2008 Catalog

7th-10th Graders: Puebla, Mexico
9th-12th Graders: Monterrey, Mexico

Student Life

Introduction
In addition to their course work, our students enjoy a rich experience outside the classroom. They live on campus under the supervision of resident assistants (RAs) and participate in a variety of activities held each afternoon and on the weekends. More importantly, they get to know other students like them—students whose interests are diverse and who share their exceptional academic abilities and love of learning. Lasting friendships develop as students learn from each other both in and out of the classroom. Throughout the residential program, we focus on helping students have a good time in a safe, supervised environment.

Although helping students have a positive social experience is important to us, prospective students should know that their primary goal while enrolled in the program is to succeed in their academic endeavors. Students unable to make academics their first priority should not attend our program.

Supervision
While students are ultimately responsible for their own conduct, administrative, instructional, and residential staff all work together to provide clear guidelines and careful supervision. Outside class, students are supervised by RAs, who are typically college students selected on the basis of academic record, related work or volunteer experience, recommendations, and performance in an interview. RAs live with students in the residence halls, providing support and encouragement, enforcing rules, and planning and conducting the recreational program. The RAs, as well as instructors, teaching assistants, and administrators, are prepared to help students adjust to the academic demands of the program and to the experience of being away from home.

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Housing
Students live in single-sex suites with their RAs. Each RA group has approximately 15 students. The RA group is an important part of the residential experience as it provides students with a sense of identity and belonging within the larger community.

Most students are assigned to single rooms, but we cannot guarantee a particular housing arrangement. To the extent possible students are housed with suitemates of a similar age who are studying a related subject. We are usually unable to accommodate suitemate requests. Students in the same suite share a bathroom. Students are not permitted to visit opposite-sex suites.

All suites include bottled water.

Afternoon Activities
When students are not in class, they attend activities planned and supervised by the resident assistants (RA). Our goal is to offer a variety of activities so that all students can find something they enjoy doing each day. Activities range from the standard fare of board games and athletics with a Mexican twist, incorporating both traditional and contemporary Mexican cultural activities into the residential program. English and Spanish language instruction is also offered during the afternoon activity periods.

Facilities
Facilities include a dining hall (bottled water is provided), gymnasium, tennis courts, outdoor fields, a pool, and music practice rooms. These facilities are shared with other programs and are supervised by our staff only during scheduled activity periods. For these reasons, individual training programs and practice schedules cannot be accommodated. Students also are not permitted to use campus weight rooms.

Weekends
Classes do not meet on weekends, with the exception of Sunday evenings. Instead, all students participate in a full schedule of on- and off-campus recreational, social, and cultural activities, which are supervised by the RAs and administrative staff. In addition to sports and games, weekend activities include special events such as carnivals, dances, movies, and a talent show. Students also travel to important Mexican cultural and historical landmarks near the two sites. Students also have down time in the mornings to catch up on laundry or just relax and talk with friends. Weekends conclude with a mandatory two-hour class session on Sunday evenings.

Daily Schedule
The daily schedule at a site is quite full. Students are required to attend all classes and activities, and there is little unstructured time. Generally, students attend class from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, with short breaks in the morning and afternoon and a longer break for lunch. Between the end of class and lights-out, students attend recreational activities, have dinner, return to class for a two-hour evening session, and enjoy some social time. The exact schedule may vary depending upon the availability of appropriate facilities. Each day concludes with a hall meeting. Lights-out is at 10:30 p.m.

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Typical Daily Schedule

Visits
During the summer session, we discourage families and friends from visiting students and taking them off campus. Weekend time allows students to establish friendships and become fully involved in residential life. In fact, homesickness is often intensified by visits from parents. However, parents are permitted to pick up their children for off-site visits, which we will help coordinate.

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Expectations for Student Conduct
We expect our students to meet the highest standards of behavior, both in personal deportment and in dedication to academic pursuits. To this end, students must adhere to the Center for Talented Youth Honor Code, which requires them to uphold personal and academic integrity, respect the ideas and property of others, and ensure that those around them do the same. In addition, students are expected t

• strive to do the best work possible in their courses
• respect individuals of different races, cultures, religions, genders, sexual orientations, ages, disabilities, and national origins
• behave in a friendly, cooperative, and responsible manner toward all persons in the program community and in the larger college and local communities
• attend all class sessions, meals, activities, and meetings
• observe all rules for student conduct.

We cannot accommodate students who are unwilling or unable to live up to these expectations.

At each site, students learn about our standards for behavior, including site rules, on the first day. While specific rules vary somewhat from site to site, community standards throughout our summer programs are basic and consistent. They include a commitment to academic integrity, respect for all members of the community, regard for basic rules of physical safety, and cooperation with adult supervision.

Students may be dismissed from the program for any of the following reasons:

• not attending to their academic work in a satisfactory manner
• cheating, plagiarizing, or committing other acts of academic dishonesty
• being in restricted areas of campus, or leaving campus, unaccompanied by a staff member
• being in an opposite-sex suite
• leaving their suites after lights out
• stealing or vandalizing property
• keeping prescription or over-the-counter medication in their possession (see Medical Information for limited exceptions)
• possessing or using tobacco, alcohol, or drugs
• bullying or hazing
• undermining the safety or wellbeing of self or others (including threats).

No tuition refunds will be made to students dismissed from the program. If a student damages property, the cost of repair or replacement is added to the student account balance.

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Prohibited Items

• weapons of any kind (including pocket knives and martial arts devices)
• any flame-producing device (including matches, lighters, and firecrackers)
• role-playing game books or other items associated with role-playing games
• trading cards
• pets of any kind
• products that damage surface finishes
• televisions, computer/video games, or DVDs
• bicycles, skateboards, roller blades, skates, scooters, or shoes with wheels
• water guns
• halogen lamps, refrigerators, or cooking devices
• laser pointers.

In addition to the above list, we reserve the right to confiscate for the length of the program any items that, in our judgment, demonstrate the potential for distracting students from the goals of the program, pose undue risk to property or to the safety and wellbeing of people.

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