The Fessy Den Blog

Two Ways Junior Boarding School Will Help Your Son Thrive in Secondary Boarding School

2 Comments | March 04, 2016

Boarding school is often synonymous with secondary school. It’s easy to understand why. In the United States and Canada, boarding schools for students in ninth grade or higher far outnumber those that serve students in ninth grade or lower. In fact, the  Association of Boarding Schools’ online directory lists only 11 schools (out of a total of about 300) that exclusively serve students in ninth...
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4 Myths About All-Boys Pre-K and Kindergarten — And Why They’re Wrong

1 Comment | March 02, 2016

You have the right to be picky about the private pre-K or kindergarten program you choose for your son. Your decision, after all, will likely impact him well beyond his early years. Pre-K and kindergarten lay an academic foundation upon which your son will build throughout the rest of his elementary, middle, and high school years and beyond. It’s an important decision and you want...
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The Art of Mrs. Gobbi

Leave a Comment | February 26, 2016

Each Wednesday, boarding students flock around the large bulletin board in the Gathering Room to check the more than 25 activities scheduled for the coming weekend. From Friday night to Sunday afternoon, Fessenden boys choose from an extensive array of options, ranging from an evening of movies and popcorn in a dorm parent’s apartment to weekend excursions to the beach, the mountains, or one of...
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First Time Applying to a Junior Boarding School? Some Advice from Admissions

1 Comment | February 24, 2016
Boys dancing flamenco

If you’ve never experienced boarding school yourself, you may be feeling a bit lost or nervous when exploring and applying to junior boarding schools for your son. We spoke recently with Caleb Thomson ‘79, Director of Admissions at The Fessenden School, and asked what advice he had for parents who are new to the junior boarding school world. While he sees most parents navigate the...
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What Makes a Junior Boarding School Applicant Stand Out?

Leave a Comment | February 19, 2016

Your son’s admission to his preferred junior boarding school will depend not only on his academic track record and teacher recommendations, but also on the rapport that you and he build with the admissions team during the initial tour and interview. To help you make sure your son stands out in a positive way, and to increase his chances of acceptance, we spoke with Caleb...
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6 Tips from an Admissions Director on Getting into a Private Pre-Kindergarten Program

3 Comments | February 17, 2016

If it’s your first time applying to private pre-kindergarten programs for your son, you may be worried about choosing the right school, or how to best present your son as an applicant. Not to worry, first-timers – as a parent, there is plenty you can do to help support your son’s application to a pre-K program. We recently spoke with Margaret Kelly, Director of Lower...
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Does Day Student Population Matter at a Junior Boarding School?

Leave a Comment | February 12, 2016

Families who are evaluating junior boarding schools often wonder about the mix of day students and boarding students. They are curious as to what impact that mix will have on their sons’ experiences. The ratio of boarding to day students is different for every junior boarding school. Some are predominantly boarding with just a few day students, others have mostly day students and a small...
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Fessy Lip Dubs

Leave a Comment | February 10, 2016

A “lip dub” is a musical video that is filmed in one continuous shot as the camera travels through a location, capturing the members of a community in the act of performing to a piece of music. Fessenden’s ‘Lip Dub’ has become an eagerly anticipated annual event that involves every member of the community – students, teachers, administrators, staff, and even the occasional visiting alum...
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