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Family Weekend 2025

We are excited to welcome families to Farmington from Friday, October 24 to Saturday, October 25 for Miss Porter’s School’s 2025 Family Weekend. Explore campus and get a feel for your student’s experience as you attend classes, cheer them on at a sports game or celebrate an arts performance.

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family weekend schedule

4:00 p.m.

International Families Tea Reception

Please RSVP here.

Hosted by Chief Advancement Officer Christine Pina, Senior Leadership Gift Officer, Global Resources Shiang Sobieski and members of the Institute for Global Education.

Greene House, Office of Admission, 2nd floor

Sponsored by the Parent Leadership Committee

5:30 p.m.

Dinner

Families are welcome to eat with their students

Main Dining Hall

8:00 a.m. –
3:30 p.m.

Registration

Nona Evans Room (Noni)

8:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Class Visits (45 min classes)

8:45 – 9:30 a.m.         Block B

9:45 – 10:30 a.m.       Block C

10:45 – 11:30 a.m.      Block A

Please check your student’s schedule on MyPorters for class start time.

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Family Conferences (In-person & on Zoom)

10 minute slots arranged in advance through pickAtime.

Please note that conference scheduling will open October 8 and close on October 21.

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Jostens MPS Ring Sale

Main Parlors

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Library Book Fundraiser

Make a donation to the Ford Library in honor of your student, or an Ancient you hold dear to your heart.

Main Parlors

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Buffet Lunch

Enjoy a special family lunch with your student! 

Main Dining Hall

Families of Color Luncheon

Hosted by the Parent Leadership Committee, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer Susan Martell Jenkin, and Chief Advancement Officer Christine Pina.

Dr. Glenda Newell-Harris ’71 Student Center

Sponsored by the Parent Leadership Committee

1:15 p.m. –
1:45 p.m.

Head of School Address

Join Dr. Katherine G. Windsor for an update on Miss Porter’s School. 

Barbara Lang Hacker ’29 Theater

Livestream

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

11th Grade College Kick-off

This event is intended for 11th grade students and families, although all are welcome. It is a required event for 11th grade students.

Please join the Porter’s College Office for an introduction to our college counseling program, including our timeline and what to expect over the next year. We will be joined by college admissions professionals, who will give us some words of wisdom about the admissions process, as well as some current seniors who will offer real-time tips and helpful suggestions for how they’ve navigated the college process at Porter’s.

Barbara Lang Hacker ’29 Theater 

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The Landscape of College Testing

Parents of all grades are welcome to attend; required for students in 11th grade.

Please join Compass Education Group and fellow MPS families for a thoughtful and pragmatic discussion of college admission testing that will be useful to students and parents alike.

Learn what you need to know about the following and more:

  • College Admissions & the Modern Testing Dilemma
  • SAT/ACT Digital Transition Updates
  • Choosing Wisely Between Tests & Formats
  • Crafting Your Testing & Prep Timeline
  • When to Submit Scores in a Test-Optional Era
  • Smart Test Prep: Cost, Format, Schedule, and Goals

Barbara Lang Hacker ’29 Theater 

 

About the speaker:

Dulcie Glassman graduated with BAs in Physics and Geology from Pomona College and her PhD in Geophysics from Stanford. Dulcie started at Compass as a tutor and now uses her experience to help students and families navigate the admissions testing landscape in her role as senior director. In her spare time, Dulcie likes to read all sorts of fantasy and play with her two badly behaved cats. Her one-year-old son, Percy, is still a bit too young for SAT/ACT prep!

Each year, Dulcie and her colleagues speak at over 300 high schools and professional organizations, where they demystify the SAT and ACT and dispel anxiety about the testing process.

Due to institutional policies of the consultant represented, we will be unable to record this program.

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Bowl-A-Thon Workshops

You must pre-register to attend.

Sign up here for the 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. slot

Sign up here for the 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. slot

Families are invited to a one-hour bowl making workshop, with two sessions beginning at 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. All levels are welcome, and all creative contributions will support our annual Bowl-A-Thon Sit-Down Dinner and Sale. 

Space is limited! Every member of your family that will participate (including Porter’s students) should be counted, unless your student is a head of Bowl-A-Thon.

Olin, Room 216

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Watch Athletic Practices

Various athletic spaces on campus

 

4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Building Healthy Habits at Boarding School

A conversation with members of the Colgate Wellness Center and Student Support Team.

Barbara Lang Hacker ’29 Theater

 

4:30 p.m. 

Volleyball Game – JV

vs. Kingswood Oxford

Crisp Gym

5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Parent Receptions 

Please join families by class year for cocktails and mocktails.

9th Grade & 10th Grade Family Reception

Hosted by the Parent Leadership Committee and Class Deans Eileen Mooney, Sarah Quinn, and Maya Silva-Thompson. 

The Bates Lobby and Daisy Portico – Lower level of Main

11th Grade Family Reception

Hosted by the Parent Leadership Committee and Class Dean Oscar Rollan.

Nona Evans Room (Noni)

12th Grade Family Reception

Hosted by Head of School Kate Windsor, Class Dean Julie Zurolo, and the Parent Leadership Committee with a special performance by the Perilhettes at 5:20 p.m. Student Second Head of School to make brief remarks.

Lamphere House

5:30 p.m.

Dig Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Game

Volleyball Game – Varsity

vs. Kingswood Oxford

Crisp Gym

 

5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Dinner for all families 

Main Dining Hall

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Dance and Music Showcase 

6:30 p.m., Dance Showcase, The Gaines Dance Barn

Livestream

7:30 pm, Music Showcase, Barbara Lang Hacker ’29 Theater 

Livestream

8:45 p.m.

Athletic Spirit Bonfire (s’mores and hot cocoa, and spirit!)

Enjoy watching fall athletic teams compete in a dance competition while you roast s’mores and sip on hot cocoa! All families and students are invited to attend and share in the fun!

Weyerhaeuser Amphitheater

8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Continental Breakfast

Main Dining Hall

8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Parent Conferences

10 minute slots arranged in advance through pickAtime.

Please note that conference scheduling will open October 8 and close on October 21.

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Parent Leadership Committee Meeting

Periodicals Room, Ford Library

The Parent Leadership Committee (PLC) will hold its annual fall meeting on Saturday, October 25 at 10:00 a.m. in the Periodicals Room. All parents and guardians are invited to attend this meeting to learn more about the PLC and how to get involved.

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Brunch 

Main Dining Hall

Athletic Events and Home Game Spirit Booths sponsored by the Parent Leadership Committee

11:00 a.m.

Athletic Spirit-Swag Booth

Main Dining Hall

Families are invited to grab a cup of cocoa and Porter’s swag to cheer your athletes on, and meet members of the PLC Committee!

Sponsored by the Parent Leadership Committee.

11:00 a.m.

Volleyball Game – Thirds

vs. Choate 

Mellon Gym

12:00 p.m.

Volleyball Game – Varsity

vs. Ethel Walker 

Crisp Gym

1:30 p.m.

Field Hockey Game – Varsity

vs. Ethel Walker

Oklea Field

2:00 p.m.

Soccer Game – Varsity

vs. Ethel Walker

Kiki’s Field

 

Soccer Game – JV

vs. Ethel Walker

Kiki’s Field

 

Volleyball Game – JV

vs. Ethel Walker

Mellon Gym

2:30 p.m.

Shaler Invitational

Cross Country – Varsity & JV

vs. Williston Northampton 

Away at Williston Northampton 

5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Dinner 

Families that remain on campus are welcome to join our normal weekend dinner service! 

Main Dining Hall

Students are required to remain on campus through their last required commitment of the weekend.

The Ivy Store Hours

Thursday, October 23

11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Friday, October 24

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 25

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

conferences

Conferences with faculty: In-person or virtual conferences sign-up will open on Monday, October 8, at 12:00 p.m. Instructions on how to access pickAtime can be found here. The last day to sign up for conferences is Tuesday, October 21.

Conferences with teachers, advisors and house directors will take place on Friday, October 24 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET, and Saturday, October 25 from 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Parents/Guardians will have the option to choose in-person or virtual conferences.

Families will have the option to choose in-person or virtual conferences.

You must register for Family Weekend in order to register for in-person conferences.

If you have any questions, please contact Brie Angle.

accessibility

Over the past several years, we have made many improvements to make campus more accessible for those with various needs. Main now has permanent ramps in the front, as well as lifts; paths have been made wider and smoother; and Sarah Lane is a campus throughway reserved mainly for pedestrians. 

During Family Weekend, there will be accessible parking reserved in all of our parking areas. The Alumnae & Development Office parking lot will be specifically dedicated to accessible parking. 
If you have any questions or specific accessibility issues that you would like to discuss prior to your visit, please feel free to contact Parent Relations or call 860-409-3634.

parking

Families are encouraged to park in the following areas:

Tennis Court Parking Lot
69 Garden Street
Accessible parking available

Pool & Squash Building Parking Lot
88 Garden Street
Office of Admission at the Greene House
44 Mill Lane
Alumnae & Development Parking Lot
66 Main Street
Accessible parking only

accommodations

There are many wonderful accommodations located in the Farmington Valley if you’re planning to spend the evening near Miss Porter’s School. Here are a few options to get you started in your search.

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