Student Life

Student Life at Westminster

A Special Community

Students quickly learn to recognize all of the exciting opportunities present at a boarding school. Their days and nights are full, challenging, and rewarding, whether they live on or off campus. In addition to work that might eventually appear on a transcript or application, students are also learning about and becoming responsible citizens. Westminster has always provided an organic structure for this important personal growth, as students are fully immersed in a community in which they are known for their varied contributions and have close relationships with each other, faculty and staff that reinforce a sense of accountability.
 
Through the shared experiences of attending classes, family-style lunch, participating in athletics and the arts, and being involved in community service and student organizations, our students are supported and build self-identities in the context of a place where they make a difference.

Student Life Curriculum

List of 8 items.

  • Wellness Programs

    Our highest priority at Westminster School is students’ health, safety, and well-being. We recognize that a student’s overall success is tied to not just what they learn in the classroom, but also how they feel emotionally, physically, and intellectually. Our programming is designed to foster inclusivity, learning, and overall well-being. 

    The Wellness program provides an intentional curriculum for students to learn about a variety of topics that involve their personal wellness, social and emotional well-being and their overall character development. The multifaceted curriculum is coordinated by a team that includes the Associate Head of School, Director of Health Services, Dean of Residential Life, Dean of Students, Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Director of Mental Health Services and Director of Athletics.
  • Training

    Faculty, staff, and students all participate in a variety of training annually, including supplemental training for student leaders. 

    All of our faculty and staff who work with our students receive on-going professional development and training in various areas of health and wellness education, including, CPR, Mental Health First Aid including QPR-question, persuade, refer- suicide prevention training, boundary training on adult-student relationships and support for students with respect to their gender identity or expression, among others. 
  • Third Form Wellness

    All Third Formers are required to take a wellness class. An evidence based curriculum serves as the foundation of this discussion based class where students address important developmental issues including, healthy relationships, conflict resolution, identity and bullying, digital citizenship, and empathy building.
  • Fourth Form: Civic Engagement Courses and Sexual Health and Development

    A selection of Fourth Form seminar courses help Westminster students learn to engage in meaningful dialogue and to better understand who they are and for what they stand. Students also study both the compositional elements of speech writing and the rhetorical devices that make for effective delivery.
  • All School Wellness Programs

    A variety of speakers and topics are presented to the community to foster healthy living. Following these presentations, students attend a student learning group (SLG) and have continued small group discussions with a trained student facilitator and their advisor. 

    Recognizing a rapidly changing landscape in adolescent development, guest presenters are relevant to the current issues our students face. Past topics have included:
    • Substance Use prevention
    • Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention
    • Healthy Relationships, Consent, and Dating Violence
    • Gender and Sexuality Awareness
  • Peer Leaders and Student Learning Groups

    Peer Leaders are a team of Fifth and Sixth Form students who receive specialized leadership training in facilitation skills, basic mental health support, and fostering a healthy community culture. Peer Leaders, with faculty support,facilitate and lead workshops and discussions on a range of topics, including empathy, active listening, social justice, decision making, and more. The mission of the Peer Leadership Program is “peers supporting peers” around building agency, communication skills, conflict resolution, and working in partnership with the adults in the community. Peer Leaders are guided by the Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, in collaboration with the Dean of Residential Life, and the Director of Mental Health Services.

    This group receives ongoing training throughout the school year, starting with a mandatory, fun-filled training session just before all students arrive on campus.

    Student Learning Groups, led by Faculty Advisors and Peer Leaders, consist of students from two different advisory groups. These groups meet after all-school programs to debrief the content. Peer Leaders will help students reflect on their values and ideas while developing their own skills in empathetic listening, communication, and peer engagement, all of which contribute to a healthy learning environment.
  • Community Conversations

    Community Conversations provide opportunities for the entire community to engage in structured discussions on topics that impact members of the community.
  • Wellness Day

    Once a year, in lieu of classes, students participate in a variety of self care, stress reducing,  and community building activities. Over 30 activities are offered to students including hiking, kickboxing, meditation, yoga,art projects, pet therapy, baking, music and karaoke to name a few. One of the most appreciated days of the year, students have the opportunity to learn new skills and activities that will support their overall wellness.

Health and Wellness Curriculum

In addition to the organic programs, the school's student health and wellness curriculum provides an intentional curriculum for students to learn about topics that involve their personal wellness, their character development, and their healthy relationships with other people. The multifaceted curriculum is coordinated by a team that includes the Associate Head of School, Director of Health Services and Medical Director, Dean of Student Life, Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Director of Athletics. The school’s schedule allows most programs in the curriculum to take place during the school day, generally on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

Prefect Board 2024-2025

Chip Genung, Head Prefect
Ben Swift, Junior Prefect 
Avauni Anderson
Adrienne Hall
Cullen Horn
J.J. Hurley
Will McCarthy
Liza Merrill
Lauren Neuman
Ben Norten
Emme Pacheco-Hager
Sophie Grace Stevenson
Lucy Wainwright
All current students, faculty and staff of Westminster School automatically receive Westminster Weekly through Community News each Friday morning. 

Contact Us

995 Hopmeadow Street
Simsbury, Connecticut 06070

P. (860) 408-3000
F. (860) 408 3001
Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students
In keeping with our support for a diverse community, Westminster abides by all applicable federal and state laws and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, color, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national and ethnic origin, ancestry and/or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Westminster admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. 
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