On Tuesday, January 28, Belmont Hill hosted the annual New Freedoms Program for the senior classes of Belmont Hill and Newton Country Day School. Organized by Mrs. Rupley and Ms. Catherine Roy, the health and wellness curriculum coordinator at NCDS, the New Freedoms program brought together the two senior classes for a day focused on post-graduate life’s intellectual, social, and cultural transitions. Through guest speakers, interactive activities, and conversation, the program introduced the students to the newfound privileges and opportunities they will encounter upon graduation.
In an effort to build off of the health and wellness programming of NCDS and Belmont Hill, the content of each session focused on decision-making, safety, core values, healthy relationships, and connection. As quoted in New Freedoms’ mission statement, “The goal of the experience was to challenge students to be open to engaging fully in their newly established communities and partake in meaningful experiences to help the students realize their full potential.”
In an effort to plan and prepare for the day, the NCDS Peer Support group along with members of the school senate met with Belmont Hill’s Head Peer Leaders and Senate members. The students discussed suggestions for the day including speaker Peter Kwiatek, Boston College’s Assistant Dean of Community Engagement. Mr. Kwiatek helped the seniors learn more about helpful resources on a college campus, how to manage a day in the life of a college student, and more general guidance on first-year relationships and the transition from high school to college.
School President Alex Laidlaw ’25 loved Mr. Kwiatek’s session: “He was by far my favorite; learning about how to deal with a roommate and what a dorm room actually looks like were two things I will definitely think about in my first couple months at college.”
The two senior classes are so lucky to have a program that prepares them for life after graduation. The New Freedoms Program is unique among secondary schools, emphasizing just how special this opportunity was.
Form VI wants to thank Mrs. Rupley and Ms. Roy for helping put together the program and hopes that all participants will utilize the skills they learned from the workshops in their college transition.