Parent/Guardian Hosting Guidelines
Host Family Program
The Host Family Program is a way for parents of Milton students who live near campus to give boarding students a “home away from home.” Each year, some students may experience loneliness as they make the transition to boarding life, or simply miss the easy downtime of being in a family home away from the busy pace of campus life. Some students may also need a place to stay should their travel plans necessitate an early arrival to or a delayed departure from campus. The Host Family helps to make these transitions easier and offers the students a local home for overnight accommodations, out-of-dorm downtime or welcome treats.
Detailed information about requesting a host family or serving as a host family can be found in the parent/guardian MyMilton account, under Enrollment ->Summer Forms.
Hosting Milton Boarding Students
Milton has long benefited from, and is most grateful for, the hospitality extended to boarding students by parents and friends living in the vicinity. Those who host students share responsibility with the school for the students under their care. Therefore the school requires:
- Parents who wish to entertain a boarding student must extend a personal invitation in advance to the head of the student’s house, or duty person.
- When day student drivers are involved, travel during unusually late hours should be avoided.
- Proper adult supervision, preferably by parents, must be provided for all student gatherings.
- For any gathering that involves 10 or more students, day or boarding, parents must follow the guidelines detailed under Large Gatherings (see below) well in advance of the planned date.
- Parents hosting students may not give a boarding student permission to alter off-campus plans; all changes should be cleared through the house parent on duty in the student’s house.
Massachusetts Social Host Law
In Massachusetts, anyone who provides alcoholic beverages for a minor can be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and may also be held liable for injuries suffered by a minor who is a guest (Massachusetts Social Host Law).
Alcohol may not be served at gatherings where students are present. Boarding students under the school’s jurisdiction may not attend events at which alcohol is served. Parents must also make clear to attendees that the School’s drug and alcohol policy will be enforced.
Parents considering an invitation for their child to attend a party are encouraged to call the host to be reassured that adults will be present. As a matter of safety, the school encourages parents to always impress upon their children the importance of refusing to ride in a car with a driver who has been drinking or using drugs. Students are reminded that friendship includes dissuading a friend from using alcohol or drugs and from driving under the influence.
Large Gatherings
Parents planning a party, (e.g. team party, birthday, etc.) that involves 10 or more students, day or boarding, must communicate with the Deans’ Office well in advance.
We expect that parents planning to host a gathering of 10 or more students adhere to the following guidelines:
- Provide a plan for adult supervision for gathering, whether it be hosting at home or in a different venue. The school recommends a ratio of 12:1 student to adult.
- Provide a guest list of all students, boarding or day, attending.
- Provide a plan for transportation. Hosts must plan to provide transportation for boarding students both to and from the party. Transportation must align with each student’s parental permissions as documented on the forms submitted to the deans’ office.
- Limit the number of guests; “open” parties can quickly get out of control.
- Hosts should not allow alcohol or drugs to be brought into the home.
Once the information above has been provided, the deans’ office will communicate with the house staff to notify each house the gathering has been approved.