"Vermont Academy Blog"
Why Elite High School Basketball Players Flock to New England Prep Schools
At a party over the holidays (in Oxford, MS mind you), boarding schools came into the conversation, then the University of Michigan (via an alumnus), then Mitch McGary; then, before you know it, I was into a quick history and explication of prep school basketball. I shared the role it fills in the pre-collegiate space, [...]
Read MoreNew England Boarding School Basketball Dominates Five Star Preseason Top 25
Basketball is almost here. (College basketball is here; I’ve been to two home games already.) And, as coverage of high school sports and the recruiting game has increased over the years, now, we have year-round prep basketball coverage- so far beyond the old USAToday high school polls that it’s scary. Things have changed. It used [...]
Read MoreCongratulations to AdmissionsQuest Schools in New England Basketball Championships
UPDATED (3/8/11) Girls Basketball: We send congratulations to our AdmissionsQuest schools whose girls basketball teams participated in, and in two cases won, their respective New England championship tournaments. The Class A NEPSAC girls tournament featured three AdmissionsQuest member schools, Tabor Academy (Class A champions), Noble & Greenough, and New Hampton. Class B- Brooks School & [...]
Read MorePrivate School Financial Aid Insights From Six Directors
We recently interviewed six boarding school admission counselors/directors with the question, “what should families keep in mind as they file for financial aid?” Each offers a slightly different take in advising families. Some common themes ring loud and clear. Communicate with the school. Know exactly what each school requires. Document your situation well and honestly. Meet [...]
Read MoreVermont Academy Featured for its Green Initiatives
The blog, Green Is Sexy, highlights Vermont Academy environmental initiatives and policies as part of their CFL Spotlight series. Of course it took me a second to get the CFL reference. VA is on top of their eco-concious practices and policies with a Bottled Water Initiative, composting, recycling, organic and local source movements. Most interesting [...]
Read MoreStudent 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 [...]
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 hard, [...]
Read More“Was this in the job description?”
When Peter Baron asked me to write a few words about my first few months as Head of School here at Vermont Academy, I found myself wondering where to begin. I can say that no words of advice from friends who are sitting heads, nor sessions with the great faculty at the Institute for New [...]
Read MoreBoarding Schools Acting on Climate Change: Blog Action Day 2009
Who would’ve imagined a few years back that you could so easily unite and share thousands of voices and perspectives on a single day. Today, 10/15/2009, Blog Action Day, is dedicated to addressing and covering climate change. As part of Blog Action Day 2009, we’d like to highlight the AdmissionsQuest schools that are working to [...]
Read MoreVermont Academy Head Sean Brennan Chronicles His First 100 Days
In a nod to traditional coverage of the changes, potential, and optimism of a new President of the United States, new Vermont Academy Head of School Sean Brennan will chronicle his first one hundred days in the head’s chair through his own blog- BrennanBits. His installments just started and his first two posts recap his [...]
Read MoreVermont Academy Commits to Carbon Footprint Reduction
On a recent visit to Vermont Academy, I found a school and students dedicated to environmental stewardship. VA student environmental work is beyond anything I participated in or saw during my high school days when students concentrated on bringing recycling to the forefront. VA students are working to raise $40,000 to install a wind turbine [...]
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