Dear Brooks International Students and Families,

Welcome to Brooks, and welcome back to campus soon! I hope you are beginning to feel connected to our community. To welcome our international students and families, especially those who are new to Brooks, we warmly invite you to the:

International Student & Family Welcome Reception
Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 12 to 12:30 p.m.
Keating Room in Wilder Dining Hall (#16 on the map)

Head of School John Packard, members of the administrative team and other members of the Brooks community will join us. This will be a wonderful opportunity to meet one another and connect with people across the Brooks community who are here to welcome and support you. We look forward to seeing you there!

To help us better support international students and families this year, please take a few minutes to complete the International Student and Family Support Check-In Form. Your feedback will help us continue strengthening international student support at Brooks.

Throughout the year, I will share information about school breaks, personal-growth opportunities, passport and visa matters. Please click here for detailed information about school breaks and when dormitories open and close. Please note that students may not remain in the dormitories beyond the times listed in this document. Thank you for your partnership and understanding.

Please feel free to reach out directly at any time with questions, concerns or ideas. I'm here to listen and help. We look forward to supporting your students throughout the school year! Wish you a joyful and rewarding year ahead.

Warm regards,
Amy Wang P'28, P'28 (she/her)
Director of International Student Support and Global Initiatives
World Language Department
Brooks School
wwang@brooksschool.org

Dear International Students and Families,

I hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer and finding time to relax, travel and spend time with family and friends. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back to Brooks for another exciting school year!

Action Required: Please complete the International Student Arrivals – Fall 2026 Google Form no later than Friday, August 14. (Click here to view a PDF copy of the form for reference.)

The information you provide is essential for helping us prepare for your arrival, coordinate move-in and ensure a smooth and welcoming start to the school year for all international students.

If your travel plans change after you submit the form, please let me know as soon as possible so we can update our records.

Please note that Wednesday, September 2, is the earliest date international students may arrive on campus. We are unable to accommodate arrivals before September 2. The school will share additional move-in details in August as we get closer to the start of the school year.

If you have any questions about your travel plans, arrival, immigration documents or returning to campus, please don't hesitate to reach out. I'm always happy to help.

We look forward to welcoming new and returning international students to campus. Safe travels, and enjoy the rest of your summer!

Warmly,

Amy Wang P'28, P'28 (she/her)
Director of International Student Support and Global Initiatives
World Language Department
Brooks School
Email: wwang@brooksschool.org

June 3, 2026

Dear International Families,

As we conclude another successful school year, I would like to thank you for your partnership and support. We are proud of all that our international students have accomplished this year and wish your family a safe, restful, and enjoyable summer.

To help ensure a smooth return to the United States and Brooks in the fall, we held our End-of-Year International Student Meeting on May 28 and distributed the International Student Summer Travel & Re-entry Guidance document to students. Please take a few minutes to review it with your student before traveling.

The document includes important information regarding:

• Required travel and immigration documents, including the I-94 record
• Form I-20 travel signatures
• Travel recommendations and re-entry preparation
• Emergency contact information
• School contacts available to assist students and families

A Few Important Reminders

Travel Documents

Students should travel with original immigration documents in their carry-on luggage, including:

• A valid passport
• A valid F-1 visa
• A signed Form I-20
• A printed copy of their most recent I-94 record

Before leaving campus, students should verify that their Form I-20 travel signature will remain valid when they return to the United States. If there are any questions regarding travel documents or immigration records, please contact Sheila Konovalchik or me as soon as possible.

Summer Internships, Employment, Research and Volunteer Opportunities

International students in F-1 status are subject to federal immigration regulations regarding internships, employment, research positions, and certain volunteer activities in the United States.

If your student is considering any internship, employment, research, or volunteer opportunity in the U.S. this summer, please encourage them to consult with me before participating. While many opportunities may be permissible, we would like to help students verify their plans in advance and avoid any unintended impact on their F-1 status.

Fall Travel and Return to Campus

International travel can occasionally involve delays, additional questioning, or other unexpected circumstances. While Brooks students have not experienced re-entry issues in the past, we believe it is important to prepare students for uncommon situations and ensure they know what to do and whom to contact if questions arise.

Throughout the summer, we will continue to monitor developments that may affect international students and will update this page as needed. If questions arise, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Thank you again for your partnership and trust. We wish your family safe travels and a wonderful summer. Our goal is to support students and families throughout the summer and help ensure a smooth return to campus in September.

Warm regards,

Amy Wang P'28, P'28
Advisor of International Student Support and Global Initiatives
World Language Department

February 6, 2026

Dear Brooks School International Families,

I hope this message finds you well at the start of the second semester. I am writing to share a brief note of reassurance and connection. At Brooks, we have always been attentive to the policies, procedures and broader contexts affecting our international students, and we continue to monitor developments thoughtfully and carefully.

Our priority remains unchanged: to ensure that our international students feel supported, secure and fully engaged in their academic and residential life at Brooks. We have established practices in place to support students’ documentation, travel and well-being, and we regularly review our internal protocols to stay prepared, informed and responsive as needed.

As some students will continue to travel off campus during the remainder of the semester, including over Spring Break, we encourage students to carry required government-issued and school-issued identification (or have clear digital copies readily accessible) along with immigration-related documents, such as a passport, I-20, current school ID or state-issued ID.

As a reassuring note, during our busiest travel period of the year, the Winter Term, none of our international students experienced difficulties, disruptions or unexpected inquiries during travel. We view this as encouraging and comforting news.

We also work closely across school departments to provide clear guidance to students and to ensure they know who to contact if questions or concerns arise. Our approach is rooted in calm preparation, open communication and care for each student.

Please know that Brooks remains a stable, supportive environment where international students can focus on learning, growing and thriving. If you ever have questions or would like to connect, I am always happy to do so. I look forward to seeing or meeting many of you this semester.

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership.

Warm regards, Amy Wang P'28, P'28
Advisor of International Student Support and Global Initiatives
World Language Department

Dear Brooks International Families, I hope this message finds you well. Thanksgiving Break is coming up soon! To help students plan in alignment with school expectations, the students and I had an information meeting on Nov. 8. We covered these topics at our meeting: • Departure and Return Times Students may leave school after their final commitment (class or activity) on Friday, Nov. 21. The earliest return time for boarding students is 12 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 1. Any return after noon is perfectly fine. Boarders must return to campus by 9 p.m. • Travel reminders Students should carry their I-20 forms and identification (such as a passport) when traveling. • Options for Thanksgiving Break For students who are looking for programs or activities during the break, here are a few options for consideration: Cogito World Education Presidential Youth Leadership Initiative (PYLI) • The first semester and how it has been going for students What has been working well? Which parts have been challenging? What kind of support is needed moving forward? • International Student Conference (ISC) and workshop proposals ISC is an affinity conference for high school students in New England independent schools who identify as international. This year the conference is on Feb. 1, 2026. I’m here to help ensure your students have a smooth and successful experience at Brooks. If you need any support or have any feedback, please feel free to reach out to me anytime.  Warm regards, Amy Wang P'28, P'28 Advisor for International Student Support and Global Initiatives World Language Department

Dear Brooks International Students and Families, Welcome to Brooks, and welcome back to campus soon! I hope you are already starting to feel connected to our community. As the Advisor of International Student Support and Global Initiatives, I am excited to meet you soon and to be a resource alongside your advisors, dorm parents and the supportive community. My goal is to ensure your time at Brooks is not only successful academically but also personally enriching, meaningful and full of memorable experiences. To help your students, especially those who are new to Brooks, settle in, we will hold a Welcome Reception for International Students and Families on September 4, from 12:30–1 p.m. in the admission building. Head of School John Packard, Associate Head of School Nina Freeman, Director of Student Affairs Ingrid Knowles, Director of Family Engagement and Giving Mary Merrill, Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Rev. Terri Ofori and other community members will join me at the reception. I warmly invite you and your students to attend, meet one another and connect with people who will be there to greet you. Throughout the year, I will share information about breaks, personal growth opportunities and assist with any passport or visa matters. Please feel free to reach out anytime with questions, ideas or concerns. I am here to support you. I am truly looking forward to meeting you in September and wish you a joyful, rewarding and inspiring school year ahead! Warm regards, Amy Wang, P'28, P'28 Advisor of International Student Support and Global Initiatives World Language Department

Dear Brooks Families,

We understand that recent updates to U.S. visa policies for international students may be causing concern as you prepare for the upcoming school year at Brooks. Please know that we are keeping abreast of changes and attempting to provide guidance to you as this situation continues to develop.

As of last week, the U.S. government restarted the suspended process of applying for student visas. However, all applicants will now be required to unlock their social media accounts for review.

Although the temporary pause has been restarted, it remains important that all students and families ensure that passports and required documentation are current and in order. This includes verifying your student’s passport expiration date before applying for your I-20 or preparing to reenter the U.S. for the 2025–2026 school year. Passports should be valid for at least six months beyond the planned arrival date, though we recommend ten months to be safe.

Additionally, please be aware that visa applicants will be asked to provide information about their social media activity. We recommend that students be thoughtful about their online presence and prepared to share social media handles with immigration officials when and if requested.

If you have any questions or concerns about how these developments may impact your student’s arrival to Brooks, please do not hesitate to reach out to:

Ingrid Knowles, director of student affairs,
Sheila Konovalchik, SEVIS, DSO
Weijia "Amy" Wang, advisor for international student support and global initiatives, Chinese teacher