One of the newest dorms on campus, Cutler Hall already made its mark on the Loomis Chaffee community. From being a student-favorite hangout spot to hosting many enriching events, Cutler is an irreplaceable haven for underclassmen girls who seek to find their place on the Island.
Ms. Skyler Dovi, Social Science faculty and assistant coach of the Girls Varsity Soccer team, serves as the dorm head of Cutler Hall. “I think when it comes down to what makes the dorm special, it is always the people,” Ms. Dovi began. “We have a large amount of turnover because it’s mostly freshmen, but by the end of the year, it always feels like a brand new family.”
For Ms. Dovi, this role has provided opportunities to build relationships outside the classroom. “I think the ability to connect with girls in a more homey setting is a lot of fun, and that’s why I love working as a dorm head.” She continued by recounting memorable experiences. “My pancake nights, when I see students and our faculty children all bond, always make my heart really warm.”
An indispensable part of Loomis Chaffee underclassmen dorms are the junior prefects who reside amongst the young pelicans. They proved to have been an essential helping hand for Ms. Dovi in her management of day-to-day dorm life. Phoebe Tobin ’27 explained, “There are a lot of duties as a prefect and as a junior, especially since it’s about balancing work life, school life, and also being a prefect.” Lily Glasser ’27 added to the conversation by saying, “Overall, I really love Cutler as a dorm, and I think Ms. Dovi is a really good dorm head.” The genuine responses from prefects highlight Cutler Hall’s community-oriented atmosphere.
This atmosphere which Cutler Hall prides itself in has manifested to be vital for first year boarder’s adjustment. Irene Kim ’29 expressed her gratitude towards the seven Cutler dorm parents who, whether living in the dorm or affiliated, have significantly alleviated the transition to the Island. Kim commented, “All the dorm parents are super supportive.” “You can also reach out to the dorm parents for a lot of things,” Sophie Lui ’29 added on. Sophia Zdravchev ’29 brought in a funny moment when she “was having an allergic reaction to a bell pepper and slipped down the stairs to a very concerned dorm parent.”
Special dorm events that Cutler hosts also bring in much laughter and energy. Tobin said, “I really like the birthday celebrations, we had a really great one last night where there was kind of an ice cream bar, and it’s a really great way to bond with the dorm.” Glasser carried on, “I also love dorm olympics and all the dorm events we do. We also had a Cutler dance battle.”
The people who call themselves a Cutler resident, whether former or current, have truly made this dormitory a special home. Ms. Dovi summarized the presence of Cutler Hall with a perfect comment, “All the kids are outside of more rigid circumstances, so they get to relax and have fun and be genuine and be a little silly.”
