QUESTIONS & ANSWERS for BOARDING and DAY STUDENTS
I have the best of both worlds. I can stay on campus late to hang out with boarders and then go home and spend time with my family. To me, there is little separation between the boarding and day student communities. CA s resources are always there for me. NINA CALLAHAN, D AY S T U D E N T F R O M C O N C O R D, MASSACHUSETTS THE BEST o f BOTH WORLDS Is Concord Academy a BOARDING SCHOOL? Yes. Yes. Is Concord Academy a DAY SCHOOL? Concord Academy is one of the rare high schools with a balance of boarding students who live on campus and day students who live at home. For CA, such a mix shapes the culture of our school, widening students worldviews while deepening their connections to the local area and people. At this 24/7 school, teachers live on campus, learning and laughter bubble up on weekdays and weekends alike, and friendships transcend hometown, culture, and class year.
How does the mix of day students and boarders add to life at CA? With students from around the world, a conversation over lunch can turn into a cultural exchange, and class discussions are sprinkled with global insights. Because the campus is open after classes end for the day, boarders and day students alike stay for athletics, activities, group projects, dinner, and socializing. Because they spend so much time together, students have the opportunity to forge deep friendships and to know their teachers well. What kinds of students does Concord Academy attract? Five advantages O F C O N C O R D A C A D E M Y S M I X O F D AY A N D B O A R D I N G S T U D E N T S Our students come from down the street and from cities and towns in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. They come from private, public, and home schools. Some arrive for the semester by plane; others arrive daily by commuter rail, where they share the same train car. No matter how close or far their homes or how different their life stories, CA students share an enthusiastic love of learning and discover a campus where they make lifelong friends and become their best selves. 1. Get to know students from Boston to Beijing and make life more interesting. 2. Take advantage of a 24/7 campus: Play pick-up basketball, work on a sculpture, or jam in the music rooms in the evenings and on weekends. 3. Spend time with friends. Catch up over breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In the houses, bond over late-night snacks and board games. 4. Multiply the fun with CA events and outings, from laser tag to swimming in Walden Pond to concerts in Boston and free movies. 5. Experience life on campus and off. Boarders can go to a day student s home for a family meal; day students can stay on campus overnight.
What is it like to live at CA? Our boarding students make their home away from home in six historic houses, three each for boys and girls, each with a mix of class years. Students share the house with house parents who provide a responsible, caring presence. Seniors selected as heads of houses reach out to younger boarders, acting as role models and offering advice. Together, they celebrate birthdays, holidays, and everyday triumphs. With their two young daughters, house parents Laurence Vanleynseele and Jared Green 88 provide a sense of family to the 33 girls who live in Phelps. On weekends and snow days, their apartment becomes the heart of the house as students gather to chat about the day s news, bake cookies, or play Bananagrams. Their two young daughters love to look up to their many big sisters. The boarders really form a wonderfully diverse, fun, and warm family, said Vanleynseele, an English teacher. What s the best thing about being a Concord student? The people hands down. CA is such a tight-knit community, filled with thoughtful and intelligent people who genuinely care. I always feel welcomed by teachers and am never afraid to ask questions. A L L I E M O R I N, D AY S T U D E N T F R O M LY N N F I E L D, MASSACHUSETTS Students are free to pursue whatever they want, and in a deep and thorough fashion. Any student can double up in English, join the mock trial team, be both a varsity athlete and in the Theater Company, or conjure up a departmental study or senior project to tackle what truly interests them. Nobody enters CA alike, so why should the experience be exactly the same? J E R E M Y L I A N G, D AY S T U D E N T F R O M W AY L A N D, MASSACHUSETTS
What s a typical day like? schedules are full, but they allow time to study, relax, and pursue passions. We gather as a community every Students day, either for a chapel talk, when a senior or faculty member shares a story, or for announcements that might feature a student reading an original poem or the entire soccer team rallying support for their next game. Day students often stay for dinner and return on weekends for events or to spend time with friends. What do Concord Academy students do for fun? spans the spectrum and the calendar at CA. Our students showcase their talents through musical and Fun theatrical performances, athletic competitions, and art exhibits; they join in when prominent speakers visit. We get together for dances, concerts, and movie nights. We head off campus for everything from paintball to behind-the-scenes explorations of Boston s world-class museums. On service days we fan out around town to help senior citizens with yard work. But some of the best memories are made during everyday moments, chatting over dinner in the Stu-Fac, laughing over a game of Twister, or throwing a Frisbee on the Quad. 7:15 8:40 A.M. 8:15 A.M. 8:40 A.M. 10:15 10:30 A.M. 11:50 A.M. 1:05 P.M. 3:10 P.M. 3:15 5:30 P.M. 5:30 7:00 P.M. 7:30 9:30 P.M. 11:00 P.M. 11:30 P.M. 12:00 A.M. TYPICAL WEEKDAY SCHEDULE FOR BOARDERS Breakfast Student houses close for the duration of the school day School day begins with either chapel or announcements Midmorning break Lunch block Classes end; student houses open Athletics and activities Dinner Study hall Lights out for freshmen and sophomores Lights out for juniors Lights out for seniors
Where is Concord Academy located? What do students do off campus? Our 39-acre campus is in the center of Concord, Massachusetts, a picturesque New England town that dates back to 1635. From our serene and secure campus, we can walk to historic sites from the Revolutionary War, parks, historic homes, and Walden Pond of Henry David Thoreau fame. We can stroll into town for ice cream, coffee, or dinner; pick up necessities; and browse the art galleries. Boston is just 18 miles away, offering a vast range of world-class museums, shops, restaurants, and cultural performances. How are families involved at Concord Academy? of boarding and day students are an integral part of the CA community. Parents stay in regular contact Families with their children directly and through their advisors. Those who live nearby bring treats at exam time and refreshments and cheers for the athletic teams. There are many volunteer opportunities for families, including serving as tour guides for families of prospective students. Others reach out to new boarders as host families. Each fall, Family Weekend offers them the opportunity to meet with teachers, watch athletic games, and meet families of other students.
Admissions Office Concord Academy 166 Main Street Concord, MA 01742 Phone: (978) 402-2250 Email: admissions@concordacademy.org concordacademy.org