On Friday, Nov. 7, the Middle School hosted their first Shadow Day of the school year—the event when students applying to Westminster and their parents come to Westminster to learn more about the school in person. Prospective applicants are paired with 6th and 7th graders, and their parents are paired with 8th graders, and the guests shadow those students, watching them go through an ordinary school day. The goal of Shadow Day is to further familiarize applicants and their parents with the Westminster day-to-day experience in the Middle School.
Our school’s administration has always been very focused on the image we present to these prospective applicants, and that makes sense; who wouldn’t want to put their best foot forward for important guests? Students are instructed to dress up, we are given prompts for conversation starters and small talk, and we use an altered schedule, which includes performances from each Performing Arts group.
Guests do not see any recess, free time, or structured social time like Office Hours—moments that could lead to scuffles and off-putting interactions between students. Guests are not given the chaotic and mostly disappointing cafeteria experience, and with the changed schedule and performances, it is my opinion that guests do not see a genuine day in the life of a Westminster Middle Schooler.
The fact that the regime has chosen to present a doctored image of our school raises the question: is the school not comfortable with presenting our normal school day? If not, why aren’t they doing anything to make these aspects of our school day more presentable?
If, for instance, the administration is not comfortable showing the lunchroom experience to guests and applicants, why should they be comfortable providing that experience to students and teachers daily?
If I were considering applying to Westminster, I would hope that when I come in for a Shadow Day I would see a true representation of the school that I would experience every day. Even if there were parts of the school that I found less than perfect, I would appreciate the administration’s honesty of providing an accurate picture of “The Westminster Experience.”
We have another Shadow Day scheduled in January. Hopefully, by that time we can have a version of the school day that we can feel good about.
Disclaimer: I am a proud and happy Westminster student. I have enjoyed my nine years at this great school, and I am looking forward to my next four. The purpose of this piece is not to tear apart Westminster and its Admissions Department, but to provide feedback on how to improve admissions events.