Kents Hill School Community, 

We're looking forward to "seeing" you during our Virtual Orientation session tomorrow (Thursday, August 26) from 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET. 

This Zoom session is designed for all students - returning and new - to transition out of summer and back to school. Students will have the opportunity to meet and hear from school leaders about student life, move-in, academics, athletics, advisory, COVID-19 policies, and more. There will also be time to ask any questions about the year ahead. 

To access the Virtual Orientation on Zoom, please click here or copy this URL into your Internet browser: https://kentshill.zoom.us/j/9752651963.

Best,

Lara

Lara Cole

Dean of Communications and Strategic Initiatives

Kents Hill School Community, 

I’m happy to share more information about “Class Connections,” an opportunity for students to meet classmates, student leaders, and faculty members in a relaxed, inclusive, and welcoming setting during the opening of school and orientation. In addition to providing a safe small-group experience, each grade-level-specific program is led by experienced faculty members and designed to introduce and reinforce core values, leadership, and character. 

During Grade 9 Class Connections, students discover Kents Hill’s traditions and history. The majority of the experience is spent on-campus where students will take part in a number of school traditions and orientation activities. Students also explore coastal Maine, Boothbay’s Botanical Garden, and visit an adventure park. Click here for more details from Class Connections Leader, Maureen Whitestone.

During Grade 10 Class Connections, students spend three days camping at Acadia National Park. In addition to community-building activities, students hike, bike, and sea kayak. To prepare for the trip, please complete the “Class Connections Form” on the Kents Hill website [form will be available by Friday, August 27] by logging in and selecting the form on the “Forms to Complete” banner. Click here for more details from Class Connections Leader, Diane Chick.

During Grade 11 Class Connections, students explore the beauty of central Maine by spending two days at Camp Winnebago. Students take part in community-building activities and have the opportunity to enjoy Echo Lake and play tennis, soccer, basketball, dodgeball, and more. Click here for more details from Connection Leader, Katie Petrillo. 

During Grade 12 and Post Graduate Class Connections, students step out of their comfort zone while whitewater rafting. The group stays overnight at Adventure Bound, which includes cabin tents, hot showers, a swimming pool, volleyball and basketball courts, and ropes courses. To prepare for the trip, please complete the “Class Connections Form” on the Kents Hill website [form will be available by Friday, August 27] by logging in and selecting the form on the “Forms to Complete” banner. Click here for more details from Class Connections Leader, Josh Reynolds.

Best,

Erica Chute

Dean of Community Life

Kents Hill School Community, 

Our campus is coming alive as faculty and staff are busy preparing for the year ahead! We can't wait to welcome your family to campus. Each of you brings something so special to our Kents Hill community, and we are looking forward to witnessing the ways that our community grows and flourishes in the year ahead.

As you prepare for the year ahead, please review our move-in day and orientation schedule that will serve as the guide for your first few days on campus. Please note that the schedule is subject to change and may be updated as we head towards the first days of school. If you have any questions about move-in or the opening of school, please don’t hesitate to contact Diane Chick, Dean of Students, at dchick@kentshill.org and/or Addie Michaud, Assistant to the Dean of Students at amichaud@kentshill.org.

When reviewing the orientation schedule, you will see an activity called “Class Connections.” Class Connections (formerly known as Class Projects prior to the 2021-22 school year) are orientation trips designed for students to meet classmates, student leaders, and faculty members in a relaxed, inclusive, and welcoming setting during the opening of school. In addition to providing a safe small-group experience, each grade-level-specific program is led by experienced faculty members and designed to introduce and reinforce core values, leadership, and character. You will receive a full overview of what to expect during “Class Connections” early next week, in addition to your faculty advisor and dorm assignment (if applicable). 

As always, our Family Resource Hub remains a great resource to learn more about the Kents Hill experience. Recent additions include the student handbook, school forms, and the COVID-19 vaccination policy.

Kents Hill School Community,

The health, safety, and wellbeing of our community is our most important priority and guiding principle as we respond to COVID-19. We have been so fortunate to have a dedicated Health Center and COVID-19 Task Force to continuously review and update our policies in conjunction with public health experts and local and state health authorities. Our COVID-19 Task Force continues to meet weekly, sometimes more, as we grapple with the complexity of what is needed to keep our community safe in the midst of increasing uncertainty.

When we started planning for the year ahead, we fully anticipated that policies and guidelines may change as we learned new information about COVID-19 and the Delta variant in our local community, the United States, and around the world. After much deliberation and consultation with public health experts, Kents Hill School is requiring all eligible employees and students to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself, your loved ones, and our broader school community. We are confident that the United States FDA and CDC have exhaustively reviewed the safety and efficacy of the authorized vaccines available today, and believe strongly that the COVID-19 vaccines enable communities and schools like ours to return to a greater sense of normalcy, while at the same time promoting health and safety.

• All COVID-19 vaccine doses must be administered by September 30, 2021. If you have not yet done so, please submit proof of vaccination, or your plans to be vaccinated, directly to Lindsey Jenkins, School Nurse, at ljenkins@kentshill.org. The State of Maine permits limited medical vaccine exemptions. Please contact the Health Center for more information if you believe you are eligible for an exemption. 

• We are committed to working to support international students or any other students who wish to be vaccinated, but cannot obtain an approved vaccination for any reason before the start of school. If you are interested in arranging a vaccine appointment once you arrive at Kents Hill, please contact Lindsey at ljenkins@kentshill.org. 

• During move-in and arrival days, all campus visitors (family members, friends, etc.), students, and employees will be required to wear a mask in all indoor spaces to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

• Please remember to complete your Magnus Health Systems forms as soon as possible. To access the forms, please log in to the Kents Hill website and click on the “Magnus Health Systems” icon on the Resource Board. 

If you have any questions or concerns about the vaccination policy, please contact Andrea Emmershy, Executive Assistant, at aemmershy@kentshill.org, who will direct your inquiry to the appropriate person. 

Thank you for all that you have done, and continue to do, to protect our school community. Although our campus may look and feel different at times in the year ahead, I know that our community is deeply resilient and committed to doing what we can to stay together, on campus. As always, we are stronger together.

Best,

Chris

Christopher S. Cheney

Head of School

Kents Hill Community, 

It's hard to believe that we're gearing up to welcome students to Maine in a few weeks! We're pleased to share a few updates that will help you plan ahead. 

STUDENT HANDBOOK

The Student Handbook for the 2021-22 academic year is now available. All members of the Kents Hill School community are asked to review the handbook thoroughly, as parents/guardians and students will be asked to sign an acknowledgment form agreeing to abide by the school rules and expectations. Students will have the opportunity to review key policies and ask questions during the opening of school. 

If you have specific questions about school rules and expectations, please contact Rene Davis, Assistant Head of School for Student Life, at rdavis@kentshill.org. 

VIRTUAL ORIENTATION 

Our full orientation schedule (after students arrive) will be available soon, but please mark your calendar for our Virtual Orientation session on Thursday, August 26, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET. This Zoom session is designed for all students - returning and new - to transition out of summer and back to school. 

During Virtual Orientation, students will have the opportunity to meet and hear from school leaders about student life, move-in day, academics, athletics, advisory, COVID-19 policies, and more. There will also be time to ask any questions about the year ahead. The Zoom link/invitation will be distributed via email soon. 

OPENING OF SCHOOL

Please review the 2021-22 Key Dates Calendar to determine when your student should arrive to campus in order to fully participate in orientation and the opening of school. Diane Chick, Dean of Students (dchick@kentshill.org) and/or Addie Michaud, Assistant to the Dean of Students (amichaud@kentshill.org) are working to contact each family with an assigned date and time for arrival to campus and move-in. Additional details are available on the Family Resource Hub. 

BACK TO SCHOOL FORMS

Please complete the Back to School forms for the 2021-22 academic year, if you have not yet done so already. To access the forms, log in to the Kents Hill School website and follow instructions in the yellow “form to complete” banner. Magnus Health Systems forms can be accessed by selecting the “Magnus Health Systems” icon on the Resource Board. 

Additional forms will be added as we move closer to the start of school, so check back often to ensure that you are up-to-date. You will also receive regular email notifications for outstanding forms. If you have any questions regarding the forms, please don’t hesitate to contact Addie Michaud, Assistant to the Dean of Students, at amichaud@kentshill.org. If you are unable to log in to the website or have any issues accessing the forms, please contact Marc Bartholomew, Director of Technology, at mbartholomew@kentshill.org.

Kents Hill Families, 

We're happy to share that Back to School forms for the 2021-22 academic year are now available for you to review and complete. Please log in to the Kents Hill School website and follow instructions in the yellow “form to complete” banner. Additional forms will be added as we move closer to the start of school, so check back often to ensure that you are up-to-date. You will also receive regular email notifications for outstanding forms. 

If you have any questions regarding form content or the start of school, please don’t hesitate to contact Addie Michaud, Assistant to the Dean of Students, at amichaud@kentshill.org. If you are unable to log in to the website or have any issues accessing the forms, please contact Marc Bartholomew, Director of Technology, at mbartholomew@kentshill.org.

Dear Kents Hill Community,

On behalf of all of us at the Health Center, we hope that you are enjoying your summer. We can’t wait to welcome you back to campus and want to provide you with information regarding health and wellness so that you feel prepared. As always, we are here to answer any questions or help you troubleshoot any part of the process. 

In order to best serve you and your child during their time at Kents Hill, we require health forms to be submitted via Magnus Health Systems - our Student Medical Records Provider - by August 1.

You will start receiving automated weekly email notifications from Magnus regarding the required annual health documents and are welcome to begin completing and uploading your student’s forms for the 2021-22 academic year immediately. Please note that all health forms must be submitted in English.

To access the forms, please log in to the Kents Hill School website at www.kentshill.org and click on the “Magnus Health Systems” icon on the Resource Board. If you have any issues accessing Magnus, please contact Magnus customer support at 877-461-6831 or service@magnushealthportal.com. 

Immunization Requirements

Kents Hill is in compliance with and supports the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s recommendation that childhood immunizations continue to be prioritized during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Immunization assessments are conducted annually in accordance with the Maine school immunization laws, which require students K-12 to show proof of immunization against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, varicella, and meningococcal meningitis for grades 7 and 12. It also requires that all Maine schools submit a summary report on the immunization status of their students to the Maine Centers for Disease Control. 

Please note that “Public Law, Ch. 154 (introduced as LD798): An Act to Protect Maine Children and Students from Preventable Disease by Repealing Certain Exemptions from the Laws Governing Immunization Requirements” was signed by Maine Governor Janet Mills on May 24, 2019. This new law, which takes effect September 1, 2021, will remove the allowance of both religious and philosophical exemptions, and require that all students provide a complete immunization record or a signed medical exemption to attend a public or private school in Maine. If you have questions about this law or Kents Hill’s adherence to it, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly. 

Please refer to the Immunization Form on the Magnus portal for a detailed list of all required immunizations. Your health care provider may use the form found on the Magnus portal, or their own office-generated form. Please ensure that all provider forms are signed and dated.

COVID-19 Vaccine

Kents Hill has made the decision to strongly encourage, but not require, all faculty, staff, and students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the start of the 2021-22 school year. We are confident that the United States FDA and CDC have exhaustively reviewed the safety and efficacy of the vaccines available today, and believe strongly that the COVID-19 vaccines enable communities and schools like ours to return to a greater sense of normalcy, while at the same time promoting health and safety. 

If your child is already fully vaccinated against COVID-19, please feel free to answer “No” to the question “Do you want your child to receive the COVID-19 vaccination while at school?” You may also upload your proof of COVID-19 vaccination card within the forms, or email it directly to me at ljenkins@kentshill.org. 

You can find additional information regarding COVID-19, including guidelines for vaccinated and unvaccinated community members, at our Family Resource Hub. 

Please know I am available throughout the summer to assist you, answer questions, and provide guidance. Please feel free to contact me by email at ljenkins@kentshill.org. 

Warmest regards for a healthy, happy, and safe summer!

Lindsey Jenkins 

School Nurse

Hello Huskies!

We hope this note finds you well and enjoying a summer filled with fun and family.

We have been hard at work here on the Hill putting together our athletic schedules, planning our afternoon programming, and preparing equipment and uniforms for our return to play. Yes! You read that correctly we plan to play this fall. Sure, we will still have to be nimble as we continue to respond to COVID-19 and the emerging variants; but we are excited to see our Huskies take the fields and trails in September and family and friends cheer them on in person.

In preparation for fall, we are asking all students to complete this Fall Athletics and Activities Form. The form will allow students to express their interests and preferences for afternoon athletic team/program for the fall season. Please make three choices when completing the form, with your top choice being number one. 

Students are asked to complete the form no later than Sunday, August 8. Please note that all students will have until September 10 to change out of their first choice. To help you make your decision, I am including links to two documents. These documents will help inform you of our programs and also answer some of the questions that may pop up.

2021 Fall Sport Offerings/Descriptions

Athletic Equipment Expectations

As you prepare for your return to the Hill, we want to make sure you are familiar with our Husky Athletic Mobile App! It will be your one-stop-shop for all things athletics and afternoon activities; weekly practice schedules (WPS), Alfond Athletic Center hours of operation, Sign-Up Genius, sports news, and schedules. To access the app, please click here Husky Athletic App. Once you have loaded the app you can find all of the information (documents and form) in this letter on the app under the fall sports tab.

While we are enjoying our summer of preparation we cannot wait to see our facilities filled with Huskies. This fall promises to be a very special one for Kents Hill and for our athletics programs.

Enjoy the rest of your summer,

Nan Hambrose, CAA

Director of Athletics

207-685-1667

Dear Students and Families of the Class of 2023,

It is with great pleasure that I greet you from Kents Hill. The college counseling office is set up and I have already managed to see most of campus, as you may have noticed on the Kents Hill instagram!  Just so you know a little about me before we meet on campus, I came to Kents Hill most recently from the American International School Chennai in India. Previously, I worked at Lincoln School in Costa Rica as well as in Venezuela and Virginia. I earned both my bachelor’s degree and a Master’s in Counseling Education from my home state’s flagship institution, The University of Virginia. This is my husband, Rodrigo, and my first time in Maine. We have loved exploring the area on our bikes, and are excited to see snow after spending the last eight years near the equator. 

Mr. Onu and I are working on the testing schedule for the fall, and we need your input! All 11th grade students will be automatically registered to take the PSAT- Practice SAT Test- on October 13th, 2021. We would like you to please complete this survey to indicate the following no later than August 13th:

• If you would like to opt out of the PSAT completely and take no test on the 13th.

• If you would like to opt out of the PSAT and instead sit for the SAT test on October 13th. 

• If you would like to take the ACT test on October 5th, you may opt in to take this exam. 

If you have questions about this survey or need anything over the summer, I can be reached at tgrimm@kentshill.org Enjoy the rest of the summer, and I can’t wait to meet you on The Hill! 

Go Huskies!

Tracey R. Grimm M.Ed.

Director of College Counseling

207-685-1685 (Office)

207-685-49114 (Main)

Please Click This Link To Book An Appointment During Summer Hours

Dear Students and Families of the Class of 2022,

It is with great pleasure that I greet you from Kents Hill. The college counseling office is set up and ready for student meetings in August and I have already managed to see most of campus, as you may have noticed on the Kents Hill instagram! Ms. Bergill left you all with a wonderful summer to-do list linked here. I hope you have found some time to navigate and complete some of these tasks. As Ms. Bergill said, what you don’t finish before school starts, Ms.Nanof and I will help you finish in the fall but remember that the more you do now, the more enjoyable your senior year will be.

Just so you know a little about me before we meet on campus, I came to Kents Hill most recently from the American International School Chennai in India. Previously, I worked at Lincoln School in Costa Rica as well as in Venezuela and Virginia. I earned both my bachelor’s degree and a Master’s in Counseling Education from my home state’s flagship institution, The University of Virginia. This is my husband, Rodrigo, and my first time in Maine. We have loved exploring the area on our bikes, and are excited to see snow after spending the last eight years near the equator. 

A few FYI’s in addition to the great information already provided for you in the June letter. Please remember that the Junior Survey and the Parent Survey in SCOIR are crucial to helping me get to know you quickly. If you have not already completed these in SCOIR, please do so at the earliest. Also, please note that directly after this email, I am sending out another survey regarding ACT and SAT testing. This survey is vitally important as we develop our testing plan for this semester. Please complete this survey no later than August 13. 

Finally, I would love to have the opportunity to check in with you before we arrive on campus! I have many open appointment times for virtual meetings over the summer—please feel free to book an appointment time using the link in my email signature or just respond to this email with your availability. If you need help brainstorming your essay, polishing your college list, or you just want to get to know each other, please don’t hesitate to make an appointment. Please note, all seniors on my caseload will be required to have multiple check-in meetings with me as early as possible once the semester begins, so if you would like to start the process now over the summer, this is your chance! 

Enjoy the rest of the summer, and I can’t wait to meet you on The Hill! 

Go Huskies!

Tracey R. Grimm M.Ed.

Director of College Counseling

207-685-1685 (Office)

207-685-49114 (Main)

Please Click This Link To Book An Appointment During Summer Hours

Kents Hill School Families and Students,

I’m excited to share that we will be using Orah this year, a software designed for boarding and day schools to easily and efficiently manage the status of each student. For returning families and students, Orah was previously called “Boardingware.”

Based around a web-based and iOS app, Orah is designed so that up-to-date details of a student’s whereabouts are always available to faculty members to ensure safety. One of the benefits of the system is that parents/guardians can create an Orah account in order to request leave for their child and/or approve leave that their child requests. You can use Orah with a web-enabled device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, and all that is required to sign up to it is an active email address. Once you have signed up and use Orah, you will be able to keep up to date with your child’s activities here at Kents Hill and easily communicate with school staff. Students will also create their own accounts to be used for campus navigation and completing forms. Once this is done, and you are signed up, the system will link up students, parents/guardians, and dorm staff.

Before the start of school, you will receive an invitation via email directly from Orah to create an account. If you would like any further information about how Kents Hill will use Orah, please contact me directly at amichuad@kentshill.org. This "Getting Started Guide for Parents and Guardians" may be helpful as you create your account and navigate the platform.

Best,

Addie Michaud
Assistant to the Dean of Students

Greetings from Kents Hill School! 

As we look ahead to the second half of our summer break, I wanted to touch base regarding a few important back-to-school items, including academic schedules, the course “add/drop” process, AP and dual-enrollment course fees, the process for ordering textbooks, and summer reading.

• All student schedule drafts have been published and are available on our website. Students and families can access schedules by following these instructions: 1) Login to the Kents Hill website 2) Click “My Day” or “[Your Child’s Name]” 3) Click “Progress” or “Schedule” 4) If you select Progress, the website will show all courses with a block. Click “1st Semester” or “2nd Semester.” Classes will show in the format of course name: block/period. 5) If you select Schedule, follow up by clicking Month and then hit the right arrow until you reach September. Note: if you have trouble accessing your schedule, please contact Marc Bartholomew, Director of Technology, at mbartholomew@kentshill.org.

• The Academic Team worked very hard to craft academic schedules that would challenge students, allow them to pursue their interests, and enable them to graduate on time. However, these schedules are not set in stone! We are intentionally calling them “schedule drafts” to signal that creating schedules is an ongoing process that won’t conclude until mid-September. Students are encouraged to review our master schedule for 2021-2022 and, using it as a guide, to complete this Google Form if they wish to adjust their schedules. (Please note that students must request courses that run during the same periods as the courses they wish to drop, or during their free periods.) In addition, we will hold an “add/drop” period in the opening weeks of the school year. During this two-week add/drop period, students will have the option of meeting with Dr. Wilson Onu, Associate Dean of Academics, to discuss their schedules and advocate for reasonable changes. Although logistical constraints prevent us from honoring every request, we will do our best to make sure that all students have schedules that satisfy their academic requirements and, whenever possible, reflect their interests and ambitions.

• Please note that students taking 2021-22 Advanced Placement courses are required to take AP exams in 2022. The College Board charges a fee of $94 per exam, which is billed to student accounts at the start of the academic year. Students are also billed for additional dual-enrollment course fees charged by the University of Maine at Augusta. If you have questions about AP or dual-enrollment course fees, please contact Dr. Wilson Onu, Associate Dean of Academics, at wonu@kentshill.org.

• In an effort to make the textbook ordering process as easy as possible, our on-campus Bookstore is automatically set to order and have textbooks ready for purchase and pick-up when you arrive on campus. If you would like to purchase textbooks on your own (from vendors such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.) please contact Dr. Wilson Onu, Associate Dean of Academics, at wonu@kentshill.org.

• Directions for required summer reading, including our all-school assignment, can be found here. Please note that several Kents Hill teachers will also assign a minimal amount of summer homework, which must be completed before students return to school in September. We will include these assignments in our next academic update on Monday, July 26. Feel free to contact me at bpriest@kentshill.org with any specific questions about summer homework.

We hope you enjoy the rest of your summer and look forward to seeing you soon!

Best wishes,

Dr. Benjamin Priest

Dean of Academics

Hello! 

We hope you are enjoying your summer! It has been beautiful here on The Hill, but we would be lying if we said we didn't miss the hustle and bustle of students throughout our campus. As we look towards the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, we want to provide families with updated information. As of today, our Family Resource Hub is live and updated on our website. It can be found in the top navigation bar, and hosts useful updates and key dates, as well as FAQs answering what to pack and academic schedule information. 

We hope that this information will answer many of the questions you may have. If you have any other questions, please call our main line at 207-685-4914 during the hours of 9 a.m - 3 p.m ET Monday-Friday. 

We look forward to welcoming you to campus this August! 

With gratitude, 

Alison Lincoln-Rich P’14
Dean of Enrollment Management

Hello Kents Hill Community,

It is with an immeasurable amount of joy that I send this note of greetings to the Kents Hill community as your new Assistant Head of School for Student Life. I look forward to joining this community that has already proven to be thoughtful, humble, and centered on people.

A little about me professionally. I come to Kent Hill with an expansive career in higher education. Over the course of the last 24 years, I have served in several student-facing roles at Brown University, Mount Holyoke College, and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Collectively, I have served as a dorm parent, residence hall director, summer program director, dean of students, and associate dean of the college. As a result, I have deep experience in student support, student discipline, student advising, training, and leadership development. In addition, I have advocated with and for a fun and inclusive student experience. My background also includes competencies and training in equity and inclusion, social justice mediation, and Title IX compliance. 

Personally, I am New England born and raised. I’m the youngest of seven and the mom of an amazing 13-year-old who will also join Kents Hill in the Fall. I love cooking and watching cooking shows, doing puzzles and brain games, debating taboo topics, and binge-watching anything Marvel and Star Wars. 

What will I do at Kents Hill? I am the Assistant Head of School. It’s my role to keep an eye on the school’s co-curricular program (leadership, clubs, and activities), athletics, equity and inclusion programming, student accountability and discipline, health and wellness, and housing to make sure those systems are aligned to meet the dynamic needs and talents of our students. I will also coordinate the PEAK programming, support the Advisory program, and partner with the Director of Diversity to oversee the Diversity, Equity, and Belonging team. I also work closely with the academic leadership team to seamlessly transition the four dimensions of our curriculum (knowledge, skills, character, and reflection) into the learning that happens outside of the classroom. Most importantly, I see myself as a place where students and families can turn to when they are unsure of where to go, or they have a need that straddles multiple resources. 

Why did I choose Kents Hill? I was so impressed by Kents Hill's deep focus on developing the whole person. So many schools talk about holistic learning, but it is not present in their program. Student development is in Kents Hill’s DNA. 

When I reflect on what brings me the most joy and satisfaction in my work, I turn into the times when I solve problems with students, support students in making meaning of their experience, and foster strong interpersonal connections across all identities. It is exciting and an honor to be an Assistant Head of School at a school that truthfully prioritizes equity and belonging, character development, and academic growth and excellence. I look forward to being in community with you all.

Warmly,

Rene Davis

Your Assistant Head of School for Student Life

Kents Hill School Community, 

As our summer gets underway and we begin planning for the upcoming academic year, I want to take a moment to express my profound gratitude for all of the students, families, faculty, and staff that enabled us to start - and finish - the 2020-21 academic year together, in-person, on our beautiful campus in Maine. Each and every one of you demonstrated tenacity, grit, courage, resilience, and flexibility as we worked together to navigate an unprecedented and unpredictable situation. We are most certainly stronger together. 

As we look ahead, we are planning for the Kents Hill experience to be in-person, including academics and athletics, and that life at Kents Hill will more closely resemble the experience that students had prior to the pandemic, assuming that conditions in Maine and around the world continue to trend in a positive direction. 

The health, safety, and wellbeing of our community balanced with mental health and risk mitigation remain our most important priority as we develop policies and procedures related to COVID-19. While most of this planning will be ongoing throughout the summer and through the start of the school year, I wanted to share what we know today to aid in your planning. 

• Kents Hill has made the decision to strongly encourage, but not require, all faculty, staff, and students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the start of the 2021-22 school year. We are confident that the United States FDA and CDC have exhaustively reviewed the safety and efficacy of the vaccines available today, and believe strongly that the COVID-19 vaccines enable communities and schools like ours to return to a greater sense of normalcy, while at the same time promoting health and safety. NOTE - THIS DECISION HAS CHANGED. PLEASE SEE AUGUST 12 COMMUNICATION FOR THE LATEST UPDATES.

• We recognize that there will be community members, including new and returning students, who are not vaccinated for COVID-19. We are currently working to establish campus guidelines to protect these individuals and the extended Kents Hill School community, which will include limits on their ability to fully engage with the Kents Hill experience. We will share these guidelines as they are developed. 

• Please review the 2021-22 Key Dates Calendar, along with the below information, to determine when your individual student should arrive to campus in order to fully participate in orientation and the opening of school. Please contact Diane Chick, Dean of Students, at dchick@kentshill.org, or Addie Michaud, Assistant to the Dean of Students, at amichaud@kentshill.org if you have any questions.

• Fully vaccinated students from the United States and Canada do not need to quarantine or provide a negative PCR COVID-19 test prior to the start of the school year. Please submit proof of vaccination to Lindsey Jenkins, School Nurse, at ljenkins@kentshill.org. 

• Unvaccinated students from the United States and Canada will need to provide a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before arriving to campus, regardless of their method of travel. If students are traveling by private vehicle, they do not need to quarantine prior to taking the test. However, if students are using any form of public transportation (plane, train, bus, etc.) they will quarantine for three days off campus prior to taking their test for return to school. Negative test results can be submitted to Lindsey Jenkins, School Nurse, at ljenkins@kentshill.org. 

• Vaccinated international students traveling to campus from countries other than Canada do not need to quarantine or provide a negative PCR COVID-19 test to come to campus. If traveling by air, students should check if their airline requires any health information, testing, or other documents. Please submit proof of vaccination to Lindsey Jenkins, School Nurse, at ljenkins@kentshill.org. Kents Hill will accept any vaccination that is currently authorized by the United States FDA.  Plan to arrive on campus on August 28, 2021. 

• Unvaccinated international students traveling to campus from countries other than Canada will need to quarantine for three days off campus, take a PCR COVID-19 test, wait for results, and arrive to campus. Please plan to arrive on August 22, 2021 in order complete quarantine and testing. Kents Hill School will arrange supervised hotel accommodations and a COVID-19 test for all interested unvaccinated international students. Hotel accommodations and the COVID-19 test will be paid for by the individual family, while Kents Hill will provide meals, travel to and from the hotel, and adult supervision. If your family is interested in this option, please contact Diane Chick, Dean of Students, at dchick@kentshill.org, or Addie Michaud, Assistant to the Dean of Students, at amichaud@kentshill.org to learn more and schedule arrival to Maine. 

• We are deeply committed to working to support and assist international students or any other students who wish to be vaccinated but cannot obtain an approved vaccination for any reason before the start of school. If you are interested in arranging a  vaccine appointment after arriving to Kents Hill, please contact Lindsey Jenkins, School Nurse, at ljenkins@kentshill.org. 

As we have navigated COVID-19, we have been so fortunate to have a dedicated Health Center and COVID-19 Task Force to continuously review, refine, and update our policies in conjunction with public health experts and local and state health authorities. As we move forward, we will continue to regularly evaluate and assess our response to COVID-19, and may find it necessary to amend our guidelines and policies. We are committed to communicating these changes and decisions clearly and consistently as they are made. 

We also recognize that you may have questions about COVID-19 vaccinations, testing, and other health-related matters and encourage you to contact Lindsey Jenkins, School Nurse, at ljenkins@kentshill.org for more information. 

You will also be receiving regular email communications throughout the summer regarding the start of school, including information about academics, athletics, residential life, and more. 

For general questions regarding the opening of school and travel to campus, please contact Diane Chick, Dean of Students, at dchick@kentshill.org or Addie Michaud, Assistant to the Dean of Students, at amichaud@kentshill.org. Our Family Resource Hub is also a great resource to learn more about the start of school. 

Thank you for all that you have done, and continue to do, to protect our school community. We look forward to welcoming our new community members in August and resuming so many of the activities and traditions that make Kents Hill a special place. 

Best,

Chris

Christopher S. Cheney

Head of School

Kents Hill Students,

My name is Shea Cheney and I am going to be a senior at Kents Hill next year. When I first came to Kents Hill, I remember feeling extremely nervous about leaving behind my old school and my old friends, but I was also excited to meet new people here on the Hill. Thinking back on this time, I remember my nervousness quickly going away once everyone was on campus and my fall activity, soccer, had started. Kents Hill’s small and diverse student body made it easy to find friends with similar interests but also to meet people with really different backgrounds.

A big aspect of life at Kents Hill is being in the dorms. From my experience, the dorm community is like a second family. You can rely on them, they have your back, and you have fun with them. As a day student, I don’t live in the dorm, but I still feel like part of the residential life community.

Advisory is another place students find support and friendship on campus. Your advisor is someone who will always support you and be there to help you. My advisor is always there to help me when I need it. I love my advisor, and I also love my advisory group. There are five other students in my group and I love the discussions we have and our dinner trips to Five Guys. This time with my advisee group is a chance for us all to connect, check in with each other, get off campus, and eat.

Please complete this survey by June 15 so that our Dean of Student Life can learn more about you and create the best possible roommate and advisor match. As you fill it out and prepare for next year, my advice is for you to be honest, open, and to advocate for yourself. 

I’m super excited that you are coming here next year and I can’t wait to meet in person! Have a great summer and I’ll see you soon. 

Best,

Shea Cheney

Class of 2022

Kents Hill Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to the Kents Hill School family! My name is Erica Lowell Chute, and I am the Dean of Student Life. Here at Kents Hill, I oversee the student experience outside of the classroom and athletics. My favorite part of this role is the opportunity to positively impact students’ lives at Kents Hill by building programs to ensure that each student experiences growth, feels supported, has fun, and feels at home. As we look to the year ahead, I want to share a little information on two important aspects of Kents Hill School: the advisor and residential life programs. 

Our advisor program is about creating connections that last a lifetime. Later this summer, each student will be matched with a faculty advisor who provides structure, guidance, and support. Whether a student is seeking advice on academics, athletics, social issues, or simply needs to know that someone is rooting for them, advisors are there for both the student and the family. Advisee groups are small and meet regularly during weekly advisee time, monthly community dinners, and occasional off-campus outings. Our advisors send regular updates, ensuring that families are involved, informed, and engaged.

The residential life program at Kents Hill is dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing, supportive, and fun environment for all students. We have five residential dorms, and each generates its own culture, flurry of social events, improvised traditions, random outings, and overall spirit. All are intended to feel like a home away from home with two or more dorm parents living in each dorm. From helping with homework and giving advice to hosting movie or game nights in the common rooms, dorm parents build strong and formative relationships with their students. 

Most boarding students share a space with a roommate. New students are matched as closely as possible with someone who shares similar living styles (bedtimes, academic habits, level of cleanliness, etc.) and interests. In order to create the best possible roommate and advisor match for new students, we ask that you complete a New Parent/Guardian Survey by June 15. 

We are so excited that you are joining our school family. We are a close community dedicated to helping students build confidence, leadership skills, independence, and strong relationships. I appreciate any information you can provide to help us create the best possible experience for your family. Please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have while filling out the survey or as you navigate the onboarding experience at Kents Hill over the next couple of months. Enjoy your summer, and I look forward to seeing you on the Hill this fall!

All the best,

Erica Lowell Chute, Dean of Student Life

Hello!

Congratulations and welcome to Kents Hill School! Over the next month, our Academics team will be putting together your schedule. There are several steps to help them with this process, outlined below.

First, please review the 2021-22 Curriculum Guide. Here you will find information about all courses for the upcoming school year, as well as graduation requirements.

Next, please refer to this event recording with Dr. Benjamin Priest, our Dean of Academics. Dr. Priest walks through the process of requesting courses, the timeline, and answers questions that may be useful to you. 

Our Academics Department is working to create a personalized audit for you. This audit will show you which classes you have taken, what's recommended for you, and how many credits you need in each subject to graduate. As soon as this audit is ready, I will send it over so you can request your courses.

When you are ready to request courses, please fill out this Google Form. This will help our Academics Department place you in the classes you want and need to take. The deadline to complete this form is Monday, June 14.

As always, if you have any questions, we are here to help. Please reach out to your Admissions Staff, myself, or Dr. Priest at bpriest@kentshill.org.

All the best,

Nunzi Graziano, Admissions Marketing Coordinator