STUDENT/PARENT HANDBOOK

2008 – 2009

Pingree is a diverse community that believes that respect for individuals and their talents is primary. In order for each member of the school to discover one’s talents and achieve one’s potential, there must be a shared understanding of common rules. These rules are designed to make the school function effectively and allow the necessary time for work and reflection. This handbook is designed to provide specific answers to most questions asked by students and parents. It is hoped that confusion will be avoided if students and parents go through this book completely. If you have questions or need further explanation, do not hesitate to contact your advisor or the Dean of Student Life.

This Student/Parent Handbook contains important information about the school’s code of conduct, discipline policies and procedures, and students’ rights. Translations of this handbook in your primary language are available upon request. To request a translation, please notify Lynette Gray, Assistant to the Head of School, at 978-468-4415, extension 201 .

The policies and practices contained herein may be amended from time to time and are subject to change without notice at the discretion of the school. The policies set forth in this Handbook are not intended to create, nor are they to be construed to constitute, any contractual rights or obligations.

1 FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Pingree is an independent school which emphasizes academic, athletic, and artistic excellence and the moral growth of its students. The mission statement of the school, which embodies the concepts of a quest for excellence in a diverse setting and an appreciation for human values such as integrity and selflessness, guides the faculty in their daily instruction in the classroom and on the athletic fields.

The Handbook provides students and parents with the basic rules and guidelines that are intended to create an atmosphere conducive to learning and growth and to the smooth daily operation of the school. While there are times when the letter of the law must be enforced, it should be understood that that the sum total of our school rules ad policies are guided by the spirit of our Mission as expressed in the school’s statements of Mission, Character and Purpose, Diversity, and Core Beliefs .

While serving as a helpful reference, the fundamental purpose of the handbook is to define the commitments we (school, students, and parents) are making in choosing to work together to provide the best possible educational experience. It is the responsibility of both parents and students to read the handbook to become familiar with the rules and expectations that you are agreeing to abide by when you join the community each year.

Please note that because unexpected events and extenuating circumstances can and do exist in the life of a school, it should also be noted that modifications of these rules, guidelines, and standards may be made when deemed in the best interest of the school and/or its students to do so.

With best wishes for a rewarding school year!

Tony Blackman Headmaster

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CONTENTS

Calendar 4 Academic Information ...... 5 Administration...... 10 Advising and Counseling...... 13 Athletic and Afternoon Program...... 13 Attendance...... 17 Behavior and Discipline...... 19 Daily Student Life...... 23 Health and Safety...... 25 School Policies ...... 26 Parents Information...... 32 Voluntary Support at Pingree...... 34 Who’s Who...... 35 Parents Association, Board of Trustees, Overseers ...... 36

3 PINGREE SCHOOL PARENTS CALENDAR 2008-2009

September 1 Mon. Labor Day - Holiday 2 Tues. 2:30 p.m. Seniors to Forks 3 Wed. 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Sophomores to Project Adventure 3 Wed. TBD Junior Trip 3 Wed. 1:00 p.m. Freshman Orientation 3 Wed. 5:00 p.m. New Students & Parents Cookout & Travis Roy 4 Thurs. 5:00 p.m. Seniors Return from Forks 5 Fri. 9:30 a.m. First Day of Classes October 2 Thurs. Parent Visiting Night 13 Mon. Columbus Day – Holiday 15 Wed. 8:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. PSAT’s for Sophomores & Juniors Freshmen Community Service November 11 Mon. Veterans’ Day – Holiday 24 Mon. 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences 25 Tues. 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences 26 Wed. 12:00 noon Dismissal for Thanksgiving Holiday December 1 Mon. 8:00 a.m. Classes Resume/Winter Class Schedule 19 Fri. 2:15 p.m. Dismissal for December Vacation January 6 Wed. 8:00 a.m. Classes Resume 19 Mon. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - Holiday February 13 Fri. 2:15 p.m. Dismissal for Winter Recess 18 Wed. 8:00 a.m. Classes Resume March 13 Fri. 2:15 p.m. Dismissal for March Break 30 Mon. 8:00 a.m. Classes Resume/Spring Class Schedule April 20 Mon. Patriots’ Day – Holiday May 19 Tues. 1:00 p.m. Awards Assembly 20 Wed. Last Day of Senior Classes 25 Mon. Memorial Day – Holiday 28 Thurs. Last Day of Classes – Grades 9-11 29 Fri. Reading Day/Exam Prep June 2 Tues. 6:00 p.m. Senior Dinner 4 Thurs. Prom 6 Sat. 5:00 p.m. Baccalaureate 7 Sun. 2:00 p.m. Commencement

4 Due to unforeseen circumstances, dates and/or times sometimes need to be changed. We will notify parents in the event such changes are necessary. For the most current school calendar of events, please check the school’s website frequently: www. pingree.org.

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ACADEMIC INFORMATION

Successful completion of 39 semester courses, to include

ENGLISH one for each semester enrolled (through Level IV)

MATHEMATICS 6 semesters (through Trigonometry)

FOREIGN LANGUAGES 6 semesters (or through Level III)

HISTORY 6 semesters to include Themes in World History, Modern European Civilization, U.S. History

SCIENCE 4 semesters to include Biology

CREATIVE ARTS 2 semesters or approved equivalent

COMMUNITY SERVICE 50 hours minimum (30 hours for transferring juniors) (20 hours for transferring seniors)

Freshmen must take 12 semester courses. All other students are encouraged to take 12 semester courses and must take a minimum of 10 (5 each semester).

Twelfth graders, in order to receive their diplomas/certificates, must pass all courses during the second semester and successfully complete year-long courses.

To enter the sophomore class, a student must have passed a minimum of 10 semester courses. To enter the junior class, a student must have passed a minimum of 19 semester courses. To enter the senior class, a student must have passed a minimum of 29 semester courses. To graduate, a student must have passed a minimum of 39 semester courses.

A student cannot be promoted with more than one failure in a semester course on his/her record.

Academic Warning. Students in danger of failing to meet one or more of departmental or promotion requirements or those who receive a grade of less than C- at the end of any quarter may be placed on academic warning, which indicates a student is not in good academic standing. In placing a student on academic warning, the faculty will set minimum standards the student must meet by the next marking period. In the event that students are unable to fulfill the terms of the warning, they may be dismissed from the school; required to repeat; required to undertake summer study; or they may continue on warning. Decisions with regard to students on academic warning are made by vote of the faculty and forwarded to the Head of School for approval.

Students on academic warning will receive a letter from the Director of Academic Planning stating the terms and conditions of the warning at the time the warning is voted. Eligibility for such students for Senior Projects, Student Council, and for the privilege of Open Campus will be reviewed by the faculty.

Students who fail a course and retake it in summer study receive a grade of D-.

6 Advanced Placement (AP) Exams. AP Exams are offered to any student involved in a designated AP course or section of a course. The AP Exams include U.S. History, Biology, Chemistry, English, European History, Fine Arts, French, Calculus, Physics, Spanish and Studio Art. Class attendance during AP exams is at the discretion of the teacher.

Class Attendance. Please see the “Attendance” section of this Handbook.

Community Service. Each student must fulfill a requirement of service to the community. Tour Guides may earn five hours of Community Service for ten tours completed per academic year. The Director of the Community Service Program will help each student plan his or her Project, which will involve a commitment of a minimum of 50 hours. Students who transfer to Pingree as sophomores will be expected to complete the full 50 hours; incoming juniors, 30; and seniors, 20. Any event or project involving the Pingree community must be approved by the Community Service Committee via the completion of the Community Service Proposal Form which is located on the Pingree website.

Course Selection -- General Guidelines. Students meet with their advisors to plan their academic programs. A tentative four-year plan is devised, keeping in mind Pingree’s graduation requirements, the goals and interests of each individual student, and the need to take a well-balanced course load. Pingree’s objective is to prepare students for success in college and for developing the student’s own potential. Pingree is proud of the quality of its faculty. Our teachers are hardworking, highly qualified in their disciplines, and committed to their students. Because of our confidence in the ability and professionalism of every one of our faculty, we ask you to trust our judgment by not requesting specific teachers.

Course Selection Policy Statement . While college acceptance is a natural outgrowth of the Pingree academic experience, Pingree educators are concerned that too often the college acceptance process becomes the end-all-and-be-all and when that occurs, the journey through four years of a Pingree education is unfortunately diminished in value. In other words, while we make our very best efforts to create good matches between Pingree graduates and the colleges of their choice and are proud of our college placement process and history, we strongly feel that the daily venture through four years of Pingree challenges and opportunities is of much greater value than simply the college placement outcome.

In this regard, we ask that Pingree parents and students use great care and scrutiny in the carefully crafted and supervised Pingree course selection process. In fact, to avoid having a Pingree student with an unreasonable amount of academic stress and pressure, we as a school look at this course selection process most carefully. Signing up for an excessive number of honors and AP courses may seem like the right message to send to a college, but reality has shown us that course overload can lead to undue stress and poor performance, especially in the busy fall of the senior year. Ultimately, we ask that Pingree parents and students partner with us in the course selection process to maximize both the overall Pingree experience and the college placement process.

In this regard, we offer the following policy : students who are recommended to take honors/AP courses may take a combination of 4 such courses with no more than 3 APs. Any student wishing to take more than this number of honors/AP classes must petition and meet with a committee comprised of his/her advisor, the department head of each department involved, the Director of Academic Planning, and his/her college counselor. After hearing the student’s petition, this committee will decide whether or not to allow a waiver to the policy. The committee’s decision in such cases will be final.

Withdrawal from Courses

All Students must take a minimum of five courses each semester although they may challenge themselves further by taking courses beyond this minimum requirement. However, when the challenge becomes an obstacle to success in other courses, after consulting with his/her teacher, advisor, and parents, a student may withdraw from an extra non-required course without penalty, according to the deadlines below. Seniors should consult with the College Office before such withdrawals and understand that the school must notify any colleges to which transcripts have been sent of any change in the status of the course load they are taking.

- 1st semester (for semester and year-long courses) – 1 st Monday after Parent/Teacher Conferences 7 - 2nd semester (for semester courses) – by the last day of classes before March vacation

In general, year-long courses may not be dropped after the end of 1 st semester except in unusual cases. However, in such cases, the student’s grade will show on the transcript as W/P (with credit) or W/F (with no credit), depending on the grade earned at the end of the semester.

Students in any year-long course with an honors or AP designation must remain with that designation for the entire year. A student taking only five courses may not withdraw from any of them during the course of a semester.

Cum Laude Society. The Cum Laude Society is a national organization that recognizes and honors those very select juniors and seniors who have demonstrated highest excellence in scholarship as well as unquestioned character, honor, and integrity in all aspects of school life. Membership is determined during the spring term by a confidential deliberation and vote of the faculty members of Pingree’s Chapter. A student must complete three semesters of work at Pingree to be eligible for Cum Laude. Only grades a student obtains at Pingree will be used in the selection for Cum Laude.

Examinations . Students are expected to take semester exams at the time for which they are scheduled, except in the case of a conflict within his or her courses or if the student is scheduled for more than two exams in a day. Any other scheduling conflicts must be reported to the Director of Academic Planning. All school rules apply during exam weeks except as noted below.

Seniors may leave campus between examinations. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors come to school in time for their first exam of the day but may not leave again until the end of their last exam.

Students may dress as they wish with the exception of T-shirts and Vibram-soled boots.

Cars are to be parked in the parking lot at all times as usual. Students who park elsewhere on campus will be sent from their exams to move their cars to the parking lot.

Students who are in the building but not taking exams may study in the cafeteria or in any empty classroom. The Alumni Room, the Front Hall area, and the front stairway are not to be used for studying or gatherings while exams are in progress. The building is to be kept quiet while exams are being given.

Extra Help . Extra Help sessions are available during the student’s free periods with subject specific teachers. Students are strongly encouraged to make themselves available to teachers when concepts are unclear. Students must make arrangements ahead of time with teachers to determine an appropriate time and place.

Grades and Reports . The school’s reporting system is designed to provide a realistic assessment of each student’s progress. Evaluation of work may include preparation for class, attendance and active participation in class, quizzes, tests and examinations, projects, and other assignments as determined by faculty standards.

The following is the system of letter grades, with their numerical equivalents, used in keeping official school records:

A+ 97-100 C+ 77-79 A 93-96 C 73-76 A- 90-92 C- 70-72 B+ 87-89 D+ 67-69 B 83-86 D 63-66 B- 80-82 D- 60-62 8 F 0-59

Honor Roll To determine Honor Roll and Headmaster's List, letter grades are translated into numbers as follows:

A+ 98 C+ 78 A 95 C 75 A- 92 C- 72 B+ 88 D+ 68 B 85 D 65 B- 82 D- 62 F 55

Honor Roll is calculated at the end of each semester on the basis of the grade earned during that semester only. Students in the top 10% of each class will earn High Honors; students in the second 10% of each class will earn Honors; students in the third 10% of each class will be placed on the Headmaster’s List.

Indicator grades are determined and reported home at the midpoint of each semester.

Homework . Homework is an integral part of the academic program at Pingree. Length and type of assignments will vary depending on the subject and teacher. By the time students are seniors, they should be prepared to do an hour of homework each night for each subject. Students are expected to complete their homework assignments on their own unless a teacher makes it clear that collaborative work or help from parents is acceptable on a particular assignment.

Independent Course Work . From time to time and by special permission, a student is allowed to complete an independent course or project for credit. Such a course is permitted for students who have shown themselves capable of working independently and who have a special interest which goes beyond the ordinary curriculum of the school. Independent projects must receive the approval of the department involved as well as of the Curriculum Committee.

Religious Holidays & Event Homework Policy. In seeking to fulfill its mission to instill in its students integrity, decency, compassion, self-esteem and commitment to one another and to the world at large, Pingree School recognizes various religious holidays that individual students may choose to celebrate as well as certain all-school events when, as a community, we recognize and celebrate student efforts to develop these values. To send a clear message about the importance of these events, no homework will be assigned with a due date on the dates listed below. The school hopes that this new policy is clear and that all teachers, students, and parents understand and support the spirit of its intent as explained in the first sentence above.

Religious Holidays Date of Holiday No Homework Due Rosh Hashanah Sept. 29 – Oct. 1 Sept. 30 + Oct. 1 Yom Kippur October 8-9 October 9 Passover April 8-16 April 9 + 10 Good Friday April 10 April 10 Easter April 12 April 13

Athletic Awards Nights Date of Event No Homework Due Fall Sports Awards November 25 November 26 Winter Sports Awards March 10 March 11 Spring Sports Awards May 21 May 22

Semester Away . Students in their junior year have the option of spending a semester away from Pingree in one of several alternative programs. Currently enrolled students wishing to pursue a semester away should research options with their advisor and initiate a 9 discussion with the Director of Academic Planning and their college counselor by March 1 st of their sophomore year. Students should also narrow their focus and apply to a single program during that time. Students must formally notify Pingree of their plans no later than May 1 st of that year. Families should be aware that once formal notification has been given, Pingree will fill the student’s place for that semester and will not be able to accommodate a return to school until the following semester. As long as the school’s notification deadlines are met, the family will only be responsible for the semester’s tuition while the student is in attendance at Pingree. For budgetary and enrollment planning purposes, the school reserves the right to limit the number of students who will be granted the opportunity of a semester away. The school further reserves the right to deny a student’s request to take a semester away if, for any reason, the school believes it would not be in the student’s best academic interest.

SAT I and SAT II and ACT . The College Office publishes dates for students to register and take SAT and ACT examinations throughout the year. PSAT’s are administered to sophomores and juniors in the fall at Pingree. See Mrs. Johnson for details.

Tests . Students generally will be told about major tests, major papers, and projects at least one week in advance and will not be required to take more than two major tests in one day. If a student is assigned more than two major tests on one day, he/she should bring this to the attention of his/her testing teachers immediately to resolve the conflict. Tests missed because of illness can be made up during proctored study periods as arranged with the subject teacher.

10 ADMINISTRATION

The following is a brief description of some of Pingree School’s administrative offices and the role they play in the operation of the school.

INTERIM HEAD OF SCHOOL ~ Anthony Blackman

The Head of School is responsible for the overall operation of the school. He is assisted by the administrators listed below and reports directly to the school's Board of Trustees. Mrs. Lynette Gray is Assistant to the Head of School.

DIRECTOR OF ACADEMIC PLANNING ~ Kristin Brown

The Director of Academic Planning is responsible for all areas of the academic program at Pingree. Decisions involving class offerings, faculty assignments, and academic content and expectations are ultimately made in this office. The Director of Academic Planning oversees all faculty and the implementation of the faculty evaluation process. The Director supports the Academic Department Chairs and is head of the Curriculum Committee, a committee consisting of all academic and non-academic department heads. The Director of Academic Planning is supported by the Registrar, Mrs. Tracy Johnson and by the Scheduler, Mr. Woody Merriman .

ADMISSION OFFICE ~ Eric Stacey

The Admission Offices are located on the first floor of the building. Student and parent involvement in the admission process is always welcome. Students may volunteer as tour guides, and parents are encouraged to volunteer as greeters during the admission season. Mr. Stacey is assisted by Mrs. Mary Dyer , Senior Associate Director of Admission; Mrs. Sarah Powers, Associate Director of Admission; and Mrs. Jody MacWhinnie , Admission Office Coordinator.

ADVISING and COUNSELING OFFICE ~ Susan Esty

The Office of Advising and Counseling is directed by Dr. Esty, who is available throughout the school day to talk to students wishing to explore concerns about school as well as those of a more personal nature. In addition, Dr. Esty is the contact person for families who wish to discuss setting up parent/teacher meetings or to share with the school any information about students and/or their families that may be helpful for the school to know. Pingree strongly encourages families to share any significant personal information that may impact a student’s school functioning, so that we can work together to support the student. The Director of Advising and Counseling teaches classes in Personal Development and Psychology and works with the Health Office and the Dean of Student Life to provide educational opportunities for students, including assemblies featuring outside speakers.

ATHLETIC OFFICE ~ Alan McCoy

Mr. McCoy, the Athletic Director, is responsible for the school’s athletic and afternoon programs. All underclassmen must participate in three seasons and seniors in two. Questions concerning programs, eligibility or independent projects should be directed to Mr. McCoy. Mr. Chris Powers is the Associate Athletic Director and also serves as the Head Athletic Trainer, and Mr. Nick Ogles is the Assistant Athletic Trainer.

BUSINESS OFFICE ~ John Burns

The Business Office is responsible for billing, payroll, accounting, and project management. The financial planning of the school is carried out in this office. The Business Office is also responsible for Parents Association financial coordination. Mr. Burns is the

11 Director of Finance and Operations, and he is assisted by Mrs. Carole Wescott , Accounting Manager and Director of Financial Aid, and Mrs. Janice Nelligan , Financial Assistant. Questions regarding billing may be directed to Mrs. Nelligan.

COLLEGE OFFICE ~ Stephen Carey and Meghan Farley

The College Office helps students identify their strengths, develop an appropriate list of colleges, and answer questions concerning the application process. The College Office also has meetings with Pingree parents to help them understand the complete the college admissions process. The Office has catalogues from most colleges and arranges seminars with college representatives at Pingree. Questions concerning the college process at Pingree should be directed to Mr. Stephen Carey or Ms. Meghan Farley, Co-Directors of College Counseling, Ms. Kristin Brown , College Counselor, or Mrs. Tracy Johnson , College Office Coordinator.

DEAN OF STUDENT LIFE OFFICE ~ Buddy Taft

The Dean of Student Life is responsible for all areas of student life that are not directly a part of the academic, athletic or afternoon programs, such as attendance, lateness, and minor and major discipline issues. The Dean of Student Life is the advisor to the Student Council as well as the coordinator of the class trips in the fall and the student activities groups during the year. The Dean of Student Life is responsible for overseeing the Class Dean System and the disciplinary process.

Class Deans Class Deans, in conjunction with a team of faculty, are responsible for all activities, attendance and minor disciplinary issues for their respective classes. In addition, the Class Deans organize and run parent evenings and other social events. All Class Deans, along with the Dean of Student Life and the Director of Advising and Counseling, comprise the Student Life Committee which meets regularly to discuss student issues.

DIVERSITY OFFICE ~ Trina A. Gary

The Office of Diversity, directed by Trina Gary, works with the entire Pingree community to address issues of diversity, multicultural education, and social justice within the school community. Pingree School’s mission states that, “Pingree believes that a love of learning flourishes best in a diverse community. In keeping with this philosophy, we must actively recruit faculty, staff and students of diverse backgrounds. We are committed to ensuring that the school is open and welcoming to a population that is all-inclusive. We seek to be a community of people who respect, nurture and sustain an awareness of how the diversity among us enriches all of our live s.” Faculty, staff, students, and parents work in collaboration with the Office of Diversity to realize the goals established in the Mission Statement and the Strategic Plan. Mrs. Gary is the key contact person for parents, faculty, staff, and students who would like to discuss issues of diversity, multicultural education, and social justice.

HEALTH SERVICES ~Elizabeth Robitaille, RN, BSN, MPH

The Office of Health Services is directed by Mrs. Robitaille, who is available throughout the school day to provide assistance to students who are ill, as well as to students who may have questions or concerns pertaining to their health. Parents and teachers are also encouraged to address and discuss related issues.

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT OFFICE~ Kimberley Moore

The Office of Institutional Advancement leads all initiatives and programs which develop and nurture long-term relationships with prospects, donors and volunteers. Through events, publications, the web, and personal contact, the Advancement Office communicates Pingree’s mission to both the internal and external community, articulates the school’s vision, invites constituents’ participation, and ensures acknowledgement and stewardship of gifts. The Advancement Office is responsible for annual, major, capital, and planned giving campaigns; parent and alumni relations; on- and off-campus special events; and communications and marketing of the school. Ms. Moore, the Director of Institutional Advancement, is assisted by Mrs. Diana Mathey, Director of the Annual Fund and Parent Relations; Mrs. Laurie Harding Polese ’84 , Director of Alumni Relations; Mrs. Shelley McCloy Vassallo ’76 , 12 Events Coordinator; Mr. Paul Tetta , Database Manager; Mrs. Samantha Drislane Markowski ’93 , Director of Marketing and Communications; and Mrs. Donna Maggio , Advancement Office and Media Relations Coordinator.

DIRECTOR OF PREP@PINGREE -~ Steve Filosa

The Director of Prep@Pingree is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Prep@Pingree, an academic enrichment program for inner- city, middle school students. The Director serves as Prep@Pingree's chief spokesperson and fundraiser, enrollment and budget manager, staff mentor and evaluator and curriculum director.

MAIN OFFICE ~ Barbara Savarese and Beth Argeros

The Main Office is the “epicenter” of the school. If students will not be coming to school, parents should inform the office before 8:00 a.m. Parents can do so by voicemail at any time at 978-468-4415. Students sign in at the Main Office when they come to school late, and they sign out when leaving before the end of the academic day. Visitors to the school should check in at the Main Office upon arrival and obtain a visitor’s badge to wear while they are on campus.

13

ADVISING AND COUNSELING

Advisor . Each student has a faculty advisor who is the primary liaison between the school and the parents. Advisors are concerned with the overall well being of their advisees. Each advisor is committed to helping the advisee with scheduling, overseeing the advisee's academic performance, offering advice and mediating conflicts that may arise. The faculty advisor meets twice each week with his or her advisee group and individually with each advisee on an as-needed basis. Students returning to Pingree may elect advisors at the end of the school year for the next year.

The Director of Advising and Counseling, Susan Esty, is a trained counselor who serves as a resource both to students and faculty. Advisors are encouraged to seek her assistance in dealing with issues with which they may not be familiar. She is always available to students who wish to discuss a personal matter in privacy and confidence. A parent who is concerned about his or her child’s relationship with an advisor is urged to call Dr. Esty.

The Director of Advising and Counseling is also responsible for assemblies and activities relating to personal growth and drug/alcohol education. In the event that any member of the school community becomes concerned about another member's behavior that might indicate the use of drugs and/or alcohol, the concerned individual should contact Dr. Esty, in confidence, who will then make an assessment of how to handle the concern.

Pingree expects its students to accept responsibility for maintaining nutritional and drug-free health in order to achieve educationally. The school, with the advice of the Counseling Office, reserves the right to contact parents if there is a concern about eating habits or a suspected problem with drugs or alcohol.

ATHLETIC AND AFTERNOON PROGRAMS

The athletic and afternoon programs at Pingree are considered an extension of the classroom where the student can build self- confidence, develop physical skills, and learn the value of a team experience. Coaches and students work toward common goals, strengthening their sense of community through group effort.

Offerings by season: Fall Winter Spring Cross Country Basketball Baseball Field Hockey Ice Hockey Lacrosse Soccer Volleyball Tennis Golf Team Manager Softball Football Pursuit* Team Manager Team Manager Winter Musical Dance Pursuit* Community Service Community Service Community Service Independent Project Independent Project Dance Yearbook Ultimate Frisbee Independent Project Fitness Fitness Yearbook Swimming Fitness Diving Drama

*Additional fee Descriptions of Offerings 1. Interscholastic Sports:

14 Pingree fields 44 teams in 15 interscholastic sports.

2. Manager of Interscholastic Athletic Teams: A successful athletic program relies upon key students who choose to work as team managers. Managing is an ideal opportunity for a student to be an active, supportive member of a Pingree team. The Athletic Directors assign duties. Managing is sometimes supplemented by another activity, such as Community Service.

3. Pursuit: A non-competitive athletic option, Pursuit offers an outdoor education of training in self-reliance, leadership, wilderness skills, first aid and physical fitness. Additional fee.

4. Dance: The afternoon dance program is a basic class designed to develop good body mechanics that can be adapted to dance.

5. Drama and Technical Crew: A student may participate in a dramatic production in place of athletics during two of the three seasons.

6. Community Service and Independent Project

A) Community Service:

Students may select a community service project during the afternoon program in lieu of athletic commitment. All community service projects must include the following: 1) A proposal for the project including the goals of the project and a listing of tasks to be performed five days a week (not including weekends) for an hour and a half each day; 2) An explanation of transportation to and from the activity; 3) The name, address and phone number of the on-site supervisor; 4) The signatures of the student, parent, faculty advisor, and the supervisor.

Juniors and seniors have the option of choosing Community Service as their Afternoon Program during one sport season with the approval of the Afternoon Program Committee; this time will count toward the Community Service graduation requirement.

All Community Service Project Proposals must be completed, approved and on file with the Afternoon Program Committee before the start of the season.

B) Independent Project:

An independent project may be a sport or activity which is not offered at Pingree and in which a student has ability and a serious interest . A student must request approval for participation in these activities by completing a proposal before the start of the athletic season. An independent project proposal follows the same guidelines as the proposal for Community Service projects.

An independent project that involves playing a sport that Pingree offers but that is undertaken in a season other than the school season when it is offered at Pingree is permissible with departmental approval. However, Pingree’s expectation is that the student will play for the school team during the school season when that sport is offered by Pingree. For example, a student who has elected to train with an outside coach for tennis would be able to pursue tennis as an independent project for the fall and winter but would be required to play on the Pingree tennis team during the school’s spring interscholastic season.

Athletics Pingree fields approximately 44 teams, with most sports offering two and sometimes three levels of competition so that all students can participate at a level appropriate to their abilities. A student's commitment to the afternoon program means attending all games,

15 practices and scheduled activities. Freshmen, sophomores and juniors are required to participate in three seasons; seniors must participate in two.

Because athletics is an integral part of each student's education at Pingree, the Athletic Program strives to be consistent with the school's mission.

Purpose:

1. The Athletic Program is intended to give each member of the community an appreciation for the health, well being and enjoyment of physical activity. Through athletics each student is encouraged to commit both to personal growth and to the goals of the team. 2. The Program also is intended to teach each student the value of achievement through a group effort and the value of respect for one another, the team, coaches, opponents and officials. 3. The Athletic Program is intended to reach every student by recognizing different levels of ability. A competitive interscholastic schedule is provided in 16 sports, each emphasizing fundamental skills, teamwork, and dedication to achievement and excellence. Pingree also takes pride in its Dance, Community Service, Drama, and Pursuit programs where a student may excel in a challenging alternative to interscholastic sports. 4. Pingree believes in maintaining an atmosphere of sportsmanship and proper perspective of performance for its athletes. While encouraging respect, friendship and enjoyment among the athletes, the Athletic Program must also allow them to develop competitive maturity and the ability to handle stress and maintain a winning attitude even while losing a contest. Without confusing the will to win with over-emphasis on winning, Pingree encourages its athletes to work as vigorously as possible in the spirit of the game.

Code of Ethics, Proper Conduct and Sportsmanship

As a basic principle, we believe that the lessons learned from fairly played athletics, including practices and games, whether interscholastic or not, are of benefit to our students and our school. The purpose of this Code of Ethics and Conduct is to define what "fairly played" means and to provide guidelines for NEPSAC athletes, coaches, officials and spectators alike to follow. At the heart of this matter lie several terms which are often hard to define, yet no more important tasks confront teachers and coaches than to set standards which are fair and honorable. Throughout this code, when such terms as "proper conduct" and "good sportsmanship" are mentioned, they refer to such standards.

1. Treat other persons as you know they should be treated, and as you wish them to fairly treat you. 2. Regard the rules of your game as agreements, the spirit or letter of which you should not evade or break. 3. Treat officials and opponents with respect. 4. Accept absolutely and without quarrel the final decision of any official. 5. Honor visiting teams and spectators as your guests and treat them as such. Likewise, behave yourself as an honored guest when you visit another school. 6. Be gracious in victory and defeat; learn especially to take defeat well. 7. Be as cooperative as you are competitive. 8. Remember that your actions on and off the field reflect on you and your school.

Guidelines for Players: 1. Players shall at all times represent themselves and their school with honor, proper conduct, and good sportsmanship. They shall understand that competitive rivalries are encouraged, but that disrespect for opponents is unsportsmanlike and lessens the value of the rivalries. They shall confine the competitiveness of the game to the field, and in particular behave properly on the sidelines and in the locker rooms both before and after games. Students who consistently demonstrate unacceptable behavior will not be considered for any athletic awards or honors at Pingree or in its leagues. 2. Players shall comply fully with rulings of officials. In no way, either in voice, action, or gesture, shall they demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the decisions made. 3. Players will not deface property or remove equipment of any kind from their own or another school.

16

Guidelines for Spectators:

1. Spectators, whether students, faculty, parents, alumni, or friends, bear important responsibilities to the school and the atmosphere and conduct of games, whether home or away. They should watch games from those areas defined by each school as spectator areas. They must not run up and down sidelines, call to players, coaches, or officials in an unsportsmanlike manner, go into the field of play, or deface property. Any action that detracts from the ability of coaches, players, and officials to do their best is not acceptable. 2. Faculty members should remember that their responsibilities for student discipline and behavior extend to disciplining and controlling students who misbehave as spectators. 3. The use of alcohol and illegal drugs must not be associated with any athletic event. This includes participants and spectators.

Since Pingree believes that athletics is an integral part of education, the school will take commensurate measures to help students who have difficulty either meeting their commitments or conforming to proper conduct and good sportsmanship on and off the field. If a coach feels that a student's commitment to his or her team or a student's actions warrant special attention, the athletic directors will set up a conference with the student, his or her advisor, coach, and athletic directors to determine the best course of action.

Activities: Many faculty and students pursue interests outside of the formal academic and athletic programs, which they share in the Activities Program. The purpose of the program is to develop students’ skills and talents, leadership abilities and self-confidence. Examples of Activities offered are the following:

Admission Guides College Bowl Environmental Group Fall Drama/Spring Musical Math Team Gadfly (yearbook) The Columns (newspaper) Pegasus (literary magazine) Science League Social Concerns Group Student Events Student Government

All students are encouraged to participate in any of these activities or to create new organizations when there is interest and faculty supervision.

17 ATTENDANCE

There are two types of absences: Excused are those due to illness or by prior arrangement. Unexcused are all other absences. The school expects all families to adhere strictly to the school calendar and especially discourages absences immediately before or after vacations.

Excused Absences Illness. The parent of an ill child must call the school’s main office by 8:00 a.m. each day the student will be absent due to illness or injury. Parents may call before 7:30 a.m. and leave a message on the nurse’s voicemail explaining the reason for the absence. A written note from parents explaining the absence must be presented to the nurse on the day of return. Students who appear ill or are injured during the school day should be assessed by the nurse. A parent will be called and a decision will be made as to dismissal from the school day. If a student misses more than three consecutive days, students must provide the nurse with a note from their Primary Care Provider. If a student is absent due to illness on a given day and misses classes, he or she may not return for non-academic activities later the same day.

Parents are encouraged to have their child stay home if he/she exhibits any of the following: fever above 100.0 degrees within the last 24 hours; sore throat or swollen glands; has contagious symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, or red draining eyes; undiagnosed rash or skin eruptions; head lice or nits.

Students diagnosed with a communicable disease are excused from school according to the guidelines of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Any student with a confirmed case of impetigo, meningitis, pertussis, ringworm, conjunctivitis, chickenpox, scabies, or other contagious conditions is excused from school.

The nurse will explain treatment to the parents and can provide information. The student may return to school after he/she has received appropriate treatment and has been re-examined by the school nurse to verify that treatment has been effective. Students who have been placed on antibiotics may return to school no sooner than 24 hours after beginning treatment.

For additional information regarding communicable disease, please contact the Director of Health Services.

Other Excused Absences Only the Dean of Student Life or the Director of Academic Planning may give permission for excused absences other than illness, whether for part or all of a day. Written requests for a partial-day, excused absence, stating the type, date, time, duration of the appointment, should be given to the Dean of Student Life no later than 8:00 a.m. on the day of the appointment. If classes are to be missed, all teachers are to be informed of the excused absence. Written requests for full-day, excused absences should be given to the Dean of Student Life at least three days before the date of the proposed absence. The Dean of Student Life will give the student a form to be signed by all teachers of classes to be missed and to be returned to the Dean of Student Life. Extended excused absences must be approved by the Curriculum Committee.

College Visits. The school encourages college visits during the summer prior to the senior year. A senior who wants to visit a college during the school year may do so during two College Visit Days in the fall, one of which is designated in October and one of which can be of the student’s choice. In addition, there are two floating days in April for visits to colleges to which they have been accepted. Seniors must complete an excused absence form obtained from the Dean of Student Life’s office prior to a college visit.

Physician Appointments. Medical appointments that conflict with a student’s school schedule should not be made. In cases of unavoidable or emergency appointments, a parent must send a note to or call the Dean of Student Life in order to document the student’s absence.

18 Religious Holidays. The school respects all major religious holidays and understands that students will miss school for religious observances. Communication between home and school is requested in such cases so that teachers can show sensitivity in arranging makeup work.

Unexcused Absences Any absence, other than illness, not approved in advance by the Dean of Student Life and the Director of Academic Planning according to the above rules, is considered an unexcused absence. Teachers are not responsible for providing extra help to students to cover an unexcused absence. In addition, any student who is too ill to come to school may not participate in any after school activity.

Class Attendance Pingree believes that daily attendance is central to the educational process and to the interaction of students and teachers in the classroom. With that belief in interactive learning as our guide, our policy is as follows:

Any absence must be excused with a note or phone call from a parent. Unexcused absences are a disciplinary offense and will be referred to the Dean of Student Life. Any unexcused absence incurs a 0 for work due or completed in class that day.

After 10 absences of either kind in any given semester, a student will receive a written warning that he/she must meet with the Director of Academic Planning to explain why he/she should not be placed on a pass/fail status. After 12 absences, the Director of Academic Planning will meet again with the student and his/her family. Without a satisfactory explanation for the absences, the Director of Academic Planning will ask the Curriculum Committee to place the student on pass/fail. In the case of seniors, that status will be reported to the colleges to which the student has applied. After 15 absences without a satisfactory explanation, a student will receive no credit for the course. In the case of a senior, it will mean failure to receive a diploma until an equivalent course is successfully completed.

Homework During Absences Students are expected to complete their homework assignments on schedule even during an absence. Students may request assignments via email or communicate with a classmate.

Late Arrival to School A student who arrives late to school with an excuse by means of a parent phone call or note must sign in at the Front Office stating time of arrival and reason for lateness. He or she will receive an excused lateness. SCHOOL BEGINS AT 8:00 A.M. unless there is a late start for teachers’ meetings. If a student is unexcused late due to illness, he or she may not be allowed to participate in any after school activity. A student who arrives late to school with or without documentation must sign in at the Front Office stating time of arrival and reason for lateness. He or she will receive an unexcused lateness. Under both circumstances, the student must proceed directly to class.

Sign-in/Sign-out If during the course of the day a student must leave campus due to an appointment or an off-campus afternoon activity other than an away game, he or she must sign out in the Front Office, stating time of departure and destination. If the student returns before 4:45 p.m., he or she must sign in at the Front Office stating time of arrival. If this procedure is not followed, the student may be viewed as being off campus without permission, which is a violation of a major school rule.

Senior Open Campus Senior Open Campus is a privilege that the faculty grants to the senior class when, in the opinion of the faculty, that class has earned it. Conditions of the Open Campus are developed by the senior class and determined annually by faculty vote. Each senior and his or her parents receive a copy of the guidelines, expectations and disciplinary action for breaking the rules. 19

BEHAVIOR AND DISCIPLINE

Standards of Behavior A Pingree Student is - Personally and academically honest - Respectful of the privacy of others - Courteous to every individual - Responsible to the community - One who takes responsibility for his/her actions

Pingree expects all its members to share responsibility for the well-being of the school community. We value diversity and celebrate the accomplishments of all of our members. We expect everyone to commit to the wellness of the school through concern, kindness and respect. To this end we have attempted to provide a basic set of rules that will provide the parameters for appropriate behaviors.

Pingree’s standards of behavior and discipline are not intended to be exhaustive, and Pingree reserves the right to apply them in its sole discretion. Students may be disciplined or dismissed for conduct by the student or the student’s parents or guardians which Pingree determines to be disruptive or injurious to the welfare of the school community and educational process.

Academic Honesty Honesty in academic matters, as in all others, is a non-negotiable expectation of all members of the Pingree community. Academic dishonesty is considered a serious breach of conduct. Examples of academic dishonesty include (but are not limited to)

- consciously taking ideas of others and presenting them as one’s own; - copying or consulting notes during an in-class exam; - presenting a paper or essay or any part therein that had been previously presented by another student; - presenting a paper or project for credit in one course that has already been given credit in another course without acknowledging that fact; - the use of "Cliff Notes" as the basis for essays.

Often students are unaware of acts of academic dishonesty. It is incumbent upon the student, when he or she is questioning the honesty of an act, to consult the teacher. Teachers will make every effort to explain plagiarism and cheating in general terms, yet when specific issues arise, it is the student’s responsibility to seek out the appropriate teacher. In a case of suspected cheating or plagiarism, the classroom teacher may wish to deal with a first offense in the context of the classroom, advising both the student’s advisor, Class Dean, and the Dean of Student Life of the offense and what action was taken (e.g. “0” on the assignment). In the case of any subsequent offenses, the case will be referred to the Academic Integrity Committee. A decision will then be reported back to the Dean of Student Life, and a Discipline Committee may be convened.

Major Disciplinary Offenses While most major disciplinary offenses are defined by their nature, the following specific policies have been established:

Drug and Alcohol Infractions. The use or possession of drugs, drug paraphernalia or alcohol by Pingree students is not allowed on campus, during school-related activities, or while traveling to or from the school. A student coming to the campus or to a school- related activity under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be regarded in the same light as a student who chooses to violate the on- campus rule.

20 Hazing and Bullying. Hazing and bullying are offenses against one of the most fundamental guidelines of behavior that we have at Pingree, namely that each member of the Pingree community will treat every other person with the greatest care and respect. Any incident of hazing or bullying will be considered as a major disciplinary offense and will be referred to the Discipline Committee.

Pingree School adheres to and enforces Massachusetts General Law Ch. 269, Sections 17-19, which prohibits hazing. Members of any organization that fail to comply with the Massachusetts statutes will be subject to the disciplinary process which may result in immediate expulsion or suspension. Copies of the Massachusetts statute are available upon request from the Dean of Student Life.

Off-Campus Behavior. Pingree does not and cannot take responsibility for activities or actions of our students that take place off school grounds and are not school related. Parents must take full responsibility. However, when the actions of a Pingree student are deemed so egregious that the school’s position in the community may be compromised, the school may take action. If the school chooses to do so, all appropriate disciplinary procedures will be followed.

The school reserves the right to go so far as to withhold a diploma from a student who has committed a serious crime or taken other actions deemed both egregious and contrary to the school’s mission, whether on or off campus.

Sexual Harassment. It is the goal of Pingree School to promote a community that is free of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is unlawful and will not be tolerated by Pingree School. Further, any retaliation against an individual who has complained about sexual harassment or retaliation against individuals for cooperating with an investigation of a sexual harassment complaint is similarly unlawful and will not be tolerated. To achieve our goal of providing a community free from sexual harassment, the conduct that is described in this policy will not be tolerated; and we have provided a procedure by which inappropriate conduct will be dealt with if encountered by members of the community.

Because Pingree takes allegations of sexual harassment seriously, we will respond promptly to complaints of sexual harassment. Where it is determined that such inappropriate conduct has occurred, we will act promptly to eliminate the conduct and impose such corrective action as necessary, including disciplinary action where appropriate.

Please note that while this policy sets forth our goals of promoting a community that is free of sexual harassment, the policy is not designed or intended to limit our authority to discipline or take remedial action for conduct which we deem unacceptable, regardless of whether that conduct satisfies the definition of sexual harassment.

Definition of Sexual Harassment In Massachusetts, the legal definition of sexual harassment is as follows: “Sexual harassment” means sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: (a) submission to or rejection of such advances, requests or conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment or as a basis for employment decisions; or (b) such advances, requests or conduct have the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s performance by creating an intimidating, hostile, humiliating, or sexually offensive environment.

The legal definition of sexual harassment is broad and in addition to the above examples, other sexually oriented conduct, whether intended or not, that is unwelcome and has the effect of creating an environment that is hostile, offensive, intimidating, or humiliating to male or female members of the community may also constitute sexual harassment.

While it is not possible to list all those additional circumstances that may constitute sexual harassment, the following are some examples of conduct which, if unwelcome, may constitute sexual harassment depending upon the totality of the circumstances including the severity of the conduct and its pervasiveness:

• Unwelcome sexual advances -whether they involve physical touching or a note; • Sexual epithets, jokes, written or oral references to sexual conduct, gossip regarding one’s sex life, comments on an individual’s body, comments about an individual’s sexual activity, deficiencies, or prowess; • Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, cartoons; • Inquiries into one’s sexual experiences; and, 21 • Discussion of one’s sexual activities.

As stated above, retaliation against an individual who has complained about sexual harassment and retaliation against individuals for cooperating with an investigation of a sexual harassment complaint are unlawful and will not be tolerated by Pingree School.

Individuals might unintentionally act in a manner that others experience as sexually harassing or humiliating. Whatever the basis for the harassment, it is prohibited. Attempts to justify such behavior as a "prank" or "joke" do not change its harassing nature, and the person behaving in such a manner assumes the responsibility for his or her own actions. If anyone in the Pingree community believes that he or she has been subjected to sexual harassment, that individual has the right to file a complaint with the school. This may be done in writing or orally.

Incidents of sexual harassment are considered to be major disciplinary offenses and will be heard by the Discipline Committee. Students who believe that they have been subjected to harassment should contact Mr. Taft, Dean of Student Life; or Dr. Esty, Director of Counseling. These people are also available to discuss any concerns you may have and to provide information to you about our policy on sexual harassment and our complaint process.

State and Federal Remedies In addition to the above, if you believe you have been subjected to sexual harassment, you may file a formal complaint with either or both of the government agencies set forth below. Using our complaint process does not prohibit you from filing a complaint with these agencies. Each of the agencies has a short time period for filing a claim (EEOC - 180 days; MCAD -6 months).

1. The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) 1 Congress Street - 10th Floor, Boston, MA 02114 (617) 565-3200

2. The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (“MCAD”), Boston Office: One Ashburton Place - Room 601, Boston, MA 02108, (617) 727-3900 or Springfield Office: 424 Dwight Street, Room 220, Springfield, MA 01103 (413) 739-2145.

Tobacco. Pingree is a smoke-free environment. The use, possession, or being in the presence of tobacco in any form is a violation of school rules. A first offender will be on "smoking probation." If a second offense should occur, the student will be required to appear before the Discipline Committee.

Lateness to School. Each semester, upon accumulating 3 unexcused lates, the student's advisor will be informed, who in turn will inform the parents. At that time it will be made clear that upon accumulating the fifth unexcused late, the student will meet with the Class Dean regarding appropriate response.

Minor Disciplinary Infractions Minor infractions include, but are not limited to the following 1. Lateness to class 2. Dress Code violation 3. Leaving tray behind in cafeteria 4. Littering

Discipline Committee In the event that a student violates a major school rule, the incident is reported to the Dean of Student Life. The Dean of Student Life meets with the Head of School to determine whether the case will go before the Discipline Committee. If it is decided that a committee meeting is appropriate, the Director of Advising and Counseling, the student’s advisor, and parents are notified by the Dean of Student Life. The Committee convenes as soon as possible to review the matter. Upon evaluating the information, the Discipline Committee recommends disciplinary measures to the Head of School, whose decision is final. The school communicates the decision to the parents.

College Office Policy Regarding Disciplinary Infractions – Re-Write coming from Buddy 22 Certain colleges and universities are asking questions on their applications about student infractions, including those resulting in suspension and dismissal. We expect any student who has been subjected to disciplinary action to answer any pertinent application question honestly. Colleges and universities also are asking the same questions of the schools. The College Counseling Office will answer any questions which are posed on Secondary School Reports. Pingree also will report any disciplinary incidents which occur after the School Statement has been written which result in suspension, or dismissal. In all such cases, a letter will be sent to the colleges and universities to which the student applied. Such letter will address the infraction as well as the punishment, and will then refer the college to the student who will have the opportunity to write a letter explaining the circumstances related to the infraction. A student’s disciplinary record, with the exception of dismissal, will not become a part of his or her transcript.

Punishment vis-à-vis Academic Work Based on the seriousness of an inappropriate action by a Pingree student, the school’s response can be as severe as suspension or expulsion. Earlier sections of the Handbook refer to major and minor disciplinary infractions, and we try to determine appropriate punishments based on the nature of the infraction. It should be noted that students who are suspended for infractions of a non- academic nature will be given the opportunity to submit in a timely fashion their missed academic work for full credit.

DAILY STUDENT LIFE

School Day . The school day begins at 8:00 a.m. Students may arrive at school any time after 7:00 a.m. On Monday and Friday mornings, we meet as a whole school in the theatre. On Tuesday and Thursday mornings, students meet with their advisors, and on Wednesdays there are class meetings. School ends at 4:45 p.m. Students may stay later for games or other afternoon requirements. These are scheduled in advance, and students should make necessary plans to meet commitments and arrange travel.

The school building is open until 9:00 P.M. Special events are scheduled for specific areas of the campus or its buildings. Students and parents are asked to stay in those areas after hours.

Books. Course textbooks are available for purchase on-line through Varsity Books. Please check the Pingree School website [pingree.org] for the link directly to Varsity Books.

Bounds . School bounds can generally be defined as those mowed, paved or open areas that surround the school buildings. The student parking lot, hockey rink and all wooded areas abutting the playing fields are out of bounds unless the student has received specific permission from a coach, faculty member or the Dean of Student Life. The land area behind the student parking lot, the areas around the pond, and the hill between the two driveways are also out of bounds.

If students need to go to the Student Parking area or the hockey rink during the academic day, they must sign out in the Front Office, clearly stating the time of departure and purpose. They must sign in upon returning to the building.

Students found to be out of bounds during the school day will face disciplinary action.

Breakfast. Students may purchase breakfast foods, for a nominal cash amount, in the Commons between the hours of 7:15 and 10:15 a.m.

Cars . Students may drive to and from school but are not to use their cars during the school day without special permission. Students must have a parental permission slip on file in the office if they drive to school, or if they arrive with another student who drives. These permission slips will include a description and license number of the cars. All students’ cars must be parked in the designated student parking lots. If a complaint is received about a student’s diving, either on-campus or off-campus on the way to or from school or on a school-related trip, that student will be warned and his or her parents and the parents of the carpool riders notified. If a second complaint is received, the student’s driving privileges will be suspended. Any further complaint may incur loss of driving privileges for the remainder of the school year. Students who ride in student carpools are reminded that they also have a responsibility for safe behavior in cars. 23

Fire Drills . The procedure for leaving the building from any particular room is posted in that room. Students should make a quick and quiet exit to the lawn near the ice rink, where Class Deans take attendance.

Lockers. Every student has a book locker with a lock. Gym lockers are equipped with combination locks.

Lost and Found . The Lost & Found large wooden boxes are located around the school. Students may also check with the Front Office for lost items.

Lunch . There are two 25-minute lunch periods each day. The kitchen is closed after the first lunch until the beginning of the second lunch. (See daily schedules for exact times.) The school’s food service provides a healthy, well-balanced lunch. Parents with concerns should contact the Director of Finance & Operations, Jock Burns.

Note: All food is to be eaten in the Commons area. No cups or dishes should be taken out of the Commons. Students should clean up after themselves.

Messages . Parents who need to get messages to their child may call the school, and the message will be left on the message board outside the Main Office. Parents are asked to understand that students may or may not see the messages and that we cannot guarantee that messages will be received. In the event of an emergency, the student will be contacted immediately.

Pets . Students may not bring pets to school without permission.

Supplies. The School Store, located in the Commons, sells pens, pencils, paper, notebooks, etc. The Store also carries a variety of clothing items. Students may charge their purchases, and charges will appear on monthly invoices. Other Purchases: The Business Office must approve the use of charge slips for events and fund raising activities prior to the event.

Telephones . There are two pay phones for student use, one outside the Commons and one in the hallway to the theatre wing.

Visitors . Students are welcome to invite friends to visit school for a day. They must complete a Visitor Form, which will notify the Main Office, Dean of Student Life and all of their teachers at least 24 hours in advance of the visit. (Visitor Forms are available in the Dean’s Office.) Visitors must sign in at the Main Office and obtain a Visitor Pass for the day. Visitors are expected to obey all school rules, including the Dress Code, and students are responsible for their guests. The Dean of Student Life reserves the right to limit the number of student visitors to the school.

Weather Cancellation Before School Day . The school will remain open most days with only severe weather causing a school delay or closing . Even when school is open, parents are expected to determine if the weather conditions in their area permit safe travel to the school. Announcements of school delay or closing due to weather will be broadcast over WBZ 1030 AM radio and the following television stations: WHDH Channel 7, WCVB Channel 5, and WBZ Channel 4, and on the school’s website: www.pingree.org. Decisions are made at or before 6:30 a.m. Parents and students are asked NOT to call the school.

Pingree has an automated rapid notification service that allows us to contact hundreds of parents or guardians simultaneously. A recorded voicemail message will be sent to the entire Pingree community in the event of an emergency or school cancellation.

Our athletic policy on school cancellation : If school is canceled as a result of weather conditions, we will cancel games and practices as well. Any exception to this policy must be cleared through both the Athletic Director and the Head of School.

Weather Cancellation During School Day . If a weather condition or emergency occurs during the school day that necessitates early dismissal, buses will run early. The school will stay open for students awaiting transportation.

Other Emergency Closings . If the school is closed for any other reason, parents will be informed through the AlertNow automated rapid notification service. 24

Note: In the event of excessive cancellation of classes due to inclement weather or other unexpected causes, the school administration will determine if the school calendar should be adjusted to include additional classes and/or school days.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Student Health Services Health needs in a day school tend to fall into five major categories. The following explains Pingree’s support for and response to student health needs.

1. Illness . In general, students who are too ill to attend school stay home and receive assignments from their teachers through email or classmates. Illnesses that occur during the school day are assessed by the school nurse who renders appropriate medical care and initiates communication to parents and appropriate school personnel.

2. Athletic Injuries . One of the standards for membership in the Eastern Independent Athletic League, of which Pingree is a member, is that each school has a NATA certified trainer on staff and in attendance at games. Thus, Pingree athletes are assured of proper care before and during games and practices. We also rely on Hamilton’s public safety personnel (Police and Fire). Our Trainer also conducts training sessions for coaches at the start of each season, advising them of appropriate procedures in the event of injury and/or while waiting for treatment.

3. Medical Emergencies . In the event that a student is seriously hurt and needs immediate medical attention during the course of the day, the school nurse, trained in emergency medical care, will be promptly called to the scene (or another member of the emergency response team) to assess, intervene and transport the student to the nearest healthcare facility. Parents will be notified as soon as possible of such an occurrence.

4. Mental Health . In the normal course of working with adolescents, we frequently need to respond to emotional crises or provide support to students who are wrestling with longer-term issues and problems. In this regard, Pingree is fortunate to have School Counselor Susan Esty whose sensitivity and professional training make her a valuable resource for students, staff and parents seeking advice. Dr. Esty also works with faculty advisors to help them in their daily interaction with students.

5. Nutrition and Health Concerns . Pingree expects its students to accept responsibility for maintaining nutritional and drug-free health in order to achieve educationally. The school, with the advice of the Director of Advising and Counseling, reserves the right to contact parents if there is a concern about eating habits or a suspected problem with drugs or alcohol.

Emergency Form It is essential for parents to keep us current with daytime telephone numbers and the names and telephone numbers of other people to contact if they cannot be reached. This form must be submitted to the School Nurse by August 1 and updated as changes occur throughout the year.

Health Form In accordance with the Massachusetts State Law, students are required to have an annual physical exam. Pingree does not conduct the exam that the State requires and recommends that parents consult with their healthcare provider to ensure these exams are carried out annually for their child. Medical forms must be completed and returned by August 1 . Students will not be admitted to school or preseason sports without current forms on file .

Parents Away From Home If parents are to be away from home, they must inform the advisor how to reach them in case of emergency and give the advisor the name, address, and telephone number of the person who will be responsible for their child.

SCHOOL POLICIES

25

Parent-School Partnership Expectations The Pingree education depends upon a healthy partnership among school, student and family. When parents or family members engage in conduct or activities that are disruptive or detrimental to the administration, faculty or staff, or to the educational or extracurricular environment, and are not in keeping with the spirit of cooperation and trust that is essential to the partnership, the school reserves the right to suspend or dismiss the student at any time. Custody Matters and Parent Obligations It is the obligation of parents with court orders relative to the three custody policy topics delineated below to provide the school counselor and the student’s advisor with an official copy of any court order prior to the first day of school annually.

Health, education, and welfare records of students : Absent an order of the court to the contrary, each parent shall have equal access to the records of his/her minor child involving the health, education, and welfare of the child. It is Pingree School’s policy upon request by either parent to communicate freely with both parents about the health, education, and welfare of their children. Both parents will be notified in the event a child is withdrawn from school. It is the policy of Pingree School not to interpret court orders. Pingree will follow the mandate of the General Statutes unless provided or served with a certified copy of a court order specifically ordering Pingree School to refuse access to a parent to the records of a minor child involving the health, education, and welfare of that child.

Participation by both parents: Absent an order of the court to the contrary, each parent shall be allowed to participate in school activities that involve parents in general, such as school field trips, class parties, and school events. Parents are expected to conduct themselves appropriately at all times. It is the policy of Pingree School not to interpret court orders. Pingree will follow this policy unless provided or served with a certified copy of a court order specifically ordering Pingree School to refuse a parent access to school activities that involve parents in general.

Child pick-up from school: Absent an order of the court to the contrary, either parent will be allowed to pick up his/her child or children from school. It is the policy of Pingree School not to interpret court orders with respect to custody or visitation. Pingree will allow either parent at any time to pick up his/her child or children unless provided or served with a certified copy of court order specifically ordering Pingree School to prohibit a child from being picked up by a particular parent.

Dress Code Students at Pingree are expected to demonstrate respect for the institution in many ways. One way is to follow the dress code as well as acknowledge its underlying spirit and intention. All students are expected to maintain a “clean and neat” standard and to avoid putting others in the position of having to remind them of the school’s expectations. Expectations are as follows: • No jeans or denim. • No hats. • No t-shirts. Pingree’s definition of a t-shirt is a shirt with writing on it. • Boys’ shirts must have buttons and or a collar. • Girls’ skirts and shorts must be of appropriate length. • Girls’ shirts/blouses and dresses must cover the shoulders, midriff, and chest. • Footwear must be worn at all times.

If a faculty or staff member feels that the clothing worn by a student is inappropriate, he or she will ask the student to change and report it to the advisor and Class Dean. Any continued violations of the will result in a conversation with the Dean of Student Life.

Driving Policy to Off-Campus School-Sponsored Events Pingree School provides transportation for all school-sponsored events. For athletic and activity travel, we feel that there is much to be gained in team and school spirit by instilling in each of our students a sense that it is important to be fully committed to one’s team and school.

26 If, however, a parent feels it is essential that a student drive himself or herself to a school-sponsored event, the student must obtain a Driving Request Form from his or her coach or activity leader. Both the student and parent must complete and sign this form and return it to the coach/activity leader in order to forego the use of the transportation provided by the school.

Acceptable Use Policy

The Pingree School is committed to providing safe, high quality computer facilities to all computer users and to maintaining them efficiently and effectively. Computing and Information Technology Resources are provided at the Pingree School in support of the School’s mission. Educational experimentation and exploration are encouraged at Pingree and supported by the computer technology available throughout the School.

Pingree’s email, computers, software, data network, and voice mail are the property of the School. You cannot expect privacy on any Pingree system. The School has the right to access, monitor, read, intercept, copy or delete any incoming and outgoing communication, including the files stored on computers, with or without notice. Pingree School also may disclose these communications to third parties. This applies to employees as well as students.

While no Acceptable Use Policy can cover every unforeseen instance of inappropriate use, this policy is intended to protect and ensure the ethical and equitable use of the Pingree School’s computer resources. Pingree School will periodically update this Acceptable Use Policy. Copies of this Policy will be distributed to and must be followed by all users – students, faculty, staff and administrators. Additionally, it will be posted in computer labs, and electronically on the School’s Website. You are responsible for staying informed about, and abiding by, these policies.

Access to Pingree School computer resources is limited to those members of the community who receive this Acceptable Use Policy and use/need computer resources as part of their daily study, teaching, and/or work routines. All who receive this Policy hereby agree to abide by all of its provisions, including its confidentiality obligations. This Acceptable Use Policy supersedes all prior policies or provisions of this nature.

School computing systems and data networks are expected to be used in accordance with the School’s mission and the rules and policies on the use of School facilities. Conduct that violates the following guidelines is subject to School disciplinary action, including but not limited to revoking access privileges. This conduct includes, but is not limited to the following:

1.Violating copyright laws. Software is not to be copied except as specifically authorized by a member of the Technology Department. Software is protected by US Copyright laws, and all copying of software and data must be consistent with appropriate copyright and privacy laws.

This includes copying School owned or licensed software or data to another computer system for personal or external use without prior approval by a member of the Technology Department, attempting to modify School owned or licensed software or data without prior approval by a member of the Technology Department, or attempting to damage, disrupt, impede or modify the operation of computing and information technology resources equipment; data, voice and video communications equipment; or data, voice and video communications lines.

In addition, just as information from print materials must be referenced, so must intellectual property found on the internet; including but not limited to text, pictures and sound resources. Every reasonable attempt must be made to document the origin of all information used from on-line sources. Acceptable citation format for Pingree School may be found in Diana Hacker’s A Writer’s Reference. Sophomores purchase this text as part of their history research paper unit. Additional copies are available on reserve in the library.

2. Violating Access Rights. As a computer user, you may have access to our computer network. School computers and networks are expected to be used in accordance with the School’s mission and the rules and policies on the use of School facilities. Violations of these policies and procedures can range from revocation of privileges to state/federal prosecution. Misuse of Pingree School’s network includes, but is not limited to:

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· Placing unlawful information on a system. · Using abusive or otherwise objectionable language in either public or private messages. · Using any user account or data file to which the person does not have authorized access. · Abusing or harassing another person or organization through electronic means. · Using the School’s computing facilities in the commission of a crime. · Using the School’s computing facilities for profit. · Destroying, damaging or modifying equipment, software, or data that belongs to the School or other users on storage media or the network. · Disrupting or unauthorized monitoring of electronic communications. · Using computers and/or network facilities in ways that impede the computing activities of others. · Sending or posting messages that would represent an embarrassment to the school by virtue of the sender’s address or other means of identification, and would be harmful to the school. · Sending messages that have contents that may reasonably be considered offensive such as sexual comments or images, racial slurs, or other comments that may offend someone on the basis of his/her age, gender, sex, race, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, or disability. · Using file sharing software (e.g., Kazaa, Bitorrent, Morpheus) or other inappropriate uses that may cause unnecessary congestion of the network or otherwise interfere with others’ work. · Accessing or distributing material the School shall find inappropriate and objectionable. This includes, but is not limited to pornography, hacking, chats, and other non-curricular “sites.”

In cases when such access is necessary for research papers or other course-related activities, students must get permission from a supervising faculty member. A good rule of thumb is if a user has some question about the acceptability of an internet site, they should get permission first.

It can be difficult to identify those responsible because their actions are usually only visible on a single computer screen. We therefore ask that you abide by the following additional guidelines: · If a supervising faculty member asks you what you are doing at a computer, please show him/her your work. · If a supervising faculty member approaches you, DO NOT log off or turn off your computer or monitor.

3. Modifying computers -Users may not modify computers beyond adjusting personal preferences. -Users may not install software, even if it is legally permissible to do so, e.g. open source software and other "freeware."

4. Computer Practices In order to keep computers and computer spaces useable and available to all, you should: · NOT bring food (including gum and candy) or drink into any computer lab. · Recycle waste paper and keep all tables clean. · Remember to take your disk out of the drive or disconnect your external storage device (flash drive) so as to keep your information secure. · Quit all programs and log off the computer when you leave the room. · Report all problems with computers, printers, peripherals, and network connections to a member of the Technology Team, or a faculty member. DO NOT attempt to fix the problem yourself. · Print only ONE copy of any document. If you need to make more than one copy of a document, please use a photocopier. · NOT change any system setting in the computer’s operating system or in any other software on the system. · NOT install new software on or delete software from any Pingree computer or network. · NOT delete or alter files belonging to any other user, or otherwise installed on a Pingree computer.

5. Gaming/Chatting/Social Networking/Email Policy

28 The Pingree School computers are for educational and work purposes ONLY. These computers should NOT be used for playing games, including Internet-based games, or for chatting, including chat rooms and instant messaging programs (e.g., ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger). Social Networking sites such as Myspace and Facebook should also not be accessed from the Pingree School network.

6. Computer Viruses All diskettes and flash drives being used in school computers will be scanned for viruses upon insertion. Should a virus be detected, remove the disk immediately and report the situation to a member of the Technology Team who will help you alleviate the problem.

7. Computer Vandalism Deliberate sabotage or vandalism could make technical equipment unavailable to the community and therefore affects everyone. If you have deliberately vandalized equipment you can be held financially responsible for the repair/replacement of that equipment.

8. Student Owned Computers Student owned computers are allowed at Pingree School but at this time they are NOT to be attached to our network, either wired or wireless. Pingree School can not be held responsible for the theft or damage done to a personally owned computer. The Acceptable use policy applies to student owned computers on campus.

Since no list of guidelines can be complete, let the Golden Rule guide your behavior. Treat public spaces and the work of others as you would hope they would treat your work and space.

Violation of any part or parts of this policy, or any actions taken in violation of the spirit of this document, will be discussed by the members of the Technology Department and, if necessary, referred to the Deans of Students.

Students, Faculty and members of The Pingree School community with questions concerning our Acceptable Use Policy should speak with a member of the Technology Team. 7/2008

Library Policy

Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday (Computers shut down at 4 p.m.) 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Friday (Computers shut down at 2:30 p.m.)

As the heart of the school’s educational program, the library is a place for research, reading and study. Our diverse student population requires equally diverse learning settings, including silent, individual study settings, leisure reading areas, and group seating arrangements for collaborative work. Although a variety of settings is available in the library, some overarching policies are in place to support the library’s function as the primary resource and support of the educational program of the school and to provide an atmosphere conducive to learning and study. These general policies and those specific to certain areas of the library, are outlined below.

In all areas of the library: 1. Student behavior must reflect the atmosphere of serious study and research. If a student is disruptive and/or inconsiderate of other students or adults in the library, the student will be asked to leave. At each of these following offenses, the parents will be notified of the student’s failure to abide by the school’s policy. For the first offense, the student will not be allowed to return to the library for one week. If, after library privileges have been restored, the student continues to be disruptive, he or she will not be allowed to return to the library for one month. If the student’s misbehavior in the library continues after that month, he or she will be restricted from using the library for the rest of the current semester. In such circumstances, if a student is a member of a class whose assignments require use of the library, that student will be allowed to use the library for class research and/or instruction, but must demonstrate acceptable library behavior.

29 2. Any student found defacing or destroying any library materials or furnishings will be charged for the expense of repairing or replacing the damaged item(s). That student will not be allowed to use the library for the remainder of that semester. 3. Pingree School’s Acceptable Use Policy pertains to the library computers as well as those located in computer labs. These computers are intended for academic research and assignments. Email is accessible only to upload/download academically related work to and from the student’s private accounts. Use of chat rooms and inappropriate sites will result in the student being deprived of library privileges for the remainder of the semester. Intentional misuse or inappropriate use of the copier, scanner, or other electronic equipment will also result in the removal of library privileges for the remainder of the semester. 4. Although no late fees are charged for overdue books, the cost of replacing lost books and materials, or repairing those which have been damaged while on loan to students, will be charged to the student’s account. 5. No food or drink is allowed in the library. In specific areas, the following rules apply: 1. In the main reading room and computer/reference areas, quiet conversation is permitted. The leisure reading area and individual study carrels are intended for concentrated study. 2. The Harte Room is reserved for faculty and staff use only. 3. Silence is expected in the Study Carrel Room. Talking is not permitted. Students who do not follow this policy will be asked to leave the library.

Circulation. Books circulate for a period of three weeks and may be renewed through the Librarian. Students writing major papers may request long-term loans. Back issues of periodicals circulate for one week only. Current issues of periodicals, newspapers, reference books, and microfiche remain in the library at all times. Reserve books are also for use only in the library except when written permission from a teacher is given.

Orientation. A Freshman Technology course covers the library orientation and prepares incoming students for the use of technology in the library. See Course Description in the Curriculum Guide. In addition, any student may request special assistance on the library computers or print resources as needed. Student suggestions for new book purchases are welcome and should be given to the Librarian.

Personal Property Certain items are not allowed on campus or their use is restricted. No knives or firearms are allowed under any condition. IPods and other personal stereo equipment may only be used in the Commons. Boom boxes of any type are not to be used on campus. Students are responsible for their own possessions. Valuable items should be locked in student lockers or given to Mr. Taft or the Front Office for safekeeping.

School-Sponsored Events Events which are outside the daily life of the school but which involve Pingree students and are planned by Pingree students and faculty are considered to be school-sponsored. Such events include academic field trips, athletic or club activities, banquets, cast parties, class trips, and class dances held at Pingree. Any parent who wants to know whether or not an event is school-sponsored should feel free to call the school. School-sponsored events will be chaperoned by teachers and often parents as well. School rules apply at school-sponsored events.

Rules for Students Attending Dances at Pingree Students attending dances at Pingree must arrive no later than one hour after the scheduled beginning. A student who leaves a dance may not return. All school rules apply for Pingree students and their guests.

School Trips Policy Pingree believes that school trips provide a valuable dimension to a student's educational experience. A clear understanding of the trip and its goals, of the expected behavior and responsibilities of the students, and of the duties and commitments of the leaders and chaperones is essential to the success of the trip. Pingree has developed the following guidelines and responsibilities for both school- sponsored and non-school-sponsored trips. 30

I. School- Sponsored Trips: Academic day trips, school athletic overnights, school-sponsored cultural, athletic and activity-based tours.

For Students: 1. All school rules are in effect during school-sponsored trips and disciplinary responses will be enforced as outlined in the Student Handbook. 2. Students are expected to follow the schedule established for each trip. 3. The trip leaders will establish curfews and specific rules appropriate to the circumstances of each trip. Violation of any such rules will be treated as major disciplinary offenses. 4. The trip leader reserves the right to send home, at the student's expense, any student whose behavior is considered detrimental to the aims of the trip or to the group as a whole. 5. Students and parents will be expected to sign the same permission slip, thus acknowledging that they understand and accept the rules and expectations of the trip.

For Chaperones: 1. It is the responsibility of the chaperones, whether faculty, parent or friend of the school, to make sure that the trip is a safe, enjoyable and worthwhile experience for all involved. Chaperones are reminded that their example and leadership form a part of the students' experience. Guidelines for chaperones will be set forth before each trip, and all guidelines must be approved by the Trips Committee. 2. Chaperones have the authority to enforce all rules, either acting on them at the time or referring disciplinary situations back to the Trip Leaders.

II. Non-School-Sponsored Trips : Any trips planned during vacation periods, which are not school-sponsored trips, remain the responsibilities of the parents, chaperones or third party organization sponsoring the trip. To the extent parents are involved in promoting such trips, the following guidelines must be adhered to:

1. Recruitment, announcements and correspondence for the trip must be done in a manner that clearly establishes that any parents or school personnel and the tour organization involved are independent of the school for the purposes of the trip. School letterhead and the school may not be used in any representation or communication regarding the trip. 2. The school name shall not be used in conjunction with the trip. This includes the Pingree name or logo on athletic uniforms. 3. There will be no on-campus fund-raising for the purposes of the trip. 4. The Head of School may communicate the school’s position to parents regarding such trips. The communication will underscore parents’ responsibility to investigate any organizations responsible for the trip, including their practices concerning chaperones, discipline and emergency and medical responses. 5. Employees of the school may not chaperone non-school trips.

PARENTS INFORMATION

Parent Conferences Conferences between parents and teachers play a significant role in a child’s education. Communication between parents and the school serves to clarify expectations, assess progress, and aid in understanding the child. Pingree takes seriously its responsibility to bring important information to the attention of parents and, in turn, to respond to parents when they have questions regarding the program or a student’s progress. The student’s advisor is the initial point of contact between home and school. Dates for general Parent-Student-Teacher conferences are scheduled in the fall.

Parents Visiting Night

31 In the fall, parents are encouraged to attend Parents Visiting Night at the school to meet their child’s teachers and visit classes. Parents are also encouraged to set up conferences with their children’s teachers at any time during the year through the advisor or the Director of Advising and Counseling.

Parents Attendance and Behavior at School Events All parents know the importance of showing support for their child’s activity at school by attending events such as athletic contests, drama productions, musical concerts, etc. The school enthusiastically encourages that attendance. Parents attending such events should keep in mind that they are setting an example for their children and that it is most important that the child learn good sportsmanship and good manners from their parents’ examples. The school has guidelines for spectators at school events. Please see Spectator Guidelines under “Athletic and Afternoon Programs.”

1. Pingree is a smoke-free campus. 2. Spectators should watch games from those areas defined as spectator areas. 3. Parents should not run up and down sidelines, call to players, coaches or officials in an unsportsmanlike manner, or go onto the field of play.

Effective Communication With The School Parents can communicate with teachers either directly or through a student’s advisor. It is important for the parent to remember that Pingree teachers are professionals and should be treated with respect and dignity. It is important for the parent to communicate with the faculty objectively, to gather the facts before taking a position, and to avoid confrontational tactics and attitudes. The Head of School is available to resolve these issues and work with parents to find a solution. When issues of discipline, lateness, or absences need to be addressed, the Dean of Student Life is available to hear parents’ concerns.

Parents Association All parents of Pingree students constitute the membership of the Pingree Parents Association. The purpose of this organization is to provide a forum for parents to express and exchange ideas, opinions and concerns with members of the faculty and staff, to assist in the dissemination of information about all phases of student life at the school, and to undertake projects beneficial to the Pingree community as a whole. The dates of the Parents Association meetings and events are listed in the calendar in this Handbook.

Parties and Social Gatherings One of the greatest concerns of parents of adolescents is how to guide their children in regard to parties and social gatherings. Pingree School shares this concern, especially in relation to parties given without parental permission or adult supervision. Such parties inevitably involve the use of alcohol and/or drugs, and too often result in student injury and property damage. While Pingree cannot be responsible for the out-of-school partying of its students, we strongly support families who take a firm position against unsupervised parties.

We urge parents to use the following guidelines when giving parent-hosted parties:

First and foremost, alcoholic beverages should not be served to minors. Parents who do so are liable under the law. Students should not be allowed to consume alcoholic beverages, whatever the source. Students should especially not be allowed to leave and then re- enter the party. Remember, possession, transportation, or consumption of liquor by an individual under the age of 21 is illegal in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Parents and their children should work together to reach a clear understanding of the ground rules of the party. These should include the guest list, firm hours for the beginning and end of the event, and the presence of adults throughout the event. Parents should be prepared to retain keys from anyone who appears to have consumed alcohol or used drugs, and require that such a guest spend the night. Parents should feel free to call the host’s parents to inquire about the ground rules for the party.

32 Voluntary Support at Pingree

Volunteering at Pingree Pingree welcomes the contributions of parents and encourages them to take an active role in the life of the school. The time and talents of volunteers immeasurably enrich the education our students receive at Pingree, and the school counts on all parents to actively participate in support of its programs.

Fund Raising Pingree has a tradition of strong Annual and Capital giving. Every gift, large or small, is a statement of support of Pingree and its educational programs. The school counts on every family to continue this tradition of philanthropy and to be a partner in helping to support the school. The Institutional Advancement Office must approve all fund raising plans proposed by parents, students, and alumni. Annual Fund Tuition alone does not cover the full cost of a Pingree education. Our Annual Fund bridges the gap and allows parents, alumni, grandparents, and past Pingree parents to make a tax-deductible contribution to Pingree. Each gift benefits the entire community by helping us to continue to fund new initiatives in curriculum and teaching, support our dedicated and highly talented faculty, provide opportunities for a variety of extracurricular activities, support students who could not otherwise attend Pingree with financial aid, and maintain our beautiful, state-of-the-art facilities. Each gift to the Annual Fund, no matter how large or small, is important. Capital Fund Raising Capital campaigns have raised substantial funds to create the campus our students enjoy today. Our most recent capital campaign, Building Our Future * Expanding Our Home, raised $8.5 million to build our beautiful Academic Center which opened in September 2004. The generosity of hundreds of donors – parents, faculty and staff, alumni, overseers, parents of alumni, and friends – has enabled Pingree to enhance its facility with not only the Academic Center, but a Library expansion, Commons renovation, the H. Alden Johnson Ice Hockey Rink, the Mary Weld Pingree Center for the Performing Arts, and more. Endowment Fund From time-to-time, Pingree seeks funds for its endowment in support of curriculum and faculty development, salaries, tuition assistance and program enrichment. Planned Giving and Bequests Planned gifts help to ensure the excellence of a Pingree education for generations to come. Established in 1994, the Pegasus Society recognizes those who are planning for the school’s future by naming Pingree in their estate plans or by making life income gifts. Such gifts can provide important tax benefits for donors and their heirs.

Prep@Pingree Prep@Pingree is an academic enrichment program for thirty students from inner-city schools who have successfully completed the seventh and eighth grades. Beginning on the Pingree School campus for five weeks each summer and continuing throughout the school year, the program enables students to sharpen their math, verbal, analytical, written and study skills through courses including math, English, engineering design and history. Students also are provided opportunities for social and cultural exploration within Essex County and beyond. Several students subsequently attend independent high schools, including Pingree School, Brooks School, Central Catholic High School, Groton School, Noble & Greenough School, Kimball Union Academy, Notre Dame High School, Phillips Academy at Andover, Proctor Academy, Saint John’s Preparatory School, Presentation of Mary Academy, Saint Paul’s School and The Governor’s Academy. Annual support for Prep@Pingree sustains the program's operating expenses and a related scholarship to Pingree School. Gifts of all size are welcome and have a profound impact on all who connect to Prep@Pingree.

33 WHO’S WHO

Below is a partial list of some people who can help you with specific areas of school life. If you have other questions, the Main Office can direct you to the appropriate person.

CLASS DEANS: Seniors...... Ms. Savarese Juniors ...... Mrs. Lyons Sophomores ...... Mr. MacLaughlin Freshmen...... Ms. McCoy ACADEMIC CONCERNS ...... Ms. Brown ALUMNI RELATIONS...... Mrs. Polese ASSEMBLIES...... Ms. Brown ATHLETIC PROGRAM...... Mr. McCoy ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT...... Mr. McCoy, Mr. Powers ATTENDANCE...... Class Deans AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT ...... Mrs. Conrad BILLING ...... Mrs. Nelligan, Mrs. Wescott BOOKSTORE SUPPLIES...... Mrs. Gibbs COLLEGE COUNSELING...... Mr. Carey, Ms. Farley COMMUNITY SERVICE...... Mrs. Gibbs COUNSELING...... Dr. Esty DISCIPLINE...... Mr. Taft DIVERSITY ...... Mrs. Gary FACILITY USE/SCHOOL EVENTS...... Mrs. Gray FACILITY RENTAL/OUTSIDE USE...... Mrs. Maggio FINANCIAL MATTERS...... Mr. Burns FINANCIAL AID...... Mrs. Wescott FUND RAISING...... Ms. Moore, Advancement Office HEALTH SERVICES ...... Mrs. Robitaille LOCKERS...... Mr. McCoy, Mr. Powers MATH TEAM...... Mr. Olson MUSIC...... Mr. Hagon PARENT LIAISON...... Mrs. Mathey PEGASUS...... Mr. Erickson, Mrs. Steinert PREP@PINGREE...... Mr.Filosa REGISTRAR...... Mrs. Johnson REPORT CARDS/ACADEMIC PROGRESS ...... Advisor SCHEDULING...... Mr. Merriman SOCIAL CONCERNS GROUP...... Mrs. Gibbs STUDENT ACTIVITIES...... Mrs. Dyer STUDENT COUNCIL...... Mr. Taft STUDENT NEWSPAPER (Columns)...... Mrs. Markowski STUDY SKILLS...... Mrs. Lyons SUMMER PROGRAMS ...... Mr. Young TEXTS...... Course Instructor YEARBOOK (Gadfly)...... Mrs. Taft

34 2008-2009 PARENTS ASSOCIATION OFFICERS

President...... Amy McGowan Vice President...... Maureen Franco Secretary...... Kathy Shelburne Treasurer...... Sarah Pruett Ways and Means...... Sarah Pruett

2008-2009 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Jane Blake Riley ‘77 ...... President James D. Smeallie...... Vice President Keith C. Shaughnessy...... Treasurer Philip G. Lake ‘85...... Secretary Anthony Blackman...... Interim Head of School

Nina S. Anderson ‘77 Mary Puma Kirk C. Bishop Leslie Reichert Tamie Thompson Burke ‘76 Patrick T. Ryan Patricia Castraberti William K. Ryan ‘96 Malcolm Coates Binkley C. Shorts Amy McGowan Joyce W. Swagerty Therese Melden Richard D. Tadler Theodore E. Ober William J. Whelan, Jr. Oliver Parker Sandra Williamson Jagruti R. Patel ‘84 Brucie B. Wright William L. Pingree

OVERSEERS

Alice Blodgett Anne H. Kneisel ‘66 Susan B. Brown ‘70 Susanne Phippen John R. Chandler Charles W. Pingree Herbert F. Collins John R. Pingree James C. Deveney, Jr. Charles P. Rimmer, Jr. Alice Dietrich ‘68 William S. Rogers John Drislane Edward S. Rowland Mimi Davis Emmons ‘64 Gilbert L. Steward, Jr. Richard Harte, Jr. Alexander A. Uhle Richard C. Kennedy

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