"California Boarding School Blog"
Cate School Marks 100 Years and Concludes $65 million Campaign
Congratulations & happy 100th to Cate School. The school celebrates 100 years of students living and learning through founder Curtis Wolsey Cate’s belief in: “…a simple, active life with certain daily chores to be performed; early, cold-water bathing, out of door living and playing; serious studying and reading, choral singing, good music, and a sympathetic attitude [...]
Read MoreThe Webb Schools Use Parent Webinar To Address Teen Risks
Parent-School meetings gone modern- The Webb Schools in Claremont, CA and Campus Outreach Services are in their third year of using webinars to address teen challenges and issues with parents. The webinar format works well for boarding schools with their dispersed parent bodies. Campus Outreach Services brings expertise in teen issues; parents bring their questions [...]
Read MoreIdyllwild Arts Academy Katrina Students Reflect on Finding Steady Ground After the Storm
Back in the fall of 2005 as families fled New Orleans, one of the pressing questions was ‘where will the students of displaced families go to school?’ A little piece of the Katrina diaspora story are the students who found post-storm grounding in boarding schools. Idyllwild Arts Academy opened its arms and wrapped them around [...]
Read MoreEducation is to be Experienced: A Video Tour with The Athenian School Head Eric Niles
Eric Niles, Head of School, at The Athenian School (Danville, CA in the East Bay) takes viewers on a summer campus tour. Campus is quiet and Niles nicely captures what an Athenian education means. Emphasizing a safe and accepting community, Athenian is an upper and lower day school with a boarding program for 9-12 grade [...]
Read MoreTake a Tour of San Domenico School Through the Eyes of Two Appreciative Students
San Domenico School students Abby and Elle (student body president and vice president, respectively) take viewers on a guided tour of San Domenico’s beautiful campus. They talk about the Freshman Foundations program- an integrated humanities curriculum- and provide insight in to the sharing of ideas fostered through use of a Harkness table. Abby and Ellie [...]
Read MoreShowcasing a Bay Area Boarding School! Woodside Priory Head of School Takes you on a Campus Tour
Tim Molak, Woodside Priory School Head, weaves Woodside’s connection to place throughout his campus tour with AdmissionsQuest’s Peter Baron. Woodside’s geography and physical plant help make Woodside an engaged and contemplative community. Woodside’s five Benedictine values- hospitality, spirituality, individuality, community, and integrity- come to life through the school’s campus and programs. Tour highlights include, Founders [...]
Read MoreAn Omission: When Saying “Thank You,” Don’t Forget the Kitchen
I forgot the kitchen. When I finished a piece on the end of the year transitions earlier today, I forgot to mention the kitchen. Luckily, the folks at Midland School jogged my memory with a warm appreciation of the school’s cook, Gloria Murillo. Never underestimate the importance of good food in a boarding school. Good [...]
Read MoreThoughts from a Boarding School Business Office
Boarding school business and financial officers work in the shadows of their academic counterparts. Often their offices are remotely located away from a school’s academic, athletic, and residential life offices reinforcing an implied separateness between the school’s educational mission and monetary realities. With the past couple of years pushing boarding school dollars & sense into [...]
Read MoreDr. David Behrs San Domenico School New Head Of School
San Domenico School, a co-ed PK-8; all girls boarding high school in San Anselmo, CA, has appointed Dr. David Behrs Head of School effective 2 August 2010. Dr. Behrs presently serves as the 15th president of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) in Indiana. Glenn Snyder. San Domenico search committee chair remarks of Dr. Behrs SMWC tenure: [...]
Read MoreStevenson School Senior Shops First Novel While Working on Second
Accomplished Stevenson School senior Alex Welton was recently featured in The Monterey County Herald (Student Author Awaits next Chapter). Welton has finished his first novel Dawn and is currently working on a second novel “set in 1940′s China.” (MCH) A disciplined student, Welton organizes his time and focuses on being productive. He worked at least [...]
Read MoreBenefitting 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 [...]
Read MoreWilliam M. Lowman Idyllwild President and Headmaster Announces Retirement
We recently learned that William Lowman, Idyllwild Arts President/Headmaster and founding head of Idyllwild Arts Academy, a performing arts boarding school, will retire effective June 30, 2010 (correction: June 30, 2011). Mr. Lowman assumed leadership of Idyllwild in 1985 as the school became independent from the University of Southern California. Idyllwild prospered and grew during his [...]
Read MoreGetting 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 [...]
Read MoreStudents at The Webb Schools Experience Thoreau by Disconnecting, Slowing, and Simplifying Their Lives
Students at The Webb Schools (Claremont, CA), in Dr. Gail Lewis’ American Literature class, recently set aside their technology to gain experience and insight into Thoreau’s arguments regarding the transcendent nature of a simple life. Dr. Lewis asked her students to disconnect for 36 hours- not long, but long enough to feel the withdrawal when you’re used [...]
Read MoreOur First Year
After writing frequently last year about our daughter’s search for a boarding school, it seemed timely now to post an entry about how her first year is progressing. Our daughter, now 14, looked at a number of schools last year, both in New England within driving distance of home and in California. The California school [...]
Read More