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Beyond the Bell Announces New Chapter for Andrew Waugh at Franklin Academy
Some opportunities feel professional. Others feel personal. For Andrew Waugh, accepting the role of Admissions & Student Engagement Associate, Research Fellow at Franklin Academy feels like both. After spending the past several years working in boarding school communities across the country, Waugh will officially join Franklin Academy in August, bringing with him a background in student life,…
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Stop Calling It Leadership Development If Students Have No Agency: A Winter Wakeup Call for Schools
Schools talk a lot about student leadership.We praise it.We advertise it.We put it in handbooks, brochures, and campus tours. But here is the truth that becomes obvious every February: If students have no agency, then they are not leading anything at all. In many schools, “student leadership” actually means adult controlled roles with limited decision…
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The Midyear Reset: Why December Is the Most Overlooked Opportunity in Boarding Schools
Every August, schools pour enormous energy into orientation, community building, and the “start strong” mindset. But by December, that momentum often fades. Students are tired. Dorm staff are stretched. Faculty are buried in grading. Leaders focus on logistics rather than culture. Yet this moment, right before the winter break, might be the most valuable window…
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The Weekend Effect: How 48 Hours Can Define a Boarding School’s Culture
Ask any boarding school student what makes their school feel like home, and they probably will not mention a class period. They will talk about the weekends. Weekends carry the emotional weight of a school’s culture. They are where structure meets spontaneity, and where students decide whether their campus feels like a place to live…