A Guide to Life @Fay

FaySchool 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.

AACCOMPLISHED FACULTY

Our teachers are the heart of our school. They bring a passion forPre-K-9 education, expertise in their fields, and an impressive range ofinterests and achievements. Our superlative faculty includes publishedauthors, national speakers, curriculum developers, textbook and SSATquestion writers, nationally ranked athletes, and even a member of theBoston Pops Chorus.

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Starting in fifth grade, our students meet with a faculty member in small advisorygroups a few times each week.These close-knit groups provide a supportive setting forstudents to build friendships and talk about life throughout the year.

A AATTHHLLEETICS

Athletics is an important part of life at Fay.We’re proud ofour state-of-the-art facilities, our championship-winningteams, and our program that enables every student todevelop as an athlete. As a beginner, you can choose from20 different sports and learn from experienced, supportivecoaches. If you’re an elite athlete, you’ll join varsity teamsthat play—and win—against a competitive network oflocal peer schools.

Time to Play!Choose from baseball, basketball, crosscountry, 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 staffparticipates in ongoing training by PositiveCoaching Alliance, a non-profit organizationwhose mission is to "transform youth sports sosports can transform youth." PCA offersparent workshops and training for coachesthat focus on creating a positive, character-building youth sports environment.Their"double-goal" coach model emphasizeslearning life lessons as well as striving to win.

BAND

Or Orchestra. Or Bell Choir. Or Cho-rus. Or Jazz Band.There’s somethingfor everyone in our music program,where students in Pre-K through ninthgrade can try something new, build

their skills, and make musicin ensembles that practiceand perform regularly. Faystudents join ensembles be-ginning in fifth grade, andthere are groups for all levels of skill and experience. Many ofour students audition for and are accepted to the New EnglandConservatory’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 cam-pus, meaning that they attend dinner with boarding students and faculty andthen get ready for the evening’s events with their friends back in the dorm. It’sanother way our students build lifelong friendships and our families strengthenthe bonds of community.

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COLOR COMPETITION

Since 1888, Fay students havebeen grouped into two teams(the Reds and theWhites) thatengage in friendly competitionthroughout the year. On a Sat-urday morning each May, theteams show their school spirit atthe Color Competition—a fun,all-school event full of races,contests, and games, includingobstacle courses, sack races, anda traditional tug-of-war.

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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

One of Fay’s destinations on a recentservice trip, where eighth graders spentthe week teaching English to children inMonte Cristo. Each year, some of Fay’sseventh and eighth graders embark onservice trips in the United States andabroad to experience first-hand thechallenges and joys of helping others.

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EFFORT GRADES

Earnest Effort is one of our corevalues: it’s important to work hardand do your best! That’s why Fayteachers give their students effortgrades every two weeks. It’s a helpfulway to provide regular feedbackabout a dimension of school lifeover which each student has control.

FINANCIAL AID

Fay is committed to building acommunity of learners from diverseeconomic backgrounds, and weaward over $1.8 million in financialaid each year to qualified applicantsat every grade level.

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GECKO

Meet Lizzy, the Pre-K’s class pet! This is no ordinarygecko: she was carefully selected as part of a yearlongunit on pets, where the children researched pets withpicture 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 incorporatepurposeful lessons in language arts and math.

GLOBAL COMMUNITY

We pride ourselves on our diverse community thatincludes day families from 38 different towns inBoston’s MetroWest area as well as boardingfamilies from across the United Statesand 20 countries around world. Ourstudents experience multiculturalism daily inauthentic, meaningful ways, inside and outsideour classrooms, and Fay graduates frequently seek outmulticultural settings in their new schools and careers.

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GOOD MORNING!Drive through Harlow Circle at morningdrop-off, and odds are good that you’ll seeHead of Primary School Anne Bishop atthe entrance to the Primary School Build-ing, greeting the children as they walkthrough the door. It’s a welcoming touchthat has quickly become a Primary Schooltradition.

GREEN CAMPUS

Green doesn’t just describe our lushplaying fields, it also describes ourcommitment to environmentalresponsibility. Our newest buildings areLEED-certified, and our students takepart in green projects on and offcampus to make the world a betterplace, whether it’s taking part inour “Green Squad” recycling club,repurposing toys and clothes atCradles to Crayons, or cultivatingFay’s organic garden.

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HOME

Fay is certainly home for our boarders,who enjoy full days of academics, athlet-ics, arts, and recreation, surrounded byfriends, teachers, and dorm parents. ButFay is also a home to our day studentsand their parents, who take advantage ofeverything the School has to offer be-yond the classroom, from after-schoolprograms and clubs, to parent educationevenings and book clubs hosted by theHead of School.

HERO WORSHIP

You might be seeing some of this in thePrimary and Lower School, when theirUpper School friends come by to helpout in the classroom, in the gym, and atlunchtime. Part of our commitment toour core value of Dedicated Service in-cludes providing opportunities for UpperSchool students to lead by mentoringyounger students.

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INSTRUMENT LESSONS

Starting in Pre-K, every student at Fay has achance to pursue music at his or her own pacethrough frequent music classes (where all stu-dents learn to read music) as well as individualinstrument lessons, which can be scheduledduring the academic dayor in the afternoons.

IPADS

Each Fay ninth grader is issued an iPad to supportlearning across the disciplines, and our teachers undergorigorous training so that they’re able to integrate theseexciting tools in meaningful ways. Our second gradersrecently partnered with Upper School algebra students to explore concepts ofmeasurement, mean, median, and mode, and they recorded and analyzed theirdata using Google Docs on the iPads.

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IRON CHEF @ FAYCan you create a meal that’s nutritious, delicious, economicallyresponsible and environmentally sustainable?That was thechallenge for ninth graders in Diagnosing the ModernWorld, aninterdisciplinary course focusing on science and politics. For theirfinal project, students researched, cooked, and presented meals to apanel of experts—a hands-on and tasty way to demonstrate theirknowledge!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, eachstudent participates in a structured, cohesive program thatincludes developmentally appropriate instruction intraditional academic subjects as well as world languages,music, drama, visual arts, wellness, and athletics.m

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LAPTOPS

Lots of them!With more than 280 networked Mac and PC laptops on campus, everydivision at Fay is equipped with laptop carts that enable teachers to integrate technologywith classroom learning in relevant ways.

LLATIN PUPPET SHOW

Fay’s seventh grade Latin studentscreate their own sock puppets andadapt classic Roman myths to pup-pet shows that they present to students in the Primary School.What better way to introduce young learners to the classics?

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LEADERSHIP

There are numerous elected leadership posi-tions in the Upper School—and many op-portunities to develop and practiceleadership skills. Fay students lead at everygrade level, whether it’s a second grader

reading the morning message to classmates, eighth graders helpingkindergarten students write poetry, team captains inspiring teammates to give their allon the field, dorm proctors offering guidance to new boarders, or upper school studentshelping the Pre-K children at our annual Color Competition.

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LUNCH WITH THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

Family-style meals in our DiningRoom are a part of the Faytradition. Students gather withteachers and administrators toenjoy delicious and nutritiousfood cooked by our school’s chefand to converse about the schoolday, current events, and otherstimulating topics—all withinthe context of good manners andmutual respect.

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MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR AFTERNOONS

Students in Pre-K through grade four havethe option of participating in Fay AfterSchool, our after-school program thatruns until 6:00 p.m. each day.Thisstructured program is a great way forstudents to unwind after school in a safeand supervised setting. Students can alsotake lessons and participate in enrich-ment activities through our Primary/Lower School Clubs, which includekarate, violin, cooking, soccer, arts andcrafts, 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 UpperSchool, Morning Meeting is led by ninth graders, who are ready for the challengeafter participating in Fay’s public speaking program. Teachers and students alikeenjoy these community-building gatherings, which set the tone for a positive,productive day.

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NNOO EEXXCCUUSSEESS!!Nomore “the dog ate my homework!” Fay teachers are taking advantage of technologyto help students manage their assignments and become more independent learners.Using resources like Google Docs, teachers monitor their students’ approach to long-term assignments, provide immediate and constructive feedback onwritten work, and facilitate collaboration on small group projects.

Secondary schools love Fay students.We consistently hear fromdirectors of admission that Fay graduates are active, engaged, well-rounded students who are well prepared to succeed academically andpursue their passions. Here are just a few of our alumni who have gone onto make their mark in science, politics, technology, athletics, and the arts.

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ONE SCHOOL, ONE BOOK

At Fay, we love to read, and we love to make read-ing a community-building experience! Each fall,all the students and teachers in the Lower Schoolread one book and explore its themes from theperspectives of art, math, science, and language.

Even parents get in on the act, with parent-teacher-student book groups that help stu-dents see learning as an ongoing, lifelong pursuit.

ONE-STOP SHOPPING

Nomore 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 opportu-nity to participate on campus in a range of enrichment activities, including sports,music lessons, service learning opportunities, and clubs designed to spark creativity andbroaden 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 thefirst Wednesday of each month, the PA hosts a breakfast meeting for parents to speakwith administrators and teachers. It’s a terrific opportunity for parents to learn moreabout the program and build stronger connections with each other and the School.

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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 hands-on 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 Faystudent has the opportunity to build his or her art skillsand find new modes of expression. Boarding students canalso drop in to the Art Center on the week-ends, when it’s staffed by our art faculty, towork on structured projects—or just foropen-ended exploration.

PIZZA PI

It’s math. And it’s food.What’s not to like? For our UpperSchool mathematics fans, the popular Pizza Pi dinner groupoffers a fantastic opportunity to get together with teachers andlike-minded friends to solve problems and have fun.Whereveryour interests lie, Fay is a place where you can pursue yourpassions, explore new interests, and make great friends.

POETRY ALIVE

Poetry takes center stage each year with Poetry Alive, a theater group that conducts poetryworkshops for our Upper School students, culminating in a school-wide poetry perform-ance that has to be seen to be believed. Poetry Alive is one of many troupes, speakers, andexperts we bring to campus throughout the year to enrich our students’ learning.

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POMPEIIJust one of the amazing sights that Fay students witnessedon a recent trip to Italy and Greece. Each year, Fay facultymembers lead spring break trips to locations around theworld as a complement to students’ classroom studies.Recent and upcoming adventures also include trips toFrance, Spain, China, and Montreal.

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QUICK CUP OF JOE

At morning drop-off, feel free to stop by our coffee stationin the Primary School, where parents gather for informal,impromptu conversations. It’s a great way make connec-tions with other parents, plan play dates, and share information.atiiioonnn.

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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, andmemorable. Public speaking is a regular part of the curriculum, and every stu-dent has opportunities to develop poise and confidence.Scan this QR code to read this year’s winning speech.

SUMMER CAMP

The school year may end in June, but the summer fun is just begin-ning! Fay Discovery is our day camp for campers aged 3-15, whereeach day is all about choice: campers choose activities that interestthem for each segmentof the day, makingevery camp day anew adventure.Campers who are8 and older can alsopersonalize their camp

days with afternoon SpecialtyWorkshops focused on visual arts,academics, robotics, athletics, andoutdoor adventures. Visit us atwww.fayschool.org/summer.

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STANDING ROOM ONLY

What you’ll find when you come to a Fay dramaproduction. Our shows regularly fill our theater in theHarris Events Center, with audience members fromthe school community and beyond. Recent produc-tions have includedGuys and Dolls, Beauty and theBeast, and Aladdin, and we offer drama opportuni-ties 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 arebright, warm, and welcoming, with a new Primary Building designed expressly for theneeds of young learners, including outdoor classroom spaces for explorations in science,art, and the humanities. Our artsfacilities—from our 350-seat theater, to ourvisual arts center, to our classrooms for musicrehearsal and instruction—inspire creativity.And our athletes have access to superlativeresources: two regulation-sized basketballcourts, a rock wall, a high ropes course,plus a 36-acre dedicated athletic campuswith groomed cross country trails, baseballdiamonds, batting cages, and playing fieldsfor 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 thenearly 40 countries that make up our global community.It’s the culmination of Multicultural Week, when ourboarders and day students share and celebrate their heritageand traditions with the school community.

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Pre-K students are building skills…and building with wood.Thechildren took part in a recent “tool inquiry,” where they developedlanguage arts and math skills while exploring woodworking tools,interviewing experts who work with tools (like carpenters and doc-tors), and designing and building their own inventions.

TRADITIONS

As the oldest junior boarding school in the nation, we’re proud of our longstandingtraditions 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 theFounders’ Medal

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UP, UP, AND AWAY!Now this is some serious fun: Upper School students learnabout the properties of water and propulsion as they buildand test water rockets—another example of hands-on,collaborative learning.

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WEEKENDS

We are proud to offer the premierweekend program among juniorboarding schools. As a boarder at Fay,you get the best of both worlds—ourcozy campus plus the best that theBoston area has to offer. You have thefreedom to craft each weekend to in-clude the activities you enjoy most,whether it’s attending a baseball gameat Fenway Park, going apple picking,

building a canoe, seeing Blue Man Group in Boston, shooting hoops with your friendsin the gym, collaborating with day students on a community service project, or skiingand snowtubing at nearby MountWachusett.

WELLNESS

Fay is committed to the well being of every child on cam-pus, and to that end we offer a richWellness program de-signed to help students develop life skills and make smartchoices at every stage of pre-adolescence and adolescence.Age-appropriate classes and activities focus on topics in-cluding friendship, consideration of others, study skills, cyber safety,nutrition, and drugs and alcohol.

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WORCESTER ART MUSEUM

In addition to the vast array of cultural landmarks innearby Boston, Fay students also take advantage of artsinstitutions like theWorcester Art Museum—where, by theway, Fay students are regularly selected to display their workeach year during Youth Art Month.

WORLD LANGUAGES

At Fay, language instructionbegins in Pre-Kindergartenwith French and Spanish; by the time students reach Upper Schoolthey can choose from French, Spanish, Latin, and Chinese. Ourstructured program emphasizes language as a tool forcommunication and connection and integrates history and

culture through 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 newsupdates, calendar information, faculty and family contactinformation, links to classroom and teacher blogs, homeworkassignments—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’sthe traditional signal for students to listen to the day’s updates and announce-ments from one of the faculty members before heading off to recess or class.

YOU SAY IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY

We’ve got it covered!Boarding students lovebirthdays at Fay School,where we celebratewith birthday cakeand candles, andrecognize each studentwith a special, personal-ized ceremony. Ourday students are alsorecognized by theirpeers at MorningMeeting, and theyproudly wear the“birthday button”all day long.Y

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ZIP LINES

And rock walls andhigh ropes courses—just a few of theadventurous optionson Fay School’scampus, offeredduring P.E. classes, inour Outdoor Adven-ture sports athleticactivity, and onweekends.

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FFAAYY BBYY TTHHEE NNUUMMBBEERRSS

48 Main StreetSouthborough, MA 01772

508.490.8201admission@fayschool.org

www.fayschool.org