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 every day connections with your family and local communities.

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 all days but Wednesdays, classes are 75 minutes long and there is free time, which we call Community Time or a GAP, built into the day. 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 service, 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 athletic contests are typically scheduled on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. Often day students will stay through dinner to attend an evening event such as a “hot topic” conversation or to work on a group project. 

Students have an incredible web of support at Loomis. All students have a dean and an advisor and develop relationships with the faculty who teach and coach them, advise clubs and activities, and interact with them in any number of ways. Our goal is to make sure that there are many times each day when students connect with an adult 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 he or she will work to find the answer to your question.

All current parents are members of the Loomis Chaffee Parents Association (LCPA) and are invited to its meetings to hear from the head of school and other invited faculty. Most of those meetings are held over Zoom, making it easy for all parents to participate. The LCPA hosts an online book club for parents and plans several faculty/staff appreciation events and the popular Winterfest semi-formal for students. Day parents often sponsor team dinners, host boarding students during school breaks, and support various activities on campus. 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.

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 LCPA’s new family receptions in the local area.