Boarding School Students
National Association Director Marks onBoarding School’s 500th Post
Editor’s Note: For our 500th blog post, we invited friend and Independent Educational Consultants Association, Executive Director, Mark Sklarow to comment and reflect on onBoarding Schools’ contributions to families and the larger boarding school community.
Many thanks, Mark, for the kind words.
For those who live, eat and breathe boarding schools on a regular basis, [...]
10,000 Hours to Greatness: Unique Boarding School Programs Teach Every Student Skills for the Future
It has been argued that in order to excel at something or become an expert in a particular discipline, it takes 10,000 hours of work and practice. That is no doubt a great deal of time, which at 2 hours per day would take 13 years to reach.
But for high school students at many [...]
Prep School Admission & Financial Aid Decisions Arrive in the Next Few Days
In prep school admission and financial aid, it’s good to be ready for anything.
With first round admission and financial aid letters due to arrive to families in the next few days, it’s time think about perspectives, plans, and responses depending on the offers you receive from schools.
It’s always best to have one’s ducks in a [...]
Fountain Valley School Builds Global Perspectives into Curriculum
Fountain Valley School recently affirmed and expanded the school’s commitment to diversity and global experiences through the creation of the Global Scholar Diploma Program (GSD).
Program Chair, Dr. Susan Carrese describes the program this way:
“Globalization is a 21st century reality…At FVS we believe it is essential to embrace the world beyond our campus, our borders and [...]
Private School A Special Opportunity- Not A Signifier of Social Status
Peter Baron of AdmissionsQuest forwarded an e-mail to me today from a woman wondering how open her children should be with their peers about their prep school applications and asking whether I thought the parents academic credentials carried any weight in the admissions process.
The question of how open to be is a sensitive one.
Some children [...]
Benefitting from Understanding Fundamental Principles: Midland School Ninth Graders Build Pinhole Cameras
It’s easy to send photo students into the field, digital cameras in hand, to begin their photography studies. It’s quick and easy; go take some pictures.
But the quick and easy assignment skips over some fundamental understandings and history.
In this classically hands-on exercise of progressive education, Midland School 9th graders build pinhole cameras and process their [...]
Getting to Know West Nottingham Academy
Jesse Roberts, West Nottingham Academy, Director of Admission, talks about the opportunities and experiences that set WNA apart.
A small coed boarding school with 120 students, WNA makes relationships paramount- student-student and faculty-student.
WNA, offers the requisite strong academics with the school’s emphasis on relationships and interaction overlaying everything the school does.
“What sets us apart is the [...]
Getting to Know Oldfields School
Parnell Hagerman, Associate Head, Oldfields School explores the practices & perspectives that help Oldfields reach every student in “very significant ways.”
Faculty dedication provides the foundation for the success and achievement for every Oldfields girl. They live their commitment to students through extra time and effort they make each day all the way through to their [...]
Student Tour Guides Take Viewers on a Tour of Vermont Academy
Vermont Academy is a 1:1 tablet school with students using tablet computers in classrooms, throughout the curriculum, and in most of their academic lives. Sophie and Julia show viewers that VA is far more than technology.
VA is very much about its connection to the school’s surroundings and its people.
Getting outside whether through an environmental science [...]
Landmark Students Recognized: 2010 Boston Globe Scholastic Art Awards
Landmark School students received 23 Gold and Silver Keys and Honorable Mentions in this year’s competition which included 6,500 individual and 500 portfolio submissions.
Beth Jamieson, Head of Landmark School’s Art Department said in a school release:
“It is very exciting and affirming for our students to have been recognized by the Boston Globe Scholastic Art & [...]
Student Produced Video Introduces The Hun School
Thanks to The Hun School for sharing this video of their October 2009 open house.
This quick student produced capsule of an admission open house provides families who couldn’t attend with an intro to Hun- from academics, faculty and family connections, and great Hun opportunities.
I love that Hun allowed one of its students to document the [...]
Getting to Know San Domenico School
Stacie Grant, admission officer, introduces San Domenico School.
She describes San Domenico students as involved, well rounded, and passionate. Whether it’s trying new things, pursuing social justice, or contributing to the community, San Domenico lives the school’s mission.
Some interesting details- San Domenico is is the only boarding high school (all-girls) in Marin County and the [...]
Hyde School: Focus on Fundamentals
NBC Connecticut reporter Brad Drazen published a piece titled “A School to Shape Character as Well as Mind.”
While we’ve covered Hyde School quite a bit, one part of Drazens’ article stands out. It provides a succinct, presentation of Hyde’s fundamental belief and teaching that attitude, work ethic, and character provide the foundation from which [...]
Afternoons at Proctor Academy: Many Talents, Many Perspectives
Editor’s note: we’ve covered the benefits & importance of afternoon athletics and activities in several posts. Physical recreation, drama productions, and club meetings provide outlets adding richness and breadth of experience to boarding school students. Kim Hurlbutt of Proctor Academy’s development office contributes this piece presenting Proctor’s thinking on the broadening of afternoon and activities [...]
Read MoreGetting to Know Vermont Academy
Sean Brennan, Vermont Academy’s Head of School talks about the strengths and underlying values of VA that he has come to understand during his first year as head.
Relationships knit VA into a tight community. VA students benefit from healthy relationships with involved adults. Everyone helps; kids help; adults help. Paraphrasing Brennan- Everyone working [...]
