International Students

Welcome to the International Students website at Loomis Chaffee!

Since its opening in 1914, Loomis Chaffee has offered educational opportunities for boys and girls regardless of religious or political beliefs, national origin or financial resources. Part of the mission of the school is to attract students “from diverse cultural and social backgrounds” and to educate them “for service in the nation and today’s global civilization.” It did not take long before Loomis Chaffee welcomed its first international student, Tom Dunnachie Taylor '31 from Stirling, Scotland onto campus in the fall of 1929. Today, Loomis Chaffee is a truly global community and is home to students from over thirty countries.

As Director of International Students, I am responsible for supporting our international students and their families. Recognizing the challenge of studying abroad, I help students acclimate not only to the United States, but also to the Loomis Chaffee community. The international students gain an education at one of the top US secondary schools and our domestic students benefit from the presence of students from around the world. A history class discussion can be transformed when a student from Bahrain interjects her perspective. A dorm meeting or team practice can take on new dimensions as students exchange stories from home.

Some of the special events and programs for our international students:

·     The Head’s Holiday long weekend trip allows students to experience American history and culture first-hand. This year’s trip takes students on a tour of New England colleges and cities, including Providence and Boston.

·     Regular local outings to Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, Japanese and Korean restaurants give students a taste of home away from home.

·     Cultural Outburst is a hugely popular annual event at which students create booths representing their country/culture and provide food, traditional activities, and performances ranging from Latin dancing to sushi making to drawing Henna tattoos.

·     Homestays with local families when students aren’t able to travel home for a long weekend or vacation.

I welcome both current and prospective international students and families to share in the Loomis Chaffee experience by exploring our website and learning more about our international students and global initiatives on campus.

Meg Blunden

Director of International Students