As soon as I see a little tinge of color on the trees, I shift from summer to fall mode and while I feel refreshed from summer vacation, I also know that it is time to get energized for a new school year.  I hope you are feeling the same way!  We began the year, as we always do, gathering as a group in Connecticut to collaborate on college lists for our seniors, discuss trends in college admissions, and share insights about the changes in standardized testing.  It was a busy two days!

Did you know that building and exercising good habits could be the secret to doing well in high school, college and beyond?

Parents play an important role throughout their child's high school years too, but we believe that the more engaged the student is in shaping their high school experience, the more successful their search for a good college fit will be. This article, written from a teacher's perspective in Grown and Flown, captures the role of parents and how they can best help their child in high school.

False.  Most colleges will tell you it's not where you go to high school but what you accomplish in four years of high school. We totally agree!

Let's discuss why boarding school may be a good option for your child. Families have many different reasons for looking at a boarding school education, but one of the most powerful reasons to attend school away from home is the opportunity young people have to live and work with caring adults other than their parents. After a school day is finished, in addition to coaching sports and running extracurricular activities, faculty also live in the dormitories with students and they share their meals, often family style, with students in the dining hall. By living so closely with their teachers, students have the chance to see them as people, not simply "their (English, history or math) teacher." Conversely, teachers develop a full understanding of their students by seeing them in many contexts. By being part of students' lives outside the classroom, teachers and students develop strong bonds and as a result, it is natural for a teacher to pull a student aside to talk with them if they observe them struggling. In addition, they are also their students' biggest cheerleader when they witness success. When you ask a student who went to boarding school about their favorite aspect of their experience, they will frequently cite their relationships with faculty. These strong ties extend beyond graduation as students and teachers often stay in touch for years.

So, while the myth that going to boarding school increases the chances of getting into a more competitive college may not be valid, what is true is that by providing your child with the opportunity to be mentored by caring faculty and staff, they will likely gain confidence and a better understanding of how to make the most of their education.