Rumsey Hall School: Upper School

Teaching the Power of MIND AND HEART

RUMSE Y HALL SCHOOL

WHY

Rumsey Hall?

THE YEARS from IVth through VIIth Form (Sixth through Ninth Grade) are an exciting time of discovery and growth. In our junior boarding and day program at Rumsey Hall, we offer an enriching curriculum of academics, athletics, arts, and extracurriculars. Designed specifically for students in these formative years, our approach to teaching and learning encourages students to become their best selves as they meet new challenges and take on leadership positions.

Strong Academics

The challenging academic program for Sixth through Ninth Grade is tailored to the needs of students in these crucial years. In small classes with an average of 12 students, you will learn through hands-on experience and an interdisciplinary approach that teaches critical thinking. Honors courses for eligible ninth grade students offer exciting possibilities for advanced study. Every student gains confidence in public speaking by making a presentation to the community.

Outstanding Teachers

Rumsey’s Upper School teachers are professional educators dedicated to working with students in the middle school years. They bring their passion for their subjects to the classroom and inspire you to do your best. They are equally passionate about serving as athletic coaches, dorm parents, and advisors. Your teachers will be there to guide you every step of the way.

Outdoor Education

Rumsey’s scenic campus covers 231 acres that is bordered by two rivers. Throughout the year, you will enjoy the outdoors and learn from our rich natural surroundings. You can look forward to pond hockey and hot chocolate around a bonfire in winter, studying the ecosystems of the wetlands and woods in science class, and home-baked cookies during all-school recess. Our campus will quickly feel like home.

Rumsey Signature Programs

The Rumsey Signature Programs for ninth grade students give you the chance to pursue your interests and study a topic in depth. Choose from Makerspace Design, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Fine Arts Studies, or Social and Community Leadership for the focus of your year-long project. Participating seniors design and execute a Capstone Project and will present their work to the school community.

School and community life at Rumsey are guided by our core values of HONESTY, KINDNESS, AND RESPECT.

The importance of effort is central to Rumsey’s mission and philosophy. Weekly effort grades and the Dean’s List recognize the effort students make to learn and grow. Effort, we believe, is the most enduring measure of success.

231 Acres

RUMSEY OUTDOOR CAMPUS

∞ Skies 4 Ponds 2 Barns 2 Rivers

WHY A

Gain Confidence and Independence

With the support of your teachers, dorm parents, and advisor, you will learn to manage your daily schedule while living away from home. Rumsey students and their parents find that they make significant strides in confidence, maturity, and independence.

Leadership Opportunities

In a Pre-K through 9 school, you become a school leader in the upper grades, and are responsible for leading athletic teams, clubs, morning meetings, and student government. You may serve as a dorm representative or a prefect in the dining hall or library. Being a role model for younger students and setting the tone for our community life, a unique opportunity available only to high school seniors at many other schools, prepares you to be a leader in secondary school and college.

Faculty advisors meet regularly with their advisees individually or as a group. Advisors are available for support with academic and other needs, and play an important part in supporting students with all aspects of school life.

Your Dormitory Family

The bonds you form with your dormmates and dorm parents are life-changing. Making friends with people from all over the world and sharing the fun of dorm challenge contests, cookouts, and evening play periods are at the heart of the Rumsey experience.

Preparation for Secondary School and College

Attending a junior boarding school truly gives you an advantage when you move on to secondary school and college. You will be experienced in dorm life, being a school leader, and meeting your academic and extracurricular commitments. You will be ready to step into many different roles at your next school.

Your Rumsey Community

Rumsey’s Upper School students enjoy many opportunities to engage in learning and fun activities with Lower School students. International and boarding students especially appreciate the time with younger children and families on campus, and often receive invitations from day students to visit their homes for weekend or holiday meals. The Rumsey community truly feels like an extended family.

Find Your Place

For day and boarding students, being part of Rumsey’s diverse student body is an invaluable experience that fosters cultural awareness, open mindedness, and global understanding. We welcome the cultures, traditions, and languages our international students have to share.

RUMSEY STUDENTS by the numbers

335 Pre-K–9 students

230 Upper School students (6-9)

25 Local communities

14 States

120 Boarding students (5-9)

216 Day students (Pre-K-9)

10 Countries

The English as a Second Language (ESL) Program offers three courses for non-native speakers: ESL Skills, Literature, and History. Students study English grammar and practice conversational and reading skills, and learn about American literature, history, and culture. In addition to providing academic instruction, the program helps students make a smooth transition to Rumsey and provides support in all aspects of school and dormitory life.

Creating Character and Community

In the spring of VIth Form (eighth grade) students take 3C, a class in Creating Character and Community. Activities and discussion focus on leadership training and making the most of academic and co-curricular opportunities as students anticipate senior year and applying to secondary schools. A follow-up class in the fall of the ninth grade year guides students in setting goals and all aspects of the application process.

Secondary School

Rumsey works closely with students and their families to help them choose secondary schools suited to their interests and goals. The Secondary School Placement Director will work with you individually to guide you and your parents in the selection and application process.

Rumsey has a strong record of placing students in outstanding secondary schools. Approximately 50 schools send their admission directors to Rumsey to recruit our well-rounded and talented seniors. In a recent year, our graduates enrolled at such institutions as Avon Old Farms, Brooks School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Groton School, Laurenceville School, Miss Porter’s, Northfield Mount Hermon, Pomfret, St. Paul’s, Taft, and Westminster School.

# of schools seniors were accepted to in a recent year: 49

# of schools attended by our graduates in a recent year: 29

JOIN THE

Be Creative

The fine arts program at Rumsey gives all students opportunities to create visual art, perform music, and participate in drama productions. Explore drawing, painting, digital photography, jewelry making, industrial design, and ceramics in art classes held in our spacious art rooms. Join the chorus Clef Club, an auditionentry, higher level singing group, Passing Notes, or orchestra. Try out for the winter musical or participate in the spring Talent Show. Through the arts, we develop our talents and share the joy of creative expression.

Be Active

With more than 30 interscholastic teams and recreational sports, Rumsey offers a sport and level of play for every athlete. Upper School students play a different sport each season and practice or compete Monday through Friday afternoons. Our faculty-coaches work closely with students to help them reach their goals. For students who choose not to compete in interscholastic sports, there are a number of recreational sports. Rumsey Outdoor Adventure (ROA) offers exciting outdoor activities as an alternative to team sports.

RUMSEY TEAMS

Basketball

Baseball Crew

Cross Country Field Hockey

Football

Ice Hockey

Horseback Riding

Lacrosse

Mountain Biking

Recreational Skiing/ Snowboarding

Recreational Tennis

Rumsey Outdoor Adventure

Skiing

Soccer

Softball

Volleyball

Wrestling Rumsey offers more than 30 interscholastic teams and recreational sports

RUMSEY PERFORMING ARTS

Fall one-act drama

Winter musical

Spring talent show Clef Club

Passing Notes Orchestra

Number of Community Service hours:

1,000+

75% of the student body volunteer in a community service project.

Dorm Cup Challenges

Dorm nights throughout the year feature fun and friendly contests between dorms for the Dorm Cup awarded in the spring. Pumpkin carving, spelling bees, math competitions, and broom ball on the ponds in winter are a few of the Dorm Cup challenges. The pride of being part of a dorm family is an essential piece of the boarding school experience.

Home Away From Home

As a boarding student at Rumsey, you will live in a house or dormitory of anywhere from 8 to 30 students. In these small, home-like communities, you will make lasting friendships with your dorm parents and peers. Dorm parents who live in the dorms with their families (and pets) provide close supervision and share their family life, welcoming students into their homes.

Number of students in a dormitory:

8 to 30 9

Dormitories

RUMSEY CLUBS

Our club offerings change every year based on the student interest.

Yearbook

Clef Club

Finance Club

Library Prefect

Model UN

Photography Club

Podcast Club

STEM Club

Student Government

DEIJ (Diversity Equity Inclusion and Justice)

Yoga & Meditation

Buddy Club

Chess Club

Drone Club

RUMSEY WEEEKENDS

Boarding and day students have many activities to choose from on weekends. You can sign up for Saturday trips to movies, museums, outdoor adventures, and athletic contests. Rumsey regularly takes students to New York and other New England cities to see Broadway shows and visit history sites. During the Sunday afternoon activity period, there’s hiking, community service, and games on campus.

WE LOOK FORWARD

We encourage you to arrange a campus visit so you can see for yourself the exciting program and strong community we offer.

If you are unable to travel to campus, we welcome you to take a virtual tour on our website.