Our Community
You belong here. The people you will meet at VES will welcome you with genuine warmth and enthusiasm. There is something special about our community that will make you feel as though you have always been a part of our family.
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be Yourself
We value each student for their individual strengths. There isn’t one ideal “VES Student." Our responsibility is to support your individual growth and help you achieve your own unique goals. We will celebrate you for who you are and meet you where you are from day one.
Find your lifelong friends
Friendships form fast at VES. Strangers you meet for the first time on pre-season playing fields will become your best friends and may end up standing beside you at your wedding or serving as the godparent of your child.
The friends you make at VES will stick together and stay in touch through good times and bad. Boarding school teachers, your mentors and role models, also will become friends and confidants as the years pass.
take risks
True growth comes from embracing challenges and daring to step out of your comfort zone. We encourage you to prioritize effort over talent, knowing that perseverance and resilience are the keys to unlocking your full potential. At VES, your achievements are celebrated not just as outcomes, but as milestones of courage, where each step forward is a testament to your willingness to face vulnerability head-on.
Join our family
Become part of a Bishop network that includes distinguished chefs, lawyers, and photographers; professional athletes and teachers; MacArthur Genius Fellows, television personalities, and individuals making extraordinary contributions to nonprofits, medicine, and business.
VES alumni include everyone from a former judge to the International Court of Justice at The Hague to the father of American modern dance, stunt doubles, members of The Cabinet of the United States, and a past White House Chief of Staff. At VES, you will join a rich history and tradition that will make you proud.
A Day in the Life
8:00AM
Breakfast
Weekday breakfast includes a hot buffet, fresh fruit, yogurt and granola, oatmeal, smoothie bar, and a waffle station.
8:45AM
Class BeginS
Class starts at 8:45 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Class starts at 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday.
12:30PM
Lunch
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are open, buffet-style lunch. Tuesday and Thursday have a more structured seating arrangement, where students eat with their advisory group or an assigned student group across grade levels.
4:00PM
AFternoon Activities
All students at VES are required to participate in afternoon activities. Afternoon activities include athletics practices and competitions, a variety of fine and performing arts offerings, intramural sports, and strength and conditioning sessions.
5:30PM
Dinner & FREE TIME
Dinner is served in the dining hall from 5:30-6:30 p.m. During this period, students have an opportunity to connect with friends, catch up with faculty members and their families, attend club meetings, and enjoy some unstructured time on campus before study hall. Oftentimes, day students will remain on campus into the evening to attend home athletic competitions, enjoy time with their friends, and meet with teachers.
8:00PM
Study Hall
Study hall is a time to complete homework, prepare for tests, seek outside help from on-campus faculty and Learning Resources, and collaborate on group projects. For underclassmen, this time is more structured; faculty and student leaders supervise each study environment and phones are collected. Upperclassmen manage study hall for themselves with some faculty supervision in order to prepare them for greater independence in college. Day students are welcome on campus during study hall for group work and study sessions.
9:30PM
Free hour
The final hour before lights out is a good time to do laundry, clean up your room, grab some food, and connect with your family. On occasion, dorm parents will organize group activities during this time.
10:45PM
In-Room and Lights out
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Explore Student Life
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Meet the Team
Silvia Gates
Assistant Dean of Students for Student Activities & International Students
School:
(434) 385-3653
Lelia Smith
Assistant Dean of Students for Residential Life | Spanish Teacher
School:
(434) 385-3730