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Upcoming School Breaks: What You Need to Know
Long Winter Weekend (Feb.1-5)
Students may depart on Thursday, Feb. 1 at noon and must return by 10 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 5.
Boarding students who plan on leaving campus at any point during Long Winter Weekend should have their absence request submitted no later than Thursday, Jan. 25.
Bus reservations are available until Jan. 18 (students have been sent the reservation request form and reminders). Click here for transportation schedules.
If you have a transportation question, please email Laurie Grusauski.
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March Break (March 8-25)
March Break Absence Requests—PARENT ACTION NEEDED
Students may depart after classes end on Friday, March 8 at 3:30 p.m.
Absence request forms for ALL students must be submitted by Friday, March 1 through the Veracross Parent Portal.
- Click “Submit Absence Request.”
- Choose “Multi-Day Absence” then select the reason “Other.” Enter the departure date and the return date. Please include the departure time and the return time within the notes section.
- If the travel details do not adhere to the departure and arrival guidelines, you and/or your student will be contacted by the class dean.
If there are any questions, please email excuse@hotchkiss.org.
March Break Transportation
Bus reservations will be offered Feb. 8-22 by completing a registration form, which will be emailed to students (note: parents will not have access to the reservation form). Reservations are required and cancellations after Feb. 22 are non-refundable. After the Feb. 22 reservation deadline, late requests will be processed only if seats are available, and a late fee of $5 will be assessed.
Buses will be offered on both March 8 (at 4 p.m.) and March 9 (at 8 a.m.). Click here for transportation schedules.
Unaccompanied Minors: If your student is not yet 16 years of age and is traveling by air, we suggest that you check with your travel agent before booking flights to see if any restrictions are in place with respect to underage children traveling alone. Some airlines have more restrictive policies than others and demand a higher level of services for unaccompanied minors. Please note that the School does not provide escort services to or from airports. If you need special services, please call one of our area car services to make arrangements. If you have any questions, please call the Deans’ Office at (860) 435-3739 or, after hours, the Dean on Duty at (860) 435-2591.
If you have transportation reservation questions, please contact Laurie Grusauski via email.
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Graduation 2024: Important Details
We look forward to celebrating the Class of 2024 on Thursday, May 30 and Friday, May 31. Please click here for more information about the 2024 Graduation and other important details. Lodging arrangements should be made early as the local hotels and inns fill up very quickly. For all other graduation-related inquiries, please contact Lisa Brown at (860) 435-3188.
Hotchkiss Class Rings
Balfour, the School's official class ring supplier, will be on campus Thursday, Feb. 15 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Each ring features the Hotchkiss seal, and your student's full name or initials are engraved inside. Click here for detailed information.
Students will be able to see a complete set of ring samples and metals offered on the Feb. 15 order day. Please encourage them to stop by if interested!
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Important Family Announcements | |
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Does Your Student Have New Health Insurance Coverage for 2024?
If you have new health insurance coverage for 2024, please upload a copy of the front and back of the new insurance card, along with the name and date of birth of the policy subscriber, to the Health Center Portal.
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2024-25 Enrollment and Tuition Refund Insurance Information
Please see the notable updates below to the re-enrollment contracts that will be going out at the end of February.
If you have any questions, please email studentaccounts@hotchkiss.org.
Domestic Students: Payment for tuition and mandatory fees must be paid in full on or before June 1, 2024, unless you enroll in the two-installment or 10-month payment plans through FACTS Tuition Management. The two-installment plan requires payment of 60% of the total fees due on or before June 1, 2024 with the remaining 40% due Nov. 1, 2024. The 10-month payment plan requires payment in 10 installments beginning June 1, 2024. Please note that participation in the Tuition Refund Insurance Plan is mandatory if you choose the two-installment or 10-month payment plans.
International Students: Students with a permanent residence outside of the United States are required to pay total fees in full on or before June 1, 2024 regardless of whether you elect to participate in the Tuition Refund Insurance Plan.
The Tuition Refund Insurance Plan (“The Plan”) will be offered again for the 2024-25 school year. Enrollment in this plan is mandatory for domestic families signing up for the two-installment or 10-month payment plan. Domestic and international families who sign up for the single payment option will have the option to opt in or out of The Plan while completing the enrollment contract. If full payment is not received by June 1, 2024, families will automatically be enrolled in The Plan. The cost of The Plan is 1% of the net tuition. This will be billed upon selection of your payment plan in FACTS Management. Click here for additional details.
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Livestream Event Recordings
In case you were unavailable to watch or should you be interested in viewing again, below you will find the links to the recent All-School events livestreamed for parents/guardians:
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Hotchkiss in the World
Although summer is months away, now is the time to make plans!
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On Friday, Jan. 19, we will have our annual Summer and Gap Year Opportunity Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Feb. 7 is the application deadline for several Hotchkiss travel programs.
Please find more information below, and reach out to David Thompson P'27, director of international programs, with questions.
Summer and Gap Year Fair
We will have 10 organizations represented in the main hallway, and we hope that your student will learn more about the different opportunities, and then discuss them with you.
In Advance of the Fair
Read through the descriptions of the attending programs and visit the websites of those that look interesting.
Resources to Research Travel Opportunities
Applying to Hotchkiss Summer Programs: Deadline Approaching!
Feb. 7 is the deadline for the following opportunities:
- Hotchkiss Music in Spain
- Watson Family Civic Engagement Scholarship (for lower mids)
- Round Square International Conference in Colombia, September 2024 (current preps and lower mids)
More details on the programs, applications, and information about grants to support this travel are available here:
Hotchkiss Off-Campus Programs Applications
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Mischianza Memo: Order Congratulatory Ads and Yearbooks Now!
The deadline for Class of 2024 portraits and congratulatory ads is April 15.
Each member of the Class of 2024 receives a complimentary yearbook. Upper mids, lower mids, and preps (or seniors/PGs who want a second copy) may order directly from Herff Jones.
Visit the Mischianza webpage for links and info.
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January is an exciting time in the College Advising Office, where we remain actively engaged with our seniors while embarking on a new journey with the upper mids. While this means managing two cohorts of students for each college advisor, this moment signifies the conclusion of one cycle and the commencement of a new and exciting journey.
Seniors: College advisors will be submitting midyear reports and first-semester transcripts throughout the month. Seniors are encouraged to continue to check their applicant portals and, if any materials are missing, to connect with their college advisor. Additionally, as seniors receive admissions decisions, it is important they keep their college advisor updated.
For seniors applying for need-based financial aid, the new 2024-25 FAFSA form launched at the start of the new year. Unfortunately, the roll-out has not been smooth, so if students or parents run into issues, the College Office is available to assist.
Upper Mids: Following a kick-off class meeting, upper mids received their college advisor assignment through email on Friday, Jan. 12. The Upper Mid College Forum will take place on Saturday, Jan. 20. Admissions representatives from UCLA, Middlebury College, Princeton University, University of Richmond, Smith College, and Washington University in St. Louis will join the College Advising Office in a comprehensive program that will serve as an introduction to the college search and application process. Additionally, on the Thursday before the Forum, a student panel will be held via Zoom where students and parents can hear from current Hotchkiss seniors discussing their college search experience. Check your emails for further details about these programs and registration information.
Lower Mids and Preps: If you are looking to learn more about the ever-changing landscape of college admissions, here are some helpful books we recommend:
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Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions: From award-winning higher education journalist and New York Times bestselling author Jeffrey Selingo comes a revealing look from inside the admissions office–one that identifies surprising strategies that will aid in the college search.
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The Truth About College Admission: A Family Guide to Getting In and Staying Together: Authored by Rick Clark, director of college admission at Georgia Tech, and Brennan Barnard, an experienced high school counselor, this book helps families on the path to a positive college search and admissions experience.
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Fiske Guide to Colleges: For nearly 40 years, this guide has been the leading sources of information about 300+ institutions, including quotes from real students and insight you won’t find of college websites. The guide delivers an insider’s look at what it’s really like to be a student at the “best and most interesting” schools–so you can find the best fit.
Testing Information
Class of 2025: Click here for SAT and ACT Prep Options and Registration Information
2023-24 Standardized Test Dates
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Virtual Family Event—Save the Date!
Student Life Parent Discussion Series: Mid-Winter Check-In
Join members of the Deans' Office and administrative team as we summarize first semester and discuss major topics and foci for the second semester.
Tuesday, Feb. 6
8-9 p.m.
Please note a Zoom link will be sent to all families the day before the event.
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Bearcat Sightings
See what has been happening on campus by visiting the Hotchkiss Flickr albums. Be sure to check the albums regularly!
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