"Westminster School seeks curious and engaged students who want to grow and learn in a challenging and supportive environment. Students who are motivated to become their best selves both in and out of the classroom, taking advantage of the myriad of opportunities Westminster has to offer."
“At Westminster, we aspire to an extraordinarily ambitious commitment to secondary education, a commitment to nurture the participation of our diverse school community across our entire program — from academics, to studios and labs, gyms, fields and rink, and service to our Hartford community partners. Westminster students are inspired by opportunities to make a difference in all their endeavors.”
"Through gritty trial and error, Westminster students grow into independent learners who are curious, critical thinkers. With the support of faculty, students gain the skills to understand the world around them and enrich their communities at school and beyond."
"The visual and performing arts program at Westminster weaves the community together and nurtures the spirit of the Westminster campus. The arts at Westminster inspire students of all levels of experience from the very beginner to the advanced artist to practice the freedom of creative self-expression. Professional teachers guide students to work through the creative process from inception to the presentation, building a lifelong respect and appreciation for the arts."
Kerry Kendall Head of Visual and Performing Arts Department
"Athletic success at Westminster is measured not only by wins and losses, but through the bonds created between teammates and coaches, individual and team improvement, and personal growth. When students learn how to be competitors and how to cooperate with one another, they are better prepared to be citizens of the global world."
“Driven by a desire to serve young people and conscious of the opportunities for private schools to support a public purpose, Westminster School’s mission statement concludes with the call ‘to commit to a life of service beyond self.’ Westminster’s Hartford Partnership programs aim to deliver on that mission while making a direct impact on people and programs in Hartford.”
Patrick Owens Executive Director, Horizons at Westminster & Hartford Partnerships
“Involvement will be the key to your success at Westminster School. Get involved with the arts, try a sport you've never played, start your own club, run for student council. You will get out of this experience exactly what you put into it. Do these things early in your life — keep seeking more opportunities for growth.”
“Support for Westminster School provides a way to remember the past, shape the present and steward the future of the school.”
Newell Grant ’99
Director of Advancement
Shannon O’Shaughnessy
Director of Advancement Operations
Details
Trustees Approve Construction of New Academic Center
At their fall meeting, Westminster School’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to begin immediate construction on a new academic center with the goal of opening the building for the start of school in fall 2009.
The 85,000-square-foot, three-story building will be located in the heart of the campus adjacent to the Werner Centennial Center and will complement the campus’ existing architecture. It will feature a humanities wing, and a math and science wing surrounding a centrally located atrium and library.
In a letter announcing the decision, Headmaster Graham Cole and Chairman of the Board of Trustees John Armour '76 said, “Because this building is so vitally important to our school, our board has decided to do everything in its power to make this 21st-century academic center happen now and to enhance in a significant way the teaching and learning that stand at the core of what we do and do so well.”
Key features of the center will include a glass atrium offering informal meeting space for students and faculty during the class day, and a place for the entire school community to gather for assemblies and receptions; a library that features small study/tutoring rooms for group work and collaboration, and a large reading room with majestic views that also will function as a beautiful community meeting place; dedicated teaching and office space for each academic department; classrooms and laboratories with state-of-the-art technology and flexible seating; an amphitheater-style lecture hall for special presentations, visiting lecturers and standardized testing; a planetarium for astronomy instruction; an expansive student store and lounge; and bright open spaces with large windows that maximize natural lighting and create a pleasant learning environment.
The building will also make Westminster a leader in energy conservation since the school plans to seek Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Certification for the new center, which will utilize geothermal energy for heating and cooling, efficient mechanical systems and recycled materials.
Graham Gund ’59, president of Gund Partnership, an award-winning architecture firm, and the firm’s lead architect, John Prokos, designed the center in conjunction with key trustees and members of the faculty. Gund Partnership has played a vital role in the development of the campus including the school’s master plan for facilities.
The new center will replace Baxter Academic Center, which was built in 1964 for a school community about half of the size it is today. Following completion of the new building, Baxter Academic Center will be taken down, creating a sweeping view of the Farmington Valley from Cushing Hall, the chapel, the Sixth Form Lawn and the new academic center. A fund-raising effort is underway to secure private gifts to fund the $35.2 million project. For additional information, please contact Scott Stevens at (860) 408-3002.
Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy as to Students In keeping with our support for a diverse community, Westminster abides by all applicable federal and state laws and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, including race, color, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national and ethnic origin, ancestry and/or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Westminster admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School.