Lakeville, CT 06039
or fax to: 860-435-4413 Visit us online: www.hotchkissportals.org facebook.com/summerportals If you have questions regarding your application, please contact Mrs. Christie G. Rawlings at the above address by phone: 860-435-3173 via email: summer@hotchkiss.org
Summer Programs at The Hotchkiss School 11 Interlaken Road Lakeville, Connecticut 06039 Phone: 860-435-3173 Fax: 860-435-4413 Email: summer@hotchkiss.org www.hotchkissportals.org