The Storm King School has welcomed 164 students so far this fall, many of whom are living in the dorms full time or attending classes and after-school activities as day students. Life on campus looks a lot different this year, but the Office of Student Life is working hard to make sure all of our students feel comfortable, safe, and at home despite the challenges.
“Our goal is to provide students with a positive experience and build a strong sense of community among them, much like in other years,” said Asst. Head of School for Student Life Alan Lewis. “We have to do many things differently to keep everyone safe, but we have plans in place to deliver an adapted Student Life curriculum that will give our students many different ways to participate in evening and weekend activities, arts and cultural events, outdoor activities, and more.”
Storm King’s Director of Activities Christina Lewis says that along with our new health protocols, she also considers the effects today’s circumstances may have on the way students approach activities. “Making everyone feel comfortable has been a priority from the get-go,” explained Mrs. Lewis. “For instance, the cohort system is being implemented within the dorms and is also carried over to other activities. It allows students to return after a day of mask-wearing and social distancing to be “relaxed” among their dorm family. Separate cohorts for day students allow them to have the experience of coming to campus each day, interacting with peers, participating in classes, and engaging in after-school activities while staying safe.”
“Keeping our students active, engaged, and connected with the School and one another seems even more important this year,” continued Mrs. Lewis. “Everyone enjoys their “down-time” differently. Some students like to remain active and burn energy, while others bask in the quietness of a good book. The key is getting creative and offering many different options where everyone can remain safe and still have fun. Another important factor in choosing activities is finding out what the students like to do. We are always asking them for suggestions. We want to ensure that each student’s individual “school-life” balance is met. We can make everyone’s experience better by working together!”
To help our students stay connected with the School and one another, Mrs. Lewis also created an interactive bulletin board called The PEAK using the School’s Blackbaud communication platform. “The PEAK is an online space where students, faculty, staff, and parents can log in and see all the great things that are happening on campus. The PEAK is the School’s ‘one-stop-shop’ to get the latest on activities and fun for students,” she continued.
Currently, students are participating in cohort challenges including a ‘hiking for pizza’ challenge and a fall harvest ‘make a scarecrow’ challenge. The Office of Student Life is planning more activities in the coming weeks and months, including more cohort challenges, on-campus camping, evening bonfires with s’ mores, outdoor movies, food trucks, and more. “I think I can speak for Mr. Lewis as well in that I encourage all of our students and parents to log in and look at The PEAK frequently so they don’t miss anything,” said Mrs. Lewis.
