academic year 2014-15 - Williston Northampton School

Transcription

Student
Handbook
AC A D EM I C Y EA R 2 01 4-15
CONTACTS
HEAD OF SCHOOL
DEAN OF STUDENTS
Robert W. Hill III
529-3222 | [email protected]
Kathryn Noble, Dean
ASSOCIATE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Jeffrey W. Ketcham
ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL
David Koritkoski, Assistant Dean
Director of Advising and Housing
CLASS DEANS
Ann Pickrell
Christa Talbot Syfu ’98, Class of 2015
ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS
Kate Biddiscombe, Class of 2016
Glenn Swanson ’64
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Greg Tuleja, Academic Dean
Kimberly Evelti, Associate Academic Dean
Tina Berghoff, Academic Support Coordinator
ADMISSION AND FINANCIAL AID
Chris Dietrich, Director
ATHLETICS
Mark Conroy, Director
ADVANCEMENT
Eric Yates, Chief Advancement Officer
BUSINESS OFFICE
Charles McCullagh Jr., Chief Financial Officer
Jane Plumley, Controller
COLLEGE COUNSELING
Tim Cheney, Director
COMMUNICATIONS
Traci Wolfe, Director
DEAN OF FACULTY
Peter Valine, Dean
Matthew Spearing, Class of 2017
Matthew Sawyer, Class of 2018
DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENT PROGRAMS
Meg Valine
DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY
Michael Shelton
HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES
Kerry-Beth Garvey, Director
THE ROBERT PARKER CLAPP LIBRARY
Mary Paige, Director
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Jen Fulcher, Director
Andrew Syfu, Coordinator of Student Affairs
NINTH GRADE PROGRAM
Allison Marsland, Coordinator
Matt Sawyer, Coordinator
PARENT RELATIONS
Rachel Goldberg, Director
TECHNOLOGY
Andrew Shelffo, Chief Information Officer
Student
Handbook
ACA DE M I C Y E AR 2 01 4 -1 5
The Williston Northampton School Student Handbook is published and
distributed to members of the Williston Northampton School community
for the purpose of providing information on aspects of student and
campus life. Students, parents, faculty, administration, and staff should
all read and be familiar with the contents of this handbook, so that each
member of the community knows and understands the expectations of
students within our community. This handbook is not intended to create,
nor does it create, a contract or part of a contract in any way, including
but not limited to, between Williston Northampton School and any parent,
guardian, or student affiliated with or attending the school. Williston
Northampton School reserves the right to alter, amend, or modify the
policies and procedures in this handbook at any time before, during, or
after the school year.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Parent and Student Acknowledgement.......................................................4
Welcome to the School...............................................................................5
Mission Statement.....................................................................................6
Philosophy and Values................................................................................6
History of the School..................................................................................7
Diversity at Williston..................................................................................7
Non-Discrimination Statement..................................................................7
Cell Phones and Electronic Devices..........................................................20
Use of Alcohol, Drugs, and Tobacco..........................................................20
Sanctuary Policy....................................................................................... 21
Sexual Intimacy........................................................................................ 21
Safety Violations/Weapons on Campus..................................................... 21
Property Damage......................................................................................22
Search and Seizure...................................................................................22
Driving Privileges/Off-Campus Privileges.................................................22
Gambling.................................................................................................22
CHARACTER AND HONOR................................................. 8
DAILY LIFE AT SCHOOL.................................................... 23
Academic Honesty..................................................................................... 8
Cheating................................................................................................... 8
Plagiarism................................................................................................. 8
Consequences for Academic Dishonesty.................................................... 8
Advisors...................................................................................................23
School Day Schedule................................................................................24
Religious Services and Holidays................................................................24
Day Students............................................................................................24
International Students..............................................................................24
Early Dismissal.........................................................................................24
School Meetings and Assemblies..............................................................24
Van Pool Information...............................................................................25
Student Lockers.......................................................................................25
Dining Services........................................................................................25
INTRODUCTION....................................................................... 6
ACADEMIC PROGRAM......................................................... 9
Curriculum................................................................................................9
The Afternoon Program..............................................................................9
The Fine and Performing Arts Intensive Program.......................................9
Outside Endeavors/Waivers......................................................................10
Course Load and Homework....................................................................10
Special Studies.........................................................................................10
Add/Drop.................................................................................................10
Academic Expectations.............................................................................10
Tests and Assessments.............................................................................. 11
Grade Reports.......................................................................................... 11
Academic Honors..................................................................................... 11
Prizes and Awards ................................................................................... 11
Promotion Standards ............................................................................... 11
Academic Probation ................................................................................ 12
Standardized Testing ............................................................................... 12
Advanced Placement Courses .................................................................. 12
Summer Reading and Other Preparation ................................................. 12
College Counseling .................................................................................. 12
Graduation .............................................................................................. 12
SCHOOL RULES .....................................................................13
General Conduct...................................................................................... 13
Attendance and Absences......................................................................... 13
Medical Leave..........................................................................................14
Tardiness.................................................................................................. 15
Security.................................................................................................... 15
Dress Code and Appearance..................................................................... 15
Permission to Leave Campus During the Day...........................................16
Bullying, Harassment, and Intimidation...................................................16
Sexual Harassment................................................................................... 17
Hazing..................................................................................................... 17
Technology Basics.................................................................................... 17
Electronic Communications and Acceptable Use...................................... 17
Email.......................................................................................................20
RESIDENTIAL LIFE AT SCHOOL.................................... 26
Dormitory Living.....................................................................................26
What to Bring...........................................................................................26
What to Leave at Home............................................................................26
Rooms......................................................................................................26
Room Assignments...................................................................................27
Fire and Safety Drills................................................................................27
Dorm Visitations......................................................................................27
Guests......................................................................................................28
Hours.......................................................................................................28
Permission to Leave Campus....................................................................28
Off-Campus Travel and Visitations...........................................................29
Vacations..................................................................................................29
Campus Mailboxes...................................................................................30
Check Cashing.........................................................................................30
Travel Arrangements................................................................................30
Food Deliveries ........................................................................................30
GENERAL SCHOOL INFORMATION..............................31
Accreditation........................................................................................... 31
Governance.............................................................................................. 31
Family-School Communication................................................................ 31
Students Turning 18 Years of Age............................................................. 31
Parent-Teacher Communication and Conferences.................................... 31
Background Checks.................................................................................. 31
Current Family Contact Information........................................................32
Dual Households......................................................................................32
Pets on Campus........................................................................................32
Parking/Drop-off and Pick-Up..................................................................32
Student Records and Transcripts..............................................................32
Student Center.........................................................................................32
Lost and Found.........................................................................................33
School Supplies and Books.......................................................................33
Sammy Card and Button Bucks................................................................33
Gift Giving...............................................................................................33
LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY.......................................
SERVICE.................................................................................... 34
Student Council.......................................................................................34
Work for Williston Program......................................................................35
Student Activities and Organizations........................................................35
Fundraising..............................................................................................35
SPECIAL EVENTS ................................................................. 36
School-Sponsored Social Events...............................................................36
School Gatherings Off Campus (Not Sponsored by School)......................36
Family Weekends and Visits.....................................................................36
Supervised Home Visits............................................................................36
School Trips.............................................................................................37
Special Overnight Trips............................................................................37
Dances.....................................................................................................37
STUDENT HEALTH AND WELLNESS..................................
SERVICES.................................................................................. 46
Health and Wellness Staff.........................................................................46
Health and Wellness Services Hours of Operation....................................46
Orientation..............................................................................................46
Health and Wellness Education................................................................46
Heath Records, Regulations, and Access...................................................46
Health Insurance......................................................................................46
Medications at School..............................................................................47
Medication Management.........................................................................47
Food Allergies..........................................................................................47
Asthma Management.............................................................................. 48
Reproductive Health............................................................................... 48
Emergencies............................................................................................ 48
Personal Safety, Harrassment, Bullying and Violence............................... 48
Parental Notification............................................................................... 48
Substance Abuse Testing and Treatment Referrals................................... 48
Head Injuries and Concussions.................................................................49
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES..................................... 50
Loan Period..............................................................................................38
Returns and Renewals .............................................................................38
Interlibrary Loan......................................................................................38
Conduct...................................................................................................38
Academic Accommodations.....................................................................50
Academic Support Plans...........................................................................50
The Math Resource Center.......................................................................50
The Writing Center..................................................................................50
Outside Testing/Evaluation......................................................................50
Mental Health Counseling........................................................................ 51
Confidentiality......................................................................................... 51
Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting.......................................................... 51
ATHLETICS............................................................................... 39
PARENTAL COMPORTMENT............................................ 52
Medical & Academic Responsbilities for Participation..............................39
Commitment............................................................................................39
Athletic Clothing and Equipment.............................................................39
Game Day Information.............................................................................39
Additional Expenses.................................................................................40
Sportsmanship.........................................................................................40
Medical and Other Excuses......................................................................40
Communication.......................................................................................40
Discipline.................................................................................................40
Parental Comportment and Support for School Policies...........................52
DISCIPLINE GUIDELINES...................................................41
SCHEDULE & HOURS.......................................................... 56
General....................................................................................................41
Disciplinary Action..................................................................................41
Disciplinary Terms and Process................................................................42
Discipline Committee..............................................................................43
College Reporting.....................................................................................44
Attendance and Decorum Units...............................................................44
Behavioral Expectations While Away From Campus.................................45
Parent Involvement..................................................................................45
Non-Continuation....................................................................................45
Upper School Schedule............................................................................56
Travel Dates.............................................................................................58
THE ROBERT PARKER CLAPP LIBRARY................... 38
MIDDLE SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT................................... 53
Academics................................................................................................53
Facilities and Services..............................................................................54
Community Expectations and Rules.........................................................54
Communications......................................................................................55
Middle School Hours...............................................................................55
Middle School Offices..............................................................................55
APPENDIX A: PROHIBITION AGAINST...........................
HAZING...................................................................................... 60
PARENT AND STUDENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This form acknowledges that we understand that, as Williston Northampton School students and parents, we are asked to support the
school and its mission and to acquaint ourselves with and abide by the school’s policies and procedures.
We understand that this handbook is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to create, nor does it create, a contract or part of
a contract in any way, including but not limited to, between Williston Northampton School and any parent, guardian, or student affiliated
with or attending the school. We further understand that Williston Northampton School reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to add,
revise, and/or delete school policies before, during, and after the school year.
Our signatures below indicate that we have reviewed and familiarized ourselves with the contents of the 2014-2015 Williston
Northampton School Student Handbook and agree to abide by the school’s policies and procedures, as outlined in the handbook.
Parent/Guardian Signature
Date
Parent/Guardian Signature
Date
Student Signature(s) – All students must sign
Date
Date
Date
Print Student/Students’ First and Last Name
Please sign, print the last name of your child(ren), and return this form by September 2014.
4 2013-14 Student Handbook
WELCOME TO THE SCHOOL
Welcome to a new school year at the Williston Northampton
School! The Student Handbook is a guide to our community’s core
values and the corresponding expectations that we place not only
on our students, but on all of our community members.
While it bears the title of Student Handbook, this guide is a
resource for all parents, students, and adult members of our
community. It outlines our school rules and discipline procedures;
it also conveys the values and beliefs that are the cornerstones of
all of our interactions as members of the Williston community.
You will find that the values of respect, responsibility, trust,
integrity, and honesty are embodied in the expectations of conduct
that we have at Williston.
Through each student’s personal initiatives and challenges, we
become a thriving community of learners and friends who grow
from sharing each other’s talents and strengths. For students,
we encourage you to take advantage of the many opportunities
for personal growth and learning that will be afforded you in the
upcoming months. The possibilities are endless. Expand your circle
of experiences, both in and out of the classroom, and develop new
and meaningful relationships with both students and adults alike.
Please note that this handbook applies to both the Middle
and Upper Schools; however, there is a supplement at the end
of the handbook that highlights policies and procedures that
are just applicable to the Middle School. If a policy is not
mentioned in the Middle School section, then students and
parents should look to the main part of the handbook for
guidance on a particular issue.
Pursue those areas where you will thrive and have success; explore
the unknown and try new activities that may challenge you. All of
us at Williston look forward to your arrival on campus and to being
available to assist you in the coming year.
See you around campus!
Robert W. Hill III
Head of School
2014-15 Student Handbook 5
INTRODUCTION
MISSION STATEMENT
The school’s values are encapsulated by these tenets:
The Williston Northampton School inspires students to live with
purpose, passion, and integrity.
• Academic Excellence: Williston recognizes that academic
excellence is an essential component of a valuable boarding
school experience. We promote excellence and achievement
in and out of the classroom by encouraging our community
of learners to accept and engage in intellectual challenge. We
set the highest standards for teaching, learning, creativity, and
scholarship within and across disciplines.
PHILOSOPHY AND VALUES
The school’s philosophy comprises the tenets of respect for self and
others, responsibility and trust, and honesty and integrity, as more
fully described below.
RESPECT FOR SELF AND OTHERS
Respect and responsibility are two values essential to life within the
school community, as well as to the democratic society of which we
are a part.
Respect means having regard for, and paying attention to, the
welfare and rights of others, in addition to protecting one’s own
well being. The school strives to maintain a community free
from all forms of intimidation and harassment and expects every
individual to be treated with respect, sensitivity, and compassion.
The school believes further that the quality of the life and work we
share together is enriched by generosity of spirit, civility, a positive
attitude, and the kind of consideration for others that goes well
beyond respect alone.
RESPONSIBILITY AND TRUST
All communities depend upon trust to function well. We must be
able to rely upon each other to keep our promises and to accept
responsibility for our mistakes when we fall short. When a student
enrolls at Williston, the school expects that both the student and
his or her parents will adhere to the values and the more specific
rules of the school as they are outlined in this handbook. While
there are consequences for failing to observe the rules of the school,
as an educational institution we understand that young people
make mistakes and that important learning can come from dealing
responsibly and thoughtfully with one’s missteps.
HONESTY AND INTEGRITY
Each member of the community is expected to prize the integrity
of his or her own word. Giving false or deceptive information
in any circumstances casts serious doubt on that integrity and is
considered an especially grave affront to the community.
• Individuality: Williston values individual growth and
expression as a way to create an authentic, diverse, and dynamic
community. We expect students and faculty to develop, share
and pursue their unique passions and interests. Williston
supports personal development and self-discovery by promoting
meaningful participation in a wide array of academic, artistic,
community service, and athletic programs.
• Responsibility: Williston believes responsibility begins
with personal integrity and self-respect and extends to our
relationships with others. We work to instill qualities such
as fairness, honesty, empathy, and generosity of spirit in our
students and faculty in order to develop their leadership and to
make meaningful contributions within and beyond our school
boundaries.
• Community: Williston cultivates strong relationships on many
levels, student-to-student, student-to-teacher and teacherto-teacher, leveraging the boarding school model to create a
vibrant and genuine experience for students. We are proud of
our unassuming community that encourages engagement and
service, embraces diversity of thought, and promotes strong
stewardship of the rights and responsibilities of the school.
• Collaboration: Williston views collaboration as an essential
skill that is both relevant and necessary for today’s world. By
developing students’ abilities to collaborate with each other, with
teachers, and with the greater community, Williston helps them
gain a broader and more applicable context for learning. We
actively seek out partnerships in our community, including the
outstanding colleges and universities surrounding our campus,
to augment our school environment.
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL
The Williston Northampton School came into existence in 1971
with the merging of Williston Academy and Northampton School
for Girls.
Williston Seminary was founded in 1841 on a campus located
on Main Street in Easthampton by industrialist and philanthropist
Samuel Williston. The school was coeducational until 1864 and
changed its name to Williston Academy in 1924. From 1916 forward
the school operated on two campuses: the “Old Campus” on Main
Street, and the “New Campus” at the present location.
In 1951 operations were consolidated onto the “New Campus.”
The school underwent two decades of expansion and improvement
in the 1950s and 1960s.
Northampton School for Girls, which opened in 1924 on Pomeroy
Terrace in Northampton, was founded by Sarah B. Whitaker and
Dorothy M. Bement, former teachers at the Capen School for Girls
in Northampton. The two schools shared musical, dramatic, and
social activities. They merged for the academic year 1971-72.
and perspectives. The committees endorse a broad definition of
diversity, and seek to provide programs and resources that enhance
knowledge and encourage understanding of diversity. The adult
Diversity Committee is comprised of members of the faculty, staff,
administration, and Five College interns and reflects the scope
of cultural identities in our community. The student Diversity
Committee works in collaboration with the adult Diversity
Committee, and is largely responsible for setting the vision and
programming for the year, including the Diversity Conference.
Both committees are chaired by the director of diversity.
NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
Williston admits qualified students of any race, color, national or
ethnic origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, class, family
structure, or disability to all the rights, privileges, programs, and
activities generally accorded or made available to students at the
school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national
or ethnic origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, class, family
structure, or disability in the administration of its educational,
admissions, scholarship and loan, athletic, and other programs.
DIVERSITY AT WILLISTON
In accordance with the school’s mission, there are two Diversity
Committees on campus dedicated to actively creating a community
culture that is respectful, aware of all individuals, approaches,
CHARACTER AND HONOR
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As an academic institution, the school values academic honesty
and expects a student’s work to be his or her own. If students
find technical aspects of academic source citation and plagiarism
confusing, it is their responsibility to seek assistance to correct
misunderstanding and to represent their use of print, electronic,
and human resources accurately. The improper giving or receiving
of academic information may be considered by the school to
be cheating.
asked BEFORE a particular work is turned in to be graded. The use
of translation websites is prohibited by the Language Department.
CONSEQUENCES FOR ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Students who give or receive information or otherwise cheat
on quizzes, tests, or exams will be disciplined and are subject to
suspension, separation, or dismissal from the school.
NINTH OR TENTH GRADE
CHEATING
Cheating is not tolerated.
First offense: The student meets with the academic dean, the
teacher, and the advisor. The assignment typically receives a grade
of zero and a written warning is sent to the student and his or her
parents.
ELEVENTH OR TWELFTH GRADE
PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty. Using someone else’s
ideas, words, phrases, and/or designs without giving credit is prohibited. All work that is turned in (be it written, oral, artistic, or
programmed for a computer) should be the student’s own, except
where otherwise credited. Students are sometimes encouraged to
make references to other works, but these references (including
individual ideas, words, phrases, and/or designs) must be credited
properly. Material used from Internet sites must be credited in the
same way as any other reference source. Any outside help (sources,
proofreading, typing, or copying by another) that a student has used
in preparation for a written, oral, or artistic work should be noted
as such BEFORE the assignment is turned in for a mark. Similarly,
any questions that a student might have about plagiarism should be
First offense: In addition to the response above for 9th and 10th
graders, the student is placed on probation. As in all serious
disciplinary issues, any student may request that the discipline
committee hear the case.
It is well understood by the Academic Office that students might
engage in objectionable academic behavior without intending to
mislead the teacher or to subvert the integrity of the academic
program. The academic dean is responsible for making these judgments and evaluations, and for administering consequences for
violations of academic honesty.
ACADEMIC PROGRAM
CURRICULUM
In order to receive a Williston diploma, a student must complete 57
academic credits in courses offered at the 9th through 12th grade
level. A full year course receives three credits and a trimester course
receives one credit. The 57 credits must include:
ENGLISH (12 CREDITS)
Each student must be enrolled in an English course during every trimester of attendance. English Language Learning (ELL) courses are
considered to be part of the English Department.
For returning students in both the Middle and Upper Schools, the
academic program is drawn up initially by the student and the student’s faculty advisor, and then reviewed by the department heads
and the academic dean. Students are advised to talk with their
teachers about course choices and placement, and parents are urged
to participate early in the process through consultation with the faculty advisor in April and May. Please check the distribution requirements of particular college in which students may be interested, as
requirements and recommended course programs vary.
THE AFTERNOON PROGRAM
MATHEMATICS (9 CREDITS)
These must include Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II; most students go beyond these requirements.
SCIENCE (6 CREDITS)
Three credits must be a full year of life science (Biology or
Environmental Science) and three credits must be a full year of
physical science (Physics or Chemistry); most students go beyond
these requirements.
LANGUAGE (6 SEQUENTIAL CREDITS)
Each student must complete at least six credits in the same language during grades 9–12; most students take at least a third year.
Students for whom English is not a first language need not fulfill
credits in this department.
HISTORY AND GLOBAL STUDIES (8 CREDITS)
Three credits must be taken in U.S. History. Three- and four-year
students must take World Civilizations in the 9th or 10th grade. For
two-, three-, and four-year students, at least one credit must be selected from among the religion and philosophy courses (6700 level).
Most students go beyond these requirements.
The Afternoon Program is an integral part of the Williston experience. All Upper School students, boarding and day, are required to
be involved in the program each trimester. Depending upon their
grade level, students choose either group or independent options.
Examples of group options include competitive athletics, dance,
technical theater, and winter drama production. Independent options provide opportunities for students to pursue activities through
the Fine or Performing Arts Intensive program. In recognition of
the importance of physical education, all group and independent options include an exercise component. Here is a review of the expectations for the various grade levels: 11th and 12th grade: minimum
of one group option; 9th and 10th grade: minimum of two group
options; 8th grade: must participate for two trimesters in two different group options; 7th grade: no required participation. It should be
noted that all new Upper School students must choose a group option in
the fall.
Students wishing to pursue any special project or exemption,
including an outside sport, sport specialization, academic- or artrelated endeavor, or any other type of project, must apply to the
Special Project Committee at least one week prior to the start of an
Afternoon Program trimester.
FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS (3 CREDITS)
Two-, three-, and four-year students must complete three credits.
Students are urged to select from offerings both in the studio/performance courses and in the humanities.
When a student enters Williston at the Upper School level, his or
her academic program is designed by the academic dean after review
of the student’s records and any notes made by an admissions officer
during the student’s interview.
THE FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS INTENSIVE PROGRAM
The Fine and Performing Arts Intensive Program exists to provide
opportunities and support for the serious musician, visual artist, or
theater technician/actor. In instances of demonstrated commitment,
a student may opt to spend one or two trimesters (depending on
class) engaged in arts activities in lieu of after-school sports.
OUTSIDE ENDEAVORS/WAIVERS
The school understands that it is inevitable that some students
may pursue interests off campus, athletic and otherwise, during
the school year. In general, it is school policy that students must
first meet their commitment to the Williston Afternoon Program.
Having said this, the school recognizes that there will be the occasional conflict. In such cases, it is critical that communication
take place between students and their Williston Afternoon Program
leader (coach, teacher) to avoid conflicts when possible. Questions
regarding this can be directed to the director of athletics. Waiver of
any diploma requirement may be granted only by the faculty upon
a recommendation made by a committee that includes the head of
school or his designated representative, the academic dean, the college counselor, and, when waiver of a specific course is involved, the
department head.
COURSE LOAD AND HOMEWORK
Students in grades 9-12 are expected to take five courses each trimester, and students should expect about 45 minutes of homework
in each class every day. Occasionally, a student might be permitted
to take six courses for a trimester, but a specific petition is required
for this. A six-course load is typically reserved for students on high
honors from the previous trimester.
DIRECTED STUDIES
Directed Studies are tutorial courses on special topics not included
in the regular curriculum. A student may plan a Directed Study with
a faculty member, but final approval of the proposal is granted by the
department head and the academic dean. The Directed Study must
be a fifth or sixth course and is evaluated on a pass/fail basis.
ADD/DROP
At the beginning of the fall trimester (for year-long courses) and at
the beginning of each trimester (for trimester electives), an Upper
School student may withdraw from a course, with the approval
of the teacher, advisor, and the academic dean. No record of the
course will appear on the student’s transcript if the withdrawal occurs before interim comments are recorded. With the exception
of these time periods, all withdrawals are recorded Withdrawn/
Passing or Withdrawn/Failing. Generally, no requests for withdrawal from a course may be considered or approved after interim
comments are recorded.
Except under the most unusual of circumstances, students may not
enter a course later than seven class days after the beginning of
the course. A change in course level, for example from French III
Honors to French III, would be an exception to this policy.
ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS
SPECIAL STUDIES
WILLISTON SCHOLARS
The Williston Scholars program allows students to pursue their
academic and creative passions and to apply their talents to a specific area of study. Each course in the Williston Scholars program
provides a group of students the opportunity to engage in rigorous
study for one trimester, followed by a second trimester of independent project work. The course component of the program is taught
by a Williston faculty member in close collaboration with professors, graduate students, researchers, and professionals from the
surrounding community. These courses are rigorous and the expectations are high as students prepare for the individual research they
will use to complete a comprehensive project as part of the curriculum. Projects are assessed at the end of the second trimester by a
faculty committee, including the supervising teacher, collaborating
community members, and the academic dean. Students whose projects are determined by the committee to be exceptional will receive
special recognition as a Williston Scholar in the department hosting
their course.
The following have been agreed upon by both students and faculty:
• Students will be held accountable only for assignments that are
assigned at the end of the class, or in unusual circumstances, before 7:30 p.m. of the same day, at the very latest.
• If a teacher is late to class, and the teacher has not informed the
students or some responsible adult regarding that lateness, then
the students will be permitted to leave the class after 15 minutes,
if at the start of the class period, they have made the lateness
known to the department head, another teacher in the department, or an available administrator, so that steps might be taken
to contact the teacher, and the class might be held.
• Excessive homework assignments should not be assigned during
the Thanksgiving, December, or Spring vacations. For regular
courses this entails no more than a single night’s assignment
and for AP classes no more than would normally be assigned for
two nights.
• Students who are excused from school for religious holidays, or
due to other legitimate circumstances, should expect that their
teachers will afford them a reasonable amount of time to com-
plete missed assignments, and when appropriate, enough one-onone time outside of class to get caught up.
• Teachers should limit their teaching to the assigned class period.
If unusual circumstances result in a teacher continuing a class
activity past the end of the class period, it should be the teacher’s
responsibility to issue and sign a late pass to any student who may
require one.
TESTS AND ASSESSMENTS
All courses have periodic, timed tests which are administered according to established schedules, standard time frames, and goals
appropriate to each course. Assessments at the end of each trimester
are one and a half hours long with required review classes scheduled
for subsequent assessments.
GRADE REPORTS
The school year consists of three trimesters with formal numerical
grades recorded at the end of each trimester. Interim comments for
some students may also be recorded at the midpoint of a particular
trimester. All interim and trimester grades and comments are made
available electronically to parents, students, and advisors.
Upper School trimester grades and interim comments will be posted
on WillyNet. Comments from teachers will also be posted in each
trimester for students whose grades are below 70. Letters from advisors are posted in December.
ACADEMIC HONORS
The passing and college recommending grade at Williston is 60.
Qualifications for Upper School honor roll are as follows:
• Honors: minimum grade point average of 87
• High Honors: minimum grade point average of 92
Honors designations are based on weighted trimester grade point
averages. All honors and advanced placement (AP) courses receive a
five-point bonus in the grade point average only.
• Cum Laude Society: The highest honor for a student is election
to the Cum Laude Society, a national organization that recognizes
high academic achievement in independent secondary schools.
Students eligible for election are those seniors who, in the judgment of the faculty membership, combine academic excellence
and achievement with honorable citizenship, sound character,
and active participation in school life.
PRIZES AND AWARDS
The Upper School awards numerous endowed book prizes for academic achievement at the awards assembly. Also presented at this
time are the major class prizes for outstanding achievement in
all areas of school life. These major prizes include: The Bowdoin
Book Prize (9th Grade); The Smith Book Award (9th Grade); The
Williams Book Prize (10th Grade); The Yale Book Prize (10th
Grade); The Harvard Book Prize (11th Grade); The Dartmouth Book
Prize (11th Grade); The Holy Cross Book Prize (11th Grade); The
Yale/Granniss Book Prize (11th Grade)
In addition to these prizes for underclassmen, 12 senior prizes
are awarded at graduation. The top three senior prizes are: the
Valedictory Prize for the first scholar of the class, the Archibald V.
Galbraith Prize for the outstanding senior boy, and the Sarah B.
Whitaker Award (the White Blazer) for the outstanding senior girl.
PROMOTION STANDARDS
For promotion from 9th to 10th grade, a student must have successfully completed 12 credits, including three credits in 9th-grade
English. For promotion from 10th to 11th grade, a student must have
successfully accumulated 27 credits, including three credits in 10thgrade English. For promotion from 11th to 12th grade, a student
must have successfully accumulated 42 credits, including three credits in 11th-grade English.
Diploma requirements also include: a passing grade in all courses
taken in the senior year; enrollment in five courses in the third trimester senior year, each worth one credit; enrollment at Williston
throughout the senior year and through graduation ceremonies;
positive citizenship; regular participation in the athletic program;
and satisfactory completion of the Senior Project, for those who
choose to do one.
Diplomas are granted on the voted recommendation of the faculty
prior to graduation, and then confirmed by vote of the Board of
Trustees.
ACADEMIC PROBATION
ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES
For any student with a full load of five courses, a trimester grade report that includes two grades lower than 70 or one grade lower than
60 will result in the status of academic probation. A student who
is carrying only four courses will be placed on academic probation
with one grade below 70. If the student’s grades at the end of the
following trimester are not sufficiently improved for removal from
academic probation status, the student will be permitted to continue
at Williston only at the discretion of the head of school and the academic dean. Each student who is placed on academic probation will
meet with his or her teachers, his or her advisor, and the academic
dean, to formulate a plan to assist the student. The student and his
or her parents will be notified promptly of the probation, as well as
the features of any assistance plan.
In May, the academic departments and the Middle School faculty
provide the academic dean with the names of those students who
are recommended for placement in honors and/or advanced placement (AP) sections. While every effort is made to respond to legitimate requests for specific courses and to keep students and parents
informed about the status of requests for honors and AP courses,
placement in these courses is ultimately made by the academic dean
in consultation with the academic department heads. All AP courses
follow approved syllabi, which prepare students for the AP exam in
May. Students who enroll in an AP course should expect to take the
AP exam. The cost of each AP exam in 2014 was $87.00.
SUMMER READING AND OTHER PREPARATION
Seniors, including postgraduates, who are in jeopardy of failing a
year-long course, or who have failed a first trimester course, may be
required to withdraw from the school at the end of the fall trimester.
STANDARDIZED TESTING
In mid-October, 10th and 11th grade students take the PSAT at
Williston. Williston will register students on campus before the
PSAT takes place. These tests are administered by Williston, as are
the AP exams, which are given in May. The SAT and ACT are recommended to be taken by 11th graders in the winter/spring, and most
students will take either test an additional one to two times into
the fall of their senior year. Many students also choose to take the
SAT Subject Tests to meet college application requirements in addition to the SAT, on a schedule similar to that of the SAT. Results of
the PSAT arrive in early December, at which time students are instructed to pick up their scores from the College Counseling Office
and bring them home for winter break. The College Counseling
Office recommends that students discuss their scores with their
parents over winter break and bring their results to their first college counseling meeting in January. At that point, an individualized
strategy can be developed for standardized testing. For the results of
the ACT and SAT, students must contact those testing companies directly. Please keep in mind that Williston only registers students for
the PSAT; the SAT and ACT must be registered by either students
or parents through their respective websites: www.actstudent.org,
www.sat.collegeboard.org.
During the summer, students should read both assigned books and
optional selections. Also, depending on their course selections for
the following year, some students will need to review additional materials to help them prepare for the coming year. Information about
these materials comes from the academic departments. If students
or parents have questions, department heads will be happy to help.
COLLEGE COUNSELING
The College Counseling Office provides both advice and information
to students and their families throughout the research, application,
and selection process. The counselors generally work not only in
close contact with students’ advisors, teachers, and coaches, but
also with admissions officers at colleges and universities in order to
help offices of admission receive the most complete image of each
student’s achievements and promise. The college counseling process
generally begins in the fall of 11th grade, when students take a PSAT
and then reflect on their results.
GRADUATION
Williston’s graduation provides a special opportunity for friends,
relatives, and their extended family to celebrate the unique gifts
of the graduating students. Attendance at graduation is a community event and as such a required not only for seniors, but for all
Upper School students. Graduation is a special, formal occasion.
Formal dress code is required for all Upper School students. The
required dress for graduates is white dresses for girls and dress
trousers and dark jackets and ties for boys. This year’s graduation
date is May 24, 2015.
SCHOOL RULES
GENERAL CONDUCT
Williston’s values of respect for self and others, responsibility and
trust, and honesty and integrity, inform the daily life of the school
and all of its members. Students may be subject to discipline for
misconduct which is, or may be, disruptive of the educational
process; interferes with the work of the school; is contrary to the
mission of the school; impinges on the rights of other students,
employees, or members of the school community; or has a direct
or immediate effect on the discipline or the general welfare of
the school, even if such conduct takes place off campus, during
non-school hours, or on breaks from school. Such conduct will
be evaluated at the sole discretion of the school, and the school
reserves the right to deviate from the regular disciplinary process as
may be deemed appropriate under the circumstances.
Student behavior off campus—whether a day student or boarder,
under any type of permission or during vacations—is subject to
disciplinary review. The school is well respected, and those who
conduct themselves in ways that diminish this reputation will be
held accountable.
Williston is committed to the physical and emotional well-being
of every student, and the rules that follow reflect our understanding
of adolescents, their need for support and education, and the necessity of clear guidelines that govern behavior.
ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES
Attendance is expected at all scheduled classes, examinations, assemblies, athletic commitments, college counseling appointments,
etc. A student may be excused for reasons of illness or injury, but
the student must go to Health and Wellness Services as soon as
possible to obtain this permission and, under most circumstances,
will not be excused after the fact. When the school nurse or physician has determined that a student is well enough, the student is
required to be in attendance at school activities.
Students should understand that they must attend at least 50
percent of their classes if they expect to participate in athletic
or extracurricular activities later in the day. Health and Wellness
Services staff, coaches, deans, and activities directors will generally
not allow students to participate in after-school or evening activities if they have missed a significant part of the school day.
Williston takes meeting commitments very seriously. For any class
from which a student has an unexcused absence, the student will
receive a zero for any work due or completed during that class.
More specific expectations are described below.
CLASSES AND SCHOOL FUNCTIONS
Student attendance at classes and all school functions, including
assemblies, athletics, Health and Wellness Services workshops,
sit-down meals, work programs, college counseling appointments,
and Williston+ events is required. Failure to attend scheduled
commitments will result in specific consequences that will
include academic penalties for classroom absences. Students are
responsible for making up all academic work that is missed during
an absence; the school reserves the right to deny either academic
credit or a numeric grade to a student who misses 8 or more class
meetings for any individual course in a trimester.
WEEKENDS AND VACATIONS
Early departures for weekends or vacations, or late returns that
result in missed commitments, are strongly discouraged and may
be considered unexcused. Flights and other travel plans should be
made accordingly.
It is expected that parents will be responsible for arranging air
travel reservations and other transportation for their children,
while making certain that departures and arrivals fit with the
academic schedule. Students may not be excused from classes
for flights prior to the end of the final class on departure days or
for late returns at the end of vacations or long weekends without
express permission from the dean of students.
Vacations are scheduled to begin at the times printed on the school
calendar. Since assessments, tests, and important lessons are
scheduled, travel plans should not be made that require student
departures from school before the specified time, usually 1:00
p.m. Requests should not be made to change a student’s final
assessment schedule at the end of a trimester as doing so is very
difficult to arrange and may be to the student’s disadvantage. At
the end of the trimester, students may stay over one night for nextday flights. Vacations end at 7:30 p.m. on the day of return; travel
arrangements must be made to enable return by this hour.
Parents are strongly encouraged to arrange flights during peak
vacation periods several months in advance.
For international students, that travel arrangements should be
communicated directly to the director of international student
programs so that the school knows specific plans for each student.
PLANNED ABSENCES
For any planned absences such as college visits, significant family
commitments, etc., parents should call the Dean’s Office to notify
the school of the planned absence well in advance of its occurrence.
The student should request a special absence form (blue sheet)
from the Dean’s Office and bring it to each teacher, coach, and
advisor for their signatures and to discuss what the student will be
missing due to the absence and necessary make-up work timetables.
When the form is complete, the student should submit the blue
sheet to the Dean’s Office for approval.
DAY STUDENT ABSENCES
If a day student is unable to attend school, a parent or guardian
should telephone the Dean’s Office by 8:30 a.m. to advise the
school of the absence. Students and parents are encouraged to arrange medical and other appointments after school hours, when
possible. If a student will miss class due to an appointment, a phone
call to the Dean’s Office prior to its occurrence is expected and appreciated.
of such conditions and generally require more treatment, support,
supervision, and guidance than a boarding school can provide. In
some situations, these conditions and behaviors may also create
undue disruption in the community and residential life of the
school. The school reserves the right to require a medical leave of
absence or separation in appropriate circumstances, as determined
by the school.
A voluntary or mandated medical leave may be authorized by
the medical director, director of Health and Wellness Services,
the dean of students, or the associate head of school in consultation with the director of psychological counseling services, the
academic dean, the dormitory head, and the advisor to address
physical and emotional illnesses that, in their judgment, cannot be
adequately treated in a school setting. These same individuals will
determine whether and under what conditions that student should
return to school.
Initially, students will be granted a medical leave and approved
absence from the school for no more than two weeks. During
this time, the dean of students and academic dean will notify the
teachers of the student’s absence. If appropriate, the student should
contact his or her teachers to continue course work from off campus
with the responsibility resting on the student to gather assignments.
MEDICAL-EXCUSES
During the school day, any student who is feeling ill should go to
Health and Wellness Services; medical excuses from class and other
commitments are issued only from Health and Wellness Services.
MAKE UP WORK
Students must take responsibility for work missed because of absences. Obtaining class notes from classmates and assignments from
teachers is the student’s responsibility. Students should be fully prepared for the next class, including taking quizzes or tests and handing in papers, unless there have been multiple class absences for
illness or other extenuating circumstances that would require extra
help from the teacher.
MEDICAL LEAVE
Understanding the nature and range of conditions that arise with
teenagers, the treatment for certain medical and psychological
conditions and behaviors must occur outside the boarding school
setting. Severe depression, eating disorders, suicide ideation or
attempts, self injury, and substance abuse disorders are examples
A “long-term medical leave” is any leave for health reasons of
more than two weeks and less than one academic year. Often
such a leave may be necessary for the student’s condition to be
adequately addressed and stabilized. The associate head of school,
dean of students, and academic dean will confer with teachers,
the dormitory head, and advisor to determine the academic
consequences of such a leave and will communicate this to the
student and parents.
In certain cases, however a “medical separation” from the school
for health reasons requiring more than one academic year may be
appropriate, either on a voluntary or mandated basis. This leave is
reserved for the student who has demonstrated efforts to adjust,
but for health reasons cannot meet the requirements of the school
community, either academically and/or socially. While this type
of leave involves the loss of a student’s place in the school, it is
distinguished from a withdrawal or dismissal as it leaves open the
possibility of return to the school.
TARDINESS
Students are expected to arrive on time for all classes, advisee
meetings, class meetings, assemblies, and other special programs.
Any student arriving late to school for any reason must check in
at the Schoolhouse before going to class. For day students, it is the
parent’s responsibility to contact the school to excuse the student,
otherwise, the tardiness will be considered unexcused. Students are
reminded that three occasions of tardiness in a class results in an
attendance unit.
SECURITY
Williston takes the safety of its students and the community very
seriously. The security manager is the direct contact for concerns
about safety and to report theft. There are systems in place in the
event of an emergency on campus, and regular drills are conducted
to make all those on campus aware of the procedures. While school
is in session, there is 24-hour security coverage.
In addition, the school provides an identification card to all
students, the “Sammy Card.” For more about the other uses of this
ID card, please contact the Business Office.
DRESS CODE AND APPEARANCE
The dress code is based on common sense, moderation, and respect
for self and others. The expectation is that all clothing be modest,
neat, clean, in good repair, and fit properly. When a student is
in doubt about whether a particular outfit or piece of clothing
conforms with the dress code, it is the student’s responsibility to
obtain an opinion from the Dean’s Office before wearing it.
Students who are not in dress code will not be admitted to class
and will be asked to return to their dorm or locker to change before
being admitted into class. While away from the classroom, they will
be responsible for all missed academic work and will not be given
additional time on assessments.
MALE SPECIFIC
Boys must wear collared shirts (dress or polo) or turtlenecks. All
shirts must be tucked in. No more than two top buttons may be
unbuttoned. Belts must be worn.
FEMALE SPECIFIC
Girls are permitted to wear skirts, dresses, pants or shorts, but
these must be no shorter than mid-thigh (no shorter than six inches
above the knee). Shirts with tails, such as dress oxfords, must be
tucked in. Dress shirts, turtlenecks, or tops specifically meant to be
untucked may be worn as long as the student’s midriff and back are
not exposed, and any shirt should not extend more than four inches
below the waist. No more than two top buttons may be unbuttoned.
THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT PERMITTED:
• Athletic attire including sweatshirts and/or items made of
sweatshirt material
• Flip-flops and sports sandals
• Exposed undergarments (underwear or bra straps)
• Cargo, athletic, military camouflage, drawstring, or carpenter
style pants or shorts
• Shirts with large or inappropriate print (in the sole discretion of
the school)
• T-shirts and tank tops
• Coats or jackets designed for outdoor use worn indoors to cover
unacceptable dress
• Hats or head coverings, including headbands and bandannas, in
buildings other than dormitories and the Athletic Center
• Strapless dresses, spaghetti strap dresses, and spaghetti strap tops
• Tube tops and midriff-baring tops
• Scoop neck and V-neck tops that are revealing
• Yoga pants or other spandex/lycra tight-fitting pants or shorts
STUDENT DRESS AFTER THE ACADEMIC DAY
At times other than during the academic day, the dress code is
relaxed, and sweatshirts and clean athletic-style clothing may be
worn. However, during all times, no clothing may be worn which
advertises anything inconsistent with school rules (for example,
alcohol) and underwear may not be visible.
FORMAL CLOTHING
ACADEMIC DAY DRESS
Academic day dress is worn throughout the campus (including
the Reed Campus Center) from 8:20 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on Mondays,
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays; until 12:25 p.m. on Wednesdays
and on class Saturdays.
Formal or dress clothing is required for formal dinners and for
formal school gatherings, many athletic trips, and some off-campus
excursions. Dress clothing for boys means suits or sport jackets with
dress slacks, dress shirts and ties (or turtlenecks), and shoes and
socks. Dress clothing for girls means dresses, blouses with pants
or skirts, and shoes. Jeans and sneakers are considered informal
clothing and are inappropriate for any student on these occasions.
PERMISSION TO LEAVE CAMPUS DURING THE DAY
Permission for boarding students to leave Williston and travel
beyond the campus boundaries during the academic day or on
a weekend day is dependent on which option is selected by a
student’s parents. Campus boundaries include the Williston campus
and the downtown Easthampton area bordered by Route 141 and
Nini’s Restaurant to the east, Williston Avenue to Nonotuck Park
to Galbraith Fields to the east and south, the traffic rotary to the
north, and Route 10 to the west.
Traveling into town and within campus boundaries during the
academic day and on weekend days is allowed. All students must
sign out and sign back in either their dormitory or at the reception
area in Schoolhouse.
At all times, if a student desires to travel outside of campus
boundaries, permission must be obtained by either the student
1) contacting the Dean’s Office or the dean on duty to obtain
permission just prior to travel or 2) planning ahead and completing
a permission to travel form in the Dean’s Office, which would be
approved at that time and well ahead of time of the departure
from campus. In addition, boarding students must sign out in their
dormitory and their itinerary must be consistent with their parental
permissions to travel which are on file. The information provided by
the student to the Dean’s Office will include the destination, time
of departure, time of return, mode of transportation, and driver, if
traveling by car. This information is similar to that solicited by most
parents in their own homes and has been instituted so that the
school has knowledge of students’ whereabouts when traveling off
campus independently of any school-sponsored activity or trip.
When planning day departures, students are expected to meet all
school commitments—academic, athletic, or extracurricular—and
plan accordingly. If a student’s plans change and he or she will
not be able to arrive back on campus at the expected return time,
he or she must call the dean on duty to discuss the situation. As
a general rule, 9th graders and 10th graders should not expect to
receive permission to travel beyond campus boundaries during the
academic week unless there are extenuating circumstances. Parents
should select one of the options below:
• Option 1: Has permission to travel beyond campus boundaries
to any destination at the dean on duty’s discretion.
• Option 2: Has permission to travel beyond campus boundaries
only to Northampton at the dean on duty’s discretion. For all
other travel, the student’s parent or guardian must be contacted
for permission.
• Option 3: Must obtain parent/guardian’s specific permission to
sign out for any day permission.
BULLYING, HARASSMENT, AND INTIMIDATION
Bullying, harassing, or intimidating behavior in any form is
prohibited by the school and will not be tolerated.
Massachusetts law defines “bullying” and/or “cyber-bullying” broadly, as the use by one or more students of a written, verbal, or electronic expression, or a physical act or gesture, or any combination
thereof, directed at another student that has the effect of:
• causing physical or emotional harm to the other student or
damage to the other student’s property
• placing the other student in reasonable fear of harm to himself/
herself or of damage to his or her property
• creating a hostile environment at school for the other student
• infringing on the rights of the other student at school
• materially and substantially disrupting the education process or
the orderly operation of a school.
“Cyber-bullying,” defined as bullying undertaken through the use of
technology or any electronic means, is explicitly prohibited under
the law.
The proscription against bullying extends beyond school grounds
to school-sponsored and school-related activities, functions, and
programs; school bus stops; school buses and other vehicles owned,
leased, or used by the school; and school computers and other
technologies.
Bullying at a location or function that is not school-related, or
via technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased,
or used by the school, is also prohibited if the bullying creates a
hostile environment for the victim while he or she is at school. For
instance, a student who sends a harassing text message to another
student will be considered to have engaged in bullying if the
recipient of the text message is placed in reasonable fear of physical
harm while at school, even if the message was sent and received
outside of school hours and off school property.
Retaliation against a person who reports bullying, provides
information during an investigation of bullying, or witnesses or has
reliable information about bullying, is also prohibited.
Students should carefully review, in its entirety, the school’s Bullying
Prevention and Intervention Plan for additional details regarding
the school’s commitment to the prevention of such behavior. A copy
of the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan is posted on the
school’s website. Each student is required to abide by the plan.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Sexual harassment is a form of harassment that can sometimes be
difficult to identify and distinguish. Sexual harassment is defined as
unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, which can include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal,
nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. For instance, sexual harassment can include conduct such as: touching or grabbing
of a sexual nature; non-consensual sexual contact; making sexual
comments, jokes, or gestures; writing graffiti or displaying or distributing sexually explicit drawings, pictures, or written materials;
calling someone sexually charged names; spreading sexual rumors;
rating students on sexual activity or performance; sexual innuendo,
looks, or stalking; or circulating, showing, or creating emails or
websites of a sexual nature. Any student who believes that he or
she, or another student, is the victim of sexual harassment should
approach the student’s advisor or any other member of the faculty
or administration to report the behavior.
TECHNOLOGY BASICS
Williston recognizes the increasingly important role that
technology plays in the lives of our students and through the
Technology Department strives to provide exceptional technical
service and guidance to everyone in our community. The
Technology Department regularly collaborates with teachers,
staff, and students to ensure that technology on campus is used
appropriately and productively.
The Technology Department is located in the lower level of
Memorial Hall and is open during the week from 8:00 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m., and on class Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
INTERNET ACCESS
Williston’s wireless network covers all of the buildings on
campus, including the dormitories and academic buildings.
Students will be given directions on how to access the network
during Welcome Days.
DOCUMENT STORAGE
Each student receives 15GB of cloud storage through OneDrive,
as part of Williston’s Curricular Technology Initiative (CTI).
COPYING/PRINTING
Through Williston’s network, students have access to copying
and printing in the library and at various other locations around
campus.
CURRICULAR TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE COMPUTERS
HAZING
Hazing is a violation of school rules and of the Massachusetts
anti-hazing law. Hazing is defined as “any conduct or method
of initiation into any student organization, whether on public
or private property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the
physical or mental health of any student or person.” The school
strictly prohibits hazing in any form, by any school group, team,
club, or organization. Consent of the person being subjected to the
conduct is not a defense against a charge of hazing.
Each year, all students who are members of groups or organizations
at school (including athletic teams), athletic coaches, and activity
sponsors are required to acknowledge in writing that they have
received a document summarizing the Massachusetts anti-hazing
law. The text of this law is provided in Appendix A to this handbook
and on WillyNet.
As part of Williston’s CTI, every student is issued a 128 GB
Microsoft Surface Pro computer, keyboard, and stylus. The computer comes configured with the academic software that a student
will need for the school year.
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS AND ACCEPTABLE USE
How we use technology is an extension of how we wish to be
treated and how we wish to treat each other in our community.
Overall, employees and students should treat the School, the
people, and our network with respect. The Williston Northampton
community holds the values of honesty and respect for others in
high regard, and these values extend not only to our day-to-day,
face-to-face interactions with other community members, but also
to how we behave when we interact with others online, through
the use of social media or electronic devices. The purpose of this
Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is to outline the expectations of our
community members when it comes to the use of computers
and other electronic devices, the school’s computer network, and
access to the Internet, both on campus and outside of Williston’s
physical network.
Access to Williston Northampton’s network and related technical
support and services is provided to employees and students
primarily for work and educational purposes, though the school
understands that limited use of the school’s technology resources
for recreational activity may be appropriate. Employees and
students using these services, by virtue of using the services,
agree to abide by the guidelines outlined in this AUP, and to
any applicable policies and procedures outlined in the Employee
Handbook, the Faculty Addendum and the Student Handbook
(“Handbooks”). In general, the proper use of Williston’s network
and related technical support and services supports the goals of our
academic community, protects our community members, and helps
to ensure that the school and its employees and students comply
with all federal, state, and local laws.
While Williston Northampton respects the privacy of our
community members, it is important to understand that network
and technical support and services used by the community fall
under the school’s purview and are the property of the school. As a
result, the school reserves the right to access or monitor all network
activity and content (including email). The school also reserves
the right to confiscate both school-issued and personal devices or
otherwise restrict or revoke an employee’s or student’s technology
privileges if there is reasonable suspicion (as determined by the
school in its sole discretion) that the device has been used to violate
this AUP. Employees who violate the provisions of this AUP may be
subject to discipline by the head of school, chief financial officer,
chief information officer or any combination of these. Students
who violate the provisions of this AUP may be subject to discipline
through the Dean’s office.
This AUP describes behavioral expectations of employees and
students with regard to the use of technology, and is grounded in
the tenets of respect for privacy, ownership, and copyright; respect
for resources and for others; and respect for self and community, as
further described below.
RESPECT FOR PRIVACY, OWNERSHIP, AND COPYRIGHT
• The school’s network resources, including all telephone and
data lines, are the property of the school. The school reserves
the right to access, view, or monitor any information or
communication stored on or transmitted over the network, or
on or over equipment that has been used to access the school’s
network, and it may be required by law to allow third parties
to do so. Electronic data, for example, may become evidence in
legal proceedings. In addition, others may inadvertently view
messages or data as a result of routine systems maintenance and
monitoring, or misdelivery.
• Employees and students must recognize that there is no
guarantee of privacy associated with their use of school
technology resources. Employees and students should not
expect that email, voice mail, or other information created or
maintained in the system (even those marked “personal” or
“confidential”) are private, confidential, or secure. By accessing
the school’s system, each employee or student has consented to
the school’s right to view and/or monitor the school’s network
and all of its associated accounts.
• The school reserves the right to monitor and track all behavior
and interaction that takes place among members of the school
community or that involves use of the school’s name, whether
through the use of technology on the school’s premises or
elsewhere. Each employee or student is responsible for all
activity on his or her account. Only the authorized owner of
the account may use individual accounts or passwords, except
where explicitly authorized by a member of the technology
team. Employees and students should not share their passwords
with anyone. Evidence of security violations should be reported
immediately to [email protected].
• All employees and students will be held accountable for
unattended accounts and for use of their computer or
communication device if such equipment is left unattended and/
or used by another individual.
• Users must follow all copyright, trademark, patent, and other
laws governing intellectual property. Piracy and plagiarism are
strictly forbidden. Employees and students must strictly adhere
to all software licenses.
RESPECT FOR RESOURCES AND FOR OTHERS
• Employees and students may not modify the configuration or
content of software installed on any school computers. Users
may not remove network cables, keyboards, or any other
components.
• Employees and students may not access, or try to access,
network resources not intended for them.
• Installation of wireless networking equipment on campus is
prohibited without permission from the Technology Department.
• Employees and students should store personal files only on their
own storage account. Any information that an employee or
student leaves on the internal hard disk (including the desktop
or any other part of their user account) of a school-owned
computer may be deleted at any time, without warning.
• Network-based games and chat sessions may be disallowed at the
discretion of the school.
• Use of the school’s computers for commercial purposes,
advertising, or accessing inappropriate sites is prohibited.
• Use of the school’s computers may not interfere with or disrupt
the use of others or of connecting networks.
RESPECT FOR SELF AND COMMUNITY
• Employees and students should not transmit personal contact or
other identifying information (phone number, address, photos,
etc.) about themselves or others to persons or parties whose
identity cannot be verified, and should not transmit personal
information without the permission of a parent, teacher, or
school official.
• The use of public computers and other school-controlled hardware, such as phone lines, or the use of personal computer and
communication devices for the transmission or receipt of racist,
pornographic, or other inappropriate material is prohibited.
• Employees and students are prohibited from keeping pornography in any form at school, including, but not limited to,
magazines, posters, videos, electronic files, or other electronic
materials.
• Students may not be “friends” with, or otherwise directly
connected to, any school employee on any social networking site
that is not used primarily for educational purposes. If a student
is contacted by a school employee via non-school channels for
non-educational purposes, the student should immediately notify
his or her advisor, who will in turn notify the dean of students.
• Employees may not be “friends” with, or otherwise directly
connected to, any student on any social networking site that
is not used primarily for educational purposes. If an employee
is contacted by a student via non-school channels for noneducational purposes, the employee should immediately notify
his or her supervisor, who will in turn notify the head of school,
chief financial officer, chief information officer, dean of students
or any combination of these.
• Employees and students may not record sound or images of
teachers or others without their permission.
• Employees and students may not post material online that
reflects poorly on the school.
STUDENTS ARE FURTHER FORBIDDEN FROM THE FOLLOWING PRACTICES:
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Using POP and SMTP for email
Using peer-to-peer file-sharing software
Using personal wireless access points or routers
Sharing system passwords
Renaming computers
Assigning static IP addresses
Engaging in identity theft
Using any software product that can be deemed a “hacking”
utility
• Attempting to circumvent the AUP
• Selling school-issued computer equipment and/or peripherals.
• Employees and students may not access the school’s network or
equipment or use their personal computer and communication
devices to create, access, download, edit, view, store, send, or
print materials that are illegal, offensive, harassing, intimidating,
discriminatory, sexually explicit, or graphic, pornographic,
obscene or otherwise inconsistent with the values and general
standards for community behavior at the school.
COMPUTER LABS
• Employees and students may not alter electronic communications to hide their identity or impersonate another person.
• Employees and students must save their work to their online
storage, a flash drive or CD.
• Users must follow the guidelines posted by the moderators of
newsgroups and other services.
• The volume level on all computers may not be disturbing to
other people in the lab. Employees and students wishing to listen
There is a computer lab in the library for students, faculty and staff
members to use during the academic year. All labs are equipped
with access to email and the Internet. It is expected that the
employees and students adhere to the following guidelines while
using the computer labs. Any violation of these guidelines will be a
violation of the school’s AUP:
to music must bring their own headphones to the lab. If the
volume on the computer is disturbing, the employee or student
responsible may be asked to leave the computer lab.
• Computers designated for “academic purposes” may not be used
for recreational use; academic work always takes precedence
over recreational use on any computer.
Employees and students failing to comply with the above guidelines
will be asked to leave the lab.
EMAIL
Faculty, staff, administrators, and students can be reached via their
Williston email address: usually the first initial followed by the last
name and @williston.com (e.g. [email protected]).
USE OF ALCOHOL, DRUGS, AND TOBACCO
POSSESSION AND/OR USE
Possession and/or use of illegal or mood altering drugs, or
possession and/or use of drug apparatus, or the possession and/or
consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited. Massachusetts
laws prohibit the purchase, possession, receipt, or use of illegal
drugs, and the drinking age in Massachusetts is 21. Students who
break these rules are in violation of state laws as well as school
policy. In addition, the use of inhalants (not medically prescribed),
or the use or possession of any prescribed drug which is
“psychoactive” or legally considered a Class 2 Controlled Substance
(such as Ritalin or Dexedrine) will be treated disciplinarily as
an “illegal drug” when a student has not followed all Health and
Wellness Services/school policies and procedures in obtaining
and possessing it.
ALCOHOL/DRUG TESTING
Seniors will continue to have access to email until the first day of
July following their graduation, at which point their accounts will
be disabled/removed and no longer accessible.
CELL PHONES AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Use of cell phones or other electronic devices used for verbal phone
conversation is not permitted at any time in any of the academic
buildings or in the Birch Dining Commons, the Phillips Stevens
Chapel, or the Clapp Library. Use of such mobile devices to retrieve
or send information is allowed in the Birch Dining Commons and,
with faculty permission, in classrooms. These items may be used
in the Reed Center on the lower levels, and in dormitories (except
when specifically prohibited) at any time. In addition, employees
and students are prohibited from using cell phones for video or
voice recording without the express permission of the faculty
member or other member of the community supervising the class,
activity or other school-sponsored event.
REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Employees and students are expected to assist in the enforcement
of this policy. If an employee or student suspects a violation of this
policy, or if an employee or student feels nervous or uncomfortable
about another school community member’s use of technology,
the employee or student should immediately report his or her,
suspicions, feelings and observations to the chief financial officer,
chief information officer, dean of students or to a faculty member.
If a student is confronted with concerns about being under the
influence of drugs or alcohol and there is reasonable suspicion of
use premised upon his or her behavior or the circumstances, the
school reserves the right to test the student for alcohol and other
drugs with an immediate drug screen or test at Health and Wellness
Services. The test will be administered by the nurse on duty and/
or the dean on duty and the results may be available in minutes for
alcohol, but longer for other substances.
DISCIPLINARY RESPONSE
When a student is placed on probation for drug or alcohol use or
possession, the following will usually occur:
• An off-campus suspension, usually one week.
• Requirement of a professional assessment by a certified drug
and alcohol evaluator within two weeks of the suspension
(costs for evaluation and testing to be borne by the family).
• Requirement to abide by the terms of the no-use contract
and explicit permission for periodic drug testing for a year
(the student may not return to school until this agreement
has been signed).
• For boarding students, one week of room confinement following
return from suspension.
Students who sell drugs or alcohol or who purchase or
procure them for other students can expect to be dismissed
on the first offense.
TOBACCO USE
Williston is a tobacco-free campus. Due to the overwhelming
evidence as to the negative effects and addictive nature of tobacco,
the school does not allow its use by students. While on campus or
participating in any school-sponsored activities, students may not
possess, smoke, or chew tobacco products of any kind. This includes
the use of e-cigarettes. The first tobacco violation typically triggers
an intervention with Health and Wellness Services and the Dean’s
Office. Use of nicotine dispensing medications is an option that may
be available under the supervision of Health and Wellness Services.
More information about the intervention process is available from
Health and Wellness Services or the Dean’s Office.
Any recommendations coming out of the consultation between the
independent substance abuse evaluator and director of counseling
services must be followed by the student and failure to do so may
alter one’s status at the school. Students referred to Health and
Wellness Services for a second time for alcohol or drug use will be
considered to have a major medical/psychological problem which
will be reviewed by the Dean’s Office for a disciplinary response
and/or and medical leave.
SEXUAL INTIMACY
SANCTUARY POLICY
The responsibility of the school both on campus and when students
are under the jurisdiction of the school necessitates that the school
prohibit intimate sexual contact between students.
In any medical crisis, even if drug- or alcohol-induced, it is imperative for medical evaluation and attention to begin as soon as possible. To encourage students to seek medical help in an emergency
situation, students are assured that obtaining Health and Wellness
Services medical assistance, or asking a faculty member to obtain
emergency medical assistance, will initiate medical rather than
disciplinary intervention.
In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, it is illegal for any
individual to have sexual intercourse with a student under 16
years of age. As such, students under the age of 16 may not legally
consent to intimate sexual contact and the school is obligated to
report any violation of the law to the Department of Children and
Families. The school may notify the parents of any student involved
in such contact.
Students may bring sanctuary into effect for themselves or a
friend whose health is at risk because of alcohol or drug use by
contacting the on-call nurse or dean on duty at (413) 529-3911.
This request must be student-initiated and occur prior to any
faculty member coming upon a student who is under the influence
of drugs or alcohol. Faculty members are required by the school
to report infractions of drug and alcohol policies to the dean on
duty and therefore cannot declare sanctuary for a student. Final
determination as to whether a specific case has met the medical
criteria for crisis will rest with the medical professionals. A student
is allowed one sanctuary during their enrollment at Williston.
Students who misuse this emergency protocol to avoid normal
disciplinary action for drug or alcohol abuse will be referred to the
Dean’s Office.
Following treatment for an alcohol or drug crisis, the student must
have an independent assessment within two weeks of returning
to school. This may be done in the Easthampton area or in the
student’s home community. The professional staff conducting the
assessment is required to, with parental notification and consent,
complete an assessment of the student’s alcohol or drug use, make
recommendations, and discuss those recommendations with the
director of counseling services or Health and Wellness Services.
SAFETY VIOLATIONS/WEAPONS ON CAMPUS
SAFETY VIOLATIONS
The unauthorized burning of any substance and/or igniting of
an object, including tobacco, candles, and incense, as well as the
use of any electronic smoking device, in any school building is
prohibited. This activity presents an extreme risk to both occupants
and buildings. Tampering with any alarm, sprinkler system,
smoke detector, or fire extinguisher is prohibited. Should any fire
extinguisher in a dormitory be emptied needlessly and the person
doing so not be identified, each resident of that dormitory will be
assessed a minimum fine of $10.00. In addition, entering or exiting
a building through a window is prohibited. Window screens are
a safety measure and should not be removed by students. It is the
student’s responsibility to immediately report any malfunctioning or
missing window screen to their dorm head.
WEAPONS
Possession or use of fireworks (including firecrackers), a firearm, a
pellet gun, a knife, or any other dangerous weapon that threatens the
safety of the community is prohibited. Any knife other than a pocket
or penknife may be considered a dangerous weapon. Switchblades
and double-edged knives and fireworks are illegal in Massachusetts.
Propelling any projectile at a motor vehicle, an unwilling or
unsuspecting person, or a building, so as to endanger another, is
considered reckless behavior and is also prohibited by the school.
items that may jeopardize the safety of the students or the building
or constitute a health hazard. The school also reserves the right
to conduct random searches of school lockers and dorm rooms
throughout the year.
PROPERTY DAMAGE
DRIVING PRIVILEGES/OFF-CAMPUS PRIVILEGES
Willfully damaging the property of another person or of the school
is prohibited. The responsibility for property damage is placed on
the student, and the policy is as follows:
• Damage to anything in a student room will be the responsibility
of the occupant(s) unless the occupant can identify the person
responsible.
• Damage to common rooms, stairwells, or other areas that are not
specifically assignable to a floor will be charged to all residents of
the dormitory.
• Damage to property on a specific floor will be charged to all
residents living on the floor.
• When the damage to property other than a room cannot be
specifically attributed to an individual, the floor or dormitory
will receive a notice of the charge.
Boarding students may not have motor vehicles on campus and/
or in the greater Easthampton area. Boarding students may not use
or have access to motor vehicles while at school. Permission for
exceptions to this policy must be discussed with and approved by
the dean of students well in advance of its occurrence.
Day students who drive a car to school must register the car with
the Dean’s Office and obtain a parking decal which should be
displayed on the back window of their vehicle. Cars may not be
moved during the school day until the student leaves to go home
for the night. Any exceptions to this policy must receive permission
from the Dean’s Office or the dean on duty. Cars must be parked in
the assigned areas, as follows: seniors park in the area behind Scott
Hall; juniors and sophomores park in the lot behind John Wright
House. Students may not drive on or park in the Main Street
campus area or park in the quad at any time. Violations of these
rules will result in disciplinary action and may result in a loss of
driving privileges.
SEARCH AND SEIZURE
The school reserves the right to conduct a search of a student
that is reasonable in scope, and/or a search of his/her belongings,
including personal items, such as bags and backpacks. Lockers
and student dorm rooms are the property of the school. Students
exercise control over their locker and dorm rooms from other
students, but not from the school and its officials. As a result,
the head of school and his designees, as well as law enforcement
officials, have the right to search lockers and dorm rooms to
ensure school safety and the students’ welfare, including, without
limitation, to determine if students are harboring stolen property,
weapons, or illegal or dangerous substances, and school and law
enforcement officials have the right to seize such items or other
During the academic week, boarding students may only ride in a
day student’s vehicle after completion of their daily commitments,
including participation in the Afternoon Program, and must secure
the permission from the Dean’s Office or the dean on duty to do
so. In addition, boarders may ride in a car only in accordance with
their authorized parental permissions.
GAMBLING
The school prohibits gambling of any kind, including gambling over
the Internet (as referenced in the school’s Acceptable Use Policy).
DAILY LIFE AT SCHOOL
Daily life at school should promote Williston’s core values: respect
for self and others, responsibility and trust, and honesty and integrity. The school seeks to build, support, and unify our community
by providing enriching experiences, by providing programs that educate our community about critical issues, and by building a common vocabulary and mission. We recognize that nonjudgmental,
open, and honest dialogue is vital to maintaining a healthy and vibrant community. We value a student-centered approach that helps
develop leadership and global citizenship through the creation of
events and experiences by students for the Williston community.
The school strives to include a rich variety of voices and seek input
from students, faculty, staff, alumni, families, and guests.
ADVISORS
Communication between families and the school is a vital part of
educational support for students.
NINTH GRADE PROGRAM
The transition from Middle School to Upper School can be socially
and academically challenging. Williston’s Ninth Grade Program
supports 9th grade students’ academic work through workshops,
regular meetings, and communication among teachers, advisors,
and the program’s coordinators. All ninth grade students utilize
Williston-specific academic planners to help with organization. The
coordinators of the Ninth Grade Program also serve as liaisons to
families of 9th graders.
During the first week of classes, ninth grade students attend a study
skills workshop presented by 9th Grade Program advisors, Areté
tutors, and Writing Center tutors. Topics of the workshop include
how to best use the Williston planner, how to use time effectively,
how to make nightly homework plans, and how to prepare for
short- and long-term projects.
in person. The program coordinators work with students’ advisors,
teachers, and the academic dean to support those students and help
them improve their academic work in order to encourage them to
achieve their potential.
ADVISORS IN THE UPPER GRADES
Personal advice and counsel are offered in both formal and
informal ways. While every faculty member is available informally
as an advisor to any student, faculty members have specially
designated roles to help their own advisees with particular
questions or circumstances.
Each student has a faculty advisor who may be consulted on
personal or academic matters and who serves as a liaison with the
student’s family. The faculty advisor plays an important role in the
student’s academic life in that the advisor works with the student
on course planning and monitors the student’s progress throughout
the school year. The advisor also oversees all aspects of the student’s
involvement in school life and should be consulted by the student
or parent if deemed appropriate. The faculty advisor is helpful
in referring the student or parent to others in the school when
specialized information or consultation is needed.
In addition to individual faculty advisors, many other adults serve
in an advisory capacity, including: the dean of students, Health and
Wellness Services staff, the associate head of school, the academic
dean, the director of college counseling, and the international
student coordinator, and director of diversity.
DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENT PROGRAMS
The director is responsible for all aspects of international student
orientation. The director is a community resource and provides
both support and specific guidance to international students during
their time at Williston.
DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY
Throughout the year, the Ninth Grade Program advising team and
9th grade teachers meet monthly to work on strategies to help those
students who need additional academic support. In addition to the
monthly meetings, teachers and advisors communicate academic
concerns to the program coordinators through email, voicemail, or
The director of diversity is a resource and guide in Williston’s
diverse community. He directs diversity programming on all levels
so that students across campus feel included and empowered as
members of the community.
CLASS DEANS
Each class is led by a class dean who is responsible for facilitating
class meetings, activities, dinners, and other events for their class of
students. In addition, the class dean is a direct contact for students
and their parents on attendance and decorum units and issues.
2013-14 CLASS DEANS
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Class of 2015: Christa Talbot Syfu ’98
Class of 2016: Kate Biddiscombe
Class of 2017: Matt Spearing
Class of 2018: Matt Sawyer
applies more specifically to day students is noted within each
section of this handbook.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
International students with F-1 visas are responsible for registering
their I-20s and passports with the Director of International
Student Programs upon arrival to campus. Any international travel
thereafter must be approved and registered with the director
of international student programs. This process is essential to
maintain an active visa status.
SCHOOL DAY SCHEDULE
The first academic period begins at 8:30 a.m.; class meeting
times vary throughout the day. On Wednesdays and class Saturdays
(Upper School only), classes are held in the morning and students
participate in athletic contests and afternoon programming in the
afternoon. For more details on the school day schedule, please visit
WillyNet.
RELIGIOUS SERVICES AND HOLIDAYS
Churches and synagogues are located in Easthampton and nearby
towns, and information about them is available through the Dean’s
Office. Students may be excused from school on religious holidays
with parental permission, which should be arranged in advance
with the Dean’s Office.
All international students and students with families living
abroad must have on file the name, address, phone number,
and email address of an individual within the continental United
States with whom they will stay during Thanksgiving, winter,
and spring vacations, if not returning home. Planning for these
vacations is the responsibility of the international student’s family.
The school is closed during these times, and boarding students are
not permitted to remain on campus. If a student is not returning
home, families should arrange for their child to be supervised by an
adult during these times.
EARLY DISMISSAL
If weather or another situation occurs that merits an early dismissal
from school, parents will be notified by an alert from the school in
both email and text. It will include instructions for pick-ups and
other pertinent information.
DAY STUDENTS
Day students participate in all aspects of the regular school
program, including athletics, and may take part in weekend
activities as well. Day students must observe school regulations
when on campus and while attending off-campus school functions.
They should be aware that student behavior anywhere, whether
under the school’s jurisdiction or not, is subject to review. Day
and boarding students are subject to the same expectations and
consequences for their behavior. Required attendance at Saturday
Night Consequence, which is held every Saturday evening from
7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. in the Reed Campus Center is the disciplinary
response for multiple decorum and attendance units and minor
school offenses for both boarding and day students. Day students
are expected to attend on the date assigned. Information that
SCHOOL MEETINGS AND ASSEMBLIES
Upper School and Middle School assemblies are held frequently.
The Upper School assemblies are held in the Phillips Stevens
Chapel. Middle School assemblies are held in the Middle School.
In addition, on several occasions during the year, the entire school
meets for all-school assemblies in the Athletic Center. Many
assemblies are devoted to the opportunity to watch other members
of our community perform as well as to disseminate information.
On occasion, the school is fortunate to welcome visiting speakers
and performers. Every student is expected to arrive at assembly
promptly and to exemplify mature, supportive, and appropriate
audience behavior throughout the lecture or performance.
VAN POOL INFORMATION
Vanpool ridership is an option for day students and information
describing the service and fees is distributed from the Business
Office in July.
STUDENT LOCKERS
Day students are assigned lockers in the Reed Campus Center for
use during the school year. In addition, lockers in the Athletic
Center are available on a trimester/seasonal basis. All student
storage areas and lockers are the property of the school and are
subject to search and inspection. Students should lock their lockers
and a student should never open another student’s locker. Lockers
should be kept clean and organized. Decorations must be in good
taste, as determined in the sole discretion of school faculty
or administrators, and must be removed at the end of the school
year. With the exception of bottled water, food should not be kept
in lockers.
DINING SERVICES
The Birch Dining Commons at Ford Hall has many personal
choices for dining. Attendance at all buffet-style meals is strongly
recommended but is optional. Dress in the dining commons is
either academic day dress during weekdays or casual at other
times, but students may not wear hats, pajamas, sleeveless shirts,
athletic pennies, or other attire that does not conform to dress
standards. Students coming from athletic practices and contests are
encouraged to shower and change prior to dining.
On several occasions during the year, special community events
are scheduled which require students to attend in formal dress. In
addition, during Family Weekends, Convocation, Grandparents’
Day, and other events, academic day dress is required at all meals.
The Birch Dining Commons menu is available on WillyNet. The
dining commons is open continuously during the academic school
day for use as a study area during off-meal hours, when healthy
snacks are available. During these times, the dining commons are
monitored by day student proctors.
Dining Services is aware of the concerns and seriousness
of individuals with food allergies. Food items that contain nuts
or nut products are always clearly labeled. Gluten-free items,
lactose-free milk, and soymilk are available at each mealtime.
Any student, faculty, or staff member who has a specific food
allergy or dietary concern should contact the director of dining
services at (413) 529-3235.
RESIDENTIAL LIFE AT SCHOOL
DORMITORY LIVING
regularly by dormitory faculty and from time-to-time by the deans.
Common courtesy and respect for the rights and property of others
are the fundamental tenets of community life. While there is consistency in guidelines, rules, and expectations for all students living
in dormitories, there are times when dormitory parents may make
individual rules pertinent to their particular dorm and the present
circumstances.
Wall decorations may be hung from molding or attached with
DormTape® or Mounting Putty®, which does not mar the walls and
can be obtained at the Campus Store. Wall hangings must be widely
spaced, meeting all fire code regulations and none should extend
across the ceiling or outside of the room. Tacks, nails, screws, and
tape may not be used on the walls, as they cause permanent damage. All decorations are to be appropriate in nature, as deemed to be
so by the school in its sole discretion, as they may be viewed by the
general public and families. Empty alcoholic beverage containers
and items with any drug or alcohol insignia are not allowed. Signs
and stickers on doors should follow the same guidelines so that they
do not damage the paint or finish.
WHAT TO BRING
• Blankets
• Pillow
• Sheets (twin XL size) and pillowcases
• Mattress pad or cover
• Towels
• Laundry bag, detergent, and quarters
• Study lamp
• Alarm clock (with battery back-up)
• Computer monitor (27” or less in size)
• Hair dryer
• Razor
• Fan
• Small wastebasket
• Clothes hangers
• Cell phone
* Note that laundry service is available through E&R, The Campus
Laundry, at www.eandrcleaners.com.
MATTRESSES
The school provides approved fire retardant mattresses. Anyone
wishing to provide his or her own mattress must submit proof to
the director of the physical plant that it meets applicable standards.
Mattresses and bedsprings are not to be used on the floor.
FURNISHINGS
The following basic room furnishings are provided by the school:
bed, bureau, desk and straight chair, mirror, and curtains or shades.
Only one piece of personal furniture, such as a chair, may be allowed
per student in a room, subject to available space as determined by
the director of the physical plant. The maximum size of any piece of
furniture in at least one of its dimensions is four feet.
APPLIANCES
WHAT TO LEAVE AT HOME
Use of the following items is not allowed in the dormitories:
• Refrigerator
• Television
• Space heater
• Electric blanket
• Halogen lamp
ROOMS
Dorm rooms, which are Williston property, may be inspected at any
time. The rooms are to be kept clean and neat and will be inspected
Only the following electrical appliances are permitted in dormitory
rooms: clocks, radios, stereos, iPod/MP3 players, personal computers, hair dryers, razors, hair straighteners, and fans. Smart/cell
phones, used in accordance with school and dorm rules, are permitted. Only dormitory proctors are permitted to have a refrigerator;
otherwise, refrigerators, television sets, coffee makers, space heaters,
electric blankets, and halogen lamps are not allowed for energy conservation and because of the danger of electrical overload and fire.
Similarly, computer monitors are limited in size to 27 inches. ULapproved, circuit breaker-protected power strips are the only “extension cords” allowed.
MUSIC
The use of headphones is required during quiet hours and study
hours, and encouraged at other times. Music is to be played so that
it is heard only within the room.
TELEVISION
Common room and student center televisions may not be
used before 5:30 p.m. on weekday afternoons and only after
12:30 p.m. on class Saturdays. On weekends, TVs should be
turned off at midnight.
COMPUTER USE AND CELL PHONES
Videos, movies, and console or computer gaming are not permitted
after the final check in on school nights (10:30 or 11:00 p.m.) or after midnight on weekends. After the last check-ins of the night, the
same rules apply to use of cell phones for communication.
CLEANLINESS AND DAMAGE
Students are responsible for the cleanliness of their rooms and will
be assessed for damage to furnishings or rooms. Desks are to be
neat enough to provide usable working space and viewable from
the doorway of the room. Floors are to be kept picked up and clear
of clothing and papers. A laundry bag should be used so that dirty
laundry is not left around the room. Any damage to the room should
be reported to the director of the physical plant to ensure that responsibility is appropriately identified and damage repaired. Cursory
inspections by school personnel may occur at any time. Any room
not properly cleaned out at the end of the year is subject to a cleaning charge.
state their preferences for rooming in the subsequent school year.
Their choices are granted whenever possible based on seniority and
previous rooming history. Room assignments often aren’t definite
until late August. After the school year begins, every effort is made
to keep rooming assignments for the year and students should seek
the counsel of dorm heads, proctors, and the deans when there is
disagreement or discontent. Following those conversations, if the
situation continues to be unresolved, a room change form may be
obtained from the Dean’s Office and must be signed by the student’s
advisor, dormitory head, and the dean of students before a move will
be considered or approved.
FIRE AND SAFETY DRILLS
All dormitories hold at least one fire drill each trimester,
including one during the first week of school. At the first sound
of the alarm, each person is to move quickly and quietly out of
the building according to a predetermined plan of exit. Attendance
is taken outside the building under the supervision of the dormitory
parent on duty. Fire drills are of obvious importance and are conducted more frequently if they have not been held to the satisfaction
of school authorities. Drills to prepare for response to an emergency
situation are also held. Students will receive instruction on how to
prepare for such situations and the precautions that should be taken.
DORM VISITATIONS
PETS
Pets are not permitted in any dormitory room.
ROOM KEYS/KEY CARDS
Room keys and/or key cards are issued at registration and a charge
of $20.00 will be assessed for a lost key/card. A replacement key/
card may be purchased at the Business Office after a lost key/card
form has been obtained from the Dean’s Office. If the original key is
returned, the Business Office will refund $10.00. If a room key is not
returned at the end of the year, the $20.00 charge is billed.
ROOM ASSIGNMENTS
Living with others is an important life lesson that involves learning
to compromise, to appreciate others’ perspectives, and to engage and
share in conversation with others. The assistant dean of students
oversees dormitory housing and assigns returning boarding students
housing. He collaborates with the Admission Office when assigning
housing to new boarding students. Each spring, current students
As a general rule, only residents of the dormitory are allowed in
their own room during the academic day. However, a visitor of the
same sex of the dorm resident may be a guest in the common room
during the academic day and until 7:50 p.m. Guests of the opposite
sex of a dorm resident may only visit in a dormitory common room
when a faculty member is present and is willing to supervise the
visitation. Generally, boys and girls are permitted to visit in each
other’s dormitory rooms during certain hours with the consent and
supervision of the dormitory faculty. These hours are from 7:00 p.m.
to 10:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Green Fridays, and from 7:30 p.m. to
7:50 p.m. (before study hall) on school nights. The dormitory faculty
on duty will supervise, and all guests must check in and out with
them and must be invited by the person being visited. Doors will be
open and lights will remain on during all visitations. In addition to
a disciplinary response, a loss of visitation priveleges is the expected
consequence for those violating these guidelines.
GUESTS
iting and using phones until 11:00 p.m.
The school permits guests for overnight visits, including day students, for a fee that includes dinner and breakfast. Guests must be
familiar with and abide by the same rules that govern students and a
bed must be available for them.
Students may not leave the dormitory before 6:00 a.m. at any time
after checking in for the night except in an emergency or with special permission.
WEEKENDS
During the academic week, day students may not spend a night at
the school without making prior arrangements to do so; such arrangements must be made at the Dean’s Office at least one day in
advance. There is a cost of $50.00 per night (which includes the
cost of meals). If the day student is staying for a school-sponsored
activity (such as late play rehearsals or productions), the charge is
$15.00 per night. Any person who was a student in prior years, or
the current year, and is no longer enrolled, is not permitted to stay
overnight in a dormitory.
HOURS
SCHOOL NIGHTS
All students must be in their rooms during the evening study period,
which runs from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., unless a dorm parent has
given permission in accordance with the library, computer lab, and
art studio sign-out policies, or if a student is involved in a specific
faculty-directed extracurricular activity. In the interest of maintaining an appropriate study hall environment, students may not use
electronic devices to communicate with others during study hall,
play computer games, or use electronic devices for entertainment.
These measures have been put in place to focus students on their
daily preparations for their academic classes. Parents should refrain
from communicating with their children during study hall hours.
Seniors on honors are granted the privilege not to be present for
the evening study period, but must notify the dorm parent on duty
before 8:00 p.m. if they will exercise this privilege that evening. The
senior must abide by all other sign-out procedures. This “senior on
honors” privilege is determined each trimester according to each
student’s GPA (87 average or above) and general citizenship. The
privilege may be withdrawn if there are concerns about a student’s
behavior or misuse of the privilege by the Dean’s Office.
All students must be in their dormitories by 10:00 p.m. and checked
in for the night by the dorm parent on duty. Respect for the quiet
hours set aside for study and sleeping reflects the school’s concern
for students’ well-being and that of the community. On nights before
classes, all underclass students must be in their own rooms by 10:30
p.m. and all technology and phone communications, including cell
phones, should cease; seniors and proctors have the privilege of vis28 2013-14 Student Handbook
On weekend evenings, all students have a 7:00 p.m. check-in and
must be in their dormitories by 11:00 p.m. for late check-in. Being
absent without permission at check-in time will result in a disciplinary response. Students finding themselves in this situation should
immediately call the dean on duty at (413) 529-3911 and explain
their situation.
DAY STUDENTS
Day students are not to be on campus after the check-in hours for
boarding students except in special circumstances authorized by
the Dean’s Office. If day students remain on campus after 8:00 p.m.
on weeknights, they are to observe all study hall guidelines. Day
students must obtain permission from the dorm parent on duty if
they wish to study with a dorm resident in a common room. The
campus is closed to day students and visitors after the check-in time
for boarders (10:00 p.m. on weeknights and 11:00 p.m. on Saturday
nights) and (blue week) Friday nights. Transportation should be arranged accordingly.
PERMISSION TO LEAVE CAMPUS
Williston is a seven-day school and all academic, athletic, extracurricular, and other responsibilities must be met before a student receives permission to leave the campus.
A boarding student having no school obligations may receive permission and sign out to leave campus for an overnight or weekend
(unless the weekend is “closed”). On closed weekends, all boarding students are expected to remain on campus and participate
in planned community events. The closed weekends are the first
weekend of the school year with Saturday classes (Sept. 12-14) and
last weekends of each trimester (Nov. 14-16, Feb. 27-Mar. 1, and May
22-24.) Extenuating circumstances that would excuse a student from
remaining on campus on a closed weekend must be discussed with
and approved by the dean of students.
Although there is no restriction on the number of weekends away
a student may take, due to the nature of the boarding community,
and in order to establish strong ties to the community, students are
expected to not leave more than once or twice a month.
OFF-CAMPUS TRAVEL AND VISITATIONS
When a day or boarding parent extends an invitation to a boarding student as an overnight guest, the school expects that a parent
will be at home and will not permit student use of alcohol or drugs.
Parents are urged to communicate with each other to ensure that all
student gatherings are supervised and substance free. Parents have
access to each other’s contact information via the family directory
on WillyNet.
OVERNIGHT AND WEEKENDS:
Permission for boarding students to leave campus for the weekend
or any other overnight visit is determined by which of the two options, below, is selected by the student’s parents. Parents may change
their selection at any time by contacting the Dean’s Office. Any student wishing to leave campus for an overnight must have the hosting adult call the Dean’s Office. Students returning home for even
one night need to complete a “green sheet” and have a parent or
other responsible adult contact the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office
reserves the right to rescind any overnight or weekend request.
• Option 1: If a student is planning to visit another Williston family, that student’s parents do not need to grant permission each
time, but rather give permission for such visits to occur throughout the school year. For each visit, the hosting adult(s) need to
guarantee that an adult will be present.
• Option 2: Parents must grant permission each time a student
leaves the campus overnight, and the hosting adult must extend
an invitation for each visit.
Current students may not sign out to the home of any student who
has left the school for disciplinary reasons. Boarding students staying at the school for athletic tournaments at the end of the academic
term are expected to stay in the dorms overnight unless they have
explicit permission from the coach, the Dean’s Office, and their parents to do otherwise.
Generally, students may not sign out for overnights to colleges.
An exception may occur when a student has a college visit approved
by the student’s college counselor and the dean of students. The
student’s parent should contact the Dean’s Office to give their
explicit permission and discuss the itinerary well in advance of
any planned visit.
Students may not take weekends in the greater Easthampton area
unless invited to the home of a Williston student. Parents who accept students into their homes for overnight visits are assuring the
school that the students will go to those homes and are under the
supervision of those parents.
On an overnight, if the student wishes to change their location, this
requires the permission of the host and the understanding and acceptance of the visiting student’s parents. While the host parent may
agree to let visitors go off to another place, visiting student parents
are expecting host parents to provide supervision and to accept responsibility for their care. In addition, the school expects to be able
to communicate with any of its boarding students when they are
away on an overnight. A student on an overnight or weekend has the
additional responsibility of notifying the school of any changes to
the information that was provided to the school.
PROCEDURES FOR LEAVING CAMPUS ON THE WEEKENDS OVERNIGHTS
Students must complete and submit a “green sheet” by 10:50 a.m.
on Thursday and the Dean’s Office must receive the invitation from
the host family by 2:00 p.m. on Friday. The “green sheet” is a document that describes the responsibilities of all parties involved in a
student’s overnight or weekend travel.
Overnight or weekend leave ends as soon as the student returns
to campus, which should be no later than 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. If
extenuating circumstances occur and a late return is necessary,
the hosting adult must call the dean on duty or the dorm parent
on duty as early as possible to notify him or her of the situation.
Unauthorized late returns may result in loss of weekend sign-out
privileges. Seniors on honors or proctors must notify the dorm parent on duty before 8:00 p.m. if they will be late.
Athletes with games on Saturday may not sign out on Friday night
except to be with their parents or at the home of a day student.
VACATIONS
All students must leave the school during Thanksgiving (dismissed
at 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 21 and return on Dec. 1 by 7:30 p.m.), winter
(dismissed at 12:05 p.m. on Dec. 19 and return on Jan. 5 by 7:30
p.m.), and spring (dismissed at 11:00 a.m. on March 6 and return
on March 23 by 7:30 p.m.). The school cannot provide housing or
meals, nor assume responsibility for students during vacation periods. During a long weekend, dorms will remain open and students
will be permitted to remain in their own rooms. One day long excursion off campus will be a required trip for students remaining on
campus for the long weekend.
A student must not return before the published arrival dates on the
calendar unless special arrangements have been made through the
Dean’s Office. Dormitories are locked and supervision is not available during vacations and at the end of a term. Students needing to
travel the day after a vacation begins may stay the first night of the
break if permission is obtained in advance from the Dean’s Office.
CAMPUS MAILBOXES
INCOMING MAIL
Mail is posted for all Upper School students in their assigned campus boxes at the Reed Campus Center daily.
Note: The City of Easthampton’s post office has designated the location
for student mail. Do not use “The Williston Northampton School” or student’s dorm name in the address. Mail or packages should be addressed
as follows:
Student Name
40 Park Street # ___ (Fill in student’s box #)
Easthampton, MA 01027
OUTGOING MAIL
Leaves from the campus daily on weekdays only.
CHECK CASHING
Students may cash personal checks at the Business Office or the
Campus Store up to a limit of $100.00. Checks can be cashed during normal Business Office hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday
through Friday; and 8:00 a.m. to noon on class Saturdays). In addition, students may wish to establish an account at one of the banks
with offices located in Easthampton just a short walk from the
school: Bank of America, www.bankofamerica.com; Easthampton
Savings Bank, www.bankesb.com; or Florence Savings Bank,
www.florencesavings.com.
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
For those travelling by bus, Easthampton is served by the Pioneer
Valley Transit Authority (PVTA). PVTA bus service to and from
Northampton, Amherst, and Holyoke is available Monday through
Saturday. These buses stop next to the Schoolhouse on Payson
Avenue or at the Big E on Cottage Street.
Bus service to Springfield, Bradley International Airport, Boston,
and other distant points is provided by Peter Pan. These buses stop
in Northampton. Bus schedules are available www.peterpanbus.com.
The closest commercial airport is Bradley International (Hartford,
CT), about 30 miles from the school, and travel can be arranged to
and from that point at student expense if students sign up in advance. Announcements for advance sign up are generally made in
assemblies. Transportation is also offered at student expense to and
from the Springfield bus and train stations. The director of student
activities oversees student transportation and requests should be
directed to him.
If students are planning to fly to and from Bradley International
Airport and are not yet 15 years old, families should check with the
airline regarding their escort requirements and notify the Dean’s
Office at least two weeks prior to the flight date if an escort will
be needed. Amtrak train service has similar restrictions regarding
unaccompanied minors, and the school encourages parents to be in
touch with the Dean’s Office as needed to arrange an escort for train
travel as well.
Prior to any long weekend or term-end break, students complete
travel forms specifying their travel plans and needs for assistance.
The school will assist students in arranging transportation to the
bus, train, and airports. The school supplies transportation to these
locations at a reduced cost and also arranges with Archer Airport
Limousine at (888) 491-2722 or (413) 593-5466 for transportation.
In the event of an emergency situation, the Dean’s Office will work
with families to coordinate transportation arrangements.
FOOD DELIVERIES
Students are allowed to order food from local establishments and
have it delivered to campus within specified times. On weekdays,
food deliveries are allowed during the day up until 7:45 p.m.
However, food may not be delivered to campus between 8:00-10:00
p.m. during study hall hours. Food can be delivered between 10:0010:30 p.m. on weeknights. For these deliveries, students should
place orders before 7:45 p.m. if they wish to use their Sammy Card,
or proctors may place orders for cash deliveries only. On Saturday
nights and green week Friday nights, food may be delivered to the
dormitories until 11:00 p.m.
GENERAL SCHOOL INFORMATION
ACCREDITATION
The school is accredited and in good standing with The New
England Commission of Schools and Colleges, Inc. (NECSC)
GOVERNANCE
The school is a non-profit organization, governed by a volunteer
Board of Trustees. For a list of current trustees, please refer to the
school’s website.
FAMILY-SCHOOL COMMUNICATION
The school makes every effort to communicate with parents and
guardians clearly and consistently throughout the academic year.
Williston is a community that values the partnership between
families and the school, believing it strengthens the educational
experience for our students.
WillyNet, the password-protected area of the school’s website,
is a source of information about events and activities on campus.
Once logged in, parents may view and update their personal
profile, as well as that of their child, and read and print grades
and financial statements when they are available. In WillyNet,
they may also view calendars, check athletic schedules, and
download important documents.
Letters or emails may come from the Dean’s Office for notices of
absences, warnings of accumulated minor offenses, and follow-up
for more serious rule violations. Course selection books and signup notices are sent from the Academic Office prior to appropriate
deadlines. Other special letters and emails will come from time to
time. It is especially important that parents provide a current email
address in order to receive school communications.
STUDENTS TURNING 18 YEAR OF AGE
Some students enrolled at the school will reach the age of 18 before
graduation. In the United States, age 18 is the age of majority,
which means that legally, an 18 year old student is able to enter
into contractual obligations on the student’s behalf (and is required
to abide by those obligations). Therefore, the school requires all
students, upon their 18th birthday, to review the Reservation
and Enrollment Agreement that their parents or legal guardians
signed on the students’ behalf and execute an Addendum to that
Agreement, which provides as follows:
• permission for the school to discuss and release information
and records to the student’s parent(s) and legal guardian(s)
about any issues relating to the student’s enrollment at the
school, including but not limited to, academic records, academic
performance, health matters, disciplinary issues and financial
matters; and
• authorization for the school to interact with the student’s
parent(s) and legal guardian(s) as if the student were under
the age of 18.
The student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) will also continue to be
responsible under the terms of the student’s Reservation and
Enrollment Agreement.
PARENT-TEACHER COMMUNICATION AND CONFERENCES
There are two formally structured family weekends held in
the fall and spring designed to give parents the opportunity to
meet with teachers, coaches, advisors, and administrators.
Parents are welcome to visit the school at other times, however,
appointments to meet with specific teachers or school officials
should be made in advance.
BACKGROUND CHECKS
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires public and private
schools to “obtain all available criminal record information…
of any current or prospective employee or volunteer…who may
have direct and unmonitored contact with children.” This statute
imposes a legal obligation on independent schools to conduct
such criminal background checks. With our students’ safety as our
first priority, the school has completed Criminal Offender Record
Information (CORI) and Sexual Offender Registry Information
(SORI) background checks for all employees. The school complies
with the Massachusetts fingerprinting law.
A CORI/SORI check requires the completion of a brief application
form and verification of a government issued photographic
identification. This background check will only occur with the
consent of an individual volunteer. As noted above, a CORI/SORI
check is only deemed necessary for volunteers who will be working
with students and may have direct and unmonitored contact with
them. A CORI/SORI check is typically not necessary for parent
volunteers working on/at the larger school functions where many
adults are typically present. A volunteer’s service is contingent
upon successful completion of the required background checks. In
addition, any tutor wishing to meet with a student on campus must
comply with a CORI/SORI check prior to doing so. Please contact
the Business Office for more information.
PETS ON CAMPUS
Students are not allowed to have pets on campus. However,
boarding students often appreciate when parents bring their
family pet to campus to visit. Families are allowed to do so, but
should recognize that pets are not permitted in indoor areas of
campus, such as the Athletic Center, academic buildings, dining
commons, student center, or dormitories. In addition, pets should
not be left unattended in a car at any time. Pet owners should clean
up after their pets and dispose of it in the large dumpsters located
about campus.
PARKING/DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP
CURRENT FAMILY CONTACT INFORMATION
Parents must keep the school informed of telephone changes at
work or at home because the school should be able to reach parents
in case of emergency. If a parent is going to be away from home for
an extended length of time, he or she should leave a forwarding
address, email address, and telephone number where he or she
can be reached, as well as information regarding who will be
responsible for the student and how they may be reached in case of
illness or other emergency. Communication to the student’s advisor
of the pending absence can also be helpful.
With students’ safety in mind, and because of fire laws and safety
procedures, visitors should park only in designated parking spaces
and not along the driveways of the school or on the grass.
The drop-off and pick-up location for the Upper School is in front of
the Reed Center in the campus quad circle. The entrance is directly
across from the Phillips Stevens Chapel on Park Street. (The area
behind Reed or behind the library should not be used.) The pick-up
and drop-off location for the Middle School is on the circle near the
entrance of the Middle School. For safety, and in consideration of
the school’s neighbors, drivers should go slowly on school grounds
and in the surrounding neighborhood and refrain from using cell
phones while driving on campus.
DUAL HOUSEHOLDS
In order for the school to most effectively communicate with
parents and support each student, it is important for teachers and
administrators to be aware of students who spend time in dual
households. Parents should communicate to the school about
primary caregivers in the event of an emergency, and whether
special co-parenting arrangements exist. If there are court-ordered
guidelines regarding visitations, picking up a student from school,
parent involvement in field trips, or other issues, parents should
notify the school as soon as possible. Sometimes these situations
can be stressful for parents and confusing for students, and help
in minimizing the school’s phone calls for clarification is very
important. Unless otherwise specified, each parent for whom the
main office has current contact information will have access to
student information as well as other informational mailings and
electronic communications during the year.
STUDENT RECORDS AND TRANSCRIPTS
Students’ records are kept on file in the Academic Office. Each
student’s record contains a transcript with grades and any
formal communication with the school and the family, including
disciplinary infractions. Requests for official transcripts should be
directed to the academic dean.
STUDENT CENTER
The Student Center, located in the lower level of the Reed
Campus Center, contains the StuBop snack bar, student mailboxes,
the campus store, a television lounge, which includes a surround
sound system and large flat screen television, a game room
(including a pool table, and air hockey and ping pong tables),
and day student lockers.
LOST AND FOUND
SAMMY CARD AND BUTTON BUCKS
Lost and found items are held at the Student Activities Office
and at the reception area in the Schoolhouse. Please note: School
insurance covers only school-owned property, not personal
possessions. While the school endeavors to provide effective
security for the Williston community, all personal possessions in
dorm rooms, locker rooms, storage rooms, etc. are the student’s
responsibility at all times. Parents should discuss this responsibility
with their son or daughter and are encouraged to enable any
tracking mechanisms on devices. Please report any lost/stolen items
to the manager of security.
All students receive an ID (Sammy Card) during the opening days
of school. More than just a student identification card, it features a
prepaid spending account (Button Bucks), offering a safe and secure
method for students to make cashless purchases. The card can be
used on campus at the Campus Store and the StuBop snack bar, in
vending machines on campus, at the library, Health and Wellness
Services, and for events organized by the Student Activities Office.
It is also welcome at a growing number of Easthampton businesses
and at the school’s online textbook vendor. Parents have the option
to set up a recurring allowance for their children using a Visa or
MasterCard account to automatically replenish funds. If the card is
damaged or destroyed, the student is responsible for replacing the
card via the Business Office for a $25 replacement fee.
Losses of personal possessions while away at school are
often covered under standard homeowners and tenants
insurance policies; parents may wish to confirm this and
request any documentation needed for filing claims from their
insurance agents.
Parents and students have 24/7 online access to their Button
Bucks account by registering at the Button Bucks Cardholder
Account Center. Please visit www.williston.com/business
for more information.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND BOOKS
Located in the Reed Campus Center, the Campus Store sells
academic supplies, clothing, personal items, and gifts. Textbooks
are available through our online vendor. The online store at www.
williston.com/store has a link for ordering books. This site may also
be used to sell back used books at the end of the year.
GIFT GIVING
The school discourages direct gifts to administrators, faculty,
and staff from school families. However, parents should feel
free to give their children’s teachers occasional, inexpensive
tokens of appreciation. Often, a note of thanks may be the
most appropriate gift.
LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
STUDENT COUNCIL
The Student Council facilitates dialogue between Upper
School students and the school’s faculty and administration.
The council initiates proposals for consideration and adoption
by the faculty and administration, and reviews and offers student
opinions on plans or proposals which significantly effect students
and the community. The Student Council is comprised of class
officers and representatives from each of the four Upper School
classes and may be joined by representatives from the proctors,
represented equally by gender. Students are encouraged to bring
issues related to all aspects of student life to the Student Council.
The council is instrumental in planning, promoting, and overseeing
events that cultivate a sense of community among its members,
such as Spirit Week, bonfires, dances, assemblies, and community
service endeavors.
2014-15 STUDENT COUNCIL AND CLASS OFFICERS
• Class of 2015: President:Emmett O’Malley; Vice President:
Terry O’Brien; Treasurer: Noah Jackson; Secretary: Maisy Glick;
Representative: Milo Cowles
• Class of 2016: President: Verdi Degbey; Vice President: Calvin
Ticknor-Swanson; Treasurer: David Yu; Secretary: Kelly Killeen;
Representative: Sideya Dill
• Class of 2017: President: Cody Cavanaugh; Vice President:
Natalie Aquadro; Treasurer: Gabbie Mercier; Secretary: Sima
Gandevia; Representative: Makenna Hambley
• Class of 2018: TBA
Advisors: Mr. Hill and Ms. Noble
DORMITORY PROCTORS
Proctors, typically seniors and juniors, are student leaders in the
dormitories who serve to enhance dormitory life. As a link between
students, dormitory faculty, and the Dean’s Office, proctors help to
create and maintain a supportive atmosphere and an efficiently run
dormitory. They assist with evening study halls, help create a sense
of dorm unity, and are alert to student needs, offering advice and
assistance when necessary. The proctors also meet regularly with
the deans.
2014-15 DORMITORY PROCTORS
• 194 Main Street Dormitory: Bryan Bates, JJ Celentano, Alex Fay,
Phillip Lee, Connor Murray, Joey Teresi
• Conant House: Matt Cullen, Curt McLeod
• Ford Hall: Anthony Leung, Terry O’Brien, Emmett O’Malley,
Evan Stark
• French House: Maggie Cummings, Maisy Glick, Hannah Lee,
Mackenzie Posee
• Hathaway House: Bryan Hong, Kevin Li
• John Wright House: Olivia Berk-Krauss, Aidevo Okaisabor,
Rachel Rockwell, Sofia Triana, Tina Zhang
• Logan House: Milo Cowles
• Memorial Hall East: Morgan Fogleman, Marie Innarelli, Myro
Marioghae, Mary McCarthy, Annika Smith
• Memorial Hall West: Summer Grace Flemister, Emily Grussing,
Maranie Harris-Kuiper, Jenna Phelan
• Sawyer House: Sam Atkins, Alec Bickerstaff
DAY STUDENT PROCTORS
A number of senior and junior day students are selected in the
spring as proctors of the day students at Williston. They meet
regularly with the deans on issues that pertain to day students—
weekend concerns, use of campus facilities, cars, and parking—and,
more significantly, specific ways that day students can contribute to
and enhance the entire Williston community. Since proctors serve
as respected role models, they must maintain creditable academic
and social standing.
2014-15 DAY STUDENT PROCTORS
Anthony Aquadro, Natalia Baum, Sonia Berghoff, Jennifer Carellas,
Evan Cavanaugh, Dina Dahdul, Brittany Engelman, Alex Fabbri,
Melissa Falcone, Ashley Fitch, Lena Gandevia, Stephen Goldsmith,
Marcus Gould, Cameron Hill, Elyssa Katz, Umi Keezing, Hannah
King, Jeremy Levine, Alex Li, Charlie Mercier, Katelin Murray,
Loren Po, Callum Poulin, Matt Steinberg, Cade Zawacki
Advisors: Ms. Noble and Mr. Koritkoski
DIVERSITY AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENT INTERNS
Senior Interns: Buranapong Buranasiri, Yuwei Cao, Lacey Gillis,
Lanxi Kang, Dong Ho Kim, Julia Krupp, Hyo Bin Lee, Sarmad
Mahmood, Gabriella Mercier, Destiny Nwafor, Harshvardhan Shah,
Andrew Shiau, Cameron Stanley
Junior Interns: Erin An, Heng Jui Chen, Soo Jeong Han, Haoqi
Huang, Tara Sarper, Ta-Lian Tin, Yu Chen Wang, Zi Qian Zhang,
Lu Zheng
WORK FOR WILLISTON PROGRAM
The Work for Williston program gives students responsibility and
encourages them to take pride in their school and surrounding
communities. Each student at Williston is required to participate
in the program and serve the community. The 9th and 10th graders
will serve for the equivalent of one class period per week for two
trimesters. The 11th and 12th graders will serve for one trimester.
Work assignments involve maintaining commonly used areas, such
as common rooms, or assisting in service functions in the library,
dining commons, Admission Office or other areas of the school.
The assistant dean of students coordinates the program.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS
Williston believes that significant education and enrichment occur
outside the classroom through involvement in extracurricular
student organizations. Participation helps to develop such
skills as leadership; self-esteem through successful personal
achievement within organizational structures, group interaction,
and achievement of specific group goals; new interests and lifelong professional/leisure activities as well as artistic and other
talents; time-management and organizational skills; concern for the
school and global community through giving of self, sharing, and
explorations of common interests with others.
The school believes that students should participate in such
activities in order to take full advantage of the opportunities for
intellectual, physical, social, and creative development.
and announcements about upcoming activities are announced at
assemblies and published on the message boards about campus.
Student activities, organizations, and publications include:
• PRIDE (Gay-Straight
• Academic Team
Alliance)
• Asian Club
• Robotics Club
• Bluegrass Club
• Science Olympiad
• Chamber Orchestra
• Student Alumni Association
• Community Life Committee
• Student Diversity Committee
• Community Service
• Teller Chorus
Organization
• Concert Band
• Theatre Ensemble
• Cultural Identity Discussions • Ultimate Frisbee
(CID)
• Young Republicans
• Dance Ensemble
• School Publications
• Film Club
• Janus (literary magazine)
• The Log (yearbook)
• Gold Key
• The Willistonian (student
• The Sustainable Life Club
newspaper)
• Jam Band
• Peer tutors and mentors
• Jazz Ensemble
• Political Awareness Club
• Math Club
(PAC)
• Model United Nations
• Mountaineering
A selection process is required for students who wish to become
the following:
• Areté (senior tutors)
• Math Resource Center peer mentors
• Writing Center peer mentors
FUNDRAISING
STARTING A CLUB
Students are encouraged to join or form new clubs in their areas
of interest. In order to start a club, a student first should ask the
director of student activities for counsel.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES OFFICE AND CAMPUS ACTIVITIES BOARD
Each week, the Student Activities Office offers opportunities
for students to attend a variety of events. On weekend evenings,
options may include a play, school dance, movie, concerts on or
off campus, or trips to events in the Pioneer Valley, Springfield,
Hartford, Boston, or New York. The school takes advantage
of events at Smith, Mount Holyoke, Amherst, and Hampshire
Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Transportation is arranged by the Student Activities Office and
provided by faculty members and/or the school’s bus company.
The Student Activities Office is located in the Reed Campus Center
Fundraising is limited to on-campus groups and is not for personal
benefit. Any planned fundraising activity on campus by any
individual or group that will sell items, collect money, or collect
goods cannot proceed with fundraising activities, until a fundraising
application form has been completed and approved. The form
must have the signatures from the advisor of the group doing the
fundraising, the controller in the Business Office, a representative
of the Advancement Office, and final approval from the director of
student activities, signifying their approval. Card readers from the
Business Office will only be issued for fundraising activities that
have been approved and authorized.
SPECIAL EVENTS
SCHOOL-SPONSORED SOCIAL EVENTS
The school sponsors many special events annually such as two
formal dinners for the seniors with the faculty, a community
winter banquet, Cum Laude induction, Writers’ Workshop speaker
series, and many other events. All of these events are on the school
calendar and are also publicized to the community.
SCHOOL GATHERINGS OFF CAMPUS
(NOT SPONSORED BY SCHOOL)
It is important to remember, through their quest for acceptance
from peers and their desire for greater independence, that students
still need clear boundaries and guidance, and the following section
provides some ideas to consider. They are designed to be practical
and, more importantly, are based on the values we, as a school,
stand for as part of our mission. In this sense, we hope that all our
parents will support these in spirit, if not in letter.
1. Always be at an event or party in your own home and establish
ground rules and expectations with your child before the party
takes place.
5. Communicate your feelings of support and your policies to
your child.
• Discuss with him or her the situations that could possibly
arise (e.g., peer pressure, dangerous drivers, etc.).
• Let the student know where you can be reached if you will
not be at home.
• Agree on an acceptable curfew and the consequences should
it be broken.
• Be aware of when your child arrives home, and be
appreciative of his or her timely arrival.
• Assure your child that you, or someone else will be available
in case of an emergency.
6. Take an unequivocal stand on drug, tobacco, and alcohol use,
and make sure students understand your position completely.
Finally, if you must be away for any length of time, make
arrangements for quality supervision in your home to ensure that
you, students and your home are protected. Many parties occur in
homes when parents are away. Let the school and neighbors know
you are away.
FAMILY WEEKENDS AND VISITS
2. When hosting a other Williston students, always generate a
guest list and do not admit uninvited guests. Establish specific
starting and ending time to the event and communicate this
information to the school.
3. Please be a presence and be aware of and alert for signs that
alcohol, tobacco, or drugs have been used by guests, despite
all the precautions you have taken. If it seems necessary, do
not hesitate to phone the police.
4. If your child is invited to a party, you may want to contact the
parent giving the party and:
• Verify the location.
• Verify that parents will be present.
• Verify the starting and ending time.
• Offer assistance (e.g., chaperone, food, etc.).
• If there is to be a sleepover, find out what the ground rules
will be.
There are two regularly scheduled weekend programs for parents.
At Fall Family Weekend, October 24-25, all parents have an
opportunity to meet faculty and school officials, visit classes,
and attend special programs of interest to parents. Spring Family
Weekend, April 24-25, also includes a presentation from the
College Counseling office. When visiting, parents may take their
children off campus. The students must follow the usual sign-out
procedures and are not permitted to miss any school obligations
without permission from the dean on duty.
SUPERVISED HOME VISITS
As a school that includes both boarding and day students, we
welcome opportunities for day students to be involved on campus
and for boarding students to visit the homes of day students,
whether for an evening or overnight. There are deliberate policies
on campus to provide a safe social environment for students, and
it is expected that parents will provide an adult-supervised and
drug- and alcohol-free environment whenever Williston students
are guests in their homes. When a day or boarding parent extends
an invitation to a boarding student as an overnight guest, the school
assumes the invitation means that a parent will be at home and will
not permit student use of alcohol or drugs. Parents are urged to
communicate with each other to ensure that all student gatherings
are supervised and substance free.
In the Upper School, each year there are special trips organized
by faculty members traveling to destinations of interest during
the vacation periods. These are announced to the students during
assemblies and parents are notified of these opportunities via
email. The chief financial officer oversees these trips and should be
contacted for more information on policies regarding these trips.
DANCES
Parents are strongly encourage to communicate with the dean of
students or the associate head regarding any unsupervised party
or substance abuse concerns, so that there may be discreet and
diplomatic follow-up. Parent calls inviting students to visit should
be made to the Dean’s Office well before the students are scheduled
to leave campus for the visit.
SCHOOL TRIPS
The school offers a variety of field trips during the school year. At
the Middle School, parents/guardians are notified of upcoming offcampus trips via email from the head of the Middle School. At the
Upper School, parents may or may not be told of the trip in advance
depending on the length of the trip and travel associated with it.
All school trips should be alcohol, drug, and tobacco free. Students
participating in school trips must comply with all applicable school
rules and all applicable laws. The school reserves the right to deny
a student participation on a trip if the school cannot accommodate
his or her needs safely or the student is not in good standing.
SPECIAL OVERNIGHT TRIPS
Dances are a popular on-campus social activity that are wellattended and are overseen by the director of student activities.
In past years, there has also been a winter semi-formal dance in
February and a senior prom in May. Williston students wishing to
bring a guest should notify the Dean’s Office in advance to receive
permission to do so. This includes completing and submitted a
form signed by the visiting student’s parent and their own school
administration.
Other schools are often invited to Williston dances and these
students travel and attend with their own school’s chaperone.
The following guidelines express our expectations for conduct at
all Williston dances. All students are expected to act respectfully
and appropriately towards each other. If inappropriate behavior
is observed, the student will be addressed and asked to stop the
offensive behavior. If the behavior persists, the faculty chaperone
will be notified and the visiting student will be asked to leave the
dance floor, and will spend the remainder of the evening with their
school’s chaperone. Similarly, Williston students who continue
to engage in inappropriate conduct after being addressed will be
subject to discipline as deemed appropriate by the dean on duty.
Students are expected to act respectfully towards each other, the DJ,
and the adult chaperones that enable dances to occur at Williston.
In the Middle School, all 8th graders travel to Washington, D.C.
during the last week of school. It is a faculty chaperoned trip and
additionally there are experienced tour guides in D.C. For more
information about this trip, please contact the head of the
Middle School.
THE ROBERT PARKER CLAPP LIBRARY
Students go to the library to study, gather information, write
papers, browse current magazines, work quietly in groups, and
indulge in leisure reading. A professional librarian is available to
give individual attention to students’ questions as well as to teach
research strategies to classes.
The library has 10 iMacs, 16 laptops, and wireless access.
Computers are to be used only for academic or informational
purposes during the academic day; academic needs have priority
over recreational pursuits. All use of these computers should be in
conformity with the school’s Acceptable Use Policy.
The timely return of library material is the responsibility of the
individual to whom it was loaned. Students should not pass books
on to others, but rather return them to the library to be signed out
anew. Any questions about overdue materials should be directed to
the library at (413) 529-3348.
INTERLIBRARY LOAN
Although Williston’s collection is selected to amply provide
resources for class assignments, interlibrary loan requests are
sent out when needed. The library participates in the Western
Massachusetts Regional Library System.
LOAN PERIOD
Books and CDs circulate for a loan period of approximately three
weeks; DVDs for one week. Students may take out an unlimited
amount of books and CDs, unless others are also pursuing the same
topic for a class; in that case, books are set aside in the library.
Borrowers must return items if requested for class use or reserve.
Signing out DVDs is limited to three at a time.
RETURNS AND RENEWALS
Students are encouraged to renew material as needed. This can be
done in person or by email. An overdue notice is sent shortly before the book is due, and a fine of 10 cents a day is assessed for late
items. If the book is not returned after the third notice (approximately one month later), the student is billed the replacement cost
plus a non-refundable $10 processing fee per item. If the book is
subsequently returned, the student is credited the cost of the book.
CONDUCT
Students are expected to behave considerately towards others
by respecting the need for quiet of those who are studying.
Students are encouraged to be environmentally conscious in their
use of paper. The library adheres to campus-wide expectations
during evening study hall. Electronic devices may not be used to
communicate with others during this time. All students sign in
when they arrive, sign out at departure, and may not come and go
in between. Beverages in covered containers and light snacks are
acceptable, with the understanding that recyclables and trash will
be disposed of in the containers provided.
ATHLETICS
In keeping with the school’s mission, the Athletic Department seeks
to instill in students purpose, passion, and integrity. For many,
athletic involvement and daily physical activity are an integral
part of Williston life, whether a student is a member of one of the
numerous teams competing interscholastically or participates in
something of a more recreational nature. Students are encouraged
to participate in a minimum of one season of interscholastic
athletics each school year.
The associate athletic director coordinates and oversees the signup
each season. Students are encouraged to try new sports, and they
have the opportunity to change sports within the first three weeks
of each season. After this period of time, students are expected
to remain committed to their program for the remainder of the
season. The school requires that every student attend all weekend
practices and games.
Upper School students may elect to apply for a one-trimester
waiver to participate in an athletic offering outside of the regular
afternoon program. These would include either pursuing a sport
that Williston does not offer off campus in a formal program
(examples include rock climbing, gymnastics, and figure skating)
or pursuing a sport specialization (examples include spring soccer,
fall baseball). Regarding the sport specialization option, it is important to note the school does not encourage students to specialize at
Williston but rather to have a variety of athletic experiences. Over
the years, our most talented individuals have thrived on maintaining such diversity in their athletic involvement. That said, truly exceptional students will be considered for a single trimester waiver.
Applications and further details may be found online.
COMMITMENT
Commitment is an important aspect of all students’ involvement
in the athletics program. The school recognizes that students will
miss games and practices due to illness, religious holidays, etc. but
expects that all parents will appreciate what the school is trying to
accomplish and be supportive of its efforts in this regard. Leaving
school early on a long weekend, and missing a commitment, is considered a serious breach of a student’s commitment to the school.
ATHLETIC CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
Each student is responsible (at cost of replacement) for
all items of clothing and equipment issued to him or her by
the Athletic Department. Clothing and equipment is to be
returned in a condition similar to when it was issued, taking
into consideration normal wear. Cutting the sleeves off a jersey
would not constitute normal wear and players would be charged
for a new item. The school does not assume responsibility for
missing articles that are left in lockers; students must keep their
lockers secured at all times. Uniforms need to be returned on
the day of a contest so they can be cleaned.
The following protective equipment is supplied: football
equipment; hockey equipment with the exception of gloves
and elbow pads; and lacrosse/field hockey equipment with the
exception of gloves, arm pads, and goggles. The school does not
supply footwear.
GAME DAY INFORMATION
MEDICAL & ACADEMIC RESPONSIBILITIES FOR
PARTICIPATION
All students must have on file a medical form completed and signed
by a medical doctor stating that the student is physically fit to participate in physical education classes and athletics. No one will be
allowed to participate until this form is on file. In addition, students
must attend at least 50 percent of their classes on a given day to be
eligible for participation in athletics and all extracurricular activities on that day. Exceptions to this policy need to be approved in
advance by the Dean of Students and Director of Athletics.
At the beginning of each week, the Athletic Department will
publish (and post on the bulletin board outside of the cage) a
copy of the schedule of events noting time of contests, meal
times, departure time, methods of transportation, estimated time
of return, etc. All of this information, including directions to all
games, is available on the school’s website.
ADDITIONAL EXPENSES
All new students choosing to participate on a competitive team will
be expected to purchase a Williston athletic jacket at the beginning of the year. These students will be charged $55 for this jacket.
Students will have the option of purchasing a warm-up pant as well.
In some sports, coaches will also require team members to purchase
practice gear (sports-specific t-shirts, shorts), and generally these
costs are kept under $40 and will be communicated to families and
charged to student accounts. Because of the nature of several of
our afternoon offerings (skiing, golf, horseback riding, and crew)
that operate at facilities outside of Williston, participation in these
specific programs requires an additional expense. It should be noted
that when it is necessary for teams to stay overnight in hotels during team trips, students will be charged to help cover the expense.
SPORTSMANSHIP
While the school recognizes the importance of competition in athletics, the school also places great emphasis on good sportsmanship.
Whether participating in or attending athletic events, all students
are expected to represent the school in a manner that is respectful
of others, both on and off the field of play.
Sportsmanship goals should include:
• Developing a sense of dignity under all circumstances.
• Respecting the rules of the game, the officials who administer
the rules, and their decisions.
• Respecting opponents as fellow students and acknowledging
them for striving to do their best while you seek to do your best
at the same time.
• Looking at athletic participation as a potentially beneficial
learning experience, whether you win or lose.
• Educating other students and fans to understand the rules of the
game, and the value of sportsmanship.
• Accepting the personal responsibility that comes with your
actions on the court/field.
The school also encourages parents to act in a sportsman-like
manner. As such, the school hopes parents will:
• Realize that athletics are part of the educational experience, and
the benefits of involvement go beyond the final score of a game.
• Encourage students to perform their best, just as we would urge
•
•
•
•
them on with their classwork, knowing that others will always
turn in better or lesser performances.
Participate in POSITIVE cheers and encourage our athletes.
Learn, understand and respect the rules of the game, the officials
who administer them and their decisions.
Respect the task our coaches face as teachers, and support them
as they strive to educate our students.
Respect our opponents as students, and acknowledge them for
striving to do their best.
MEDICAL AND OTHER EXCUSES
Just as students are expected to prepare and appear on time for
all academic appointments, so are they expected to be present for
their commitments beyond the classroom. If a student must miss
an athletic event for medical or other reasons, the school must
be notified well in advance so that arrangements can be made. If
a student is out for a medical reason, a return to sports must be
approved by the school’s medical team.
Sports-related injuries may be assessed by one of the school’s two
athletic trainers. Additionally, students and parents are required
to comply with the school’s policies and procedures regarding
concussions as posted on WillyNet.
COMMUNICATION
For scheduling changes to athletic events caused by inclement
weather or other unexpected events, students and parents should
visit the school’s website.
DISCIPLINE
All students should understand that they represent the school
both on and off campus. Their conduct at athletic events, including
events hosted by other schools, is a reflection on the rest of the
school community. Behavioral infractions occurring in connection
with athletic events will be dealt with in the same way as other
inappropriate behavior, with disciplinary action taken when
appropriate.
DISCIPLINE GUIDELINES
GENERAL
The policies described in this handbook reflect a commitment to
excellence and a concern for others, and these guidelines are put
forth to help students find the right direction. Just as every student
manifests his or her agreement to abide by these rules by attending
classes and other activities sponsored by the school, so does every
family express its commitment to these policies by enrolling a
student at the school.
Along with this commitment is the firm understanding by
all parties that parents and guardians accept and support any
disciplinary action taken by the school. It is not for any student or
family to determine what is appropriate disciplinary action. Rather,
the school alone reserves the right to decide what constitutes a
breach of the school rules and what kind of response, up to and
including dismissal and removal of academic credit, any such
breach warrants.
All behavioral issues are handled on a case-by-case basis, with
thought given to individual needs and circumstances, support
provided by parents, and a variety of other factors. Teachers and
administrators recognize that students make occasional mistakes
and experience lapses in judgment. Conversations about behavior
happen frequently and students come to expect that faculty
will play an active role in their lives. Our approach is proactive.
We understand and expect that mistakes will happen, as they
are an integral part of growing up. We are, first and foremost, a
community of learners. Respect for one another is critical.
The most important element in helping students learn to
make sound choices is to have them realize the importance
of accountability. Students are therefore expected to act
with integrity in acknowledging their conduct, to accept the
consequences determined by the school, and to move forward,
having learned from their mistakes. Every effort is made to be
fair, and consequences are carefully considered. Ultimately,
however, the school, in its sole discretion, decides upon the
appropriate disciplinary response to student misconduct. The
school administration may delegate disciplinary matters as it sees
fit, within the administration; thus, by way of example, if the head
of school or dean of students is unavailable or not the appropriate
person to resolve a matter, another administrator may do so.
The school reserves the right to raise at any school meeting
or assembly any issue of student discipline for the purpose of
furthering the educational mission and learning environment for
students and the school community.
DISCIPLINARY ACTION
Students may be disciplined for any conduct, on or off school
grounds, during the academic year, before or after the academic
year, which is illegal, contrary to school policies or mission, culture
or expectations, disruptive of the educational process or endangers
persons or property. Examples of student conduct that may invoke a
disciplinary response include, but are not limited to:
• Failure to abide by the school’s expectations of students,
as outlined in this handbook and otherwise.
• Excessive absences, tardiness or being unprepared for academic
or extra-curricular activities.
• Being out of dress code.
• Theft, vandalism, or destruction of property of others or the
school.
• Possession or use of any firearm, knife, explosive, or dangerous
object.
• Possession, sale, use or transfer of alcohol, tobacco, or any illegal
drug or controlled substance.
• Assault on another person.
• Improper sexual conduct.
• Bullying, hazing, harassment, or other abusive behavior.
• Cheating, academic dishonesty, falsifying an overnight signout or a sign-out to travel beyond campus boundaries, or going
elsewhere other than what is written, forgery, possession of false
identification, signing into someone’s email without permission,
or being dishonest or deceptive.
• Riding in or driving a motor vehicle without permission.
• Acts of unkindness, rudeness, or misconduct.
• Classroom behavior that impedes other students’ learning.
• Distribution or electronic transmission of material that contains
obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, disrespectful, threatening,
discriminatory, prejudicial, false, defamatory, or otherwise
inappropriate language or pictures, as determined by the school
in its sole discretion.
• Reprehensible conduct tending to reflect discredit to the school.
When a student is found in the presence of a student or students
violating the school’s standards of good conduct, he or she will receive similar consequences unless there are particular, extenuating
circumstances. Responsibility to avoid such a situation rests with
the student. As in all circumstances, a student’s integrity is a prime
concern. Boarding students are expected to follow reasonable precautions (such as locking their rooms and not lending out their key
or key card) to prevent the use of their rooms by other students for
purposes of breaking school rules.
warning, loss of use, loss of privileges or permissions, confiscation
of an item for a specified period of time, work assignment, room
confinement, restriction, or some combination of the above.
REPRIMAND
An official reprimand may include a plan for weekly review of a
student’s behavior until a satisfactory record of citizenship has been
established. Parents will receive a copy of the reprimand.
ROOM CONFINEMENT
Students who provide the space for drug, alcohol, or tobacco
use will be held accountable under this “in the presence of”
rule. Incidents not specifically covered by the rules in this handbook but falling under the general code of conduct as
outlined in the school’s philosophy and rules will be dealt
with as the school deems appropriate.
DISCIPLINARY TERMS AND PROCESS
The school reserves the right to discipline and/or dismiss a student
without a disciplinary hearing if it deems it most appropriate, in its
sole discretion. The school further reserves the right to suspend,
separate, or dismiss students at any time for conduct that is unacceptable and detrimental to its program, or for conduct that violates
the laws of Massachusetts, regardless as to whether or not a specific
rule has been violated, whether actions or events occurred on or
off campus, or whether they were committed by boarding or day
students.
For a violation of discipline guidelines, on the first offense, if the
incident was not egregious and the student takes full responsibility
for the action, the dean of students may determine the consequences to the offense for the student.
If a student receives two dean’s warnings as a result of either attendance or decorum units (described further below) during a school
year, the student will be placed on probation, receive a disciplinary
response, and may meet with the Discipline Committee.
Below is a list of defined terms and likely sequencing of consequences. However, the school reserves the right to impose student
discipline in any way it deems appropriate, and is not restricted by
these definitions or sequences.
Boarding students are to return to their dormitory at 7:30 p.m. on
weeknights (7:00 p.m. on weekends), to check in with the dorm
parent on duty, and to remain in their room until 6:00 a.m. the
next morning. They are not allowed to have visitors in their room.
SATURDAY NIGHT CONSEQUENCE
Saturday Night Consequence is the expected consequence when
students have accumulated multiple attendance or decorum units
and requires that the student be in a specified classroom in the
Reed Campus Center from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on the assigned
Saturday evening in an academic atmosphere and pursuing school
work. Boarding students will not be granted overnight or weekend
permissions for the weekend when they have been assigned
a Saturday Night Consequence. Failure to attend an assigned
Saturday Night Consequence will result in two assigned Saturday
Night Consequences and a Sunday of Clipboarding.
CLIPBOARDING
Both day and boarding students will remain on campus and check
in with the dean on duty every hour on the hour from noon on
Saturday until 6:00 p.m. At 7:00 p.m., boarders are to return to
their dorms and continue serving restriction for the evening. On
Sunday, students will resume check-ins with the dean on duty at
10:00 a.m. and continue hourly through 6:00 p.m. In addition,
students may be assigned a work job that is to be completed during
their first hour of clipboarding on Sunday. Day students are to
promptly leave campus and return home.
DEAN’S WARNING
A dean’s warning is a formal written warning issued by the dean
of students that indicates that repetition of a specific behavior or
set of behaviors, or any other disciplinary infraction, will result in
a more severe disciplinary action. A second dean’s warning for the
same type of violation will be considered a second probationary
offense and will merit a meeting with the Discipline Committee.
CONSEQUENCE
A disciplinary response by the dean of students that addresses the
type of violation or behavior of the offense and may result in a
PROBATION
Probation is a disciplinary action that results from specific
behaviors and is the usual sanction for serious misconduct on the
first offense. For boarding students, it is accompanied by one week
of room confinement and a weekend restriction. Day students may
expect two weeks of restriction.
If the offense warrants suspension, the boarding student will begin
the one-week cycle of room confinement and weekend restriction
upon return to campus. When a student has been placed on
probation, parents are often asked to come to campus to discuss the
matter with the dean, the student’s advisor, and the student.
Serious misconduct while on probation generally results in a
student’s dismissal from the school. In addition, a student generally
may not be placed on probation twice in the same school year. A
second incident of serious misconduct usually results in separation
or dismissal of the student.
When seniors are placed on probation in the third trimester, the
school reserves the right to deny the privilege of participation in
graduation ceremonies. This may result in a student not graduating
and the diploma could be withheld.
SUSPENSION
The student will be sent home for a specified period of time. Parents
of a suspended student may be required to return to school with
their child for a meeting with the dean, the student’s advisor, and
the student. When a student is suspended, he or she bears the
burden and responsibility for obtaining all missed assignments and
completing them. Major papers due during a suspension must be
submitted on time.
SEPARATION
The student is sent home for the remainder of the academic year.
Return is possible and requests for reinstatement are made to the
head of school. Colleges to which the student applies will be notified of any separation as the school deems appropriate and certainly
during the senior year.
DISMISSAL
The student is dismissed from school with no possibility for return.
Actions likely to result in separation or dismissal include: gross violations of personal or academic honor; theft; multiple, egregious, simultaneous, or successive major or minor offenses; abusive language
or actions toward person or property; and significant misconduct or
disrespect for the rules and/or reputation of the school.
Students who have been separated or dismissed from Williston may
not return to campus unless they are accompanied by their parents
and have the written permission of the head of school, associate
head of school, or dean of students.
While the school may offer a student who is separated or dismissed
late in the academic year an opportunity to complete course work,
this privilege is not given automatically and may be granted at the
school’s sole discretion. The College Counseling Office will report
disciplinary infractions during the senior year that result in suspensions, separations, and dismissals. There may also be options for
students to make up academic work in the event of separation or
dismissal earlier in the academic year. If the school allows the privilege of completion of academic work for credit, the student may
take exams and receive regular numerical averages for the marking
period, only if the separation/dismissal occurs so close to the end of
the trimester that the only remaining graded work for the trimester
is the exam(s).
If the separation occurs for any substantial length of time before
the trimester closes, all assigned tests, papers, and exams must
be completed for credit to be granted. Evaluation in that case will
be on a pass/fail basis, and the student’s transcript will show only
numerical grades earned before he or she left the school. The
teacher will be asked to evaluate all assigned work on a pass/fail
basis to determine whether credit should be granted.
DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE
The Discipline Committee, chaired by the associate head of school,
consists of students elected by the student body, faculty members,
and a representative from the Dean’s Office. The committee meets
with an equal number of students and faculty members. Generally,
students are accompanied by their advisors to Discipline Committee
hearings. Parents and others from outside the school community
are not permitted to attend Discipline Committee meetings. The
Discipline Committee may recommend suspension, separation,
dismissal, and/or any other actions. The Discipline Committee
decisions are recommendations to the head of school, who may
accept, reject, or modify such decisions, in the head of school’s sole
discretion.
Students are generally required to meet with the Discipline
Committee in the following situations: 1) for a first offense, when
the facts are in question; 2) for a second offense in the same year;
3) for a third offense within two years; 4) for a third offense in three
consecutive years; 5) for a situation that might result in dismissal
on a first offense, such as an egregious violation of school rules.
A student who commits a second probationary offense after
faculty intervention, but prior to the meeting of the Disciplinary
Committee for the first offense, may be subject to separation or
dismissal. Moreover, students on probation are subject to review
at the end of the school year, where the issue of non-continuance
or continuance at the school will be determined.
A student whose actions necessitate a second meeting of the
Discipline Committee in the same academic year may expect
separation or dismissal as the outcome.
In some cases, students will be afforded the opportunity to
withdraw from school prior to a meeting with the Discipline
Committee. However, once the meeting convenes, this
option becomes unavailable to the student. The decisions and
recommendations of this committee are reviewed by the head of
school, who makes the final decision on disciplinary matters.
2014-15 STUDENT DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
• Class of 2015: Maisy Glick, Stephen Goldsmith, Emily Grussing,
Jeremy Levine, Terry O’Brien, Emmett O’Malley, Jenna Phelan,
Julia Valine
• Class of 2016: Caroline Borden, Amelia DeFrancis, Morgan
Fogleman, Nate Gordon, Mikey Lloyd, Maddy Scott
• Class of 2017: Destiny Nwafor, Alexis Ryan, Jordan Sansone,
Lindsay Whipple
ATTENDANCE AND DECORUM UNITS
At Williston, the system of student accountability for upholding
daily expectations of attendance and behavior is based on units.
There are two distinct tracks for accumulating unit points:
attendance and decorum. While accumulating a certain number of
units in either type will yield consequences, the types of units are
accounted for separately. Students’ attendance units will be cleared
to zero at the start of each trimester. However, students will be held
accountable to serve whatever consequences were assigned to them
for the previous term if not already completed. The Dean’s Office
oversees the accounting of attendance and decorum units.
CONSEQUENCES FOR ATTENDANCE UNITS
Students accumulate one attendance unit for an unexcused
absence to any school commitment or upon every third lateness to
a school commitment, in accordance with the attendance policies
outlined in the handbook. Faculty report absences to the Dean’s
Office and the Dean’s Office notifies students and their advisors of
unexcused attendance units. The following are the consequences
for accumulating attendance units, with the understanding that the
Deans have the discretion to assign work hours or limit a student’s
permissions in addition to these customary consequences.
• 3-5 units: Upon the student accumulating the third attendance
unit in a given term, the student will be required to serve a
Saturday Night Consequence for each unit received.
COLLEGE REPORTING
The Williston Northampton School has a policy of nondisclosure
regarding discipline matters. We will, however, notify colleges if
an applicant’s enrollment as a student at Williston changes or if we
believe that an exceptional circumstance warrants disclosure. On
applications in which a student is specifically asked to disclose disciplinary information to colleges, we counsel the student through
the process, informing him or her that failure to do so would be a
violation of our philosophy and core values as a school community.
It is our expectation that students will answer questions about disciplinary history honestly on college applications. While disciplinary
matters are of a concern to colleges, our experience is that they understand that young people make mistakes. Admission committees
are typically more concerned with the manner in which students
respond to disciplinary sanctions than the actual event leading to
the sanctions. A mature and graceful response to a discipline infraction can illustrate a student’s growth and development as a young
adult. Should you have any questions about our policy, please do
not hesitate to contact Tim Cheney, director of college counseling.
• 6-7 units: Upon the student accumulating their sixth attendance
unit in a given term, the student will meet with the assistant
dean of students and the parents will be notified. For the sixth
and seventh unit, the student will serve a Saturday Night
Consequence and be required to be on campus on Sunday to do
Clipboarding.
• 8 units: If a student accumulates an 8th attendance unit, the
student will be issued a Dean’s Warning, parents will be notified,
the student will meet with the dean of students, and the student
may meet with the Discipline Committee. If the student receives
additional attendance units, a meeting with the Discipline
Committee is to be expected.
Note: As stated in the attendance section of this handbook, the school
reserves the right to deny academic credit and/or a numerical grade to a
student who misses 8 or more class meetings of any individual course in
a trimester.
DECORUM UNITS
Williston students are expected to maintain a level of decorum
in speech, dress, and behavior that is illustrative of the community’s
core values of respect for self and others, responsibility and trust,
and honesty and integrity. Due to the nature of decorum units,
they accumulate during the course of the year and do not reset
at the beginning of each trimester.
Students accumulate decorum units for dress code violations,
tobacco violations, minor motor vehicle violations, disrespectful
language or behavior, unauthorized use of an elevator, unauthorized
use of a cell phone or other electronic device, upon every third
room confinement issued in the dorm, and when conduct is
otherwise deemed to be of an inappropriate nature.
Faculty are expected to engage in a conversation with the student
about the violation at the time of the offense and then notify the
Dean’s Office of such offense.
• 4-6 units: If a student accrues four decorum units based on
similar acts or six total decorum units, the student will receive
a Dean’s Warning, parents will be notified, and the student may
meet with the Discipline Committee; the dean of students has
discretion to assign Saturday Night Consequence, work hours,
and/or Clipboarding in the interim. If the student receives
additional decorum units, a meeting with the Discipline
Committee is to be expected.
BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS WHILE AWAY FROM
CAMPUS
Students are expected to remember that they represent the school
community at all times, both on and away from campus. While it
is not the school’s intention to monitor students in all of their offcampus activities, the school reserves the right to take disciplinary
action, including suspension or dismissal, in response to inappropriate conduct occurring off campus, during the school year, as well
as on vacations and during the summer.
CONSEQUENCES FOR DECORUM UNITS
In most situations, the consequence assessed to the student as a
result of a decorum unit is directly related to the type of violation or
behavior and may result in a warning, loss of use, loss of privileges
or permissions, restrictions, work hours, room confinement,
restriction, or some combination of the above.
The severity of the consequence assigned will increase as the
number of units accrue and will be decided by the Dean’s Office
in its sole discretion. It is our hope that through conversation and
consequences, the cited behavior will be corrected. However, if that
is not the case, the following are general guidelines in addition to
the above-mentioned consequences:
• 2-4 units: If a student accrues two decorum units based on
similar acts or four total decorum units in a given year, the
student will serve a Saturday Night Consequence on the
upcoming Saturday night.
• 3-5 units: If a student accrues three decorum units based on
similar acts or five total decorum units, the student will serve a
Saturday Night Consequence and be required to be on campus
on Sunday to do Clipboarding and may be assigned work hours.
PARENT INVOLVEMENT
Disciplinary matters and student issues are handled directly by
teachers, administrators, and appropriate staff. If a student is having
an issue with another student, parents should not attempt to deal
with the other student directly about that matter. Doing so may put
a student in an intimidating situation and is best resolved, when
appropriate, through a school administrator. Please speak to the
appropriate school administrator for guidance with any questions
about contacting another student or parent about a school-related
problem.
NON-CONTINUATION
The school reviews the citizenship and academic standing of all
students in June and reserves the right to deny continuation to any
student whose behavior, attitude, or disciplinary record is judged to
be detrimental to the welfare of the school community, regardless
of whether or not a specific school rule has been violated or
academic requirement has been met.
STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES
HEALTH AND WELLNESS STAFF
HEALTH AND WELLNESS EDUCATION
At Williston, we believe that physical and emotional wellness is
an integral part of academic, professional, and personal success
and fulfillment. We actively encourage our entire campus
community to aspire towards high levels of personal health, wellbeing, and satisfaction.
Together with the Dean’s Office, Health and Wellness Services
partners with other departments and faculty to offer health and
wellness programs on a variety of topics to all students throughout
the year. Individual topics are tailored to each grade and age level.
The goal is to provide all of our students with easy access to quality
health information and provide a safe, supportive environment for
all inquiries.
Nursing and counseling staff are available to assist students in
making personal decisions as they deal with illness, injuries, and
other health, wellness, social, and emotional matters.
Health and Wellness Services is staffed by registered nurses. When
Health and Wellness Services is not open, a nurse is always on call.
To reach the nurse outside of routine clinic hours for urgent care,
call (413) 529-3911. For life threatening emergencies, call 911.
• Medical Director: Peter Elsea, M.D.
• Director of Health and Wellness Services: Kerry-Beth Garvey,
M.S., R.N., CNL
• Director of Psychological Services: Benjamin Thompson,
LICSW, BCD
OUR STAFF
Registered nurses with a collective experience in pediatric, emergency, student, and community health are available 24 hours a day,
seven days a week, to care for our students.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES HOURS OF
OPERATION
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Monday – Friday: 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. and 6:00–8:30 p.m.
Class Saturday: 8:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Non-class Saturday: 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Sunday: 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 6:00–8:30 p.m.
Health and Wellness Services maintains a webpage with links to a
variety of current health topics. A blog entitled “Willy Wellness,”
with quick health tips, FAQ’s, and comprehensive educational
resources regarding a variety of health topics can be found at
www.willistonblogs.com/wellness.
HEALTH RECORDS, REGULATIONS, AND ACCESS
A yearly health form, which includes an annual physical,
immunization records, and consent for medical treatment, is
required for every student and must be submitted each year by
August 1st. Please note that Williston does not conduct the health
examination that Massachusetts provides for public school students.
All records are kept in a confidential file at Health and Wellness
Services. All required health forms can be found on WillyNet.
Parents are asked to provide the school with information about
their children’s physical, emotional and mental health. In part, this
information is obtained to comply with state law; it is also
needed to keep the school well-informed of the health of all
students. The school is sensitive to the privacy of this information
and is committed to protecting the confidentiality of students
and their families by restricting the use of and access to this
information for necessary medical management only, in accordance
with applicable law.
ORIENTATION
HEALTH INSURANCE
Health and Wellness Services staff orient students at the beginning
of each school year to services available at the Health and Wellness
Services and in the local community.
All students must have health insurance while attending
Williston. A copy of a current medical insurance card and of a
prescription card must be kept on file at Health and Wellness
Services. Changes in insurance information must be updated im-
mediately by contacting Health and Wellness Services. All students
must have a comprehensive U.S.-based health insurance plan that
covers both routine and emergency care in the Massachusetts cities of Easthampton, Southampton, Holyoke, Northampton, and
Springfield. All families are financially responsible for health care
expenses not covered by insurance, and we recommend your child
have a credit card to pay for such expenses. For your convenience,
we offer a 10-month comprehensive insurance plan.
MEDICATION MANAGEMENT
Some students may need a local health care provider to assume
prescriptive authority and responsibility for certain medications.
Families are encouraged to contact the nursing staff as soon as
such need is anticipated, and consult your insurance company
regarding contracted providers in the Western Massachusetts areas
of Easthampton, Northampton, Holyoke, Springfield, Hadley, and
Amherst.
Information and applications for this insurance plan are
available online.
FOOD ALLERGIES
MEDICATIONS AT SCHOOL
In an effort to keep the Williston community healthy and safe, we
have devised careful guidelines regarding prescription and over-thecounter drugs. We are committed to ensuring that all students have
safe daily access to their prescription medications. Students will
need a doctor’s note to validate the need for medication. If students
need to keep medications refrigerated in their rooms, they may only
use a micro-fridge (11”x 8”) unless they are proctors. Students may
purchase a micro-fridge through the school or on their own. All
students must submit a physician-verified list of medications and
register their medications with the health services staff, in their
original containers, at the beginning of every academic year. This
information is listed on the required health forms and includes
the name of each medication, reason for use, and daily dose with
prescriptive provider name, address, telephone, and fax numbers.
All prescription drugs, with the exception of contraception, asthma
inhalers, antibiotics, and epi-pens, are held and dispensed by the
nursing staff at Health and Wellness Services.
Any student who is found to be in possession of prescription
medication that is not a current prescription in their own name,
or is not currently registered at Health and Wellness Services may
face disciplinary action.
Medications will be dispensed at the Health and Wellness Services
during regular clinic hours. When presenting at Health and
Wellness Services for medication, the following procedures will
take place to ensure each student’s privacy and safety. The nursing
staff will see student individually. The student will be asked for his
or her name, date of birth, and name and dose of the medication.
All students will stand or sit directly in front and facing the nursing
staff while taking their medication. We are happy to work with and
each student and family to address any concerns or needs regarding
medication shipments and refrigeration.
Students are encouraged to inform Health and Wellness Services
and Dining Services of all food allergies.
The school is committed to providing a safe and inclusive
environment for all students. Parents of students who have severe
allergies with the potential for developing anaphylaxis, must meet
with the director of Health and Wellness Services to develop an
action plan prior to the start of the school year.
Successful management of food allergies is the jointly held
responsibility of the school, families, and student with the allergy.
Education encompasses the entire school community including
employees, parents, and students. It focuses on preventive
strategies, the symptoms of anaphylaxis in individual students,
and emergency care. We recognize that the management of
food allergies is a developmental process, and we strive to take
reasonable measures to protect our younger students, while
recognizing that students must learn to assume increasing
responsibility for their own health and safety as they mature.
The goal is to provide a safe and respectful environment for all
students, to educate the school community about the nature of food
allergies, and to provide support and encouragement as students
develop good decision-making skills and learn the critical lessons
of managing their allergies. We hope to foster self-confidence, selfrespect, and self-advocacy in our students, and to support families
as they help their children learn to take control of their allergies.
For students without allergies, our goals are to increase their
awareness of food allergies, and to encourage the development of
empathy and the skills needed for them to become supportive allies
for their peers. As a school, we will have succeeded in our mission
of educating our students if they graduate with the skills and
confidence to advocate for their health and physical safety.
ASTHMA MANAGEMENT
Parents of students with asthma should contact the director of
Health and Wellness Services prior to the start of school to discuss
an asthma management plan.
of Health and Wellness Services, school counselor, or any trusted
adult in the school. Any reports of alleged bullying, harassment of
any kind, or hazing will be promptly investigated. Williston categorically prohibits all sexual contact, relationships, or advances
between adults and students, both on campus and off.
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
PARENTAL NOTIFICATION
The reproductive health needs of adolescents include
general wellness concerns such as good health care and
dealing with issues of friendship, romantic attachments,
and intimacy, as well as specific concerns about pregnancy
and sexually transmitted diseases.
We appreciate that it may be difficult, for children and parents
alike, for a student be ill or injured when away from home. Parents
are generally notified when a student is ill or injured, has an
appointment with the school physician, is treated at the hospital,
or stays overnight at Health and Wellness Services for medical
reasons. It is the responsibility of each parent to provide the school
with current phone numbers, email addresses, and emergency
contact information so that we can be in contact with your family.
The school does not condone intimate sexual contact between
teenagers, but we understand that the adolescent developmental
urge to express sexual feelings may result in such contact. We
therefore recognize that there will be occasions that necessitate
counseling and care in areas specifically related to sexuality.
With acknowledgment that adolescents should be free to
schedule gynecological exams, obtain non-prescription and
prescription prevention for both sexually transmitted diseases and
contraception, arrange pregnancy tests, and seek counseling from
clinics and physicians, Health and Wellness Services will offer the
above services, providing students with the choice of being able to
talk with those health professionals whom they know and trust and
who have their health and well-being as their foremost concern.
EMERGENCIES
The medical director and counseling staff maintain regular office
hours at Health and Wellness Services and are available on call
for emergencies. The nurse on duty will make appointments for
students should the need arise. Serious illnesses or injuries are
treated at local hospitals.
PERSONAL SAFETY, HARRASSMENT, BULLYING,
All other notifications are at the discretion of the medical
staff, and take into consideration a student’s wish to make
confidential appointments in accordance with applicable law.
We encourage our students to seek the counsel of the trusted
adults in their own families.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE TESTING AND TREATMENT
REFERRALS
Where faculty members observe sufficient indications to believe
that a student may be involved in substance use, there will be
administrative intervention with required evaluation and follow-up
treatment. If a student discloses substance use to a faculty member,
the faculty member will report such information to the Dean’s
Office, which will initiate a formal intervention.
A student who violates the school’s alcohol or drug rules is required
to have an evaluation by a trained health professional. Parents
may have the evaluation performed at home during a period of
suspension, or it can be arranged through Health and Wellness
Services. The evaluation must be completed within two weeks of
the student’s return to campus.
AND VIOLENCE
Williston believes the physical and emotional safety of its students
is paramount. If a student feels that he or she may have been the
subject of harassment of any kind, bullying, violence, or hazing, by
an adult or another student, he or she should report the alleged incident immediately to his or her adviser, dean of students, director
Regardless of the source of the counselor/consultant, his or her
recommendation concerning appropriate follow-up and support
must be followed. The director of Health and Wellness Services, in
consultation with the evaluator, will oversee implementation of the
recommendation. The director or Health and Wellness Services will
communicate with parent(s) throughout the procedure.
HEAD INJURIES AND CONCUSSIONS
As a school, we take head injuries seriously and follow current recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control, Massachusetts
law, and the nationally recognized ImPact ™ protocols for head
injuries and/or concussions. The athletic trainers, coaches, and
Health and Wellness Services staff members have training regarding
head injuries and are provided with clinical updates on a regular
basis. In situations where a head injury is witnessed or suspected,
immediate notification to a member of Health or Wellness Services
or the athletic trainers
is expected. Our head injury and concussion management protocols
employ a team approach and provides for daily monitoring of the
student. In addition, the director of Health and Wellness Services
serves as a liaison between coaches, teachers, advisors, the student,
and the family until the injury is resolved. Prompt and appropriate care is provided to the student and individualized modification
may be made to the student’s academic expectations as needed. For
more information on the school’s head injury and concussion management protocols, please contact Health and Wellness Services.
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS
The school does not discriminate against applicants on the
basis of learning disabilities that may be reasonably accommodated.
The school will discuss with families of applicants with known
learning disabilities whether the school will be able to offer
their children the appropriate accommodations to help them be
successful at the school.
The school is committed to ensuring that students with disabilities
are provided with equal access to all of the school’s programs and
services, in accordance with applicable law. For students who need
additional support or curricular adjustments, the school requires
documentation indicating that the student’s disability substantially
limits a major life activity, including learning. Students who
present the school with appropriate documentation of disability
will be granted those requested academic accommodations that
are supported by the documentation and considered reasonable in
this educational setting. Any adjustments to the academic program
would be made through an interactive process between the student,
the academic support coordinator, the academic dean, the teacher,
and the advisor. No waivers of academic graduation requirements
will be granted to students.
Even after supportive services and accommodations have been
put in place, a student may still not be able to fulfill his or her
academic requirements satisfactorily. In such instances, the
academic support coordinator, the academic dean, or the student’s
advisor may notify the student’s parents that the accommodations
put into place may not be sufficient to ensure the student’s success
at the school. At that time, the academic support coordinator, the
student (if age appropriate), and his or her parents will discuss
whether it is is the best interest of the student and the school for
the student to continue at the school. If there is a disagreement,
the school will decide, in its sole discretion, whether to issue a reenrollment contract to the student.
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Individual or group meetings with teachers outside of class.
Reduced course load for a trimester.
Progress reports obtained from the teachers on a bi-weekly basis.
Arranging student/teacher/advisor/parent conferences.
Tutoring by qualified students who volunteer their
services through Areté, a student group that organizes peer
tutoring on campus. Areté tutors, most of whom are seniors,
are available during the class day, activities periods, and evening
study hall hours.
• Boarding students may be referred to an assigned study hall
during evening study hours.
All academic support plans are implemented with the ultimate aim
of increasing the student’s independence and responsibility for his
or her own learning.
THE MATH RESOURCE CENTER
The Math Resource Center, located in the Schoolhouse, offers
assistance by student tutors who have been selected by the faculty.
The center has regularly scheduled hours each school day.
THE WRITING CENTER
The Writing Center, located on the second floor of the Clapp
Library, offers one-on-one instruction for students who wish to
improve their writing skills. Staffed by several members of the
English Department and a dedicated and well-trained group of
student tutors, the Writing Center, through a collaborative and
supportive process, strives to improve each student as a writer,
rather than focusing exclusively on the paper at hand. The staff is
experienced in working with a wide variety of writing assignments
from the school’s academic departments.
OUTSIDE TESTING/EVALUATION
ACADEMIC SUPPORT PLANS
The academic support coordinator works with advisors, teachers,
and the academic dean to coordinate appropriate levels of academic
support which may include:
In some instances, a student’s academic difficulties may indicate
that outside testing or evaluation of the student is appropriate.
In such instances, the school can help parents explore potential
resources and may make the necessary arrangements for such
testing or evaluation.
When parents arrange for such outside testing or evaluation, the
school requests and strongly recommends that the testing results be
shared with the school, in order to enhance the school’s ability to
assist the student.
MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING
Psychological counseling services are provided through a licensed
clinical social worker and a licensed clinical psychologist who hold
regularly scheduled hours and are on call for emergencies. They
provide short-term counseling and will refer students in need of
more intensive care to psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers,
or other behavioral health providers in the community.
CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REPORTING
The school is committed to the highest standards of care for the
school’s students. The following policy is intended to ensure that
students are protected from any inappropriate or hurtful actions
by adults responsible for their care. In addition, Massachusetts
law requires professionals responsible for the care of children
(including, but not limited to, teachers, school administrators,
guidance counselors, etc.) to make a report to the Department of
Children and Families (DCF) when, in their professional capacity,
they have reasonable cause to believe that a child under the age of
18 is suffering from abuse or neglect. The responsibility to report
rests both on the school and all professionals responsible for the
care of children who are associated with the school. The following
procedure is established to ensure that reports are made in a timely
and effective manner.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Members of the school community commit themselves to maintaining appropriate professional tact and discretion with regard to
confidential information they receive. However, confidential information may be disclosed to school employees, outside professionals,
law enforcement officers, parent/guardians, or others when there
is a compelling reason for doing so, including, without limitation,
in cases of health and safety emergencies (when students or others
are in imminent danger of harm); when there is concern about an
individual’s ability to function academically, emotionally, physically,
and/or mentally within the school environment; or when legal requirements demand that confidential information be revealed.
When an employee learns of a situation of possible neglect or
abuse, the employee should consult immediately with the head of
school or his designee about the situation so that appropriate action
can be taken to protect the student and timely reports can be made
to DCF. Similarly, if a parent or a student learns of a situation of
possible abuse or neglect, the parent or student should immediately
notify the head of school or the dean of students. The head of
school (or his designee) will review the information immediately
and may consult with the school’s physician or mental health
consultant, and, if appropriate, the student’s family. Furthermore,
if appropriate, legal counsel and/or a consultant specializing in
the care and protection of children also may be involved in these
reviews. If appropriate under the circumstances, the head of school
(or his designee) will make the first report to DCF by telephone
call (Child-At-Risk Hotline at 1-800-792-5200). As required by
law, a written report must follow within 48 hours after making
the oral report of abuse or neglect. If there is any disagreement
as to whether a report should be made, any member of the school
community should feel free to make a report to DCF.
PARENTAL COMPORTMENT
PARENTAL COMPORTMENT AND SUPPORT FOR
SCHOOL POLICIES
At Williston, we believe that a positive relationship between the
school and a student’s parents or guardians is essential to the
fulfillment of the school’s mission. We recognize that effective
relationships are characterized by clearly defined responsibilities,
a shared commitment to collaboration, and open lines of
communication, mutual respect, and a common vision of the goals
to be achieved. To assist in creating the most effective relationship,
the school expects that parents will observe the following guidelines.
The school understands and appreciates that parents and guardians
may employ different means to meet the expectations and
responsibilities expressed in this policy. Nevertheless, the school
at all times reserves the right to dismiss a student whose parent,
guardian, family member, or other adult involved with the student,
in the sole judgment of the school, fails to comply with this or any
other policy or procedure of the school, engages in conduct either
on or off the school’s property that could undermine the authority
of the school’s administration, and/or otherwise behaves in a
manner that is unbecoming of a member of the school community.
The school also reserves the right to refuse re-enrollment of a
student if the school, in its sole discretion, believes the actions of a
parent or guardian on or off the school’s property make a positive,
constructive relationship impossible, or otherwise may interfere
with the school’s accomplishment of its mission and/or educational
goals. In sum, the school hopes that families will abide by the
principles described below.
• Share in the school’s vision.
• Support the mission of the school.
• Understand and support the school’s philosophy, policies,
and procedures.
• Support the school’s disciplinary process, and understand that
the school’s authority in such matters is final.
• Be supportive of the school’s commitment to a diverse and
inclusive community.
• Acknowledge that the payment of tuition is an investment
in the education of the student, not an investment of ownership
in the school.
• Support the school’s emphasis on sustainable practices.
• Be aware of the student’s online activities and use of computers,
television, and video games.
• Encourage integrity and civility in the student.
• Be a role model, especially when it comes to behavior at school
and at athletic events.
• Encourage the student’s participation in events that promote
high standards; actively discourage participation in events that
can lead to illegal or unwise behavior.
• Participate in the establishment of a home/school and school
community relationship built on communication, collaboration,
and mutual respect.
• Maintain tact and discretion with regard to confidential
information. In cases when students or others are in imminent
danger of harm, when there is a compelling reason for doing
so, or when legal requirements demand that confidential
information must be revealed, information may be disclosed to
the head of school, administrators, outside professionals, or law
enforcement officers.
• Respect the school’s responsibility to do what is best for
the entire community, while recognizing the needs of an
individual student.
• Seek to resolve problems and secure information through
appropriate channels (i.e., teacher/advisor/counselor, head
of school, in that order).
• Acknowledge the value of the educational experience
at the school by making regular and timely school attendance
a priority, scheduling non-emergency appointments outside
the classroom day.
• Share with the school any religious, cultural, medical, or
personal information that the school may need to best serve
students and the school community.
• Understand and support the school’s technology policies.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SUPPLEMENT
Welcome, Middle School families! While the Middle School section
of the Student Handbook should serve as a valuable resource, we
ask that you read the entire handbook with your child, as there are
many topics that pertain to Middle School students and families,
including information on school rules and discipline. We have
included the Middle School section to further highlight topics
specific to the Middle School, such as information on our academic
day, the advising program, and contact information.
We want to emphasize that communication is the key to our success
as a community and the success of your student. We use WillyNet
and email as our primary modes of communication with families.
When you log in to WillyNet, you will find school resources such as
a family directory, helpful school calendars, and schedules. You will
also find documents specific to the Middle School. As always, if you
ever need additional clarification, or have questions about how to
access this information, please do not hesitate to call.
Coming to a new school is a transition for everyone. We hope
that you quickly feel welcome and a part of our community. The
Middle School is a special place, designed to provide opportunities
for students to grow as learners, to take risks and try new things,
and to challenge themselves artistically, athletically, socially, and
academically. It is our privilege to share this important time with
your children and with you. We hope you have a wonderful year.
Best regards,
Jen Fulcher
Director of the Middle School
ACADEMICS
THE ACADEMIC DAY
The first academic period begins at 8:30 a.m. Classes end at 3:00
p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. On Wednesday, the
last class period ends at 12:25 p.m. All students are welcome to stay
for lunch on Wednesday.
SCHOOL DELAYS/CANCELLATIONS
In the case of a weather-related change in Middle School hours,
a message will be left on the school’s weather line, 413-529-3191.
When school is cancelled, the message will be posted by 7:00 a.m.
on this line. In addition, an email will be sent directly to all
Middle School students and faculty.
THE AFTERNOON PROGRAM
The Afternoon Program is an integral part of Williston life, whether
a student is a member of one of the numerous athletic teams
competing interscholastically, participates in something of a more
recreational nature, or joins one of the Arts Intensives in music,
studio art, or theater. In our experience, being part of an athletic
team or any of the Afternoon Program offerings at Williston is
a wonderful social experience and provides an opportunity to
learn something new, connect with students from all grades, and
meet new faculty. 7th graders are not required to participate in
the Afternoon Program but they may. 8th graders are required to
participate in two of the three seasons.
Practice times vary from sport to sport. At the beginning of
each week, the Athletic Department will post (online and on
the bulletin board outside of the cage) a copy of the schedule of
events for the coming week noting the time of practices, contests,
meals, departures, method of transportation, and estimated time
of return. You may check game schedules online at www.williston.
com/athletics.
AFTER SCHOOL STUDY HALL
A Middle School faculty member runs a study hall from 3:00 p.m.
to 4:00 p.m. While the structure is informal, we ask that students
leave the Middle School if they are not in study hall. It is our hope
that this hour provides an opportunity for students to get extra help
and/or complete the homework for a few subjects.
In light of their very busy days, we try to help students balance the
need for down time with the demands of homework. Students who
are not participating in the Afternoon Program are free to go home
after the academic day.
HOMEWORK
7th graders will receive approximately 20 minutes of homework a
night per subject. 8th graders should expect approximately 30 minutes per subject. The school pays careful attention to the transition
for new students and asks for any feedback from you about difficulties with homework. Homework, as review or in preparation for
the next day’s class, is an essential part of a student’s education. If a
student is struggling in any way, or is taking longer than expected to
complete homework, this is important information for us to know.
Please do not hesitate to communicate your concerns to your child’s
advisor or to the director of the Middle School.
student needs more care or needs to go home, one of the nurses
will contact the parents directly.
LOST AND FOUND
GRADE REPORTS
The Middle School operates on trimesters and reports academic
comments three times a year, at the mid-trimester mark. Grades are
given at the end of each trimester with comments only for classes
in which there has been a sign change.
ADVISING
Each Middle School student is assigned a faculty advisor for the
year. Typically, students will change advisors when they move from
7th to 8th grade. Advisory groups consist of 8–10 students. The
student’s advisor will serve as a point person for both the student
and the family. If a parent has any questions or concerns, the
advisor is often the best person to contact. Parents are welcome to
contact individual teachers directly, but the advisor will be able to
find out any information and should have a good overall picture of
the student’s day-to-day experience. The small size of the Middle
School enables teachers to stay in very close contact with parents.
In addition to discussing students’ academic, athletic, and social
life at Williston, each advisory group will help plan one social event
during the school year. The students generate ideas for the event
and choose a charity that will benefit from the proceeds earned
through a small admission fee. These events are typically held on
Friday evenings.
Lost and found items are always plentiful in the Middle School.
Texts and notebooks left around the building are collected every
afternoon before the building closes. Clothing is usually kept until
the end of the trimester. We give clothing marked with a name directly to the student. Other items are displayed frequently and then
donated to an organization at the end of the trimester. If a student
is missing something, we recommend that they post the listing.
Students tend to lose items at the dining commons, in the campus
center, and at the Athletic Center with frequency. Administrators
in each of these locations also have a lost and found. We ask that all
items be labeled and that any expensive items be left at home; we
do not have locks on our lockers.
WAITING AREAS
Middle School students have access to the Athletic Center, the
library, and the student center in the Reed Campus Center. There is
no direct adult supervision in these areas, but the same behavioral
standards are expected as when students are in the Middle School
building. Students who need to wait for a ride home often wait in
one of these locations.
COMPUTERS
Every Middle School student will be issued a Surface tablet.
Wireless internet access is available throughout the campus.
Students have access to school printers. All Middle School students
are expected to adhere to the school’s Acceptable Use Policy.
FACILITIES AND SERVICES
DINING COMMONS
The Birch Dining Commons at Ford Hall offers many dining
choices. Middle School students have lunch in the dining
commons, usually sitting in the Cox Family Room. Middle School
students are allowed to stay for dinner if they are required to be on
campus for a school event.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS SERVICES
Middle School students use Health and Wellness Services as
needed. We ask that students let a teacher administrator know
if they are feeling ill or need medical attention. Occasionally, a
student will call or email home without the school knowing, and
we try to stress to students that we are responsible for them while
they are at school and need to know if they are not feeling well. If
a Middle School student goes to Health and Wellness Services, the
registered nurse on duty will call us in the Middle School. If the
COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS AND RULES
We at Williston consider certain values and principles central to
our daily life. Each of us must be able to rely upon members of our
community to understand and adhere to these values and to act in
accordance with them. Key concepts that guide our community are
respect for self and others, responsibility and trust, and honor and
integrity. The specific rules and guidelines described in the Student
Handbook are derived from our core values, and we take them
very seriously. The director of the Middle School is responsible for
overseeing and adjudicating all social, disciplinary, and academic
matters that arise among students in the Middle School.
ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES
Please call Linda Kretchmar at (413) 529-3230 by 8:30 a.m. if your
child will be late or absent for the day. Both lateness and absences
affect a student’s academic experience, so we ask that you try to
deliver students to school by 8:15 a.m. We also ask that families try
to schedule outside appointments after the academic day.
Individual teachers have different policies for missed class time
or recurring lateness. Students are responsible for any late work
within a time frame worked out by the student and the teacher.
Early departure or late return for a weekend or vacation that results
in missed classes should be approved by the director of the Middle
School. Accommodations may be made to get work to the student
prior to any excused absence, so letting the school know with ample
time is helpful.
Students are responsible for any missed work. It is the student’s
responsibility to obtain class notes from classmates and assignments
from teachers or from the school’s learning management system.
Students should be prepared for the next class, including
taking quizzes or tests and handing in papers, unless there have
been multiple class absences for illness or other extraordinary
circumstances that would require extra teacher help. Advisors will
support students as they make up missed assignments.
DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES AND ACTIONS
Similar to the Upper School, the Middle School uses a unit system
for minor disciplinary infractions. These may include, but are not
limited to, dress code violations, gum chewing, classroom behavior,
and improper use of cell phones or other electronic devices during
the academic day. When units accumulate, the director of the
Middle School will have conversations with parents and students.
Conversations about behavior happen frequently with students
and there is an emphasis placed on being honest in all aspects of
a student’s life, whether it be academic or social. The director of
the Middle School may place a student on behavioral probation
as result of repeated units or a major offense. Academic probation
occurs when a student receives two D’s at the marking period.
After two trimesters on academic probation or a second major rule
violation, a student’s continuation at Williston is in question and
discussed. Parents will be kept abreast of, and may be included in,
some of these discussions.
student’s locker in the Middle School. For non-urgent matters that
can be addressed after the academic day, parents may also leave a
voicemail if the student carries a cell phone to school, which the
student may check after the school day.
MIDDLE SCHOOL HOURS
Drop-off.................................................................. 7:30 – 8:15 a.m.
Academic Day Begins
Monday-Friday.................................................................. 8:30 a.m.
Academic Day Ends
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday.................................... 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday....................................................................... 12:25 p.m.
Middle School Building Closes
Monday – Friday................................................................ 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon Program
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday practice times vary
................................................................................3:45 – 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday game times vary.....................................1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday................................................................ game times vary
MIDDLE SCHOOL OFFICES
Jennifer H. Fulcher.................................................... (413) 529-3229
Director of the Middle School
[email protected]
Linda Kretchmar........................................................ (413) 529-3230
Assistant to the Director of the Middle School
[email protected]
Andrew Syfu.............................................................. (413) 529-3250
Middle School Dean
[email protected]
Middle School Weather Line....................................... (413) 529-3191
COMMUNICATIONS
CONTACTING YOUR CHILD
If you need to reach your child during the academic day, please
call Linda Kretchmar at (413) 529-3230. She will make sure to
get a message directly to the student if possible. If she is unable
to speak directly with the student, she will leave a message in the
SCHEDULE & HOURS
UPPER SCHOOL DAILY SCHEDULE
BLUE WEEK
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
8:30-9:30
D
8:30-9:30
G
8:30
MEETINGS
8:30-9:30
F
8:30-9:30
E
8:30-9:20
A
9:40-10:40
F
9:40-10:40
C
9:05-10:05
B
9:40-10:40
E
9:40-10:40
G
9:30-10:20
F
10:50-11:50
C
10:50-11:50
E
10:15-11:15
D
10:50-11:50
B
10:50-11:50
A
10:30-11:20
D
L1
L1
12:301:30
B2
12:001:00
B1
L1
12:001:00
F1
12:301:30
F2
L2
1:402:40
E
EH
1:403:00
E
AP &
LAB*
L1
11:25-12:25
A
12:001:00
G1
12:301:30
G2
L2
1:402:40
A
L2
1:403:00
A
AP &
LAB*
AH
ACTIVITIES (END BY 3:30)
12:301:30
D2
12:001:00
D1
1:403:00
C
AP &
LAB*
1:402:40
C
AFTERNOON
PROGRAM
CH
3:45-5:35
AFTERNOON PROGRAM
L2
1:40-2:40
B
3:45-5:35
AFTERNOON PROGRAM
DINNER 5:15-7:00
EVENING ACTIVITIES & CLASSES 6:00-8:00
STUDY HALL 8:00-10:00
* Chemistry, Physics, and all AP classes extend into the H block as noted.
Note: Fine Arts, English, and Math classes eat during L1; Science, History, and Language classes eat during L2.
11:30-12:20
G
GREEN WEEK
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
8:30-9:30
D
8:30-9:30
G
8:30
MEETINGS
8:30-9:30
F
8:30-9:30
MEETINGS
9:40-10:40
F
9:40-10:40
C
9:05-10:05
C
9:40-10:40
E
9:40-10:40
G
10:50-11:50
C
10:50-11:50
E
10:15-11:15
A
10:50-11:50
B
10:50-11:50
A
L1
L1
12:301:30
E2
12:001:00
E1
L1
12:001:00
A1
12:301:30
A2
L2
1:402:40
B
BH
1:403:00
B
AP &
LAB*
L1
11:25-12:25
D
12:001:00
C1
12:301:30
C2
L2
1:402:40
F
L2
1:403:00
F
AP &
LAB*
FH
12:301:30
B2
12:001:00
B1
1:403:00
G
AP &
LAB*
1:402:40
G
AFTERNOON
PROGRAM
3:45-5:35
AFTERNOON PROGRAM
GH
L2
1:402:40
D
DH
1:403:00
D
AP &
LAB*
3:45-5:35
AFTERNOON PROGRAM
DINNER 5:15-7:00
EVENING ACTIVITIES & CLASSES 6:00-8:00
STUDY HALL 8:00-10:00
TRAVEL DATES 2014-2015
This calendar is intended to aid you with travel plans for the year ahead. Please pay close attention to departure times.
We carefully plan and provide shuttle service so as not to conflict with school commitments. If you schedule your own transportation,
please respect all school commitments for your child. A complete academic schedule will be posted in the spring.
Please call (413) 529-3266 or email [email protected] with any questions.
SEPTEMBER 2014
NOVEMBER 2014
2
tuProctors and other invited student leaders arrive
(10:00 a.m.)
21
3
wInvited preseason athletes and new international
students arrive
Boarding student check in (8:30–10:00 a.m.)
Day student check in (11:00 a.m.–noon)
5
9th grade check in (9:00–10:00 a.m.)
f
Middle School check in (10:30 a.m.–noon)
9th grade departs for orientation trip (noon)
6
sa
Boarding student check in (8:30–10:00 a.m.)
Day student check in (11:00 a.m.–noon)
suOrientation
8
m
DECEMBER 2014
1
m
Dorms open at 2:00 p.m.
All boarders return by 7:30 p.m.
2
tu
Middle and Upper School classes resume
19
fMiddle and Upper School winter vacation begins,
1:00 p.m. **
All other students arrive
7
fMiddle and Upper School Thanksgiving vacation
begins, 11:00 a.m.**
JANUARY 2015
5
m
Upper School Opening Assembly (4:00 p.m.)
Middle and Upper School classes begin
6
tu
OCTOBER 2014
FEBRUARY 2015
24–25 f-sa
Fall Family Weekend
5
th
Winter long weekend begins, 1:00 p.m. *
25
sa
Long weekend begins*
9
m
28
tu
10
tu
29
w
MARCH 2015
MAY 2015
6
24
su
Commencement, 9:30 a.m.
25-28
m-th
Grades 9-11 Trimester 3 assessments
29
f
Middle School closing ceremony
23
fMiddle and Upper School spring vacation begins,
11:00 a.m. **
m
24
tu
APRIL 2015
24-25
f-sa
Spring Family Weekend
25
sa
Long weekend begins*
27
m
28
tu
*Students are strongly encouraged to leave campus for these breaks
**The school and all dorms are closed during these vacations – for specific times, please refer to WillyNet or the Student Handbook
APPENDIX A:
PROHIBITION AGAINST HAZING
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires secondary
schools to provide students and families enrolled at the school
with a copy of the state law defining and prohibiting hazing. All
members of the school community are reminded that these laws
include a requirement to report promptly any alleged incidents
of hazing. Students are briefed on this matter during assemblies
and team meetings.
Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 269, §§17-19 are provided below.
SECTION 17
Whoever is a principal organizer or participant in the crime
of hazing, as defined herein, shall be punished by a fine of not
more than three thousand dollars or by imprisonment in a house
of correction for not more than one year, or both such fine and
imprisonment.
The term “hazing’” as used in this section and in sections eighteen
and nineteen, shall mean any conduct or method of initiation into
any student organization, whether on public or private property,
which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental
health of any student or other person. Such conduct shall include
whipping, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the
weather, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug or
other substance, or any other brutal treatment or forced physical
activity which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or
safety of any such student or other person, or which subjects
such student or other person to extreme mental stress, including
extended deprivation of sleep or rest or extended isolation.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section to the
contrary, consent shall not be available as a defense to any
prosecution under this action.
SECTION 18
Whoever knows that another person is the victim of hazing as
defined in section seventeen and is at the scene of such crime
shall, to the extent that such person can do so without danger or
peril to herself or others, report such crime to an appropriate law
enforcement official as soon as reasonably practicable. Whoever
fails to report such crime shall be punished by a fine of not more
than one thousand dollars.
SECTION 19
Each institution of secondary education and each public and
private institution of post secondary education shall issue to every
student group, student team or student organization which is part
of such institution or is recognized by the institution or permitted
by the institution to use its name or facilities or is known by the
institution to exist as an unaffiliated student group, student team or
student organization, a copy of this section and sections seventeen
and eighteen; provided, however, that an institution’s compliance
with this section’s requirements that an institution issue copies of
this section and sections seventeen and eighteen to unaffiliated
student groups, teams or organizations shall not constitute evidence
of the institution’s recognition or endorsement of said unaffiliated
student groups, teams or organizations.
Each such group, team or organization shall distribute a copy
of this section and sections seventeen and eighteen to each of
its members, plebes, pledges or applicants for membership. It
shall be the duty of each such group, team or organization, acting
through its designated officer, to deliver annually, to the institution
an attested acknowledgement stating that such group, team or
organization has received a copy of this section and said sections
seventeen and eighteen, that each of its members, plebes, pledges,
or applicants has received a copy of sections seventeen and
eighteen, and that such group, team or organization understands
and agrees to comply with the provisions of this section and
sections seventeen and eighteen.
Each institution of secondary education and each public or
private institution of post secondary education shall, at least
annually, before or at the start of enrollment, deliver to each
person who enrolls as a full time student in such institution a
copy of this section and sections 17 and 18.
FACILITY HOURS
BIRCH DINING COMMONS
LIBRARY HOURS
MONDAY-FRIDAY
CLASS SATURDAY
Monday-Thursday........................................... 8:00 a.m. – 9:45 p.m.
Friday before non-class Saturday.....................8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday before class Saturday............................ 8:00 a.m. – 9:45 p.m.
Class Saturday.............................................. 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Non-class Saturday.............................................................. closed
Sunday.................................................................. 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
and 6:30 – 9:45 p.m.
Breakfast.................................................................7:15 – 8:15 a.m.
Lunch............................................................11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Dinner.....................................................................5:15 – 6:45 p.m.
REED CAMPUS CENTER HOURS
Breakfast.................................................................7:15 – 8:15 a.m.
Continental Breakfast............................................. 8:15 – 8:45 a.m.
Lunch.............................................................11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Dinner.................................................................... 5:15 – 7:00 p.m.
NON-CLASS SATURDAY
Continental Breakfast............................................ 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Brunch........................................................ 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Dinner.....................................................................5:15 – 6:45 p.m.
SUNDAY
Continental Breakfast............................................ 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Brunch........................................................ 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Dinner.................................................................... 5:15 – 6:30 p.m.
HEALTH SERVICES
Monday – Friday............................................ 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
and 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Non-class Saturday......................................11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Sunday.............................11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
At other times an on-call nurse is available at (413) 529-3911.
ATHLETIC CENTER
Pool................................................................ 7:30 a.m. – 9:50 p.m.
Workout Room............................................... 7:30 a.m. – 9:50 p.m.
Trainer’s Room............................................... 7:30 a.m. – 9:50 p.m.
Squash Courts................................................ 7:30 a.m. – 9:50 p.m.
Monday-Thursday........................................... 7:30 a.m. – 9:50 p.m.
Friday before non-class Saturday....................7:30 a.m. – 10:50 p.m.
Friday before class Saturday............................ 7:30 a.m. – 9:50 p.m.
Class Saturday...............................................7:30 a.m. – 10:50 p.m.
Non-class Saturday............................................... 1:00 – 10:50 p.m.
Sunday...................................................................1:00 – 9:50 p.m.
STUBOP SNACK BAR HOURS
Weekdays except Wednesday........................... 7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday..................................................... 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
CAMPUS STORE HOURS
Weekdays except Wednesday........................... 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday.....................................................8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
QUICK LIST
School Switchboard..................................................................................................................................(413) 529-3000
Emergencies (life-threatening)................................................................................................................................... 911
Dean on Duty, Health and Wellness Services, and Campus Security.......................................................... (413) 529-3911
Athletics Information............................................................................................................................... (413) 529-3910
Middle School Weather Line..................................................................................................................... (413) 529-3191
Theatre Box Office....................................................................................................................................(413) 529-3434
The Williston Northampton School Student Handbook is an evolving document whose content is subject to change.
Updated August 2014

academic year 2014-15 - Williston Northampton School

Transcription

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