Dutchess Day School
41°46′34″N 73°39′53″W / 41.77606°N 73.664773°W
| Dutchess Day School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
 | |
415 Route 343 , New York 12545 United States | |
| Information | |
| Type | Private |
| Opened | 1955 |
| School district | Millbrook |
| Principal | Nancy Hathaway |
| Faculty | 32[1] |
| Grades | Preschool-8th |
| Number of students | 176[1] |
| Color(s) | Blue and White |
| Mascot | Tiger |
| Team name | Tigers |
| Yearbook | Each year, the 8th grade class makes and designs the yearbook. |
| Website | http://www.dutchessday.org/ |
Dutchess Day School is a co-educational day school located in Millbrook, New York that serves students from Pre-K through Grade 8. Founded in 1955, it first had only 3 teachers and nineteen students. Enrollment for 2013–2014 was 176 students with 37 teachers. Its mission is to "nurture each child in mind, body, and spirit and guide students toward responsibility for themselves, one another, and the world around them".[2]
History
Dutchess Day School was founded in 1955 by a group of parents in the Millbrook area who wanted to give their children the benefits of going to a private, independent school. The school has grown to serve not only children from New York but Connecticut.[3] One of the school facilities is located in a nineteenth-century farmhouse overlooking fields and farms.[4] This farmhouse has been added on to numerous times, and now holds the main area for all classes except for physical education.
Curriculum
The classes are split into two groups. There is the lower school and the upper school. Recently, in 2008, the Pre-K building was added onto the main building, attached from the library and going outward.
Lower School
The lower school includes all grades lower than Fifth Grade. The schedule differs from the upper school in that there is less choice. The homeroom is the basis of most classes, and physical education is four days a week, one period per session. Students take French, until they reach 6th grade.
Upper School
The Upper School, consisting of grades 5-8, is a time in which much change occurs. Physical education becomes once a week for 2 periods. The advisory system begins in sixth grade, which is also the year in which students may take a new language. It is required for them to take Latin, but they can also choose to take Spanish or French in addition to Latin. The after-school athletic program is open to all upper school students. Seventh and eighth grade students have a locker where they keep their books, and they have "homeroom" once a week, which is used as a period of discussion open to anyone in the class that wishes to speak about something that they feel is important. Upcoming events are also discussed during this period.
Athletic Program
The following sports are offered:
Fall
- Cross Country
- Field Hockey
- JV Soccer
- Varsity Soccer
- Donkey Jumping
Winter
- Squash
- Volleyball
- JV Basketball
- Varsity Basketball
Spring
- Boys Lacrosse
- Girls Lacrosse
- Golf
- Tennis
In The Community
Dutchess Day School attempts to give experiences outside of its student body and walls. Past projects for the community have included panels for the AIDS quilt,[5] as well as hosting the Mill Street Loft's Dutchess Art Camp.[6] Through efforts like this, Dutchess Day School attempts to expand the horizons of the entire community.
Alumni
The alums of Dutchess Day School move on to great successes. The former students of Dutchess Day School have attended the Hotchkiss School, Lawrenceville, Exeter, Salisbury, Our Lady of Lourdes, the Millbrook School, The Taft School, Deerfield Academy, and many others. The Alumni of Dutchess Day School often visit the school, and many come to the annual "Alumni Gathering".