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Student riding tandem bike at Holderness School

Our Community

Community is the core pillar that upholds everything else we do.

At Holderness, community begins with relationships - the carefully tended bonds that unite us with friends, coaches, and teachers. We learn each other’s names. We say hello to each other on the way to class. We sit down to dinner together. We make our students feel known and supported in a way that can only happen in the kind of tight-knit community that Holderness provides. 

LIFE AT A BOARDING SCHOOL

A Home Away from Home

Students at Holdenress School relax in the common room.

We are committed to building a welcoming and inclusive community, and that begins with a vibrant residential life program. With an 8:1 student to dorm parent ratio and seventeen dormitories, our campus feels like a neighborhood – a home away from home – where common rooms, hallways, and even dorm parent kitchens come to life with the sounds of laughter and friendship. 

Advising & Support

Students chat with dorm parent at Holderness School

We believe that students thrive in a school community where they are known and respected. Our adviser program ensures that students have the support, guidance, and care they need to grow and succeed at Holderness.  Whether it’s cheering from the sidelines, sharing a meal at family-style dinner, or a conversation during study hall, advisers are steadfast in their commitment to our students.

Daily Schedule

Holderness pays a lot of attention to the schedule because life at a boarding school is pretty full.  In addition to academics and athletics, we prioritize daily community gatherings like assemblies, family-style meals, and chapels. Our schedule even adjusts to the change in seasons, with athletic practices in the morning and classes in the afternoon on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the winter. 

Check Out This Daily Schedule Snapshot

Clubs & Activities

If the classroom can't contain your curiosity, the wide range of clubs and activities will keep you engaged. Explore local trails and visit regional museums and festivals as part of regular weekend activities. Interested in engineering, social justice, outdoor adventure, economics, climate advocacy, or journalism?  There's a club for that and a lot more.  And, starting your own club or activity is easy – just grab a few friends and a faculty advisor.

 

OUR TRADITIONS

Sit-Down Meals

Several times each week, the entire school gathers for family-style meals together. It’s a decades-old tradition that brings students, faculty, and their families closer together. 

Proctor Day

The culmination of our fall athletics season, Proctor Day pits our athletes against those from rival Proctor Academy. The winner takes home a trophy - and a year’s worth of bragging rights.

 

Winter Carnival

Winter Carnival

Each winter, dorms compete against each other in Winter Carnival. Some of the fun includes a trivia contest, the Barton Olympics, and even a lip sync battle.

 "We are a tight-knit group that always strives to make individuals the best possible version of themselves - Adam '21

Our Community, in Action

Leadership & Job Program

All Holderness students are encouraged to become collaborative, empathetic community members, whether they’re captaining a team or leading a crew in our campus-wide Job Program. 

Learn more about Leadership & Job Program

Community Service

Students volunteer at a local food bank during Project Outreach in March. 

At Holderness, service to others is written into our mission statement - pro deo et genere humano - For God and humankind." Holderness, students give back through their work on Project Outreach, Vestry, Relay for Life, and many other initiatives. 

Learn more about Community Service

Outdoor Adventures

Students on the Big Mountain ski team pose for a picture at Cannon Mountain.

Whether they’re skiing at Cannon Mountain or kayaking down the Pemigewasset River, Holderness students have endless opportunities to join up and explore New Hampshire's beautiful mountains, lakes and rivers.

Learn more about Outdoor Adventures

Spiritual Life

Exterior shot of Chapel.

As a member of the National Association of Episcopal Schools, Holderness is steeped in a tradition of spiritual inclusion and open inquiry. Find out more about our Chapel Program and how we support every individual on their spiritual path.

Learn more about Spiritual Life

Meet Our Student Life Team

Mb Duckett Ireland

Mb Duckett Ireland

English Faculty & Dean of Students
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Tyler Cabot

Tyler Cabot

History Faculty & Director of Residential Life
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Carol Dopp

Carol Dopp

School Counselor
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Jini Rae Sparkman

Jini Rae Sparkman

English Faculty & Director of Equity and Inclusion
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Take the Next Step

Is Holderness right for you? The best way to find the right boarding school is to reach out. Check us out in person in New Hampshire or virtually. See why Holderness is more than a school, it's an elevated experience.