Ethel Walker School
Welcome! We are excited that you are part of the Walker’s community and look forward to starting the new school year in September 2021.
We hope you are able to enjoy some time this summer with family and recharge before we begin school this fall. Please use the Back to School checklists to navigate everything you need to complete in the next several weeks. We also encourage you to spend some time looking through the blocks below to familiarize yourself with any technology updates and other important Walker’s information.
We look forward to welcoming you on campus!
Students, click the buttons below to view the full summer reading list and assignments for summer 2021. The English Department encourages you to read as much as possible this summer — get lost in a book, meet inspiring characters, marvel in the wonders of language, find solace in a story, and find new ways to look at the world.
In addition to the required and additional texts for each grade level, grades 6-12 and all adults will read Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor. This All-School Read will bring us together at the beginning of the year to discuss a wonderful book that offers themes of the Walker’s Capabilities Approach Program. Happy reading!
See below for the 2021 registration days and link to the full Opening Days schedule. We will offer a very similar program of welcome on each arrival day, so please feel to join us as you are able, including a Parent Reception on Tuesday, September 7 at 4:30 p.m.
Walker’s dress code has evolved over many decades to represent the styles of the times, while maintaining school traditions. A defined dress code allows us to guide girls to make clothing choices while ensuring their confidence and creating an environment that looks professional and is conducive to learning.
All students at The Ethel Walker School are required to have a device for their academic work. As an Apple school, we strongly recommend Apple laptops (MacBooks) for their versatility and functionality. Families are responsible for purchasing the student’s device, and students are expected to bring their device, fully charged, and in good repair, to school each day.
Acceptable laptops include: an Apple laptop (MacBook) with either of the latest operating systems (OS X 10.14 or newer). You may compare new Mac models here: http://www.apple.com/mac/compare/
With the School’s use of such academic resources as Google Apps for Education, Apple iBooks and Amazon Kindle ebooks, digital notetaking and annotation apps, presentation and multimedia editing software, and our online student information and learning management systems, students with a MacBook will be poised to take full advantage of these tools for learning.
The student’s mobile device will put her in control of her learning and allow for seamless inquiry, collaboration, presentation, and reflection in the classroom. Her device will enable access to the wealth of digital educational resources and, with the help of her teachers and peers, empower her to strengthen her literacies, global perspective, creativity, and abilities to think critically and communicate effectively.
In addition to supporting students’ use of their mobile devices, the School remains committed to maintaining its computer labs on campus to ensure every student will have access to the processing power, cloud connections, and larger screens of desktop computers as needed.
As an Apple school, we rely on very specific ecosystems of applications and technologies that are not available in other platforms. If you have any questions or if you already own another device, please contact Director of Technology Mark Fuller at mfuller@ethelwalker.org or +1-860-408-4230 if there is another device you prefer to use.
AppleCare+ is an extension of the coverage that comes with the device. In addition to extending the normal warranty from 1 to 2 years, it also adds coverage for accidental or physical damage. The cost to repair an iPad is often more than half the cost of a new device. With AppleCare+ the deductible for repair is significantly less.
Director of Technology
After graduating from the University of Rhode Island, Mark has worked as a teacher, network administrator, and director of technology. Mark also spent two years teaching adults technical skills ranging from Word and Excel to web development and programming. He has worked with special needs children in first and second grade, taught sixth, seventh and eighth grade digital literacy, and taught video editing to high school students.
For the required swim test:
A good pair of running shoes and a simple sport watch with a timer
Any students who plan to be in one of our fall and winter dance companies should have the following:
Dancers should also consider performance items including:
Note: Any students taking dance for a single season in the fall or spring should have dance-type attire, but are not required to purchase anything specific unless they want to.
Note: Parents can purchase these items in advance. Alternatively, students will be taken by riding faculty to local tack shops the first week of school to help shop for these items. Families should expect to pay between $225 and $500 total.
All players are required to have the following practice uniform for every training session:
*Knee pads are available for purchase at school
Our dining hall where all meals are served. Some special events are held here as well.
A weekend activity that provides transportation to local shopping centers, restaurants, and movie theaters.
“BB” for short, Beaver Brook houses most academic classes and is the main building on campus.
This is the main theater on campus. Musicals, plays, concerts, and dance performances take place here.
Our boarding school management system that tracks students, manages leave and attendances, sign-in/outs, and more. The system integrates with Veracross to provide instant access to student locations.
The way we talk about how each girl can reach her full potential, all she can be and do, when cultural, economic, and gender barriers and mindsets are removed.
Our Chapel is non-denominational and is where the entire school gathers for Morning Meeting, Wednesday assemblies, and other special events.
A dorm that typically houses 11th and 12th graders.
Located in the Cluett Dorm, it is a place to hang out and relax.
The school store where you can buy snacks, clothes, and school supplies.
Dogswood Day is a culmination of a year of Suns and Dials activity. The Head of School announces Dogswood Day the evening before; students are given the day off from classes and participate in competitive games, ending with the Suns and Dials tug of war.
This stands for “Dean of Students.”
Short for Ferguson Theatre, this is the main theater on campus. The winter play, guest speakers, and some classes use this space.
This is our smaller theater on campus. The winter play, guest speakers, and some classes use this space.
Morning Meeting typically takes places on Monday and Friday mornings. It is a time for all members of the community to share announcements. We sit by advisor group.
Each fall, the Head of School surprises students with the announcement that Mountain Day will occur the following day. Students and faculty climb a challenging trail up nearby Talcott Mountain to the top, for a view that stretches hundreds of miles.
The newest dorm on campus typically houses 9th and 10th graders. Some special events are held here as well.
Another website that students use. Various classes use the site to post assignments and turn in work.
A dorm that typically houses 9th and 10th graders.
Pronounced “soe-sh,” it is an area in the Centennial Center to hang out with friends and have fun.
These are our spirit groups. There are small contests throughout the year, ending with the biggest competition, Dogswood Day.
Small buses that transport students to sports games, weekend activities, and area drive.
A website that all students use. It provides important information such as classes, assignments, and the directory.
The nicknames used for our Head of School, Dr. Meera Viswanathan and her husband, Dr. Eric Widmer. Read more about Ms. Vis here.
Main Desk: +1-860-408-4467
Academic Administration (Harrison Shure): +1-860-408-4212
Athletics (Kati Eggert): +1-860-408-4290
Attendance (Mallory Pasquariello): +1-860-408-4237
Counselor (Joan Skelley): +1-860-408-4284
Student Life (Elisa Del Valle): +1-860-408-4287
Middle School (Isabel Ceballos): +1-860-408-4297
Nurse (Joyce McIntyre): +1-860-408-4289
Registrar/Scheduling/Student Records (Susan Riggles): +1-860-408-4235
Social Justice and Inclusion (Elisa Del Valle): +1-860-408-4287
Student Billing (Beth McWilliams): +1-860-408-4241
Technology (IT Helpdesk Support): +1-860-408-4343
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Administrator on Duty (AOD): +1-860-821-3080
(after 3:30 p.m. and weekends)
Cluett Dorm Faculty On Duty: +1-203-707-1154
New Dorm Faculty On Duty: +1-860-266-5861
Smith Dorm Faculty On Duty: +1-860-266-5864
