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Easthampton, Massachusetts, USA Co-Ed, No Religious Affiliation
Williston is an independent coeducational boarding and day school for grades 9-12 and a postgraduate year. Set in Western Massachusetts' Pioneer Valley—an area defined by its natural beauty, prestigious colleges, and rich intellectual history—Williston offers an exceptional education that integrates academics, athletics, arts, and community life with uncommon opportunities to promote high achievement and college preparation. Our picturesque campus is located minutes from Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Smith Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts. This proximity provides Williston students with extraordinary opportunities for academic collaboration.
Williston's mission is to inspire students to live with purpose, passion, and integrity, and as such, we focus on education the whole student via an innovative curriculum and a caring fellowship of teachers, advisors, coaches, and classmates. Known for its welcoming and friendly spirit, Williston is small enough that every student is known and comfortable, and large enough to afford students a wide array of opportunities. A classic comment you will hear from every graduate is that at Williston, kids can truly be themselves and try new things. It's a hallmark of our school that many students discover a new passion here.
Williston’s has a innovative, 360-degree approach that deeply engages students and prepares them for college and life. Through five signature programs, which are interwoven into our traditional independent school curriculum, we create a rich academic and social environment that gives students the tools they need to excel and thrive. At once challenging and supportive, these programs are designed to meet each student where they are and to engage the whole student along an intentional, individualized path to realize his or her full potential at Williston, in college, and beyond.
19 Payson AvenueEasthampton, Massachusetts, USA 01027 (413) 529-3241
Director of Admissions: Christopher Dietrich Admissions Phone:(413) 529-3241Fax:413-527-9494 Email: [email protected] Website: www.williston.com
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Summary: Challenging and immersive academics are at the heart of a Williston education. Our academic environment offers a balance of structure and freedom, designed to help students develop excellent study skills, writing, and critical thinking, along with an ambitious intellectual curiosity. Our class sizes are small (average size of 12) and our course selection is large (155 courses with 49 designated as Honors as APs).Williston augments our traditional boarding school curriculum with many signature academic programs including our Writers Workshop, our Journalism course, Video Game Design, and Filmmaking, just to name a few. In addition, our Williston Scholars program is a college-model course that introduces students to the rigors of directed independent study. A trimester-long course, the program allows students to deeply engage with a topic he or she is passionate about in any discipline. Under the close mentorship and instruction of a Williston faculty member, students and classmates are guided through the steps of scholarly project development, research, implementation, and, ultimately, presentation—skills they will need to succeed at the college level. Throughout the program, students connect with content experts both inside the school and out, drawing on the intellectual wealth available to us here in the Pioneer Valley's colleges and universities.Williston’s Laboratory for Academic Success is a constellation of support that provides students at every level with the resources, instruction, and academic support they need to succeed. Students can take advantage of individual meetings with classroom teachers in our Math and Writing Centers and work with fellow students in our unique Arete peer-to-peer program. Qualified students may also meet one-on–one with members of our Learning Support team and/or Five-College graduate student tutors during our evening study hours. Within the Laboratory for Academic Success, Williston students can avail themselves of the academic support that best suits their needs and that will challenge them to be their best.Our 95 faculty members bring their love of learning to the classroom, together with broad life experiences. 67% of them hold graduate degrees. These talented teachers create a dynamic classroom environment, emphasizing discussion and collaboration and promoting an open exchange of ideas.
Department Director: Gregory Tuleja
Average Class Size: 12
Full Time Teachers: 96
Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 75.00%
Student/Teacher Ratio: 1:6
Academic Schedule: Trimester
Saturday Classes: Most or All
Number of Advanced Placement Courses Offered: 52
Notable Achievements: 7 Year of students to Bread Loaf Conference, Top Delegate award in Model UN completion at Yale, Steven Wang '20 3rd in national math tournament
Summary: Our graduates tell us that their most important life-long friendships began right here at Williston. Students live in small dorms with a family atmosphere and in larger dorms in the center of campus. Dorm parents and other members of the faculty are always on hand for advice and friendship. And students are never at a loss for something fun to do: we have 30+ student clubs, 40+ socials and events per year, 27 performances, night games, and more.In addition, Williston's CORE Program is a scaffolded, four-year life and leadership curriculum that engages students with relevant, developmentally-appropriate learning about themselves and others. Focusing on unique themes for each class each year, students learn skills that build organization, self-awareness, character, decision-making, responsibility, and leadership through class assemblies, discussions in advisories, dedicated classroom sessions, and all-school discussions A cornerstone of our residential life program, the CORE program helps all our students live healthier lives, filled with purpose, passion and integrity. Each year comes with an important theme:9th Grade: Be Curious -- Understanding yourself as a person, student, and teen -- Develop strong skills for life and learning10th Grade: Look Outward -- Understand your identity in the context of your community and world -- Learn to make smart decisions and support your community11th Grade: Embrace Responsibility -- Find your voice and leadership skills -- Take ownership of your future with the college process and other leadership roles12th Grade: Seek Excellence -- Act as leaders in the community -- Develop the legacy you leave behind and take into the world with you
Department Director: Kathryn Noble
Number of Dorms: 8
Average Students Per Dorm: 25
No. of Girls Dorms: 3
No. of Boys Dorms: 5
Dorm Amenities:
Dress Code: Casual
Summary: Williston students take on leadership opportunities in over thirty active clubs on campus, participate in community service opportunities with their advisory, and enjoy outstanding weekend activities in the Five College region.
Facilities
Clubs and Organizations
Summary: ATHLETICSAthletics are an integral part of our program with 61 teams in 32 sports competing in state-of-the-art facilities, including 2 turf fields, an ice rink, a six-lane pool, 12 tennis courts, and a state-of-the-art fitness center.Our statistics speak for themselves. 20 Williston teams have competed in NEPSAC championships in the last five years. Over 40 students have signed Letters of Intent to play sports at DI and DII schools in the last two years. There are more than 300 All-Americans in our school's history.ARTSIn addition to vibrant classes in visual and performing arts, Williston offers a unique Arts Intensive Program that allows artists to dedicate two hours daily to dance, music, or visual arts. Our creative facilities include a professional theater, costume shop, 5 art studios, digital music studio, photo studio, and an art gallery where professional and students artists display their work. Other distinctive programs include: a Photographers Lecture Series, Working Artist Awards, a visiting artist series (The Grum Project), as well as an opportunity to pursue independent arts projects in the Williston Scholars program.Recent graduates of Williston have gone on to programs including Berklee College of Music, Rhode Island School of Design, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and Parsons School of Design.
Arts Department Director: Natania Hume
Athletics Department Director: Mark Conroy
Notable Achievements: Erik Ostberg '14 drafted by Tampa Bay Rays, Gabby Thomas '15 in USATF Olympic Trials in 200m, Boys Basketball wins Class A Title in 2015 and 16
Summary: Our four-year approach to the college process emphasizes reflection, self-awareness and independence. Though class assemblies, group advisory meetings, and individual meetings with advisors and teachers, ninth and tenth graders focus on building their academic foundation, including discussions about course selection and standardized tests. By the junior year, students participate in a class on the college process and begin to meet one-on-one with their college counselor on a monthly basis to discuss goals, values, and interests. Classroom sessions, essay workshops, panel discussions, mini college fairs, practice interviews, and more prepare students to take the lead in their college search process and to matriculate to their best-fit college.
Department Director: Catherine McGraw
Percentage of Graduates Who Attend College: 100.00%
Colleges attended in the past 5 years by our graduates:
Ann Dowd (Class of 1974) Emmy-award winning Actress
Brad Hall (Class of 1975) Actor, Producer, Writer. Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Anchor
Koyalee Chanda (Class of 1992) Emmy-nominated Director, directed episodes of Blue's Clues and Sesame Street
Winthrop Crane 40th Governor of Massachusetts, U.S. Senator, Owner of the Crane Paper Company
Lawson Ramage (Class of 1926) Vice Admiral in the U.S. Navy, Decorated with the Medal of Honor
Patrick Rissmiller (Class of 1997) Professional Hockey Player, NHL New York Rangers, Forward
Chic Eglee (Class of 1970) Screenwriter & Producer for Television
Edward Clark Potter Sculptor of New York Public Library lions
Victor H. Fazio (Class of 1961) California Congressman
Mitch Epstein (Class of 1970) Photographer, Cinematographer, and Production Designer
You will be a better person coming out of the school. You will yearn to excel, value friendship and human dignity, and find the profundity in the world around you.
-Brendan Hellweg, Class of 2014, now at Yale University
You will never find a place with people who are as invested in your success and happiness as those at Williston.
-Caitlin Berube, Class of 2013, Georgetown, 2017
One of the most important things I've learned at Williston is never to be afraid to try new things.
-Natalie Aquadro, Class of 2016, Providence College
Summary: During the summer our facilities are used by several outside organizations, such as nationally known sports camps and Suzuki Violin music classes. Our Summer Theater program offers children and teens the opportunity to rehearse and perform plays before a public audience. Find out more at http://www.williston.com/summerprograms
Department Director: Gina Tirell
Summary: Williston's five signature programs create a rich academic and social environment that gives students the tools they need to thrive. Williston’s CORE Program is a scaffolded, four-year life and leadership curriculum. Focusing on unique themes for each class, students learn skills that build organization, self-awareness, character, decision-making, responsibility, and leadership through assemblies, classroom sessions, and all-school discussions Williston’s Laboratory for Academic Success provides students at every level with the resources and academic support they need to succeed. Students can meet with teachers in our Math and Writing Centers or work with fellow students in our unique Arete peer-to-peer program. Qualified students may also meet with members of our Learning Support team and/or Five-College graduate student tutors during evening study hours.Williston Scholars is a college-model course that introduces students to the rigors of directed independent study. A trimester-long course, the program allows students to engage with a topic he or she is passionate about in any discipline. Students connect with content experts inside the school and out, drawing on the intellectual wealth available here in the Pioneer Valley's colleges and universities.Our Curricular Technology Program teaches students how to use technology thoughtfully to communicate, problem-solve, research, and think critically. By utilizing cutting-edge software on a universal device, our teachers and students use the same powerful tools, allowing them to collaborate, communicate in new and powerful ways.Our 4-year College Curriculum begins in 9th grade with advisory meetings and class assemblies. By the junior year, students participate in a class on the college process and meet one-on-one with their college counselor on a monthly basis to discuss goals, values, and interests. Essay workshops, mini fairs, practice interviews prepare students to matriculate to their best-fit