The Governor's Blog

Welcome the The Governor's Blog where you can find a wealth of content to dive into ranging from dorm life, admission tips, parenting, technology, reading habits, and more!

Nailing Your Admission Interview
Mike Kinnealey, Assistant Head of School and Dean of Enrollment

The most frequent questions I am asked between May and October as Dean of Enrollment at The Governor’s Academy are about the interview. For most applicants, it is the part of the application process that brings the most anxiety. It comes from a sense that the student will enter an office where they have never been to be asked questions by a person they have never met.

Read Article about Nailing Your Admission Interview
Cultivating Cultural Competency Together
Michelle de la Guardia, Dean of Multicultural Education

Fostering a campus community where students of all races, ethnicities, and nationalities feel seen and valued is an ongoing commitment for educators at The Governor’s Academy. This year, our focus on cultural competency centers around these important identities. A critical way we engaged with this theme was through our summer enrichment program...

Read Article about Cultivating Cultural Competency Together
photo of campus of the governor's academy a private school in byfield ma
Mike Kinnealey, Assistant Head of School and Dean of Enrollment

This is the season of Admission Open Houses at schools like The Governor’s Academy. It is an interesting concept to welcome prospective students and their families to spend some time on a campus outside of the typical tour and interview visit, and it is often very helpful for applicants as each considers educational options.

Read Article about Our Front Door is Open
Getting it Done
Karen Gold P’11,’17, Academic Dean

Starting high school can be an exciting yet challenging experience, especially when learning how to manage your time. With challenging classes, more demanding homework, new activities, and opportunities to connect with friends, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed. But don’t worry—there are plenty of strategies to help you stay on track!

Read Article about Getting it Done
teacher stands talking to a smiling student
Claudia Asano Barcomb, Director of Afternoon Programs & Athletics

Your child has been successful on the field, rink, track, court, or course at Governor’s and is now thinking about if and where they might compete in college. Is a large NCAA Division I university or a small NCAA Division III college or something in between the right fit for their athletic and academic aspirations?

Read Article about Competing after Governor’s
head of school plays pool with students at the governor's academy
Head Of School Peter H. Quimby, Ph.D. '85 P'14

While I associate the words “Happy New Year” at least as much with the beginning of September as with the first of January, the start of a new calendar year provides us with an opportunity to see things through a new lens, and perhaps to refocus our attention on those things that matter most to us–on those things that are essential. As 2024 begins for me, I find myself reflecting on the house that my wife and I reside in on campus.

Read Article about At Home in the Mansion House
A Vital Revenue Source
Leslie Dickey, Director of Advancement

With December upon us, the holiday season is well underway. At The Governor’s Academy, students have decorated their dorms, enjoyed the first dusting of snow, and are looking forward to winter festivities during their final weekend on campus before the winter break.

Read Article about A Vital Revenue Source
Governor's Field House and Sager Bowl
Mike Kinnealey, Assistant Head of School

In 1723, Massachusetts Bay Colony Governor William Dummer, declared November 28 a day of Thanksgiving for the colony. While the fall holiday tradition preceded William Dummer’s decree, and Abraham Lincoln’s setting of a date—the last Thursday in November—came 140 years later, it is noteworthy that the founder of our school is recognized for this document 300 years ago next week.

Read Article about Giving Thanks at Govs
AI: Friend or Foe to High School Students?
Aaron Mandel- Director of Information Technology

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the next disruptive technology for education. It will require schools to be more thoughtful and creative in designing assessments and structuring learning. It may also help us do our jobs as educators. AI tools are already being used for everything from grading essays to providing personalized learning experiences.

Read Article about AI: Friend or Foe to High School Students?
students and teacher at the governor's academy conduct scientific research in nearby marsh
Erika Mitkus- Director of the Bass Institute & Science Faculty

The first day of classes is always an exciting time for a school, but this year, opening days at The Governor’s Academy were even more significant. For the first time, our students arrived for classes at the Bill ’67 and Peter ’71 Alfond Coastal Research Center. As I greeted them in the lobby, I saw students nudge their friends and say with awe, “This is amazing!” and “Wow, look at all the tanks!”

Read Article about A "Place" for Place-based Learning
head of school chats with students playing cards with snacks at the governor's academy private high school in byfield ma
Head of School Peter H. Quimby, Ph.D. '85 P'14

Over the years, business people have sometimes asked me whether I thought the future of boarding schools would be threatened by advances in technology. They wondered whether boarding schools would be necessary when students could simply go online and access content from great teachers from the comfort of their own homes.

Read Article about In Education, Relationships Matter
two students sit at picnic table talking outside pescosolido library at the governor's academy in byfield ma
Joe Coletta- Director of College Counseling

From the post-pandemic test optional movement, to the re-engineered FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), to increasingly inflated college applicant pools, today's college admissions process is often defined by change. Perhaps the most significant recent shift centers on the Supreme Court’s ruling last June against Harvard University and UNC-Chapel Hill, essentially ending Affirmative Action within the college admissions process.

Read Article about The Evolving College Admissions Landscape
Getting Off on the Right Foot Academically
Karen Gold - Academic Dean & English Teacher

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Boarding school campuses are buzzing with students returning to campus—moving into the dorm rooms, participating in preseason athletics, and eagerly awaiting the first day of the new academic year. Whether your student is new to the school or already has a year or two under their belt, you might be thinking about how to get the year off to the best start. Here are a few ideas:

Read Article about Getting Off on the Right Foot Academically