Public Speaking & Leadership
Fenn is a community that teaches boys that there is more to school than quizzes and tests. Boys leave Fenn knowing who they are, ready to take on the challenges that they will face with knowledge that they have been prepared not just deeply, but broadly.
We develop leadership skills in our boys that serve them well in high school and beyond. Of all the feedback that we get from the parents of our alumni reflecting on their Fenn experience, the theme that comes back most consistently is how often Fenn graduates go on to be president of their high school class or captain of their varsity sports team - and how Fenn prepared them to step into those roles.
Building leaders does not happen by accident. Throughout each boy's time at Fenn, he is challenged to live up to our four core values of Honesty, Respect, Empathy, and Courage. We ask a lot of our students academically, athletically, artistically and socially, and by the time they are ready to move on from Fenn, they have been shaped by the standards that generations of Fenn boys have set.
All School Meeting
Students from all three divisions use the time during all school meeting to speak in front of the Fenn commnuity. This is often in the form of announcements for clubs, athletic teams, or service learning opportunities. Ninth graders will also lead off an all school meeting with their Senior Reflection. This is a time to share with the community something that they are passionate about or a message they want their peers to hear.
Speaking Contests
There are two historical speaking contests that take place during the school year for students in grades 6-9 to participate in. First, the Hector J. Hughes Extemporaneous Speaking Contest challenges our student speakers to think creatively and on the fly, answering a prompt given to them just moments before taking the stage. The second is the W.W. Fenn Public Speaking Contest, Fenn's longstanding and prestigious public speaking contest. Each student finalist memorizes a prepared piece of their choosing and performs their piece before the whole community.
Student Government
During the spring semester, rising ninth graders have the opportunity to run for student body president and vice president. They will often run our All School Meetings on Mondays and Fridays, as well as help with other all school events. Students can also be involved if they are elected as a Class Senator. Senators often help with fund-raising opportunities for the school, as well as creating fun and inclusive events for their class throughout each semester. Students can run for senator as many times as they'd like.
Featured Student Government Initiative: Runway for Recovery
Fenn has partnered with Runway for Recovery, an organization that provides families with a continuum of support along their journey with breast cancer. During the month of October, our student senators and their peers help to raise funds to support Runway for Recovery by selling pink Fenn-branded t-shirts and pink Starbursts. In 2023, Fenn helped to raise over $3,000 from these sales alone. Olivia Boger, former Fenn employee and founder and executive director of Runway for Recovery, has come back to speak on the impact the Fenn community has made for the families her organization support at All School Meeting. We are thrilled to have out students and community continue to partner with this amazing local organization.