Parents' Guide to The Hill

Founded in 1851 as "The Family Boarding School," The Hill School is a purposefully small and close learning community - a place where academic excellence is based upon a challenging liberal arts curriculum; a faculty of highly qualified, dedicated teachers; and a structured atmosphere that blends high expectations with meaningful support. We encourage our student to become involved in all aspects of school life -- in the dormitories, in the classrooms, on the playing fields, on the stage, in the Dining Room, and in the Chapel. Within a few days of being on campus, students soon know how to find the answers for a myriad of questions. However, we understand that finding answers for questions can be harder for parents, especially those who live at great distances from the campus.

On this page you will find answers to frequently asked questions, as well as suggestions about how to handle a variety of situations you and your child may encounter at The Hill.

To access information and resources for current parents, please visit the Veracross Parent Portal.

Adviser and Advisee Relationships

The Hill School assigns each student a faculty adviser with whom they meet frequently. This adviser monitors their advisees’ progress in academics, dorm life, and co-curricular and extracurricular activities. In addition to formal responsibilities, such as providing periodic reports to parents, the adviser also offers encouragement and support, striving to ensure that each student’s experience at The Hill is as enriching as possible. The adviser serves as the primary point of contact for families.

Life in the Dormitories

Living in a dormitory is an important part of a Hill education. The rules that students live under in the dormitory help them develop good study and living habits and get along with other people. Since The Hill School is a boarding school, every student is required to board at least one year.

Prefects: Prefects are fifth and sixth form students who are elected by faculty and dorm parents to reside in dormitory halls. A prefect serves as an assistant to the dorm parent and as an older brother or sister to the students on his or her hall.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DORM LIFE

Safety and Security on Hill's Campus

Student safety is the top priority of the School. Dormitories and most buildings around campus are locked at all times, accessible only with key card access. Each boarding student has a key for their dorm room. In addition, Hill has a dedicated Security team that provides 24/7/365 campus coverage and transportation for our residents. Specific information for current students and parent is available in the Student Handbook in the Veracross Portal.

College Counseling

Students are assigned a college counselor the winter term of their fourth form (sophomore) year. The role of the college counselor is to advise and direct your student toward making an independent and mature selection of colleges. Your child is responsible for requesting transcripts, writing essays, and filing applications and recommendations on time. Counselors will remind students of deadlines, but it is the students’ responsibility to work through the process with their guidance. The Testing Office will assist with ensuring that your child has taken the requisite exams (PSAT, SAT I and II, ACT, AP). Sixth form (senior) students only may take a limited number of days to visit colleges with permission; however, holidays and vacation times are better because they do not interfere with schoolwork.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COLLEGE COUNSELING.

What if my Child is Having Roommate Problems?

Adjusting to living with a roommate is perhaps one of the greatest learning experiences your student will encounter in boarding school. When issues arise, it is always advisable for your student to speak directly with their roommate and seek a reasonable compromise. If a situation escalates, the student should seek the advice of the prefect or the dorm parent. Additional guidelines for current students are available in the Student Handbook in the Veracross Portal.

What if My Child is Having Problems Adjusting to a Coach, Teacher, or Other Adviser?

What if My Child is Not Making Friends in the Dormitory?

It is important to remind your son or daughter that friendships take time. He or she cannot expect to have the strong connections that they experienced at their former school right away. If your child does not connect with the people on his or her hall, encourage him or her to become involved with extracurricular activities, where he or she will find people of similar interests. Participation in athletics, the arts, a club, or a school trip can help forge new friendships. Taking time to “hang out” in the Student Center or dormitory common room can result in new relationships.

What Should My Child Pack for School?

Packing for your child’s boarding school experience is always an exciting prospect. Please consult the packing checklist in the Veracross Portal, which includes items that cannot be brought to The Hill. You can help the School and your child by discouraging your child from bringing items that will distract from study time such as computer games or televisions which are not permitted. It is disappointing to students, if not frustrating to parents, to transport items that do not fit into the dorm room or are not allowed. Large items can be brought at a later time after consulting with the roommate and the dorm parent.

Personal touches in room decoration are always welcome, but it is best to have students work out these details with their roommates. Roommate relationships always run more smoothly when each party feels that the space is evenly shared and that he or she has been consulted. A student may want to consult with his or her roommate in advance or undertake a joint decorating trip to the mall to foster a spirit of cooperation and friendship.

Can My Child Come Home on the Weekends?

Parents should consult the Student Handbook about weekend activities and permissions. Most weekends are designated “open;" however, there are a number of “closed weekends” a year, when boarding students are not permitted to leave campus. These are a very important part of the School’s tradition designed to build the school community and are centered around significant weekend events such as Family Weekend, final exams, Hill vs. Lawrenceville Weekend, etc. They also usually follow a break or recess.

What Happens When My Child is Sick?

If your child is a day student ill at home, please email DayStudentIll@thehill.org. This will notify both the Wellness Center and the Deans’ Office for attendance purposes.

A day student who becomes ill while at school should go to the Wellness Center. Day students who go home ill from school must check out through the Wellness Center.

A boarding student who becomes ill should go to the Wellness Center, which is staffed by a nurse 24/7 while school is in session.

Are Transportation Services Available?

For the opening and closing of School, holiday weekends, and long vacation breaks, The Hill will arrange for a shuttle/van to and from 30th Street Station, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and the Port Authority in New York City. Private transportation services also are available to students.

Please visit the Transportation Services page for additional details on transportation sign-up procedures and costs.

Are Laundry Services Available for Students?

What Are Meals Like at The Hill?

The Hill School community gathers for seated, family-style meals at lunch Monday through Friday and for seated dinner six times a year in the Millhiser Dining Room. Buffet meals are provided on weekends and for most dinners.

The Hill strives to provide meals that are appealing and nutritious. It is difficult, however, to match home-cooked meals. If your child is like most adolescents, you will receive mixed reviews on the food. Students often tire of the repetitiveness of meals, and may choose from alternatives such as the soup, salad, pasta, and deli bars. Vegetarian options are provided at every meal.

Students also may purchase snacks, sandwiches, and beverages at the Grille, which is located in the Student Center.

If your child has any dietary restrictions or special accommodations are needed, please contact the food service general manager, Lisa Demetrio, at 610-705-1102 or ldemetrio@thehill.org.