Westminster Viewbook 2023

GRIT GRACE

The Armstrong Atrium at the heart of Armour Academic Center. Not only is this where students and faculty meet throughout the day, this is where science meets the humanities, where indoors meets outdoors and where everyone can see how vibrant and active daily life is on Williams Hill.

425 Students

50% Boys 50% Girls

90% Percent of Boarding and Day Students

20% U.S. Students of Color

14

5:1 Interscholastic Sports

Of recent graduates gained admission to colleges and universities ranked as “Most” or “Highly Competitive” by Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges.

50 Interscholastic Teams

Student-to-Faculty Ratio

23 AP Courses

®

15% International Students 20 Countries Represented 75% 25% Located in Simsbury, Conn.

+ 12 Average Class Size

$6.5 M illion in Financial Aid

128 Miles to New York City

110 Miles to Boston

10 Miles to Airport

1 Mile to Starbucks

14 Restaurants within Walking Distance

Welcome to Westminster

“Never will you be in another place where so many people care about you and want you to succeed.”

Tony Griffith, Head of the Mathematics Department

Through the years, the school’s mission has remained constant, to provide students with an outstanding education that emphasizes community, character, balance and involvement — one that encourages them to embrace the school’s motto Virtute et Numine, loosely translated as Grit and Grace — and in so doing, prepares them in every way possible to meet head on the world before them. That is the promise of a Westminster education.

Students come to Williams Hill from approximately 25 states and 20 countries. They come with open minds and big hearts. When they get here, they connect in so many ways with a diverse and inspiring community — including a whole world of adults who want to be in their lives, who see being involved in the lives of their students as another opportunity to develop character, as another way of building grit and grace.

At Westminster, grit means never, ever giving up, no matter how perplexing the problem set, no matter how intractable the canvas or the song, no matter how great the odds in the gym or on the playing field. Grit means always pursuing excellence, always aspiring to do better and be better and seeking every opportunity to learn and grow.

Grace means sharing your authentic self and supporting others in doing the same, being empathetic and kind and being brave enough to learn from your mistakes. Grace means looking people in the eye, always offering a helping hand, being polite and gracious, in victory and in defeat.

There is a synergy between grit and grace that turns these virtues into the highest of ideals and the most powerful of personal qualities. Where grit and grace come together, almost anything is possible.

Where grit and grace come together, almost anything is possible.

Academics

Where Inquisitive Minds Meet a Rigorous Curriculum

Through gritty trial and error, Westminster students grow into independent learners who are curious, critical thinkers. With the support of faculty, students acquire the skills to understand the world around them and enrich their communities at school and beyond.

Fostering Academic Excellence

During the academic day, students and faculty spend most of their time together in Armour Academic Center, a magnificent 85,000 square foot, LEED-Gold Certified building, which houses 35 classrooms, seven labs, department offices, a two-story library, individual and group study areas, a lecture hall and a planetarium. People bump into each other — and that’s by design.

Westminster’s emphasis on balance is reflected in the academic program — a program rooted in the belief that students are best prepared to move on to college and then out into the world when they start with a broad liberal arts education.

The curriculum is demanding, but also interesting, with assignments that stress the myriad ways in which academic subjects are interrelated, while helping students to develop the skills necessary to investigate the world and

share what they learn. For those students who want to pursue the most challenging curricular options, there are 23 Advanced Placement offerings, as well as honors courses and independent study opportunities.

We expect all of our students to dive whole heartedly into our rigorous academic program. But students aren’t working alone. Westminster’s courses are taught by teachers who are passionate about their work and love learning with their students and on their own. These are teachers who make themselves available day and night for extra help and enrichment activities.

And they aren’t the only ones there for support — students can always turn to our academic support team, peer tutors and advisors for additional assistance. Westminster really is a place where everyone wants you to succeed.

ARMOUR ACADEMIC CENTER

Sample Class Schedule

AP® Classes

2D Art & Design

Photography

Art History Biology

Calculus AB

Calculus BC

Chemistry

Chinese

Comparative Government

Computer Science

English: Language and Composition

Environmental Science

French Language & Culture

Latin Macroeconomics

Microeconomics

Music Theory

Physics 2 Physics C

U.S. History

Spanish Language & Culture

Statistics

Class schedule is for illustrative purposes only and subject to change. Students will receive an official schedule card when they arrive on campus in the fall.

English: Literature and Composition

Where Engaged Learners Meet Mentoring Faculty

Relationship-based education is Westminster’s past, present and future. Westminster began with the idea of surrounding young people with smart, accomplished and resourceful adults who would inspire them and give them plenty of opportunities to grow. Over 135 years later, that idea continues to be central to Westminster’s educational model.

Many Trusted Adults

As a small school with a big program, we give our students multiple opportunities to become engaged and active learners. Even more importantly, we give them the role models of our fully engaged faculty to show them how a life lived with passion can ultimately be its own reward.

At Westminster, faculty members are not simply teachers — they are advisors, coaches, corridor supervisors, counselors and friends. Approximately 70 percent of the faculty live on campus, either in dormitory apartments or in faculty homes. Nearly 40 percent have been on the faculty for 10 years or more. They teach Neuroscience and English and Economics and Spanish, but they are also musicians and artists and athletes and public-minded citizens. They believe in balance and involvement and, in the way they live their own lives, they personify grit and grace.

Because of the numerous ways that students and faculty come together on campus—at family-style lunches, in the music practice rooms of the Werner Centennial Center, in the locker rooms and on the fields and courts, in dormitory apartments and common rooms, as well as the abundant meeting areas of the Armour Academic Center—students and faculty members quickly become a major presence in each other’s lives. This familiarity leads students to see teachers as very approachable and easy to relate to, which, in turn, deepens the level of dialogue, both in and out of the classroom.

But the lessons run both ways. Being involved in the lives of students keeps the faculty young and energized, too. The innumerable formal and informal ways in which students and faculty interact shed light on two core values of the school: community and character. Close-knit and vital communities simply cannot exist without relationships anchored in trust and respect. And it is in the strong, personal mentoring relationships between adults and young people that character is best molded.

Inspired Educators, Gifted Leaders

They hail from all over the country and world. They’ve studied at small colleges and large universities. They are accomplished writers, scientists, historians, artists, engineers, architects, musicians and athletes. They all, however, share one goal: to make a difference in the lives of their students.

• Director of Theater

• Dean of Student Life

• Fun Fact: Cast member of 2003 Obie Awardwinning production of “The Blacks: A Clown Show”

• Science Teacher

• Society of Women Engineers

• Fun Fact: 16 years of experience at HDR Engineering in Boston as task leader and structural engineer

betsy heckman

• Academic Dean

• History Teacher

• Model U.N.

• Fun Fact: Completed graduate internship at the U.S. Consulate in Scotland

• Head of Visual and Performing Arts Department

• Studio Art Teacher

• Director of Art Galleries

• Gund Visiting Artist Series

• Fun Fact: Enjoys being a mom, gardening, traveling, hiking, camping, yoga and being immersed in nature while painting

kerry anne kendall

a - men rasheed

suzanne bailey

frantz batoh ph . d .

• French Teacher

• Soccer Coach

• Dorm Head

• Fun Fact: Born in Cameroon, moved to the United States in 2005 in search of new challenges

jason keough

• Admissions

• Soccer, Ice Hockey and Lacrosse Coach

With Francis and Patrick

jessica keough

• Associate Head of School

• History Teacher

• All As One Feminist Alliance

• Fun Fact: Combined, Jessica and Jason played on five varsity teams at the collegiate level

tony griffith

• Head of the Mathematics Department

• Basketball Coach

• Fun Fact: Raised in Wisconsin where he learned to love snow, bratwurst, the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Cubs

lee huguley

• Dean of Faculty

• English Teacher

• Track and Field Coach

• Fun Fact: Practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Advisors

I feel so supported at Westminster with my advisor having my back. She goes far beyond what is asked of her. She truly cares and loves her advisees and will make them feel loved and supported despite all she has on her plate.

The relationships between advisors and their advisees are some of the deepest and most long lasting of the many relationships formed on the Hill. These relationships begin even before new students arrive when advisors reach out to incoming students in early August.

My advisor has done so much for me. She has encouraged me to go outside of my comfort zone and supported me through all of the new things that I have tried. She always checks up on me throughout the week, especially when my schedule gets busy. She makes sure that my schedule is manageable and well-balanced. I cannot thank her enough for all the love and support that she has provided for me!

During the school year, advisors and advisees meet frequently, usually three times a week (once for a quick group check-in, once individually and once for lunch), to discuss everything from how classes are going to options for the next season’s afternoon program to weekend plans and new interests. Advisors also stay in close contact with their advisees’ teachers and play a pivotal role as liaisons to parents.

Advisors are often on the sidelines and in the crowds cheering on their advisees, and even when not nearby advisees and their parents know that their advisor is only a call or a text away.

Students find many mentors among the adults with whom they live and work: teachers, coaches, corridor supervisors and club advisors. In a community in which relationships are paramount, any relationship can become one that can alter a student’s life for the better.

Faculty: By The Numbers

95 Number of faculty

65 Faculty living on campus

10 Number of faculty who are alumni

11 Average number of years at Westminster

19 Average number of years in education

69% Teaching faculty with advanced degrees

Westminster faculty include:

• A language teacher who was a translator for the Olympics

• Music teachers who sing professionally and compose original music

• A history teacher who went from corporate banking to a Master’s Degree at Yale

• History, language and mathematics teachers who are AP® exam readers

• The first recipient of the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools’ award recognizing inspirational service and commitment to the improvement of education for children in Connecticut

• Coaches who are involved with USA Hockey, AAU Basketball, AAU Baseball, Connecticut Football Club (soccer) and club field hockey and lacrosse

• A 20-year Marine with tours in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya

• Former All-American athletes in lacrosse, soccer and field hockey

• 2021 CT Prep School Coach of the Year (varsity girls’ soccer)

Where Dedicated Athletes Meet Top-Tier Competition

“We define success as a school through the experience of our students, and that’s absolutely the case with our athletic program. Our athletic program enhances the overall experience for our students and provides them with a different classroom that allows them to continue learning and developing as young people.”

Tim Joncas ’00, Director of Athletics

Athletic Opportunities

For many students, the afternoon means sports. The rink and the track, the gymnasiums and the pool, the fields and courts, are valuable places to learn the lessons of grit and grace.

At Westminster, there is a synergy between the school’s core values and its athletic program. We measure success in terms of the bonds created between teammates and coaches, individual and team improvement and personal growth. Wins and losses count, but because students learn how to be competitors and how to cooperate with one another, they are better prepared to be citizens of the global world.

Westminster competes successfully in the Founders League, one of the country’s oldest and strongest prep school leagues. Founders League rivals include: Avon Old Farms, Choate Rosemary Hall, The Ethel Walker School, The Hotchkiss School, Kent School, Kingswood Oxford School, The Loomis Chaffee School, Miss Porter’s School, The Taft School and Trinity-Pawling School.

Westminster is also a member of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC), competing against other top independent schools from across the region such as Brunswick School, Deerfield Academy, Middlesex School, Milton Academy and Noble and Greenough School during the regular season and at NEPSAC Invitational Championships.

Every season we have several teams, boys and girls, in the hunt for Founders League and NEPSAC titles.

Boys’ Teams

FALL: Cross Country, Soccer, Water Polo

WINTER: Basketball, Ice Hockey, Squash, Swimming & Diving

SPRING: Baseball, Golf, Lacrosse, Tennis, Track & Field, Ultimate Frisbee

Girls’ Teams

FALL: Cross Country, Field Hockey, Soccer

WINTER: Basketball, Ice Hockey, Squash, Swimming & Diving

SPRING: Golf, Lacrosse, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field, Ultimate Frisbee

Student Profile: Kade Smith ’23

Prior to Westminster

• Three-sport athlete (lacrosse, basketball, football)

At Westminster

• Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse (captain)

• Fourth Boys’ Soccer as a Third Former

• Varsity Boys’ Soccer as a Sixth Former (All Founders)

• Managed Boys’ Varsity Hockey

• Head Prefect

• Cast in lead role, “Noises Off”

After Westminster

• Playing lacrosse for the United States Naval Academy

Athletic Facilities

Our first-rate facilities include the Sherwin Health and Athletic Center (with a magnificent fitness room where students can workout under the guidance of our strength and conditioning coach), the Kohn Squash Pavilion (with eight international courts), the Hibbard Aquatic Center (with its eight-lane, 25-yard pool), the Osbourne Baseball Field, and the Hovey Turf Field where the whole school can gather to watch field hockey, soccer and lacrosse games under the lights. The school also boasts 35 acres of playing fields, 14 tennis courts, one of the premier ice hockey rinks in New England, a beautifully maintained softball field, a second turf field and a brand new 400-meter synthetic track.

HOVEY FIELD

KOHN SQUASH PAVILION

HIBBARD AQUATIC CENTER

FITNESS CENTER

Recent Highlights

New England Class B Finalist 2021

Founders League Champions 2021

New England Class A Finalist 2022

Founders League Champions 2023

Girls’ Swimming & Diving

New England D II Champions 2023

Boys’ Ice Hockey

Founders League Champions 2019

Softball

Western New England Finalist 2023

Girls’ Lacrosse

Founders League Semifinalist 2023

Boys’ Tennis

Founders League Runner-Up 2023

Field Hockey

Boys’ Soccer

Girls’ Ice Hockey

Girls’ Soccer

Visual and Performing Arts

Where Talented Artists Meet a Creative Showcase

“The visual and performing arts program at Westminster weaves the community together and nurtures the spirit of the Westminster campus. The arts at Westminster inspire students of all levels of experience from the very beginner to the advanced artist to practice the freedom of creative expression.”

Kerry Kendall, Head of Visual and Performing Arts Department

Creative Opportunities

At Westminster, creative opportunities are incorporated across our program. Students can select from an extensive menu, mixing and matching opportunities to personalize their experience. For example, a student might choose to take a studio art class and practice with the chamber choir during the academic day, spend afternoons rehearsing for the musical in the theater (or maybe even splitting time between rehearsals and hockey practice) and perform a song at a coffee house in the evening. The number of opportunities and flexibility built into the program allow students who are passionate about the arts to dive deep and hone their craft, but also provide those who want to try something new the space to develop their artistic skills. As a result, the arts program at Westminster is a dynamic, innovative and inclusive one.

Werner Centennial Center (WCC) is a stunningly beautiful venue. Over the years, it has been the setting for hundreds of performances, concerts, shows, lectures, poetry readings and school

assemblies. But more importantly, it was designed to be both a showcase for performances and a place for hands-on learning. What audiences see is a magnificent theater, inside and out. What students and faculty see are the practice rooms and studios and workshops spread throughout WCC, places where sets are designed, hammered together and painted; where dance steps are painstakingly choreographed; where jazz solos are imagined; where lines of dialogue are rehearsed.

Adjacent to WCC, you will find the Hamilton Art Studios, home to Westminster’s visual arts and architecture programs. In the studios, poems become paintings, plastic bottles are transformed into flowers and buildings are designed. The captivating results of these efforts are on display across campus in Westminster’s buildings and galleries.

WERNER CENTENNIAL CENTER

BOOKER T. BRADSHAW STAGE

Arts Menu

Dance

• Perform professional and student choreographed pieces as a member of Dance Ensemble

• Participate in fitness and technique afternoon program

Music

• Enroll in music theory, history and advanced songwriting classes

• Sing with Chamber Choir or Chorale

• Play with Concert or Jazz Band

• Perform in Cabaret

• Audition for Belles (a cappella group)

• Play in pit orchestra during Winter Musical

• Join Student Music Organization, which sponsors coffee house performances

• Take private voice or instrumental lessons

Theater

• Enroll in classes in acting, directing, stage craft and adapting short stories to film

• Perform in or design sets and run tech for Fall Play and Winter Musical

• Direct a one-act play as part of the Student Performing Arts Ensemble

• Attend local productions

Visual Arts

• Enroll in studio art, art history, and photography classes

• Exhibit work on campus and beyond

• Join Art with Heart

• Take field trips to regional galleries

Architecture

• Learn design principles and skills in 4-year program at intersection of art and science

• Join Architecture Club

• Get involved with Society of Women Engineers

Student Profile: Catherine Rodrigues ’23

Prior to Westminster

• Danced 20 hours a week as part of competitive dance team and attended a creative arts magnet school

At Westminster

• Dance Ensemble (co-president)

• Choreographed and performed in every Performing Arts Concert

• Encouraged by a teacher to join the Chorale

• Selected as cast member for “Something Rotten”

• Performed in Cabaret

• Cast in lead role, and served as dance captain, “Guys and Dolls”

• Picked up hockey and tennis for the first time

• Prefect Board

Where Active Students

Meet a Dynamic Community Community is never an afterthought or something that just happens at Westminster. It is foundational. It is intentional. It is woven into the fabric of our programs and our daily life. It inspires our work on the Hill and beyond.

Building Community

Everyone at Westminster gets to know one another quickly. Through the common experiences of sharing meals, pausing together for chapel and embracing traditions — not to mention attending classes, participating in athletics and the arts, residential living and engaging in activities — our students develop a sense that they belong to a special community and a corresponding sense of responsibility for contributing to that community.

The dynamic life of the Westminster community begins in the school’s programs, but it extends far beyond those programs, too. Some of the most memorable experiences and some of the most important lessons happen at the edges of programs or in the spaces between programs, walking down to the rink or out to the fields, chatting with friends and teachers before a performing arts concert, in the common rooms of the dorms or having dinner in Simsbury with friends.

Student Profile: Wills Erda ’24

Prior to Westminster

• School was 50 miles from home

• Made his own board games

• Lead roles in school musicals

• Performed with Richmond Ballet

• Started business selling pecans

At Westminster

• Prefect Board member

• Student Activities Committee (president)

• Head of Peer Tutoring

• Water Polo (captain)

• Dramat, Chamber Choir and Chorale

• Global Forum and Model UN (president of both)

The grill in Brockelman Student Center offers students the chance to grab a snack and catch up with friends between classes and activities.

ARMSTRONG DINING HALL

Family-Style Lunch

Every family knows the challenges associated with carving out time for a sit-down meal in this day and age. That, however, is exactly what we do at Westminster and we do it three days a week. Three days a week, 520 students and faculty members gather together, sitting around large circular tables in Armstrong Dining Hall and share a meal.

On Mondays and Tuesdays, faculty members host tables with students rotating to a new table each week. The table assignments are random and provide a wonderful opportunity for students and faculty members, whose paths might not otherwise cross, to get to know each other. On Thursdays, students sit by advisory. As important as it is for students to step out of their comfort zones and make new connections, developing deeper bonds is also important and there is comfort in the familiarity of reconnecting with the advisory.

After students and faculty members set the table together, the meal starts with a blessing, a nod to what we refer as the third and implicit “g” in Westminster’s motto — “gratitude.” The menu varies — there might be mac n’ cheese or General Tso’s chicken or maybe quesadillas. And just as the menu varies, so too, do the topics of conversation — shared reflections on a Chapel talk or visiting speaker, the virtues and shortcomings of various condiments, excitement around an upcoming game, Taylor Swift, a favorite book, course selections — the list is endless. There are constants, too, though — the salad, deli, soup and pasta bars are always open and in addition to conversations about daily life, the meal always ends with community announcements from students and faculty alike.

The Chapel Program

In a practice dating back to 1902, the entire school community gathers twice a week for chapel. During these gatherings, members of the school community are asked to think beyond themselves and to be compassionate, sensitive and inclusive. Chapel is a time to pause for reflection in our busy days as we listen to students, faculty members and guests speak about experiences that have made them who they are. Because of the diversity in our community, these presentations may be enlightening, moving, sobering or amusing — but they are always memorable.

A faculty member might discuss the importance of pivoting to embrace new opportunities. A student from Ghana might share how her love for soccer and her mother’s deep-seated belief in the value of education combined to bring her to Westminster. A member of the outing club might share lessons from her many outdoor adventures. A celebrated guest, who spent his formative days working with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., might talk about the lessons he learned at Dr. King’s side.

Whatever the subject matter, however, giving a chapel talk is a notable rite of passage for students because it highlights their personal courage and poise in speaking before the entire Westminster community. The program holds similar value for those in the audience who learn directly how important it is to listen with open minds and hearts to one another.

As the chapel program demonstrates, learning with and from each other is central to the Westminster experience of community.

We have learned so much in this space about each other, about ourselves and about our connections to the Westminster community and the world beyond. This year, almost 50 of our classmates and teachers have shared their life experiences, perspectives on the world and in many cases musical talents. It takes courage to allow ourselves to be vulnerable and the fact that so many have done so is evidence of the power of this tradition and the trust that we have in each other.

emma mason ’23

School Traditions

In its long history, Westminster has many cherished traditions that help promote our sense of community and provide continuity from one generation of students to the next.

One of the longest standing is the Lawn Ceremony which takes place every year on the evening before Commencement. In this ceremony, the graduating class gathers on the Sixth Form Lawn while the Fifth Formers wait around the perimeter. One by one, Sixth Formers bring the Fifth Formers onto the lawn, signifying that they will be the new leaders of the school. The final students brought onto the lawn are the newly-elected Prefect Board. Parents, students, alumni and faculty crowd the lawn to watch this ceremony with pride and anticipation.

Other annual events the whole school eagerly awaits include the Sign-in and Pin Ceremonies in September, the Candlelight Service that takes place every December, the always exciting spring stickball tournament dating back to the early 1900s and the tradition of passing diplomas that follows Commencement. And, of course, there is the tradition of Hill Holidays (surprise days off from school announced by the Head of School).

School traditions like family-style meals, Lawn Ceremony and Candlelight Service in Andrews Memorial Chapel provide a shared experience that brings our students and alumni closer together.

A Home Away from Home

The boarders bring the country and the world to the Hill, while the day students connect our community to the Greater Hartford region. Day students feel entirely at home on campus in the evenings and on weekends, while boarding students occasionally leave campus to spend time at day students’ homes for meals, weekend getaways, holidays and special occasions.

Westminster has seven dormitories centrally located on campus around a spacious main quad. The school’s philosophy of residential life is to make dormitory living as close to family living as possible. The corridors are small and designed to encourage interactions among students and faculty.

All of the dormitories blend boarding students from across grade levels. Approximately two-thirds of the rooms are doubles with a few spacious triples mixed in and the rest are singles. Each corridor is under the supervision of a residential faculty member who serves as an invaluable resource to students who are adjusting to being away from home and learning to develop a sense of self-reliance. Life in the dorms nurtures and sustains some of the closest and longest lasting relationships for our students, not only with each other, but also with faculty members and their families.

Westminster is not just a school, but also a place that many students — day and boarding — call home.

’25

GUND HOUSE

“

Boarding Student Reflections:

Maggie McCarthy ’23

“Gund is such a special spot. The Third Form girls are in my room every night just chatting — telling me about their day, telling me about what went on in class, what they saw walking back from the dorm, what they have going on that weekend — I love it. It’s so fun!”

“One of my favorite memories is a birthday celebration that my roommate and I threw. It was a girl in our dorm’s birthday and it was the first birthday she’d been away from her parents. We have this machine that makes your whole room into a disco and we turned it on and blasted Taylor Swift from 10 to 10:30 p.m. We had the entire dorm packed into our room and were able to celebrate and make new memories.”

Day Student Reflections:

Tia MacDonald ’23

“I personally love being a day student because I still get to go to a bunch of family events on weekends and see friends outside of Westminster. I think that’s a really important balance for me.”

“The library is kind of a de facto hang out place for day students. One memory that will stick with me is our Just Dance parties in one of the study rooms after classes. The funny thing is that I figured someone would walk in and be like ‘What’s going on in here?’ but no one bothered to stop it. In fact, a friend told me that she was telling one of the deans about it and she was like ‘Oh, I should come and join you guys!’”

Belonging

A Westminster education is about so much more than attending school or participating in activities. It is about belonging to a community and, here, perhaps more than anywhere, grace comes into play. Belonging requires more than just inclusion. It is a two-way street that requires courage and vulnerability in both directions. Westminster’s wellness initiatives are designed to foster the necessary individual courage and vulnerability to create a community where everyone feels like their voices are heard, they are seen and they belong.

Wellness Programming

All third formers take a class focused on wellness. The classes meet once a week and are taught by a counseling professional. In these classes, students focus on topics including self esteem, goal setting, building resilience, healthy relationships and healthy communications, and are introduced to critical skills, tools and resources for managing the challenges inherent in coming of age in the twenty-first century.

Throughout the year, the entire community gathers for further dialogue and development on wellness issues including mental health; diversity, equity and inclusion; healthy relationships; substance misuse and distracted driving. Programming includes powerful speakers, authors and performers who inspire, educate and challenge. It also includes community conversations to collectively address important issues that arise.

Much of our work as educators is centered around helping our students discover and shape their identities, helping them to discover their superpowers. This is where we begin. Only then can our students be vulnerable and offer their true selves to the community.

kelly wosleger form dean , math teacher , soccer coach

PEER LEADERSHIP TRAINING

Peer Leadership Program

Peer leaders play an integral role in all of Westminster’s wellness programming. Peer leaders are selected for their leadership potential and commitment to supporting their classmates in having deeper conversations. They receive specialized training at the beginning of the year, which emphasizes facilitation skills and group dynamics, and also incorporates CPR and first aid training. Throughout the year, peer leaders facilitate preprogram engagements and post-program reflections with fellow students. Peer leaders also partner with other student leaders including prefects, form officers and members of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Board; Bring Change 2 Mind; the Westminster Engagement Committee and One Love to not only assist faculty in program implementation, but also, fundamentally shape it.

Diversity Equity and Inclusion

Westminster’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s work has a powerful presence on campus, providing strategic counsel with respect to all areas of school life, implementing wellness programing, and offering advice and support to faculty and students. It also facilitates student-led alliance and affinity groups and provides opportunities for students to participate in conferences and events.

DEI Opportunities

Alliance groups bring students together to develop friendships and explore diversity-related topics.

• All As One Feminist Alliance

• Conversations About Christianity

• Gender & Sexuality Alliance

• Jewnion (Jewish student union)

• Middle Eastern Alliance

• Multicultural Student Union

• Westminster Latinx Alliance

Affinity groups affirm lived experiences and generate fellowship and empowerment.

• Asian/Pacific Islander Affinity

• AWARE – Assoc. of White Anti-Racist Education

• Banana Split (students of divorced/single parents)

• Black Affinity Group

• The Gathering

• Hispanic or Latinx Affinity

• International Student Organization

• Ladies of Color

• LGBTQ+ Affinity Group Conferences and Events

• NAIS National People of Color and Student Diversity Leadership Conference

• CAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference

• National Coming Out Day

Weekend Activities

On-Campus

• Fire pits & s’mores

• 3 v 3 soccer under the lights

• Food trucks

• Dorm open houses

• Lawn games on the quad

• Flashlight tag

• Themed dances

• Cookie decorating

• Coffeehouse performances

• Pickle ball

Special Events

• Haunted House

• Blacklight Dance

• Westy Royale

• Winter & Spring Formals

Walk to Simsbury

• Starbucks

• Popovers Bistro & Bakery

• Jersey Mike’s

• Grocery Store

• CVS

Local Van Trips

• Hiking and ice cream

• Whole Foods

• Rock climbing

• Movie theater

• Walmart

• Westfarms Mall

Road Trips

• Boston

• NY Yankees game

• Stratton ski trips

• Adventures ropes course

Engaging

Life at Westminster is busy. There are student-led clubs and activities to capture everyone’s interest or curiosity. Students quickly learn to recognize all of the exciting opportunities inherent in school life. Through these opportunities students can pursue passions, try new things, make friends, show school spirit and realize their potential as leaders. Engagement is critical to community and its emphasis in Westminster’s program not only fosters community on the Hill but also prepares students to be engaged in and contribute to their future communities.

In addition to availing themselves of the many opportunities at Westminster, students also take on considerable responsibility in daily school life as prefects, residential advisors, form officers, members of the John Hay Society (responsible for chapel services), club leaders, captains of athletic teams and peer leaders. If students are expected to be successful leaders in college, their communities and as professionals, they must have opportunities to lead at a young age.

Service Beyond Self

Community depends on service beyond self. At Westminster, students are taught that they have an obligation to serve and given the tools to make a difference.

These lessons are explicitly addressed in the civic engagement and public speaking seminar all students take as Fourth Formers. The lessons also permeate daily life, where students are presented with many opportunities to serve within the Westminster community — perhaps, most literally during family-style lunches as waiters and members of the pit crew, but also as peer tutors, tour guides, mentors, form officers and club members. Students internalize these lessons quickly and are eager to serve more broadly — in the Simsbury community, in the Greater Hartford region and in communities across the country and around the world.

Some students choose to dedicate their afternoons to service. Four afternoons a week they travel to Tariffville to tutor, mentor and engage in fun activities with students enrolled in the elementary school’s aftercare program.

Many students join Westminster’s student-led community service organization, Serving Our Neighbors, which coordinates a number of activities each year, supporting organizations and causes of significance. Recent activities have included clothing drives and a holiday party for children at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. Other clubs also sponsor service-related activities such as the Eco Team’s Farmington River cleanup and the John Hay Society’s community-wide charitable giving initiatives.

Westminster not only encourages students to serve, but is also committed to doing so as an institution. Westminster’s Hartford Partnership programs include Spring Break in Hartford; monthly lunch service at Loaves and Fishes; and Horizons at Westminster, a six-week summer program for elementary and middle school students from Hartford.

Working together for a good cause builds camaraderie and strengthens friendships, but, even more importantly, it encourages a life of compassion and service to others.

Student Organizations

• Anonymous Voices (writing club)

• Alliance for EveryBODY

• Architecture (AIAS)

• Art with Heart

• Baking Buddies

• Bibliophiles (book club)

• Black & Gold (tour guides)

• Bring Change 2 Mind

• Chess

• Computer Club

• Eco Team

• The Flock (spirit club)

• Fly-Fishing Club

• Global Forum (current affairs)

• Grillin’ & Chillin’

• Horizons

• Investment Club

• Language Club

• The Martlet (art & literary magazine)

• Math Club

• Model United Nations

• One Love

• Outing & Ski Club

• Robotics Club

• Society of Women Engineers

• Spectator (yearbook)

• Student Activities Committee (SAC)

• Wellness @ Westy

• Westminster News (newspaper)

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, students attend classes from 8:20 a.m. to 3 p.m. (8:20 a.m. to noon Wednesdays and Saturdays). During their free periods, students use the resources of the library for reading and studying (especially the small group study rooms) or they congregate in one of the many open spaces in the academic and student centers to work together or to chat. On nice days, students sometimes sit together outside on the benches or on Commencement Lawn.

The entire community gathers for family-style lunch three times a week, chapel twice a week and special presentations once a week.

Very Full & Busy Days

At the end of the academic day, students head off to rehearsals, community service, team practices and athletic contests.

A quick dinner with friends follows. Then, there is a bit of free time, during which student organizations often meet, before study hall begins.

Evenings usually find older students studying independently in their dorm rooms or in the library, while younger students are placed in a more structured study environment initially, either in their dorm rooms or in a classroom under the supervision of teachers.

7:15 a m

Boarders are waking up, day students start arriving, and teachers are walking their dogs or getting their own young children off to school.

MORNING

The dining hall opens for breakfast at 7 a.m.. It’s time to fuel up and meet with study groups, teachers and friends.

8:20 a m

The bell rings and classes begin. Typical classes are 50 minutes long.

MID-MORNING Assembly, chapel, a speaker, or meetings with advisors. Then, back to classes.

12:20 p . m .

Family-style lunch in Armstrong Dining Hall. Teachers host tables, students are assigned and change tables every week. It’s another way we get to know each other and foster relationships. Advisories eat together on Thursdays.

MID-AFTERNOON

As classes wrap up, there is a short break during which students may meet with faculty for extra help. Then, the entire school community dives into the afternoon program: team practices, dance and theater rehearsals, community service and independent projects.

NIGHT

The day closes with checkin for boarders at 10 p.m.

3:45 p . m .

The class day has ended (earlier on Wednesdays and Saturdays). Everyone now has a role in an afternoon program. After that, it’s time for dinner. Then, there’s free time and club meetings.

8 p . m .

Study Hall: Time to focus on academics in the library, dorm rooms, common areas and faculty apartments.

EVENING

Some day students will stay on campus well into the evening, while others return home following the afternoon program to have dinner and spend time with their families.

College Counseling

Where Today’s Scholars Meet Tomorrow’s Opportunities

The college process is structured to assist students in investigating opportunities and empower them to take charge of their futures, without taking away from the experience at hand.

Personal attention throughout the college search process, close relationships between students and faculty in the community, and an impeccable institutional reputation, bolstered by decades of successful Westminster alumni, lead to outstanding results. In recent years, approximately 65 percent of our students gained admission to colleges and universities ranked as “Most Competitive” by Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges, and approximately 90 percent gained admission to colleges and universities ranked as “Most or Highly Competitive.”

Westminster prepared me as a writer. Thanks to History and English teachers at Westminster, my creative and formal academic papers are a breeze. Westy also prepared me for active engagement in college through family-style meals, advisory and common room conversations. Most importantly, Westy prepared me to make decisions independently as a new student in a new place.

s awyer von J ess ’22, a ttending g eorge w ashington u niversity

Westminster is like a “mini college,” so I didn’t feel much of a difference and transitioned smoothly to college. Academically, the teaching style at Westminster prepared me for active participation in small classes and engaging with professors to get the most out of my college experience.

m in Q ifei ’22, a ttending u niversity of v irginia

Westminster’s emphasis on close integration of students and faculty has helped me to establish meaningful connections with faculty, administrators and future employers, while at Yale. Even though I used to think the Westminster schedule was busy, now I’m grateful for Westminster’s preparation because college does not get less busy!

a dam c erny ’21, a ttending y ale u niversity

Where Students Matriculate

Babson College

Barnard College

Bates College

Boston College

Boston University

Bowdoin College

Brown University

Bryant University

Bucknell University

Colby College

Colgate University

College of the Holy Cross

Colorado College

Columbia University (New York)

Connecticut College

Cornell University

Denison University

Elon University

Endicott College

Fairfield University

Fordham University

Franklin and Marshall College

George Washington University

Georgetown University

Hamilton College

Harvard University

Haverford College

Hobart William Smith Colleges

Indiana University-Bloomington

Johns Hopkins University

Kenyon College

Lafayette College

Lehigh University

Marist College

Miami University, Oxford

Middlebury College

New York University

Northeastern University

Northwestern University

Occidental College

Princeton University

Providence College

Saint Anselm College

Salve Regina University

Santa Clara University

Skidmore College

Southern Methodist University

St Lawrence University

Syracuse University

Texas Christian University

Trinity College

Tufts University

Tulane University of Louisiana

University of California-San Diego

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Connecticut

University of Denver

University of Florida

University of Miami

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of Pennsylvania

University of Richmond

University of Southern California

University of St Andrews

University of Toronto

University of Vermont

University of Virginia-Main Campus

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Vassar College

Villanova University

Wake Forest University

Washington University in St Louis

Wesleyan University

Wheaton College (Massachusetts)

Williams College

Yale University

The list below shows where three or more Westminster graduates of the classes of 2019-2023 enrolled.

Where Westminster is Located

Westminster’s 200-acre hilltop campus has the feel and sophistication of a small college, the warmth and charm of a New England village and a style that reflects the school’s 135-year history yet includes the latest in state-of-the-art facilities. It is an ideal setting for academic, athletic, artistic and social pursuits — a great place to live and learn.

1. Cushing Hall Reception, Business Office, Cromwell College Counseling Center, Watts Hall (Deans Office, DEI Office, Athletic Office), Fearn Hall, Hinman Reading Room, Marketing and Communications, Mailroom, Associate Head of School’s Office

2. Brockelman Student Center

3. Keyes House Admissions Office, Head of School’s Office, Advancement Office

4. Keyes Garden

5. Andrews Memorial Chapel Archives, Chapel Gallery

6. Sixth Form Lawn

7. Commencement Lawn

8. Armstrong Dining Hall Gund Dining Room, Adams Dining Room

Student Housing

9. Cushing Hall and Cromwell

10. Squibb House

11. Kelter House

12. Alumni House

13. Edge House

14. Gund House

15. Memorial Hall Faculty Housing

16. Beinecke House

17. Flinn Family House

18. McCullough House

19. Pratt House (Head of School)

H. Faculty homes

20. Baxter Lawn 21. Gymnasium

22. Pettee Gymnasium

23. Hamilton Art Studios

24. Werner Centennial Center Theater, Band & Dance Studios, Booker T. Bradshaw Stage

25. Armour Academic Center Armstrong Atrium, Baxter Gallery, Cole Library, Davis Center for Science & Mathematics, Gitterman Student Lounge, Offield Center for the Humanities, Class of 1957 Planetarium, Sejong Lecture Hall, “Martlet’s Nest” school store

SIMSBURY AND BEYOND

Westminster’s location, adjacent to the heart of downtown Simsbury, CT, offers ample off-campus opportunities for students.

Students can walk into town for pizza or ice cream or sushi or burgers—for a town of only about 25,000, Simsbury supports an amazing number of excellent restaurants. There’s always Starbucks where students gather for coffee and conversation, but where they also frequently open their textbooks, connect to the internet, and study. Students can shop at one of the many stores and boutiques that dot Hopmeadow Street.

The Farmington River Valley in which Simsbury sits is rich in history, culture and character, and weekends feature trips to malls, theaters, restaurants and outdoor activities. Our close proximity to Hartford allows students to take advantage of the capital city’s many assets, including The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, the Mark Twain House and the Wadsworth Atheneum.

Our central location halfway between New York City and Boston offers students occasional opportunities to go on faculty-led trips to those cities while simultaneously providing convenient access to the school for families living along the Northeast Corridor. And when it comes time for students to travel home, they can catch a bus or train leaving from Union Station in Hartford or a flight out of Bradley International Airport, both only 20 minutes from campus.

28. Hibbard Aquatic Center

29. Jackson Hockey Rink

30. Sawyer Field 31. Tate Field 32. Osborn Baseball Field

33. Michelini Field and Brooks Family Track 34.

35. Hovey Field (lighted turf)

36. Wilbraham Field (turf)

37. Harrison Field

38. Barnes-Bristow Observatory

39. Softball Field

40. Briggs, Gow and Haynes Tennis Courts, Watson Terrace

41. Observatory Field

42. Perkin Memorial Drive Parking

43. Visitor Parking P. Athletic Event Parking

Message from the Head of School

Becoming Their Best Selves

Founded in 1888, Westminster School has a long history as one of America’s finest independent schools. This reputation rests on a foundation of excellence, beginning with our academic program, including offerings in the arts, and extending to our robust athletics program, as well as our many community service and extracurricular offerings.

When my husband, Chris, and I arrived on Williams Hill, the ethos of the Westminster community — where kindness and grace meet new and uncertain — embraced us and sustained us in our new adventure. As I begin my third year as Westminster’s head of school, I am excited about the work that we have already done as a community and the opportunities that lie ahead for Westminster’s longstanding commitment to holistic, relationship-based education.

At Westminster, we aspire to an extraordinarily ambitious commitment to secondary education, a commitment to nurture the participation of our diverse school community across our entire program. Westminster students are inspired by opportunities to make a difference in all their endeavors.

elaine white head of school

I have dedicated my entire professional life to boarding school education and bring a complete commitment to the life-changing experience it offers. Before joining the Westminster community, I was a teacher, coach, advisor and dorm parent. I also served in a variety of leadership positions including as department chair, academic dean, interim director of advancement and associate head of school. Most importantly, though, I was present in the lives of students, and it was that shared community that drew me to Westminster and that continues to inspire my work.

Westminster encourages students to flourish — they are known here and they have adults and peers in their lives every day who are cheering them on, pushing, supporting, and encouraging them to engage in myriad opportunities, learn from their experiences and grow into committed community members. We greet one another with warm smiles, we hold doors, we gather for community conversations, and we practice being our most authentic and generous selves every day.

Our shared dedication to the people who comprise our school community defines us. We are a sensitive, caring and nurturing community that encourages young people to take risks and, in the process, to grow. At Westminster, we aspire to an extraordinarily ambitious commitment to education. I can’t think of a better setting for a student to be known, supported and celebrated as they practice living a meaningful and rewarding life, and, in the process, become their best selves.

We hope you will consider a visit to our campus so that we can greet you in person and share with you more about Westminster School.

SOAR AT WESTMINSTER SCHOOL

Westminster’s mascot is the martlet, a mythical bird without feet which demonstrates “grit and grace” by continuing to fly — despite obstacles, challenges or a fierce headwind. Other attributes ascribed to the “ideal martlet” by members of the Westminster community are shown here.

VISITING CAMPUS

Westminster School is at its core a community, and best highlighted through personal interactions. This being the case, we very much hope you will join us for a student-guided tour and interview. For information about scheduling a tour and interview, please visit www.westminster-school.org/admissions/ visit-westminster. On our website, you will also find details regarding upcoming admissions events and information about the school and admission process.

Applications for admission are due Jan. 15 of the year of desired enrollment. Please do not hesitate to contact the Admissions Office at (860) 408-3060 or admit@ westminster-school.org, if you have questions or we can be of assistance as you explore your options for continuing your education.

In keeping with our support for a diverse community, Westminster abides by all applicable federal and state laws and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, color, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national and ethnic origin, ancestry and/or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Westminster admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School.

GETTING HERE

By Car: Westminster is accessible from major highways including I-95, I-91, I-90 and I-84, and is located on Route 10/202 at 995 Hopmeadow Street in the center of Simsbury, Connecticut.

By Bus And Train: Service by bus (Greyhound and Peter Pan) and train (Amtrak and MetroNorth/CTRail) is through Union Station in Hartford, Connecticut. Campus is a 20-minute cab or Uber ride from the station. Car rental at the station is available through Hertz.

By Plane: Bradley International Airport is a 20-minute drive from campus, with service by most major airlines. LaGuardia and JFK airports in New York and Logan airport in Boston are within a two-hour drive from campus.

AP® and Advanced Placement® are registered trademarks of the College Board. Used with permission.

Primary photography is by alumnus Chip Riegel ’90, Seshu Badrinath, Robert Benson, Richard Bergen, David Newman and Yoon Byun.

our mission

Westminster School inspires young people of promise to cultivate a passion for learning, to explore and develop their talents in a balanced program, to reach well beyond the ordinary, to live with character and intelligence and to commit to a life of service beyond self. 2023-24