The Fessy Den Blog

Fessenden Welcomes New Faculty and Administrative Staff

Fessenden's New Faculty - Fall 2024

This year, Fessenden welcomes new faculty and administrative staff members. Learn more about them below. Luke Alpert joins Fessenden’s Upper School as a history teacher and brings with him many years of experience working with children in both school and camp settings. Luke earned his bachelor’s degree in Comparative American Studies at Oberlin College. He has taught social studies and been a grade dean at...
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Parenting Boys: Six Books to Inspire and Guide You on the Journey Through Boyhood

From boy mom to dad life, these titles about parenting boys are perfect reads for spring. Each chapter of your son’s life comes with new joys and challenges. That’s why parents are constant students, searching for the best advice from fellow parents and experts alike. If you’re in the market for a new read to bolster your parenting prowess, here are six current titles on...
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Fessenden’s Kindergarten Helps Get Out the Vote!

Caught up in the excitement of Super Tuesday, Fessenden’s Kindergarten discussed the importance of voting and created this terrific “Go Vote!” video. We hope it inspires or at least amuses.   And, if you are you looking for motivation from a slightly older, and perhaps more well known, group of voting enthusiasts, we offer 32 Inspiring Leaders Make Their Arguments for Why Everyone Should Vote.
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Two Cs That Help Develop Good Decision-Making in Middle School Boys

Critical thinking and collaboration in the classroom are the two Cs that nurture good decision-making in Middle School boys. There are many opportunities for educators to help Middle School boys develop good decision-making skills. The 21st Century learning approach, which promotes mastery of the “six Cs” (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, character, and cross-cultural competency), ...
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The Responsive Classroom Supports Three Areas of Child Development Impacting Student Success in Fourth Grade

Fourth grade is challenging for many students. Academic expectations are higher than they were in third grade, and children work more independently. Friendships are more important and more complicated. There is increased academic and social pressure. To help your son thrive, you want to find a school that understands the intricate relationships between academic expectations, childhood development, and social ...
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To Support Early Learning, Pre-K Programs Must Foster Three Areas of Child Development

High-quality Pre-K programs understand that your child’s physical, cognitive, and social and emotional development is critical to building a foundation for learning. The developmental changes that young children experience in Pre-K are critical to their long-term success. It is important to nurture your son’s physical, cognitive, and social and emotional development. To help him thrive, you want to find a ...
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A Day in the Life of a Fessenden Fourth Grader

At Fessenden, fourth grade is a unique and formative year. Students create strong, meaningful connections with their peers, and they take on increased responsibility for their own individual learning. From their first day in September, they are informed of their role as leaders of the Lower School. As leaders of the Lower School, these boys broaden their contributions to the wider school community. In a...
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Getting to Know Fessenden’s Head of School Steve Armstrong

Steve Armstrong began his tenure as Fessenden’s Head of School on July 1, 2018. Towards the end of his first year, Steve answered questions about himself and his time so far at Fessenden. We hope you enjoy this up-close and personal interview with Steve. Tell me about your childhood. I grew up in Ithaca, New York. There were six kids in the Armstrong clan. I...
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The Benefits of an All-Boys School

Is single-sex education the right choice for your son? Here are three reasons to choose an all-boys school. Boys and girls interact with the world very differently. This is especially evident in the classroom. To help children succeed, teachers need to adapt to the distinct learning styles of each child. That’s a challenge even in an all-boys school, but it is especially challenging in a...
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