A Guide to Life @Fay
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ay School is an independent, co-educational school 25 miles from Boston serving students in Pre-K through grade 9, with boarding available for grades 7-9. Our school is a place of discovery, challenge, collaboration, and growth—a closely-knit learning community whose skillful, dedicated teachers and coaches inspire students to achieve excellence in all pursuits. Fay nurtures foundational skills for academic, athletic, and creative achievement, supports the character development of each child, and offers a safe, structured environment where all students can discern and cultivate their unique strengths and talents. Fay’s graduates are self-confident leaders who make a positive difference in their communities.
Welcome to Fay School.
A ACCOMPLISHED FACULTY Our teachers are the heart of our school. They bring a passion for Pre-K-9 education, expertise in their ďŹ elds, and an impressive range of interests and achievements. Our superlative faculty includes published authors, national speakers, curriculum developers, textbook and SSAT question writers, nationally ranked athletes, and even a member of the Boston Pops Chorus.
ADVISORS Starting in ďŹ fth grade, our students meet with a faculty member in small advisory groups a few times each week. These close-knit groups provide a supportive setting for students to build friendships and talk about life throughout the year.
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ATHLETICS Athletics is an important part of life at Fay. We’re proud of our state-of-the-art facilities, our championship-winning teams, and our program that enables every student to develop as an athlete. As a beginner, you can choose from 20 different sports and learn from experienced, supportive coaches. If you’re an elite athlete, you’ll join varsity teams that play—and win—against a competitive network of local peer schools. Time to Play! Choose from baseball, basketball, cross country, field hockey, fitness, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, dance, outdoor adventure, skiing, soccer, softball, squash, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball, and wrestling. Positive Coaching Alliance Fay’s coaching staff participates in ongoing training by Positive Coaching Alliance, a non-profit organization whose mission is to "transform youth sports so sports can transform youth." PCA offers parent workshops and training for coaches that focus on creating a positive, characterbuilding youth sports environment. Their "double-goal" coach model emphasizes learning life lessons as well as striving to win.
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BAND Or Orchestra. Or Bell Choir. Or Chorus. Or Jazz Band. There’s something for everyone in our music program, where students in Pre-K through ninth grade can try something new, build their skills, and make music in ensembles that practice aand n perform regularly. Fay sstudents t join ensembles begginning i in fifth grade, and th there are groups for all levels of skill and experience. Many of ou our students audition for and are accepted to the New England C Conservatory’s highly selective performance groups.
BOARDER BUDDIES Our day students frequently open their homes to our boarders on weekends, during breaks, and for special school celebrations like Taste of Nations. In turn, our day students often “boarder buddy” before a movie night or dance on campus, meaning that they attend dinner with boarding students and faculty and then get ready for the evening’s events with their friends back in the dorm. It’s another way our students build lifelong friendships and our families strengthen the bonds of community.
COOL CLUBS ON CAMPUS
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COLOR COMPETITION Since 1888, Fay students have been grouped into two teams (the Reds and the Whites) that engage in friendly competition throughout the year. On a Saturday morning each May, the teams show their school spirit at the Color Competition—a fun, all-school event full of races, contests, and games, including obstacle courses, sack races, and a traditional tug-of-war.
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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC One of Fay’s destinations on a recent service trip, where eighth graders spent the week teaching English to children in Monte Cristo. Each year, some of Fay’s seventh and eighth graders embark on service trips in the United States and abroad to experience first-hand the challenges and joys of helping others.
DROP THAT EGG! Don’t be surprised if you see Fay students dropping eggs off the second floor balcony of the Dining Room Building. Th Thee annual “Egg Drop” is a longtime Fay tradition, where sixth graders studying the properties of gravity build contraptions to protect their eggs from the 50-foot drop.
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EFFORT GRADES
FINANCIAL AID
Earnest Effort is one of our core values: it’s important to work hard and do your best! That’s why Fay teachers give their students effort grades every two weeks. It’s a helpful way to provide regular feedback about a dimension of school life over which each student has control.
Fay is committed to building a community of learners from diverse economic backgrounds, and we award over $1.8 million in financial aid each year to qualified applicants at every grade level.
“If you’re part of the Fay community, you’re part of the Fay community for life.” –Amy Tournas ’12
FRIENDS FOR LIFE Fay students make meaningful social connections that last through the years. You can see it on our playgrounds and fields at recess; you can see it in our dining room at lunch; you can see it in our dormitory common rooms on weekends; and you can see it when alumni friends reconnect at our Founders’ Weekend reunions each year. In such a diverse community, the shared values of education, cooperation, and loyalty result in strong bonds and lifetime friendships.
GECKO
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Meet Lizzy, the Pre-K’s class pet! This is no ordinary gecko: she was carefully selected as part of a yearlong unit on pets, where the children researched pets with picture books and computers, interviewed pet experts, and even designed a perfect gecko habitat. The gecko unit is just one example of the inquiry-based program in Pre-K and kindergarten, where teachers design the curriculum based on student interests and incorporate purposeful lessons in language arts and math.
GLOBAL COMMUNITY We pride ourselves on our diverse community that includes day families from 38 different towns in Boston’s Metro West area as well as boarding families from across the United States and 20 countries around world. Our students experience multiculturalism daily in authentic, meaningful ways, inside and outside our classrooms, and Fay graduates frequently seek out multicultural settings in their new schools and careers.
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GOOD MORNING! D Drive through Harlow Circle at morning drop-off, and odds are good that you’ll see dr Head of Primary School Anne Bishop at H th the entrance to the Primary School Building, in greeting the children as they walk through the door. It’s a welcoming touch th th that has quickly become a Primary School tr tradition.
GREEN CAMPUS G Green doesn’t just describe our lush playing fields, it also describes our pl commitment to environmental co responsibility. Our newest buildings are re LE LEED-certified, and our students take part in green projects on and off pa ca campus to make the world a better pl place, whether it’s taking part in oour “Green Squad” recycling club, repurposing toys and clothes at re Cradles C to Crayons, or cultivating Fay’s organic garden. Fa
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HERO WORSHIP You might be seeing some of this in the Primary and Lower School, when their Upper School friends come by to help out in the classroom, in the gym, and at lunchtime. Part of our commitment to our core value of Dedicated Service includes providing opportunities for Upper School students to lead by mentoring younger students.
HOME Fay is certainly home for our boarders, who enjoy full days of academics, athletics, arts, and recreation, surrounded by friends, teachers, and dorm parents. But Fay is also a home to our day students and their parents, who take advantage of everything the School has to oer beyond the classroom, from after-school programs and clubs, to parent education evenings and book clubs hosted by the Head of School.
INSTRUMENT LESSONS Starting in Pre-K, every student at Fay has a chance to pursue music at his or her own pace through frequent music classes (where all students learn to read music) as well as individual instrument lessons, which can be scheduled during the academic day o in the afternoons. or
IPADS Each Fay ninth grader is issued an iPad to support learning across the disciplines, and our teachers undergo rigorous training so that they’re able to integrate these exciting tools in meaningful ways. Our second graders recently partnered with Upper School algebra students to explore l concepts ncepts off measurement, mean, median, and mode, and they recorded and analyzed their data using Google Docs on the iPads.
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IRON CHEF @ FAY Can you create a meal that’s nutritious, delicious, economically responsible and environmentally sustainable? That was the challenge for ninth graders in Diagnosing the Modern World, an interdisciplinary course focusing on science and politics. For their final project, students researched, cooked, and presented meals to a panel of experts—a hands-on and tasty way to demonstrate their knowledge! Scan this QR code to read more!
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JOURNEY
That’s how we see every child’s experience here at Fay. From Pre-Kindergarten through ninth grade, each student participates in a structured, cohesive program that includes developmentally appropriate instruction in traditional academic subjects as well as world languages, music, drama, visual arts, wellness, and athletics. m
KODÁLY Fay’s music curriculum incorporates the renowned program developed by Zoltán Kodály, where children experience sound, rhythm, and movement through folk music and the masterworks—and learn to read music.
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LAPTOPS Lots of them! With more than 280 networked Mac and PC laptops on campus, every division at Fay is equipped with laptop carts that enable teachers to integrate technology with classroom learning in relevant ways.
LATIN PUPPET SHOW Fay’s seventh grade Latin students Fa ccreate r their own sock puppets and aadapt d classic Roman myths to puppet p e shows that they present to students ts in the Primary School School. What W better way to introduce young learners to the classics?
LEADERSHIP
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There are numerous elected leadership positions in the Upper School—and many opp portunities to develop and practice leadership skills. Fay students lead at every ggrade level, whether it’s a second grader reading d the morning message to classmates, eighth graders helping kindergarten students write poetry, team captains inspiring teammates to give their all on the field, dorm proctors offering guidance to new boarders, or upper school students helping the Pre-K children at our annual Color Competition.
LUNCH WITH THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Family-style meals in our Dining Room are a part of the Fay tradition. Students gather with teachers and administrators to enjoy delicious and nutritious food cooked by our school’s chef and to converse about the school day, current events, and other stimulating topics—all within the context of good manners and mutual respect.
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MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR AFTERNOONS Students in Pre-K through grade four have the option of participating in Fay After School, our after-school program that runs until 6:00 p.m. each day. This structured program is a great way for students to unwind after school in a safe and supervised setting. Students can also take lessons and participate in enrichment activities through our Primary/ Lower School Clubs, which include karate, violin, cooking, soccer, arts and crafts, gymnastics, and more!
MORNING MEETING In each division, Fay students congregate in the morning, before classes start, to share news, present projects, and celebrate accomplishments. In the Upper School, Morning Meeting is led by ninth graders, who are ready for the challenge after participating in Fay’s public speaking program. Teachers and students alike enjoy these community-building gatherings, which set the tone for a positive, productive day.
NO EXCUSES! No more “the dog ate my homework!” Fay teachers are taking advantage of technology to help students manage their assignments and become more independent learners. Using resources like Google Docs, teachers monitor their students’ approach to longterm assignments, provide immediate and constructive feedback on written work, and facilitate collaboration on small group projects.
NOTABLE ALUMNI Secondary schools love Fay students. We consistently hear from directors of admission that Fay graduates are active, engaged, wellrounded students who are well prepared to succeed academically and pursue their passions. Here are just a few of our alumni who have gone on to make their mark in science, politics, technology, athletics, and the arts.
OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO
ONE SCHOOL, ONE BOOK
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At Fay, we love to read, and we love to make readA ing a community-building experience! Each fall, in aall the students and teachers in the Lower School al read one book and explore its themes from the re perspectives of art, math, science, and language. per E Even ven parent parents get iin on the act, with parent-teacher-student book groups that help students see learning as an ongoing, lifelong pursuit.
ONE-STOP SHOPPING No more driving to lessons and practices after school! It’s one-stop shopping at Fay— great for students and easy for parents, who know their children will have the opportunity to participate on campus in a range of enrichment activities, including sports, music lessons, service learning opportunities, and clubs designed to spark creativity and broaden horizons.
OPEN PARENT MEETINGS When your children enroll at Fay, you automatically become a member of Fay’s Parents’ Association (PA). The PA offers parents numerous ways to volunteer at Fay, and on the first Wednesday of each month, the PA hosts a breakfast meeting for parents to speak with administrators and teachers. It’s a terrific opportunity for parents to learn more about the program and build stronger connections with each other and the School.
PHALANX Who are those students on the quad with the long, pointy sticks? Don’t worry; it’s just Mr. Blanchard’s Ancient History class. Students are recreating a phalanx, the military formation used by the armies of ancient Rome. It’s another handson highlight of the year for the eighth graders that helps bring history to life.
PICARDI ART CENTER Let your creativity soar! With studios for printmaking, ceramics, painting, sculpture, and other media, every Fay student has the opportunity to build his or her art skills and find new modes of expression. Boarding students can also drop in to the Art Center on the weekends, when it’s staffed by our art faculty, to work on structured projects—or just for open-ended exploration.
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PIZZA PI
It’s math. And it’s food. What’s not to like? For our Upper School mathematics fans, the popular Pizza Pi dinner group offers a fantastic opportunity to get together with teachers and d like-minded friends to solve problems and have fun. Whereverr your interests lie, Fay is a place where you can pursue your passions, explore new interests, and make great friends.
POETRY ALIVE Poetry takes center stage each year with Poetry Alive, a theater group that conducts poetry workshops for our Upper School students, culminating in a school-wide poetry performance that has to be seen to be believed. Poetry Alive is one of many troupes, speakers, and experts we bring to campus throughout the year to enrich our students’ learning.
POMPEII Just one of the amazing sights that Fay students witnessed on a recent trip to Italy and Greece. Each year, Fay faculty members lead spring break trips to locations around the world as a complement to students’ classroom studies. Recent and upcoming adventures also include trips to France, Spain, China, and Montreal.
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QUICK CUP OF JOE At morning drop-off, feel free to stop by our coffee station in the Primary School, where parents gather for informal, impromptu conversations. It’s a great way make connections with other parents, plan play dates, and share information. atiion.
REVENGE OF THE ROBOTS Watch out for the tiny robots scuttling across the first floor of the Root Building. Th Theey’re the creations of the sixth graders, who take part in a robotics unit that brings together engineering, technology, design, and some pretty creative problem solving.
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SPEECH CONTEST It’s an Upper School tradition: each year, students take part in a speech contest, and the finals showcase presentations that are thoughtful, creative, funny, and memorable. Public speaking is a regular part of the curriculum, and every student has opportunities to develop poise and confidence. Scan this QR code to read this year’s winning speech.
SUMMER CAMP Th school year may end in June, but the summer fun is just beginThe ning! ni Fay Discovery is our day camp for campers aged 3-15, where each ea day is all about choice: campers choose activities that interest them th for each segment of the day, making every e ev camp day a new ne adventure. Campers C who are 8 and older can also personalize pe their camp days with afternoon Specialty Workshops focused on visual arts, academics, robotics, athletics, and outdoor adventures. Visit us at www.fayschool.org/summer.
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STANDING ROOM ONLY W you’ll find when you come to a Fay drama What production. Our shows regularly fill our theater in the p Harris Events Center, with audience members from the school community and beyond. Recent productions have included Guys and Dolls, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin, and we offer drama opportunitties to all students from Pre-K through ninth grade.
STATE OF THE ART Fay’s campus is amazing, and our facilities are unmatched. Our spaces for learning are bright, warm, and welcoming, with a new Primary Building designed expressly for the needs of young learners, including outdoor classroom spaces for explorations in science, art, and the humanities. Our arts facilities—from our 350-seat theater, to our visual arts center, to our classrooms for music rehearsal and instruction—inspire creativity. And our athletes have access to superlative resources: two regulation-sized basketball courts, a rock wall, a high ropes course, plus a 36-acre dedicated athletic campus with groomed cross country trails, baseball diamonds, batting cages, and playing fields for soccer, field hockey, and lacrosse.
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TASTE OF NATIONS A highlight of the school year at Fay! Students, parents, faculty, and staff cook and share delicacies representing the nearly 40 countries that make up our global community. It’s the culmination of Multicultural Week, when our boarders and day students share and celebrate their heritage and traditions with the school community.
TOOLS Pre-K students are building skills…and building with wood. The children took part in a recent “tool inquiry,” where they developed language arts and math skills while exploring woodworking tools, interviewing experts who work with tools (like carpenters and doctors), and designing and building their own inventions.
TRADITIONS A the oldest junior boarding school in the nation, we’re proud of our longstanding As traditions that join current students and alumni in the bonds of shared experience: • Hosting and participating in New England junior school athletic tournaments • Family-style, home-cooked meals in our dining room since our founding in 1866 • Founders’ Weekend, our annual celebration to honor Fay alumni • Our annual Upper School Speech Contest • Our Commencement Exercises, which include the awarding of the Founders’ Medal
UP, UP, AND AWAY!
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Now this is some serious fun: Upper School students learn about the properties of water and propulsion as they build and test water rockets—another example of hands-on, collaborative learning.
VARSITY ART For our Upper School students with a passion for visual arts, there’s Varsity Art, a class where students can take their art skills to the next level in a range of media, from oils and watercolors to ceramics and three-dimensional sculpture.
VILLAGE DORMS Our seventh grade boarders love the new village dorms! In every dorm on campus, students enjoy safe, supervised, family-style living. Our dorms feature single and double rooms, comfortable common spaces with kitchenettes, flat-screen televisions, board games, and phones to call home, and apartments for faculty dorm parents where students and teachers gather for home-cooked meals.
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WEEKENDS
We are proud to offer the premier weekend program among junior boarding schools. As a boarder at Fay, you get the best of both worlds—our cozy campus plus the best that the Boston area has to offer. You have the freedom to craft each weekend to include the activities you enjoy most, whether it’s attending a baseball game at Fenway Park, going apple picking, building a canoe, seeing Blue Man Group in Boston, shooting hoops with your friends in the gym, collaborating with day students on a community service project, or skiing and snowtubing at nearby Mount Wachusett.
WELLNESS Fay is committed to the well being of every child on campus, and to that end we offer a rich Wellness program designed to help students develop life skills and make smart choices at every stage of pre-adolescence and adolescence. Age-appropriate classes and activities focus on topics including friendship, consideration of others, study skills, cyberr safe safety, f ty t nutrition, and drugs and alcohol.
WORCESTER ART MUSEUM In addition to the vast array of cultural landmarks in nearby Boston, Fay students also take advantage of arts institutions like the Worcester Art Museum—where, by thee way, Fay students are regularly selected to display their work each year during Youth Art Month.
WORLD LANGUAGES At Fay, language instruction A begins in Pre-Kindergarten be with French and Spanish; by the time students reach Upper School w they can choose from French, Spanish, Latin, and Chinese. Our th sstructured t program emphasizes language as a tool for communication and connection and integrates history and co culture cullture throu through h creative projects.
WWW.FAYSCHOOL.ORG Fay is a connected community, and our website has it all! Here, as a member of our community you’ll find photos, regular news updates, calendar information, faculty and family contact information, links to classroom and teacher blogs, homework assignments—even today’s lunch menu!
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XYLOPHONE Hear those chimes at the end of each lunch period in the Dining Room? That’s the traditional signal for students to listen to the day’s updates and announcements from one of the faculty members before heading off to recess or class.
YOU SAY IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY
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We’ve got it covered! Boarding students love birthdays at Fay School, where we celebrate with birthday cake and candles, and recognize each student with a special, personalized ceremony. Our day students are also recognized by their peers at Morning Meeting, and they proudly wear the “birthday button” all day long.
Z ZIP LINES And rock walls and high ropes courses— just a few of the adventurous options on Fay School’s campus, offered during P.E. classes, in our Outdoor Adventure sports athletic activity, and on weekends.
FAY BY THE NUMBERS
48 Main Street Southborough, MA 01772 508.490.8201 admission@fayschool.org www.fayschool.org