Day Student Experience

Three students playing Jenga in the Lyons Den

As day students at a boarding school, you are about to have a great adventure.

At Loomis Chaffee, you get all the benefits of a diverse and welcoming 24/7 community of students and faculty from around the world all while retaining an everyday connection to your families and local communities.

Quick Stats

229
day students

40
Towns/Cities Represented

In this episode, former Dean of Enrollment Amy Thompson talks with three parents of day students about why they chose Loomis Chaffee, what it is like being a day family at a boarding school, the support their children have received from advisors and teachers, and how their children are growing.

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“As a day student, Loomis has really felt like a second home to me! I love to visit my friends and participate in events over the weekend. At Loomis, you are really able to establish meaningful relationships with others, get to know your teachers well, and build a tight-knit community.”

Annabelle C.
Junior day student from Simsbury, Connecticut

Frequently Asked Questions

For Students

What is the day student experience like at Loomis?

At Loomis Chaffee, students rarely define themselves as day students or boarding students. Rather they are Loomis students, each with their own unique interests, talents, and goals — part of a supportive, caring, and fun community. With the exception of sleeping in the dorms, day students are part of every aspect of life at Loomis. They can take advantage of all the resources and opportunities provided by the school while maintaining everyday connections with their families and local communities.

How will I meet people?

During orientation in September, you will begin meeting your classmates. For the freshman class, orientation continues throughout the fall with peer mentor groups which are run by seniors. You also will get to know your classmates through your Best Self Seminar. New sophomores will meet other members of their class during orientation, in their Common Good Seminar, and during the sophomore outing in the fall. Many activities are organized by class — hikes, dodgeball games, bowling, and so much more. Of course, you will meet friends in classes, on sports teams, at meals, and in various other activities. One of the best activities early in the fall is the Pelican Games which is an epic community competition. You will be assigned a team (for life!) and compete for the Pelican Cup each year.

What does the typical day at Loomis look like?

Classes typically begin at 8:30 a.m. except on Thursdays when they start at 9 a.m. Each day you will have up to, but no more than, four classes depending on your particular schedule. On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, classes are 75 minutes and there is free time, which we call Community Time or a GAP, built into the day. The Friday schedule is similar but classes are 70 minutes and the Community Time is a bit longer. On Wednesdays, classes are 50 minutes long.

Classes end at 3:20 p.m. except on Wednesdays when they end at 12:20 p.m. After classes we have athletics (interscholastic, intramural, and life fitness), theater rehearsals, robotics, community engagement, debate practices, and more. Depending on the activity you participate in, your day will usually end between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. Interscholastic athletics contests are typically scheduled on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. Often day students will stay through dinner to attend an evening event such as a PRISM or Student Council meeting or to work on a group project.

As a day student, when can I be on campus?

Can I eat meals other than lunch on campus?

Are day students allowed in the dorms?

What does it mean to be an honorary resident of the dorm?

During a designated period in the fall term, day students may apply to be honorary residents of one dorm to have visitation privileges similar to residents of that dorm. The Office of Student Life oversees this process and grants these permissions. As honorary residents, day students are expected to follow the guidelines and expectations set forth by the dorm head and adhere to the same policy as boarding students for visitation to all other dorms.

Can day students participate in weekend activities?

Where can I store my books and other belongings when I am on campus?

What is the dress code?

Generally, class day attire will follow the Casual Attire guidelines below. Attire must allow students to engage with the activities they are participating in throughout the academic day. There will be select times students are asked to wear Pelican Attire in order to fully engage with a specific school activity. Examples of these include, but are not limited to, class dinners, classroom presentations, meetings with visitors to campus, away games, or invited speakers.

Casual Attire (for class)
Shorts, pants, jeans, sweatpants/joggers, leggings, skirt, dress, t-shirt, polo, long sleeve shirt, sweater, sweatshirt, hoodie; and shoes. Hats are allowed provided they do not prohibit a student’s engagement in class as determined by the teacher.

Not appropriate for casual class attire: sleepwear, bath robes.

For the complete Dress Code, please refer to the Student Handbook.

Where can I hang out during the day?

The Scanlan Campus Center has great spaces for all students to hang out including the Loomis Hall lounge, a.k.a. the SNUG, which has TVs, a ping pong table, a foosball table, and a snack bar. The 3rd floor of the campus center, a.k.a the Lyons Den, as well as the dining halls are also great places to hang out. The library is a popular space to meet friends or find a quiet space to study. Many students also enjoy hanging out in the Athletics Complex or with boarding friends in dorm common rooms.

For Parents

Does Loomis provide transportation for day students?

Loomis does not provide daily transportation to or from school for day students. The online school directory, which is available starting in late August, does allow families to search for other day families living near them. This tool is helpful for families that would like to arrange carpools or van services. Families also make connections during the Loomis Chaffee Parents Association’s new family receptions in the local area.

How will my child be supported at Loomis?

Students have an incredible web of support at Loomis. All day students have a dean and an advisor. Students also develop relationships with the faculty who teach and coach them, advise clubs they are involved in, and interact with them in any number of ways. Student leaders are trained to support students and be an additional resource. They work closely with our Counseling Department to be a liaison if additional help is needed. Our goal is to make sure that there are many times each day when students connect with an adult or student leader at Loomis. As parents, you will also connect with certain adults, and if you feel that you need to speak with someone, there are a number of people to choose from — advisors can often speak to academic and social needs and concerns, and deans can help with general issues. If in doubt, start with the advisor and they will work to find the answer to your question.

How can parents of day students get involved with the school?

All current parents are members of the Loomis Chaffee Parents Association (LCPA) and are invited to LCPA meetings to hear from the head of school and other invited faculty. Most of those meetings are held over Zoom, making it easy for parents outside the local area to participate. The LCPA also hosts receptions for parents during opening days and on Family Weekend, sponsors an online book club for parents, and plans several faculty/staff appreciation events and the popular Winterfest semi-formal for students. The Office of Alumni and Parent Relations also hosts regional receptions throughout the year, and all parents receive the weekly Parent eNews with news just for parents and Pelican Pride, a weekly news digest that celebrates the accomplishments of Loomis Chaffee students, faculty, and alumni.