Eagle Hill School

Summer Session
Hardwick, Massachusetts


		Program Description Program Overview Visit Web Site Get Free Info See Photos

For More Information, Contact
Dana Harbert
Director of Admission
Eagle Hill School
242 Old Petersham Road
Hardwick, Massachusetts 01037
413-477-6000
http://www.ehs1.org

Type of Program: Academic enrichment, skill development, and camp activities for students diagnosed with specific learning (dis)abilities and/or attention deficit disorder
Participants: Coeducational, ages 10–18
Enrollment: 74
Program Dates: Five weeks, early July through early August
Head of Program: Peter J. McDonald, Head of School

Location

Eagle Hill School’s 165-acre campus is located in central Massachusetts in the town of Hardwick, on the eastern edge of the Quabbin Reservoir. Hardwick is surrounded by state parks and is just 30 miles from Worcester, the second-largest city in Massachusetts. Students are able to take full advantage of all New England has to offer, including hiking, camping, amusement parks, water parks, beach trips, whale watching, deep-sea fishing, and white-water rafting.

Background and Philosophy

Established in 1967, Eagle Hill School is a private college-preparatory boarding school located in Hardwick, Massachusetts. The School’s program is designed to address the academic and social needs of students with learning differences, including specific learning (dis)abilities (LD) and/or attention deficit disorder (ADD). Consistent with that mission, the Eagle Hill Summer Session provides academic enrichment and skill development for students interested in addressing specific academic and social skills needs or maintaining progress achieved over the preceding academic year.
Electives and sports activities are combined with academic courses to address the needs of the whole person in a camp atmosphere. This success-oriented environment gives bright, motivated students the opportunity to flourish.
Eagle Hill places a premium on providing individual attention, and the 5:1 student-teacher ratio ensures that attention is focused and productivity is maximized. The teachers understand the needs of their students and employ the most effective methods possible to ensure success both in and out of the classroom.

Program Offerings

The program offers an eight-period class day. Four classes concentrate on reading, writing, math, and pragmatics, whereas the remaining four classes are designed to foster community dynamics and build self-esteem. Those classes include swimming, adventure ropes, art, woodshop, graphic arts, culinary arts, fly fishing, photography, and computers, among other subjects.
Following the academic class day, students enjoy a variety of afternoon activities that rotate on a daily basis. These activities may include swimming, fishing, arts and crafts, billiards, hiking, football, kickball, adventure ropes, and a wide variety of other offerings. Each evening, students participate in a club of their choice. Clubs are scheduled Monday through Thursday and do not rotate. Clubs are designed to have educational value but also incorporate fun.
By giving students the chance to be part of a team or club, the ideals of sharing, trust, sportsmanship, and tolerance are fostered. At the same time, students develop a sense of pride in their individual contributions and gain confidence in their abilities. First and foremost, participation in these activities highlights the belief that effort is as important as achievement.

Enrollment

The Summer Session enrollment is limited to 74 campers comprising three groups of students. One group is students currently enrolled in Eagle Hill’s academic-year program who need the continuity of the summer program to maintain skill levels. The second group is new or returning campers who come just for the summer session to get the academic boost it provides before returning to their home placements. The third group consists of new students enrolling in the academic-year program in the fall. For these campers, the summer session is a time of acclimation and preparation for the upcoming school year. They learn the routine, get to know the faculty members, meet some of their peers, and learn how to navigate campus life. When they return to Eagle Hill School in September to face increased academic expectations, their transition tends to be much smoother. Attending the summer session reduces the anxiety and the unknown of a new situation.

Daily Schedule

7:00
7:20–8:00
8:04–10:18
10:22–10:37
10:41–12:09
12:13–12:42
12:46–3:00
3:00–3:30
3:40–4:40
5:00–5:45
6:00–7:00
8:55

Wakeup
Breakfast
Periods 1–3
Break
Periods 4–5
Lunch
Periods 6–8
Extra help
Activities
Dinner
Club meetings
Campus curfew

Extra Opportunities and Activities

Several trips and adventures are offered each day of the weekend, beginning with Friday evening. Students choose from among off-campus excursions and many activities available on campus—trips to museums, whale watching, shopping, white-water rafting, swimming, watching a movie in the activity center or in town, working out in the fitness center, playing a pickup game of basketball or Wiffle ball, and ordering take-out food with friends.

Facilities

Sixteen buildings, tennis courts, soccer fields, a softball diamond, a gymnasium and fitness center, and a swimming pool occupy the grounds. The Richardson Academic Center, which was completed in October 2005, brings together the majority of Eagle Hill’s academic resources under one roof. These include forty-eight classrooms, five computer labs, six state-of-the-art science labs, a library, and music, technology, culinary arts, and creative arts facilities.
Students are housed in residence halls in which every room is equipped with Internet and telephone access. The residential buildings also house full-time, live-in resident counselors, who are primarily responsible for developing and maintaining a positive, community-based living environment.

Staff

The cornerstone of Eagle Hill School’s success is its faculty, whose members’ unconditional commitment, in combination with continuous training, has made it one of the finest. Teachers and resident counselors commonly offer extra help, insightful advice, or even a shoulder to lean on. Dedicated, motivated, and professional, their investment in each student’s life has made Eagle Hill School an environment conducive to learning and thriving.
Eagle Hill School recruits nationally, seeking individuals who possess the qualities and characteristics of exceptional educators. These committed faculty members are experienced, certified, and dedicated to excellence in a highly challenging environment.

Medical Care

In the interest of providing support and comfort to its students, Eagle Hill School employs full-time registered nurses for around-the-clock medical care. The nursing staff is responsible for all medication distribution and oversees any and all medical issues that may arise. Housed in Prescott Hall, the Health Center comprises a fourteen-bed infirmary, a medical evaluation and treatment area, and a faculty training center.

Costs

In 2008, tuition for Eagle Hill’s Summer Session is $6888. In addition, each family is required to maintain a separate student bank account for their child. The account covers such personal expenses as laundry and dry cleaning, weekly allowance, weekend activities, and travel expenses. The average summer account expenditure is $800.

Transportation

Eagle Hill School is easily accessible from the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). Directions can be found on the Web site.

Application Timetable

Eagle Hill processes applications on a rolling admission basis. It is recommended that families get in touch with the admission office by May 1.