EDUCATION MATTERS—SANFORD SCHOOL'S PRIVATE SCHOOL BLOG

Summer presents a whirlwind of choices for families including day camps, special interest camps, downtime, and family vacations. Students have the opportunity to pursue the interests they love, make social bonds at camps, and create family memories that will last a lifetime.

Throughout the school’s history, Sanford has celebrated and respected the unique talents of our community members. We continue to create an inclusive, nurturing environment that instills a healthy respect for differences. Sanford values diversity at our core, including, but not limited to: culture, ethnicity, race, spirituality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, learning styles, socio-economic status, and interests.

It is widely accepted that there are significant benefits for all who are immersed in a diverse community, from learning how to appreciate and respect differences to acquiring lifelong skills like communication and listening for understanding. Achieving a diverse community, though, does not inherently lead to a community which values inclusivity and equity. Within any organization that values differences, there is work to be done to help each individual feel important, valued, known and respected. This requires high levels of empathy and a commitment to having difficult conversations. So, what are some ways to work towards this ideal? Where there exist challenges, there are also opportunities for education, self-reflection, and growth. Below are four suggestions to take advantage of the opportunity to being an active part of creating an inclusive community.

For many seniors, figuring out the college process is like aiming at a moving target. Students have to navigate a challenging dynamic that is both created by their own emotions and expectations and impacted by the results of their last three years of high school and the wishes of their families. As college counselors, we consider it our job to educate, guide, and gently remind our seniors (and their parents) about the various steps along the path to college, but ultimately we know our students will be well-prepared and successful no matter where they go.

When searching for a private school, parents should consider more than just what the school has to offer their child. It is also important to look for a sense of community that includes both students and parents. Consider how parent involvement is encouraged and appreciated. While personal circumstances dictate the degree to which adults can share their time and talents, a recent study found numerous benefits to students when their parents had meaningful involvement in the school. These findings include the following:

• When parents are involved, students achieve more, regardless of socioeconomic status, ethnic/racial background, or the parents' education level.
• Schools that work well with families have better teacher morale and higher ratings of teachers by parents.
• School programs that involve parents outperform identical programs without parent and family involvement.

There’s no denying that reading is an essential skill for academic success, but the best part of my role as the librarian is showing students how much fun it is to immerse themselves in a good book. My strategies vary based on the age, reading level, and individual style of each student, but below are four of my favorite ways to get kids excited when they visit the library.

On a typical school day, students are required to interact with peers and adults, assess situations, and decide upon action steps. A clear frame of mind allows students to effectively manage and reason through stressors in a positive, healthy way.

Sometimes, a child’s frame of mind is unclear or even completely clouded. What’s clouding their thinking and what can we do about it? Below are some examples of common mental filters that, despite being invisible to onlookers, color a student’s world in a way that significantly impacts their school day. Understanding what these filters are and how to combat them is imperative in knowing how to help and support children through their anxiety.

Whether your holiday gift giving includes preschoolers or high schoolers, consider looking for these ten gifts that will help ignite the joy of learning in the children who receive them. This list, developed by Sanford School faculty members, includes a diverse group of items to fit a broad array of budgets, ages, and interests .

If you love the advantages a private school offers but you’re afraid of the high price tag, Sanford School can help allay your fear. During the past decade, there has been a national shift in the income ranges of families applying for help with tuition costs. At Sanford School, a preschool through grade 12 private school, more than 50% of students receive some form of tuition assistance. The two most common types are need-based financial assistance and merit scholarships.

Think back to when you were a child. What kind of music did your parents listen to? Do you remember your parents singing you a lullaby? Perhaps you remember singing songs with your family, friends, or community as part of a celebration. Music is part of being human. Singing with your child is an incredibly important part of developing a well-rounded, creative, and expressive child. An article in the Chicago Tribune notes that singing has a variety of health benefits, from increased antibodies to lower stress levels. In addition, singing has been shown to strengthen mental alertness, build social connections, and improve lung function. From forming key memories with your child to engaging the mind and lowering stress levels, you might consider adding singing to your family life .

When students come to art they may think they’re going to learn to draw or paint, but by the end of each class they have done so much more than skill-building. While we certainly do teach children about the different tools and techniques that they can use to express themselves artistically, we also encourage risk-taking, develop problem-solving skills, and build their self-confidence.  And there is no better time to see students displaying all of these traits than during an Open Studio session.