Exchange and Boarding Students

We are happy that you are interested in attending our school. We receive many letters requesting an exchange. Unfortunately, we cannot fulfill many of these requests, since we are a small school.

Because an exchange may not be possible, you may wish to come as a boarding student. You would live with a Hawthorne Valley School host family, abiding by that family's rules and customs, and would receive support and encouragement from that family during your stay. We usually do not permit visits of less than four months. Students need at least this length of time to have the right social and academic experience.

Boarding students' families pay Hawthorne Valley School $1075.00 a month for tuition and also pay their host family $500.00 a month for room and board. School fees are paid in advance; payment of boarding fees to the family is arranged privately.

It is important to tell you a little about our school. We have about 300 students in nursery/kindergarten through 12th grade (with about 80 students in the high school.) Our location is a small, rural country setting, with a biodynamic farm across the road; the School and the Farm share 400 acres. We are about 200 km north of New York City and 60 km south of Albany, the state capital. Except for train service to New York City and Albany, there is no public transportation, so you would rely on your host family and school friends who drive. We are a very friendly school, but we do expect hard work and proper behavior from all our students. We expect students to finish all their schoolwork on time. Also, there is no smoking, by students or teachers, anywhere on the School or the Farm.

If you are interested in applying, please send us the following as soon as possible:
· A completed student and parent application form.
· A copy of a recent set of school reports.
· Two letters of recommendation from teachers.
· A recent photograph.

After we receive your application and supporting paperwork and you are accepted by the high school, we will attempt to find an exchange student or a suitable home for boarding. If you are not satisfactorily placed, Hawthorne Valley School must be notified. Private arrangements cannot be made.

We look forward to hearing from you. If you have any questions or would like a brochure about the exchange and boarding programs at Hawthorne Valley School, please fill out and send the Online Request Form on the Admissions & Information Inquiry Form section of this website or contact:

Gary Lamb
Director of Admissions
(518) 672-7092, ext. 111
glamb@hawthornevalleyschool.org

Boarding /Student Fees
Hawthorne Valley School Tuition 2006/2007: $1175.00/month
Room & Board(not applicable to exchange students) : $1000.00/month
The room and board fee may vary and is dependent on your arrangement with each home-based boarding family.
Other School Fees (Application Process): $110.00
Additional / Extra Curricular Expenses:
Each high school student will be required to partake in one extra-curricular activity each semester. Therefore additional expenses should be expected as follows. (The fees are estimated based on past years' fees)
Some of the Extra Curricular Expenses are estimated below while others are offered at no additional cost : Sports: ~ $250.00/semester
Drama: ~ $300.00/semester
Additional Expenses (may include):
Tutoring: $30.00/session
English as a Second Language: $30.00/lesson Up to three lessons a week/semester
Instrumental Lessons: $28.00/30 minutes
Class Trips: $150.00-$300.00
Senior Class trip to Maine Marine Biology) $250.00
Senior Class trip to Italy: $1600.00

Financial Guidelines for Boarding Families and Host Families
These cost agreements need to be negotiated directly with your boarding family and should be paid to the family directly. The basic monthly suggested fee is $1000 for room and board. In addition, the boarding/exchange family may require an escrow account of approximately $1500/semester for medical expenses, vacations with the host family, weekend and vacation coverage, or for cultural trips and activities. Senior year students may be expected to pay more as guided host parent/student help will be needed for senior project and a successful transition to college.

After-School Extracurricular Activities required in the High School
The high school has a different schedule this year, ending at 2:45 daily and adding a Wednesday after-school (2:45-4:00) extra study session, for students who desire (or are assigned to receive) more academic support. All students in the high school are required to engage in at least one ongoing extracurricular activity of their choice. Options include: sports, drama, photography, music ensembles, social action committee, and newspaper. Most of these will occur after school.  In addition, all 9th, 10th, and 11th graders are required to complete 30 hours of community service during the school year.

Activities
Over the years, we high school faculty have observed a clear correlation between student involvement in after-school activities and student success, satisfaction, and retention. Accordingly, we have explored various approaches to involve all our students in such activities on a regular basis.

Since the high school began in 1980, we have always offered after-school sports teams, but sports do not involve all students and only a few of our students play a sport in every season. Consequently, in recent years we have devoted ourselves to developing a system of after-school electives that would indeed involve all students in the high school.

The program we developed last year (and plan to carry into this school year) requires each student to participate in some elective throughout the school year. We have been careful to offer a wide range of options and to encourage recommendations from students and parents.

Last year's after-school options included: Newspaper Jazz Band String Band Farmscape Ecology Community Orchestra Boys' and Girls' Cross-country Girls' Volleyball Social Action Drama Girls' Basketball Boys' Basketball Girls' Volleyball Cooking Yearbook Illustration Creative Writing Handwork Circus Arts Baseball ([the only co-ed team in our league]

We expect to offer the same richness of program this school year, with the same beneficial effects. Mr. Shemroske and the rest of the faculty welcome suggestions and proposals.

Download the Boarding Students Fees for 2007 (pdf)