Back-to-School Information | | |
The start of School will be here before we know it! Please note the following important information, deadlines, and updates.
We can't wait to see you in Lakeville in a few weeks!
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Arrival Dates and Times
Student arrivals on campus will be staggered on the dates listed below.
| | | WHO | DATE | TIME | LOCATION | | Proctors | Tuesday, Aug. 26 | 1-4 p.m. | Your dorm | | Orientation Leaders | Wednesday, Aug. 27 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Your dorm | | New Student Fall Varsity Athletes (by invitation only) | Friday, Aug. 29 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Main Building Front Foyer
(GPS Address: 11 Interlaken Road) | | Returning Student Fall Varsity Athletes (by invitation only)
| Friday, Aug. 29 | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Your dorm | | New Students | Monday, Sept. 1 | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Forrest E. Mars Athletic Center (MAC)
(GPS address: 22 Lime Rock Road) | | Returning Students | Wednesday, Sept. 3 | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Your dorm | | | |
STUDENT ACTION REQUIRED: Register for Your Arrival Slot by Aug. 18
Each student must sign up for an arrival time slot via the 2025 Student Arrival Form. Please note that this form is only accessible to students as they will need to be signed into their Hotchkiss account to select a slot. Students should coordinate with their parent/guardian about the date and time of their arrival.
Students should make every effort to arrive on campus by the dates outlined above. If your arrival will occur beyond these timeframes, please contact the Deans' Office.
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Sibling Students with Different Arrival Days
If siblings are scheduled for different arrival days, please contact the Deans' Office to confirm an arrival date. This will be handled on a case-by-case basis and will require approval due to the length of time between different arrival dates. Note that all new students should arrive on Sept. 1.
A Note about Dorm Move-In
New students will receive their dorm assignments at new student registration (the Main Building Front Foyer for invited pre-season athletes and the MAC for all other new student arrivals). Upon completion of registration, new students will move into their rooms where they will have the opportunity to unpack, decorate, and start making it feel like home. Family members are permitted in the dorms to help their student(s) get settled. On Monday, Sept. 1, family members are invited for lunch and other afternoon programming before Orientation kicks off. New students will not be allowed to leave campus after 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 1, due to continual Orientation programming.
Returning students will receive their dorm assignments via email before arriving on campus. This will allow returning students to go directly to their respective dorms for registration/check-in.
Roommate Information
Roommate assignments will be sent via email to students in mid-August. For those of you who are new students, we hope that having roommate information will give you an opportunity to begin to get acquainted. For returning students, it should be a chance to do some planning before the start of school. Stay tuned for further information!
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Special Parent Drop-Off Delight!
Stop by Grassland, Lakeville's new dessert cafe, for a post drop-off treat! Select from a variety of delicious ice cream, gelato, acai bowls, pastries, and coffee to make your campus departure less bittersweet. Mention code sweetstart when you place your order.
Grassland
343 Main Street
Lakeville, CT
Offer valid through Wednesday, Sept. 3. One redemption per family.
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For Families New to Hotchkiss
What to Expect on Move-In Day
We look forward to welcoming you to campus on Monday, Sept. 1! Below is the schedule of activities for students and their families for the day. Additional information will be provided upon registration.
| | | TIME | EVENT | LOCATION | | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | New student arrivals | Mars Athletic Center (MAC) | | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Lunch—new families welcome! | Ford Food Court (FFC) | | 1-1:30 p.m. | Dorm introductions | Outside of each dorm | | 1:45-2:30 p.m. | New students and families meet with advisors | Various locations to be announced | | 2:45-3:15 p.m. | Head of school welcome for new students and families | Elfers Hall | | 3:30 p.m. | Student and family farewells | At this point, families must depart campus | | 4 p.m. | Orientation begins for all new students | Chapel | | | |
Orientation Activities
Orientation will begin for new students on the afternoon of Monday, Sept. 1, in the Chapel. Over the course of two days, new students will meet regularly with their orientation groups to participate in various activities and workshops to familiarize themselves with School resources, culture, and other important elements of campus life.
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New Day Students
New day students are invited to stay in the dorms on Monday, Sept. 1; Tuesday, Sept. 2; and Wednesday, Sept. 3. Be sure to bring a sleeping bag! A sign- up form will be emailed to parents in late August.
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New Student Advisor Assignments
Advisor information will be available to students via email in early August. Students, families, and advisors are encouraged to reach out to each other in August to help prepare for the upcoming school year.
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Reminder: New Family Drop-Off Day Events
For new Bearcat parents— please join us for the following gatherings generously hosted by local Hotchkiss parents.
Pre-Season Athlete New Parent Gathering: Aug. 29, 2025
If your student has been invited by a coach to participate in fall pre-season varsity athletics, please join us after drop-off at the home of Joella and John Lykouretzos P'23,'27 in Lakeville for an informal, post-drop-off gathering. It's a great chance to meet other parents/guardians, enjoy some lunch, and swap early-season stories.
Date: Friday, Aug. 29, 2025
Time: 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.
New Parent Post-Drop Off Gathering: Sept. 1, 2025
After you’ve said your (bittersweet!) goodbyes, you’re invited to drop by the home of Jessica and Tim McCarthy P'26,'29 in Lakeville for a casual gathering with fellow new parents/guardians. Come as you are—whether you need a snack, a chat, or just a moment to exhale—we’d love to see you!
Please register here
Date: Monday, Sept. 1, 2025
Time: 4-6 p.m.
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Don't Forget: Personal Debit or Credit Card Needed for Campus Spending
All students should come to campus with a personal debit or credit card. Our snack bar, campus store, post office, and vending machines are all equipped to accept debit and credit cards.
For those who do not have access to a card, we encourage you to open a student checking account at your bank of choice to obtain a debit card.
If you have questions, please email studentaccounts@hotchkiss.org.
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Final Transcripts Due
Please remember that your student's final official transcript must be sent to Hotchkiss in order to be fully registered for courses in 2025-26.
Please have it sent to admission@hotchkiss.org, faxed to (860) 435-1525, or sent via U.S. Mail:
The Admission Office
The Hotchkiss School
11 Interlaken Road
Lakeville, CT 06039
| | Course Enrollments, Textbooks, and Student Schedules | | The Academic Life Office is currently building the 2025-26 academic schedule. They will send an update in the coming weeks when initial course enrollments are available in Veracross, along with pertinent instructions for textbook ordering. They will also communicate with students who have conflicts in their schedules or need to make changes. Initial class schedules for students will be available in Veracross on Sept. 4, 2025. Please note that student schedules may continue to change for the first two weeks of the term in order to balance course sections and meet the needs of all students. | | Hotchkiss Welcomes New Dining Service | | |
Over the course of several months last winter and spring, a committee representing many areas of School life interviewed several food service management companies. After this thorough process, including extensive visits to other schools' dining halls, we are pleased to share the news that the CulinArt Group will be our food service management company for the foreseeable future.
In selecting CulinArt, we considered the following priorities: daily food quality and variety; a commitment to Fairfield Farm, sustainability, and local food procurement; high-caliber and affordable catering services; an understanding of regional challenges and opportunities that come from being in a rural area; the ability to transition into the new Dining Commons; and a proven track record at other schools.
We are excited about the opportunities with CulinArt that lie ahead!
Click here to read a welcome letter from Denee Hinman, the new general manager.
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Required Summer Reading Reminder
A complete list of required summer reading assignments was sent via email to students and their families on June 28 (books by class level and the All-School reading assignment).
Click here for a copy of the mailing.
Please note: students are responsible for purchasing their own copies of the required book assignments.
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2025-26 Required Proxy Due ASAP
As part of enrollment, all families are asked to identify an adult who is able to come to Hotchkiss on short notice to pick up their student in the event the School needs to close campus, or their student becomes ill or otherwise needs to be off campus for unexpected medical, safety, disciplinary, or other reasons. Whether the designated adult is a parent/guardian or an alternative emergency contact, this identified person should be someone available to come to campus within 24 hours and assume care of and responsibility for the student.
We recognize that identifying an emergency contact may be challenging for some families. Therefore, as a courtesy to our families, information about community-based resources that may be available to assist families in these types of situations is provided.
Click here for more information and to access the 2025-26 Proxy Form.
Questions may be directed to Carissa Clapper in the Deans' Office (860-435-3189).
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2025-26 Required Health Forms are Due
Attention all families! The Health Center staff requests your assistance in completing the required health forms as soon as possible. Click here for more information.
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Laundry Options for 2025-26
There are laundry machines in the basements of Buehler, Dana, Garland, Edelman, Flinn, Memorial, Redlich, Tinker, Watson, and Wieler dorms. The use of machines by students is free of charge, but students need to provide their own laundry supplies (soap, dryer sheets, etc.).
An optional laundry and dry cleaning service, E&R (the Campus Laundry), is located in the basement of Tinker Hall. Click here for information. Please note there is a fee for this privately arranged service.
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Student Activities - Required Waiver
Throughout the school year, Hotchkiss contracts with an outside vendor to provide amusements for students. These amusements are supervised by Hotchkiss and vendor employees and include, but are not limited to, the following: bounce house, mechanical bull, dunk tank, inflatable water slide, laser tag, obstacle course, and haunted house.
Students in all grades are invited to participate and must have a “Hotchkiss: Participant Waiver and Release of Liability 2025-26" on file with the company.
ACTION REQUIRED: Students over 18 or the parent/guardian of a student of minor age are asked to log into Veracross and click on the coral-colored "2025-26 Student Activities Waiver" button to complete the digital waiver.
Questions may be directed to Marcie Wistar P'26,'29, director of student activities.
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Campus Carnival T-Shirts
The Senior Class Council is selling t-shirts to celebrate the 2026 Campus Carnival and help fundraise for class events! Please support us by purchasing one of these amazing shirts. The shirts will be shipped directly to campus and will be available for pick up at the Carnival. If you like the shirt, like the seniors, or just want to donate to the Class of 2026, please consider doing so!
Thank you!
--Your Senior Class Presidents and Senior Class Council
Click here to purchase your t-shirt! The sale will end Monday, Aug. 11 to allow time for production and shipment prior to the Campus Carnival. Please note, there is no ability to make purchases beyond this date.
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How to Ship Items to Campus
If you are shipping items or supplies to campus, please do not send packages until Aug. 22. (We accept packages sent via all common carriers—e.g., U.S. mail, UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.)
Please send mail and packages to students (using their legal name if possible) at this address:
Student's Name (First and Last)
The Hotchkiss School
11 Interlaken Road
Lakeville, CT 06039
Any shipped parcel or package will be available for student pick-up at the Hotchkiss Post Office during Orientation. Please note the School does not deliver packages directly to dorm rooms.
Questions for the Hotchkiss Post Office? Call (860) 435-3299.
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2025-26 Student Transportation Schedule
Hotchkiss offers shuttle transportation before and after most School breaks. Reservations are available for purchase approximately four weeks before each break begins. Transportation schedule information and reservation instructions will be included in each month’s Family Update.
The first School break is Family Weekend, Oct. 10-14. Reservations for return transportation from New York City on Oct. 14 will be available beginning in mid-September, and students will receive information and instructions at that time.
If you have questions, please contact Laurie Grusauski.
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For the Class of 2026: Click here for fall testing information.
For the Class of 2027: Click here for PSAT information.
AP Exam Registration Information
Advanced Placement exams will be administered May 4-8 and May 11-15, 2026. All AP exams are optional. College Board/AP requires registration and payment in the fall. Detailed registration information and instructions will be included in the September Family Update.
| | Upcoming Family Gatherings | | |
2025 Hotchkiss Welcome Events
Receptions to welcome new and returning Hotchkiss students and their families are being held this summer in several locations.
If you haven't already done so, please visit Welcome to Hotchkiss 2025 for more information on dates, times, and registration.
Family Weekend 2025—Save the Date: October 10-11
Mark your calendars and plan to join us for a fun-filled weekend with your student! Family Weekend 2025 will offer multiple ways to engage with the School, including attending classes. More schedule and registration details will be shared in September. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact Lisa Brown, chief of staff to the head of school, at (860) 435-3188.
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