Why Junior Boarding School: A Personal Story
Hear the story of why one family chose to enroll their son in a junior boarding school.
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Fessy Blog
The Fessy Den Blog
Posts By: Suzanne Murphy
7 Fessenden-Inspired Activities to Help Kids Fight Cabin Fever
If you are a New Englander, you probably don’t need to be told that Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow earlier this year. What does that mean for those of us who are used to braving the cold into the early months of spring? A shorter winter. But we know better than to get our hopes up. The final stretch of winter can feel like...
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Does Your Child’s Preschool Spark Joy?
There’s a lot to be said for cherishing the things that spark joy in your life. Just ask Marie Kondo or any of her “Tidying Up” devotees. But while the KonMari Method has swept the States by storm and people are blessing their belongings goodbye in search of happiness, the idea of joy is a little different at Fessenden. In our Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classrooms,...
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Academic Challenge at Fessenden
Hear what students and faculty have to say about academic challenge at Fessenden.
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Why Parents Must Get Comfortable with the Word ‘Failure’
Parents often have a visceral reaction to the word “failure” in the context of student learning. This is especially true of parents who pay tuition at a private or independent school. An investment in your child’s education should lead to success, right? And isn’t failure antithetical to achievement? You already know the answer to this, even if you struggle with the term “failure.” From J.K....
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Why Preschool Children Should Have Control Over Their Learning
When you imagine the ideal classroom environment for your preschooler, it probably looks like a colorful, orderly space where students are engaged, actively participating, and genuinely excited to learn. But what happens in a student-directed environment that promotes choice? Don’t conjure up images of “Kindergarten Cop” where students are screaming and running amok. Student-focused education actually ...
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How Community Service Shapes Executive Functioning
The middle school years mark an important transition for young boys. Their educational journeys will undergo big changes as they move from a contained classroom setting with a single teacher to an experience in which they may see four or five different teachers per day. However, this is not the only change. Their adolescent brains will begin a process of maturation that will last well...
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The Case for Studying Spanish in Pre-K and Kindergarten
At Fessenden, we believe students benefit in myriad ways from studying a second (or third) language. In fact, you can often find our youngest learners exploring Spanish in our Pre-K and Kindergarten classes. Throughout the year, children in our earliest grades expand their cultural awareness, reinforce fundamentals (such as math and literacy), and have fun along the way. There are a number of research-supported ...
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The ABCs of Middle School Boys: ‘C’ is for Change
This is part 3 of a three-part series. In parts one and two of this three-part series, we addressed common challenges and fears that can be associated with parenting a middle school boy. We assured you that feeling uncomfortable and uncertain about your parenting techniques is normal, and that it’s healthy and developmentally appropriate for your son to distance himself from you during this time,...
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Pre-K Specials: What Are They and Why Are They Important?
In most middle and high schools, elective courses are offered to students to supplement core classes (English, math, science, history). You may even remember electives as your favorite subjects in school. Did you master the art of photography in a dark room? Perhaps you developed culinary techniques in home economics? Research suggests that it is important to introduce electives at an early age, which is...
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