Category: Parents

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Parents

Why Middle Schoolers’ Brains Need Junior Boarding School

Junior Boarding Works for Tween Brains

We all want what’s best for our middle schoolers. And that just may be boarding school. Here’s why it works for their rapidly developing brains.  

As mysterious as other galaxies and as beautiful as an original Monet, the brains of our tweens often make us scratch our own heads. These quickly maturing creatures are starting to decide what kind of academic life may suit them best. So, what do we know about middle schoolers that may help us set them in the right direction? And is that right direction by way of junior boarding school? It just might be!

 

Risks and Rewards

Hormonal fluctuations and the burgeoning limbic system are wreaking havoc on the reward centers of tweens’ brains. They’re more likely to act impulsively and less likely to think critically. Junior boarding environments provide the right amount of structure while also fostering the independence necessary to create responsible young adults.

Indian Mountain School (Lakeville, Connecticut)

 

Positive Peer Pressure

An obsession with the “in group” is never quite as strong as it is in those early adolescent years. We can’t avoid the concept of peer pressure, but we can work to ensure that the influential community is one of acceptable encouragement and support. Highly specialized staff and like-minded students create a safe space for students to celebrate their diversity while sharing their commonalities.

Fay School (Southborough, Massachusetts)

 

Enriched Extracurriculars

There are a number of reasons you may be considering junior boarding school, and if the incredible access to sports, arts and activities isn’t one of them, it should be! It’s too early for our young children to devote their hearts and energy to one activity, and junior boarding schools allow them to explore all of their options. Additionally, boarding schools often boast top-caliber extracurricular programs, so if your young teen has identified a talent, they can truly dive into an exceptional learning environment.

Cardigan Mountain School (Canaan, New Hampshire)

 

A Sense of Citizenship

It’s never too early to impart the importance of stewardship to our children. Teenagers are often accused of being lazy or ambivalent, and perhaps we have some evidence to support that perception, but we believe that they’ll rise to meet the standards which are set for them. We also believe it may be easier for adults who aren’t mom or dad to encourage that kind of citizenship. (It’s not your fault, parents! It’s their brain’s aversion to doing what they’re told.) Boarding schools are known for an emphasis on building community, and each student is an integral component of a successful school campus.

Bement School (Deerfield, Massachusetts)

 

Academics, Obviously

We can all agree that the only thing changing faster than our teenagers’ minds are, well, their brains. Entering a rigorous academic curriculum at an early age will set them up for success not just in high school or college, but in all of their future endeavors. At junior boarding school, they’ll be surrounded by motivated, bright students and brilliant, supportive educators helping them reach their full potential—and then some.

Hillside School (Marlborough, Massachusetts)

 

If the age-old adage, “If everyone jumped off a bridge, would you?” is apropos for any group, it’s young adults. Putting your tween in a place where you can trust that their futures will be fostered is one way to use that premise to your advantage. After all, learning is contagious.

Discover junior boarding schools near you: readyformore.com/find-a-school

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Military Schools Parents

The Structure to Succeed: How Military Schools are Creating Future Leaders

Learning to Lead at Military Academy

Military boarding schools are known for their structure, but some other advantages may surprise you.

Military boarding schools have a distinct reputation for building character, instilling discipline and demanding structure; all critical life skills. But it’s more than that. These schools go far beyond grooming soldiers, they’re cultivating a well-rounded citizen of the world to whom others can look to for leadership.

 

Discipline & Structure

The natural hierarchy in military schools allows students to understand the importance of a chain of command and respecting authority. It also provides opportunities for your child to experience true leadership opportunities. Guided along the way, military boarding school students are required to lead their peers in a responsible and respectful way.

“The opportunities I’ve had here are unreal. I learned how to follow, I learned how to lead, and those leadership skills will translate anywhere.” —Patrick Shanahan, Culver Academies in Indiana.

 

Time Management & Accountability

Sure, all boarding schools require their students to independently manage their schedules, but not all of them offer the rigor of a military academy. With dedicated daily itineraries and the required morning and evening formations, students quickly learn how to be where they’re supposed to be, when they’re supposed to be.

“It was here that I learned to carry myself like a man should, to accept responsibility for all my actions, and to appreciate everything and everyone around me as the valuable and unique entity they are.” —Scott Briggs, Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia.

 

Citizenship and Character

A constant theme in military academies, these students are taught, above all, that respect is a requirement of every day and every interaction.

“The academics and college prep aspect here are phenomenal, but above all the academy helps these young men and women build self-confidence. Any child after two years at Farragut can walk up to any adult and look them straight in the eye and shake their hands. This firm foundation of being able to show respect, integrity and high self-esteem is embodied in the military values taught to our children here.”— Dr. Majed Fackih, Admiral Farragut Academy in Florida.

 

Honor and Courage

Every military story has a common theme: one of honor and courage. Unbelievable bravery in the face of intense (often dangerous) adversity. Learning to stand strong, especially in the hardest moments, requires a great amount of guidance and practice. Students at military boarding schools are held to the highest standards and are mentored to maintain those standards even in the pressures of the real world.

“We feel good knowing that our son is in a place that teaches strong values and work ethic. The teachers encourage curiosity and exploring ideas. The service aspect is one that will carry our boy throughout his whole life; serving others in humility makes us all one.” —Annie Rosser Snider, TMI The Episcopal School of Texas

To learn more about the boarding school experience, visit testimonials.

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Parents Students

Boarding Schools Are Nothing Like You See on TV. (And That’s a Good Thing.)

Boarding School in the Media

Is boarding school really like what you see on TV? We tackle the most common (and untrue) myth about boarding schools.

Okay, so the campuses may be just as beautiful with lush ivy adorning brick and limestone architecture. But, without the wizarding curricula or throngs of contemptuous, gossipy teens, what is boarding school really like, anyway? Who roams the halls? What is campus life like in and out of the classroom? And, most importantly, is it a safe, enriched environment that will help your child grow?

We’re here to cut out the guesswork and tackle the most common (and untrue) myth about boarding schools. 

 

Boarding schools are not “just for” any one kind of student—boarding schools are for everyone.

Whether you’re looking to expand your child’s cultural horizons, empower them to focus on STEM, or introduce them to independent life before college, there is a boarding school out there suited to meet your family’s needs. We compiled a list of the top five advantages of boarding school—no surprise, they’re all centered on the premise of opportunity.

Simply stated, the dated and inaccurate perceptions that boarding schools are made up solely of troubled kids or very wealthy families couldn’t be further from the truth. Inclusivity is at the heart of boarding school. After all, it is the only high school experience where a student lives, works, learns and plays among a community of their peers.

Boarding schools encourage collaboration and understanding in a supportive and challenging environment—for every student who walks through the doors. The sense of community doesn’t just serve students well on a personal level, it prepares them to be successful as they enter a diverse real world. Many of North America’s top executives and most forward-thinking minds got their start in a boarding school.

Vimeo’s chief executive officer, Anjali Sud, was a student at Phillips Andover Academy before she went on to study finance and management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Sud then received her MBA from Harvard Business School and has been blazing trails ever since.

 

“I think that when you are pushed outside of your comfort zone, you get off that learning curve so much faster and you develop as a leader so much faster,” Sud says.

 

Sud and many others like her are proof that it doesn’t matter from where you come, it matters where you’re going. The Association of Boarding Schools is here to help your child get there.

Find the school that’s right for your family. 

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Parents

Letting Her Go

How Can You Set Your Child Up for Success in School and In Life?

With a one-of-a-kind education. You know their potential, we help them find their purpose.

By Trish Fogarty

I dropped her off at boarding school for her 8th-grade year, knowing she would be there for two years. She was 13 and we were both soaked with tears by the time we said our goodbyes.

In the weeks that followed, many friends and acquaintances asked me why I would send her away. So many women said, “I would never send my daughter away.”

I understood how puzzling it may have seemed to other people, and I spent many conversations talking about why and how, and I realized I was making excuses, as if I had to defend myself. I think I worried that people would think less of me, they would think it must have been easy for me to do, or they would think I was a bad Mom.

After too much time making excuses my response became this:

“Don’t ever say you would NEVER do something, because the very thing you said you would never do, could be the EXACT thing that your child needs.”

Each and every day she was gone I missed her. Each and every time we were together was great, until we had to say goodbye, and then we cried. We spent time on the phone just about every day, the number of text messages we exchanged over the past two years must be in the millions! I made many trips to see her, to watch her play in her sports and to see her on stage. I brought her home for every holiday and vacation, and many an extra weekend or day, here and there, just because!

On her first day, I dreamed of the day she would graduate from the 9th grade at Rectory and knew that I would be so proud of her. That day would be my payoff. I told myself that on that day, I would know that I had made the right decision. Thinking of graduation day always made the days without her at home seem bearable.

Tomorrow is graduation day and the funny thing is, I figured out a long time ago that I had made the right decision.

Daughter graduating from boarding school

I knew when she got her first A, and I knew when she made the honor roll her first time. I knew when I went to Parents’ Weekend and she scored the goals in soccer. I knew when she was voted captain of her basketball team, as an 8th grader. I knew each time she called to tell me something that she just couldn’t wait to tell me! I knew when she was asked to be a proctor for the summer program and was voted by her teachers to proctor a girls’ dorm this year. I knew when she signed up for her African drumming class, and I knew when she read The Perfect Pebble and was so impressed to have the author come to speak at school. I knew when she decided to learn to play the guitar, and I knew when she was excited to write her reflection paper for her final exam in literature class.

When my child, who could not read until the 5th grade, who was afraid to be called on by her teachers or asked to read, and never wanted to have anything to do with the written word, called to tell me she had auditioned to be the narrator and a part of the chorus in the spring musical and then took the stage with such poise and confidence, I knew.

 

I knew I had made the right decision.

Tomorrow is a big day for me and for her. I will be sad to watch her say goodbye to friends and teachers, but will be so happy to move her and her things back home! I am not sure where she will be come September, but I am sure that wherever she goes she will be strong and confident and I know that she will succeed!

I let her go because I love her.

Ready to learn more? Get started at Contact TABS.

Editor’s Note: Trish Fogarty posted this story to her Facebook page the night before her daughter Margaret graduated from The Rectory School. Since then her son Patrick and daughter Kathleen have also joined Rectory’s family. Rectory shared this story with Trish’s permission; TABS is pleased to re-post with Trish’s permission as well.

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Parents

5 Things That Give Boarding School Students an Edge in College

Two boarding school students working together at a computer

Should You Choose Boarding School for Your Child?

Here are 5 things to consider when setting them up for success in college—and beyond.

Thinking about sending your son or daughter off into the real world can be a bit scary.

The good news is that you’ve already started considering a future in which they will thrive. The better news is that we’ve put together a quick checklist of things you can do now that will set them up for success as they head to the best colleges in the country.

How will they manage? Who will wash their laundry or make their lunch? Who will balance their budget or help with their resume? Who will make sure their stuffed animal makes its way into their bed each night? Spoiler alert: them! They can, will and want to be independent.

Fostering this innate independence at every level is at the core of a boarding school education. Whether it’s getting to class on time, self-managing a busy school and extracurricular schedule, or cohabitating with a group of their peers, students who spend their high school experience in a boarding school setting are 78 percent more likely to feel confident in college and beyond, compared to only 36 percent of private day students and just 23 percent of public school students. Establishing independence early is critical for future success.

 

1. Budgeting Basics

According to a 2018 study by T. Rowe Price, 88 percent of young adults rely on the financial education they received in high school to make decisions in adulthood. Eighty-six percent feel it should be taught in all schools, and 84 percent are glad they received financial education when they were younger. Those are numbers that don’t lie.

Not only are boarding schools more likely to have a robust economic curriculum, the low teacher-to-student ratio (1:12) will ensure that your student is not only exposed to these important money lessons but comprehends and retains them. Your child will also get to put these skills into practice by budgeting for solo shopping excursions. They may even teach you how to save a few dollars at Target (though we know that’s nearly impossible).

Two boarding school students working together at a computer

 

2. Cultural Consciousness

Developing a worldview isn’t an accident. You’ve spent their youth teaching them about different cultures; maybe traveling to other countries, tasting exotic cuisines, learning new languages. But there’s no match for an experience that is at once immersive, inclusive and diverse.

American boarding schools offer a variety of curricula to suit the social activist, the culturally curious, the student who is ready to change the world. It starts by learning and living among a diverse student body and is extended by providing unique opportunities to participate in culturally relevant activities. Most boarding schools have students from 30+ countries. So students are encouraged to have open and honest dialogues while being mentored by teachers and administrators.

Two boarding school students laughing together

 

3. Healthy Habits

It’s no secret that the earlier a child adopts a healthy habit, the more likely they are to maintain it into adulthood. From a well-balanced diet and personal hygiene to a good night’s sleep and fitness regimen, countless studies have been conducted about the importance of establishing a foundation early on in life.

Boarding school environments ease the transition into college by offering autonomous daily living with the support of a knowledgeable staff to guide students in a healthy direction. Schools are well equipped with health and wellness facilities, nutritious dining options and, most importantly, the space for a child to grow into these habits naturally.

Boarding school student playing tennis

 

4. Time Management

College can present a rude awakening to students who are used to having parental reminders for important dates you know, like, college application deadlines. One’s ability to succeed is undeniably linked to one’s ability to properly plan and execute. Time management is perhaps the most crucial skill teens must acquire before heading into the real world.

In a self-regulated space, like a boarding school, students quickly learn how to manage their days and nights. Living among their friends and peers will help them learn how to prioritize their time in a way that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.

Two boarding school students working in the classroom

 

5. Relationship Building

The social pressures for teens are mounting at record speed. With constant connectivity through technology, teens talk to each other all day but rarely seem to communicate. According to Pew Research, 95 percent of teens have access to a smartphone, with half being online “almost constantly.”

While teens are advancing their technological prowess, they’re losing the ability to connect on an empathic, personal level. Worse, they don’t understand how critical those skills are to creating healthy personal and professional relationships. Boarding schools allow students to live within their society, not just viewing it from behind a glowing screen.

Group of boarding school students hanging out together

Learn more or kick-start your student’s boarding school journey at Contact TABS.

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Parents

What It Takes To Get Into The Best Colleges

Does Your Student Have What it Takes?

Preparation for college and beyond starts with innovative curricula, a personalized learning experience and real-world challenges. Ready For More?

You played classical music for them while they were in the womb. You read to them each night and let them read to you early, and often. You encouraged and motivated, edited and assured, and before you could blink, high school appeared on the horizon. And, just beyond that, college looms, foreboding and important.

While the future may be uncertain, you know one thing for sure, your children have the power to do big, great, amazing things—and they know it. A new study by Junior Achievement and Ernst & Young revealed that 91% of teens know what they want to do in the future or, at least, they think they do.

So, how do you set them up for success in education and in life?

More than a number

The first thing to do is recognize that getting into college isn’t just about a GPA and exemplary test scores. Your student will need to demonstrate a passion and the dedication to pursue that passion. Their resume might start in the classroom, but it needs to extend far beyond school walls and reflect a willingness to learn.

Well-rounded—and then some

The best way to position your child to both have the space to explore their passions and get a well-rounded education is to find a school that serves their goals without neglecting their educational foundation. North America’s boarding schools boast some of the best focused programs in the world. From athletics and the arts to science, technology and politics—it’s never too early to start honing professional skills.

“World-class academics, amazing teachers, and like-minded students set your child up for an incredible future in whatever area they want to pursue.”

The importance of independence

Beyond the endless opportunities that a boarding school education provides is a foundation that is rooted in self-motivation, regulation and independence. In fact, in The Association of Boarding Schools study, 78% of boarding students reported feeling prepared for the social, independence and time management rigors of college. Contrast that with just 23% of public school students and 36% of private-day students, and it’s an overwhelming competitive edge.

 

Parents know best

At the end of the day, nobody knows your child or what they need better than you do. A boarding school experience could be the boost they need to flourish into the student—and adult—that will do big, great, amazing things.

Explore boarding school or jumpstart their future at readyformore.com/connect.

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Parents

10 Myths About Boarding School Debunked

Myth Vs. Fact

More engaged. More empowered. More than ready to take on the world. Here’s the truth about boarding school.

Where and how your child learns can greatly impact their chances for success. A boarding school education can be a superior alternative when considering schools. Here, we’ve compiled the most common misperceptions about boarding school from parents. Browse through them to learn the truth and discover more about boarding school.

MYTH: Boarding schools are very rigid and formal, and my son/daughter will have to wear a uniform every day.

FACT: Each school has a unique campus look and feel, and level of formality. Not all schools require uniforms. Some schools maintain a level of formality because it’s a special tradition on campus. For instance, dining together for “family style” meals, where students serve their table of peers and faculty, just like they would at home. Visiting several school campuses will be critically important to get a glimpse of what campus life would look like and feel like for you and your child.

MYTH: Parents only send their kids to school because they have an unhappy home, or are punishing them.

FACT: Boarding school presents an alternative learning environment where happy, well-adjusted kids thrive. A loving home life is a wonderful springboard to boarding school, and allows each student to grow and learn in a new environment, becoming more independent and confident. Kids who are looking for more challenges academically, more diverse friends and more opportunities to try new sports or activities see boarding school as the opportunity of a lifetime.

MYTH: My child will get into an Ivy League university if they attend boarding school.

FACT: No school – private or otherwise – can guarantee that. While many boarding school graduates do attend Ivy League schools and other prestigious schools, there are no promises for Ivy League acceptance. What we can guarantee is that the character, independence and critical thinking skills that a boarding school education instills allow students to adjust more quickly and seamlessly to university life.

MYTH: Without parental supervision, boarding school students are more likely to get involved in drinking and drugs than kids who live at home.

FACT: Not according to research. In fact, 95 percent of boarding school students say that their social lives do not revolve around drugs and alcohol, compared to 82 percent of private day and public school students. Along with having ethics standards and codes of honor, your child will be surrounded by like-minded peers who care about education and being the best student/person they can be.

MYTH: There is little to no free time each day for students to relax and just hang out with their friends at boarding school.

FACT: Each school is unique, and while most weekdays are fairly structured, there is typically an hour or two of free time each evening. Some schools have Saturday morning classes. But there are many opportunities and events in dorms and classes as well for students to just be teenagers and relax among friends.

MYTH: Boarding schools that have “chapel” are forcing students to adopt a faith.

FACT: At most boarding schools, there are students from all over the world, and from many faiths. Time during chapel is a tradition at most boarding schools, but it is not necessarily religious in nature. Chapel is a class period during which faculty and students gather to talk about the week ahead, listen to guest speakers, present talks to the group, or be uplifted by programming that is intended to educate and inspire.

MYTH: Parents of boarding school students can’t be involved because they’re so far away.

FACT: Not true. Each school has different programs for parental involvement and interaction, but all schools recognize the critical role that parents play in their child’s development during their school years. There are typically many opportunities to visit campus and catch up with your child. While some schools do have policies against cell phone and social media usage, we find that those students quickly adapt to a new schedule full of interesting activities and rarely miss their devices.

MYTH: In our 21st-century world of technology, modern classrooms and real-world learning, boarding schools can’t provide anything that the local high school can’t.

FACT: Along with having all-day access to the latest technology, boarding school students receive more access to their teachers (who spend every day with your child, and often represent their dorm family) and are afforded more hands-on, real-world learning opportunities, like mission trips abroad to provide water to communities, composing the score for the school musical, or chopping wood to heat living quarters.

MYTH: Boarding school students have no one advocating for them, or helping them resolve issues when they are so far away from their parents.

FACT: Actually, most schools have a full-time school counselor or psychologist on campus to meet the needs of all students on a confidential basis. Additionally, schools offer a wide network of other resources ranging from faculty leadership, student advisers, dorm parent, peer-led honor councils and off-site counselors who are willing and able to help a student in need, anytime, regardless of topic.

MYTH: Boarding school is one big party that doesn’t really prepare kids for the future.

FACT: Our research shows that boarding school alumni succeed at a higher rate than their public- or private-school peers. In addition, the resourcefulness and self-confidence that boarding school students build is directly tied to their ability to learn independent living skills and lead happier, more productive lives.