The Ninth Grade Program at Fay School

The Ninth Grade Program at Fay School The Ninth Grade Choice

Each year, between 50 and 60 of our rising ninth graders from across the U.S. and around the world choose to take on a leadership year in Fay’s Ninth Grade Program. We also admit up to 10 new ninth graders each year who are seeking the best possible preparation for their high school years. As the “seniors” of the School, our ninth graders seize new opportunities for personal growth as students, athletes, artists, and leaders.

Academics

Student Life

Ninth graders at Fay experience a challenging and stimulating high school-level curriculum that thoroughly prepares them for tenth grade in a secondary school.

In English, students delve into literary classics, develop a more sophisticated style of writing, and hone their public speaking skills. They develop hands-on lab skills in biology, and multiple math courses are offered, including Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, and Pre-Calculus. Students may choose to study Spanish, French, Mandarin, or Latin, and they have regular opportunities to practice language skills with Fay classmates from around the world.

Two electives, Topics in Modern American History and Diagnosing The Modern World (an interdisciplinary history/science course) are extremely popular among ninth graders, and students take advantage of Fay’s Innovation Lab for hands-on learning across all subjects.

By virtue of their seniority in the School and intellectual maturity, ninth graders take an active role in their learning and enjoy a collegial rapport with teachers. Alumni of Fay’s Ninth Grade Program cite this unique teacher-student dynamic as a

During a year filled with opportunities for growth, ninth graders: • Participate in off-campus, overnight leadership retreats at the beginning and end of the school year.

• Participate in advisory groups of 4-8 students. Each ninth grader checks in with his or her advisor daily and meets with his or her advisory group at least twice per week.

• Go on an international service learning trip (since 2014 ninth graders have traveled each spring to the Dominican Republic).

• Serve in leadership/service roles, such as Dorm Proctor, Color President, Class President, Student Admission Ambassador, Upper School Morning Meeting leader, Primary School lunch helper, kitchen crew foreman, team captain, and leads in school plays.

• Write, practice, and deliver a speech as part of Fay’s public speaking curriculum.

• Develop greater selfconfidence and a broader understanding of who they are as learners.

• Grow their catalogue of experiences and expand their comfort zones, becoming more well-rounded and polished candidates for secondary school.

• Become a cohesive class and cultivate lifelong friendships.

highlight of their ninth grade experience.

An independent co-educational day and boarding school for K - Grade 9 48 Main Street • Southborough, MA 01772 • 508.490.8201 • fayschool.org

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Numerous music, visual arts, and drama options make ninth grade a wonderful year for Fay students to hone their artistic skills and explore new arts adventures.

Music options include String Ensemble, Jazz Band, Advanced Band, Intermediate Band, Beginning Bells, Fay Bells, Chamber Singers, Chamber Ensemble, Fay Boys’ Chorus, and Fay Girls’ Chorus.

Visual arts opportunities include courses in 2D and 3D art, painting, drawing, ceramics, printmaking, bookmaking, Advanced Studio Art (a special elective for ninth graders), and an Independent Art Study option.

Drama provides our theatrical students with the opportunity to participate in our popular Upper School Drama program in the winter, and to audition for the Upper School Musical in the spring.

schedule a campus visit. Access our online application at fayschool.org/apply.

Athletics

HOW TO APPLY

Admission to the Ninth Grade Program is offered on a rolling basis. Contact Fay’s Admission Office at 508.490.8201 to

Arts

For many ninth graders, the opportunity to shine as leaders on our varsity teams is a highlight of their ninth grade experience.

Younger players look up to their ninth grade teammates, and Fay’s experienced varsity coaches—who are attuned to the specific needs of this age group—call upon ninth graders to serve as role models, on and off the field.

Ninth graders can take full advantage of Fay’s exceptional athletic facilities, which include eleven full-size fields, an indoor turf field, a baseball diamond with three batting cages, four basketball courts, a fitness center, eight tennis courts, an outdoor ice rink and ropes

course, and an indoor rock climbing wall.

Every ninth grader participates in at least one team sport during the year.

Students can choose from 19 sports, including baseball, basketball, cross-country, field hockey, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, skiing/snowboarding, soccer, softball, squash, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling, as well as our on-campus athletic options, fitness and dance/movement.

Our varsity teams fare remarkably well against challenging competition from schools like Belmont Hill, BB&N, Dana Hall, Dexter, Fessenden, Noble & Greenough, Milton, Rectory, and Rivers.

Seven-Day & Five-Day Boarding Fay’s ninth graders come from across the U.S. and around the world, so the majority take advantage of Fay’s outstanding residential life program. For many ninth graders, boarding at Fay offers a first opportunity to live away from home,

and students benefit from “learning the ropes” of boarding life before enrolling in a secondary school boarding program.

Our boarders live in comfortable, wellsupervised dormitories and participate in a structured daily program designed to help

Secondary School Counseling Fay’s ninth graders are highly regarded by secondary schools.

Our graduates are known to be confident, capable, enthusiastic students who are highly involved in extracurricular and service-oriented activities. Every year, admission representatives from more than 75 secondary schools visit Fay to meet with our ninth graders and placement counselors.

Fay’s Secondary School Counseling Office consists of four

experienced professionals and is directed by Stuart Rosenwald, an experienced veteran in secondary school counseling whose reputation among secondary school admission officers is second to none.

As a result of Fay’s renown and our Secondary School Couseling staff’s expert guidance, our ninth graders have an outstanding record of acceptance at competitive schools across the country.

each student succeed academically and socially—and have fun along the way.

Evening study halls help students develop positive study habits, and weekends offer boarding students a rich array of on and off-campus activities.

The top 25 schools where Fay graduates have matriculated over the past five years: St. Mark’s School Middlesex School Phillips Exeter Academy Phillips Academy Andover Brooks School St. Paul’s School Loomis Chaffee School Noble and Greenough School Tabor Academy Hotchkiss School Deerfield Academy Northfield Mount Hermon School

Pomfret School St. George’s School Suffield Academy Concord Academy Worcester Academy Groton School New Hampton School Choate Rosemary Hall Lawrenceville School Milton Academy St. Andrew’s School (DE) Westminster School Kent School