Frequently Asked Questions - Student Life

Boarding students may not have access to a car or drive a car unless they are signed out for the weekend and off campus, except when accompanied by parents. Only day students are permitted to use cars while school is in session, and once on campus, cars must be parked in designated areas and remain there until the student leaves campus. Only with special parental permission may boarding students ride with anyone who is not a family member or a member of the NMH faculty.

Alumni Hall, our dining hall, is located centrally on campus and meals are available throughout the day, allowing students to dine at times that suit their schedules. Students like small meals through out the day, so "grazing" allows students to come and go whenever they feel hungry or like to meet up with their friends. A snack bar in Blake Student Center is also open during the day.

Alumni Hall offers a 5-week repeating cycle menu with our students' favorite offerings. We include a deli bar, salad bar and cereal offering at every lunch and dinner. Students enjoy "make-your-own" waffles, eggs and omelets to order, the taco and noodle bars, and the stir fry and pizza stations. Nutritional information is always available in the dining hall and on-line.

In houses, students can visit with guests of the other gender in public lounges, according to posted hours. Students in good standing in grades 10-12/PG can visit in rooms during visiting hours, after checking in with the on-duty faculty member.

Houses close at 10:30 pm Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays at 11:30 pm (except 9th graders) and 9:30 pm on Sundays.  Students are also required to be signed into their houses or checked into an appropriate study location during Study Hall, which lasts from 7:30-9:30pm on Sunday and 8 to 10 pm, Monday through Thursday.  At closing time, faculty check to see that students are present in the house or to verify that they are absent with permission. Students may not leave the house between closing and 6 am the next day.

After house closing at 10:30 pm on Sunday through Thursday evenings, students other than ninth graders may study or socialize quietly in public areas of their houses until 11 pm, at which time all students must be in their own rooms. Ninth-grade students must be in bed with their lights out by 10:30 pm. All other students must be in their own rooms by 11 pm and in bed with lights out by 12 am. On Friday and Saturday nights, lights must be out at 1 am (ninth-graders must have lights out at midnight).

The computer network and phones are shut down at 12 am on Sunday through Thursday, and at 2 am on Friday and Saturday nights.  E-mail messages sent to student accounts outside of these hours are accepted by the system and can be viewed once access is provided starting again at 6 am the next day.

There are no required religious services. At NMH, all cultures and religions are respected, and students are encouraged to pursue their own spiritual beliefs and practices. Regular worship services are offered in a number of faith traditions. Read more about spiritual life.

 Every student participates in the daily work of the school for four and a half hours per week. Jobs are assigned each term to fit with a student's schedule and some require an application. The jobs tend to be in dining or custodial services, administrative offices, the library, on the school farm, or providing peer support in education, mediation, technology, and residential leadership.

Our dress code allows for individual choice in clothing, following guidelines which prohibit frayed, torn, or tattered clothing and any item which displays offensive or inappropriate language.  We believe that this allows students to express their individuality while maintaining respect for community.