Saint Thomas More School

Summer Academic Camp
Oakdale, Connecticut


		Program Description Program Overview Visit Web Site Get Free Info

For More Information, Contact
Timothy Riordan
Office of Admissions
Saint Thomas More School
45 Cottage Road
Oakdale, Connecticut 06370
860-823-3861
Fax: 860-823-3863
http://stmct.org

Type of Program: Summer academic camp
Participants: Boys, grades 7–12
Enrollment: 100
Program Dates: Five-week session, June 28 to July 31
Head of Program: Tim Viands

Location

Saint Thomas More School is located in Oakdale, Connecticut, which is midway between Boston and New York, about 10 miles north of the Long Island Sound. The 100-acre campus is situated along 4,000 feet of waterfront on Gardner Lake, the largest lake in eastern Connecticut.

Background and Philosophy

Saint Thomas More School was founded in 1962 by Headmaster James F. Hanrahan to assist the young person with no social, emotional, or behavioral problems who is not living up to his academic potential. The Saint Thomas More School way of life is based on the belief that young people need structure, order, clear expectations, close personal attention, and consequences that are appropriate to their behavior.
Boys attend the summer program for a combination of academics and summer fun. Some students come for make-up credit and some for enrichment; international students come to improve their English. It is possible for each student’s goals to be attained.
The average class size in the summer is 6. Students are given close personal attention by dedicated teachers who are drawn from the regular School faculty.

Program Offerings

There are three class periods from 8:25 a.m. to 12:05 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Students take three courses. Courses include English I, II, and III; world history; U.S. history; arithmetic; prealgebra; algebra I and II; geometry; general science; physical science; biology; chemistry; Spanish I and II; computer science; art; reading I and II; ESL reading and writing I and II; SAT preparation; and TOEFL iBT preparation.

Enrollment

About 100 boys attend the five-week session. The program is open to boys entering grades 7–12. Students come from many states and from all over the world.

Daily Schedule

All students attend classes from 8:25 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. from Monday through Saturday. From lunch until 7 p.m., the School transforms into a summer camp. After lunch, there is a structured activity period, during which campers play in an organized intramural program. This is followed by a period in which the boys can choose their own recreation. Options include, but are not limited to, tennis, swimming, boating, basketball, and weight lifting. On rainy days, the indoor pool is available. After dinner, there is mail call, then free time until study hall begins at 7:15 p.m. At that time, all students return to their rooms for a 2½-hour, teacher-supervised study period. At 10:30 p.m., lights go out.

Extra Opportunities and Activities

There are eleven field trips over the five weeks. Every Wednesday, after lunch, campers go by bus to one of the nearby attractions, including museums, beaches, roller-skating arenas, and the Mystic Aquarium. On Sunday, there are full-day trips to amusement parks, ocean beaches, Mystic Seaport, and the Boston Museum of Science. Also, there is a trip every Saturday night, usually to a movie theater.

Facilities

The summer program has the use of all the facilities at Saint Thomas More School. For academic use, this includes three classroom buildings, science laboratories, a language laboratory, a computer room, and a library. For housing, boys live 1 or 2 to a room in three modern dormitories. Teachers live in the boys’ dorms to monitor and supervise their lives. All dorms are carpeted and oak-paneled. For athletics, a full-size gymnasium includes a basketball court and a large, twenty-station weight room equipped with cardiovascular machines and free weights. The student recreation area includes pool, Ping-Pong, and a TV room. The School’s 100 acres include 4,000 feet of waterfront on Gardner Lake. The boathouse holds numerous canoes, sailboats, windsurfers, paddle boats, and rowboats for recreational use. Many campers enjoy the high-quality fishing in the lake, which is stocked with game fish. Other outdoor facilities include a running track, two soccer fields, two baseball fields, a lacrosse practice field, four outdoor tennis courts, and six outdoor basketball courts.

Staff

The staff is drawn from the regular School faculty. Every teacher has a minimum of a bachelor’s degree; many have their master’s. With 15 teachers for 100 student campers, there is a great amount of close personal attention for each student.

Medical Care

A nurse is a member of the staff and is available for regular office hours from Monday to Saturday. In addition, a second nurse is on call for health-related needs. The School physician is on call as needed. There is a local ambulance service 5 minutes away, and a modern hospital is 12 miles from the campus.
Students are required to have had a recent physical examination and to have medical insurance.

Religious Life

Saint Thomas More School is Catholic in philosophy. All students attend mass once a week.

Costs

Tuition, room, and board cost for the five-week session in 2008 totals $5495 for domestic campers and $5995 for international campers. This cost also covered books, fees, laundry, and trips. Extra costs include travel to and from the camp and a weekly spending allowance of $20 per week.

Transportation

The campus is approximately midway between Boston and New York, about 10 miles north of New London, and less than 10 minutes from Exit 80 off I-395 in Norwich. Students traveling from great distances can fly into Bradley (Hartford-Springfield) Airport or JFK International Airport.
Arrangements for a driver service to pick up a camper at an airport can be made through the School. The School can also arrange for campers to be escorted back to the airport for return flights at the end of the program.

Application Timetable

Applications are accepted until the session is full. To ensure the availability of courses, early application is encouraged. Interviews and campus tours can be arranged throughout the year. The application fee is $50 for domestic campers and $75 for international campers. An admission decision is made within one week of the School’s receiving the required forms and application.