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March 2024

Grades and Comments for Marking Period 3 Now Available

Click here to access your student's grades using the following instructions:

Log into your Veracross account.
Select “Classes & Reports” from the landing page or click the “Reports” tab.
You will find a link to both the MP3 Grade Report and MP3 Comment Report.

Please note: Course comments in Marking Period 3 are entered only in certain cases; for example, students who have received an "incomplete" or a failing grade ("F"). Dorm comments are provided for preps and lower mids only.

As a reminder, your Veracross username is your email address. If you have forgotten your password, you can click the "Can't access your account?" link on the login page. Please contact Registrar Heather Mechare should you need further assistance.

Important Family Announcements

Student Bus Transportation Update

Spring Break Return on March 25

Spring Break ends March 25, as students must return to campus by 10 p.m. If you are interested in late bus reservation availability, please contact Laurie Grusauski via email.

Long Spring Weekend: April 26-29

Bus reservations will be on sale March 28 to April 11 by completing a registration form, which will be emailed to students. Reservations are required, and cancellations after April 11 are non-refundable. After the April 11 reservation deadline, late requests will be processed only if seats are available, and a late fee of $5 will be assessed.

Click here for the Transportation Schedule .

Contact Laurie Grusauski via email with transportation questions.

2024-25 Enrollment Reminders

Enrollment for the 2024-25 school year is not complete until your 2024-25 enrollment contract is signed and your 2024-25 FACTS Management payment plan is selected. If you have questions, please email studentaccounts@hotchkiss.org.

The Tuition Refund Insurance Plan (“The Plan”) will be offered again for the 2024-25 school year. Enrollment in this plan is mandatory for domestic families signing up for the two-installment or 10-month payment plan. Domestic and international families who sign up for the single payment option will have the option to opt in or out of The Plan while completing the enrollment contract. If full payment is not received by June 1, 2024, families will automatically be enrolled in The Plan. The cost of The Plan is 1% of the net tuition. This will be billed upon selection of your payment plan in FACTS Management. Click here for additional details.

2024-25 Health Forms Posted

Attention all returning families! The Health Center staff requests your assistance in completing the required health forms by July 1. Click here for more information.

Summer Storage and Shipping Options

Families are responsible for removing all student items from campus at the end of the school year. Your student may have arrived in the fall with one car load, only to discover there is now more to bring home in the spring! Read about the UPS Store's storage, packing, and shipping services available at the end of the academic year.

Black History Month Keynote Address: "A Tale of Two Harlems"

Click below to watch Black History Month Keynote Speaker Dr. Nicholas Gaffney, assistant professor in the Department of History at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Dr. Gaffney is an interdisciplinary scholar, and his work combines the fields of history, cultural studies, and political sociology. His research explores the role that the arts have played within 20th century Black socio-political movements, with a specific focus on the relationship between jazz and the Civil Rights Movement.

Graduation 2024

We look forward to celebrating the Class of 2024 on Thursday, May 30 and Friday, May 31. Please click here for more information about the 2024 Graduation and other important details. Lodging arrangements should be made early as the local hotels and inns fill up very quickly. For all other graduation-related inquiries, please contact Lisa Brown at (860) 435-3188.

2024-25 Travel Calendar

Click here to access the 2024-25 travel calendar (last edited in February 2024).

The College Corner

During March, seniors will await their final admissions decisions, weighing their options for enrollment. Meanwhile, upper mids should be researching colleges and universities that pique their interest. While visiting college campuses is one effective way of making informed decisions, it’s not the sole avenue. Here are alternative methods for students to glean insights into colleges without the need for physical travel.

Participate in virtual information sessions, open houses, and tours. During the pandemic, colleges allocated significant resources to develop virtual campus visit options for prospective students, many of which remain accessible through the admission section of college websites.
Explore YouTube videos. Searching for a college on YouTube unveils a wealth of videos, spanning from official university channels to those created by current students and alumni. You can virtually attend lectures, embark on dormitory tours, and immerse yourself in various facets of college life.
Check out the college’s social media sites. Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and other platforms can provide insights into campus life, events, and admissions resources.
Seek out college admissions blogs. Many colleges publish college blogs written by admissions officials and current students. Entries touch on everything from admissions policies and advice to providing a snapshot of a day in the life of a student.
Read campus publications. A great way to learn more about campus life and to see if you fit a college community is to visit the website for a school’s student newspaper. You can learn about the key topics being discussed on campus and read about past and upcoming events.
Don’t forget about the colleges’ websites. Go beyond just the admission pages. Read the “About the College” section, probe the academics tab and especially the pages for majors and departments of interest, and seek out pages dedicated to extracurricular life.