Hey all,
I was wondering what happens on the first day of prep school? Do you start your classes immediately or do you have some kind of icebreaker thing?
How about reception day? (If that’s what you call it) the day when you settle in and really be on campus for the first time. What’s that like?
I just really want to know what to expect so if anyone has any answers that’ll be great!
Me too! But I’m pretty sure classes don’t start immediately, there is time to move in to your dorm room (if you’re boarding) and orientation sessions especially if you’re new, international and/or boarding.
I’m sure it varies by school. The school I’m most familiar with has several days of orientation activities before classes start.
DS’s school has an orientation weekend filled with icebreakers and fun activities. International students have even more orientation, I believe. Athletes will also get to know the school if they are invited to pre-season.
The day before classes start there is a formal Convocation for all students and faculty.
SMS echoes @doschicos & @carpoolingma 's experiences. Several days of orientation activities before formal start
Ditto Andover
A day or two after arriving on campus, frosh head to Golden Trout Camp in the Eastern Sierra for a week of camping and backpacking in the wilderness. They begin to learn basic outdoor navigation, wilderness safety and survival etc. Small groups engage in activities designed to build relationships, trust, and confidence. Students share stories about their own culture and background, discuss the meaning of Thacher’s honor code in their lives etc. Once back on campus, there is a week of intensive freshman skills classes covering all manner of topics, from time management to diversity and inclusion. It is an exceptionally valuable start to the next four years.
@mackenzie1002 Yeah, that’s what I reckoned too! I’d love to know more about the orientation bit if I could though
@doschicos Can you happen to tell me what kind of activities? Thank you for your reply!
@carpoolingma What’s the convocation like? Thank you for your answer!
@ThacherParent That sounds so cool and it’s such a good way to have people get to know each other as well as learning school important values as well!
@missinghome21
Convocation is formal dress and takes place in the chapel. The headmaster (ond others?) gives a welcome speech that gets everyone excited about the year to come.
Youtube, instagram and other social media sites are a good way to get a clearer picture of these activies.
On Youtube, Blair’s channel is blairconnect and they have a recording of their 2016 convocation (though it is misspelled as conovcation.) Peddie’s orientation is called POCO and there is a highlight video of POCO 2017 on the peddieschool channel. Lawrenceville’s channel is The Lawrenceville School. You get the idea. Happy Researching!
My revisit host said last year, new students at Hotchkiss were sent to go work on the farm picking veggies.
“Welcome to Hotchkiss! Now go pick some potatoes!”
That actually sounds really fun though. One of the advantages to having a farm on campus. I hope they do tat next year!
“Welcome to Hotchkiss! Now go pick some potatoes!”
A great equalizer! 
OP, it might be best to mention what schools you are considering and folks can tailor their responses with specifics to those schools.
@doschicos Oh yeah, I forgot about that (up to my head in excitement and sleepiness)
I’m considering Milton and Lawrenceville.
@FunintheSun1211 Ahhh that sounds like fun!