Residential Life

Trinity-Pawling was founded as a boarding school and remains true to that tradition. Of our present enrollment of 320 boys, 75% are boarding students. They are housed in eighteen distinct dormitory units in eight separate buildings. Individual dormitory units contain as few as eight students and as many as sixteen. Generally the larger units tend to have two adults serving as dormitory masters, while the smaller units may have only one adult serving as a dormitory master. In all circumstances, the adults are assisted in their duties by seniors in good standing who serve as dormitory proctors. Ultimately, the dormitory is where our boys truly “live.” In turn, the quality of the people who run these dormitories is of paramount importance. 32 teachers live in dormitories, 10 additional teachers live on campus as a condition of their employment. The residential staff is the academic staff. Trinity-Pawling does not believe in the practice of having a separate staff of residential adult advisors. Those administrators no longer on dormitory play an active role in the functioning of the dormitories, and continue to serve as advisors. The school mission statement states that Trinity-Pawling intends “to foster a sense of community based upon a boarding school tradition – boys living with peers and faculty families.” This intention is best met by organizing our dorms according to class groupings. Each dormitory unit is comprised of students from a particular class. Dormitory parents and the senior proctors then oversee them. The school’s intention is to try to keep students of the same class in the same region on campus. For example, we have “freshmen corner” on our quad. This grouping fosters a sense of “home” and belonging for our newest students. The dormitory masters also serve as advisors for the majority of the boys on their dormitory. This ensures the age appropriateness of student interaction as well as allowing the faculty to deal with boys of a similar age on a regular basis.

Trinity-Pawling truly prides itself on those aspects of residential life that lead to an environment of home like adult support for the residents. Consequently, dormitory masters are the first adults in any line of communication at the school. Faculty members are encouraged to maintain an “open door policy” during study hall. This facilitates both supervision, as well as a sense of family and community. In one dormitory in particular, the student lounges are actually part of the faculty homes. The books of one dormitory master are available for use by the students. It is not uncommon to find the dormitory master, his two dogs, and few boys lounging and watching TV together after study hall. Lastly, the school provides an ample budget for dormitory parties, and there are four scheduled advisor/advisee dinners during the year. All faculty invite the boys into their homes for home-cooked meals or trips are arranged to mini-golf and a local burger stand.

As a school we often discuss the residential program as the most important part of our curriculum and of a student’s experience. The Dean of Residential Life is in charge of most aspects of the residential program and ensures that the school’s residential curriculum is implemented campus wide. The present Dean, Greg Carpiniello, has worked at Trinity-Pawling for the past 16 years. After living in a dormitory for 12 years, he now resides in one of the  detached faculty homes. However, he can be seen almost any night during the week wandering the dorms, chatting with the students, and raiding the best rooms for snacks. He is available in his office during most week days at 845-855-4818 or can be reached via e-mail at gcarpiniello@trinitypawling.org . 

Day Students
 

Trinity-Pawling has a long standing tradition as a boarding school. Our boarding students are of paramount concern. On the other hand, every conceivable effort is made to incorporate the day student population into the community as a whole. The clearest example of this is found in the election of the senior prefects to lead the student body. In recent years at least two day students are among the five to seven boys elected. It is clear that day students take tremendous interest in this school. They are certainly well known by the entire student body and faculty. So much so that they are awarded our most prominent positions of leadership. In fact, during most years several day student prefects and additional day student leaders asked to have a room provided for them in order to spend certain evenings on campus. The school gladly obliged. These day students truly enjoy immersing themselves in the full range of life as a boarder. Quite frankly, day students are fully assimilated. The Student Handbook clearly states that all school rules apply to both boarding and day students in an equal fashion. Day students are invited to any and all meals provided on campus. They are a number of meals that they are simply required to attend, such as the Wednesday sit-down lunches and several holiday celebrations. The numerous team sports accommodate the needs of all students. Day students are encouraged to and regularly take boarders home for the evening or weekend. Day students participate in all senior leadership programs in the same capacity as boarders. Concerts, presentations, and lectures held in the evening include the day students, as well. Over the past few years, the lead roles in many of our theater program presentations have actually been held by day students.