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Get Ready for Westover!
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Welcome to Westover!
We are so excited to welcome you to campus this fall. Even before you arrive, know that you have a whole community here ready to support you every step of the way.
This page is designed to guide you through everything you need to know before arriving at Westover this fall. From important forms and packing lists to introductions to your support team, you’ll find it all here. We encourage you to explore, ask questions, and reach out, whether you need help or just want to introduce yourself. Check back throughout the summer for additional updates and information.
We can’t wait to meet you. See you soon!
Get to know the Westover Hub
The Westover Hub is your central resource for all things related to your student. From uploading transcripts and submitting forms to checking class schedules, the Hub is the best place to start.
This summer, the Hub will include your personalized onboarding checklist. When you log in, look for the yellow banner at the top of the page to get started. Below, you’ll find more details about required forms and who to contact with any questions.
Catch up with our Virtual Summer Orientation!
Orientation specifically for International Students starts at 45:10
Mark your calendar!
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Friday, August 29
New International Students arrive on campus -
Wednesday, September 3
New Domestic Boarding and Day Students arrive on campus
Join us at an upcoming event!
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Martha's Vineyard Westover Gathering
Save the date! Join Director of Enrollment Management Tianna Lall-Emard, LaWanda Dates P'26, Nicole Nunez P'27, and Sadiq Mitchell P'25 on Martha's Vineyard to connect with the Westover Community. -
New Family Picnic
Get to know new Westover families, students, faculty, and staff! All are welcome to join us for dinner on campus as a part of the Welcome Week festivities.
All About Academics
Greetings from the Academic Office!
We are so excited to welcome you to Westover School! The Academic Team can’t wait to connect with you this summer for a virtual introductory meeting. During this meeting, we’ll discuss course offerings, afternoon athletic and activity opportunities, and our Advisory program. A member of the Community Life team will join us on the call as well to give you an overview of campus life and our Westover community. We’ll also happily answer your questions, so please have those ready. We’re looking forward to helping you prepare for the start of a fantastic school year!
In the meantime, you can review some frequently asked questions below. The answers should familiarize you with our academic and schedule related processes. If you have any questions that are not addressed, you can ask at our meeting or email us at academicoffice@westoverschool.org.
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FAQs | Academics
Where can I see a list of course offerings?Please refer to our 2025-26 Curriculum Guide to view a list of all offered courses for the upcoming academic year.How will my academic schedule be structured?New ninth and tenth grade students follow a schedule that typically includes core classes in English, lab sciences, history, mathematics, languages, and an introductory course from our WISE and Rasin Center signature programs. Incoming students whose first language is not English may also be placed in our Language and Culture course (see below). Incoming juniors and seniors enjoy greater flexibility. In addition to a mandatory year of English electives, they take courses in each core discipline along with art, music, WISE, or Rasin Center electives.Do I need to fulfill the language requirement if English is not my first language?Students whose first language is not English may choose to opt out of courses in Spanish, French, or Latin. However, some students will be placed in a course called Language and Culture. This companion course to English I was created specifically for new international students whose first language is not English, and is designed to support the student’s transition into our academic environment and school culture. Placement is determined using information provided during the admissions process and a written assessment upon arrival.Do I need to take a placement test for language courses?Language placement tests for Spanish, French, and Latin are required only for students who wish to enroll in a course beyond level one.How are math and science placements decided?The Academic Team works with our Math and Science Department Heads to review the academic information for each incoming student and to determine the best course placement. Should the student show evidence of needing to be re-assigned, we will do so during the add-drop period at the start of the fall semester.How do I choose my electives?New students should review our 2025-26 Curriculum Guide prior to the virtual introductory meeting with a member of the Academic Team to identify courses of interest. Options for electives will be identified during this call.When will I receive my academic schedule?New students will receive their academic schedules in person during Welcome Week programming.When will I find out who my advisor is?Your advisor will contact you prior to Welcome Week so you can be in touch before you arrive. Advisors are another great resource! They can answer questions and provide information about the Westover experience.Where can I find information to order my textbooks?Textbooks can be purchased during Welcome Week. Time will be allotted during Welcome Week programming to ensure students have the books they need prior to the start of classes.Who do I contact to discuss documented academic support needs and related accommodations?To share information related to a documented learning difference or to request related accommodations, please email mmongeau@westoverschool.org. Please feel free to discuss the need for accommodations with any member of the Academic Team during your introductory call as well.When will I get access to my Westover email account?New students will get access to their Westover email accounts during Welcome Week when they meet with our IT department.Are there any academic responsibilities I need to fulfill before arriving on campus?Yes! You’ll join our Summer Reading Program! Westover students are asked to read two books over the summer: one book chosen from a provided list and one independent reading book of choice. Details will be shared with all students in the coming weeks.If you have any questions, please email the summer reading program coordinator and our librarian, Nancy Florio, at nflorio@westoverschool.org.
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Required Summer Reading
Read MoreOver the summer, all students are asked to read two books to support community connections and encourage a love of reading for pleasure. The first book for our Summer Reading Book Group must be selected from the following 20 titles chosen from our Summer Reading Committee composed of interested students, our Director of Library Nancy Florio, and English Teacher Mollie Kervick. At the start of the school year, each student will join a student-led discussion group based on their book choice. The second book is a free-choice book for independent reading. We will send information before the end of school for returning students and early summer for new students on a number of interactive ways to keep track of both of your books as you read and upon completion.
Who to Know
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All About Community Life
Greetings from the Community Life Office!
The Community Life Team is excited to welcome you to Westover School! We are busy preparing for a fantastic 2025-2026 school year filled with enriching experiences both in and outside of the classroom.
We recognize that the transition to a new school, and to boarding school life for many of you, is a big life moment. How lucky are we to be able to share in this special time with you! As the summer progresses, we want to be sure to proactively address some burning questions you may have so you can get back to focusing on sweet summertime!
Please review the frequently asked questions below to better acquaint you with our processes for arriving on campus for the first day of Welcome Week. Should you have any additional questions not listed, do not hesitate to reach out to Chelsea Brown, Director of Community Life & Culture. Upcoming summer communications will also contain crucial information that you do not want to miss. Keep your eyes peeled!
Wishing you a restful and joy-filled summer. We look forward to seeing you in September!
Suggested Packing List
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FAQs | Community Life
I am an International Student, when can I move onto campus?International students are expected to move onto campus on Thursday, August 29 between 12:00-4:00 PM (unless attending our Language Immersion & Boarding School Prep Camp). More information about New International Student Orientation, including an RSVP form, will be shared in the coming weeks.I am a Domestic Boarding Student, when can I move onto campus?New domestic boarding students are expected to arrive on Wednesday, September 3rd between 2-4pm. A formal program for New Students and Families will follow. More information about move-in and Welcome Week student and family programming will be shared in the coming weeks.I am an incoming Day Student, when should I arrive on campus?New Day Student registration will be on Wednesday, September 3rd, between 2-4 pm. A formal program for all New Students and Families will follow. More information about registration and Welcome Week student and family programming will be shared in the coming weeks.When will I get information about my dorm assignment and roommate pairing?You will learn about your roommate pairing in mid-August. We have had great success over the past few years in creating good partnerships that help students succeed at Westover School and expand their horizons. Be sure to complete the 25-26 Housing Questionnaire (under Checklist on your HUB account) as soon as possible.What should I bring for my dorm room?As new boarding families, we know you have lots of questions about what you need to bring and what not to bring with you to campus. To get started, check out our helpful packing list.At Westover, we are a community built on trust, mutual respect, and shared responsibility. While dorm room doors do not lock to foster openness and ease of connection, each room is equipped with a closet that locks for safekeeping of personal items. We encourage students to bring only what they truly need and value, and to use their locking closet to secure any important belongings. As with any shared living environment, being mindful of your possessions and respectful of others helps uphold the sense of trust that defines life at Westover.How can I arrange transportation from the airport to the school?Westover offers Westover-coordinated transportation from local airports, train, and bus stations for school arrivals and major school breaks. If you need transportation for your arrival in August, please indicate your request along with your student’s flight or travel details on the arrival form under Checklist on your account. We will be in touch with you to provide both shared and private transfer information after your form submission.Please direct any questions about transportation to Transportation Coordinator Elissa Evanauskas at eevanauskas@westoverschool.org.Does the school help us set up bank accounts?During registration, a local bank representative will be on-site. You will have the option to meet with the rep if you wish to set up a bank account. You will need to bring the filled-out bank forms, signed by a guardian, with you to campus when you arrive. Forms will be available on the HUB. We will also offer a shopping trip into town to purchase items needed for school and dorm rooms. When you arrive in Middlebury, we provide transportation to our local Target. We will also offer opportunities for students to sign up for a Verizon cell phone plan.Who should I contact if I have questions about residential life?For questions about Residential or Community Life please contact Chelsea Brown at cbrown@westoverschool.org.
Who to Know
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All About the Health Center
The Health Center is an essential part of Westover’s care team, offering a wide range of services to support student well-being. These include daily medication administration, immunizations, illness triage, coordination with medical specialists, transportation to off-campus appointments, and the integration of health education into campus life. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Health Center team.
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FAQs | Health and Wellness
Where can I access a list of what I need to complete for my student?When you log onto the Hub, you will see a yellow banner showing your checklist steps and forms to be completed. Please note - some forms require the signatures of all parents/guardians, and some require signatures from your primary care provider. These health forms and questionnaires are necessary information parents/guardians must complete and submit prior to bringing their students to campus to begin the school year. They can be found on the Onboarding Checklist on the HUB.Where are the health forms located?Westover is utilizing a new electronic health record system called August Schools to keep all student medical information in a secure online Student Medical Record. August Schools is translatable to dozens of languages making it more accessible to our international families.Parents/guardians are required to review and complete all Westover health forms provided on our new electronic health record database, August Schools annually. Please set aside 20-30 minutes to complete the forms. Access to August Schools can be found through the HUB checklist and Resource Board.Please refer to the resource articles in the August Schools portal (linked on your Hub resource board)for additional guidance with accessing the database and submitting requirements. If these resources cannot answer your questions, please reach out to Westover’s Health Center team at healthcenter@westoverschool.org.What are the requirements for my student’s physical?Each student must have a physical performed on or after May 1, 2025 (which will be valid for the 2025-2026 school year) and a completed up-to-date immunization record, both of which are to be signed and dated by the student’s primary care provider or Health Department official. If you haven’t already made this appointment, please do so to meet our August 1 deadline for health form submission.What is the health insurance requirement for Westover students?All students are required to have health insurance through a U.S.-based carrier and show the School proof thereof. Westover does not provide, manage, or bill for health insurance coverage for our students. Domestic students who live outside of Connecticut are encouraged to review their insurance coverage policies for care received outside of their home state and encouraged to purchase supplemental health insurance coverage as needed.International students are required to either show proof of U.S.-based health insurance coverage or must purchase the ISM Diamond Plan through UnitedHealthcare Global for the full school year (through June 1st 2026). Please note: The international insurance policy cannot be purchased before June 1, 2025. Please click this link to enroll, or the link to enroll in international insurance can also be found in August Schools. Documentation of active insurance coverage is a mandatory requirement of international students prior to arrival on campus. It is the responsibility of each family to either show proof of U.S.-based health insurance coverage to the School or purchase the ISM Diamond Plan prior to arrival on campus.My student has prescription medication. How can we send it to the school?All medications must be sent to the Health Complex Pharmacy in Watertown CT, a local pharmacy that collaborates directly with the Westover Health Center team. Students and families are not permitted to deliver the medications to campus personally. For more information or to coordinate prescription fulfillment and pharmacy pick-up, please contact healthcenter@westoverschool.org.What Immunizations are required?All students entering Westover must complete the State of Connecticut TB Risk Assessment Tool in the August Schools health database (accessible via the HUB Checklist). Only students deemed as high risk should undergo TB testing.Prior to arrival on campus, ALL boarding students must have received EITHER the primary series OR one dose of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (for those individuals who never received the primary series). Day students are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to the 2025-2026 school year.If a student is missing any immunizations, Westover will work with a local pharmacy to schedule students for any required vaccines. If your child is an international student, some of the required US vaccines may not be available in your home country, please email the health center at healthcenter@westoverschool.org and we will work with you to help get your student scheduled for the required vaccines when they arrive at school.
Who to Know
Be Boldly You
Westover School admits students of any race, color, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin, or disability to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. As a gender-diverse girls school, Westover welcomes applicants and students who are assigned female at birth and/or identify as girls. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its educational policies, admissions and financial aid policies, and athletic or other school-administered programs.