INFORMATION FOR NEW INTERNATIONAL
STUDENTS
2016-2017
WELCOME!
I am very pleased to welcome you to Emma Willard School. I’m sure you are excited—and
maybe a little nervous—about coming to Emma Willard to study. This booklet contains a
variety of information which I hope you will find useful as you make plans for the beginning
of the school year. Please take the time to read all the information carefully.
You should plan to arrive in the area in time to be at the Emma Willard campus
between
8:30 and 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 28, for new student registration. If you are
coming to school without your parents or another adult, you may arrive and move
into your room on Saturday, August 27.
The opening week of school has been carefully planned to prepare you for your life as an
Emma Willard student. The week will be filled with a variety of activities and
opportunities. You will meet your houseparent and advisor, participate in group activities
with your hallmates and classmates, and begin your academic classes. If you are interested
in trying out for one of the fall
sports teams, you will also have athletic practice once or twice a day. Be prepared for a
busy, fun start to the school year!
If you have any questions during the summer, please contact me by e-mail
(mslaughter@emmawillard.org), or phone at (518)-833-1501.
I look forward to meeting you in August!
Sincerely,
Matthew Slaughter
Assistant Director of Student Life
mslaughter@emmawillard.org
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ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL
New international students and their families should plan to arrive at Emma Willard
School on Sunday, August 28, between 8:30 and 10:00 a.m. If you arrive in the area
with family members or a guardian before Sunday, you may make arrangements to stay at
one of the hotels listed in the ACCOMMODATIONS section of this document (page 5).
Please submit the ARRIVAL PLANS form so that we will know when to expect you.
New international students who are traveling by themselves are invited to arrive and
move into their rooms on Saturday, August 27. Emma Willard School will send a
representative to the Albany Airport or to the train or bus station to meet students
traveling without an accompanying adult if we have accurate arrival information ahead of
time. Please complete and submit the REQUEST FOR TRANSPORTATION form as soon as
possible if you are traveling unaccompanied by an adult and would like to have a school
representative meet you on your arrival. Please note that because of limited staffing, we
offer pick-up service only to students who are traveling alone.
IMMIGRATION INFORMATION
International students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States
must have an F-1 (student) visa to study at a school in the U.S. You will receive an I-20
form from the Admissions Office, which must be presented at the U.S. embassy or consulate
as part of the application for the F-1 visa. Students must pay the SEVIS fee before their visa
interview at the embassy or consulate. If you have questions about your I-20 form or visa
status, contact Sharon Busone, 518-833-1327 in the Admissions Office
(sbusone@emmawillard.org).
You will need to present your passport and I-20 form at the immigration checkpoint when
you enter the United States. Keep your I-20 form with your passport at all times. After your
arrival on campus, your passport and I-20 will be collected and stored in the Student Life
Office for record-keeping and security purposes.
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TRAVEL
Emma Willard School is located in Troy, New York. The closest airport, train station, and
bus station are located in or near Albany, which is a short distance from Troy. Albany and
Troy are approximately 150 miles north of New York City. It takes approximately 2 ½
hours to get to Albany from New York City by bus or train, and 3 or 4 hours by car,
depending on traffic.
Flying to Albany Airport
It is most convenient to fly into the Albany International Airport (airport code ALB), which
is only a 20-minute drive from Emma Willard School. If possible, you should book your
flights all the way to Albany; you will have to make a connection in Chicago, Washington,
D.C., or another city.
Taxis are readily available outside the airport. The cost of a taxi ride from the Albany
Airport to
Emma Willard is approximately $30.
Students traveling alone to Albany should submit the REQUEST FOR TRANSPORTATION
form in order to be picked up by a school representative.
Flying to a New York City Airport
Emma Willard School does not provide pick-up service from the New York City-area
airports (John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark International Airports). However, upon
request, the school can arrange private transportation from JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark
Airport to campus. Northeast Shuttle Service, the transportation company we work with,
usually charges $450 for transportation from any of the NYC airports to Emma Willard
School for one, two, or three people. This cost may be less if more students are traveling
together.
The Premiere Airport Shuttle offers inexpensive once-a-day service between the New York
City airports and Albany Airport.
If you are spending time in New York City before coming to school, you may want to take
either a train (Amtrak) or bus (including the Megabus) from downtown Manhattan to
Albany.
Getting to Emma Willard School
You can take a taxi to Emma Willard from the Albany Airport, Greyhound (bus)
Terminal, Amtrak (train) Station, or a hotel near the airport for approximately $30.
If you are arriving at Emma Willard by car, directions are available here.
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ACCOMMODATIONS
Students who travel to Emma Willard with a parent or other adult guardian move into their
rooms on Sunday, August 28. We suggest that parents plan to leave Troy not later than
Monday, August 29, so that their daughters can begin to settle in and adjust to their new
surroundings. International students who arrive unaccompanied by an adult may move into
their rooms on the Emma Willard campus on Saturday, August 27.
Accommodation options for family members who plan to stay one or more nights in the area
include:
Best Western Franklin Square Inn
Located in downtown Troy, a few miles from Emma Willard School. For reservations,
contact:
Best Western Franklin Square Inn
1 Fourth Street
Troy, New York 12180
866-708-2233 (in U.S.) or 518-274-8800
Hilton Garden Inn
Located near downtown Troy a few miles from Emma Willard School. For
reservations, contact:
Hilton Garden Inn
235 Hoosick Street
Troy, New York 12180
518-272-1700
Additional accommodation options are listed here.
JET LAG
When you travel to the United States, you will probably experience jet lag, that feeling of
exhaustion and disorientation that results from traveling across multiple time zones.
Experts say that it can take as long as a day for every time zone crossed to recover from jet
lag and feel “normal” again. Fortunately, young people often adjust more quickly than that!
If you have somewhere to stay before the opening of school, it is helpful to arrive in the
U.S. a few days before registration day so that you can begin the adjustment process. Even
spending one extra night in a hotel (or in your room, if you are traveling alone) will make
the first day or two easier for you.
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PACKING LIST
The following are suggestions, not required items. You should buy many of these items after
you arrive in order to save room in your luggage.
Bedding
sheets (twin-bed size)
computer pillow & pillow cases
blankets
bag bedspread
towels
washcloths
Room & School Supplies
laptop
printer
backpack / book
alarm clock
hangers
desk lamp and/or floor
lamp laundry bag or
basket
wastebasket
mug, plate, bowl & a few
water bottle
flashlight
CD
cell phone
athletic equipment (as needed)
personal care
Clothes
shirts
utensils pants (jeans, shorts, etc.)
skirts/dresses (for formal occasions)
pajamas
player/iPod bathrobe
slippers
sneakers
items nice shoes
underwear & socks
swimsuit
raincoat
celebrations light jacket or sweatshirt
home sweaters
winter coat, boots, hat & gloves
Special Items for International Students
small crafts or gifts from home
traditional clothing for international
photographs and room decorations from
Emma Willard students usually wear pants or jeans to school each day and nice skirts or
dresses on special occasions. Warm coats, sweaters, hats, gloves, and boots are necessary
for the cold winters. It would be best to wait until you arrive to buy most needed clothing,
especially for the winter months.
To save space in your luggage, you may want to buy a pillow, bed linens, a lamp, and other
supplies at a local department store after you arrive in Troy. Local stores for these
purchases include Target, Bed, Bath and Beyond, and Walmart. Placing an order online
and shipping it to school is another convenient way to have these items available when
you arrive. Your houseparent can lend you a lamp and bedding until you have a chance to
buy your own.
Every student is required to have a computer for use at school. See the technology
services section of the school Web site for information and recommendations.
If you want to send a package to school, address it to:
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[YOUR NAME]
Emma Willard School
285 Pawling Avenue
Troy, New York 12180
U.S.A.
VACATIONS
The school residence halls will be closed during the following vacation periods:
Thanksgiving Break
Leave between:
Return between:
Winter Vacation
November 18 – November 27, 2016
Friday, November 18, 3:30 p.m. & Sunday, November 20, 12:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 26, 12:00 p.m. & Sunday, November 27, 9:00 p.m.
December 16, 2016 (10:00 p.m.) – January 4, 2017
9th/10th/11th graders leave between:
Friday, December 16, 10:00 p.m. & Sunday, December 18, 12:00 p.m.
12th graders & PGs leave between:
Saturday, December 17, 4:30 p.m. & Sunday, December 18, 12:00 p.m.
Return between:
Spring Break
Leave between:
Return between:
Tuesday, January 3, 12:00 p.m. & Wednesday, January 4, 9:00 p.m.
March 10 – March 26, 2017
Friday, March 10, 3:30 p.m. & Sunday, March 12, 12:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 25, 12:00 p.m. & Sunday, March 26, 9:00 p.m.
Families are responsible for arrangements for students during these periods. It is very
important to make vacation travel arrangements well in advance so that students do not
have to leave school early or return late because of flight schedules. Note that the earliest
departure times shown above are the earliest times that a student can leave school; when
booking flights, allow sufficient time for the student to get to the airport and go through the
security line (this can take up to 1 hour).
The school provides transportation to and from the Albany Airport, train station, and bus
terminal at the beginning and end of vacation periods for students who request it. Group
transportation to JFK Airport is arranged at peak travel times; the cost of this
transportation depends on the number of students requesting it and is charged to
students’ school accounts.
A number of school-sponsored trips are offered during Spring Break. In addition,
international students are sometimes invited to stay at the homes of American students
and are encouraged to take advantage of such opportunities when they arise. The school
does not advise letting students stay at a hotel without adult supervision and will require
detailed parental permission for such an arrangement.
Students who need assistance with vacation arrangements should speak to Mr.
Slaughter, Assistant Director of Student Life, several weeks before the beginning of the
vacation period.
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ENGLISH FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
The academic office reviews international student applications over the summer and
determines the appropriate English class for each student. Our English courses are designed
to both challenge and support students of varied abilities and experiences, including English
Language Learners.
A student’s English teacher may, in consultation with her advisor and the academic office,
determine that a student needs English language support beyond what is provided through
normal instruction. In those cases, additional English language tutoring can be arranged
through the Learning Support Coordinator, Maureen Harrison, who can be contacted at
mharrison@emmawilard.org. There is an additional charge for this service.
EXPECTATIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
As a student at Emma Willard School, you have a number of important responsibilities.
Some of these responsibilities, such as working hard and doing your best academically, are
obvious. Others may not be as apparent but are equally important. Everyone at Emma
Willard is part of a community and has responsibilities toward the other members of the
community. You, like all Emma Willard students, are expected to become an active and
involved member of the school community while you are here.
Your success at Emma Willard and in the U.S. educational system depends to a great extent
on your willingness to speak English as much as possible and to participate actively in all
aspects
of school life. In this way, you will make far greater progress in English proficiency and
become a full member of the Emma Willard community, which should be two of your
primary goals
during the time that you are here. To help you achieve these important goals, we have set
the following guidelines for the use of English and participation in school life:
1. Students should always speak English during classes and in the presence of any
person who does not share their native language. This expectation is based on respect
for other members of the community as well as the educational need for regular language
practice.
2. All boarding students, international as well as American, are expected to participate
regularly in residence hall activities.
3. The U.S. educational system places great value on class participation. International
students are expected to participate actively in their classes by asking questions when
they arise, contributing to class discussions, and playing an active role in group projects and
activities.
4. An occasional visit to an American home adds greatly to an international student’s
cultural experience and can serve as a good break from dormitory life. Students are
strongly encouraged to accept invitations from American students whenever possible
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and to view these visits as an important part of their overall educational experience.
Please return to the Required Pre-arrival Steps.
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