Tag: parents

Letting Her Go

Post author By
Post date January 17, 2019

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.

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.

Tags academics, parents

Parents

5 Things That Give Boarding School Students an Edge in College

Post author By
Post date December 20, 2018

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Tags academics, parents

Parents

What It Takes To Get Into The Best Colleges

Post author By
Post date September 7, 2018

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.

Tags academics, parents