STUDENT HANDBOOK 2021-2022 WELCOME This Handbook Serves As a Guide to Life at Choate Rosemary Hall
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CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL STUDENT HANDBOOK 2021-2022 WELCOME This Handbook serves as a guide to life at Choate Rosemary Hall. Students and parents are asked to read the following pages closely and to become familiar with the codes and expectations of the School. Abide by the expectations outlined herein and the student’s experience at Choate will be one of the most positive experiences of their life. Above all, students are encouraged to seek out the wisdom and guidance of the adults in this school who have committed their lives to education and the formation of a system of values that will sustain students both during their time here and in their lives in the years beyond Choate. The School reserves the right to make changes in the codes and expectations outlined in this Handbook as it deems necessary and will provide reasonable notification to the community when a change has been made. Nondiscrimination Policy: Choate Rosemary Hall prohibits in all its programs discrimination against or harassment of any member or group based upon age, gender, race, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, genetic predisposition, ancestry or other categories protected by Connecticut or federal law. It does not discriminate on these bases in the administration of its admission process, educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletics, or other school-administered programs. CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL / 2021-2022 STUDENT HANDBOOK 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS WELCOME ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................1 TABLE OF CONTENTS .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................2 MISSION STATEMENT .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................3 STATEMENT OF CHARACTER ............................................................................................................................................................................................................4 STATEMENT OF EXPECTATIONS ......................................................................................................................................................................................................5 WORKING WITH ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY ...........................................................................................................................................................................7 ADMINISTRATORS ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................7 HELP LINES ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................8 SCHOOL SONG ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................9 RULES AND REGULATIONS ............................................................................................................................................................................................................10 LIFE AT CHOATE ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................32 SCHOOL PROGRAMS .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................44 SERVICES AND FACILITIES ............................................................................................................................................................................................................54 APPENDICES ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................63 INDEX ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................66 2 CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL / 2021-2022 STUDENT HANDBOOK MISSION STATEMENT Two interwoven priorities define the Choate Rosemary Hall experience: a rigorous academic curriculum and an emphasis on the formation of character in a residential setting that allows for teachers and students to live with, and learn from, each other in important ways. The curriculum inspires students to: • think critically and to communicate clearly; • understand various methods of intellectual inquiry and their connections to each other; • recognize the interconnections of learning; • work independently and in partnership with others; • develop a global perspective on cultural, social, political, and environmental issues; • appreciate the importance of beauty and grace in their lives; and • achieve distinction in accordance with their individual interests and talents. In these ways, students are prepared to seek knowledge for its own sake and to pursue further study at the finest colleges and universities. The development of character is a responsibility that rests with every member of the community. In classrooms, on playing fields, in residential houses, students grow in confidence and self-esteem, and are instilled with such fundamental values as honesty, integrity, teamwork, generosity, and compassion toward others. Choate Rosemary Hall also fosters community involvement and service as it prepares students to assume leadership roles in an ever-changing world. As part of its commitment to character formation, the School offers regular community-wide reflections on moral and spiritual issues, as well as exposure to various religious traditions. Choate Rosemary Hall attracts intellectually gifted and motivated students from diverse backgrounds whose commitment to serious study is enhanced in this personally supportive and academically challenging setting. On a campus that inspires a particular sensitivity to beauty, teachers – who share genuine respect and affection for young people – impart an enthusiasm for life and for learning. Choate Rosemary Hall is confident that its graduates will go forth from a school that values each of them for their particular talents and enthusiasms; that affirms the importance of personal integrity and a sense of self-worth; that inspires and nourishes joy in learning and love of truth; and that provides the intellectual stimulation to generate independent thought, confident expression, and a commitment to improve the welfare of others. CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL / 2021-2022 STUDENT HANDBOOK 3 STATEMENT OF CHARACTER Choate Rosemary Hall perceives character – the personal commitment to moral sensibility, to an informed conscience, to an expansive “heart,” and to exercising moral choices – as an integral part of who a person is. In all aspects of life at Choate Rosemary Hall, we attempt to nurture and promote the development of sound character. Among the elements of sound character that the School has identified as central to a person’s life and to our life as a community are: INTEGRITY Integrity means, at root, to be whole. We must each work toward self-knowledge, self-awareness; the beliefs and values that spring from this should be reflected in our behavior. Integrity requires honesty in our academic work and our personal lives; such honesty is crucial for nurturing individual relationships and a community of trust. As we build integrity, we must develop the ability to stand up for what is right. RESPECT Respect involves treating oneself and others with dignity. This includes the acceptance, perhaps even the celebration, of our differences. Respect also includes taking responsibility for our commitments to ourselves and to others, as well as treating all people in a fair, non- prejudicial manner. Respect should extend beyond the Choate community and characterize our interactions with all individuals. COMPASSION Compassion means having a true understanding of, and sympathy for, the condition and needs of others. This requires developing an awareness of what is happening in the lives of other people. Such awareness forms the foundation for, and encouragement of, acts of generosity and support for those in need. 4 CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL / 2021-2022 STUDENT HANDBOOK STATEMENT OF EXPECTATIONS At the heart of Choate Rosemary Hall is a culture defined by integrity, respect, and compassion. All members of the community have an obligation to know and uphold Choate’s values and strive to embody them in word and deed. We therefore expect that all members of the community