The Governor's Blog

At The Governor’s Academy, we often talk about belonging, about the feeling of being known, seen, and valued. It’s what makes this place more than a school. It’s what makes it home. We see belonging in the way students cheer for a teammate from the sidelines, collaborate with a peer in the classroom, or stay behind after a performance to congratulate a friend. It lives in the small, daily acts that bring us together. But sometimes, belonging has a hidden cost.

In admission, I am often asked some variation of this question. The question is a good one. It allows me to talk about why a family would choose Govs, and I appreciate that what I offer needs to be accurate, authentic, and valuable. After all, there are costs associated with attending a private school, and as much as The Governor’s Academy has earned the right to be selective in our admission process, families are making choices, too.

The start of the school year at The Governor’s Academy has been its typical whirlwind, sucking new and returning students alike into the vortex of summer reading quizzes, varsity tryouts, ropes course bonding, and lip sync competition preparation.

At The Governor’s Academy, we know that students play a vital role in shaping the culture of our school. One powerful example of this is our Community Facilitators program—a group of tenth through twelfth graders who use the positive power of peer influence to promote respect and civility in our school and beyond.

As the Associate Dean of Students, Director of Residential Life, and Dorm Head in our ninth-grade girls’ dorm, I have a unique perspective on weekends at Govs. Weekend events are created with and for our students. A committee of students from each grade comes together each week to work in collaboration with our Director of Student Activities to create the weekend events schedule.

For some accepted students, Govs is your first choice, and you are attending Accepted Student Days (ASD) to meet your future classmates. For other accepted students, you are considering several schools, and you are attending ASD to learn more about Govs and envision your future in Byfield.

At The Governor’s Academy, we pride ourselves on fostering a vibrant and unified community where every student—whether they call a campus residence hall home at night or head home after their academic and afternoon program commitments are done—feels equally valued, included, and empowered.

The balance between winning and sportsmanship is what truly defines the essence of competition. Here’s why both matter and how they work together to create a more meaningful experience for athletes and fans in the Independent Sports League (ISL) and at The Governor’s Academy.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

The Afternoon Program at The Governor’s Academy plays a vital role in nurturing well-rounded adolescents. This is why we require students to participate in all three seasons of each school year. Each season of the Afternoon Program offers a diverse range of activities, promotes teamwork and leadership, and encourages personal growth.

At their best, these one-on-one discussions about a student can result in greater understanding and clarity about what both teacher and parents see and allow for collaboration for the student’s growth. Here are a few dos and don’ts to make that time with your student’s teachers most effective...

An important aspect of finding the best school for your child is understanding the cost. At first, the independent school financial aid process might feel overwhelming to you on top of the application process.

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.

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!”

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.

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: