Volunteer work can be both personally rewarding and also highlight your work ethic on a high school resume. Being able to list community service when you apply to colleges—and even while filling out job applications—can most certainly boost your appeal as a candidate.
Check out four reasons why volunteering is a great way to boost not just your resume, but also your self esteem.
As many student-athletes return to campus this week to begin fall practices, here are a few helpful tips to make the most of an exciting season ahead–for both athletes and their coaches.
Athletes- Nothing will enhance your team experience and success on the field like regular practice! Practicing your sport, supporting your practices with additional strength and weight training, and eating a well balanced diet will all contribute to your success on the field.
Coaches– During practices, it’s a great idea to talk individually with your team members and provide personalized feedback on their skills, training and strategy. Athletics is as much mental as it is physical, so focusing on how each team member can improve individually will lead to success as a team. Use practice to address other necessities of the sport, like healthy living practices and sportsmanship. Continue reading
Jet lag doesn’t only occur when you travel internationally—jumping right back into the school year when you are used to sleeping in everyday over the summer can take a big toll on your first few (important) weeks of school. Whether you live on campus at a boarding school or you commute from down the street, try adjusting your sleep patterns a little more each day to more closely mirror your new back-to-school schedule. Getting adequate sleep can make a huge difference in first semester grades! Continue reading
Dressing for your first day of school – especially if you’re attending a new school – can be stressful. But don’t fret, we have five tips to make choosing what to wear on the first day of school easier.
1. Check the Dress Code
Most private schools like Cheshire Academy have dress codes that clearly outline what you are supposed to wear. Visit your school’s website or check out your Student Handbook to find information on the dress code. Make sure you are within the regulations of your school’s dress code, that’s the best first step!
2. Make sure your clothes fit properly
This seems like common sense, but sometimes we overlook this basic but important rule. The first day of school can be stressful, so spending the day tugging at a shirt that doesn’t fit right or dealing with pants that drag on the ground won’t make it any easier. Schools often have rules about wearing properly fitted clothing, too. Continue reading
Boarding school students are often asked why they chose this alternative to public schools. In general, boarding school provides students with more opportunities and experiences, provides a supportive environment that fosters learning and success, challenges students to try new things, and gets you involved in the community. And, for students attending schools in New England, well, there’s lots to do!
Want more? Here are 10 things that you can do at New England boarding schools: Continue reading
Blazers make great umbrellas!
For most people, one thing pops into mind immediately when they think of boarding school: dress code.
Classic TV images of plaid skirts, knee socks, and blazers infiltrate our perception of what a typical prep-school student looks like—but do all private school students really dress like that?
Well, yes—and no.
While every boarding school almost certainly has a ‘dress code’ of sorts, the style and requirements differ widely (and knee socks are almost never a requirement anywhere other than television). Some schools may enforce a standard school uniform every day of the week, while others may simply require no sweatpants during academic hours. Many schools, such as Cheshire Academy, have an “academic dress” requirement where students are to dress professionally but may choose their blouses, pants, skirts and ties according to school guidelines and only wear a traditional blue school blazer on Fridays or for formal campus events.
But why is dress code important? Some of our students weigh in:
“While most students would rather be casual all the time—because it takes less effort and is generally more comfortable—I think dress code is a positive part of the Academy. It provides more structure on how we are to look, it allows us to express ourselves in a new way, and it prepares us for a life beyond Cheshire Academy.” –Tommy, ‘15
“The formal dress of the Academy shows a tradition we have held since the Civil War and is a part of the school’s history. Many students enjoy embracing that tradition—and coming from a school where I once wore a full uniform everyday, wearing a blazer on Friday is not very hard!” –Tara, ‘18
While dress code can be a hot point of debate among students, there are many reasons that this is a popular policy across private school campuses:
Promoting a sense of Community. Dress code and uniforms bring everyone together as a united team and increases school spirit.
Improving the Classroom Environment. A dress code can limit the amount of distraction in the classroom so students can focus on learning and schoolwork.
Fostering Self-Esteem. Having a standard dress code or uniform teaches students to focus on what’s inside, not who can afford to dress the best.
Preparation for Life beyond High School. Learning how to dress professionally early on in life will undoubtedly assist students as they embark on college and job interviews later in life—many alums report feeling a “step ahead the rest” when it came to knowing how to dress professionally with ease.
Just like a sports team wears a uniform, boarding schools often look at the academic community as a team. Above all, dress code is there to promote a sense of safety, unity, and pride.
Are you thinking about becoming a Day Student at your local boarding school? You’ll be in a great position to enjoy the best of both worlds! Here are a few tips as you consider making the leap:
1. Join your friends for dinner! As a day student, you are entitled to a full meal plan at school—including breakfast, lunch and dinner! Arrange to be dropped off early or picked up a little later sometimes and get in on the dining hall buffet with friends, especially if it’s stir-fry night with hot fudge sundaes for dessert.
Enjoy Dinner!
2. Take advantage of weekend trips, activities, and community life programs. Trust us: you are always invited to be on campus. Nothing to do over the weekend? Come back for an athletic game or just to watch a movie with friends in the dorms. Take advantage of free swim in the Academy’s pool, or throw pottery on the wheel in the art studios. You can also sign up for a class trip to the mall or a trip to see a Broadway show in NYC.
Weekend activities abound!
3. Use your snow days to get ahead. Sometimes, particularly in the northeast, day students are unable to drive to school for classes while boarding students can still trudge through the snow for a full academic day. While this may seem to be a perk of being a day student (and ok, perhaps it is—) you don’t want to fall behind. Use these days to get ahead in your studies: e-mail your teachers to find out how you can catch up or even tune into class remotely (Google hangout, perhaps?) In the very least, use the day to review your notes or check the syllabus to complete future assignments. You may be tempted to veg out on the couch and watch TV, but you definitely want to stay on track—it will be worth it. At least you can stay on track in your pajamas.
Connect one-on-one with your teachers!
4. Get involved! Being a day student doesn’t have to be just a Monday-Friday, 8:30-3:30 endeavor. In fact, it rarely is! Becoming involved in after school sports and clubs ensures that you become a vital member of the community, whether you board in one of the dorms or not! You’ll make friends from every corner of the campus—and world—as you become a regular presence in school activities.
Join the Dance Team!
5. Become a tour guide! You already know the town—and the campus—like the back of your hand. Why not put that knowledge to great use? Check with your admission office to see how you can help out. As a “townie,” you may even be able to secure a summer job as a student ambassador when all other students have left school for the year and you’re around to show prospective families around! Looks great on your high school resume…
Become a Student Ambassador!
6. How about a sleepover night? Get a taste of what it’s like to be a boarder by arranging to stay over night in the dorms during a particularly busy week, or even just for a fun weekend away from home!
Join your friends for a weekend!
7. Sleepovers go both ways—how about inviting a boarder to your house for a weekend getaway? Chances are, your boarder friends would love a change of scenery and a home-cooked meal.
Take your friends home for a weekend!
Many students considering going away to boarding school usually have one major question on their minds: What’s it like to be a boarder?
Living on-campus—away from home for the first time for most students—can certainly be a scary notion. But decades upon decades of boarding schools students have made the leap—and have truly ended up loving the experience! Many boarding school students will attest that they live with their best friends— who turn out to be friends for life—and miss the excitement and camaraderie of dorm life when they return back home during school breaks.
What exactly is a day in the life of a boarding student like?
On weekday mornings, you (and your roommate) will wake up to your alarm clock and get ready for morning classes (pretty similar to being at home during the school week!) One major difference here is breakfast—if you are used to just grabbing a pop tart or pouring a bowl of cereal at home, at boarding school, be prepared for a breakfast buffet with many options such as fresh bagels, scrambled eggs and bacon, muffins and fruit!
Between the hours of 8am and 3:30pm, your schedule will include a mix of academics, free periods (where you can return to your room and relax or get some work done) and advisory or club meetings. A few times a week, the whole school will gather together for a community morning meeting, where you can make announcements and learn about upcoming events or achievements of fellow students.
After school, you will likely grab a snack from the student center or dining hall before heading off to practice. Whether you play football, belong to the ski team, or act in the drama club, you’ll hold daily afternoon program athletic practices or attend games Monday through Friday.
What’s for dinner? Chances are you’ll meet up with friends at the dining hall after you are done with practice, where you will choose from an array of hot entrees and a salad bar- and of course- desserts. Typically, the dining hall is open for a couple of hours, and you can attend dinner at your leisure during that time.
Some students attend additional club meetings after dinner, such as the school choir or orchestra. Many other students will enjoy a little down time before study hall begins. During study hall, students will have quite time in the dorms or library where they can focus on homework. Typically during study hall, your dorm parent or a peer counselor will stop by to see how your day went—or you may get a chance to chat in the dormitory common area post-study hall when you will enjoy a snack or play games with friends.
Weekends are a little different for every student, though most will report that they catch up on sleep! Some students may choose to return home to see family, many students have Saturday games they participate in or attend to watch with friends, and everyone has the option of getting off campus for different events such as shopping, going to the movies, or fitting in some bowling or paintball! Click here for a list of typical weekend activities and local attractions near Cheshire Academy.
One of the most common questions potential day student parents ask is: will my son or daughter enjoy going to boarding school without living on campus?
As Admission Counselors, we can assure you that most boarding schools make no distinction between boarding and day students in regards to the activities students are invited to attend, the experiences students have on campus, or the interactions students have with faculty. That being said, we asked a former day student to tell potential students why she would recommend being a day student. Here’s what she had to say:
1. You get second dinner
As a boarding school student, you are always invited to the dining hall to snag a meal (or dessert, or coffee, or hot chocolate… you get the idea). That means you can eat dinner on campus … and then have a second dinner when you get home! Also, second dessert. Sorry—I’m a little food-focused.
Cheshire Academy serves more than just cookies, but let’s be real: cookies are the best.
2. Dorm sleepovers are super fun
Dreading waking up at 4:00am to commute to campus for a 5:00am practice? Spending the night in a friend’s dorm can be a fun and practical solution. Squishing two people into a tiny twin bed isn’t so bad when you consider the fun of baking brownies with a dorm parent or watching a movie with all your friends in the common area. Also, the trek to the athletic fields at 5:00am is easier with friends.
Spending the night in the a boarding school dorm can be fun and practical.
3. Options are everywhere
One of the perks of being a day student is that you’re invited to everything. Literally everything. Every weekend event, every shuttle into the city, and every community weekend is yours to attend… or not.
While boarding students may be required to attend weekend events, day students are mostly free to pick and choose to attend whatever is most interesting to them. However, day students with really interesting passions will love the fact that they are encouraged to attend art openings on campus, theater productions, and international festivals!
This picture is from a recent community Olympics event at Cheshire Academy!
4. You have friends everywhere, even at home
Most boarding schools provide day student mixers before the first week of school. This is great for a bunch of reasons: future carpools, people to sit with at lunch on the first day of school, etc. However it’s ALSO great because when all of the boarding students leave for New York, Chicago, and Beijing, you’ll still have plenty of friends close to home. That sure makes the summer less lonely!
We promise your summers will not look like this.
Well, there you have it! Four reasons that being a day student at a boarding school really is a great experience. I could keep listing reasons, but basically it comes down to this: day students have access to tons of experiences and resources at boarding schools while still having the flexibility to design their own high school experience—and that sure sounds great to me.
1. Boarding schools are family friendly. A boarding school is a 24/7 environment, so don’t be surprised to see entire families living on campus, eating with you in the dining hall, coaching you on the field and teaching your classes!
Added bonus: where there are families, there are family pets. Campus dogs and cats typically abound in the boarding school scene, so chances are you’ll get to pat a friendly golden retriever or two on a daily basis. Many students even make a little extra cash on the side offering their campus dog-walking services or even babysitting their teacher’s kids on a Saturday night!
2. The food is great! Students typically enjoy a diverse buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner, fit for hundreds of different pallets! Particularly at schools that host a large international student body—you may find an equally as global menu in the dining hall. From organic to comfort food to salad bar, you’ll never be let down.
Students also enjoy creating their own concoctions, (like turning entrée’s like roast turkey or macaroni & cheese into Panini hot pockets. Don’t even get us started on the amazing dessert options. It’s a good thing there’s a gym on campus!
3. Free Periods are… Free! One of the best things about attending a private school is that you may have free periods in between classes—many students choose to catch up on work in the library, fit in a quick game of ping-pong in the student center, or lay out on the quad on a sunny day!
4. Don’t worry—You can leave campus! Many people assume that boarding school students are always stuck on campus—especially without access to a car. This isn’t the case! Weekend trips are always planned to take you and your friends to exciting new places downtown, to eat at restaurants, roam the mall, or catch a movie. With permission from parents, many students also enjoy getting off campus with friends who may drive, or they might also take the bus or train somewhere new.
5. You don’t always have to wear a uniform. Many boarding schools do have a dress code, and some require formal uniforms for all or part of the week, others require dress shirts and ties or skirts and blouses, and some may not have a formal code in place. In addition, many schools offer coveted “dress down” days where students can attend classes out of dress code for a special occasion or contest prize—and of course, students are free to wear what they after school hours and on weekends.
Share your own ‘little known facts’ about boarding school in the comments section!
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