Community

We begin each morning with assembly. Here our youngest students begin to sense and appreciate that they are part of a larger community, and our older student demonstrate their responsibility for that same community. Here school spirit brings 600+ students to their feet. Here we celebrate our individual and community accomplishments. Here our students perform the classic composers, share their original rock music, speak to issues that concern them and make us laugh. Assembly is our common denominator.

When campus closed last spring, we sent assembly electronically to students and faculty to preserve our routines and sense of community. 

Family-style lunch is another way in which our community is cemented. We have three lunch periods, one for 7th and 8th grades, one for 9th and 10th grades and one for 11th and 12th grades. Teachers join students for a sit-down hot meal (although our food service also provides lots of other options!). This structured pause in our day facilitates students, especially new ones, getting to know other classmates and faculty.

This fall, lunch will be provided with social distancing and other safety precautions in place.

Our campus—its size, its architecture, its feel—reflects our preference for simplicity and informality. This is not, however, at the expense of state-of-the-art facilities that undergo constant improvement to meet the needs and talents of our students, faculty and coaches.

A group of parents founded Burroughs, and ever since parents have played an integral role in the life of our school. A full calendar of student performances, parent meetings and athletic contests provides the opportunity for parents to develop relationships with their children’s teachers, principals, coaches, counselors, friends and friends’ parents. Communication between school and home is a priority and is facilitated via the head’s and principals’ open-door policies, an advisory system which kicks in from the get-go, formal and informal reporting from classroom faculty and a personal counseling department

For those who are interested in broader involvement, volunteer opportunities abound within the context of an active Parents Council, which sponsors student, parent and community events, provides a variety of services and raises funds for the school. Unlike most independent schools, our parents also hold a majority of the seats on the school’s governing body, the Board of Trustees, which manages the school’s finances and facilities and sets policy with the head of school.