FAQs & Contact Us
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does my child get to and from the airport/bus station/train station?
- What addresses do I use for mailing and shipping?
- What should I do if my child needs to miss a Blair commitment?
- What happens if my child becomes sick while at school?
- What is a community (closed) weekend?
- What is the dress code?
- How does the Blair banking/debit card work?
- What do I do if my child becomes homesick?
- What activities are available on the weekends?
- Is there a place to store luggage or belongings during the school year? Over the winter?
- Does my child need to have his/her own computer?
- What is the difference between monitors and advisors?
- What is a prefect?
- What happens if my child has problems with a roommate or in the dorm?
- What should my child bring with him/her to school?
- How does my child do laundry? Is there a service?
- What is Blair's cell phone policy?
- Is driver’s education offered at Blair?
- What is the process for getting working papers for my child if he/she wants to get a summer job?
- When does my child find out who his/her roommate is?
- Can I take my child off campus for dinner?
- Who decides what classes my child will take?
- Does my child have to be involved in sports or an after-school activity?
How does my child get to and from the airport/bus station/train station?
All transportation to airports, train stations and bus stops is arranged through the student life office. Blair uses State Shuttle, a 24-hour service that will take students almost anywhere they need to go. Contact Jon DeJesus at dejesj@blair.edu.
What addresses do I use for mailing and shipping?
Student packages can be sent to Blair beginning August 15.
For student mail, the address is: Student Name, Blair Academy, P.O. Box 600, Blairstown, NJ 07825.
For mail to business or academic offices, the address is: Blair Academy, P.O. Box 600, Blairstown, NJ 07825.
When using UPS, FedEx and other shipping companies, the address is: Student Name, Blair Academy, 2 Park Street, Blairstown, NJ 07825.
What should I do if my child needs to miss a Blair commitment?
For this and all other attendance-related questions, please see our Attendance FAQs page.
What happens if my child becomes sick while at school?
If your child becomes sick, he or she should go to the on-campus J. Brooks Hoffman '36 Health Center. There are beds available if a child needs to stay over. Blair also uses the services of Leroy Nickles, M.D., a specialist in emergency medicine, who comes to Blair for appointments. Blair refers emergency cases to Lehigh Valley Health - Pocono, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, approximately 10 miles away.
What is a community (closed) weekend?
Community (closed) weekends are designed to re-enforce the sense of community at Blair. On these weekends, parents are welcome to visit campus (and to take their children out to eat), but are asked not to request permission for their son/daughter to leave campus otherwise. Refer to the school year calendar for the dates of this year's Community Weekends.
What is the dress code?
Students are expected to dress in a way that respects the standards and academic purposes of the School. Clothing must be neat, clean and in good repair. Footwear is required at all times. The School may make exceptions to the dress code in accordance with sincerely held religious tenets. Students who are out of dress code shall be sent back to their dormitory to change and will receive a tardy mark for their class or meeting attendance.
Class Dress
Respect for the collective academic endeavor and respect for all community members and the School includes attending to appearance. From 7:45 a.m. until the conclusion of the class day when in the dining room and all academic buildings, the following dress code applies:
• Shirts/tops: Collared shirts, tailored blouses, turtlenecks or sweaters that cover the front and back of your torso. Sweatshirts can be worn over an approved top. T-shirts may only be worn with another approved article of clothing (e.g., a vest, sweater or scarf). Sleeveless blouses are acceptable.
• Pants: Khakis, denim jeans without holes or tears or trousers.
• Shorts: must have pockets and be fingertip length or longer. (Shorts are permitted up until October 1 and after May 1.)
• Dresses and skirts: must be fingertip length or longer.
• Hats, caps and hoods must be removed in classroom buildings, in the theater, the library and dining facilities, except in accordance with sincerely held religious tenets.
• Team members may wear parts of their game uniforms to classes on game days with the approval of their coaches.
Formal Dress
On certain occasions, more formal attire is required. Choice of formal dress should be sincere and consistent with the significance of the occasion. For certain family-style dinners and other formal School functions, the following formal dress code applies:
• Sports coat or suit, dress shirt with tie and long trousers.
• More formal dresses, finger-tip length or longer.
• Skirt or dress pants, a blouse or sweater, or blazer.
• Dress shoes, clean sneakers or dress sandals (no flip-flops or slides).
• Any comparable cultural attire.
Items That Do Not Meet Class Dress, Formal Dress, or Dress Down Days
• Any clothing that exposes undergarments.
• Clothing which advertises tobacco, alcohol, or drug products, or which contains inappropriate or vulgar messages.
• Clothing which depicts hate speech targeting groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation or any other protected groups.
Note: Pajamas, flannel pants, sweatpants and athletic attire may be worn on Dress Down Days and outside of the times and occasions defined above.
How does the Blair banking/debit card work?
Blair Academy student debit/ID cards allow students the ability to purchase items in the school store, The Black Canteen and the athletic supply store without the need to use cash. Students may also use this card to withdraw cash from the Student Bank (located in the School Store). There is an online process through mykidsspending.com, a third party administrator, that allows parents to deposit funds into their son's or daughter's debit card account either with a credit card or an electronic check. If you have questions about MyKidsSpending.com, please contact Jo Ellen Redshaw in Blair's business office at (908) 362-6121 ext. 5641 or redshj@blair.edu. Parents can limit how much a student may spend per week, month or term in any particular area.
What do I do if my child becomes homesick?
Some children do experience homesickness, especially in the first few weeks of school. If this happens, encourage your child to get involved! You should also encourage him/her to speak with his/her prefect, dorm head, advisor or monitor. You may contact the dorm head or advisor as well. These people often have a more realistic sense of how your child is doing than he/she does. Support your child, but remember, many phone calls and visits home will usually prolong the homesickness.
What activities are available on the weekends?
Weekend activities range from trips into New York City to fast food runs and trips to the mall. There are also various planned activities on campus including food trucks, the fall festival, international food and cultural events, the always popular "grill and chill" gatherings and more! To view a list of weekend activities, click here.
Is there a place to store luggage or belongings during the school year? Over the winter?
Does my child need to have his/her own computer?
It is strongly recommended that students bring their own computers to Blair. Most students use laptops due to their flexibility and limited dorm space. Both PCs and Macs are suitable choices. Students may also use the computers located in campus buildings, including the Chiang-Elghanayan Center for Innovation and Collaboration, Timken Library and dorm common rooms. High-speed wireless Internet is available in every campus building. For more information, please click here or contact the technology office at tech@blair.edu.
What is the difference between monitors and advisors?
What is a prefect?
What happens if my child has problems with a roommate or in the dorm?
Every effort is made to place students with a compatible roommate. However, roommate issues still arise. Remind your child that good communication is very important, as is respect for each other’s space. If there are still issues, a student or parent can contact the dorm head for further help and guidance on how to deal with problems.
What should my child bring with him/her to school?
Remember that your child will be sharing a relatively small room with another student, so space is limited. View a list of what to bring (and not to bring).
How does my child do laundry? Is there a service?
There are laundry machines in every dorm and there is no charge for their use. All Prep Laundry is an outside service that offers wash and fold, as well as dry cleaning. Pick-up and drop-off days are Mondays and Thursdays. Service can be arranged by contacting Jo Ellen Redshaw in Blair's business office at (908) 362-6121 ext. 5641 or redshj@blair.edu.
What is Blair's cell phone policy?
Students are encouraged to bring a mobile phone to Blair as there are no landline phones in dorm rooms. Additionally, should the need arise, students will be alerted by text of any emergencies on campus. Students must abide by the community standard regarding cell phones. This includes no cell phone usage in the dining hall or while walking between buildings on campus. Freshmen must turn in their cell phones nightly during study hall and before lights out. Parents may contact dorm heads for any after-hours emergencies that may arise.
Is driver’s education offered at Blair?
A driver’s education classroom course is offered in the fall semester at Blair for New Jersey residents only by an outside organization. Behind-the-wheel training can be scheduled independently after successfully completing the classroom course.
For more information, contact Jon DeJesus in the student life office at dejesj@blair.edu.
What is the process for getting working papers for my child if he/she wants to get a summer job?
When does my child find out who his/her roommate is?
Room assignments are not finalized until just prior to the Opening of School. We will endeavor to inform new students of their roommate approximately one week before the start of school. Students who knew each other before coming to Blair are generally not placed together because the experience of learning to live with someone new is both enjoyable and valuable. After their first year, students may choose their roommate for subsequent years.
Can I take my child off campus for dinner?
Who decides what classes my child will take?
As a new student, your child’s course load will be determined by the dean of academics based on grades and classes taken at his or her previous school. You and your child will be asked to decide if and what language and art classes he or she would like to take. After the first year, the student will work with his or her monitor, with guidance from teacher recommendations, to choose classes.
Does my child have to be involved in sports or an after-school activity?
Blair does not have a typical physical education program during the class day; instead, all students are required to be physically active during the afternoon sports period. Freshmen, sophomores and juniors are required to participate in a team sport or team sport equivalent (drama, robotics, dance) minimally two out of the three seasons. They may opt for a physical activity offering (weight training, yoga, etc.) one season per year. Seniors have no team sport requirement but must be involved in an afternoon activity. All freshmen—as well as sophomores new to the School—are required to participate in a team sport during the fall season; experience has taught us that such involvement helps significantly with the adjustment to a new community.
Please contact Anna Andrasek, director of parent engagement, with any additional questions at (908) 362-2035, or andrasa@blair.edu.
Whom Do I Contact?
If you have any questions, we are here to help! Please use this contact list to reach faculty and/or administrators who can assist you.
Please be aware that while faculty are on campus throughout the academic year, many are not on campus during the summer months. If you are unable to reach a faculty member, contact the student life office (908) 362-6121, ext. 5600, or Anna Andrasek, director of parent engagement, at (908) 362-2035, or andrasa@blair.edu.
Academic Issues, Course Changes |
Nathan Molteni, Dean of Academics, (908) 362-3126 |
Advisor Concerns | Ryan Pagotto, Associate Head of School, (908) 362-3106 |
Athletic Program | Paul Clavel, Director of Athletics, ext. 5651, or Danielle Costantino, Athletics Operations Manager, ext. 5650 |
Billing Questions | Cassia DeFrank, Assistant Controller, (908) 362-2026 |
College Counseling | Niki Applebaum ’01, Dean of College Counseling, (908) 362-3122 |
Community Service | Joanne Brandwood, History Department, (908) 362-9352 |
Counseling | Ally Thomas, Director of Counseling, ext. 5687 |
Day Student Issues | Kaye Evans, English Department, ext. 5688 |
Dining Hall Questions | Corey Dorn, General Manager, ext. 5776 |
Financial Aid | Susie Antonelli, Senior Associate Dean of Admission, Director of Financial Aid |
Health Center | Rosalyn Zamora, Director of Health Services, (908) 362-5781 |
Housing Issues | Andee Ryerson, Dean of Students, (908) 362-3118 |
International Student Matters | Ryan Pagotto, Associate Head of School, (908) 362-3106 |
I-20/International Paperwork |
Jon DeJesus, Administrative Assistant, (908) 362-3120 |
Lost and Found | Andee Ryerson, Dean of Students, (908) 362-3118 |
Late or Absent from School |
Kathy Otinsky, Student Life Office, ext. 5600 |
Student Life | Ryan Pagotto, Associate Head of School, (908) 362-3106 Andee Ryerson, Dean of Students, (908) 362-3118 |
Room Maintenance | Dorm Head (see list of Dorm Heads below) |
Technology Concerns | Sam Adams, Director of Technology, (908) 362-2000 |
Travel/Transportation | Jon DeJesus, Administrative Assistant, (908) 362-3120 |
Tutoring/Academic Help | Nathan Molteni, Dean of Academics, (908) 362-3126 |
Dorm Heads
Locke & Ivy Hall | Mackenzie Maguire, (973) 479-7111 |
Annie Hall | Anna Raley, (251) 635-9844 |
Kathryn Hall | Dave Facciani, (702) 818-0883 & Lian Wang, (702) 818-9034 |
South Cottage | Valerie Lohr, (914) 703-7453 |
Insley Hall | Chase Palanca, (908) 451-4267 |
Flight Deck | Nadia Abascal, (301) 789-4225 |
Lakeside Hall | Doug Compton, (860) 604-8234 |
West Hall | Will Harvard, (251) 776-2600 |
Mason Hall | Anders Fogel, (860) 672-5841 |
Freeman Hall | Joe Wagner, (732) 768-1478 |
Hoffman House | Caitlin Dunne, (646) 321-1856 |
Tips for Blair Parents
Physical and Mailing Addresses
Student packages can be sent to Blair beginning August 10.
Physical Address & Private Carrier (UPS, Fed Ex, DHL) Shipping Address:
Blair Academy
2 Park Street
Blairstown, NJ 07825-0600
Google Map
Main Phone Number
(908) 362-6121
Student U.S. Postal Service Mail & Shipping
Blair Academy
Post Office Box 600
Blairstown, NJ 07825-0600
Telephone: (908) 362-6121
Fax: (908) 362-5157
All Other Departments U.S. Postal Service Mail & Shipping
Blair Academy
Post Office Box 600
Blairstown, NJ 07825-0600
Telephone: (908) 362-6121
Fax: (908) 362-5157