Photo courtesy of Choate Flickr
Choate Leadership Institution: August 29, 2023
Eight days before the school year began, a number of students attended the Choate Leadership Institute (CLI) on campus. The program was designed to prepare team captains, prefects, Pathways Mentors, and International Student Mentors for their respective roles. Following a speech from Dr. Liza Talusan, a professor at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, who specializes in diversity, equity, and inclusion, students reflected on the importance of taking action against injustice and their new responsibilities seriously. Head of School Dr. Alex Curtis encouraged the prospective leaders to embody the values of the School and to set an example for their peers. Over the past year, Choate student leaders have been a quintessential part of the network of support on campus and have strengthened the bonds within the community.
Photo courtesy of Choate Flickr
Community Service Day: September 29, 2023
To increase food insecurity awareness, Choate hosted its annual Community Service Day on September 29, centered around the theme “Hungry for Justice.” The day before, Choate welcomed a panel of leaders passionate about combating food insecurity: Mr. Brad Fleming from Harvest Pack in St. Paul, Minnesota, Ms. Aubrey Roscoe from Connecticut Foodshare in Wallingford, Dr. Steve Werlin from Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen in New Haven, and Dr. Ivette Ruiz from Healing by Growing in East Haven. Students participated in various service activities, from packaging food with Harvest Pack to volunteering at local soup kitchens. Due to the rain, some students gathered in Colony Hall to watch “A Place at the Table,” a documentary highlighting the first-hand experiences of families who have experienced food insecurity.
Photo courtesy of Choate Flickr
Family Weekend: October 19-21, 2023
Every fall, Choate hosts its annual Family Weekend, a time for students to welcome their parents, guardians, siblings, and loved ones to campus. On October 19-21, visitors attended Choate classes and extracurricular activities, getting an authentic glimpse into life at Choate. This year, the weekend was packed with dazzling performances by all of the acapella groups and instrumental ensembles. Families also attended several athletic competitions right here on Choate’s home turf.
Photo courtesy of Choate Flickr
Deerfield Day: November 11, 2023
Students accompanied Choate athletes to Deerfield Academy on November 11 to participate in the 101st annual Deerfield Day. After boarding buses in the morning, hundreds of Choate community members crowded around fields and packed gymnasiums to cheer on their peers as they competed in the Choate-Deerfield rivalry. Students celebrated a victory by the Girls’ JV Volleyball team and an impressive 44-14 win by Varsity Football by rushing onto the field from the sidelines. “It was really cool to see,” Varsity Football Co-Captain Matt Diaz ’24 said. “I didn’t realize how many people were there until that happened.”
Photo courtesy of Choate Flickr
Diversity Day: January 15, 2024
On January 15, Choate students took a pause from their typical academic schedule to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. This year’s Diversity Day, themed “For the Culture,” prompted community members to reflect on what it means to embrace their identity. In honor of the theme, the Office of Equity and Inclusion invited students to wear clothing that reflected their own cultures during the day’s programming. The School welcomed Dr. Todd Boyd, a professor of Cinema and Media Studies at the University of Southern California, to Colony Hall to educate the community about the roots of hip-hop and the importance of cultural appreciation. After his powerful message, students attended a number of workshops led by teachers and club leaders to learn more about the unique cultural experiences of their community members.
Graphic by Leah Han ’27/The Choate News
President’s Day: January 29, 2024
President’s Day, an annual surprise day off from school, was celebrated this year on January 29. After seeing Head of School Dr. Alex Curtis’s announcement through the Choate SCOPE Instagram account post and a schoolwide email, excitement poured out of dormitory halls around campus as students rushed to the Student Activity Center (SAC) to celebrate the good news with an impromptu dance. Whether by sleeping in, exploring Wallingford, or spending quality time with friends, students enjoyed the day off in many ways.
Photo courtesy of Emily Ma ’25
Lunar Banquet: February 9, 2024
In celebration of the Lunar New Year, Choate’s annual Lunar Banquet, co-hosted by Chinese Club and Choate Korean Friendship Association, took place in Ruutz-Rees on February 9. The event featured Asian food and bubble tea, traditional games, and student musical performances. Kara Wang ’24 performed a Mongolian-styled Chinese folkloric dance called “Silent Sky,” and Danny Yoon ’24, Leanne Parks ’25, Nick Aldrich ’24, and James Stuber ’24 performed “Bom Bom Bom (Spring Spring Spring)” by Roy Kim. Choate’s K-pop dance group, SYNK, also performed choreography to seven songs including “ETA” by New Jeans and “Drama” by Aespa. To conclude the event, a group of sixth-formers performed a popular Chinese song called “童话 (Fairy Tale)” to commemorate their years at Choate.
Photo courtesy of Choate Flickr
Revisit Days: April 2, 4, and 5, 2024
Choate opened its doors to some fresh faces for Revisit Days on April 2, 4, and 5. The families of over 200 accepted students came from all over the world to experience a day in the life of a Choate student. The day featured a welcome speech by Chief Enrollment Manager Mr. Jeff Beaton, information sessions about Choate’s programs for parents, and opportunities for visiting students to shadow classes on campus, ending with a Community Fair. The experience gave prospective families a taste of Choate life, helping them envision what it might be like to choose gold and blue.
Photo courtesy of Choate Flickr
Eclipse: April 8, 2024
On April 8, Connecticut witnessed a rare, partial solar eclipse, as the moon passed in front of the sun from 2:12 to 4:37 p.m. The School celebrated the phenomenon by hosting a viewing party on the Great Lawn, complete with solar-eclipse-themed desserts, space-themed music, and special eclipse glasses for students to enjoy the event. Students were able to hang out with friends and snack on delicious treats while learning about a rare astronomical event that will not recur in Connecticut for another 20 years.
Photo courtesy of Choate Flickr
Grandparent’s Day: May 10, 2024
Choate celebrated Grandparent’s Day on May 10. After opening with a breakfast with the Dean of Students Mr. Will Gilyard ’98 and tea with Head of School Dr. Alex Curtis, students then showed their grandparents around campus and took them to classes. To conclude their visit after a peek into life at Choate, grandparents had the opportunity to enjoy the Instrumental Ensembles Concert and Acapellooza in the evening.
Graphic courtesy of Choate Rosemary Hall
New Facilities
Choate has been busy with several construction projects this past year. Renovations to the dining hall were set in motion in the fall. The servery is currently being tripled in size, which will expand the menu options and reduce overcrowding in the space. Additionally, the Inn at Choate Rosemary Hall has opened to campus visitors after being renovated since Choate purchased the property in 2021. Guests, including prospective families or alumni, will now have additional housing options during campus visits. Finally, the construction of Carr Hall, Choate’s future admission center and its underground parking lot adjacent to J.J. Maher Field, began in the spring and is expected to be completed and open to the public in the fall of 2025.
Graphic by Carolyn Chen ’25/The Choate News
New Schedule
After five years, Choate has revamped its daily schedule to optimize students’ time and prioritize wellness through five key changes: 15-minute later start times in the mornings, extended 50-minute lunch blocks, shorter 65-minute classes, a Thursday advising period, and the removal of a Thursday conference period. The new schedule worked hand in hand with the new advising system, which has diversified advisory groups across genders, boarding and day students, and forms.
Graphic by David Glover-Barr ’25/The Choate News
New Wi-Fi
This winter, Choate switched its Wi-Fi network from “Gold” to “eduroam,” a globally utilized network access service in higher education, with the goal of improving the network’s security and speed of internet connectivity on campus. This transition was initiated by Information Technology Services (ITS) two years ago and entailed replacing physical access points in buildings and establishing secure wireless networks to limit external use of Choate’s Wi-Fi network. Additionally, faculty residences now have access to “ResNET,” a Wi-Fi network that accommodates the internet needs of homes. “Eduroam” has allowed students to experience a more seamless browsing experience and succeeded in aligning the community with global education standards.
