Faculty Blog
A Reflection at Year’s End
By nature, the end of the school year, despite its frenetic pace, prompts reflection on raising and educating boys. In the past nine months that we’ve shared with your sons, you as parents have been witness at home to their behind-the-scenes moments of elation, fear, disappointment, and satisfaction as they’ve invested themselves in school life with its challenges, triumphs, achievements, and failures.
Your parental love, support, and encouragement balanced with your clear expectations and wise discipline have served as a firm foundation for your sons’ growth at Fenn this …
“It was the night before secondary school notifications and all through the house, the creatures were stirring, even the mouse…”
And so it is once again the eve of a tremendously anxious next few days as secondary school notifications come to our eighth and ninth grade families. I wish I could assure you that all will work out if you just keep visions of sugar plums dancing in your heads as you go to sleep the next couple of nights. But that is unlikely to convince you that your sons and you will all be fine as you hear from schools.
I was recently reminded of the importance of keeping perspective as parents as our children navigate their school careers. I attended the retirement party of Jerry’…
Treasuring the Imperfect Boys Before Us
Last Friday afternoon most of the ninth graders were able to come over for our weekly get-together at the house. The fact that I said “were able to” indicates just how often many of them cannot come because of sports commitments, tutoring, and other academic and extracurricular commitments. Several of them rued the reality of not being able to take the time out to be here eating cookies and Doritos and relaxing with their classmates even once a week. Life is very busy for them.
I usually start our time together sitting in a circle and asking them to tell me what have been …
Admissions Decisions
On March 10, students from Fenn and from all over the United States opened envelopes and emails from secondary schools and learned the outcome of their applications. The anxiety and anticipation had been building for the past few weeks and reached their apex for many students. The envelopes and emails revealed one of three outcomes: Admit, Wait List, or Deny. Gratification and relief arrived with an Admit; disappointment yet hope arrived with a Wait List; rejection and perhaps anger followed a Deny. The outcomes feel very personal. How can they not? Students have had their academic record …
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