Rectory School
The Rectory School is an independent, coeducational, junior boarding (5–9) and day school (K–9) in Pomfret, Connecticut. The school was founded by the Rev. Frank H. Bigelow in 1920. It has expanded to , 26 buildings, 250 students, and 65 faculty members as of 2017. Rectory's campus is located on Connecticut Route 169, immediately north of the Pomfret School. Academics. Rectory’s academic program comprises a community of learners: child and adult, student and teacher, focused on personal growth and success, while collectively embracing the mission and guiding tenets of our school. Using our students’ innate curiosity as  the basis for more formalized instruction, Rectory’s classrooms reflect an educational approach guided by current research related to the brain and student learning. Across our students’ time at Rectory, they are expected to immerse themselves in our broad programmatic offerings, which provide essential opportunities to develop critical academic and life skills. Whether in English class, the art studio, the science lab, or our outdoor environment, students are guided by passionate, professional educators who strive for engagement, encourage creativity and critical thinking, and promote communication and collaboration. Along the way, our instructors leverage the power of technology as a teaching  and learning tool, and children are taught how to responsibly and safely use these resources. Rectory’s academic program encourages students to pursue their passions and explore new interests all the while fostering in them the confidence, competence, and character necessary to be successful, contributing, principled members of the many communities they will inhabit in future years. With dedicated space in the recently-constructed John and Millie Green Hall, the Smith Learning Center is home for services and resources that support and enhance Rectory students’ learning experiences. With the guiding belief that all students can grow and progress, Rectory School ’s Learning Services cares for the learning and curricular needs of students. As a steady presence for youngsters, our learning specialists celebrate our students’ milestones; they even have been seen sewing a button or two on students’ jackets! Individualized attention to a young person’s academic, physical, social, and moral development has been a keystone of Rectory School since its founding 100 years ago. As a vital component in the School’s overall capability to fulfill its mission—nurturing the whole child within a caring, personalized learning environment—Rectory’s Learning Services program continually seeks to grow and stay on  the forefront of evidence-based practices and current research. Overview Of Learning Services -Rectory’s signature Individualized Instruction Program (IIP) -Arrangement for accommodations on standardized and classroom tests -Coordination of diagnostic evaluations and student support services, such as neuropsychological testing or speech therapy -Faculty training on learning needs and differentiation of instruction and assessments -Teaching materials and professional development library -Collaboration with the Secondary School Placement Office Partnering with school districts for IEPs and 504 Plans The Rectory School is accredited by the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS), the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and  approved by the Connecticut State Board of Education. Memberships include the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) The Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS). Rectory is a member of New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC). Athletics. The purpose of Rectory's athletics is to inspire a lifelong commitment to physical fitness and health and to promote risk-taking and self-confidence. Although inter-school competition is a large part of our program, the emphasis is on individual success, enjoyment, skill development, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Varsity teams are extremely competitive and successful, while  other levels help students develop basic skills. Participation in the sports program is mandatory for all students during each of the three seasons. Every student has a chance to participate on a team at the level that suits his or her skill level so that each can experience success and growth. Fall athletic offerings Winter athletic offerings Spring athletic offerings Dormitories. All boarding students are grouped into dormitories attended to by two faculty members, the "dorm parents". These residential communities form the core of the students' relations. Boys' dorms Girls' dorms Outreach. The school runs Hoops for Hunger, a yearly  basketball clinic that charges canned goods as admission. The proceeds are donated to local food banks. The program was founded by longtime basketball, cross-country, and baseball coach Brad Seaward in 1997.