A Warm Welcome for Winter Parents and Family Weekend

It was a snowy yet joyful weekend on Williams Hill for Winter Parents and Family Weekend, Feb. 20-21. Parents and families arrived on campus throughout the day on Friday to visit classes, attend Chapel and form-specific programs and enjoy time with their children as well as with other parents and faculty. Families looked forward to making the most of their campus visit, including seeing the winter musical “Hadestown,” exploring a special Lunar New Year exhibit in Baxter Gallery and student artwork in Fearn Hall, and cheering on the Black & Gold in athletic contests.
 
“As parents of a Third Form day student, we are excited about the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the Westminster community,” said Alan and Sandra Balavender of West Hartford, Conn. “We look forward to the classroom visits, Moving Forward at Westminster, and ‘Hadestown’ as experiences that will enhance our appreciation for Grit and Grace on Williams Hill.”
 
Other parents also expressed an appreciation for the chance to attend classes and gain a picture of how their children learn and live as community members at Westminster.
 
Fifth Form parent Bryan McMillen of Locust Valley, N.Y., appreciates the beauty of the season and the chance to experience his daughter’s daily life at Westminster. He noted, “Westminster in the winter has a quiet magic to it. There’s a genuine sense of warmth on campus, a balance of tradition and energy that makes Winter Weekend special. What I most look forward to, though, is stepping into my daughter’s everyday world—seeing her routine in action, meeting the teachers who challenge and help her, and putting faces to the friends she talks about at home. It’s nice to share in her day-to-day experience!”

After class visits and Chapel on Friday, Third and Fourth Form parents had the opportunity to attend “Moving Forward at Westminster,” a panel discussion on how Westminster’s program helps students develop academically and personally through intentional course selection, advisory guidance, college counseling, and residential placements. Fifth Form parents were invited to participate in the “Mock College Admissions Committee” program to learn about the many factors that go into the college admissions and decision-making process.

In the evening, a Class of 2027 Parents Reception and Class Gift Kickoff took place at Pratt House to celebrate and share progress on fundraising for the Class of 2027 Gift. Before the class gift announcement, Head of School Elaine White told parents that they play a vital role in not only the day-to-day of the school but also in the rich traditions at Westminster such as the class legacy gift program. Fifth Form Dean Brian O’Callaghan and special guest speaker Fifth Former Hudson Black also shared how the project—natural bleachers in the Hovey Field hillside—represent the competitive, unified, and joyful spirit of the Class of 2027 and reflected on the impact the gift would leave for generations to come.

Pratt House then opened for an all-parent reception, where parents reveled in newly curated and installed student artwork. Following dinner, the true highlight of the evening was Dramat’s performance of “Hadestown,” featuring spectacular set design and incredible acting.
 
On Saturday, parents enjoyed attending classes and exploring an interactive Open House with faculty members to learn about signature programs and opportunities including the Westminster Investment Initiative, the Bruyette Leadership Academy, Horizons, the STARS Initiative, Model UN, Architecture, John Hay Society, and Learning Support.

As families eventually departed campus, they left with a fuller picture of their children’s daily lives—and a deeper connection to the community that supports and nurtures them.