Reflections: Choosing To Board

We recently visited with our new member, St. George's School in Rhode Island, where I asked the head of admissions Ryan Mulhern, how families can determine if boarding school is a good fit. He said, 'the best fit happens when students want it for themselves.' Confirming this comment are boarding school reflections from Liz Fernandez, new boarding parent & assistant head of school at Ethical Culture Fieldston.

When was the moment you & Alex recognized that a boarding school could be a viable option for Ethan?

Ethan was very enthusiastic about exploring new opportunities for high school. He provided us with a list of schools he wanted to visit. He made lists to keep track of the visits, of the pros and cons about each site and about the feeling he experienced at each location. He was determined to make the right decision and we're proud of him for making a great choice.

As a middle school student, what did Ethan's engagement in the admission process look like? Was he hesitant at any point to leave the familiar?

Ethan led this process from beginning to end. There was no hesitation at all. He embraced the opportunity to visit schools, meet new students and learn about what high school could look like in another environment.

Were there any cultural mindset barriers that needed to be challenged to move from day to boarding school?

As a Latinx family, we have had to assess the impact of some of our cultural traditions when it comes to summer camp. That was a bridge we crossed 6 years ago when Ethan came home asking about summer camp. He was interested in spending his summers experiencing what other friends were being exposed to -- sports, making lasting friendships, being in the outdoors, away from home for an extended period over the summer. We listened to our son then and saw value in what he was asking us to consider. The same process happened this time with boarding school. He came home asking questions and leading an inquiry.

Finally, as parents, how have you been able to join the community and advocate as parents from a distance?

We immediately connected with the Director of Parent Engagement at his school last spring and asked about opportunities to get involved. We found a few ways to be of service to the school and have already been engaged this fall. We look forward to supporting the school on campus and with events that take place off.

Thanks, Liz!