The Fessy Den Blog

Why Play is Critical for Early Childhood Development

The value of play in providing a positive and productive learning experience can never be overstated. For this reason, active learning and play is intricately incorporated into our Pre-Kindergarten program at The Fessenden School. In this post, Greta Sanborn and Sari Pogorzelski, two of our Pre-K teachers,  explain how they facilitate learning through structured play....
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Why are Sports Mandatory at Most Junior Boarding Schools?

Athletics participation is an integral, foundational, and, yes, usually mandatory part of the junior boarding school experience. And for some families, that’s a big reason they choose boarding school for their middle school-aged sons. Junior boarding schools tend to provide better facilities, a wider range of sports, and a higher level of competition than other...
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The Importance of Family-Style Lunches

This week Lower School Head Stephen Billhardt share’s his perspective on why family-style lunches are a unique and important part of the overall Fessenden experience.  I would venture to guess that at 10:55 a.m. most people are thinking about things other than lunch! But in the Lower School, that is the magical time when boys in...
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Diversity and “Sense of Place”

Diversity of the student population is an important consideration when exploring junior boarding schools, or any school for that matter. While some parents value the opportunity for their sons to live and learn with students from different backgrounds and viewpoints, others are more concerned that their boys have the company of local classmates, fearing that...
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