On Saturday, during the first QUEST session of the year, members of the Class of 2030 and faculty members helped one another up and over “The Wall” on Pomfret’s low ropes course in the Pomfret Woods. The next evening, Freshman Foundations gave students a different kind of lift.

Foundations is a holistic approach designed to help ninth-grade students develop the tools they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally at Pomfret. In the coming months, faculty leaders from the Wellbeing Department, Collaborative Learning Center, and more will share guidance on how to succeed on the Hilltop.

“I think as the year progresses, Foundations will end up being extremely helpful in terms of building strong study habits for the entire grade,” says Jason Hickey ’30.

The first session focused on caring for yourself and accessing support resources. Director of Wellbeing Erin Fisher spoke with the class about building healthy habits, including managing stress and emotion, sleep, and fueling your body.

“After Sunday’s meeting, I cut my energy drink consumption because they are not the best for you,” says Izzy Gachuhi ’30.

For some students, this is their first time sharing a room or living away from home. Fisher covered tips for supporting one another during the transition and for establishing connections with peers and faculty. This ranged from utilizing counseling and learning support services to building meaningful relationships with the advisor, form dean, prefects, and dorm parents.

Subsequent sessions will focus on time management, brain science, digital literacy, and academic integrity. At the end of the term, students will take part in a writing workshop and sessions on test preparation and test-taking strategies, just in time for end-of-term assessments.

Freshmen are also beginning to put those lessons into practice during evening study hall, with the Class of 2030 gathering in the Dining Hall on Tuesday and Thursday nights. The designated time gives students a distraction-free environment to develop effective study habits while adjusting to the rhythms of life on the Hilltop. It also provides a shared space where students can work together on group projects.

“My Humanities I: Global Studies class has a group project, and yesterday in study hall in the Dining Hall, I was able to work with my partner on it during the second half,” Jason shared.

From learning how to care for themselves and ask for support to developing study habits and working collaboratively, freshmen are building the foundation they will rely on throughout their time at Pomfret.
 

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