Dorm Life
House Rules
The following house rules are designed to help us function successfully as a community:
Study Hours
On academic nights designated study hours for all students are 7:30-9:00 p.m. and 9:45-10:30 p.m. Third, fourth, and fifth formers are to be in their own rooms during study hours unless they have explicit permission from a teacher to be in another academic location, or are members of a performing group (required to attend practice, rehearsal, or a performance) or student publications. From 7:30-9:00 p.m. all dorms, including sixth form houses, must remain quiet, with an atmosphere conducive to studying. No students are allowed to play either video or computer games or watch movies in their rooms during study hours. Students must be studying in their own rooms during the later shift of study hours.
Common Rooms
Because of the variations in architecture and size of upper form houses, the house advisers are responsible for clarifying the house rules for individual sixth form dormitories. The common rooms in third, fourth, and fifth form houses are closed during study hours on academic nights and are closed every night one-half hour after check-in.
Lights Out
Lights out on academic nights is at 10:45 p.m. for third formers and 11:00 p.m. for fourth formers.
Fifth and sixth formers-other than prefects- are to be quiet and in their own rooms after 11:00 p.m.
Students may request “late lights” from the adviser on duty if they need a little extra time to complete an assignment.
Telephones and Cellular Phones
All students have access to telephone jacks in their rooms. Students are expected to provide their own telephone sets. Telephone numbers and voice mailbox numbers assigned to new students—boarding or day—remain with them throughout their entire Choate Rosemary Hall career. Each student will have a voice mail box for internal and external messages. Students are expected to check their voice mail at least once a day in order to receive important school information. Voice mail can be accessed from any telephone on campus. All students are pre-enrolled in the school’s Long Distance Telephone Program, managed by STC Services. When you arrive on campus, each student will be given a PIN (Personal Identification Number) that should be kept absolutely secret. Using this PIN, students can make long distance phone calls from any phone on campus, ensuring safety and security for student accounts. Anyone wishing simply to leave a message for a student or adult on campus may dial the voice mail system directly at 203-697-3000 and then dial the voice mail box number as soon as the system answers. If you have a problem accessing your child’s voice mail, please call the ITS Help Desk at 203-697-2572.
The school wants to facilitate communication between our students and their families and friends away from campus, but it is important that this service not contradict the expectations of the evening study hours. For that reason the school will limit the availability of student phones during certain specified hours to ensure that students focus on their work and get a reasonable amount of sleep in the evenings. If a call coincides with study time or “slumber time,” the call will go directly to voice mail. Campus voice mail service will operate at all times so that messages for students can be left during those periods that phone service is suspended. However, if you leave a message for your child during study time or late at night, do not expect an immediate return call as students do not have access to voice mail when phones are off. In the event of a family emergency, you can call the Switchboard at 203-697-2000, and they will get a message directly to your child. Of course, students always have access to emergency 911 public safety service by dialing 911 from their rooms. Students who are found using the telephones during unauthorized hours will face disciplinary sanctions that may finally include loss of telephone service.
While parents may want their children to travel to and from campus with a cell phone, cell phones are not allowed to be used anywhere on campus or in any school building with the following exceptions:
- Cell phones may be used in dormitory rooms when school phones are authorized for student use.
- Cell phones may be used in the day student locker areas—or the areas immediately outside of them if there is a reception problem-- once the class day is completed.
- Day students only may also call for rides home from the Worthington Johnson Athletic Center in the spot designated for such calls to the left of the Fitness Center entrance.
The first violation of this policy will result in Saturday night detention; the second violation will result in two weeks restriction. Subsequent violations will result in escalating disciplinary responses.
Note 1: Cell phone cameras may only be used when and where cell phones are permitted, but they may not be used in areas where privacy may reasonably be expected such as locker rooms, bathrooms, or dormitory rooms.
Note 2: Walkie-talkies are not allowed.
All Students
Academic Nights: Dormitory phone service will be suspended during designated evening study section hours.
Non-academic Fridays and all Saturdays: Dormitory phones will remain in service from 7:00 a.m. until midnight.
Sundays: Phones will be in service from 7:00 a.m. until evening study hours.
Third, Fourth, and Fifth Form Students
Academic Nights: Dormitory phones will be disconnected at 9:45 p.m. for third formers and 11:00 p.m. for fourth and fifth formers and will come back in service at 7:00 the following morning. For emergencies after hours, students should use the Community Safety phones generally placed by the house logs in their dormitories.
Sixth Form Students
Academic Nights: Dormitory phones will be disconnected at 11:30 p.m. for sixth formers and will come back in service at 7:00 the following morning. For emergencies after hours, students should use the Community Safety phones generally placed by the house logs in their dormitories.