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for Brock Dunn P’19, ’20, Head of Middle and Upper School, to hear parents say they cannot tell the boarders from the day students. “They’re fully involved in weekend activities,” adds Dunn. “There’s no divide.” Dorm parents are not the only ones involved in community events. Faculty and staff, both on- and offcampus, build deeper connections too, hosting in-home dinners. Admissions, Technology, and the Bell Library are also involved. It’s all planned so that each and every encounter, whether attending Macbeth at Hartford Stage or a dance at another school, provides students with a bedrock sense of belonging. Students design the activities that help nurture these connections. “The students are the catalysts,” Michael says. “I just help with logistics. We have 100 percent student buy-in.” There’s a balance of both on- and off-campus activities to ensure creative and original connections. Reading ghost stories on Halloween night at Debby’s House (Head’s House) and activities in the local community are always popular, such as trips to Flamig Farm, the Community Farm of Simsbury, and the Fidelco Guide Dog Association. Students also participate in community service. Special Olympians storm Walker’s athletic fields every month, and train alongside Walker’s athletes. Recent Connecticut research shows how strongly parents value connectedness. Douglas Lyons, President of the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools, recently spoke on campus and cited a survey of 900 independent school parents. Given just months after the 2009 decline in the stock market, the survey asked two questions: “Given the current financial uncertainty, will you be re-enrolling your children at their independent school next year?” For those
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L-R: Lex Lochner ’15, Chloe Silverman ’15, and Athletic Director John Monagan
parents answering yes, the second question was: “Why?” Among the most commonly reported reasons parents said they would re-enroll: “The role of the school community as a positive, countercultural influence in my child’s life,” and “My child feels safe in every way . . . physically, socially, emotionally, and psychologically.” These are real, face-to-face friendships, not online, and they foster that sense of belonging that is critical to success. “No one can offer more connectivity than independent schools,” Michael says. She makes sure that, in many ways, from movie marathons to birthday parties, “students know someone who cares is right there.” Walker’s efforts increase daily, bolstered by research and the results seen on the students’ faces.
L-R: Aurora Naughton ’16 and Emily Peairs ’16 enjoying downtime in their dorm room.
WINTER 2014
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