Summer Semester Frequently Asked Questions

List of 14 frequently asked questions.

• Who can apply to the Eaglebrook School Summer Semester?

  Eaglebrook Summer Semester is a four-week boarding adventure for boys and girls ages 10, 11, 12, and 13. Children from every ethnic, racial, economic, and geographic background are welcome. Candidates must submit a transcript of their academic work. They must also have letters of recommendation from their English and math teachers.

• What are tuition and fees for the Summer Semester?

  Tuition for Summer Semester 2024 is $9,300.
  
  *Financial Aid is available for domestic students.

• What is dormitory life like?

  With the guidance and support of the dormitory faculty and advisors, students experience a family environment in which they live, work, and associate with the same people who are their teachers and coaches. The close, nurturing feeling that exists between the dormitory faculty and the students is a strength of the Summer Semester and is the one aspect of the experience that students remember with fondness. Living closely with other students from widely differing backgrounds is one of the most rewarding experiences of the Summer Semester. The dormitories are arranged by gender, so girls in one dorm, and boys in another.

• What is an advisor?

  Each student has a dormitory advisor that they see every day. Advisors help students consider Eaglebrook to be a home away from home, and parents contact them with questions or concerns. Advisors guide students through difficult times, help them celebrate successes, watch over their academic progress, and act as mentors. Advisors work in partnership with parents to make sure each child is getting the attention they deserve.

• How many classes do students take?

  Four. We expect each student to take two classes from the academic offerings and two classes from the elective offerings. This will give the student a good balance of solid academic instruction and an opportunity to explore creative outlets and new interests. The two academic classes will assign homework (35-40 minutes per course). There is no homework assigned for the elective courses.

• Will students earn grades in their classes?

  In an attempt to clearly and fairly assess a student’s progress, a two-part evaluation system comprised of the teacher’s comment and grade is in place for the Summer Semester. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of a teacher’s comment. It is within this written piece that the level of achievement the student has made is explained. To recognize a student’s effort, achievement, improvement, or an area of positive performance, a teacher may award a commendation in recognition of academic growth and maturity at the end of the Semester. Teacher comments and grades for all courses will be mailed to the student’s home at the end of the Semester.

• Are sports offered during Summer Semester?

  Every afternoon there is an hour-long period dedicated to athletics. Athletics during the Summer Semester are designed to introduce students to different sports, enjoy the school’s facilities and have fun. Each week they get to choose a sport that they would like to participate in from a list of offerings. The most popular offerings have included soccer, ultimate disc, basketball, swimming, and capture the flag.

• What do students do during the weekends?

  There are a number of exciting activities planned for each weekend. Friday nights are spent with dormmates playing any number of games or bonding with friends and enjoying a more relaxed activity. Saturdays the entire program ventures off campus to experience an attraction in the greater New England region. Some of the more popular trips include Six Flags and Brownstone Adventure Park. On Sundays, students have a more relaxed schedule and they often go off in small groups with a faculty member to experience local entertainment options.

• What do students do on Wednesdays?

  Every Wednesday, students will take a break from classes and have a field trip. These trips have an academic focus and are designed to give students a break in the middle of the week while keeping them engaged. Trips include visits to The Boston Science Museum, Sturbridge Village, and a day spent hiking Mt. Monadnock in New Hampshire.

• Will students have access to telephones and email?

  Students are permitted to have cell phones during Summer Semester. Students also have access to a telephone on each floor of each dormitory. Summer Semester faculty will provide parents with the student's dormitory number. Parents can reach their child in the dormitory at the prescribed times, which are given to parents at registration. ?An email account and address will be established for each student’s use upon request.

• Can family visit students?

  Parents or friends are invited to visit after the first week of school. We do not have an official parents’ day or weekend, but we like to see parents visit students if it is convenient for both the school and the parents. Sunday is the best day to plan a visit, as students and faculty are off campus on Saturdays. A request to spend a night off campus with parents must be approved by the Director of Residential Life.

• What happens if a student gets sick?

  To ensure the physical well being of students during their stay, a registered nurse is on campus daily for four hours and on call for the remainder of the day. In addition, a physician remains on call at all times. For situations that require overnight care, a student will spend the night in the Health Center under the supervision of the registered nurse on duty. Hospital facilities are available for emergencies four miles away in Greenfield.

• What happens if a student is homesick?

  Homesickness is both natural and universal. Psychologists call it “separation anxiety,” and few people are unaffected by it. The faculty are prepared to support students who may experience homesickness, but getting over homesickness rests with the student. The best cure is to simply stay busy and get involved in the many activities that will be offered.

• What should students wear?

  Dress is informal for almost all activities on campus. Summer sportswear is fine, though for safety and hygiene, students should wear shoes, sneakers, or sandals when out on campus or in the classroom and dining hall. A laundry service is provided, and clothes are collected weekly. A recommended list of things to bring (including clothing) will be mailed to all students.