Boarding students at Walnut Hill are housed in seven single-sex dormitories. Dorms range in size from 15 to 50 students, and all are supervised by trained dorm parents. Students may live in single, double, or triple rooms. Most students share common bathrooms. New students should expect to have a roommate.
Dormitory Parents
Dorm Parents are adult members of the School community who live in apartments within the dormitories to provide supervision and support for students in those buildings. As qualified professionals who are college graduates, Dorm Parents have experience with young people and work to provide Walnut Hill students with a “home away from home.” Many Dorm Parents are Walnut Hill faculty members; some are married and have children of their own.
Boarding students interact on a daily basis with their Dorm Parents. When on duty, Dorm Parents are present and available from 6:00 pm to 7:00 am on weekdays and during all hours on the weekends. Parents are encouraged to meet their children’s Dorm Parents in September and are welcome to contact them throughout the year. A list of the names and telephone numbers of Dorm Parents is sent to parents at the start of the school year.
Dormitory Presidents
Dorm Presidents play an important leadership role in the structure and function of the dormitories at Walnut Hill. Appointed each May for the following year, they are respected by the School community for their exemplary qualities of honesty, responsibility, dependability, fairness, leadership, and conduct. They assist with daily dormitory operations. Dorm Presidents are responsible for:
- Ensuring that school policies are respected
- Attending Joint House Council meetings and acting as liaisons for students
- Planning and leading dorm activities
- Assisting Dorm Parents as needed
In addition, Dorm Presidents build spirit in the dormitories, keep the Dorm Parents informed about issues of concern among students, and help with student issues (problems between roommates, for example) and other matters requiring peer mediation.
Dormitory Meetings
Dormitory meetings are held regularly, and all residents are expected to attend them. The meetings present students with an opportunity to come together, make announcements, discuss community living, voice concerns, and find solutions for any difficulties that they may be having. Dormitory meetings also provide times for special recognition and celebrations. The Dorm President is instrumental in setting the agenda for and running the dormitory meetings.
Housekeeping
A housekeeping and maintenance staff provides continuous care for and attention to the dormitories. Students are expected to be sensitive to the needs of the housekeeping staff at all times and to cooperate with their requests. Students may not leave personal belongings in bathrooms, hallways, or common rooms and must keep dishes in the common kitchen area clean, so as to provide the housekeeping staff with proper access. If a student wishes to place a maintenance or housekeeping request, she or he should speak to the Dorm Parent on duty.
Laundry
Each student is responsible for his or her laundry and supplies. Washers and dryers are available at no charge in each dormitory. Students are encouraged to use a laundry bag, and all clothes should be well marked. Students are expected to keep their clothes neat and clean.
