Happy Holidays from Fessenden
Headmaster David Stettler and the entire Fessenden community wish you a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year!
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Fessy Blog
The Fessy Den Blog
Yearly Archives: 2015
Festival of Lights
As we approach a much anticipated two week break for the holidays, the excitement in the halls is palpable. The boys can’t wait for the freedom from classes and homework that the vacation promises, but much of their exhilaration is also due to the joyous feelings that come with the myriad celebrations and traditions that...
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‘That’s for Girls’: How Parents Can Encourage Sons to Pursue Their Interests and Ignore Stereotypes
Does this scenario sound familiar? You invite your young son to join you and your daughter for a movie, and he responds, “I’m not going to see that movie; it’s for girls.” While some parents may wince at that statement, others may be fine with it, and your personal reaction will define where you are...
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Raising Boys: 10 Reads for Understanding and Promoting Your Son’s Development
Parenting books on how to raise and teach children are a dime a dozen—and it can be difficult to determine which are truly the most helpful and relevant. With so many different, complicated aspects of a young boy’s life, parents often find they need additional resources to help them along. The 10 books below explore...
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Country Clubs for 4-Year-Olds: 5 Myths About Private School Education for Boys
To some parents, the idea of sending their son to an all-boys private school as early as pre-kindergarten seems a bit unusual. They worry their son will be too “coddled” for his own good at what may look like a “country club for 4-year-olds.” Or, the complete opposite may be true. Parents may worry their...
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When Should I Start Researching a Junior Boarding School for My Son?
Considering a junior boarding school for your child? Find out how much time you should allow your family to research, visit, and apply to schools.
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Can a Four-Year-Old Understand ‘Character’?
Many private or independent schools place a dedicated focus on character education. And when schooling starts as early as the Pre-K level, parents might wonder how a rather complex concept like character can be instilled in a child as young as four.
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Why ‘All Boys’ Matters…and Why It’s Not Really ‘All Boys’
It’s only natural to wonder if you’re making the right decision by enrolling your son in a single-sex environment. Being able to work and play alongside women of all ages--to respect the opposite sex, and not just coexist--is crucial for young men. So it’s important for parents to understand the reality of an all-boys environment
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Spider at Drop Off
Directing traffic is Spider’s focus, and safety is his concern. Ensuring that cars follow the expected procedures to keep boys out of harm’s way, and that parents are given clear directions to make that happen has become second nature for him. He has been a reliable presence each morning for many of his more than thirty years at Fessenden.
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Redshirting: Are Parents Asking the Wrong Question?
Across the country, more and more parents are “redshirting” their children when it comes to kindergarten. The term comes from the college sports practice of benching an athlete for a year and prolonging his eligibility, giving him a chance to get bigger and stronger before he plays. Some parents of children born in the summer...
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