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Hello,
I'm Annie Bailey, the Director of Residential Life at Concord Academy. I hope this note finds you well.
I want to extend my congratulations to <<First Name>> for being admitted to Concord Academy! As you imagine your child at CA next year, I thought it may be helpful for me to highlight some of the extraordinary and unique aspects of CA’s boarding life.
First, our boarding students live in historic, family-style houses lining Main Street in Concord, Massachusetts. Between 22 and 29 students live in each house, along with two or three sets of adult house faculty members. We call our dormitories “houses” because we feel strongly that the buildings themselves and the tone set within their walls create a cozy, comfortable, and “home-like” environment. We are particularly excited that all of our common rooms were completely renovated during the past few years, providing important community space in each house for casual “get togethers,” house meetings, house dinners, and more!
Students of all ages live within each house, allowing friendships to be formed and learning to happen amongst all grades. As a house faculty member, I find that the energy and spirit younger members bring to the house balances the guidance and maturity offered by older students. Often “big brother” or “big sister” relationships form amongst the housemates, as the older students are able to provide a tremendous amount of guidance to the younger students.
CA boarding students get to know classmates from different backgrounds and cultures in the casual, comfortable atmosphere of our houses. Many students spend parts of summers or school vacations visiting their boarding peers around the world. Boarders also develop deep friendships with CA day students. Day students often sleep over on campus on the weekends and boarding students spend time at their day student friends’ houses.
CA’s house faculty are an integral part of the familial house environment and ensure each boarder is safe and well cared for. House faculty take supervision and safety very seriously, going through extensive training and work closely with the Health Center to best meet the needs of every single student under their care. The relationship between the house faculty, their own families (many have young children and pets), and the students is akin to the relationships within a big extended family. It is truly special and one of the many things that sets this amazing boarding program apart from others.
Lastly, our students will tell you that they are never bored. Throughout the year, a wide range of activities are organized within individual houses, around campus, within the local historic community of Concord or more broadly in Boston and Cambridge. In my years at CA, I’ve seen students enjoy many activities such as house barbeques, stargazing and singing, s’mores nights, canoe trips on the Sudbury River, hikes around Walden Pond, breadmaking, midnight bowling trips, ice skating socials, holiday-specific activities (pumpkin carving, gingerbread house and holiday cookie decorating, etc.), hiking trips, game nights, laser tag, volunteer opportunities at local farms, inter-house capture-the-flag or dodgeball, movie marathons, giant hide-and-seek games, trips to Boston theaters and museums, and many other formal and informal opportunities to build relationships and have fun. These activities not only entertain and broaden the boarder’s experience, they also reinforce house spirit and boarding camaraderie.
Please feel free to contact any of the admissions counselors, or me, for assistance at any point during your decision-making process. We are happy to help and excited to welcome you to our community!
Sincerely,
Annie Bailey
annie_bailey@concordacademy.org
Director of Residential Life
And remember, find more content, videos, and live events on our "Finding Your CA" webpage!
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