fessendenB r i n g i n g o u t t h e B e s t i n B o y s Pre-K–9The Fessenden School admits students of any race, color, creed, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or with any disability which can be reasonably accommodated by the school, to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at The Fessenden School. The school does not discriminate on the basis of such factors in the administration of its educational policies, employment policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletics or other school administered programs.

The Fessenden School

250 Waltham Street

West Newton, MA 02465

www.fessenden.org

617.630.2300

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bringing out the best in boys

What does “the best” mean to you?

The unabridged edition of Webster’s

Dictionary offers no less than twelve

meanings for the word “best.” At The

Fessenden School, we offer even more.

Rather than adhering to the traditional

notion of “the best,” we define it as the

unique qualities inherent in each boy.

Since no two boys are alike, no two

definitions suffice. To us, “the best”

means discovering the diverse strengths

and developing the full potential in

each boy.

Our mission is to teach, nurture and

celebrate growing boys while striving to

develop balance in mind, heart and body.

The foundation of our philosophy is

providing a character education that

embraces the values of honesty, compassion

and respect in an inclusive community.

In our view, an all-boys school is the ideal

setting in which boys can mature academ-

ically, socially, artistically and physically.

At Fessenden, we believe there is no “best

school for boys.” There is only the school

that is the best fit for your son.

“The besT” is an environmenT ThaT presenTs

opporTuniTies, challenges boys To sTep

ouTside Their comforT zone and provides

Them wiTh encouragemenT To succeed on

Their own.

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Community outreach

Our sense of community has no borders.

We foster good citizenship in our boys by

helping others beyond Fessenden’s campus.

All grades participate in community-

based events and school-centered service

programs. By giving generously of

himself, a Fessenden boy is encouraged

to apply our time-honored values to

contemporary needs.

A family atmosphere

From your first steps on Fessenden’s

campus, you immediately feel at home.

With 42 residential faculty and staff and 20

friendly dogs living on campus, Fessenden

is a spirited community that welcomes

day and boarding families alike. At

Fessenden, parents do not just enroll

their son in school; they become

essential members of the Fessenden

family. Parents are welcome on campus,

to converse with teachers and to bond

with one another through social and

volunteer events. These are the school

ties that are near and dear to us.

A global perspective

Our student body of 485 is comprised of

boarding students from as far away as

China and California and day students

from across Massachusetts. We provide a

global community that is inclusive and

welcoming. Fessenden families encompass

a broad range of racial, religious, cultural

and socio-economic backgrounds. Our

diverse community encourages students,

parents and faculty to celebrate and share

their varied perspectives.

Collaborative, diverse and inClusive

“The besT” is a supporTive environmenT where older and

younger sTudenTs connecT and collaboraTe, where

menTorship inspires leadership and where sTudenT,

faculTy and parenT relaTionships build communiTy.

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Pre-K–4

supporting individual learning styles

We hear comments like this all the time

from parents and faculty alike in the

lower school. Our teachers are devoted to

nurturing a zeal for learning, and hold

creativity and playfulness as paramount

to the lower school experience. To

stimulate curiosity, we use the Orton-

Gillingham literacy program, a multi-

sensory, multi-modal approach well

suited to young boys. Developmentally

appropriate foreign language, computer

and science begin in Pre-Kindergarten.

Focusing on each child’s individual

learning style and strengths, our teachers

lay the foundation for learning. They

incorporate and engage the essential

skills of reading, oral and written

language, mathematics, social studies,

science, geography, physical education

and the arts. Fessenden boys are challenged

without being overwhelmed.

“He runs from the car to the classroom.”

“The besT” is The Teacher who refuses To

hear The word “can’T.” iT is The sTudenT

who is noT afraid To ask “why?” iT is The

classroom ThaT culTivaTes curiosiTy and

The sTudenT who is forever moTivaTed by

The desire To learn.

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We know boys

We know what makes them tick. We also

know what makes each one unique in the

way he thinks, learns and grows. Under-

standing that boys often have boundless

energy, we work to channel it produc-

tively in a structured environment that

allows them to move about the classroom

while engaging in hands-on learning.

With more than 100 years of experience,

we have learned what works best for boys

and how to help them succeed.

“The besT” is a five-year-

old boy wiTh a passion

for learning. iT is The

smile on his face as he

leTs go of your hand

and dashes inTo The

classroom.

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5-6

“The besT” is a boy who learns life-long

lessons every day in The classroom, on

sTage and on a playing field. iT is The boy

who can grow in body, mind and spiriT—

all in one place.

A change in thinking

In the middle school, we expand a boy’s

focus from discovering the potential

within him to exploring the world around

him. To expose our students to a greater

variety of group settings, we transition

from a self-contained classroom to

multiple classrooms, reflecting a shift in

pedagogy to a team teaching approach

with a dedicated teacher for each dis-

cipline. Fifth and sixth grade teachers

meet several times a week to discuss

each student, collaborate on curriculum

and develop interdisciplinary projects.

Evolutionary rather than revolutionary,

these changes also recognize middle

school boys’ readiness for independence,

allowing them to move freely from one

classroom to another. Expanded extra-

curricular activities and the introduction

of team sports also provide middle school

students with the opportunity to develop

interpersonal skills.

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evolving from “me” to “we”

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Engaging boys to learn

Boys learn best when they are active

participants. The middle school focuses on

organization, study skills, critical thinking

and writing, and benefits from a 1:1 laptop

program. In fifth grade, for example,

students contribute to Cornell University’s

“Project Feeder Watch” by observing and

recording data about local bird species. In

sixth grade, boys examine the physics of

bridge structure in science, learn about scale

in math and study famous structural spans

in geography. Based on their findings, they

write research papers and create multimedia

presentations in language arts.

“The besT” is a boy

who loves maTh class

as much as recess. iT

is abouT being well

rounded and finding

The perfecT balance

in each boy.

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Upperclassmen are given increased

responsibility, privileges and leadership

opportunities. While these are signs of

maturity, they are also catalysts for it.

Our upper school program provides an

age-appropriate curriculum integrated

with a 1:1 laptop program that is

designed to strengthen independent

study habits and life skills imperative for

high school and beyond. With an average

class size of 12, each boy is placed in

grade-level or honors classes. At an age

when learning styles and interests become

more defined, students are presented

with an extensive and varied selection of

electives from computer programming

and multimedia, woodworking and video

production to performing and fine arts.

Similarly, boys may choose to participate

in either interscholastic, intramural or

recreational sports.

Encouraging greater independence

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The ninth grade experience

Fessenden’s culminating grade can be

transformative. It provides numerous

leadership opportunities, fosters self-

confidence and develops greater awareness

of burgeoning strengths. It also enables

further refinement of academic, artistic

and athletic skills. For many boys, this

year can make a difference that will

last a lifetime.

“The besT” is The boy who is inspired To show wisdom

beyond his years. iT is The ninTh grade sTudenT who

elecTs To hone his leadership skills, sTand up for oThers

and prepare himself for The challenges of high school

and beyond.

preparing for new Challenges

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After Fessenden

There are many secondary schools

to consider after graduating from

Fessenden. To make sure a school is the

right fit for your son, we have two

full-time placement officers to guide

students and their families through the

selection process. Secondary schools

vary widely in academic rigor, size and

geographic location, as do the interests

and priorities of each student. Our

goal is to match students and families

with school choices that best meet

their needs in the years following

Fessenden. We are proud of the fact

that, in the last five years, nearly 80%

of 9th graders were admitted to their

first choice school and 100% were

admitted to schools on their list.

“The besT” is abouT

knowing yourself and

TrusTing oThers. iT is

exuding self-confidence

as well as The humiliTy

To ask for guidance.

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Celebrating the art of self-expression

A cast of characters

Our teachers, many of whom are work-

ing artists and musicians, play a strong

supporting role in piquing a boy’s inter-

est in the visual and performing arts.

They have a keen eye for spotting rising

stars and beginners exhibiting promise.

In a single-sex environment, boys may

be less inhibited to express their inter-

ests and more likely to display their talents.

Performance opportunities abound for

all Fessy boys. Upperclassmen, appearing

regularly in school plays, serve as role

models for younger boys. Kindergarten

through fourth grade classes each present

a musical, and middle school boys perform

an annual Shakespeare production as part

of their language arts curriculum. In all

grades, we provide a medium for boys to

reveal their creative side.

“The besT” is The sparkle in The eyes of The

sculpTor who envisions a work of arT in a

block of wood. iT is The voice of The singer

who capTures The ears of The audience. iT is

The acTor wiTh The courage To Take The

sTage for The very firsT Time.

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The instrument of discovery

To awaken a love of the arts in every boy,

Fessenden offers an unparalleled creative

program. Starting in Pre-Kindergarten,

boys learn to read music using Orff

instruments, Kodály hand signals and

eurhythmics. In middle school, students

may select chorus, band and/or an

instrument in addition to studio arts.

Upperclassmen choose from a more in

depth palette of visual and performing arts

options including painting, drawing,

sculpture, ceramics, theater arts (performing

and technical), video production, digital

photography, individual music lessons

and woodworking. To showcase their

talents, students perform in musicals and

concerts and display their creative works

around campus and at local exhibits.

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the making of unlikely heroes

“The besT” are selfless. They wanT The assisT, noT

only The goal. iT is The lineman who makes a criTical

block so his running back can find a hole. iT is The

undersized lefT-winger who laughs aT The word

“inTimidaTed.” iT is The Team ThaT works TogeTher Toward

a common goal.

Defining moments in a boy’s life

Sports build character and healthy

bodies and provide lasting memories. To

that end, Fessenden strives to generate

meaningful experiences for students of

all ages and abilities. Boys in middle and

upper school may choose from 21

team and individual sports at the inter-

scholastic, intramural and recreational

levels. Boys in lower school participate in

physical education classes designed to

prepare them with the skills needed for

future athletic pursuits. At all levels of

competition, sportsmanship is paramount.

The principles of fairness, respect and

responsibility are held above the glory of

athletic achievement.

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Fessenden’s commitment to athletics is

evidenced by our sports facilities. They

include 8 playing fields, 3 gymnasiums,

a wrestling center, a weight room, an

indoor hockey rink, 10 tennis courts (6

lighted), 2 outdoor swimming pools and

access to nearby facilities for downhill

and cross-country skiing, squash, sailing

and crew. Fessenden also has a full-time

athletic trainer to ensure the safety of

our boys and visiting teams – along with

all the equipment needed to keep active

boys in perpetual motion.

Athletic facilities rivaling a secondary school

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“The besT” is The bond of friendship ThaT

begins aT a young age and lasTs a lifeTime.

iT is The school ThaT does noT feel like

home, buT raTher is home.

fessenden is home

Fessenden is home to the headmaster,

more than 40 residential faculty mem-

bers and their families and 105 boarding

students from the United States and

around the globe. With students from

different parts of the world, boarding at

Fessenden gives our students greater

exposure to the global community.

Living on campus, residential students

have a unique opportunity to cross geo-

graphic and cultural borders and experience

for themselves how diverse viewpoints

enrich education and enhance life.

The power of three

Affectionately known as “The Triple

Threat,” many of our teachers are also

dorm parents and coaches. These mentors

are an integral part of the Fessenden

family. They are a trusted and ready

source for advice and guidance on any

subject day or night.

Boarding available for grades 5-9

Every new student is assigned a welcome

family prior to the start of school. Well

versed in the Fessenden experience,

welcome families are instrumental in

helping new families feel comfortable

throughout the school year. In addition,

our welcome family program provides

unforgettable moments and lasting

memories by bringing day, domestic and

international boarding students together

for birthdays, holidays and weekend stays.

Welcome family program andshared experiences

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The commitment to Fessenden’s residential

program is unparalleled, offering 25

trips and activities every weekend –

more than 800 throughout the year.

Just 15 minutes from one of the most

culturally rich and vibrant cities in the

country, students take advantage of

everything Boston has to offer – from

professional and collegiate sporting

events, world-renowned museums and

first-class theaters to historical sites. The

mountains and lakes of New Hampshire,

Vermont and Maine, as well as the

beaches of Cape Cod, are all within a

two-hour drive from the Fessenden

campus – providing unlimited oppor-

tunities for skiing, snowboarding,

camping, hiking, fishing, boating and

weekend excursions. Our activities and

location are two of the best things about

being a boarding student at Fessenden.

Action-packed weekends

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a blend of old and new

Founded in 1903

The Fessenden School is the oldest

all-boys junior boarding school in the

country. We continue to grow and evolve

right along with our students in compe-

tency, relevancy and specialized expertise

in educating and bringing out the best in

boys. More than half our teachers have

advanced degrees. With hundreds of

computers, a laptop for every student in

grades 5-9 and interactive whiteboards in

nearly every classroom, Fessenden boys

have endless resources at their fingertips.

“The besT” is a campus wiTh a balance beTween classic

archiTecTure and sTaTe-of-The-arT faciliTies. iT is a safe,

proTecTed environmenT ThaT encourages risk-Taking. iT

is a school where TradiTional values and advanced

Technologies peacefully coexisT. iT is The besT of

boTh worlds.

Close to Boston, far from ordinary

Endowed with stately academic buildings

and exceptional athletic facilities,

Fessenden is a residential campus set on

41 acres in West Newton, Massachusetts.

Located just ten miles outside of Boston,

our school provides an educational

experience that aims to bring out the

best in each boy.

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fessendenB r i n g i n g o u t t h e B e s t i n B o y s Pre-K–9The Fessenden School admits students of any race, color, creed, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or with any disability which can be reasonably accommodated by the school, to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at The Fessenden School. The school does not discriminate on the basis of such factors in the administration of its educational policies, employment policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletics or other school administered programs.

The Fessenden School

250 Waltham Street

West Newton, MA 02465

www.fessenden.org

617.630.2300

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