I often find myself in conversations with parents (within and outside of the BCD community) who are in the process of deciding whether or not to enroll their children in private schools. This can be a particularly painful experience if they are in a close knit neighborhood and/or if their friends or colleagues are strong […]
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As the Head of an Elementary School, parents of elementary students often ask me questions such as: “We are consistently tardy for school. Why is it so challenging for my child to get out the door on time in the morning?” and “They are taking so long to complete homework at night and causing stress for […]
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“I wish I had been here from the beginning”, said my older son half-way through 7th grade at BCD a couple of years ago. When I asked him why, he gave me several reasons: The teachers, the students, the community, the opportunities to explore new interest areas, the leadership opportunities, the service projects, the trips, and […]
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Leading the Transitional Kindergarten program at Boulder Country Day School is early childhood educational expert and long-time BCD teacher, Gemma Fagan. Below is a Q&A with Gemma on who should consider a Transitional Kindergarten program for their child and the benefits of gifting your student a little more time. Gemma Fagan has been teaching at BCD […]
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The middle school years are arguably the most important years in a child’s education. The combination of changing bodies, developing minds, and complex social dynamics create a vortex of possibilities where children – if not led, supported, challenged, and inspired – can quickly become invisible, their growth held back due to missed opportunities or misplaced intention. […]
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Technology and Parenting Today Three children are talking with each other in the block area. Their conversation unfolded something like this:Child 1 – Siri lives inside my dad’s phone.Child 2 – Siri lives inside my dad’s phone too!Child 3 – My dad yells at Siri because she tells him the wrong directions.Child 2 – Siri […]
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In 6th grade my class went to a place called Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center in Yellow Springs, Ohio and that experience shaped my future. I was a pretty good student, but struggled with authority and why my teachers wanted me to do things— and they weren’t particularly interested in explaining it to an 11 […]
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At a time when American politics is marred with divisiveness and addressing the election can pull a community apart, Boulder Country Day School (BCD) has chosen to lean in, address the issues, teach the democratic process, and focus on the school values of meeting the challenge and being a part of something bigger. BCD 4th graders are holding a […]
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Supportive Social Learning is a way of thinking about the intentional creation of caring school communities that are characterized by a focus on empathy in daily interactions, collaboration among children and adults, and communication – both verbal and non-verbal. The term Supportive Social Learning was developed by the late Ellen Hall, an Early Childhood guru […]
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Remember when your student was first learning how to ride a bike. You started small. Maybe they started on a little tricycle and graduated to a strider to help develop balance. They then learned how to coordinate pedaling on their first bike with training wheels. And, eventually, you took those training wheels off and held […]
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The upper floor of our elementary school is a whole different world than the one experienced in preschool and lower elementary. While ascending the stairs every morning leads to a new physical space, as a parent or caregiver of this age, you will also experience new psychological and social “spaces” with your children. This summer […]
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The preschool to Kindergarten transition is a critical moment in a child’s life and one that deserves intentional thought, care and support. Ensure that your child steps into the elementary world supported by taking these actions.
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