Student Life

The Day-Student Experience

ay students are fully integrated into boarding school life, are welcome to attend all meals, and are expected to participate in required all-school evening and weekend events. They are assigned to a corridor in a residence hall for social events and have ample opportunity for leadership positions at the school.

Day students’ attendance at school will be noted by the record of their attendance at their first period class.

If a student is absent or late to school (this includes missing the bus), her parent must call the attendance hotline at 833-1503 NO LATER THAN 9:00 A.M.

When the student returns to school, she must bring a note signed by a parent or guardian explaining the absence. Absence from a class because a student missed the bus will be considered an unexcused absence. Students who miss a class for any reason are responsible for obtaining homework assignments and making up missed classes. Day students are expected to remain on campus through the completion of their last academic/athletic commitment. If it is necessary to leave during the day for personal reasons, a student should see the dean of students, who may give her permission to leave. If a day student becomes ill during the day, she should go to the Health Center. From there she may call home and her absence will be excused.

In all cases of excused absences, students are required to make up any missed work within 48 hours of their return.

Book Allocations

Students whose public school district provides used books or textbook funds should fill out forms two months before the semester begins. Forms are available at the school store and from local school district offices and should be given to Suzanne Thurber, the store manager.

Lockers

Each day student is given a locker in which to store her books, school supplies, and other possessions. While many students choose to keep their lockers open and accessible to all, it is a good idea for students to provide their own combination lock.

Meetings

Day student meetings are organized and facilitated by the day student proctors. Meetings help to orient new day students to Emma Willard and help them meet other day students.

School Closings

Information regarding the closing or delayed opening of school because of inclement weather or other extraordinary circumstances will be available at www.schoolclosingsnetwork.com or by calling the Security office (518-833-1300). Please do not assume that Emma Willard is closed when public schools are closed.

Staying Overnight

Day students may stay overnight in the dormitories with proper communication between a parent and Student Services. Requests for overnights should be made at least 24 hours in advance. The visiting student must check in with the appropriate resident faculty member at dinner and must adopt all boarding routines—quiet study hours, signing in and out, room check-in, etc. Day students may not drive cars while they are living in the dormitories. Students should provide their own pillows and bed linens or sleeping bags.

Day students may spend up to three nights at EW each semester without charge. Any additional overnights must receive special permission from Student Services, and there is a charge of $25 per night. The location of the visiting student’s sleeping quarters is determined by Student Services. During the week, all overnight guests must sleep in either the one day student room or a double with a spare bed. If no appropriate bed is available, the overnight request will not be met. On Friday and Saturday nights, sleepovers in friends’ rooms and/or a slumber party approach are acceptable, with resident faculty permission. With the exception of approved slumber parties, the policy for overnight visitors is one person per bed. Day student families should not assume a bed in the dormitories will always be available for day student overnight requests. In the event that no bed is available for a requested overnight, the day student and her family must be prepared to make other arrangements.

Unauthorized day student overnights will result in the loss of this privilege for the remainder of the semester.

Transportation

Transportation to Emma Willard is provided by many local school districts. Parents are also encouraged to explore car pool possibilities. Day students who drive to school must register their cars with security and park only in designated student parking areas. Students may not use their cars to go off campus for lunch or errands during the day (except for seniors, once senior privileges are in effect and with permission of the dean of students).

A resident student may ride in cars with day students if her parents have explicitly given her permission to do so on her permission form. The student must check with Student Services (during the academic day) or with the on duty resident faculty (after school and on weekends) about this approval.