Watkinson School

Watkinson School is a private co-educational independent day school in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Watkinson is situated on Bloomfield Avenue adjacent to the University of Hartford. It serves students from 6th through 12th grade. Watkinson also offers a postgraduate option, called The Academy at Watkinson, which allows students who have just graduated from high school to spend an additional year taking courses at Watkinson as well as the University of Hartford.^[1] Watkinson is the oldest independent school located within the city limits of Hartford.

The DeFeo Art Barn building at Watkinson School. Watkinson was originally the site of the Watkinson Juvenile Asylum and Farm School. The original buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Currently, Watkinson enrolls 260 students who come from 37 towns all around the Greater Hartford and Pioneer Valley area.

Watkinson has a Creative Arts Program (CAP) whose purpose is to foster creativity in young artists. This program is unique in that students receive a separate diploma denoting their commitment to the arts. This program is run by teacher Dr. Karen Bovard. A student may join this program at any time between the beginning of freshman and the end of sophomore year (so that they can complete the requirement of two full years in the program necessary to receive the diploma).

In 2007, Watkinson created a Global Studies Program which discusses the United States' relationship with the rest of the world. This program is run by Dr. Christopher Doyle. Students generally apply for this program in their sophomore year, and start it in their junior year.

Both programs are competitive to enter and require an application process. Upon graduating either program, students receive two diplomas - one for high school in general, and one for the completed program. Students may participate in both CAP and Global Studies if they wish.

Watkinson is a founding member of the Coalition of Essential Schools. It is one of only five schools to be named a Lead School for this coalition.

Sports at Watkinson

Watkinson School's athletic program includes boys' varsity and JV soccer, girls' varsity soccer, boys' varsity and JV basketball, girls' varsity basketball, boys' varsity and JV lacrosse, girls' varsity lacrosse and girls' volleyball.

The boys' varsity soccer team was New England Prep School Class "D" Champions from 2008-2010. The girls' varsity basketball team was 2013-2014 New England Class D Champions in 2013-2014.

Sports teams at Watkinson

Activities at Watkinson

Watkinson's community gardening activity is extremely popular. Students in this activity, called Varsity Gardeners, manage more than 20 raised beds, berry patches and more. All of the produce from the community garden is used in the school's dining hall. Other popular activities at school include yoga, culinary arts and weight lifting/fitness. During its three years of existence, Watkinson School's (now defunct) FIRST Robotics Team 782 won a number of awards, including Highest Rookie Seed (2002), New England Regional Champions (2003), Highest Divisional Seed (Nationals, 2003) the Xerox Creativity Award (2002/2003) and Highest Divisional Seed (Nationals, 2004).

Famous alumni

• Johann Smith - soccer player with Major League Soccer team Kalmar FF; as of November 25, 2010, he is a free agent.
• David Hemingson - executive producer of Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 and many other films and television shows
• Richard Plepler - CEO of HBO^[2]
• Philip Conserva - producer of the television show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

See also

• Watkinson Juvenile Asylum and Farm School

References

1. ↑ "Watkinson School ~ Transition to College". Watkinson School. Retrieved 8 January 2006. 
2. ↑ Holson, Laura (21 September 2012). "There's Something About Richard; Richard Plepler of HBO Stands Tall in New York's Cultural Elite". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 February 2013. 

External links

• Watkinson's web site
• Watkinson's literary magazine

Coordinates: 41°47′42″N 72°42′48″W / 41.795°N 72.7132°W / 41.795; -72.7132