Hello! My name is Jessica Chicoski, and I serve as the Middle School representative for The Ethel Walker School Parents Association. My husband, Ed, and I live in New Hartford, Connecticut, and our daughters, Marlita and Evelyn, both joined Walker’s as Middle School day students.

Walker’s holds a special place in our family’s heart. One of the most rewarding parts of our experience has been watching our daughters grow in confidence, find their voices, and embrace new challenges. We are grateful for the caring community and strong foundation Walker’s has provided during these important years in their lives.

We value the small classes, caring teachers, and supportive community where our daughters have felt known and encouraged. Walker’s has offered opportunities to challenge themselves academically, explore their interests, and become more independent. For Marlita, that included advanced math and varsity athletics—experiences that helped her develop confidence, resilience, and time-management skills.

Evelyn has grown in confidence and developed her public speaking skills, embracing opportunities to lead and participate. She currently serves as Middle School class president, competes in three varsity sports, and has become the head for the Coding Club. Watching her find her voice and take on these responsibilities has been especially rewarding.

As parents, we value Walker’s commitment to both academic achievement and personal growth. Its emphasis on kindness, responsibility, and respect reflects the values we nurture at home. We are deeply grateful for a community that sees our daughters as individuals, encourages their potential, and gives them the confidence to lead, explore, and grow. We could not be more grateful for the role Walker’s plays in helping our daughters become confident, capable young women.

Hello! My name is Kara Lucht and my daughter, Hallie, is a day student and member of the Class of 2029. Hallie and I live in Cheshire, CT with my husband, Justin, and son C.J. who is part of the Class of 2027 at Avon Old Farms. In addition to being a Parent Ambassador, I am involved in the EWS Parents Association which plans various events for the girls during the year, participate in various prospective and new student events, and am always eager to help in any capacity that I can.

As a Walker’s graduate, the school has been special to me for over 25 years. However, when the time came to start talking about options for high school, the decision was 100% Hallie’s. She chose Walker’s not only for the strong academics that will prepare her for college and beyond, but because she wanted to be part of a diverse and supportive community that offers endless opportunities to try new things. From the first moment Hallie stepped on campus, she was welcomed and embraced by the community, and she knew there was no other place she wanted to be.

At Walker’s, Hallie has found a place where she can grow and be confident both academically and athletically. She is not afraid to ask questions or seek extra help when needed. Hallie has stepped out of her comfort zone both in and out of the classroom and developed close bonds with students, teachers, and coaches along the way.

At Walker’s, Hallie started dance again for the first time she was 8 years old.  Even though she was basically back to being a beginner, she felt comfortable that she could explore something “new” without feeling self-conscious. Hallie is also part of Grapes, the school’s A Capella group. Without the encouragement and the right amount of pushing she needed from her Chorus teacher, she would never even have auditioned for the group much less felt confident enough to perform a solo part at their recent competition.

We love just being on the Walker’s campus whenever we can! Aside from the beautiful grounds and facilities, it is a warm and welcoming atmosphere where faculty, students, and parents always make us feel like a part of the community.

The Ethel Walker School is stunning, historic, and stately on the outside, yet feels like a warm “Walker’s” hug on the inside. In the beautiful campus chapel, you’ll find a community of young women who joyfully share and applaud one another’s achievements in all-school morning meetings. While Renee was primarily seeking academic rigor-which she certainly found-she also gained unexpected and invaluable gifts at Walkers: inclusivity, emotional safety, and an environment that genuinely affirms her developing sense of self.  Rather than the typical teenage experience of staying within an insular social circle, we were surprised and delighted to see Renee enjoying a diverse web of friendships across different grades, sports, and clubs at Walkers. Her friends include both day and boarding students.  As a day student, she loves the community so much we practically have to coax her off campus in the evenings (a shared experience for many Walkers’ day-student parents!).

Renee’s experience is a testament to the research that all-girls schools truly foster leadership.  She has grown from a new student into a leader on the student council Honor Board and a writer/editor for the school newspaper.  Between running cross country, performing with the dance ensemble, and seeking out completely new experiences like squash, African drumming, and volunteering with community partnerships, Walkers hasn’t just educated her; it has helped her discover and celebrate who she is.

Our daughter, Ella, is a day student at The Ethel Walker School and a member of the Class of 2030. Our family lives locally in the Farmington Valley.

Ella has been a part of the Ethel walker community for just under a year. She started at Walker’s partway through her 8th grade year.

We were initially introduced to Walker’s through a summer athletic camp. When we returned to campus during the admission process, my husband and I saw first hand the caliber of academics and athletics our daughter would be part of.  After that visit, it was difficult to picture her anywhere else.

In the 10 months since she started, the change in her has been evident. She has developed the poise and confidence it takes to speak in front of an audience and she has developed the level of self-discipline to navigate a demanding schedule. Her teachers, coaches, and classmates have encouraged her every step of the way, and she has responded by asking more of herself. We can only imagine the young woman she will continue to grow into during the remainder of her high school career.

We wanted to share our perspective, as we believe there are many families that feel the same. My husband and I both attended public schools, and we never planned or expected to send our child to an independent school. We are lucky that, prior to Walker’s, Ella did not lack confidence nor did she struggle in school academically or socially. We just felt like she wasn’t quite getting everything she needed to meet her personal goals and aspirations.

Walker’s has given her exactly that. The school reflects the values and work ethic we try to instill at home. We know at Walker’s, her teachers and mentors know her personally and understand her capabilities to guide her to meet her absolute best.

Choosing Walker’s has been one of the best decisions we have made as parents.