Indian Mountain School
| Indian Mountain School | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | |
|
Lakeville, CT United States |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Coeducational,Junior Boarding |
| Motto | Life Through Service |
| Established | 1922 |
| Headmaster | Jody Soja |
| Enrollment | 252 |
| Campus | 600 acres (2.4 km2) |
| Color(s) | Maroon and gray |
| Mascot | Falcons |
| Website | indianmountain.org |
Indian Mountain School is an independent coeducational boarding and day school for children grades pre-K through 9, located on two campuses in Lakeville, Connecticut, United States.
The Indian Mountain School Lower Campus is a primary school, grades pre-kindergarten through 4, while the Upper Campus is home to students grades 5 through 9. Indian Mountain accepts boarding students in grades 6 through 9.
Indian Mountain School is often abbreviated as IMS.
In 1916, Francis Behn Riggs purchased land and buildings on the site of the present Upper Campus.
In 1916, Francis Behn Riggs purchased land and buildings on the site of the present Upper Campus. Educated at Groton and Harvard, Riggs founded an agricultural high school for boys, named the Riggs School. Indian Mountain School assumed its current name in 1922 when it became a boarding school designed to prepare boys for the entrance examinations of secondary boarding schools. Classes and dormitory space were located in a large building adjacent to and south of the present tennis courts; Hadden House served as a gymnasium and faculty housing. Indian Mountain School enrolled eight boys that first year ranging in age from eight to 14.
From these beginnings, Riggs gradually constructed the basis of today’s school. His curriculum was a traditional one but also included such extras as carpentry and dramatics. The current motto, life through service was adopted from the original Riggs School and applied to the new Indian Mountain School. The farm continued to operate for the benefit of the school kitchen, and boys engaged in an active outdoor life. By 1928, the enrollment had reached 30 boys. In November 1928 the main school building was destroyed by fire but Riggs was able to raise the funds to construct the current brick building in time for the opening of school in September 1929, just months ahead of the Stock Market Crash. At the same time, the school was incorporated as a not-for-profit and chartered under the laws of Connecticut to “maintain forever a school for the training and education of boys and young men.” The new building, designed for 40 students and their instructors, was full that fall.
On July 1, 2003, Indian Mountain School merged with the neighboring pre-kindergarten through fourth grade school, formerly known as The Town Hill School.
The Town Hill School began in the 1930s as Mrs. Tracy’s school, named for its founder, the wife of a Hotchkiss teacher. In 1938, a group of Hotchkiss parents and others in the community, convinced of the present and future need for a strong elementary school, founded The Town Hill School. Early benefactors provided funds for the original school building, and The Hotchkiss School donated the land. The school opened that first year with an enrollment of 22 children in grades one through eight. Miss Penelope Oyen was Town Hill’s first headmistress. She was assisted by Connie Garrity, who became headmistress in 1942 and served Town Hill until her retirement in 1978.
...
Wikipedia