TaftStudentHandbook2016 17

STUDENT HANDBOOK
2016–17
THE TAFT SCHOOL DAILY ACADEMIC SCHEDULE (6-DAY WEEK)
NORMAL *ALTERNATE
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY
SATURDAY SATURDAY
A
A Super G Super B Super F Super E Super 8:15–9:00 A Super
8:15–9:15 8:15–9:15 8:15–9:15 8:15–9:15 8:15–9:15 8:15–9:15
Assembly
9:05–9:50
Department School Assembly School Faculty Assembly
Meetings Meetings 9:20–9:50 Meetings Meetings 9:20–9:50
B
9:20–10:00 9:20–10:00 Norm Wed *Alt Wed 9:20–10:00 9:20–10:00 9:55–10:40 G
G E 9:55–10:40
B F 9:55–10:40 9:55–10:40 A G
10:05–10:50 10:05–10:50 10:05–10:50 10:05–10:50 G
EH 10:45–11:30
E 10:40–11:10 B
BH FH 10:45–11:30 AH GH 10:45–11:30
10:50–11:20 10:50–11:20 10:50–11:20 10:50–11:20
EH Super
C D Super 11:30–12:00 D Alt BH
11:25–12:10 11:25–12:25 C Super 11:25–12:10 11:30–12:00
11:25–12:25
D C C
12:15–1:00 12:30–1:15 12:15–1:00
D
12:30–1:15
E EH F
1:05–1:50 1:15–1:45 DH 1:05–1:50
1:15–1:45
F A E B
1:55–2:40 1:50–2:35 1:50–2:35 1:55–2:40
LM I Block/
Meetings Meetings Meetings
Meetings
2:45–3:30 2:40–3:30 2:45–3:30
2:40–3:30
THE TAFT SCHOOL DAILY ACADEMIC SCHEDULE (5-DAY WEEK)
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY
A Super G Super B Super F Super E Super

8:15–9:15 8:15–9:15 8:15–9:15 8:15–9:15 8:15–9:15
Break 9:15–9:30 Break 9:15–9:30 Assembly Break 9:15–9:30

9:20–9:50 School Meetings
9:20–10:00
B F G
9:30–10:15 9:30–10:15 G 9:30–10:15
9:55–10:40 A
BH FH GH 10:05–10:50
10:15–10:45 10:15–10:45 10:15–10:45
E
10:45–11:30 AH
G B A 10:50–11:20
10:50–11:35 10:50–11:35 10:50–11:35
EH
11:30–12:00 D
11:25–12:10
C
11:40–12:25 D Super C Super
11:40–12:40 11:40–12:40 C
12:15–1:00
D
12:30–1:15 C D
12:45–1:30 12:45–1:30 F
1:05–1:50
E
1:20–2:05 CH DH
1:30–2:00 1:30–2:00 B
1:55–2:40
F A E
2:10–2:55 2:05–2:50 2:05–2:50
Meetings
Meetings Meetings Meetings 2:45–3:30
3:00–3:30 2:55–3:30 2:55–3:30
STUDENT
Handbook
2016–17
Parents may download any forms referenced
in this handbook from Taft’s website.
THE TAFT SCHOOL

110 Woodbury Road
Watertown, CT 06795
PREAMBLE
To All Students:
To come to Taft and to be part of this community is to enjoy enormous privilege. Being part
of any community—a neighborhood, a club, a school—entails “signing on” to a kind of social
contract. We all have to willingly sign it, to agree that we will abide by the values of the school,
and to recognize that we all have a part in making the place work. If we did not all do this, of
course, the school wouldn’t function.
This handbook has lots of rules and regulations, and in a way it serves as the contract I just
mentioned. You should read it carefully. If you boiled off lots of the text until only the essen-
tials were left, you would see that it’s a pretty simple document. Basically it says this: Be nice.
Work hard. Follow the rules. That’s what we expect of you, and that’s what you have signed on to
do when you enrolled.
Let’s think about those three imperatives:
Be nice. This is the simplest and perhaps most important expectation. This handbook
outlines some of the ways we think about what it means to be nice, and so you will read
specifics about what being nice means in terms of social media use and treating each other in
the dorms and hallways. We outline our rules about and responses to network acceptable use,
bullying and harassment. But a lot of those pages really are about simply being nice. Taft is
well known for being a warm, caring, spirited community, and it’s the people who create that
feeling, one nice act at a time. So we expect you to be nice, and in those very rare times when
a student demonstrates that he or she cannot be, we ask whether they deserve the privilege
of being here.
Work hard. Now that’s not complicated, is it? We are a very demanding and fast-paced
school. We think that the business of learning is very serious indeed, and teachers set the bar
of expectations high. There is a very good chance that Taft will be a lot harder than any school
you have known—and, after all, that is probably a big part of the reason you wanted to come
here. To be successful, you will have to work hard. That means you need to eat well, get plenty
of sleep and lead an organized life such that you can come to class every day prepared and
ready to learn, and to contribute to the learning of others. This is school, after all: it’s called
homework. Taft is going to require you to be resilient, focused and disciplined. We expect you
to use study hall and free periods well, get to classes on time and fully prepared, and hand
in your best work every day. So, part of the “contract” you have signed says that you agree to
work hard.
Follow the rules. This expectation is hardly a surprise: after all, a community only works—
only exists—if its members follow the rules. To be clear, you may not like all the rules, but
you may not like all the rules your parents set for you either. But we do ask that you respect
the rules. We don’t have silly rules; we have rules that history has told us are essential to
being the kind of learning community we want to be, where every member has an oppor-
tunity to grow and thrive. And we ask that you follow them, and if you do not, there are
proportional consequences. If you are late to class or have a messy room, you might receive
just one conduct grade, but if you cut class or are out of your room after lights, you might
get five grades. And if over the course of a term you have so many small rule violations that
your behavior reveals you won’t or can’t follow the rules, it’s only natural that the faculty
would question whether you had earned the privilege of being at Taft. Of course, there are
other much more serious rules, and the consequences are severe because breaking these rules
violates core values of Taft. That’s why conduct like drinking alcohol, using drugs, cheating
on a test, plagiarizing an essay, lying to a teacher, bullying another student and some other
behaviors can lead to dismissal. These behaviors are wrong, and we can’t be the community
we are trying to be if even one student breaks these rules.
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One of the things that is special about Taft, and something that has marked the place for
many years, is the ethos of the community. Students, teachers, parents, alumni and visitors
often comment on this: there’s a special “feel” to the place, a warmth and energy and caring,
even as Taft is a demanding school. There are lots of reasons Taft has this “feel,” but in the end,
it is because students are nice, work hard and follow the rules. If you do those three things, you
should do well.
—William R. MacMullen ’78, Headmaster
THE TAFT SCHOOL

Established at Pelham Manor, New York, in 1890, the Taft School is the realization of the
late Horace Dutton Taft’s life purpose: to found a school in which students would receive the
physical, mental, moral and spiritual background necessary to be responsible leaders and
disciplined, constructive citizens. Mr. Taft, the school’s first headmaster and the brother of
President William Howard Taft, believed that spiritual growth and development of character
were equal in importance to the scholarship that he valued highly.
The school’s 8,000 living alumni are engaged in virtually every phase of the world’s work—
business, industry, the professions and public service. Taft has always taken its school motto—
Non ut sibi ministretur sed ut ministret, or, Not to be served but to serve—very much to heart, and
students and alumni alike devote themselves to their communities and to causes around the globe.
The school moved to its present location in Watertown, Connecticut, in 1893, and the
campus today encompasses more than 220 acres with top-notch facilities for intellectual,
artistic and athletic pursuits. In 1936 Mr. Taft was succeeded as headmaster by Mr. Paul
Cruikshank, who led the school for the next 27 years. Mr. John C. Esty served as headmaster
from 1963 to 1972, as the school welcomed its first coeducational class. A young history teacher
named Lance R. Odden arrived from Princeton in 1961 and quickly climbed the ranks, serving
as headmaster for 29 years, until his retirement in 2001.
William R. MacMullen ’78 became the first alumnus to head the school, the fifth headmaster
in 111 years—a record of leadership unparalleled among peer schools. Prior to this appoint-
ment, Mr. MacMullen was an English teacher (appointed in 1983), dean of faculty, dean of
academic affairs and Uppermid class dean.
TO THOSE ENTERING TAFT

We extend our best wishes for your success here. It is likely that you will encounter much
that seems strange or different at first. You will probably find the first few days particularly
confusing, and this is a typical reaction. Taft is a welcoming community, and many people will
do their best to help you feel at home. Before long, you will find yourself part of the school.
All new students are assigned student sponsors, often referred to as “old boys” and “old
girls,” whose job it is to answer questions, explain our customs, and help you feel at home
here. Do not hesitate to go to your sponsor for advice and information. Furthermore, as a new
student you will participate in activities that will help you understand more about the school.
During the first semester you will choose a faculty member to be your advisor. New students
will be assigned a temporary advisor for the first three weeks of school. This temporary advisor
can become your permanent advisor if you so choose. Your advisor will be intimately concerned
with all phases of your career at Taft, and we hope you will feel free to discuss any important
STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016–17 3

issues in your life at Taft. Early in the year we will help all students understand a few obvious
boundaries of this relationship and will suggest how you should go about choosing an advisor
who is right for you. Go out of your way to get to know your faculty advisor well; you will find
your advisor ready to help whenever you need assistance or guidance.
In addition, each student has a class dean. Class deans oversee your academic progress and
will make an effort to get to know you well. During the opening days of school, you may find
your class dean to be someone who is willing to answer questions about any aspect of the
school. Class deans are listed on page 73. You will be informed when you receive your course
schedule in July which dean will be working with you.
On succeeding pages of this book you will find, among other things, most of the rules and
regulations of the school. At first they may seem overwhelming in number and detail, but in
the long run you will find that most of them are dictated by common sense. The basic principle
of all Taft’s institutions is that of honesty. Tests are conducted on the Honor System. You will
be assigned work to do on your own, and you need only pledge that you have neither given nor
received assistance. Your word on any question of conduct will be taken as a matter of fact. If
you use consideration and common sense, you should have little difficulty with the rules. If
there are rules or procedures that you do not understand, feel free to stop by the Dean’s Office
to speak with Ms. Sarah D’Annolfo, the dean of students, or Mr. Tom Antonucci, associate dean
of students.
This handbook is intended to provide information and guidance to all members of the Taft
School community. It is not a contract. Provisions may be changed at any time at the sole
discretion of the administration of the Taft School.
A PDF of this handbook, and more detailed information about life at Taft, can also be found
on the school’s website: www.TaftSchool.org.
THE HONOR SYSTEM

The Honor System is the basis of student life and government at Taft. It places in the hands of
each student the responsibility for honorable conduct as a way of life. A student who comes to
Taft must be willing to accept this responsibility.
The Honor Court, whether for theft or academic infractions, will hear potential violations of
the Honor Code. Responses to such violations almost always include a period of warning with
regard to all aspects of the Honor Code, and could include suspension or dismissal from Taft. In
most cases, a parent conference will be held following these proceedings.
PREAMBLE
This we believe: that Personal Honor in word and deed, Personal Integrity in thought and
action, Honesty in every facet of life, and Respect for other people and their rights are the
essence of a student of the Taft School.
PRINCIPLES
The Honor System is based on these principles, the basic characteristics of a Taft Student:
1. a student’s word is his or her bond
2. a student respects the integrity of personal property
3. a student has respect for academic honesty
4. a student’s conduct is always that of a person of character.
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CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE 1
Violations of the Honor System shall consist of:
1. the theft of other persons’ property,
2. any attempt to give or receive assistance in any way or form in connection with scholastic
work for credit,
3. lying in regard to academic matters.
ARTICLE 2
1. The phrase “I pledge my honor” written at the end of any scholastic work done for credit is
an abbreviation of the statement “I pledge my honor that I have neither given nor received
aid on this paper.”
2. On all department examinations, this statement must be written out in full.
Any student not signing the pledge to his or her paper will be notified by the teacher
correcting the paper, and then, if unable to sign the pledge, he or she shall be reported to
the Honor Committee for investigation. A discussion of plagiarism is included on page 7 of
this handbook.
ARTICLE 3
1. There shall be an Honor Committee, which shall investigate and deal with all cases involving
the Honor System, as the System is defined in Article 1.
2. This committee shall have the power to summon any accused person or persons, to summon
any other persons who might have information about the alleged offense, and to recom-
mend penalties to the headmaster.
3. The committee shall submit to the headmaster a record of all cases considered in its
sessions. The instruction of the succeeding committee shall be the responsibility of the
outgoing committee.
ARTICLE 4
The Preamble and the Constitution shall be announced and explained to all new students
at the beginning of each year.
ARTICLE 5
The effectiveness of the Honor System lies in the cooperation of the student body. It is left
up to the discretion of the individual as to whether or not he or she shall report an offender
to the Honor Committee.
ARTICLE 6
1. The committee, without altering in any way the provisions of the Constitution, may take
whatever measures it deems necessary to perpetuate the Honor System.
2. This Constitution, the Preamble, or any parts or articles may be amended or repealed by a
three-quarter vote of the combined Senior and Upper Middle classes.
—Classes of ’43, ’61 and ’82

ACADEMICS
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Article 1 of the Constitution of the Taft School Honor System includes the following statement:
“Violations of the Honor System shall consist of ... any attempt to give or receive assistance in
ACADEMICS
any way or form in connection with scholastic work for credit.”
Article 2 states:
1. The Phrase “I pledge my honor” written at the end of any scholastic work done for credit is
an abbreviation of the statement “I pledge my honor that I have neither given nor received
aid on this paper.”
2. On all departmental examinations, this statement must be written out in full. Any student
not signing the pledge to his or her paper will be notified by the faculty member correcting
the paper, and then, if unable to sign the pledge, he or she shall be reported to the Honor
Committee for investigation.
There are three forms of academic dishonesty at Taft: cheating, plagiarism and lying with
regard to academic matters. In academic terms, cheating takes the form of copying someone
else’s work or giving or receiving assistance on an exam, test, paper or other work for credit
which must be pledged, in an attempt to deceive the teacher into thinking that the work is the
student’s own. Examples include using illegal notes or copying from another student during a
test; having someone else write a paper, or part of a paper, or receiving or giving help in writing
a paper without acknowledging the assistance; and obtaining or giving information about a
quiz or test given to an earlier section of a course.
The second form of academic dishonesty is plagiarism, another violation of the Honor Code.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines the verb “to plagiarize” as “to take and use as one’s
own the writings or ideas of another.” Plagiarism is the direct copying of someone else’s words
or ideas without giving the author credit for them, thereby presenting them as evidence of your
own work and thought. It also refers to the rewording of a sentence, a paragraph, a page, an
entire article or a story plot and calling it your own.
To avoid plagiarism, you must footnote everything that is not the result of your own
thinking. Direct quotations—the exact words of another person—must be put in quotation
marks and footnoted. Paraphrases—the translation of facts and ideas into your own words—
must also be footnoted. Single words or phrases that are particularly appropriate or illumi-
nating, the organization of ideas, and the ordering of examples given in a source must all be
documented. In any case in which students feel confused, they should consult their teachers or
a librarian for guidance.
Carelessness and coincidence are no excuses for plagiarism. But if every source is to be so
carefully documented, a student may ask, what is the research paper but a garland of quota-
tions? The answer is that a good research paper (or critical essay) is not an anthology of
quotations but an assimilation of material from sources. This material has been collected for a
purpose: to answer some question that has been the guiding purpose in the student’s research.
The material has been penetrated, condensed, filtered, arranged and interpreted by the student,
and bears the mark of the student’s own intelligence. The product is an original research paper,
fully documented on every major point, sometimes supported by and sometimes thoughtfully
refuting the opinions of authorities, amplified by quotation when such quotation is apt and
appropriate, and everywhere demonstrating the student’s intellectual mastery, honesty and
scholarly integrity.

The third form of academic dishonesty is lying to a faculty member with regard to academic
matters. This covers both verbal and written interactions between students and faculty.
For instance, if a student were to communicate to a teacher that he had completed and/or
submitted an assignment for credit when in fact that was not the case, the student would be in
violation of the Honor Code.
ACADEMICS
Seniors who violate the Honor Code after Long Weekend in the Spring Term will not, in all
likelihood, be permitted to participate in the graduation ceremony.
GRADING SYSTEM, ACADEMIC CREDIT,

PLACEMENT, PROMOTION
Taft’s academic grading system includes a 40 to 100 achievement scale and a letter grade-based
assessment of students’ academic habits. Below is the achievement scale.
93–100 High Honors

90–92 Honors
87–89 Above Expectations
80–86 Meets Expectations
70–79 Approaching Expectations
60–69 In Danger of Failure
40–59 Failure
The honor roll is comprised of students who earn an academic average of 90 or above for a
semester. The high honor roll is comprised of students who earn an average of 93 or above
for a semester. Students’ academic habits are broadly categorized under “Planning and
Persistence” and “Engagement and Self-Regulation.” (Please visit the school’s website to find
the Academic Habits Rubric.) Below is what is represented by the letter grades students earn
in these categories.
E Exceeds Expectations
M Meets Expectations
A Approaches Expectations
N Needs Attention
U Unacceptable
Each report card will also include the average achievement grade for all students enrolled in a
particular course. This information is often helpful to those seeking to understand a student’s
progress and relative success, but any questions should be directed to the appropriate class dean.
For all courses, academic credit is granted on a semester-by-semester basis. Also, the
academic departments determine student promotion and placement.
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EXAMINATIONS, ASSESSMENTS,
EXTENDED TIME
Examinations or culminating assessments are given at the end of each semester. Students may
ACADEMICS
not reschedule exams to facilitate an early departure for vacation.
Students who find during the term that they have three major assessments—tests, papers,
projects, labs—due on the same day may request to have the last assigned exercise due at a later
date. Such requests should be made at least 48 hours in advance.
The following policies were written by the department heads to clarify examination procedures:
PRINCIPLE
Students are responsible for meeting their academic obligations during the regular school year
and also at prescribed times during examination periods each semester. Failure to do so will
result in a response as described below.
DURING THE SEMESTER

A student who misses an announced assessment as a result of an unexcused absence will be
penalized 10 points if he/she takes the assessment that same day and 10 more points each
day thereafter.

Assessments submitted late on the due date are penalized 5 points, and submissions after
the due date are penalized 10 points per day up to five days, after which the maximum earnable
grade is a 50. Assessments of passing quality submitted after five days will receive a 50, while
those not of passing quality will receive a 40. Assessments submitted more than one day late
may not be revised. Students must complete all major assessments to be complete in a course.
ACADEMICS
Students with extended-time accommodations should speak with their teachers in advance
of timed assessments to determine how their teachers prefer to handle the sometimes-complex
logistics of extended time. In many cases, teacher and student may determine beforehand
that the student will take the assessment in its entirety at a time other than the regular class
meeting. But in those cases when students with extended-time accommodations begin and do
not have enough time to complete in-class assessments, the below procedures apply:
c Teacher and student will discuss and determine when and where the student will complete
the assessment; this completion must take priority over other uses of available times
during the class day such as a mid-morning slot, part of a lunch block or an afternoon
Meetings block.
c The student’s completing the assessment will typically take priority over his/her extra-
curricular commitments except competitions and performances.
c Ideally, the student will complete the assessment under the oversight of his/her classroom teacher.
c To be consistent with the Honor Code, a student whose completion of an assessment is
delayed due to his/her extended-time accommodation may not consult materials related
to the assessment and must avoid situations in which he/she might unintentionally glean
assessment-related information.
DURING EXAMINATION PERIODS

A student who misses a semester examination as a result of an unexcused absence will receive
a 40, which will be averaged with the grade the student receives upon making up the exam.
Students who arrive late for an exam but within the first hour will receive a penalty of 5
points. After one hour, the student will receive a penalty of 10 points. In each case, the student
will be given the full time for the exam.
Students may not wear hats during examinations.
SEMESTER EXAMINATIONS AND ACADEMIC CREDIT

If a student fails a semester examination in the spring of his/her senior year, the teacher will
offer a re-examination only if the student fails the semester and needs to pass that course in
order to receive a Taft diploma. In most other circumstances, Taft does not offer re-examina-
tions for credit. If an underclassmen or fall semester senior fails an examination, a re-examina-
tion will not be given even if the student has failed the semester and received no credit for the
course. If the student has failed a semester course that is part of a sequence of semesters, after
a reasonable period of time for preparation, the student must take a placement exam in order
to proceed to the next level. For instance, a student who fails the spring semester of Latin I
must pass a placement exam in order to proceed to Latin II in the fall.
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ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Student use of devices such as laptop computers, smart phones, or tablets is determined by
departments and teachers. During assessments, students must turn off their cell phones
ACADEMICS
(unless the teacher specifies an alternate system for ensuring that students cannot access
them); the penalty for not doing so could include confiscation of the phone, a score of 40 on the
assessment and/or a disciplinary response consistent with Honor Code violations.
During exams, students may not be in possession of cell phones, smart watches, or
unapproved electronic devices of any kind, or of any written materials which may assist them
on the exam. If a proctor discovers a student in possession of one of these item(s), it will be
confiscated. The student’s penalty could include immediate expulsion from the exam room, a
score of 40 on the exam and/or a disciplinary response consistent with Honor Code violations.
ABSENCE AND ACADEMICS

Taft prides itself on close contact between faculty and students, and classes are the most impor-
tant place for this relationship to develop. Being in class is essential to each student’s intellec-
tual experience, so students should miss class only due to illness or special circumstance.
We understand that sometimes students will miss class to pursue unique opportunities away
from school. The Petition Leave guidelines below outline policy and procedures for such absence.
While ultimately the school decides whether it is appropriate for a student to attend Taft, there
may be times when a student is unable to function and needs to take a short- or long-term leave.
PETITION LEAVE
Occasionally, Taft students may encounter an opportunity to pursue excellence in an area of
long-term commitment and expertise. In these cases, students may petition for permission to
miss a total of up to 5 academic class days in an academic year.
Students wishing to leave school must submit a completed petition, including a complete
explanation of the program or event in which they wish to participate, 30 days in advance of
their proposed departure. Once they have completed their formal petition and submitted it
to their class dean, the class dean will meet with the student’s teachers, as well as any other
appropriate adults (advisor, coaches, athletic director, Arts Department head, etc.) to deter-
mine whether to approve the application. Students should not make travel arrangements or
© 2011 Hilary B. Price. Distributed by King Feature Syndicate, Inc.

assume that they will be granted permission to leave until this meeting has occurred and formal
permission has been communicated. Unusual requests will be referred to the department
heads, who will determine whether the proposal merits consideration.
Any student planning to request an extended absence must be in good academic and disci-
plinary standing. The class dean and teachers will determine the student’s academic standing.
ACADEMICS
Disciplinary standing will be determined by the dean of students. In addition, if a student has
missed significant class time for other reasons, that circumstance may have an impact on the
decision about the student’s petition.
Finally, if a student’s petition is approved, he/she must remain in solid academic and disci-
plinary standing until the time at which he/she leaves. Changes in the student’s circumstances
may result in withdrawal of permission to leave at any point. As usual, students must sign out
through the Dean’s Office before leaving campus.
MEDICAL LEAVE
There are situations in which a student’s medical condition interferes significantly with his/her
ability to meet academic and social demands of the school. Because these leaves are involun-
tary, students do not need to complete a petition as described above. However, students must
submit all major assessments in order to receive Taft grades at semester’s end.
An illness that requires a student to remain in the Health Center may precipitate the need
for the student to go home for a few days. This may be to prevent the spread of certain illnesses
such as norovirus or influenza. The Health Center must be aware of any students leaving
campus for health reasons, even if initiated by a parent.
A student who will be leaving Taft at the parent’s request will also need to be seen in the
Health Center for the appropriate brief medical absence form and a signed permission form to
exchange medical information. Upon return to school from a brief medical absence, the student
needs to be seen in the Health Center before returning to normal activities.
An extended medical leave of absence will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis in conjunction
with the policies of the Academic Office and Health Center.
PERSONAL LEAVE
SHORT TERM
In the event that a student needs to leave school for personal reasons, a short-term leave of
absence may be granted through the Dean of Students or Counseling Offices. A short-term
leave is limited to one week. Before leaving campus, the student must meet with the appro-
priate class dean and be assessed by the director of counseling. Failure to meet with appropriate
personnel before leaving may result in the student’s required withdrawal.
If a leave of absence is granted, the class dean will make the conditions of the return explicit.
In most cases, the student will not be allowed back to school until having met with the director
of counseling for reevaluation, and a conference with the parents, the student, the class dean
and the director of counseling has taken place. If, as a result of these meetings, the school
deems the student’s return inappropriate, an extended leave or withdrawal may be required. In
most cases, a student will be permitted only one short-term leave during his/her time at Taft.
A student may not leave the school unless both student and parent have discussed the
request with the class dean and received explicit permission to go home.
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EXTENDED
A student who requires a mental health leave of more than one week will in all likelihood be
asked to return home for the duration of the academic year. The student may be asked to seek
support and treatment at home, and to sign release forms that allow the director of counseling
to share information with off-campus practitioners.
ACADEMICS
A student wishing to return to school after an extended leave of absence will not be required
to reapply through the Admissions Office. The student will, however, be expected to meet with
parents, the director of counseling, the class dean and the headmaster to determine whether
he/she may return to school.
MANDATED LEAVE
There may be situations in which the school mandates a leave of absence. These leaves would
occur in response to concerns about a student’s mental health and well-being, or his/her ability
to function effectively within the expectations of the school community.
EXTENDED PERSONAL OR MEDICAL LEAVES

UP TO 50 PERCENT OF SEMESTER
During the absence, students and families must make arrangements for the completion of
required course work with the dean of academic affairs and class dean. Families will need to
identify a responsible third party to administer tests and exams. Students are eligible for
academic credit when they have completed all of the required assignments in each class.
When a student requires a leave that exceeds 50 percent of a semester, the headmaster, dean
of academic affairs, class dean and director of counseling will convene to determine whether it
is appropriate for the student to remain enrolled in the school. Although the student and family
will share in discussions about educational options as the student moves forward, the approval
of an extended personal or medical leave is at the discretion of the headmaster.
SPECIAL SUPPORT INTERVENTIONS

Occasionally the school has unusual concerns about a student’s ability to function in this
community. In such cases the appropriate class dean will inform the student and his/her
parents of the school’s concerns. After a consultation with the appropriate faculty members and
the headmaster, a support plan will be determined and the student will be expected to meet all
expectations of that plan. The plan will most likely include assessments and recommendations
from outside professionals. Parents may be asked to attend the meeting at which this plan is
formulated. The student’s progress will be monitored closely; status at the school will be evalu-
ated periodically and at the end of the school year. Evaluation may result in change or termina-
tion of the plan or temporary or permanent separation from the school.
The kind of support process described above could be deemed necessary in a variety of situ-
ations. Conditions might include, but are not limited to, depression, self-destructive behaviors
such as self-mutilation, substance use or eating disorders; unusual difficulty meeting appoint-
ments; lack of relationships with adults in the community; and sudden or extreme changes in
behavior, attitude or physical appearance.

RULES
& Conduct
Copyright L.J. Kopf. All rights reserved.
14
FUNDAMENTAL RULES
GENERAL
Students shall always act honestly and with consideration for others. Conduct that violates the
law or reflects badly upon the school, whether committed in school or elsewhere, and whether
committed while school is in session or not, may be cause for discipline, including dismissal.
A student’s standing at Taft is determined on the basis of scholarship, effort and conduct.
Failure to maintain a good standing in any one of these areas may result in dismissal and/or the
denial of a diploma.
Certain rules, which the school considers particularly important for the well being of the
individual and the community, are grouped together as the Fundamental Rules of the school.
Violation of any of them may be considered as grounds for dismissal.
RULES & CONDUCT

It shall be a condition of a student’s enrollment and continued attendance at the Taft School
that a parent or guardian and the student, upon reaching the age of adulthood, shall agree in
writing that the student shall abide by the Fundamental Rules of the school and such other
disciplinary rules as appear in the Taft Student Handbook.
Both parents and students should understand that while students are away on weekends,
their conduct and welfare is the primary responsibility of their host, not of the school, but
students who take weekends to nearby homes must not be in violation of Taft rules if they
return to the school or to the Watertown area during the weekend. Students who take week-
ends to homes in the immediate Watertown area must not be in violation of Taft rules when
leaving the homes of their host.
When students leave Taft to participate in off-campus programs, whether it be short trips,
college visits, or semester or yearlong programs, they do so with the school’s recommenda-
tion and thus serve as representatives of Taft. These students are expected to act in a manner
consistent with the guiding principles and expectations of the Taft community. If a student
does not act accordingly, the school will respond appropriately to the situation.
The school reserves the right to search student rooms and belongings for evidence of violation
of school rules.

ALCOHOL AND DRUGS
No student may use, possess or attempt to purchase or sell dangerous or illegal drugs , hallu-
cinogens, drug paraphernalia or alcohol at school. Vaporizers, including all vape devices and
e-cigarette systems, constitute drug paraphernalia.
Boarding students, and day students in the company of boarding students, may not
violate any aspect of the Alcohol/Drug Rule in the general neighborhood of school, including
Watertown and nearby towns. In addition, day students’ use of alcohol and drugs (including
hallucinogens) is subject to the general prohibition against violation of the law and conduct
reflecting badly upon the school while away from Taft.
The dean of students or her designee may in her discretion test students for drug and alcohol
use. Any student who refuses to be tested in such situation will be subject to discipline as deter-
mined in the discretion of the headmaster.
Arrival at school with evidence of use of such drugs or alcohol is a violation of this rule,
RULES & CONDUCT
whether by boarding students following a permission, weekend or vacation, or by day students

at any time.
Use of alcohol on day permissions, even in the company of parents, is a violation of this rule.
Use of alcohol or illegal drugs while on a college visit is a violation of this rule.
Prescription drugs must be kept in the Health Center. Students found possessing prescrip-
tion drugs without specific permission from a nurse at the Health Center are in violation of the
Alcohol/Drug Rule.
All students aware that the Alcohol/Drug Rule is being broken in their presence and who do
not make an immediate attempt to leave the vicinity are in violation of the rule. Questions as to
whether a student was so aware will be resolved by a committee composed of the headmaster,
the dean of students and the student’s class dean and faculty advisor.
Students are not permitted to drink nonalcoholic beer at school.
Students who violate the Alcohol/Drug Rule will be required to undergo a formal
assessment by the school counselors and agree to participate in ongoing work with those
counselors if recommended. Monitors, dormitory monitors, or class committee members
who violate the Alcohol/Drug Rule will, in almost all circumstances, be asked to resign from
their positions of leadership.
MOTOR VEHICLES
Boarding students are forbidden to have automobiles or other motor vehicles in Watertown
or the vicinity. Students may ride in or drive motor vehicles only when operated by or under
the direction of a person or service approved by their parent or guardian on the Automobile
Permission Form, which must be on file in the Office of the Dean of Students. This rule applies
to all travel to and from destinations on weekends and permissions, and arrival and departure
for vacations. Hitchhiking is not permitted. Students who wish to ride with anyone under 21
years of age, other than members of their family specifically approved as above, must consult
the Dean’s Office well in advance regarding requirements before the school can grant such
permission. Written permission from the parents of the student and the parents of the driver,
and proof of the driver’s liability coverage, must be submitted to the Dean’s Office. Driving
permissions can never be accepted over the telephone.
Day students who have legitimate driver’s licenses may drive to school. They may drive other
students if the following conditions are met: (1) written permission from both the driver’s
and the rider’s parents are on file in the Dean’s Office; (2) written proof of the driver’s liability
insurance is on file in the Dean’s Office; (3) the driver has had a valid license for at least one
full year and meets and complies with the driving requirements of his/her state of license. Day
students who have not met the above requirements are not permitted to ride in a motor vehicle
16
to and from school or to and from school functions held either at Taft or some other school
unless accompanied by a parent, a faculty member or an adult approved by name.
Boarding students on a weekend permission may not drive cars to Watertown, Waterbury,
other nearby towns or the general neighborhood of the school at any time during the weekend
or at the conclusion of the weekend unless special permission is obtained from the Dean’s
Office well in advance.
Permission forms are mailed out each summer, but are also located on the school website.
PERMISSIONS
Students are not allowed to leave school property after the times specified on page 23–25
without permission and are not allowed outside the school buildings after check-in until after
6:00 a.m. the next day. Although the Charles Phelps Taft (CPT) and Horace Dutton Taft (HDT),
Vogelstein and ISP dormitories are all in the main building, they are treated as separate dormi-
RULES & CONDUCT

tories. Thus, when a student from HDT is found in CPT after check-in—or vice versa—that
student will be considered in violation of the Permissions Rule. Day students must be off the
campus by check-in and may not return until 7:00 a.m.
Whenever a student leaves campus, she/he is required to sign out with the Dean’s office.
Boarding students may not go out of Watertown (approximately a 3 mile radius around
campus) without permission granted in advance. Filling out a weekend permission with the
intent to deceive or going to an unapproved destination is a violation of the Permissions Rule.
See page 23 for sign-out procedures.
Every time a student signs out, whether from the Dean’s office or from the dormitory—during
studyhall, for example—she/he is expected to accurately and honestly indicate destination.
Unauthorized use of a physical space at the school is a violation of the Permissions Rule.
INTERDORM VISITATION
Students are not permitted to have individuals of the opposite sex on dormitory corridors or in
student rooms except as specified by the Interdorm Visitation Privileges (see pages 42–46).
Parents are permitted in dormitory rooms at any time, and other close relatives may visit
dormitory rooms with prior permission from a dormitory faculty member. Students may secure
special permission to visit faculty in any dormitory for special help, feeds and other functions
of a similar nature. For specific rules and regulations with respect to interdorming, please refer
to the Interdorm Visitation section of the handbook on page 42. Students who fail to follow
proper procedures will lose Interdorming privileges. Flagrant violations of the Interdorming
Visitation rule will result in consequences that are more severe.
FIRE HAZARDS
Creating a fire hazard is a violation of a Fundamental School Rule. Examples of such actions
include but are not limited to irresponsible or unauthorized use of fire extinguishers, matches,
lighters, candles, cooking appliances, incense or other combustibles in or around a school
building, use or possession of fireworks and tampering with alarms or fire equipment. Using
a common room microwave and consequently causing something to burn will be considered a
violation of the Fire Hazard Rule. Phoning in a false alarm is also a violation of this rule. More
details regarding fire and safety regulations are provided on page 47.
Smoking in any of the school buildings is a violation of the Fire Hazard Rule.

FIREARMS AND WEAPONS
This rule prohibits the possession or use of firearms and other weapons. This includes, but is
not limited to, firearms, BB guns, pellet guns of any kind, paint guns, martial arts weapons,
crossbows, knives with blades longer than 3 inches, and any other object that is designed
primarily to be a weapon.
KEYS AND FOBS

Students found using or in possession of school keys or fobs that were not legally issued to
them, as well as students found in unauthorized areas of the school, are in violation of this rule.
RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT
Students may not engage in reckless acts that expose others or themselves to an obvious risk
of serious injury. For instance, going out on the roofs of the school buildings is a violation of
RULES & CONDUCT
this rule.
GENERAL CONDUCT
Students are expected to meet their daily commitments at the school and are also expected
to uphold the standards of the community. Students who repeatedly reach Disciplinary
Report (see page 28) or whose general conduct is deemed unsatisfactory will not be allowed
to remain at Taft.
ACCEPTABLE, APPROPRIATE USE OF THE TAFT NETWORK

It is the general policy of the Taft School that computers and network services are to be used
in a responsible, efficient, ethical and legal manner in accordance with the mission of the
school. Users of the Taft network must acknowledge their understanding of the general policy
and guidelines as a condition of using the network. All users are responsible for adhering to
these Taft policies and procedures for network use. Any communication or action that would
be considered inappropriate in any other setting is equally inappropriate on the computer,
computer network and/or the Internet. Users should have no expectation of privacy as the
school has the right, and occasionally, the responsibility, to monitor usage and activity.
Use of the network is a privilege, not a right. Failure to act in accordance with the
Acceptable Use Policy as described below and published administrative procedures may result
in a loss of network access, disciplinary action and/or criminal penalties under applicable
state and federal law. Information on observed or reported violations will be turned over to
the Dean’s Office for disposition.
Acceptable use of the network includes activities that support learning, teaching and
communication. Students and faculty are encouraged to explore and develop new ways of using
technology to support Taft teaching and learning objectives.
18
UNACCEPTABLE USE OF THE NETWORK INCLUDES,
BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO:
c Using network credentials that belong to someone else.

c Violating the rights to privacy of students or employees of the Taft School or others
outside of Taft.
c Using the network to harass or bully another individual or individuals.
c Using profane or obscene language that may be offensive to another user.
c Plagiarism and/or copying materials in violation of copyright law.
c Using the network for financial gain or for any commercial or illegal activity.
c Acting in a manner that degrades or disrupts system performance or unauthorized entry to
and/or destruction of computer systems and files.
Excessive bandwidth usage that impacts the network or Internet performance of others.
RULES & CONDUCT

c
c Reposting personal communications without the author’s prior consent.
c Accessing, downloading, storing or printing files or messages that are illegal, obscene or that
offend or degrade another.
c Using bittorrent or other peer-2-peer methods as a means to unlawfully download copy-
righted material such as movies, music, games, programs, etc.
The Taft School makes no express or implied warranty for the Internet access it provides
or the resources available through the use of our network. We cannot completely eliminate
access to information that is offensive or illegal and residing on networks outside of the Taft
School campus. Taft does not guarantee the availability of access to the Internet and will not
be responsible for any information that may be lost, damaged or unavailable due to technical
and/or other difficulties.

HARASSMENT, HAZING AND BULLYING
All members of the community have the basic right not to be harassed, hazed or bullied. The
Taft School prohibits any form of bullying, hazing or harassing behavior, whether in the class-
room, on the campus or at Taft events. Such behavior occurring outside of a school setting that
has a negative and direct impact on a student’s academic performance or safety in school is also
prohibited and may be subject to school discipline. Demonstration of appropriate behavior, the
treatment of others with civility and respect, and the refusal to tolerate harassment, hazing or
bullying is expected of administrators, faculty, staff, volunteers and students.
Bullying is any gesture or written, verbal, graphic, physical (including electronically trans-
mitted acts) or other overt act by a person committed more than once against another person
with the intent to ridicule, harass, humiliate or intimidate the other person.
RULES & CONDUCT
Harassment and hazing entail behavior that is inappropriate and that should not take place
through ignorance or thoughtlessness. Hazing is any action taken or situation intentionally
created that causes embarrassment or risks emotional and/or physical harm to members of a
group regardless of a person’s willingness to participate. The school recognizes and respects
individual differences in background in regard to culture, race, ethnic origin, religion, gender
and sexual orientation. Inappropriate behavior, either verbal or physical, that demeans
or offends others is unacceptable. This includes, but is not limited to, unwelcome physical
advances, unwarranted verbal remarks, derogatory statements or discriminatory comments,
and can occur between two individuals or groups of individuals. Forms of harassment include,
but are not limited to, written and oral remarks, remarks posted online or to the campus
computer network and messages left on voicemail systems. Telephones, e-mail and other forms
of electronic communication may not be used to harass, haze, or bully others through anony-
mous calls or postings, repeated unwanted calls or messages, or obscene calls or postings.
PROCEDURES FOR ADDRESSING HARASSMENT, HAZING AND BULLYING

Individuals might unintentionally act in a manner that others experience as harassing or
humiliating. Attempts to justify such behavior as a “prank” or “joke” do not change its harassing
or bullying nature if the object of the joke is not a willing participant. Whenever possible,
explaining the unwelcome and inappropriate nature of the behavior to the offender should
precede more formal action.
Any student who feels victimized by harassment, hazing or bullying, or who is concerned
about such behavior is encouraged to consult with any trusted adult, such as a classroom
teacher, an advisor, a school counselor, a class dean, the dean of students or the headmaster.
Given the wide range of behavior that constitutes harassment, hazing and bullying, cases
will be considered on an individual basis by the headmaster, dean of students, dean of faculty
or other appropriate authority in consultation with all involved parties. Disciplinary responses,
when called for, will be determined at the discretion of the headmaster. Suspension or dismissal
may be warranted particularly when behaviors demonstrate a serious disregard for the welfare
of other individuals or the community as a whole.
It is critically important that the school supports and protects any individual who raises
a complaint. Retaliation against someone making a complaint about harassment, hazing or
bullying is unacceptable and will be subject to a disciplinary response if found to be a valid claim
of retaliation by the headmaster or his designees. Any disciplinary response will be determined
at the discretion of the headmaster and may include possible dismissal for a student or the
termination of employment for an adult.
20
VOLUNTARY USE OF THE
HEALTH CENTER
A student may voluntarily use the Health Center when he or she has been drinking or using
controlled substances. A student or student assisting can, and should, contact the Health
Center or a faculty member to begin this process and ask for assistance. A student confronted
about alcohol or substance use cannot claim that he or she had intended to go to the Health
Center or was en route there. However, once the phone call, text, or conversation establishes
the intent, the student will not sit before the Discipline Committee, be suspended or placed
on probation; however, in all likelihood he or she would be placed on Warning with regard to
the Alcohol/Drug Rule, and the student’s parents will always be asked to come to school for a
RULES & CONDUCT

conference with the headmaster and other appropriate faculty to discuss measures that will
be taken to help the student move forward. The student will be required to be evaluated by a
member of the counseling staff.
DISCIPLINARY RESPONSE
When a student violates a Fundamental Rule of the school, his/her case is referred to the office
of the dean of students, who will either refer the case to the Discipline Committee or will set a
penalty in accordance with guidelines established by the Discipline Committee. The Discipline
Committee is usually composed of six students and six faculty with a nonvoting faculty chair.
In unusual circumstances when students are not available to serve, the Discipline Committee
will be comprised of six faculty with a nonvoting faculty chair. Students who appear before
the Discipline Committee will have an opportunity to make a statement regarding the circum-
stances of the infraction. The student’s faculty advisor, the dean of his/her class and a member
of his/her student class committee will also be invited to the meeting to speak in support of the
student, but no other representatives may participate in the disciplinary process.
The Discipline Committee may recommend warning periods, probation periods, suspensions
or combinations of these; dismissal; or other responses they deem appropriate.
A student may, in some cases, be placed on Warning in regard to the rule that was violated
for a period of time recommended by the Discipline Committee. Warning indicates that a
student will most probably be dismissed if he or she violates that rule again during the period
of Warning.
A student who violates more than one Fundamental School Rule or whose conduct warrants
such a response would, at the recommendation of the Discipline Committee or the dean of
students, and with the approval of the headmaster, be dismissed if they were to violate a
Fundamental School Rule during the ten-week period following their violation.
Of course, the Discipline Committee may recommend the dismissal of a student for a first
violation of a Fundamental Rule if it feels the circumstances warrant such action. Students
found selling drugs or alcohol or procuring drugs or alcohol for other students in all likelihood
will be dismissed for a first offense. In addition, students who consume alcohol and who then
drive or ride in an automobile will most likely be dismissed for a first offense.
In considering violations of the Alcohol/Drug Rule, the headmaster, the deans of students,
the faculty advisor and the class dean shall meet to discuss whether further penalties in addi-
tion to those imposed by the Discipline Committee are appropriate in the case of a particular
student in light of his/her overall record at the school.

Whenever students are found in violation of the Alcohol/Drug Rule, their parents are
required to come to school to discuss the students’ overall record.
In considering violations of the Reckless Endangerment Rule, the headmaster and deans of
students will decide if the student is required to appear before the Discipline Committee. The
response to a violation of this rule may vary from a stayover to dismissal.
When students are suspended from Taft, these suspensions will be reported to the colleges
to which the students apply. In the case of seniors who are in the midst of the college process,
these suspensions will be reported promptly following their return from the suspension. In
addition, if a student’s record changes in some fundamental fashion, the school will report
these changes to colleges.
While this discretion is rarely exercised, the headmaster and the deans of students
acting together reserve the right to dismiss a student or withhold a diploma for failure to
maintain good standing in scholarship, effort or conduct, without resorting to the foregoing
RULES & CONDUCT
disciplinary procedures.
In unusual situations when the well being of the community is affected, disciplinary matters
may be discussed with the general school body for educational purposes.
22
PROCEDURES, REGULATIONS AND
INFORMATION WHEN LEAVING CAMPUS
Weekend and day permissions sign-outs are based on the principle of the Honor System that
“a student’s word is his or her bond.”
Students must always sign out when leaving campus, unless they are on a school-sponsored
trip such as a class trip or an interscholastic athletic competition. Discussing your plans with
the Dean’s Office or having your parents call in does not relieve you of the responsibility of
signing out properly.
DOWNTOWN PRIVILEGE
RULES & CONDUCT

Students are allowed downtown during their free time within the following time periods.
Students who will be downtown must always be accompanied by another student and should
sign-out before leaving campus and sign-in upon their return.
Nights when there is sit-down dinner 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

Nights when there is no sit-down dinner 7:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
Saturday 7:00 a.m.–10:15 p.m.
Sunday 7:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
SIGN-OUT PROCEDURES
c Any time a student leaves campus (with the exception of class field trips or teams departing
for athletic contests), a permission request must be submitted by coming into the Deans
Office or signing out online via Veracross.
c Weekend requests must be submitted by 11:00 p.m. on Thursday. For Long Weekends,
permission requests may be due earlier. Students should check the weekly calendar and listen
to announcements in Assembly for deadlines.
c A three-grade penalty will be assigned to students filing late requests.
c It is assumed that when students take a weekend or day permission they are going to a
place approved on the form sent to the Dean’s Office by their parents. They may not take a
weekend or day permission to any other place without parental permission.
c When students sign out to their own homes, no invitation is necessary provided the parents
of the student have given permission to sign out home. When students go to their homes,
the school expects that a parent or an adult approved by a parent will be present.
c Students may not sign out to a hotel, home or any other location unless their parent, the parent
of another student or an adult approved by their parent is present for the entire weekend.
c Students must have an invitation from their host for the weekend whenever they leave
school to visit any place other than their own homes. Invitations may be called in to the
Dean’s Office or may be submitted in writing. All invitations are expected in the Dean’s Office
at least 48 hours before departure.
c When attending a concert or other function before going to their home or to the home of their
host family, students must be picked up from school by their own parent or their host parent.
c Upon returning to school students must be sure to come into the Duty Office to sign in; in
most cases students are required to return to campus and sign in by 7:30 p.m. Continued
failure to sign in on time will be treated seriously.
c Finally, if you are detained in returning from your weekend for some reason, please call the
Duty Office at 860-945-7800 before 7:30 p.m. to let the duty officer know where you are.
If the duty officer is not present, you should leave a message in the voice mailbox.

DAY PERMISSIONS
All students in good standing are allowed unlimited day permissions during free time.
Permissions are granted for travel near the school. Students wishing to leave Watertown must
consult one of the deans of students regarding permissions and invitations required.
Saturday permissions start after a student’s last Saturday class or athletic contest and end
at 10:30 p.m. No students may be excused from class to get an early start. Sunday permissions
run from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Students leaving early Sunday morning are advised to have
their travel approved on Saturday, as the duty officers are usually not available until 10:00 a.m.
Day students may invite boarding students to their homes only if an adult is present. A day
student’s parent must call in an invitation for a boarding student to come to their house on a
day permission. Boarders must sign out a day permission card in the Duty Office, even if the
home is near campus.
Boarding students who have permission to drive with a day student may ride downtown
RULES & CONDUCT
during the hours specified on page 23, but each student must fill out a day permission card.
Students may not sign out for dinner on nights when sit-down meals are served.
All permissions to be away from the school for medical appointments must be cleared first
through the Health Center.
24
WEEKEND PERMISSIONS
Weekends during the school year are designated as being either open or closed. On a closed
weekend, boarding students are not permitted to be away from Taft overnight without
receiving special permission from the Dean’s Office. The dates of the closed weekends are
given below. Students are allowed to leave Taft on an open weekend, with certain exceptions
explained below, as long as they do not miss any classes, athletic contests or other extracur-
ricular obligations.
Saturday Weekends start after a student’s last class or athletic commitment on Saturday and
end at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. No students may be excused from class to get an early start. On open
weekends when Saturday classes do not meet, students are permitted to leave after their last
commitment on Saturday. Students may not leave for a weekend on Friday unless they have
received special permission from the Dean’s Office.
All students are granted three Long Weekends, one during each term. All dorms will be
RULES & CONDUCT

open for students during these long weekends, with the exception of USGD and ISP. These
two dorms will close for Fall and Winter Long Weekends. If a student living in one of these
dorms does not plan on leaving campus during these weekends, he or she will need to stay in
another room on campus. For 2016–17, the Long Weekends are October 8–11, February 3–7
and May 5–8.
Students assigned to serve weekend detention may not leave campus unless the detention
has been rescheduled by the dean of students.
On Parents’ Weekends in the fall and winter students may leave campus with their parents
on Saturday night.
Weekends or day permissions may not be taken after the Winter Formal or other events
specified by the Dean’s Office.
A number of weekends during the year are closed. This year, closed weekends fall on
the following dates: September 10, September 17, October 15, October 29, November 12,
December 3, December 10, January 7, January 14, January 28, February 11, March 4, April 1,
April 22, May 20, and May 27. No weekends are closed for seniors in the spring.
COLLEGE DAYS
Students are allowed to miss classes three days during their Taft career for the purpose of
visiting colleges. While these days are almost always taken during the senior year, there are rare
cases in which students request to use one of their college days during the uppermid year. To
be granted a college visit day, green college cards (available in the Dean’s Office) must be signed
by the teachers whose classes will be missed, by one of the college counselors and by the class
dean. Cards should then be brought to the Dean’s Office for final approval at least 48 hours
before departure.
Students are encouraged to use school vacations and Free Day Weekends for college visits
in order to allow them to use their college days for visits in late April after college acceptances
have been received.
Seniors should understand that college days are to be used only for the purpose of mean-
ingful college visits and should not be viewed as “free days” that they are entitled to take for
any purpose. The college counseling staff will determine if the proposed visit is a meaningful
part of the student’s college search process. If a student feels that it is unavoidable to miss more
than three class days, he/she must seek approval from the college counselor and the class dean
well in advance of the proposed departure. If permission is granted, the sign-out procedures
described above should be followed. Seniors who take more than three college days will not be
granted the privilege of taking Friday weekends in the Spring Term.

VACATIONS
In addition to the Summer Vacation, the school provides Thanksgiving, Winter and
Spring Vacations.
Before a student leaves for vacation, all major work in every course must be satisfactorily
completed. Students who have not turned in required papers, projects and similar assignments
before the beginning of the vacation period will be held over at school until such work is completed.
The school cannot provide living accommodations or board for any student during the vaca-
tion periods (Thanksgiving, Winter and Spring Vacations). The dormitories will be open for two
nights prior to the first class day following a vacation and for the night of the final class day
before vacation. When leaving for these vacations or for the summer, students must check out
with the dormitory faculty to assure that they have left their rooms in satisfactory condition.
Students leaving their rooms in unsatisfactory condition may be assigned a weekend detention,
asked to return to campus and/or billed for cleaning.
RULES & CONDUCT
If students do not go immediately home for vacation, permissions and invitations must be
submitted to the Dean’s Office just as if students were taking a weekend to a place other than
their own homes.
Transportation arrangements should be made so as to permit students to attend all of their
classes. Class cuts will be assigned for class absences due to early departures for vacation.
Only under extraordinary circumstances may a student leave for vacation early without being
assigned conduct grades. Special circumstances should be brought to the attention of the dean
of students well in advance of departure.
26
THE CONDUCT SYSTEM
Taft’s Conduct System is not designed to penalize students for every minor infraction of the
school’s regulations. We are concerned about students who, over the course of the term, cannot
regularly meet their obligations. If a student accumulates too many conduct grades in a given
term, it is a signal that some part of the student’s behavior at school is not acceptable. In this
case the student’s advisor and class dean are likely to become involved in discussions about how
the student can meet the school’s expectations more frequently.
Conduct grades are cumulative for each term. A daily total of each student’s grades is avail-
able online and accessible via the Dean of Students’ Office.
All conduct reports are issued by the Dean’s Office. An e-mail indicating the offense and the
number of assigned conduct grades will be sent to the student. If a student has any question
RULES & CONDUCT

about the report, he or she should consult with one of the deans of students within 72 hours.
Students should use a printout of the e-mail notice as an excuse slip. Excuses for conduct
reports will generally not be accepted after the date indicated in the e-mail notification.
Most conduct grades are handed in on the day of the offense, but sometimes dormitory
faculty enter grades for dormitory offenses every few days.
Students who miss class for illness must report to the Health Center before the class meets.
Students taking medications may not miss classes, Assemblies or Morning Meetings to pick up
their prescriptions.
It is the responsibility of each student to meet required appointments. Alarm clock problems
will never be accepted as an excuse for missing class or any other obligation. We recommend
that students have an alarm clock with a battery backup so that power surges or outages do not
cause alarms to fail.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING STANDARDIZED PENALTIES.

1 grade offense: Lateness (extreme lateness carries larger penalties), improper dress,
cell phone violation
2 grade offenses: Breakfast cuts
3 grade offenses: Riding elevator, late weekend sign-in or sign-out, job cuts, dinner cuts
4 grade offenses: Assembly cuts, exercise cuts, leaving corridor in HDT or CPT to move between
floors after 10:30 p.m. for underclassmen or after 11:30 p.m. for seniors
5 grade offenses: Class cuts, Morning Meeting cuts
1-day stayover: Throwing water balloons or anything else out of windows,
swimming in the pond or throwing others in the pond,
failing to leave building in a prompt fashion in response to an alarm
2-day stayover: Reaching Disciplinary Report in consecutive terms or more than two times
Continued violation or abuse of a school rule or regulation may result in a more serious penalty
than the one normally applied.
Although Taft grades run on a semester schedule, conduct records are maintained on a three-
term basis. The fall term conduct records will close on Saturday, December 3, the winter term
records will close on Saturday, March 4, and the spring term records will close at the end of the
school year.

DISCIPLINARY RESTRICTION
Students who have accumulated a total of 18 grades (20 in the fall term) will be placed on
Disciplinary Restriction. A student who reaches this threshold is restricted to campus to serve
one Weekend Detention.
DISCIPLINARY REPORT
Students who have accumulated a total of 25 grades (30 in the fall term) will be placed on
Disciplinary Report, and their cases will be referred to one of the deans of students for viola-
tion of a Fundamental Rule. A student who reaches this threshold for the first time will receive
a Weekend Detention and additional sanctions as determined by the Dean’s Office.
Students who are placed on Report more than once are, at the discretion of the dean of
students and/or headmaster, likely to be held over at the end of the term, suspended or
dismissed from school.
RULES & CONDUCT
WEEKEND DETENTION
Taft uses Weekend Detention as the primary consequence for disciplinary infractions that do
not constitute violations of Fundamental School Rules.
Students will be expected to serve Weekend Detention on the Saturday immediately
following their infraction. If a student has a scheduled commitment that makes serving an
assigned Weekend Detention impossible, the student must submit a request to reschedule the
detention to one of the deans of students by Friday at 3:00 p.m.
A student who earns a Weekend Detention is restricted to campus after classes and
extracurricular commitments on Saturday through Sunday evening check-in. This student is
required to attend study hall on Saturday night from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m. Day students who
earn Weekend Detention will be required to come to campus to serve study hall. Students
assigned Weekend Detention must arrive to study hall on time and with appropriate work for
the entirety of the study hall period. Students will not be permitted to sleep or watch movies;
cell phones are not allowed.
A student who misses Weekend Detention will be assigned an additional Weekend Detention.
Subsequent misses will result in a stayover.
Weekend Detention may be converted to work detail at the discretion of the Dean’s Office.
STAYOVER
Students may be assigned to a stayover as a result of reaching Disciplinary Report in consecu-
tive terms, missing too many classes, going into the pond, throwing objects out of windows,
accumulating too many Weekend Detentions, or for committing a variety of other infractions.
When students are assigned to a stayover, they must remain at school at the end of the term
after they have completed their final commitment. The stayover program runs only at the
beginning of winter, spring and summer vacations. Students serving a stayover are required
to work for several hours each day performing tasks for the school. In addition, students must
check in several times a day with the faculty member who is supervising the program.
ADDITIONAL DISCIPLINARY RESPONSES

In addition to any disciplinary action, the deans of students will automatically review the
record of each student on Disciplinary Report at the end of the term, or earlier if the situation
warrants, and will confer with the class dean and headmaster for further action if necessary.
Students placed on Report more than once will receive stiffer penalties, and the faculty will
review their records at the end of the term.
28
RESPONSE TO CUTTING CLASS
The school takes very seriously a student’s obligation to attend classes. Failure to attend class
will result in the following responses:
First cut c Five conduct grades

c Notification sent to class dean and advisor; required conversation with advisor
Second cut c Five conduct grades

c Notification sent to dean of students, class dean and advisor
c Required conversation with class dean and advisor
c One Weekend Detention
RULES & CONDUCT

c E-mail sent home explaining which classes were missed
Third cut c Five conduct grades

c Required conversation with the dean of students and class dean
c One Weekend Detention
c Notification sent to parents to share details of missed classes and course
of action determined by the student in consult with dean of students
and class dean
Fourth cut c Five conduct grades

c Required meeting with dean of students, class dean and advisor to discuss the
student’s disciplinary status and determine the appropriate course of action
c One-day stayover
c Letter to parents
Fifth cut c Five conduct grades

c Three-day stayover
c Parent conference to establish a conduct contract for the student.
In all likelihood the student will be required to uphold all major school rules
for a period of ten weeks in order to maintain status at the school.

GENERAL PRIVILEGES
AND REGULATIONS
DRESS AND GENERAL APPEARANCE
Class dress code at Taft is not particularly formal, but students are expected to dress in a way
that respects the standards and academic purposes of the School. All clothing must be neat,
clean and in good repair.
Class dress prohibits T-shirts; athletic gear including exercise pants, mesh shorts, sweatshirts
and team jerseys; shower shoes and slippers; immodest apparel; patched clothing; army fatigue.
Hats may not be worn in academic buildings or in the Dining Hall at any time. With the
exception of ear piercing, facial or body piercing is not permitted. Tongue studs are prohibited.
RULES & CONDUCT
For boys who choose to grow facial hair, we ask that beards and/or moustaches are kept neat
and groomed. Class dress is not required during final examination weeks, although students
taking College Boards and AP exams should be in class dress.
Shoes may be of any style, including sneakers or sandals, between the start of the school
year and Thanksgiving vacation, and after spring vacation. During the winter months (between
Thanksgiving and spring vacation), sandals, flip-flops and other forms of open-toed footwear
will not be permitted.
CLASS DRESS
The Taft faculty believe the academic day is a time for serious learning, and befitting this, the
dress code requires students to be in class dress. Class dress must be worn in all public areas of
the school from breakfast until the end of the class day. Students inappropriately dressed for
school will be asked to change their dress, and conduct grades will be assigned.
During the hours when classes are in session, including breakfast and school meetings,
the following dress code applies:
Boys
c Boys may wear collared shirts, trousers in good condition and shoes.
c Collared shirts must be worn even when wearing a sweater.
c Button-down shirts must always be tucked in.
c Sweatshirts are not permitted.
c Dress shorts may be worn before Long Weekend in the
fall and after Long Weekend in the spring.
Girls
c Girls may wear dresses, skirts, pants or colored denim jeans (no blue denim)
with tops and blouses more formal than the standard T-shirt.
c Halter tops, backless or off-the-shoulder shirts, tops with cut-out
patterns and diaphanous tops are not permitted.

c Midriffs may not be exposed, necklines should be modest, and sleeve-
less blouses or dresses must have straps that fully cover undergarments.
c Leggings can be worn with long tops or dresses; leggings may not be worn alone as pants.
c Skirts, dresses and shorts must be fingertip length or longer.
c Dress shorts may be worn before Long Weekend in the
fall and after Long Weekend in the spring.
30
FORMAL DRESS
Formal dress is required for sit-down dinners and other special events. Formal dress follows the
same guidelines as above, with the following additional stipulations:
Boys
c Boys must wear a suit coat or sports coat, collared shirt
and tie, dress trousers, socks and dress shoes.
Girls
c Girls must wear slacks, skirts or dresses with dress shoes or dress sandals.
Appropriate, modest apparel befitting a formal school event, rather than a dance or party,
is required.
RULES & CONDUCT

NOTES FOR ALL
All clothing should be in good condition. Hats may not be worn indoors in public areas of the
school at any time when class dress or formal dress is required of students. No blue denim of
any kind is allowed.
BACKPACKS AND BOOK BAGS

When left loose in the halls, identical books, notebooks and calculators can often be picked up
by mistake after Assemblies, classes or meals. Students are therefore required to carry their
books and notebooks in some sort of backpack or bag during the class day. Keeping all of your
belongings in one place helps to prevent loss. We recommend that you mark your bag clearly
and also suggest that if you find a pack or bag that is some hideous color not found in nature,
you invest in it for ease of identification.
COMMUNICATIONS
Students are responsible for keeping up with communications sent to them. All students are expected
to check their mailboxes and their e–mail—both personal and news folders—at least once a day.
Students are permitted to have cell phones, but at Taft we value face-to-face interaction. As such,
it is not appropriate to make calls or text in public on campus. This includes but is not limited to
classrooms, school hallways, the walkways and outdoor areas around campus, dormitory common
rooms and the gym. Calls should be made in private spaces, subject to other applicable rules and
regulations. Because cell phones have many uses, students may use their phones in public for such
activities as checking the time or their calendar. But any activity that interferes with face-to-face
communication is prohibited. If a cell phone interferes with class, Morning Meeting or any other
academic setting, the phone may be confiscated and turned in to the Dean’s Office.
FREE ABSENCES FOR SENIORS

Seniors are permitted five free absences per term. These absences may only be used for exercise,
sit-down dinners and Assemblies. Seniors are not permitted to use cuts to miss the Volunteer
Program. Although this principle brings to mind the oxymoron “mandatory volunteer work,”
the principle makes sense as people are counting on you to fulfill your commitments. Reports of
absences will be submitted to the deans of students. The deans will maintain a record of these
absences in their office. Seniors will receive e-mails for cuts that have been reported. Unless the
cut was given in error, seniors can ignore these e-mails and the computer in the Dean’s Office
will not add the first five cuts to grade totals. Seniors are responsible for informing the dean on
those occasions when their absences were reported incorrectly.

EXCEPTIONS AND PROVISIONS
The first five cuts a senior receives for any of the school functions noted above will count as his/
her excused absences for the term. Certain special meetings and Assemblies may be required
from time to time. Seniors may not use cuts for these events. Programs that are required will be
listed as such on the school calendar. Cuts may not be carried over from term to term.
FUND RAISING
Class committees, clubs, teams or organizations that wish to raise money for charitable causes,
to help finance their activities or for any other purpose, must consult with class dean, coach or
faculty advisor for approval of their methods and products. The Dean’s Office will not approve
fund-raising projects whose primary goal is to provide resources to feed the members of organi-
zations. In other words, buy your own pizza and raise money for something worthwhile.
Anything made for sale or distribution must be approved by the faculty advisor and then the
RULES & CONDUCT
dean of students.
IN CASE OF FIRE OR OTHER EMERGENCY

Detailed instructions regarding procedures to follow in case of fire are posted in each dormitory
at the beginning of the year, but students should remember the following points: If students
are in their rooms when the fire alarm sounds, they should go immediately to their mustering
points outside the buildings. If students are not in the dormitory when the fire alarm sounds,
they should immediately exit the building without returning to their dormitories or cutting
through buildings. Students must remain outside until an audible announcement is made over
the public address system that it is safe to enter the building. Students should never assume
that an alarm is false. Specific fire and safety regulations for student rooms are on page 47.
Procedures for other types of emergencies, such as weather-related events, intruders or
accidents, are contained in the emergency response guides provided in campus buildings
and dorms and the school’s Crisis Manager app. In the event of such an emergency, students
should listen to the public address announcement and monitor push notices and e-mails for
instructions on how to proceed. Students may be instructed to shelter in place, evacuate or
lockdown in place. Students should continue to follow the instructions until they are told
by the public address system, push notices and/or e-mails that it is safe to return to their
normal routine.
INDEPENDENT STUDIES PROGRAM (ISP)

The Independent Studies Program provides students an opportunity to explore an area of
artistic or academic interest in depth outside of the regular school curriculum. Students on
ISP may take an exemption from one term of exercise. In addition, they may obtain permis-
sion to miss dinner if they are working on their project. Students who are found to miss dinner
without reason will be held accountable for their absence. Also, with the permission of his/her
ISP advisor for extraordinary circumstances, such as a field trip or special presentation, ISP
students may miss class. Permission to miss a class must follow permission procedures outlined
under “Absence and Academics” on page 11.
JOB PROGRAM
In the belief that every student should have the experience of making a positive contribution to
the community, Taft has long maintained a student work program. Throughout the year, students
participate in dinner jobs. Other jobs evolve in response to the needs of the community. A
frequent job rotation ensures that all have an opportunity to serve without being overburdened.
32
OUTDOOR REGULATIONS
Because of potential damage to the lawns, windows and a variety of other objects, games should
be played on the athletic fields behind the school. Given their proximity to classrooms and offices,
students may not create distracting noise in the area surrounding the Pond, in Centennial court-
yard or in the Vogelstein/CPT quadrangle during the class day or during study hall.
Students are not allowed to swim in Potter’s Pond or in the various ponds on the golf course
or in the Watertown area.
Students should never trespass on town or private property. When walking downtown,
students should remain on the sidewalks. Taking shortcuts through lawns and wooded areas
creates problems for the owners of those properties.
RULES & CONDUCT

MORNING MEETINGS AND ASSEMBLIES
Morning Meeting is generally held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Books and newspapers
should be left in lockers or in the hallways before entering the auditorium. Food and drink are
not permitted in Bingham. As programs for Morning Meetings are normally of a serious nature,
students are expected to enter Bingham quietly and take their assigned seats. Students should
not stand in the aisles or in the front or rear of the auditorium before Morning Meetings begin.
When the speaker for the day takes the stage, students should stop talking immediately. At
the conclusion of Morning Meetings, students should quietly exit in an orderly fashion after
allowing the Senior Class to leave first.
Assemblies are held on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. These gatherings are used for
announcements or skits by monitors, faculty, members of athletic teams, and the heads of clubs
and organizations. Although Assemblies are not as formal as Morning Meetings, it is essential
that students enter and leave in an orderly fashion and show proper respect for those making
announcements. Seniors will leave the auditorium first.
Students have assigned seats at Morning Meetings and Assemblies. Students not in their
assigned seats will be given cuts.
Cell phones should not be used or even visible when the community gathers in
Bingham auditorium.

SENIOR SPRING TERM
During the Spring Term, certain special regulations for seniors go into effect. The school
reserves the right to withhold these privileges for a student whose conduct has been irrespon-
sible during the senior year. The school also reserves the right to ask a senior to spend the
Spring Term away from Taft.
1. Seniors are excused from certain obligations. Class Deans will notify students about such changes.
2. Seniors may be downtown between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. daily, but must be back in
their dormitory by check-in. As is the case during the school year, students going down-
town after 6:00 p.m. must be accompanied by another student. Seniors returning to school
from a weekend permission must be back by 7:30 p.m. If they wish to go downtown after a
weekend permission they may do so, but they must sign in first by 7:30 p.m. in the School
Duty Office and then fill out a day permission card.
RULES & CONDUCT
3. During Spring Term, seniors in good standing are allowed two Friday weekend permissions and
unlimited Saturday overnight permissions. Weekend cards must be filled out by the Thursday at
noon before departure. These cards should be taken to one of the senior class deans for approval.
Deans reserve the right to deny weekend permission to seniors who are not in good standing or
who will be missing a crucial academic obligation. A Friday weekend begins after a senior’s final
commitment (academic or non-academic) on Friday. Seniors taking Friday weekends are respon-
sible for their work. It is never appropriate for seniors to take a Friday weekend before a Monday
or Tuesday Advanced Placement Exam. Furthermore, seniors who play on interscholastic teams
may not leave on Friday and return for a Saturday game. Seniors who have taken more than
three college days will lose the privilege of taking a Friday weekend in the Spring Term.
SEXUAL INTIMACY
We support students clarifying their personal values, taking responsibility for behavior, and
navigating the rights and responsibilities of emerging sexual identity; however, in our role in
loco parentis, the school cannot condone or make judgments about individual students’ private
sexual conduct, but must be concerned about the safety and appropriateness of a student’s
sexual behavior. Therefore, any student found being sexually intimate with another must speak
with a Taft faculty member about the incident. Students may speak with an adult of their
choosing including the advisor, class dean, coach, dorm parent, school doctor, school counselor,
dean of students or any other. In response to any instance of sexual intimacy parents will be
notified and, if necessary, the student(s) may be subject to disciplinary action.
TOBACCO AND OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS

Students are prohibited from using or possessing tobacco products.
In response to a first offense, a student will be required to meet with the dean of students,
call their parents and meet with the school doctor. A letter will be sent home to document the
incident and response.
In response to a second offense, a student will be required to meet again with the dean of
students, and the student will be required to meet with the school counselor to discuss the need
for ongoing treatment. Students found in violation of the tobacco rule a second time will be
required to serve a one-day stayover.
If a student is found in violation of the tobacco rule more than two times, the dean of
students will hold a conference with the student, the parents, the class dean, the advisor and a
school counselor to determine the appropriate course of action.
Students found smoking within any of the school buildings will also be referred to the dean
of students as a violation of the school’s Fundamental Rule with regard to creating a fire hazard.
34
DAY STUDENT INFORMATION
Day students are an integral part
of the Taft community. As a school
we seek to give day students every
opportunity to immerse themselves
in all aspects of student life, including
the residential life experience.
Therefore, all day students will select
a dormitory where they are invited,
and sometimes required, to attend
events and meetings.
RULES & CONDUCT

DROP-OFF
Day students should not arrive at
school earlier than 7:00 a.m. but
are expected to arrive to campus at
least ten minutes before their first
commitment each day. The area of the
Main Circle in the front of the school
closest to the building is reserved for
day student parents who are picking
up or dropping off their children.
PARKING
Day students must park their cars only in the parking lot across the street from the main entrance
to the school. Day students should never drive their cars on the campus side of Route 6. Day
students parking at the Cruikshank Athletic Center should use the main lot and not the small lot
by the rink. Students found in violation of these rules may be subject to disciplinary action.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
Most of the faculty and students live on campus, and we hold classes regardless of the weather.
Because some day students live a considerable distance from school while others walk across
the street to go to class, it is not possible for us to categorically determine when day students
should stay home or come to school late due to snowfall. Please use your discretion in deciding
whether it is possible to get to school on days when snowfall is considerable. When your child
cannot get to school, please call the Dean’s Office. Also, if a potentially dangerous storm starts
during the day, feel free to pick up your child whenever you think it wise to do so. Day students
who leave early should stop by the Dean’s Office to let us know that they will be missing class.
REPORTING ABSENCES
A parent should call the Health Center, 860-945-7762, by 8:30 a.m. on days when illness
prevents a student from attending school. Permission for absence from school for any reason
other than illness must be requested in advance through the Dean’s Office.
ILLNESS DURING THE CLASS DAY

Day students who become ill during the class day should report to the Health Center.
The Health Center staff will decide if the student should remain at school or be sent home.

MEALS
Day students are expected to eat lunch at school, and they are invited to eat dinner here. Day
students who remain at school for dinner on nights when the school has sit-down dinners
must be properly dressed (see page 31 for formal dress). A few times a year, day students
are required to stay for an all-school or class dinner. These dates will be posted on the school
calendar well in advance.
OFF-CAMPUS SIGN-OUT
Day students are not required to sign in when they arrive to campus in the morning or sign out
when they leave for the day. However, if a day student leaves campus for a portion of the day
(to walk downtown, for example), they are expected to follow the sign-out procedures described
on page 23.
RULES & CONDUCT
EVENING HOURS
Lower school day students are generally not allowed to remain on campus after 8:00 p.m. on
school nights unless they have obtained permission from a faculty member to stay later. Upper
school day students are generally not allowed to remain at school after 10:15 p.m. on school
nights. During evening study hall, uppermid and senior day students may be in the library,
classrooms or faculty apartments, but they should not be in non-academic places. Senior day
students may be in the Student Union. Senior day students who visit the dormitories during
study hall must sign in with the faculty member on duty. On weekend nights, day students are
permitted and encouraged to stay on campus until check-in.
OVERNIGHTS
With the approval of the Dean’s Office and the appropriate dormitory head or faculty member
on duty, day students may spend the night at Taft on an occasional basis in order to partici-
pate in a special activity at the school during the evening hours. This privilege is generally
only allowed on a Saturday night. In all such cases, day students must obtain the permission
of all occupants of the room in which they have been invited to stay, and they should also ask
the permission of the faculty member on duty in the dormitory. All appropriate permissions
must be secured in advance, and an overnight visitor card must be submitted to the Duty
Office by the end of the class day on Friday. Stays longer than one night are not allowed except
under extremely unusual circumstances. Requests for stays of longer than one night should be
directed to one of the deans of students.
LOCKERS
Day students will be assigned a locker by the Dean’s Office. We strongly encourage students to
secure their locker with a combination lock. Any student who abuses the locker area or who in any
way tampers with other students’ or the school’s property will be subject to disciplinary action.
Day students are required to remove all belongings from their lockers at the end of the school
year. The school is not responsible for belongings left in lockers after the last day of exams.
36
Residential
LIFE
RESIDENTIAL LIFE REGULATIONS
AND INFORMATION
Responsibility for life in the dormitory rests primarily with the individual. It is assumed that
students have the ability to cope with such freedom and will not abuse it, that students have
the maturity to pursue their own day-to-day lives in a self-regulated coexistence with others
around them.
The overriding concept of such a fluid system must be one of consideration and respect for
the individual.
Of course, freedom from binding structure is not freedom from responsibility, which
increases in an almost direct relationship. The role of the individual is paramount in such a
system: it is expected that students will have the necessary sense of community to be able to
reach a satisfactory compromise with those around them regarding the various irritants of
communal living.
It is necessary to establish a student-faculty relationship that is informal and frank—a
relationship based on mutual trust. Communication is essential for such a system to work
effectively, and informal dorm meetings are to be encouraged to develop such a dialogue.
—The Monitors, 1970
RESIDENTIAL LIFE MISSION STATEMENT

The goal of the Residential Life Program is to create a safe, happy, healthy living environment
RESIDENTIAL LIFE
where Taft students can grow emotionally, physically and intellectually.
PRINCIPLES OF THE RESIDENTIAL LIFE PROGRAM

c To act with honor and integrity
c To serve others unselfishly
c To be morally thoughtful
c To be a good citizen
c To live a healthy and balanced life
c To work cooperatively and collaboratively for the good of Taft
38
DORMITORY MONITORS
Dormitory monitors are students who are selected by the faculty to assist them in making the
dorms run smoothly. They help with details of dorm life, but more importantly assist students
in their personal and academic lives in any way they can. Dormitory monitors are selected in
the spring after being interviewed by the faculty.
TAFT SCHOOL DEFINITION OF LEADERSHIP

Leadership is choosing to act with empathy, integrity and courage to help one’s group
achieve its goals.
TAFT SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENT LEADERS

c I will be principled in my actions, ambitious in my goals, energetic in my duties, open-
minded in my interactions with others and respectful in my communications with everyone.
c I understand that the role of class committee member/school monitor/dormitory monitor
is constantly changing and that circumstances may require difficult decisions and different
tasks than have been required in the past.
c I will invest myself in the process of learning good leadership.
c I will work with faculty and my fellow committee members/monitors to construct an identity
for my group that encompasses a diversity of viewpoints and serves the larger Taft community.
c In order to act with moral authority, I will conduct myself in accordance with the Honor
RESIDENTIAL LIFE
Code, the rules of the community and with the highest personal integrity.
DORMITORY MONITORS ARE EXPECTED TO:

c Carry themselves in a way that embodies the balance of community membership
and self-discipline expected in our dormitories.
c Be excellent role models, following all the rules of the school.
c Have a fundamental role in building a strong sense of community in each dormitory.
c Be present and visible in the dormitories and around campus.
c Plan and facilitate events in their dormitories.
c Encourage and remonstrate students appropriately.
c Work closely with dormitory heads to establish expectations specific to the running
of their particular dorm.
c Reach out to other students to help ease their transition to a new school or a new dormitory.
c Work together to make certain that every member of a dormitory community is known well.
c Immediately communicate with dormitory faculty about major problems
that arise in the dorm.
c Support the other members of the dormitory team and serve as a spokesperson
for student concerns.
c Communicate as soon as possible to a faculty member or the health center via the sanctuary
policy if they have reason to believe that a fellow student’s health, safety or place at Taft may
be at risk. In an emergency, always call 911.

GENERAL RULES FOR RESIDENTIAL LIFE
1. Students must be inside the buildings at 8:00 p.m. (Please consult the Fundamental Rules
for regulations regarding being off campus.) Naturally, students may leave buildings to
move about the main campus area, but under no circumstances should they be out on the
athletic fields, the golf course, the cemetery, etc., after 8:00 p.m. On nights when students
are allowed downtown after 8:00 p.m., they are expected to use the main roadways to go
downtown. Downtown privileges do not extend to the adjacent fields and the golf course.
Students are not to be out of dormitory after 10:15 p.m. (10:45 for seniors once
approved by faculty), except that seniors may visit other senior rooms after 10:15 p.m.
until 11:30 p.m.—boys between senior rooms on the second, third and fourth floors of
CPT and girls on the various floors of their own dormitories. In addition, seniors may
visit faculty apartments in their own dormitories.
2. Sufficient quiet must be maintained in the dormitories at all times to allow those who wish
to study or sleep to do so.
3. Students may use radios, speakers and other music-making devices. However, at no time
may this equipment be played loudly enough to disturb anyone. A further restriction is
placed on the volume level of speakers from the beginning of evening study hall until
the end of classes the next day. During these time periods, lowermids and mids may play
music only through earphones, and uppermids and seniors may play music at a level that
cannot be heard outside the room.
RESIDENTIAL LIFE
4. During study hall and after lights, lower school students may not use computers, cell
phones or any other Internet-capable devices for e-mail, instant messaging, texting or
Internet surfing except with permission from the faculty member on duty.
5. Upper School students (Upper Mids and Seniors) may have external video game systems in
dorm rooms if they choose: lower school students may not. Of course, students are expected
to abide by studyhall and “lights out” guidelines such that they can meet academic goals
and be rested and well. Note that students who inappropriately use or play video games, or
students who struggle to meet expectations will earn consequences and lose the privilege.
6. Computer Monitors may not exceed 32”.
7. Students are not allowed to gamble (for fun or money).
8. Students are not allowed to use the school elevators without permission from Health Center
personnel or the Dean’s office.
9. Dart boards are not permitted.
10. Students may not keep pets at school under any circumstances. Fish are permitted;
small, toothless fish.
11. Liquor bottles, beer cans or bottles, or any drug paraphernalia may not be used as room
decorations or kept in student rooms. Posters or other decorations that show alcohol
or drug products are prohibited. Posters that depict nudity or that are otherwise, at the
40
discretion of faculty, inappropriate, are not permitted.
13. The porches of HDT and CPT are off limits for students.
14. The use of rollerblades, skateboards, scooters or bicycles is not permitted inside
school buildings.
15. Students are not permitted to have refrigerators. Exceptions will only be made for medical
reasons and must be approved by Dr. Diane Fountas, director of Health Services.
16. Consistent with the school’s role in loco parentis, the dormitory faculty and school staff
reserve the right to enter student rooms at any time for school business. This includes, but
is not limited to, daily room inspections, maintenance tasks, cleaning purposes and other
school business.
RESIDENTIAL LIFE

EVENING HOURS AND
INTERDORM VISITATION
Evening hours at Taft begin at 7:00 p.m. except in the fall and spring on Tuesday and Thursday
nights of formal sit-down dinner, and will end at “lights out” for each of the respective classes.
During this time, dormitory faculty will be present in the dormitory, ensuring an environment that
is conducive to productive study hall conditions. Supervised evening room study is held from 8:00
to 10:00 p.m. (8:00 to 9:45 p.m. for uppermids and seniors) every evening that is followed by a class
day. On the evenings that students return after a long weekend or extended vacation, there will be
quiet hours in lieu of a study hall. Attendance will be taken at 8:00 p.m., and students are expected
to maintain an environment that is conducive to studying until 10:00 p.m. During study hours, all
students must be in their rooms or at one of the allowed locations. Study hours are a sacred time;
therefore, it is important that quiet be maintained throughout campus. Students are not to gather in
the halls or public areas of the school, but rather are expected to go to their destinations quickly and
quietly. Leaving the dormitory without permission, going to an unapproved location or intent
to deceive on a dormitory sign-out is a violation of our expectation violates our Permission
Rules and may result in loss of sign-out privileges. Because Taft places high value on individual
responsibility, we believe in instilling more responsibility in our students as they progress through
their Taft educational experience.
One of the most defining individual responsibilities at Taft is the opportunity to Interdorm.
The purpose of Interdorm Visitation is to allow students to visit friends of the opposite gender
RESIDENTIAL LIFE
in a comfortable setting, analogous to visiting in the living room of a family home. Although
the comparison between a living room and a student’s room in the dormitory has limits, the
spirit of this analogy should be a guiding principle for students’ behavior.
The Interdorm Visitation privilege is extended only to Taft students. Alumni and students
not enrolled at the school are not permitted in the dormitories without the permission of one
of the deans of students.
ANY OF THE FOLLOWING WILL BE CONSIDERED A VIOLATION OF

PROCEDURES WITH REGARD TO INTERDORM VISITATION.
1. Allowing someone without proper permission to be in a room during Interdorm Visitation.
2. Visiting a room other than your host’s room.
3. Closing a door while visiting.
4. Failure to sign in or sign out properly and in a timely fashion, in person, with the faculty
member on duty.
42
LOWER SCHOOL EVENING ROUTINE
7:00–7:50 PM: INTERDORMING
c Middlers
r Begins after Long Weekend in the fall for students who complete proper paperwork.
r Mids may visit in uppermid, mid or lowermid rooms of students of the opposite gender
from 7:00 p.m. until 7:50 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday and Friday nights.
r Mids can only visit with lowermids during the second semester.
c Lower Middlers
r Begins after the first semester for students who complete proper paperwork.
r Lowermids may visit in mid or lowermid rooms of students of the opposite gender from
7:00 p.m. until 7:50 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday and Friday nights.
c Lower Middlers and Middlers may also interdorm Saturday nights.
c A faculty member must be present in the dormitory if visiting is to take place.
c Hosts and their guests must sign in, in person, with the faculty member on duty in the
dormitory being visited and must sign out with that faculty member when departing.
c Guests may sign in only to the room of their host.
c The door to the student’s room must be kept ajar by a standard Taft-issue trash bin.
c Students should expect faculty or other students to drop by at any time.
c Hosts and their guests must sign out, in person, with the faculty member on duty in
the dormitory being visited.

c There are no visitation privileges on any nights of long weekends.
RESIDENTIAL LIFE
8:00–10:00 PM: LOWER SCHOOL STUDY HALL & ROOM INSPECTIONS
c Doors must remain open during study hall.
c Rooms inspections can be held Sunday through Friday:
r Beds made
r Floors cleared and cleaned
r Trash emptied
r Open food removed from room
r Closets straightened
c Students may not use computers, cell phones, iPads or other electronics for e-mail, instant
messaging or Internet surfing except with permission from the faculty member on duty.
c Students may ask the permission of the faculty on duty to sign out to faculty apartments,
computer labs, language lab, academic center or counseling offices. Permission will be
granted to lower schoolers only if the faculty member on duty has been given advance notice
by a faculty member. Students wishing to go to the Writing Center or any academic table may
do so at their discretion, and they do not need prior faculty permission, although they must
follow the proper sign-out procedure. Students wishing special permission to go anywhere
except the above destinations must receive permission from their class dean. The lowermid
deans may require some lowermids to study in a supervised room during study hall.
c Students who sign out during study hall must sign back in by 9:45 p.m.
10:00 PM: STUDY HALL ENDS
10:00–10:15 PM: CHECK IN WITH FACULTY MEMBER ON DUTY

AND REQUEST LATE LIGHTS
10:30 PM: LIGHTS OUT / INTERNET ACCESS TURNED OFF

10:30–11:30 PM: LATE LIGHTS (MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ONLY)
c Lowermids may request late lights for studying purposes one night a week, but they must be
in bed by 11:30 p.m. unless they have special permission from the faculty member on duty.
c Mids are allowed to stay up after 10:30 p.m. for studying purposes two nights a week, but
they must be in bed by 11:30 p.m. unless they have special permission from the faculty
member on duty.
c Mids that might need a third late light per week must get permission from his/her class dean
and dormitory head.

c Overhead lights must be off during this time and students using late lights must be sitting at
their desk using a desk lamp. The roommate of the student taking late lights must be in his/
her bed unless he/she has also signed up for late nights.
11:30 PM: THE LIBRARY AND OTHER TAFT ACADEMIC ONLINE RESOURCES
ARE TURNED OFF
SPECIAL STUDY REQUIREMENTS

Mids and lowermids who must attend evening practices or play rehearsals—a situation that
sometimes occurs during the Winter Term—are required to attend an afternoon study hall.
RESIDENTIAL LIFE
44
UPPER MIDDLER EVENING ROUTINE
c Begins after Long Weekend in the fall for students who complete the proper paperwork.
c Uppermids may visit in uppermid or senior rooms of students of the opposite gender from
7:00 p.m. until 7:50 p.m. Sunday through Friday night and Saturday evenings from 7:00 p.m.
until 11:00 p.m.
c Uppermids may visit in middler rooms on Sunday, Tuesday and Friday evenings from
7:00 p.m. to 7:50 p.m. only.

c Hosts and their guests must sign out, in person, with the faculty member on duty in the
dormitory being visited.

7:00–9:15 PM: UPPERMID SIGN-OUT

c Students must sign out in person, with the faculty member on duty, to sign out to any
academic venues or faculty apartments.

c Students may also sign out for cultural events when appropriate.
RESIDENTIAL LIFE
8:00–9:45 PM: STUDY HALL
c During study hours students must be in their rooms or at one of the locations specified above.
c Room inspections can be held Sunday through Friday:
r Beds made
r Trash emptied
r Closet straightened
c For purposes of maintaining quiet during this important time of the day, students are not to
gather in the halls or public areas of the school, but rather are expected to go to their destina-
tions quickly and quietly.
9:45 PM: STUDY HALL ENDS
10:15 PM: CHECK IN WITH FACULTY MEMBER ON DUTY
10:45 PM: ROOM CHECK

c Students must remain in their own room at this time.
SPECIAL STUDY REQUIREMENTS

Uppermids who must attend evening practices or play rehearsals—a situation that sometimes
occurs during the fall or winter term—are required to attend an afternoon study hall.

SENIOR EVENING ROUTINE
c Begins in the third week of September for students who complete the proper paperwork.
c Seniors may visit senior rooms of students of the opposite gender from 7:00 p.m. until
10:00 p.m. Sunday through Friday nights and Saturday nights from 7:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.
c Seniors may visit in uppermid rooms from 7:00 p.m. until 7:50 p.m. Sunday through Friday
nights and Saturday nights from 7:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.
c Hosts and their guests must sign out, in person, with the faculty member on duty in the
dormitory being visited.

7:00–10:00 PM: SENIOR SIGN-OUT

c Senior sign-out is a privilege.
c Seniors do not need permission to sign out.
c Seniors must sign out with the faculty member on duty to go to any academic venue, the
Jigger Shop or cultural event when appropriate.

RESIDENTIAL LIFE
c Seniors must sign back in on the same sheet when they return to the dormitory.
8:00–9:45 PM: STUDY HOURS

c Seniors are expected to be in their room during this time unless they have signed out to a
destination listed above.

c Room inspections will be held Sunday through Friday:
r Beds made
r Trash emptied
r Closet straightened
10:15 PM: CHECK IN WITH FACULTY MEMBER ON DUTY
10:15–11:30 PM: SENIORS MAY VISIT ROOMS OF OTHER RESIDENTS AFTER SIGNING
OUT ON THE APPROPRIATE SHEET.
c Seniors may visit senior rooms until 11:30 p.m.
c Seniors may visit uppermid rooms until 10:45 p.m.
46
DIRECTIONS FOR CARE OF ROOMS
c Rooms should be kept clean for reasons of fire insurance and health standards (and because
it is the right thing to do). All rooms can be inspected at any point throughout the week by
dormitory faculty to ensure that standards (beds made, trash emptied, open food removed
from the room, closet straightened and floor cleared) are being met. Each dormitory establishes
its own schedule for room inspections, and students are responsible for knowing this schedule.
c School furniture may not be moved from room to room and should not be modified in any way.
c The use of tacks and nails is limited to the molding. Paste, glue and tape should not be used
because these substances can pull the paint off of the walls. “Fun-tak” and other similar
adhesive materials may be used in USGD, HDT and CPT dormitories; in other dormitories,
students must use tacks for all wall hangings.
c Room decorations should be selected while keeping in mind that although a student’s room is
his/her own, it is also part of the dormitory and the community. Good taste and respect for
others are expected. Students may not hang posters or other decorations that display symbols of
hate, images of alcohol, drugs, scantily clad models or other inappropriate images. Room decora-
tions must consider the community and uphold respect and dignity for all.
c Faculty reserve the right to ask a student to remove inappropriate room decorations.
c Perishable food is not to be stored in rooms.
FIRE AND SAFETY REGULATIONS
RESIDENTIAL LIFE
In the interest of safety and in order to comply with the Fire Marshal’s regulations and safety
codes, students must strictly adhere to the following rules:
1. Nothing may hang from or near the ceiling light fixtures or across the ceiling itself. Only
one wall may be covered by a wall hanging, which must be fire-resistant and must be free
and clear of any electrical outlet or fixture.
2. Rooms may not be subdivided by furniture, sheets, blankets or hangings so as to prevent
clear access or view to and from the door. Beds may not be placed in the middle of the
room—they must be arranged with one long side against a wall. Bed legs must be on the
floor, except when elevated by bed risers. Beds may not be suspended on bricks or cement
blocks. Bureaus must have their backs against a wall, and desks are to have one side against
the wall. Waterbeds are not permitted.
3. Cloth coverings may not be used on any tables, chairs or pieces of furniture. The Fire
Marshal also prohibits beanbag chairs in the dormitories.
4. Halls must be kept clear at all times. Bicycles may not be stored in dormitory rooms.
5. Trunks and large luggage must be stored in the trunk rooms.
6. Students may have additional furniture in their rooms, unless this furniture prevents an
easy exit from the room, in which case it will have to be removed. A maximum of one love-
seat and one extra easy chair are permitted in any student room.
7. Each student may have one desk lamp and one other lamp, which must use compact fluores-
cent light bulbs or LED light bulbs. No light may be attached to a wall near a blanket. Due to
state fire regulations, halogen lamps are not permitted.
8. The use of electrical appliances such as toasters, popcorn machines, grills, hot plates, hot
pots, percolators, refrigerators, heating coils, space heaters, irons and heat lamps is prohib-
ited. Such items found in student rooms will be confiscated until June and conduct grades
will be assigned. Students found using heat-producing appliances will considered to be in
violation of the Fire Hazard Rule as described on page 17.

9. Extension cords must be UL approved. They must not be laid under rugs or walking areas.
Splicing of cords is not allowed. Use only insulated staples to attach cords to moldings.
Dorm rooms have duplex outlets, each of which is limited to three appliances unless a
junction box with a circuit breaker is used.
10. No lighting fixtures or electrical appliances may be wired into the closets of dormitory rooms.
11. Tampering with lighting fixtures, outlets, switches and panels is forbidden.
12. Open flames of any kind are prohibited.
13. Students may not tamper with fire hoses and extinguishers.
14. Fire doors should be kept closed at all times. No door should be propped open at any time.
ROOM DAMAGES
The school’s maintenance staff inspects all rooms three times each year (winter vacation, spring
break, end-of-year). Any damages over and above normal wear and tear will be charged equally
to the room occupants.
Furniture, furnishings and closet doors may not be removed from rooms; if they have been
removed there will be charges for their restoration.
Room doors should be kept free of stickers and markings.
ROOM CHANGES
Room assignments are made at the beginning of the school year. Because Taft expects its
boarding students to adapt to dormitory life and sharing space with a roommate, it does not
allow room change requests until after Fall Long Weekend. At that point, changes will only
RESIDENTIAL LIFE
be considered if the roommates have worked with each other, their dormitory head, faculty
advisors and directors of Residential Life to try to resolve their differences. Further, students
must recognize that it is not always possible to effect room changes, so their only option may
be “to get along.”
COMMON ROOMS
The school provides common rooms in the dormitories. Common rooms, equipped with refrig-
erators and televisions, are for recreational and social use during free time.
Movies shown in common rooms or anywhere else in the school should always be in good
taste. Students found watching movies that are not in keeping with the standards of the
community will be reported to the dean of students for disciplinary action.
As the name suggests, common rooms are meant to be shared public spaces. It is essential
that students assume responsibility for both behaving appropriately and maintaining a level of
cleanliness in these spaces. Unseemly conduct or unreported damage to the furnishings will be
considered grounds for closing the rooms.
Common rooms throughout the school will be open to boys and girls from 7:00 p.m. to 7:50
p.m. Sunday through Friday and on Saturday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. On certain
evenings when special events are in progress, these privileges may be cancelled by the Dean’s
Office. Students going to common rooms to visit may not stop off in student rooms or linger in
other spaces on their way to common areas.
The common rooms in USGD, the basement of Voge, the first floor of Centennial and ISP may
be used for visitation from the end of the class day until 10:00 p.m. During the study hours,
these areas must be quiet enough to be conducive to studying.
48
SUMMER STORAGE
Taft does not provide storage for students over the summer. Two services are provided for
students at the end of the school year. UPS comes to campus and will ship boxes for students.
In addition, All Campus Storage will store or ship students’ belongings. For more information
go to www.allcampusstorage.com.
END-OF-YEAR EXPECTATIONS
Students are expected to leave their rooms in the same state they found them on move in day.
c The only furniture in the room should be a bed, desk, desk chair, bureau and trash can
for each student.

c All extra furniture must be removed from the room and either brought home or stored with
All Campus Storage; any furniture a student wishes to store is subject to inspection to ensure
the unit is safe and fit for storage and reuse.
c School-provided pillows and curtains should be in each room, whether or not they were used.
c Desk and bureau drawers are empty.
c Closets are empty.
c Lights are off.
c Windows are closed.
c The floor must be swept or vacuumed, but any objects too large for a vacuum
are to be thrown away.

c Trash must be emptied.
RESIDENTIAL LIFE
We encourage students to donate anything and everything that they no longer want or need.
We have an amazing group of faculty and students that collect, organize and distribute items
ranging from non-perishable foods, toiletries and used books to sheets, towels and clothes.
Specific instructions will be given to all students at the end of the year.
All students must sign out, in person, with a faculty member before leaving campus.
Students that do not sign out with a dormitory faculty member, or leave their room in a way
that does not meet our expectations, may be asked to return to campus to clean their room
and/or may be charged a cleaning fee of $100 an hour.

Student
SERVICES
MARTIN HEALTH CENTER
The Health Center is open 24 hours a day whenever school is in session. It is staffed by the
school physician and a professional nursing staff. The school physician, Dr. Diane Fountas, is in
the Health Center daily for students to be seen.
Students should make every effort to visit the Health Center during a free period, not during
study hall, class time, Morning Meeting or Assembly. In an emergency a student may, of course,
go to the Health Center at any time.
With a few exceptions, all prescribed medications must be kept in the Health Center. Even
most over-the-counter medications must be approved by the Health Center. For controlled
medicine, the Health Center will accept written prescriptions only, to be filled at the Health
Complex pharmacy. Students may not bring controlled medications to and from school.
Students going to the Health Center after lights and before 7:00 a.m. must be escorted by a
dormitory monitor, and the faculty member on duty in their dormitory must be notified.
Students must obtain permission from the nurse on duty before visiting a patient.
If a student will leave campus for medical reasons, he/she must follow the process for
Medical Leave (see page 12).
All downloadable medical forms, as well as the Guide to Health Services at Taft (PDF) are
available on the school website: www.TaftSchool.org/students/healthcenter.aspx. More in
depth information about the Martin Health Center can be found in the Parent’s Guide to Health
Services at Taft.
Important Information Regarding Concussions: Connecticut law requires us to provide
you with important information regarding concussions, particularly sport participation and
the risk of concussions. The law was enacted as a means to reduce the number of concussions
in children. It requires us to provide parents with written information regarding concussions
and the treatment of concussions at Taft. The law also requires all parents to sign an informed
consent authorizing their child to participate in school athletics at Taft. Taft requires this form to
be signed for all students whether they participate in athletics or not. Without this document, a
student cannot participate in any activity. This law also requires signed permission from a parent/
guardian allowing a student to resume activity following a concussion.
STUDENT SERVICES
Important information regarding insurance: A copy of both sides of the medical insur-
ance card is imperative. As of 2015, standardized health insurance is required for all non-U.S.
students. If a student does not have insurance recognized by doctors in the Connecticut area
and the Connecticut Insurance System; they must obtain coverage only from Clifford Allen
Associates. This includes all students not from the United States. Please contact the Taft
Health Center at 860-945-7762 to inquire about this insurance or telephone Clifford Allen
directly at 1-888-342-2224.

ATHLETIC TRAINERS
The school’s certified athletic trainers, Mr. Sergio Guerrera, Ms. Rachel Cohen, and Mrs.
Magdalena Wilson, are available in the athletic training room in the Cruikshank Athletic Center
during all athletic periods. Athletic trainers are also available for morning appointments with
students.
More information on athletic training services can be found on the Taft website.
FALL AND SPRING HOURS

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 1:00–6:00 p.m.
Wednesday & Saturday: Noon
WINTER HOURS
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 1:00–9:00 p.m.
Wednesday & Saturday Noon
SPIRITUAL LIFE
At Taft you will find a wide range of religions and philosophical views represented among the
student population. Our goal is help students from a variety of traditions find spiritual strength
and community support in the religious and spiritual programs that are being offered.
We view education as both an intellectual and a spiritual endeavor. All expressions of faith
are celebrated and respected as we look for common moral, ethical and spiritual ground in the
world’s treasure house of great religions.
In the Taft community, we believe that a sound, broad-based liberal arts education has at
its core the quest for meaning and purpose. Our understanding is that no one spiritual group
or religious tradition is in sole possession of the Truth. With this in mind, we covenant with
one another to pursue Truth through religion, science, art, music, athletics and in every other
human inquiry.
STUDENT SERVICES
Today’s world is replete with rich opportunities for all of us to evolve as global citizens so
that we can live mindfully in this world with consideration and concern for others. We believe
that educating the whole person encourages and challenges us to take seriously the values and
moral codes that we have inherited through our many diverse cultural and religious traditions.
—Chaplain Robert Ganung
52
The school chaplain brings to the community an understanding and celebration of the world’s
various religious faiths. Each year two graduate students from Yale Divinity School work closely
with the chaplain in the classroom and with various religious clubs. Rabbi Eric Polokoff, from
B’Nai Israel in Southbury, assists the Jewish Student Organization at Taft. The chaplain also
takes Muslim students to the United Muslim Mosque in Waterbury bi-monthly. During the fall
and winter months interested students gather for meditation in the Taft Living Room before
relaxing with a cup of tea or hot chocolate. This warm setting invites students from all religious
and nonreligious backgrounds to come together in a mindful way to exchange spiritual ideas
and values in a friendly and inclusive atmosphere.
The offerings of the Global Service and Scholarship Department promote spiritual, moral
and ethical discourse among students. On Tuesday and Thursday of each week, the entire
school gathers for Morning Meeting in Bingham Auditorium—a time for reflection by students,
faculty, the headmaster, chaplain or outside speakers. The Paduano Lecture Series invites
distinguished speakers to offer lectures in the field of philosophy and ethics. Grounded in Taft’s
mission to educate the whole person, the school provides many opportunities on campus—
both formal and informal—to nurture spiritual life.
OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE:
c Monthly Candelight Vespers
c Gospel Vespers (periodic)
c Morning Meeting
c Jewish Student Organization
c Shabbat Dinners
c Buddhist Meditation Group
c Weekly Sunday Worship Service
c Monthly Communion
c Yoga/Meditation
c Bible Study
c FOCUS (Fellowship of Christians in Universities and Schools)
c Coffee Houses
STUDENT SERVICES
Many of the above opportunities are available at or within walking distance of the school.
Transportation to churches and synagogues not within walking distance, as well as
transportation to a Muslim mosque in Hartford, is also provided. Students are urged to
consult with the chaplain concerning particular religious services.

COUNSELING SERVICES
School counselors offer support and guidance to individual students, coordinate with health
providers and support services, consult with deans and faculty members, and contribute to the
emotional health and well-being of the school as a whole. The counseling office is comprised
of Counseling Director Rachel Jacobs, PhD, School Counselors Jonas Katkavich, PsyD, Lauren
Henry, LCSW, and a doctoral-level Counseling Intern. Students who would like to meet with a
counselor can send an email to counseling@TaftSchool.org.
Students may be referred to counseling by advisors, deans, health center staff, friends, or
parents. Because counseling is a private process in which sensitive issues may be discussed,
counselors keep their conversations with students confidential. There are legal and ethical
exceptions to this confidentiality when there is a question of potential harm to self or others.
Relevant faculty may be aware that a student is meeting with one of the school counselors;
however, the content of these conversations is respected as private. Students generally, but
not always, inform their parents that they are receiving counseling services. Parents concerned
about their child potentially seeing a counselor without their consent may contact the
Counseling Director and ask that their child not be seen by the counseling department without
their knowledge.
Taft’s counseling services are provided at no charge. If a student prefers to see a counselor in
the community, the Counseling Director can help facilitate a referral.
COLLEGE COUNSELING
The Taft College Counseling Office’s mission is to i) provide a student-centered process geared
towards educating and supporting students and their families as they navigate the college
search and selection process; and ii) present the student’s character and achievements to
prospective colleges in an accurate, nuanced and compelling light. Particular emphasis is placed
on developing students’ analytical skills to discover schools which match their interests well;
self-advocacy skills so that they can present themselves effectively and authentically in the
STUDENT SERVICES
process; and understanding of the process so they can maximize those elements which are
within their control. In order to best serve our students and the Taft community, the college
counseling team is committed to educating themselves on the issues of our profession through
attendance at conferences, visiting college campuses, constant review of media reports in the
field, and careful cultivation of relationships with their colleagues in admissions.
More detailed information about the College Counseling program at Taft can be found at
www.TaftSchool.org.
ADVISORY
A faculty advisor plays an important role as mentor and guide for each Taft student. At the
start of every school year, students select a faculty advisor, new students will be assigned a
temporary advisor who will guide them until they make a final decision about their advisor
in October. Students can expect that faculty advisors will mentor and provide support in all
aspects of Taft life.
54
THE MOORHEAD ACADEMIC CENTER
The mission of the Moorhead Academic Center is to improve student learning; to provide
support to teachers, students and parents; and to make available resources on the latest in
scientific research on learning and the brain.
The Academic Center is open each class day and for study hall hours Sunday through Friday
evenings. Lower School students may use the MAC during study hall hours upon recommendation
by the dean. All students are welcome to utilize the resources available. Appointments are made
on an individual basis given the student’s schedule. Some students schedule several appointments
to improve in a given area; some schedule ongoing appointments throughout the year. Services
provided to students are tailored to the needs of the student and are intended to empower the
student with the skills necessary to become a lifelong independent learner. Services include:
c Providing strategies for learning/understanding.
c Providing instruction in strategic reading techniques.
c Providing methods to study and learn math, science and foreign languages.
c Coaching in time management, organizational and study skills and self-advocacy and self-
determination techniques.
c Assisting in the writing process involved in long-term research papers.
c Screening and evaluation for students without previously identified learning differences
to understand strengths and weaknesses of the individual’s learning profile, as well as

facilitating recommendations and accommodations for documented learning differences.
Another ongoing service of the Moorhead Academic Center is the Peer Tutoring Program.
Each year, department heads, in collaboration with
their respective faculty, recommend outstanding
students to work as peer tutors in their field of
expertise. These peer tutors are paired with other
students who have been referred by their teachers
for additional support work.
STUDENT SERVICES
EDUCATIONAL ACCOMMODATIONS
AND TESTING
Taft provides educational accommodations it
deems reasonable only to students with docu-
mented psycho-educational testing. The school
requests that testing results and recommenda-
tions, in their entirety, be sent to the Director
of the Moorhead Academic Center, along with
a signed Taft School Permission to Share form
(available on the Taft website or from the director
of the Moorhead Academic Center). Consideration
for accommodations will be made only if complete
psycho-educational testing results, recommen-
dations, and a signed copy of the Permission to
Share form are on file at the school.
Parents with specific concerns regarding their
child’s academic learning style should contact
the student’s class dean.

TAFT WRITING CENTER
The Taft Writing Center promotes excellence in writing across the curriculum by providing
resources to students and teachers. Designed to complement the instruction offered in the
classroom, the center is a place where all writers in the Taft community have the opportunity
to receive close personal attention as they develop their writing skills. By working in confer-
ence with faculty and peer tutors, writers can both seek counsel on papers in progress and
address specific problems that their teachers or other critical observers have identified in their
work. Moreover, academically proficient, talented writers, as well as those who are working
on extracurricular or personal writing projects, profit from the feedback of Writing Center
tutors. The center provides an online site with a variety of resources. More information is at
www.TaftSchool.org.
THE LIBRARY
The Hulbert Taft Jr. Library plays a central role in the educational and cultural life of the school.
The Library provides access to over 70 online databases which include online monographs and
reference books, streaming video, music, and audiobooks, journal and newspaper articles, as
well as map and image collections. In addition we have over 50,000 circulating items including
books, DVDs and CDs.
STUDENT SERVICES
56
CIRCULATION POLICIES
Books may be borrowed for four weeks and may be renewed if not requested by someone else.
Borrowers may renew their materials online at the library home page or by contacting the
circulation desk at extension 7780. Audiovisual materials have a shorter loan period, reference
books and periodicals do not circulate.
RESERVE MATERIALS
Materials on reserve may be designated as “closed” or “overnight.” Closed reserve materials
may be used only in the library, and for a specified length of time, depending on the material.
Overnight reserves may be used in the library during the day and borrowed overnight begin-
ning one hour before closing. Overnight reserve materials must be returned to the library
within one hour of opening on the next day.
INTERLIBRARY LOAN
Research needs occasionally require researchers to go beyond the resources of our library.
Through CONNCert ILL, which is accessible from the library’s home page, users may search the
holdings of hundreds of Connecticut libraries and place borrowing requests online. Items not
found in CONNCert ILL but cited elsewhere may also be requested at the front desk. Materials
that may be requested include books, articles, videos, theses and dissertations. Photocopies of
articles do not need to be returned. The length of the loan period, as well as renewal privileges,
are dependent on the policies of the lending library. Students requesting ILL material should be
aware that it may take up to two weeks to arrive at Taft.
OVERDUE FINES AND LOST LIBRARY MATERIALS

Most overdue materials carry a fine of 10 cents per day per item. Lost materials are charged at
the current replacement cost for the item. Replacement charges will also include a processing
fee of $5 per lost item.
OTHER LIBRARY SERVICES

The library provides access to a wide range of electronic databases and e-books for research.
These resources are available from the library’s home page via the Taft network. Remote access
STUDENT SERVICES
is available for day students and others when off campus. (You will need your Taft network
login and password.) The library houses numerous computer workstations (both PC and Mac),
and provides Ethernet access ports as well as wireless access throughout the library.
A photocopying machine, with scanning and color capabilities, and a networked printer are
available for student use.
LIBRARY HOURS*
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
Sunday Noon–10:00 p.m.
*Hours will be increased during exam periods and reduced during holiday and vacation periods.
These changes will be posted in advance. Please check the school calendar for any changes at
www.TaftSchool.org.

DINING HALL SCHEDULE,
PROCEDURES AND REGULATIONS
DINING HALL PROCEDURES
We hope that eating in the dining room will be pleasant for everyone, and have designed the
following procedures to minimize traffic and confusion. More important, we anticipate that
everyone will follow, at both sit-down and buffet meals, the commonly established principles of
decorum that make dining a civilized affair.
SIT-DOWN MEALS
Taft has had a commitment to formal “sit-down” dinners for over a century, and this tradition
is critical in creating the sense of community that marks the school. Attendance at sit-down
dinners is required for all boarding students. Day students are not required to attend sit-down
dinners, but they are welcome and encouraged to attend. Typically, during the Fall Term and
during the Spring Term until Long Weekend, sit-down dinners are on Tuesday and Thursday
evenings. Students are required to sit at the tables to which they have been assigned. Students
who do not sit at their assigned tables will receive dinner cuts. If a table is not set, students
whose tables are “closed” are not excused from dinner.
Students will be excused from dinner together at the end of the meal. Students should not
leave before this announcement.
BUFFET MEALS
At buffet meals, students are asked to clean up after themselves and are requested to deposit
their trash in the proper receptacles. Dishes, glasses, cups, and silver should be returned to the
bussing area. No glasses, utensils, plates or other items are to be taken from the dining rooms.
Sponges and mops are available to clean up spills.
BREAKFAST
Lowermid and mid boarders are required to attend breakfast on all class days, although they
have the privilege of using cuts, as described below. Students must sign in for breakfast
STUDENT SERVICES
between 7:15–8:10 a.m. at the table in Laube Dining Room nearest the entrance to the servery.
BREAKFAST CUTS
Fall Winter Spring
Lowermids 0 0 1
Mids 1 2 2
58
DINING HALL SCHEDULE FOR MEALS
Changes in times will be posted on the school calendar at www.TaftSchool.org.
BREAKFAST
Monday through Saturday 7:00 a.m.–8:15 a.m.
SUNDAY BRUNCH
Continental Breakfast 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Full Brunch: 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
LUNCH
Monday through Saturday 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
DINNER
Sit-Down Dinners (assigned tables) 6:30 p.m.
All Buffet Dinners (free seating) 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
DURING WINTER SPORTS

Dinner Buffet 4:45 p.m.–7:15 p.m.
STUDENT SERVICES

TRANSPORTATION
Students from New York should leave Grand Central on trains for Waterbury, or they should
leave Port Authority by bus for Waterbury.
Students from Boston should come either through Hartford or through New Haven, using
bus lines from there to Waterbury.
There is a bus service between Waterbury and Watertown, Mondays through Saturdays.
The ride takes about 20 minutes.
Bus schedules and information on other transportation options can be found at
www.TaftSchool.org.
Cabs are available in Waterbury, but cab fares may not be charged home.
Uber also provides services in the Watertown area. However, please note that Uber’s “Use of
Services” explains, “The Service is not available for use by persons under the age of 18. You may
not authorize third parties to use your Account, and you may not allow persons under the age
of 18 to receive transportation or logistics services from Third Party Providers unless they are
accompanied by you.” Therefore, third party permission from parents does not allow students
under the age of 18 to ride Uber.
If there is sufficient need, the school runs chartered buses at the student’s expense directly
from Taft to Kennedy and LaGuardia Airports, Bradley Airport, Pennsylvania Station and
Grand Central Station at the beginning of Thanksgiving, Winter and Spring Vacations and at
the close of school in June. Return transportation is also provided from these points to Taft
(except from Kennedy and LaGuardia Airports) at the end of Thanksgiving, Winter and Spring
Vacations, but not at the opening of school in September. The buses will depart from Taft
approximately 30 minutes after the end of the last class. Students scheduling flights should
allow sufficient time for airport check-in and travel. Depending on traffic, Bradley is one hour
from Taft; JFK/LaGuardia are two hours away. Taft will not provide transportation to students
who schedule flights that require them to leave school before the end of the class day or return
after the 7:30 p.m. sign-in time at the end of vacations.
In addition, Taft cannot provide transportation for students traveling as unaccompanied
minors. Students who fall into that category must arrange their own transportation to and
STUDENT SERVICES
from the airport. Questions about transportation can be directed to the czar of transport, Mr.
Mike Blomberg, at MikeBlomberg@TaftSchool.org, 860-945-7721.
MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION
If students need transportation to medical appointments, the Health Center will do its best to
assist with the details and provide drivers. The family is responsible for covering the cost of this
transportation and medical appointments.
60
BUSES AND TRAINS
WATERTOWN TO WATERBURY
Buses leave Watertown every hour on the hour daily. Monday through Saturday, service begins
at 6:00 a.m. and the last bus leaves at 6:00 p.m. On Sunday, buses leave Watertown on the hour
from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
WATERBURY TO WATERTOWN
Monday through Saturday, buses leave Waterbury at 5:30 a.m. and then at half past every hour.
The last bus of the day does not leave on the half hour, but leaves at 5:45 p.m. On Sunday, buses
leave Waterbury on the half hour from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Fare: Exact change in coins is required.

$1.20 Student fare when school is in session (up to age 18)
$1.50 Adult fare
WATERBURY TO NEW YORK

Regularly scheduled buses and trains travel several times a day between Waterbury and New
York City. Buses depart from the Travel Center at 188 Bank Street in downtown Waterbury. For
the most up-to-date information on bus schedules and fares, call 203-754-4343. The Metro-
North line connects Waterbury and New York with four to six trips each day. The train station
in Waterbury is located on Meadow Street. Information on Metro-North Fares and schedules
can be found online at www.mta.info.
Copyright the New Yorker Collection 2004, E. Fisher from Cartoonbank.com. All rights reserved.
STUDENT SERVICES

ADDITIONAL SCHOOL SERVICES
BIRTHDAY CAKES
Aramark Food Service will make birthday cakes for Taft students, faculty and staff for $25.
Orders must be placed at least 48 hours in advance. To place an order, contact Francesca Vitale,
dining hall supervisor, at 860-945-7913 or fvitale@TaftSchool.org.
KEYS AND FOBS

Fobs, post office box, and room keys are distributed in the Duty Office. Replacement keys and
Fobs may be picked up during the class day Monday through Friday. Students will be billed $25
for each lost key or fob. If you lose an elevator key, you will be charged accordingly.
LAUNDRY AND LINEN

Students have access to internal card-operated laundry equipment or may send their personal
clothing and linen to an outside commercial laundry service. Card-operated washers and dryers
are located in most dormitories. The cost is $1.25 per wash and $1.25 per drying cycle.
Students who wish to arrange for laundry service may do so in the Business Office at the
opening of school in September. Nametags must be sewn securely in all articles sent to the
laundry. Within reason, the commercial laundry will not limit the number of items washed each
week. However, the student will be expected to contract for this service for the duration of the
school year. Cancellation of the contract for valid reasons may be arranged, but credit for a week
in which laundry is not sent will not be possible. Also, it is assumed that items to be laundered
are the personal property of the student who has signed the contract.
Personal laundry, with checklist filled out, is to be delivered to the distribution room on
Monday morning. It will be returned on Friday morning of the same week. The laundry distri-
bution room is located in the basement corridor near the dining hall.
The rental of linens and towels is not available. Students supply their own blankets, sheets,
bedspreads, pillowcases and towels.
Dry cleaning may be sent to the laundry and will be charged separately by the unit. Charges
for laundry and dry cleaning will be posted to the parents’ charge account.
STUDENT SERVICES
62
LOST AND FOUND
Books and other items left in the halls will be taken to the lost and found, which is located in
bins at the base of the HDT stairs in the basement. Lost valuables such as watches, glasses and
wallets should be turned in to the Campus Safety Office or the Dean’s Office.
THE POST OFFICE

The post office, located in the basement of the Main Building, is open from 8:00 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Mail arrives and is picked up daily except Sundays and legal holidays. Outgoing mail pickup is
at 3:00 p.m. daily. Stamps are available in the School Store.
STUDENT DEBIT CARD, SCHOOL BANK AND SCHOOL STORE

Most student purchases on campus require a student debit card, and students are responsible
for maintaining a sufficient balance on the card at all times. Students may deposit or withdraw
money on their debit card accounts during Student Bank hours. The school imposes a $20
charge for the replacement of a lost debit card and a $20 fine for student checks returned for
insufficient funds.
School supplies, toilet articles and athletic equipment are available in the School Store in the
basement of CPT.
Returning students are not issued a new debit card each year. They should return to school
with their most recently issued student debit card.
STORE AND BANKING HOURS

Monday 8:00 a.m.–3:15 p.m.
Tuesday 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Wednesday 8:00 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
Thursday 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Friday 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Sunday closed
STUDENT SERVICES
TELEPHONES
The school’s main switchboard phone number is 860-945-7777. The school switchboard is open
Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00
p.m. Students or parents can reach the school duty officer until 11:00 p.m. at 860-945-7800.
If the school duty officer is not available, campus safety can be called in the event of an
emergency at 860-945-7789.

Student
ACTIVITIES
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
The school monitors and the class committees of the younger classes serve as the leaders
of student government. However, it is part of the mission of the school to develop in every
student a sense of responsibility to and for the community. It should be one of your aims to be
a cooperative and constructive citizen in your new environment.
The central agency of self-government at Taft is the monitorial staff, a group of 10 to 14
seniors elected by their class. The school monitors implement the Honor System, assist in the
supervision of the dormitories and accept a large share of the responsibility for the day-to-day
conduct of the school’s affairs.
Class committees for the lower three classes are elected twice each year, first in January and
again at the end of the school year. Committees are elected by the members of each class, and the
committee chairs, one boy and one girl, are elected from among those elected to the committee.
Monitors are elected in May before their senior year by the rising senior class. The entire
student body elects the head monitors, one boy and one girl. Monitors serve for their entire
senior year. In January a few additional monitors will be elected.
Leadership, of course, carries responsibilities, and students who are on probation will not be
eligible for election. If sitting committee members or monitors are placed on probation during
their term of office, they will forfeit their position of leadership. Students whose probation
period has ended will again be eligible to stand for election. The headmaster, dean of students
and class deans will decide questions about eligibility.
All classes are given valuable experience in self-government through participation in an
elected class committee. As students progress through the school, they are awarded a greater
share of the privileges and responsibilities of democratic living. Thus, through a natural and
gradual process, students develop a sense of personal and group responsibility that is recog-
nized in the senior year by a substantial measure of self-government.
TAFT SCHOOL DEFINITION OF LEADERSHIP

Leadership is choosing to act with empathy, integrity and courage to help one’s group achieve
its goals.
TAFT SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENT LEADERS

1. I will be principled in my actions, ambitious in my goals, energetic in my duties, open-
minded in my interactions with others and respectful in my communications with everyone.
2. I understand that the role of class committee member/school monitor/dormitory monitor
is constantly changing and that circumstances may require difficult decisions and different
tasks than have been required in the past.
3. I will invest myself in the process of learning good leadership.
4. I will work with faculty and my fellow committee members/monitors to construct an
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
identity for my group that encompasses a diversity of viewpoints and serves the larger
Taft community.
5. In order to act with moral authority, I will conduct myself in accordance with the Honor
Code, the rules of the community and with the highest personal integrity.

SCHOOL MONITORS
CLASS OF 2017 CLASS OF 2018 CLASS OF 2019
Riley Bragg Will Bock Colin Amelsberg
Nick Cutler, Head Monitor Mary Alice Ewing Julia Dawson
Parinaz Dastoor Tattnall Holt Billy Dobensky, Chair
Eliza Denious, Head Monitor Peter Horne, Chair Abby Ford
Emily Drakeley Franny Hough Marshall Henshaw
Jack Elrad Lauren Pelosi Isaiah Hernandez
Andrew Farrier Dylan Powell Dylan Kim
L.J. Foley Leigh Sharpless, Chair Cami Long, Chair
Sam Manfreda Emma Stone Quincy Morgan
Kyle Salvatore Natalie Waldram Rex Riefler
Emma Vermylen Jake Wasserstein Caeley Smith
Michael Wasserstein Jamie Woodworth Jordan Tonelli
Olivia Wivestad
DAY STUDENT COUNCIL

Jack Ewing ’18 Lauren Pelosi ’18 Michael Wasserstein ’17
Allie Gilland ’17 Kayla Robinson ’19 Juliana Yamin ’18
Brady Grustas ’19 Kyra Thomas ’17 Christofer Zillo ’17
Benjamin Laufer ’18 Lily Turner ’18
Maggie O’Leary ’19 Jake Wasserstein ’18
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
AND ORGANIZATIONS
Some of these clubs have been around for more than 50 years, and new ones come and go all
the time. A representative list of clubs is below. For a more extensive list, or more detailed
information on any of the groups listed below, visit www.TaftSchool.org.
c Admissions Council c Model U.N.

c Amnesty International c One Word
c The Annual, yearbook c Operation Smile
c Art Club c Oriocos, A Cappella Group
c Coffee House c Peer Tutors
c Dance Club c Recognize the Rhino
c Debate Club c Red, Inc., Literary Magazine
c Economics & Investment Club c Religious & Spiritual Life Council
c FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) c Robotics and Engineering Club
c FOCUS, Christian Fellowship c Shout (Students, Homosexual
c French Club & Otherwise United @ Taft)
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
c Global Journal c Spanish Club

c Hydrox, A Cappella Group c Step Team
c Improv c Taft Papyrus, newspaper
c International Club c Taft Environmental Action Movement (TEAM)
c Jewish Student Organization c Tour Guides
c Math Team c United Cultures at Taft (UCT) Volunteer Council
c Model Congress c W(I)RED, Taft Radio
66
Afternoon
PROGRAM
AFTERNOON PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY
AFTERNOON PROGRAM
The afternoon program at Taft encompasses a wide variety of activities that seek to enrich the
student experience outside of the classroom. Central to the core values of the School, afternoon
activities play an essential role in the health, well-being, and engagement of students. Taft’s
afternoon program places a special emphasis on the following: activities whose focus is giving
back to Taft and the greater Waterbury Community; physical activity and/or team play; student
growth through experiential learning; and the important role collaboration plays in fostering and
promoting a strong sense of community.
AFTERNOON PROGRAM STUDENT

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENT
ACTIVITY SELECTION & CHANGES
All students are required to participate in an afternoon activity each of the three seasons: fall,
winter and spring. At the end of each school year students will select their activities for all three
seasons for the following school year. This procedure allows students to plan ahead, as well as
afford the School the opportunity to provide guidance. At the start of each season, fall, winter
and spring, there will be a specified ten-day time period during which changes to activity selec-
tions may occur.
ATTENDANCE
Students are expected to attend all scheduled meetings and/or matches for their afternoon activi-
ties. If a scheduled absence is anticipated, prior communication with the coach or activity director,
as well as the Dean of Students Office, is required in order to secure the necessary permissions.
STUDENT REQUIREMENTS
LOWER MIDDLER AND NEW MIDDLER
Three seasons of participation with at least two Community Activities required. Option of partici-
pating in one Individual Activity OR applying for one Exemption during winter OR spring seasons.
Lower Middlers and New Middlers are required to participate in a Community Activity
during the fall season of their first year at Taft. Community service and farming are excluded
from the options for this first season.
New students may not apply for an Exemption to manage a team during their first year at Taft.
Example Program: fall season—interscholastic soccer (Community Activity); winter season—
martial arts (Individual Activity); spring season—community service (Community Activity).
MIDDLER
Three seasons of participation with at least two Community Activities required.
Option of participating in one Individual Activity OR applying for one Exemption.
NEW UPPER MIDDLER

Three seasons of participation with one Community Activity required. Option of applying for
one Exemption.
New students may not apply for an Exemption to manage a team during their first year at Taft.
68
UPPER MIDDLER
Three seasons of participation with one Community Activity required.
Option of applying for one Exemption.
AFTERNOON PROGRAM
SENIOR/PG
Three seasons of participation with one Community Activity required.
Option of applying for two “Senior Exemptions.”
OUTSIDE CLUB TEAMS

Students who are on Taft interscholastic teams should not participate on non-Taft teams while
their Taft team is in season. Outside athletic commitments may not interfere with a student’s
activities or responsibilities at Taft. Students who seek an exemption to this school policy must
seek approval from their Class Dean and Athletic Director(s). An exception is only made if
playing on the outside team will not have an impact on their obligations as a Taft student.
ACTIVITY CATEGORIES
Community Activities are Individual Activities are Exemptions are opportuni-
school-offered programs that school-offered programs, ties for students to pursue
emphasize teamwork and often recreational in nature, independent initiatives, not
collaboration to achieve a that emphasize individual offered in the afternoon
common group goal, while development and have program. Exemptions are
representing Taft both on an expectation of regular granted by written proposal,
and off campus. participation under the with the exception of
c Community service direction of a Taft faculty on-campus injury reha-
c Dance member. Students may bilitation, and are subject to
c Farming participate in a specific approval by the Afternoon
c Interscholastic sports Individual Activity only Program Exemption Group.
c Robotics/Science once per year. If they
Olympiad would like to participate in c Independent Studies
c Theatre/theatre tech that particular Individual Program (ISP)
Activity for a second season c Injury rehabilitation
they will need to apply for c Second season of specific
an Exemption. Individual Activity
c Senior Exemption
c Aerobics c Team manager
c Conditioning c Activities by special
c Horseback riding proposal
c Intramural sports
c Martial arts
c Rock climbing
c Ultimate frisbee
c Weight training
c Yoga

AFTERNOON PROGRAM
OFFERINGS BY SEASON
AFTERNOON PROGRAM
FALL WINTER SPRING

Community Service Aerobics (co-ed) Aerobics (co-ed)
Cross Country (boys & girls) Basketball (boys & girls) Baseball (boys)
Varsity Varsity Varsity
JV JV JV
Thirds
Field Hockey (girls) Intramural Community Service
Varsity
JV Climbing (co-ed) Crew (boys & girls)
Thirds Upper School Varsity
JV
Football (boys) Community Service
Varsity Golf (boys & girls)
JV Dance (co-ed) Varsity
JV
Horseback Riding (co-ed) Ice Hockey (boys & girls)
Intramural Varsity Horseback Riding (co-ed)
JV Intramural
Intramural Tennis (co-ed) Thirds
Intramural Lacrosse (boys & girls)
Martial Arts (co-ed) (co-ed, Upper School) Varsity
JV
Musical Theatre/ Martial Arts (co-ed) Thirds
Theatre Tech with Dance
Robotics/Science Olympiad Recreational Sports (co-ed)
Organic Farming Intramural
Ski Racing (boys & girls)
Robotics/Science Olympiad Varsity Sailing (co-ed)
JV Intramural
Sailing (co-ed)
Intramural Squash (boys & girls) Softball (girls)
Varsity Varsity
Soccer (boys & girls) JV JV
Varsity Thirds
JV Intramural Tennis (boys & girls)
Thirds Varsity
Fourths (boys) Theatre/Theatre Tech JV
Intramural (co-ed) Thirds
Weight Training/ Intramural
Volleyball (girls) Conditioning (co-ed)
Varsity Lower School Theatre/Theatre Tech
JV Upper School
Thirds Track (boys & girls)
Wrestling (co-ed) Varsity
Weight Training/ Varsity JV
Conditioning (co-ed) JV
Upper School Ultimate Frisbee (co-ed)
Yoga (co-ed) Intramural
Yoga (co-ed) Upper School
70
EXEMPTIONS
AFTERNOON PROGRAM
Exemptions are opportunities for students to pursue independent initiatives. Exemption
activities include participation in the Independent Studies Program (ISP); on-campus injury
rehabilitation as determined by the Taft Athletic Trainers; a second season of specific Individual
Activity; Senior Exemptions; serving as a team manager; and, activities by special proposal.
In order to apply for an Exemption, with the exception of injury rehabilitation, students are
required to complete an Exemption application. Upon its timely submission, this application is
reviewed by the student, Class Dean, and the Afternoon Program Exemption Group. Procedures
and deadlines for Exemption applications will be communicated in the weeks immediately
preceding the start of a new activity season; fall, winter and spring.
INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS
FOUNDERS LEAGUE
GUIDELINES FOR SPECTATORS
Taft competes in the Founders League
in most sports. Spectators—whether
students, parents, faculty, alumni or
friends—bear important responsibili-
ties to the School for the atmosphere
and conduct of games, whether home
or away. Honoring visiting teams and
spectators as guests is of the utmost
importance.
The School Heads of Founders League
schools have agreed on the following
expectations regarding the behavior of
spectators at athletic contests:
Spectators should watch games from
those areas defined by each school as
spectator areas; should not run up and
down the sidelines; should not call to
opposing players, coaches or referees
in an unsportsmanlike or distracting
manner; enter the field of play or stand
behind the opposing team’s bench; deface
property; heckle or give cheers that are
profane or mock competitors. Spectators
should accept absolutely and without
quarrel the decision of any official.
Spectators who abuse these guidelines
will be subject to disciplinary action.

NEPSAC CODE OF ETHICS, CONDUCT & GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP
Taft is a member of NEPSAC (New England Preparatory School Athletic Council). The Council
provides the following guidelines for ethics, conduct and good sportsmanship:
AFTERNOON PROGRAM
As a basic principle, the NEPSAC believes that the lessons learned from fairly played
athletics, whether interscholastic or not, and including games and practices, are of benefit to
our students and our school. The purpose of this Code of Ethics and Conduct is to define what
“fairly played” means and to provide guidelines for NEPSAC athletes, coaches, officials and spec-
tators alike to follow.
At the heart of this matter lies several terms that are often hard to define, yet no more
important a task confronts teacher and coaches than to set standards that are fair and honor-
able. Throughout this code, when such terms as “proper conduct” and “good sportsmanship” are
mentioned, they refer to such standards as these:
c Treat other persons as you know they should be treated;
c regard the rules of your games as agreements, the spirit of
the letter which you should not evade or break;

c treat officials and opponents with respect;
c accept absolutely and without quarrel the final decision of any official;
c honor visiting teams and spectators as your own guests and treat them as such,
likewise, behave yourself as an honored guest when you visit another school;
c be gracious in victory and defeat; learn especially to take defeat well;
c be as cooperative as you are competitive;
c remember that your actions on or off the field reflect on you and your school.
ATHLETIC TRAINING RULES

Any interscholastic team member found in violation of the school’s Fundamental Rule with
regard to the use of alcohol and/or drugs is considered to have violated the athletic training rules.
Coaches, in consultation with the Athletic Director(s), have the discretion to respond to a player
on their own team as they see fit. For example, a coach can decide that a student coming off of a
suspension has to earn back a starting position; or, a captain who violates the athletic training rules
could be asked to step down from their position of leadership. Athletic training rules are in effect
starting on the day that practice for a team begins and remain in effect until the end of the season.
AWARDING OF LETTERS
A Taft athlete earns a varsity letter if he/she has been committed to the team throughout the
season, has been an important part of practice on a daily basis, and has represented the school
in an appropriate manner.
Individual sports such as crew, track, cross country, and golf where there is either movement
between varsity and junior varsity or where multiple levels of teams practice together, the head
coach of the program identifies, in consultation with the Co-Directors of Athletics, the individual
criteria for earning a letter specific to their program. For example, a golfer needs to compete in one
third of its team’s matches; a rower needs to have been part of one of the top two boats for half of
the season; and, a track athlete must receive a certain number of varsity points in competition.
Additionally, a senior who has been committed to a program for multiple years and has shown
a certain level of ability may earn a varsity letter at the coach’s discretion; this is also applicable for
an injured athlete who has shown commitment to the team throughout the season.
Team managers may earn numerals for their service to varsity programs. Numerals do not
equate to a varsity letter, however, a coach may petition the Athletic Committee to award a
letter when a team manager has made a significant commitment to the team and participates in
all practices and games.
72
WHO TO CONTACT
A complete school-wide directory of all faculty and staff is located at www.TaftSchool.org.
Campus Safety............................................................................................................... 860-945-7789
College Counseling........................................................................................................ 860-945-7703
Counseling..................................................................................................................... 860-945-5937
Dean of Academics........................................................................................................ 860-945-7845
Dean of Students........................................................................................................... 860-945-7800
Dean’s Office Fax........................................................................................................... 860-945-7720
Dean’s Office/Duty Office............................................................................................. 860-945-7800
Headmaster................................................................................................................... 860-945-7877
Hulbert Taft Jr. Library................................................................................................ 860-945-7780
Information Technology............................................................................................... 860-945-7990
Martin Health Center................................................................................................... 860-945-7762
Moorhead Academic Center......................................................................................... 860-945-7851
Phone System Administrator....................................................................................... 860-945-7906
Switchboard................................................................................................................... 860-945-7777
Transportation.............................................................................................................. 860-945-7721
CLASS DEANS
Lowermids Mr. Bob Campbell 860-945-7745
Ms. Caitlin Hincker 860-945-7914
Mids Mr. Phillip Koshi 860-945-7819
Ms. Lindsay Leal 860-945-7841
Uppermids Ms. Shannon Guidotti 860-945-7831
Mr. Ozzie Parente 860-945-7838
Seniors Mr. Jack Kenerson 860-945-7734
Ms. Susan McCabe 860-945-7869

74
MAP KEY
ACADEMIC FACILITIES ATHLETIC FACILITIES RESIDENTIAL HALLS STUDENT UNION
3 Woolworth Faculty Room 29 McCullough Athletic Center 2 Horace D. Taft Hall 8 Oscarson Jigger Shop
4 Pinto Family Language Lab 30 Mays Rink 4 Charles Phelps Taft Hall
9 Arts and Humanities Center 31 Logan Field House 6 John L. Vogelstein ’52 OTHER
9 Digital Design Computer Lab 32 Paul and Edith Cruikshank Dormitory 1 Main Entrance
12 Mortara Family Academic Wing Athletic Center 15 Cruikshank House 4 School Store
16 Moorhead Academic Center 33 Odden Hockey Arena 18 Congdon House 11 Potter’s Pond
20 Lady Ivy Kwok Wu Science and 34 Donaldson Family Pavilion 25 McIntosh House 19 Martin Health Center
Mathematics Center 35 Snyder Field 26 Upper School Girls Dormitory 24 Centennial Quadrangle
20 Wu Computer Lab 36 Rockefeller Field 27 Centennial Dormitory 28 Wade House
21 Laube Auditorium 37 William Weaver Track P Parking
22 Hulbert Taft Jr. Library 38 Parents’ Association DINING FACILITIES AD Admissions
23 Nancy and Ben Belcher Field House 8 Oscarson Jigger Shop
Learning Center 39 Geoffrey C. Camp ’91 Field 13 Moorhead Wing FACILITIES ON
40 Katie Jackson Morrison ’92 East Dining Hall
Soccer Field
“THE GREEN”
ARTS FACILITIES Laube Dining Hall > Alumni Development Office
4 Choral Room 41 Lawrence H. Stone Baseball Prentice Dining Hall 25 The Green
5 Bingham Auditorium Pavilion at Rockwell Field
> Woodward Chapel
7 Pailey Dance Studio 42 Softball Field SPIRITUAL 25 The Green
9 Electronic Music Studio A Athletics Fields 5 Bingham Auditorium > Business Office
9 Photography Dark Rooms GC Golf Course > Walker Hall 39 The Green
9 Music Practice Rooms > Woodward Chapel > Walker Hall
9 Woodward Black Box Theater 50 DeForest Street
9 Gail Wynne Studio
10 Mark W. Potter ’48 Art Gallery
14 Tremaine Art Studio
> Walker Hall
STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016–17

75
INDEX
Absences............................................11, 31, 35 Fund Raising................................................. 32
Academic Credit.............................................. 8 Grading System............................................... 8
Academic Honesty................................... 4, 7–8 Harassment, Hazing and Bullying................ 20
Academic Schedule............... inside front cover Health Services........................................ 21, 51
Advisors..................................................... 3, 54 Honor System.............................................. 4–5
Afternoon Program................................. 68–72 Independent Studies
Alcohol and Drugs......................................... 16 Program (ISP).................................32, 69, 71
Assembly........................................................ 33 Interdorm Visitation.........................17, 42–46
Athletic Trainers........................................... 52 Interscholastic Athletics......................... 71–72
Athletic Training Rules................................. 72 Keys and Fobs.......................................... 18, 62
Bank............................................................... 63 Laundry and Linen........................................ 62
Birthday Cakes.............................................. 62 Leaves of Absence................................... 11–13
Breakfast........................................................ 58 Library..................................................... 56–57
Bus Schedules................................................ 61 Lost and Found............................................. 63
Calendar................................. inside back cover Map of Campus....................................... 74–75
Chewing Tobacco........................................... 34 Meal Requirements and Schedule.......... 58–59
Class Committees.......................................... 65 Medical Leaves........................................ 12, 51
Class Cut Response....................................... 29 Moorhead Academic Center................... 55–56
Clubs.............................................................. 66 Motor Vehicles........................................ 16–17
College Counseling........................................ 54 Permissions.......................................17, 24–25
College Days.................................................. 25 Plagiarism.................................................... 5, 7
Common Rooms............................................ 48 Post Office..................................................... 63
Communications........................................... 31 Rooms and Rooming............................... 47–49
Computer Use.......................................... 18–19 School Meetings............................................ 33
Conduct System...................................... 27–28 School Monitors............................................ 66
Counseling Services...................................... 54 Senior Cuts.................................................... 31
Day Student Council..................................... 66 Senior Spring Term....................................... 34
Day Student Regulations........................ 35–36 Sexual Intimacy............................................. 34
Debit Cards.................................................... 63 Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco................. 34
Dining Hall Procedures........................... 58–59 Spiritual Life............................................ 52–53
Disciplinary Response............................ 21–22 Stayover......................................................... 28
Dormitory Monitors..................................... 39 Storage........................................................... 49
Dormitory Regulations................................. 38 Store............................................................... 63
Downtown Privilege................................ 23–24 Student Government.................................... 65
Dress and Appearance............................. 30–31 Study Hall................................................ 43–45
Educational Testing and Accommodations.... 55 Taft Writing Center....................................... 56
Electronic Devices......................................... 11 Telephones............................................... 31, 63
Examinations, Assesments, Train Schedules............................................. 61
Extended Time....................................... 9–10 Transportation........................................ 60–61
Excused Absences.................................... 11, 31 Vacations....................................................... 26
Extracurriculars............................................ 66 Voluntary Use of Health Center................... 21
Fire: Hazards, Procedures, Weekends................................................. 23, 25
Regulations...............................17, 32, 47–48 Weekend Detention...................................... 28
Fundamental Rules................................. 15–19 Who to Contact............................................. 73
76
TAFT SCHOOL CALENDAR 2016–17
Check the Taft website for updates.
2016
Thursday September 1 All preseason athletes arrive
Sunday September 4 All monitors arrive for training
Tuesday September 6 International Students, Sponsors, & New Seniors arrive
Wednesday September 7 New and returning students arrive
Thursday September 8 Classes begin
Saturday September 10 ACT Tests
Monday September 26 Free Day
Saturday October 1 College Board examinations for seniors
Saturday October 8 Fall long weekend begins after last class
Tuesday October 11 Students return from long weekend at 7:30 PM
Wednesday October 19 PSAT examinations for middlers & upper middlers
Saturday October 22 Fall Parents’ Day
Saturday October 22 ACT Tests
Sunday October 23 College program for parents of upper middlers
Monday October 24 Community Service Day
Saturday November 5 College Board examinations for seniors
Saturday November 19 Thanksgiving vacation begins after last class
Monday November 28 Thanksgiving vacation ends at 7:30 PM
Thursday December 8 First semester examinations begin
Tuesday December 13 Exams end, Christmas service this evening
Wednesday December 14 Winter recess begins at noon
2017
Monday January 2 Vacation ends at 7:30 PM
Tuesday January 3 Second semester begins
Monday January 16 Martin Luther King celebration
Saturday January 21 College board examinations for upper middlers
Friday February 3 Winter long weekend begins after last class
Tuesday February 7 Winter long weekend ends at 7:30 PM
Saturday February 18 Winter Parents’ Day
Monday February 20 Free day—the formal will be Sunday night
Wednesday March 8 Spring vacation begins after last class
Monday March 27 Spring vacation ends at 7:30 PM
Tuesday March 28 Second semester continues
Saturday April 8 ACT tests for upper middlers
Monday April 17 Free Monday
Wednesday April 19 Grandparents’ Day
Friday May 5 Spring long weekend begins after last class or game
Saturday May 6 College board examinations for upper middlers
Monday May 8 Spring long weekend ends at 7:30 PM
Saturday May 13 Alumni Day
Sunday May 28 Graduation
Monday May 29 Second semester examinations begin
Friday June 2 Second semester examinations end at noon
Saturday June 3 Upper middlers take College Boards
Also, make note of the closed weekends which will be on the following dates:
September 10, September 17, October 15, October 29, November 12, December 3, December 10,
January 7, January 14, January 28, February 11, March 4, April 1, April 22, May 20, and May 27.
No weekends are closed for seniors in the spring.

THE TAFT SCHOOL
110 Woodbury Road
Watertown, CT 06795-2100
860-945-7700
Admissions@TaftSchool.org
TaftSchool.org

TaftStudentHandbook2016 17

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STUDENT HANDBOOK

THE TAFT SCHOOL DAILY ACADEMIC SCHEDULE (5-DAY WEEK)

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

A Super G Super B Super F Super E Super

Break 9:15–9:30 Break 9:15–9:30 Assembly Break 9:15–9:30

THE TAFT SCHOOL

—William R. MacMullen ’78, Headmaster

THE TAFT SCHOOL

TO THOSE ENTERING TAFT

STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016–17 3

THE HONOR SYSTEM

STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016–17 5

STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016–17 7

GRADING SYSTEM, ACADEMIC CREDIT,

93–100 High Honors

DURING THE SEMESTER

STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016–17 9

DURING EXAMINATION PERIODS

SEMESTER EXAMINATIONS AND ACADEMIC CREDIT

ABSENCE AND ACADEMICS

© 2011 Hilary B. Price. Distributed by King Feature Syndicate, Inc.

STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016–17 11

EXTENDED PERSONAL OR MEDICAL LEAVES

SPECIAL SUPPORT INTERVENTIONS

STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016–17 13

Copyright L.J. Kopf. All rights reserved.

RULES & CONDUCT

STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016–17 15

whether by boarding students following a permission, weekend or vacation, or by day students

RULES & CONDUCT

STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016–17 17

KEYS AND FOBS

ACCEPTABLE, APPROPRIATE USE OF THE TAFT NETWORK

c Using network credentials that belong to someone else.

RULES & CONDUCT

STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016–17 19

PROCEDURES FOR ADDRESSING HARASSMENT, HAZING AND BULLYING

RULES & CONDUCT

STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016–17 21

RULES & CONDUCT

Nights when there is sit-down dinner 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016–17 23

RULES & CONDUCT

STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016–17 25

RULES & CONDUCT

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING STANDARDIZED PENALTIES.

STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016–17 27

ADDITIONAL DISCIPLINARY RESPONSES

First cut c Five conduct grades

Second cut c Five conduct grades

RULES & CONDUCT

Third cut c Five conduct grades

Fourth cut c Five conduct grades

Fifth cut c Five conduct grades

STUDENT HANDBOOK 2016–17 29

fall and after Long Weekend in the spring.

patterns and diaphanous tops are not permitted.