Linden Hall Upper School
As Upper School girls in grades 9 through 12 focus on the challenging academic requirements for a Linden Hall diploma and college acceptance, they also begin to develop in ways other schools might have missed. Perhaps they find leadership ability, a gift for world languages, or a flair for the arts. Linden Hall girls feel free to ask questions and to explore their unique talents in an atmosphere where they feel safe and accepted. Somewhere along the way they change from curious girls to proud, inspired young women with a global perspective and a newly found inner strength.
This transformation is evident to the younger girls as well. Upper School girls serve as mentors and role models through the Sister program; they give presentations at school assemblies, lead class meetings as well as other activities, and help younger students adapt to life at the school. Every Linden Hall student learns that through sisterhood and support, she can accomplish anything.
Linden Hall Upper School girls graduate to become part of a legacy spanning more than two and a half centuries. There is no mistaking the benefit of a single sex education. What Linden Hall promised—education, inspiration, and challenge—it has delivered. Upper School marks the end and the beginning as we proudly send confident young women to meet their next challenge.
Upper School Activities
One of our goals is to develop well-rounded students through a wide variety of learning experiences. Here are some examples:
- Trips to Washington, DC, Philadelphia, or New York City as part of weekend activities
- Opportunities for community service by participating in Lancaster’s Day of Caring, assisting in community events, and leading several Linden Hall clean-up days
- Trips to the theater, science museums, art exhibits
- Participation in sports and games along with outdoor exercise and horseback riding
After School and Evenings
During after-school hours many students are involved in interscholastic sports, riding, drama productions, or intramural sports. If a student finds that she has some free time, she may sign out to go off campus. Lititz offers a variety of locally owned shops and restaurants where students can pick up a slice of pizza, a glass of ice tea or a cup of hot chocolate, or a soft pretzel. Students may also walk to the local pharmacy or post office. Afternoons are good times to catch up on laundry or clean rooms as well as to relax and enjoy being with friends.
After dinner an hour of free time occurs before study hall begins. Upper School students offer tutoring sessions in all levels of math and science; certain classrooms are open for students who want to study in a totally quiet atmosphere.
For most students study hall is conducted in their rooms. They may use headphones for music while studying or when using their computers. After completing their homework, students may go to the student lounges to watch TV or visit with friends. They may study together as long as it is not a disturbance to others. The dorms are quiet from 7:30 to 9:30 pm to provide an atmosphere conductive for studying. After study time dorm meetings may occur to plan activities or to discuss dorm issues.
Bedtimes vary depending upon grade levels.
Weekend Activities
The team of faculty members who plan the activities for the upcoming weekend
encourages student input.
 Dances: Linden Hall frequently hosts or is invited to dances with boys’ schools; most dances
are informal and chaperoned by Linden Hall faculty and staff.
Shopping: Girls will enjoy weekend trips to Park
City Mall, King of Prussia Mall, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, or the Lancaster outlets, to mention a few of the nearby shopping opportunities. Over weekends, quick trips to the Kissel Hill
shopping area for snacks and other items are always available.
Theatre: Several theatres are located in Lancaster, including the
Fulton Theater which presents Broadway-quality drama and musical events; we also
travel to Hershey Theater for actual off-Broadway productions and to New York to
experience theater at its best.
Amusement parks: Hershey Park, Dorney Park and Wild Water Kingdom,
and Dutch Wonderland are not far from Linden Hall. During Thanksgiving Break a trip
to Disney World in Florida is a highlight for many students (Students must pay additionally
for this kind of trip).
Movies and more: TPenn Cinema, a fourteen-theater complex outside
Lititz, has become a favorite for Linden Hall students. Over weekends the girls
enjoy bowling, roller skating, skiing during the winter months,
laser tag, miniature
golf, flea markets, ice skating, and ethnic restaurants.
Day trips: Busses take students to Baltimore Inner Harbor, the
Philadelphia historic district, and the Washington, DC, monuments and museums.
Ninth Grade Camping Trip: To welcome students to the Upper School
and to encourage students to work together, a trip to an activities camp in Virginia
has become part of the Upper School experience for ninth graders. Girls participate
in a ropes course, rock wall climbing, team-building activities, and more (This
activity is sponsored by the school; there is no additional charge).
Spring Break Trips: As part of the educational experience, many
students choose to spend Spring Break on a Linden Hall trip to Europe : Spain, France,
Italy, and Greece are some of the destinations. Chaperoned by Linden Hall faculty
and staff, these trips are paid for individually by students’ families.
Upper School Dorm Life
Approximately 80% of Linden Hall students live on campus in dorms that
are interconnected. Honeycutt Lounge is the main entrance to the dorms and is a
large "living room" for gathering and just plain hanging out. This is where all
students sign in and out when leaving campus and where a resident faculty member,
dorm parent, or prefect is always available to students after school and on weekends. Visitors and dates are greeted in this area and student mailboxes and the dining room
are located directly above.
Byron K. Horne Dorm is divided into four "houses" - each identified by a particular color -- Red Dorm, Blue Dorm, Yellow Dorm, and Green
Dorm. Each dorm has approximately 20 students. One dorm is specifically for middle
school students and the other houses are mixed with students in grades 8-12. This
mixture gives students the opportunity to live with students with whom they may
not have classes and provides an atmosphere of sharing and learning among students
of different ages. Rooms are double occupancy with two single beds or a bunk bed, two desks, shelves,
bulletin board, a closet and a four-drawer dresser for each student.
Each dorm section has a large bathroom with a coin-operated washer and dryer for
student and faculty use. Dorms have telephones and each dorm room has Internet access.
A resident faculty or dorm staff member lives in close proximity to each dorm creating
a feeling of family in each dorm section.
 The
Annex has 19 single or double rooms on two floors. These carpeted rooms have a single or bunk bed, dressers, desks, and a sink. The first floor bathroom has a coin-operated
washer and dryer for student and faculty use. The swimming pool is located in the
lower level of The Annex. There is also a lounge to gather in during leisure time. Rooms have Internet access and telephones
are located in each hallway.
Lounges are located in dorms and are available to all students
from all dorm sections.
The Byron K. Horne Dorm has two lounges on the first floor
with open ceilings to the second floor. Each lounge has a TV, computers, DVD, and
microwave ovens. Beverage, snack, and change machines are located near the lounges.
The
Vanberg Student Center is our Upper School Day Lounge. It contains
lockers, refrigerator, microwave, couches, and computers -- just about everything a student
needs to feel at home. Day students can also be found throughout the dorms since
close friendships with boarding students are often formed.
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