Westover School
strong voices, infinite choices
Welcome to
Westover School
Westover is a boarding and day school for girls in grades 9 to 12 where motivated students from all over the world come together to take important steps toward their future. It’s a vibrant educational environment where classes are small and the breadth of learning is vast. It’s a school that sets the bar high, with a rigorous academic program that helps students reach new levels of intellectual and personal growth. Westover is a close-knit learning community where girls build an incredibly strong foundation for college success, and for all that comes after.
green is good Environmental responsibility is woven into curricular and co-curricular programs at Westover—and into this publication, whose modest size saves trees, and which is printed with soy inks on 10 percent postconsumer-waste paper using renewable energy.
2 Find your Voice, Prepare to Lead · 4 Academics · 6 Distinctly Westover: Our Signature Programs 8 Things Happen Because We See Each Other · 10 Community: It’s Intentional 12 Have Fun, Work Hard · 14 There’s More to Life than Work · 16 Inspiring Traditions 18 Our Campus · 20 After Westover · 21 Come Visit
“Research confirms what we’ve known at Westover since the day we were founded: that the best way for girls to learn is in an engaging all-girls environment that empowers them to speak up, explore, and venture outside their comfort zones. Our alumnae confirm that the Westover approach works: our students go on to lead truly remarkable lives after they graduate.” —Ann Pollina, Head of School
Voice
Find your
Learning at Westover is many things—vibrant, active, engaging—but one thing it’s not is a spectator sport, inside or outside the classroom.
Our students are open, eager, and curious, diving into student-run clubs, sports, community service, student government, and other activities with the same energy they bring to their studies. They build on strengths they bring with them, discover new interests, and add exciting new dimensions to their lives. Classes are small— about 12 students on average—giving every student ample opportunity to say what’s on her mind. And speaking of minds, the diversity of ideas and perspectives brought to the table by students from around the globe does a great job of opening them. You figure out who you are and what you believe. You find your voice, and you learn how to use it, wisely and with confidence. Hear more from Westover students at westoverschool.org/ wildcatnet
“In my school in France the boys had all the voice— they always got called on. So at first when I came to Westover I wouldn’t speak. Then I realized that sometimes my answers were right, and I spoke up. And when you’re wrong, no one brings you down; the teachers help you learn from it. The teachers are awesome—they always try to find the best in us.” —Anna, junior boarding student from Paris, France
Prepare to Lead When all the students are girls, that means all the leaders are, too. The opportunities to practice leadership at Westover are boundless. Seven elected student heads of school play a vital role in school governance and decision-making. Student proctors help oversee dorm life. More than 20 clubs— organized around themes from music and food to human rights and environmental action—are all student-run, as are The Wick (the school newspaper), Coagess (the yearbook), and The Lantern (the literary magazine). And leadership doesn’t stop when you graduate from Westover. Our graduates go on to become CEOs, founders of their own organizations, entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders in a range of fields.
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head and heart At Westover we’re as concerned about the moral development of students as we are about their intellectual growth. Programs ranging from community service to weekly Chapel help grow roots of moral character that reach deep and last a lifetime. Learn more at westoverschool.org/service and westoverschool.org/chapel
why all-girls matters * Girls who learn in all-girls schools are more likely to be politically and socially engaged. Westover students join—and lead—clubs and groups focused on social justice, student government, human rights, community service, environmental action, and other important topics.
*Findings here and on following pages come from “Women Graduates of Single-Sex and Coeducational High Schools: Differences in Their Characteristics and the Transition to College,” by UCLA education professor Linda J. Sachs, Ph.D.
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“One of the most important features of an education in the liberal arts is to awaken us to the depth of the world around us.” —Tom Hungerford, Dean of Faculty, Chaplain, and English Teacher
Seeing the world through multiple lenses. the interdisciplinary curriculum From human rights to climate change, the real world is interdisciplinary, and your education should be, too. At Westover you’ll choose from a variety of elective courses that break down the barriers between different ways of thinking. Page to Stage follows the transformation of Wicked from a Wizard of Oz–inspired novel to a Broadway sensation, and includes a trip to New York to see the play and meet the cast. Westover Goes to War starts global—with World War I— then narrows to national and even personal levels, exploring the heroism of students at Westover— founded just before war began—as they contributed to the U.S. war effort. Why take this multifaceted approach? Because you learn how ideas fit together, how to look at problems from many points of view, how to see the world the way it actually works. And that’s an awesome skill set for your future. You’ll find more information on academics at Westover, including a link to our curriculum guide, at westoverschool.org/academics
Academics
Few schools offer as robust a program in art history as Westover, where the subject has been part of our curriculum for a hundred years. Art history builds appreciation of art for art’s sake, while also placing it in a larger and more illuminating historical and cultural context. Our nearly two-dozen art history courses and special internship opportunities with Hill-Stead Museum make Westover a springboard for college study and careers in this rewarding field. Learn more about our art history program at westoverschool.org/art-history
conferencing: where classes become tutorials In Conference, students meet one-on-one with their teachers to thoroughly explore the subjects they’re taking. They benefit from the individualized attention and become independent thinkers, assertive in their desire to ask questions and fully understand a topic.
A powerful foundation for college and career success.
As one of New England’s leading independent schools, Westover engages you in a powerful college-prep foundation. Our core subjects will sound familiar: English, mathematics, science, history, foreign languages, and arts and music. Yet learning in those subjects is rich, full, and new, spanning everything from Dante and Mandarin Chinese to genetic engineering and ethics. From that foundation, you build up and out, using our far-reaching curriculum as your building blocks. Choose from compelling interdisciplinary electives. Dive into Signature Programs in music, science and engineering, finance, and other fields. You’ll go as far as your desire and imagination can take you.
a pioneer in art history
why all-girls matters Girls in all-girls schools have greater academic self-confidence than those learning in co-ed schools, and are more engaged academically. Westover girls feel freer to take risks without fear of failure or worries about being judged. They pass AP tests at a rate that’s 55 percent above the national average.
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Distinctly Westover Our Signature Programs Many families choose Westover for the unique learning opportunities we offer. Our Signature Programs take advantage of the school’s distinctive strengths to add layers of breadth and depth to learning.
online school for girls Westover is a founding member of this international consortium of all-girls schools, which offers courses that adhere to the highest standards of online education. Learning in genetics, global studies, multivariable calculus, graphic art, and other courses is collaborative and interactive, with video conferencing, online discussion boards, group projects, and other technologically enriched features.
wise ( women in science and engineering ) Engineering, robotics, projectiles, computer programming, duct-tape boat building... WISE jump-starts interest—and a possible career— in science and engineering fields that have historically been dominated by men. Westover was one of the first schools to develop a program specifically designed to prepare girls and women for such fields.
global exchange From learning Xhosa in South Africa to tasting tapas in Spain, our Global Exchange program offers unforgettable international experiences on four continents. Current opportunities include exchanges with schools in Australia, China, England, France, Jordan, South Africa, and Spain.
somsi ( sonja osborn museum studies internship ) SOMSI, a partnership with Hill-Stead Museum, builds on Westover’s strengths in art history to immerse students in the professional world of art history and museum studies. Interns receive both academic credit and a stipend for their work.
iig ( invest in girls ) Focusing on business, philanthropy, and other timely topics, this program helps girls develop an important skill: how to handle and deal with money. IIG holds field trips out into the world of business, and creates opportunities to connect with female mentors in a variety of fields.
manhattan school of music Our partnership with the Manhattan School of Music is a one-of-a-kind opportunity that makes it possible for Westover students to study music at one of the nation’s top music schools. Our close proximity to New York City helps this program hit the high notes.
“I’m taking AP Psychology through the Online School for Girls. We use video, blogs, and discussion boards, and programs like YouTube and Skype. You learn to work independently. You interact with girls from other schools. And you get to take courses that aren’t offered at your school. It’s putting me ahead of the curve in online learning.” —Jehiza, senior boarding student from the Bronx, New York
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Find more information about Westover’s Signature Programs at westoverschool.org/signature-programs
why all-girls matters Girls who learn in all-girls schools are more interested in studying engineering in college. Three-fourths of the graduates of Westover’s WISE program major in computer science or engineering in college. 7
Everyone chats after morning assembly before going to class
Studying together in Red Hall
Enjoying the view on Mountain Day Meeting up in the Quad between classes
With 200 students in grades 9 through 12, Westover is intentionally, unapologetically a small school. And that means we see a lot of each other—in the dining hall, on the sports fields, in the quad between classes, around a fresh bowl of popcorn someone on your dorm floor just popped. Close proximity fosters close collaboration—even across grade levels—and that’s one of our greatest strengths. This richly diverse community becomes a second family, and we work together to make good things happen.
Supporting from the sidelines
Things Happen because we see each other
What’s happening at Westover? Find out at westoverschool.org/news 9
Sharing a meal in the dining room
Finishing up art projects together
Community: It’s Intentional “The community here really supports the academic side. Everybody is so generous and willing to help each other. There’s a feeling here I’ve never experienced before.” —Kate Seyboth, Mathematics Teacher and Director of the WISE Program
Years after you graduate from Westover, you may not remember all the formulas you learned in multivariable calculus, or all the plot twists in War and Peace. But you won’t forget the community that embraced you here. More than a century ago, when architect Theodate Pope Riddle drew up the plans for the main campus building that we still use today, she did so with community in mind, designing a space where we could work, play, and live together. Today that community spirit continues to run through everything we do at Westover. It’s part of the air we breathe.
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We make sure that’s as true for day students as it is for those who live here. Each day begins the same way for everybody—with a meeting in Red Hall. Every week we gather for Chapel, wrestling with moral and ethical questions and listening to inspirational talks from students, faculty, and sometimes from world leaders. Boarders “adopt” day students, giving them a place to stay if they want to spend the night or hang out for a weekend.
Community starts on campus, but it doesn’t end here—we engage the world outside as well. The Dorcas Society, a Westover mainstay since our founding, organizes fundraising events for countless worthwhile causes. Students protect the environment, advocate for human rights, and put their values into action through community service. Part of belonging to a community is working to sustain it; at Westover you learn what it means to be an active, responsible citizen. 11
20 interscholastic teams in 11 sports ·· Soccer ·· Field Hockey ·· Cross Country ·· Volleyball ·· Basketball ·· Squash ·· Swimming ·· Golf ·· Lacrosse ·· Softball ·· Tennis
Experiencing one of our many diverse dance classes
Playing field hockey on one of our outdoor fields
Have Fun, Work Hard
At Westover, our goal is to educate the whole person, and sports and athletics have a vital role to play. There are all kinds of good reasons to play sports. Sports have lessons to teach about teamwork, leadership, resilience, and shared effort toward a common goal. Plus, they’re a blast to play. At Westover, whether you’re a novice or a seasoned veteran, if you want to play, you play. And if competitive sports aren’t your thing, you’ll enjoy a varied menu of recreation and fitness activities that includes dance, yoga, rock climbing, kayaking, skiing, snowboarding, and an enticing range of other options.
5 of our squash players have recently served as captains of their college teams
15 of our swimmers qualified for New Englands last season
Explore the full Westover athletic program at westoverschool.org/athletics
Training in the Rothman Fitness Room
Climbing in the Searle Gymnasium other recreational sports and activities There are many options to choose from, including dance (ballet, jazz, hip-hop, modern, Dance Ensemble), outdoor adventure (camping, canoeing, hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, spelunking), yoga, weight training, and skiing and snowboarding.
where you’ll play Fuller Athletic Center, Rothman Fitness Room, Searle Gym, Angier Squash Pavilion, Tennis Complex, dance studios, the wooded cross-country course, hiking and cross-country ski trails, and more…
Our soccer teams are regular top 10 finishers in New England Class C
Practicing at the tennis complex
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There’s More
to Life than Work
Something for every interest. Whether you like to write, sing, govern, eat great food, ring bells, learn about the world—or save it—there’s a club or program for you at Westover. And if there’s not, we’ll help you start one. Here’s a sampling: ·· Discover the world—French Club, Spanish Club ·· S ave the world—Amnesty International, Dorcas Society and other community service projects, Westover Women’s World Initiative ·· L earn to lead—Student Academic Committee, Student Heads of School, Student Proctors, Student Senate ·· M ake beautiful music—Glee Club, Gospel Choir, Handbell Ensembles, Overtones and Chantarelles, Westover Consort ·· C elebrate diversity—Asian Culture Club, Jewish Student Association, WALSA (Westover AfricanAmerican and Latina Student Association) ·· W rite all about it—Coagess (yearbook), The Lantern (literary magazine), The Wick (newspaper) See a list of all our extracurriculars at westoverschool.org/clubs
“ There’s a network of people here that supports you in every way possible. I’ve become an athlete. I’m editor-inchief of the yearbook. I’m in the French Club. I’m an editor of the literary magazine. And I’ve made the strongest relationships I’ve had in the 16 years of my life. The girls here are great at so many things, and one of those things is friendliness.” —Liv, junior boarding student from Orlando, Florida
Westover offers the ideal balance: a rich and engaging academic experience, and a full and vibrant life outside the classroom. More than 20 student-run clubs and organizations—focused on the arts, student government, publications, community service, and other themes—bring you together with others who share your interests and offer great opportunities to hone your leadership skills. Dorm life teaches independence while introducing you to the kind of spontaneous fun that happens nowhere else. And in case you’re wondering about boys (and we’re betting some of you might be), dances, karaoke nights, Rock ’n’ Bowl, and other events held with nearby “brother” schools are regular occurrences. If you’re looking for a common theme running through the eclectic range of activities that fills the Westover social calendar, it’s connection—the friends you make here will be friends for life.
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why all-girls matters Girls who learn in all-girls schools express more confidence in their public speaking abilities. In classes, extracurricular activities, and community meetings, Westover girls have abundant opportunities to speak up and express themselves. 15
distinctly westover ·· The Bells
·· Old Girl, New Girl
·· Chapel Line
·· Red Hall Lamps
·· Dorcas Society ·· Glee Club
·· S even Heads of School
··“Have a Good Day”
··“Uni”
·· Lanterns
·· Victory Bell
·· Legacy
·· W est, Over, & Senior Trees
Wests, Overs, & Seniors
Rallying
Inspiring Traditions Weekly Chapel gatherings
Morning Assembly. Old Girl/New Girl. The Victory Bell. West, Over, and Senior Trees. The Lantern Ceremony. Weekly Chapel. It’s been said that one of the best ways to know a place is to look at what it celebrates. If that’s true, there are a lot of inspiring things to know about Westover School. Get more insight into Westover’s traditions at westoverschool.org/ traditions
Westover’s art & literary magazine
Lantern Ceremony Community Service, such as the annual Penguin Plunge
Old Girl, New Girl
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Graduation Day
places
events
·· Arcade
·· Frugals
·· Day Lounges
·· Germans
·· Porticos ·· The Quad
·· G raduation March and Circle
·· Red Hall
·· Lantern Ceremony
·· Sallyport
·· Morning Assemblies
·· Senior Garden
·· Mountain Day
·· Seven Sisters Fireplace
·· Orchard
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Campus Ceramic
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Athletics Center
Upper Fields
Tennis Courts
Squash Courts
to Tennis Complex
Snack Bar
Visual Arts
Dining Room
my Astronoower T Dorm
Chapel
Lower Fields
Admissions
Performing Arts
Classroo
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Librar Town Green Senior Garden
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City
One hundred and thirty-four wooded acres of New England countrysid e. A resource-filled campus. A place to call home. At the perimeter of the Westover School campus is a stone wall about seven or eight feet high that has stood there since the school’s earliest days. It’s an impressive structure, and does double-duty as a metaphor for the incredibly strong educational foundation you’ll get as a Westover student. It marks a place of boundless opportunities, with impressive facilities and resources to help you take advantage of them: an exceptional performing arts center, a state-of-the-art athletics center and squash pavilion, classrooms with the latest learning
technology, a science building equipped with the tools for modern science. Equally impressive are Westover’s gathering spaces: Red Hall, the Senior Garden, the Quad. Beyond the wall are sports fields, wooded trails for running or cross-country skiing, and the small-town charm of Middlebury. And our central-Connecticut location gives us easy access to the wealth of cultural opportunities to be found in New York City, Hartford, Boston, and other major U.S. cities.
Below, left to right: the rock climbing wall in Searle Gymnasium, the 7-court tennis complex, one of three dance studios, the newly renovated student center, the Performing Arts Center, and the Rothman Fitness Room.
After Westover
Westover grads are ready to hit the ground running in college.
Bound for college. Last year’s Westover’s graduates earned acceptance letters from 141 colleges, including these below. American University Amherst College Babson College Brown University Bryn Mawr College University of California, Berkeley College of Charleston Clemson University Connecticut College Cornell University Dickinson College Drexel University Emerson College Franklin & Marshall College George Mason University
Gettysburg College Haverford College Johns Hopkins University Lehigh University McGill University Michigan State University University of Pennsylvania Rice University University of Richmond Sewanee: The University of the South Smith College Syracuse University Tufts University University of Virginia Williams College
For the complete list and to learn more about our college counseling approach, go to westoverschool.org/college
distinguished alumnae Eva Cho ’00 (far left) was one of very few women engineers to work on the Airport Link in Brisbane, Australia, a massive infrastructure project, and is now working on the Gold Coast Light Rail Project in her job with McConnell Dowel Construction. Eva has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Davis. Izu Emeagwali ’01 (middle, left) is a lawyer in the Washington, DC, offices of Cleary Gottlieb Hamilton & Steen, and a former fellow with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. She has a law degree from Howard University School of Law, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. Christine M. Mastrocola ’06 (middle, right) is a service associate with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, and is one of three Westover alumnae who volunteer with Invest in Girls, Inc., a nonprofit that mentors high-school girls to help them gain strong financial knowledge. She is a graduate of St. Lawrence University. Rose Bradley ’12 (far right) is a criminal justice and psychology double major at Endicott College, where she plays goalie on Endicott’s conference champion Division III field hockey team. She’s also pursuing EMT certification.
All Westover graduates go to college. They go near (Yale) and far (University of St. Andrews, Scotland), north (Canada’s McGill U.) and south (Rice), east (Harvard) and west (Berkeley), to colleges that are big (Michigan State) and small (Smith) and everything in between. They go to some of the best colleges in the world, but more importantly, they go to colleges that are the best fit for their goals. And speaking of goals, the cornucopia of opportunity at Westover helps students discover what they’re passionate about, so they head to college with clear goals in mind. That’s a point worth noting at a time when the cost of college can top a quarter of a million dollars: Westover grads are ready to hit the ground running in college, prepared from day one to make the most of this next exciting stage of their academic journey.
Come Visit There’s one easy way to determine whether or not Westover is the place for you: come visit. Many of our girls will tell you that it was their visit here that prompted them to apply. I knew right away, they tell us. It just felt right. To schedule your visit, contact the Office of Admission at 203.577.4521 or admission@westoverschool.org.
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Design: Studio-e Copywriting: Richard Bader Photography: Robert Falcetti; additional photography by Margaret Lampert and Janis Gilley; aerial photography by Peter Finger Printing: Universal Wilde
A boarding and day school for girls in grades 9 to 12 1237 Whittemore Road · P.O. Box 847 · Middlebury, CT 06762-0847 203.758.2423 · westoverschool.org
cogitare, agere, esse—to think, to do, to be