Hancock Information for Students and Families

COVID Protocols
Given our routine testing and 98% vaccination rate, we remain confident that our layered strategies will keep our community safe during Hancock.

We are conducting supplemental pooled testing during the week of the event, with required all-school testing on both Monday and Wednesday. Students should rapid test at home on Thursday morning, per usual, as well.

As we have also met one of our metrics (as of May 10, 2022), we will return to required masking indoors and on buses until further notice. We will continue monitoring public health conditions, though we anticipate required masking will continue through next week and all indoor Hancock activities, including the sleepover at school. All school COVID protocols, will remain in effect throughout the event. In particular, all students sleeping over at school on Thursday night will be required to rapid test at home that morning. 

A reminder that, although all students are expected to participate in Hancock—specifically the outdoor activities at Hale on Thursday—it is not required. We encourage you to make whatever decision is right for your family. 

Tick Prevention and Checks
As we will spend most of Thursday outside and a significant number of students are camping Wednesday night, it is important to take precautions to limit tick exposure. Pants should be tucked into socks or boots to prevent open areas for tick-to-skin contact. Students should pack insect repellent for ticks and permethrin for treating the outside of their tent if relevant.
 
Students who have been out in the fields or woods should do self-tick checks as soon as they come in and change. Worn field clothes should get tied up in plastic bags and kept separate from clean clothes. We will remind students about procedures to prevent exposure to ticks, and hope that parents and guardians will remind them, as well.

Students should complete a thorough tick check after they return from Hancock as well, as ticks can remain attached for up to 36 hours.

Lifeguard
On Thursday swimming will only be offered under the supervision of Hale’s lifeguard—who will only be available if the weather is favorable. 

Medical Care
All participants should contact the nearest faculty or staff member immediately if they begin to feel unwell at any point during Hancock. We will call 911 in the case of a medical emergency. The nearest emergency medical facility to Hale is Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Needham; to Commonwealth, it is Tufts Medical Center in Boston.
 

Addresses
Hale Reservation, 80 Carby St, Westwood, MA 02090
Commonwealth School, 151 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02116

Students will disperse on Friday, participating in a variety of activities in and around Boston. Addresses and chaperone contact information for each activity will be posted on this page and shared before Hancock.

Wednesday, May 18: Campout at Hale Reservation for Juniors and Seniors
This optional night of camping is solely for seniors and juniors. Students can take a bus or bike to Hale Reservation for an evening of Hancock fun at its most rustic. Dinner (tacos) and breakfast (bagels and/or doughnuts) will be provided, though students are welcome to bring their own food if they wish. They should bring water bottles and snacks. Bikers will not need to transport their gear via bike.

• 3:30 p.m.: Bus departs Commonwealth for Hale
• 4:15 p.m.: Arrive at Hale for campout
• 4:30–6:30 p.m.: Pitch tents, free time
• 6:30 p.m.: Dinner
• 10:30 p.m.: In tents, lights out

Thursday, May 19: Hale Reservation and Sleepover at Commonwealth
After a full day at Hale Reservation engaging in Commonwealth- and Hale-facilitated activities and games, students can return to school for our traditional talent show, dance, and sleepover. Commonwealth classrooms will become “cabins” to which students will be assigned, after sharing their sleeping group preferences. Chaperones will be stationed on each floor.

• 8:00 a.m.: Students arrive at Commonwealth (note: biking to Hale has been canceled)
• 8:30 a.m. Buses depart Commonwealth
• 9:15 a.m.: Arrive at Hale
• 9:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Groups assigned, Hale-facilitates activities
• 12:30–1:15 p.m. Lunch (Students are responsible for bringing their own bagged lunch.)
• 1:00–4:30 p.m. Student- and faculty-facilitates activities
• 4:30 p.m.: Hale cleanup
• 4:45 p.m.: Buses depart Hale (If not traveling by bus, all students, faculty, and staff should depart Hale by 5:00 p.m.)
• 5:45 p.m.: Arrive at Commonwealth
• 6:30 p.m.: Dinner 
• 8:00 p.m.: Talent show 
• 9:30 p.m.: Dance and movie
• 10:30 p.m.: Pick-up deadline for students not sleeping over (can leave earlier as well)
• 11:15 p.m.: Lights out

Friday, May 20: Choose-Your-Own City Adventure
Our students have already suggested a fabulous variety of adventures in and around Boston: escape rooms, rock climbing, museum trips, and more. Students will sign up for their preferred activities in the coming weeks by completing forms circulated by Ms. Budding. They may leave their bags at school during the day. There will be no cost to participate in any activity. Faculty and staff will chaperone every outing. Breakfast and lunch will be served at school, with bagged lunches available for those going on day trips. Students who do not sleep over at school on Thursday night can come to school in time to join the activities they signed up for.

• 8:30 a.m.: Breakfast at Commonwealth
• 10:00 a.m.: Morning activities begin, day trips depart
• 1:00 p.m.: Lunch
• 2:00 p.m.: Afternoon activities begin
• 5:00 p.m.: All students and gear cleared from the building

Reminder that there will be no Hancock holidays the following week. Classes will be held as usual on Monday, May 23, and Tuesday, May 24.

Buses will transport students, along with faculty and staff chaperones, to and from Hale Reservation. See “Schedule” for bus departure times. Please contact the front office (617-266-7525) if you are sick or running late.

Alternatively, students may arrange their own transportation to and from Hale, including biking with a caravan leaving from school. See “Schedule” for biking departure times. Please note that students cannot drive other students. 

Transportation to and from Friday’s activities will vary, but all activities are accessible by T, commuter rail, or walking. A full itinerary will be made available before the event.

Wednesday 
Dinner (tacos) and breakfast (bagels and/or doughnuts) will be provided, though students are welcome to bring their own food if they wish. They should bring water bottles and snacks. 
 
Thursday
Students are responsible for their own breakfast and lunch on Thursday (with the exception of those students who are camping Wednesday night). They should bring a bagged lunch to Hale and a water bottle as well. Pre-packaged snacks will be provided. After returning to Commonwealth, dinner will be prepared by a student crew in the school’s kitchen.

Friday 
Breakfast and lunch will be served at school, with bagged lunches available for those going on day trips. 

Additional Information

• Students with severe allergies and food restrictions should coordinate their needs with Ms. Dale and Mr. Hodgkins by Friday, May 13. 
• Students should bring a water bottle they can use throughout the event.
• Instead eating the meals prepared at school, students are welcome to bring their own food if they wish. 
• Pre-packaged snacks will be provided.
• Students will be assigned to kitchen/cooking crews as needed. 

Camping at Hale (Wednesday Night)

• One winter-weight sleeping bag or two summer-weight bags (Please contact Mr. Paul if you need to borrow one.)
• Tent
• Tarp
• Insect repellant (preferably one effective against ticks, mosquitoes, and blackflies; also see “Health and Safety”)
• Sunscreen
• Raincoat
• Warm jacket
• Toilet articles
• Flashlight
• Towel
• Two pairs of solid shoes
• Several changes of warm clothes
• Pillow and pillow case

Activities at Hale Reservation (Thursday)

• Bagged lunch
• Insect repellant (preferably one effective against ticks, mosquitoes, and blackflies; also see “Health and Safety”)
• Sunscreen
• Water bottle
• Weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable footwear

Sleepover at Commonwealth (Thursday Night)

• Sleeping bag (Please contact Mr. Paul if you need to borrow one.)
• Pillow and pillowcase
• Pajamas
• Change of clothes
• Toilet articles—though there is a shower at school, demand for it Thursday night will be high! This may be an occasion for dry shampoo and wet wipes…

Choose-Your-Own City Adventure (Friday)

• Lightweight backpack or bag (larger bags and sleeping gear may be left at school during the day)
• Sunscreen
• Water bottle
• Weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable footwear

Optional Gear 

• Bathing suit and towel (for Hale; swimming will be weather dependent and only offered with a lifeguard present)
• Camera
• Compass
• Binoculars
• Musical instruments
• Books
• Games
• Sports equipment
• Plastic bags (for field clothes; also see “Health and Safety”)
• Rapid antigen COVID test (all students should also rapid test at home Thursday morning before Hancock begins) 

Electronic Devices
We aim to maximize social interactions at Hancock. To that end, we discourage students from bringing their electronic devices, other than a phone to be used for emergencies only. Some students and faculty elect to go device-free while we are there.