California Boarding Schools

ThacherParent
Sat, 27 Oct 2018 20:29:07 +0000

@CaliMex, well said. @Spoonbender I do think that attending Thacher is not for everyone. It’s not about the nerdiness or athleticism or brilliance or extracurricular interests of a child. Like @CaliMex said, the community is totally diverse. The way more important attributes for success are community engagement, risk-taking, and a natural predilection for the honor code “Honor Fairness Kindness and Truth.” The thing to assess with your daughter is her willingness to plunge in and try things (the horse program typically being the first huge step down this path), knowing full well that there will be lots of falls off the horse (literally and metaphorically) during her four years and especially during the first couple of years. So…Is she resilient? Is she determined? Is she persistent? Can she laugh at herself? Does she want more for herself, broader horizons, even if it means trying new things well outside of her comfort zone? If she has that sort of engagement-oriented personality then she has half the equation right.

The other half of the equation is the honor code - hugely important at the school: Honor Fairness Kindness and Truth. Is this her? I probably should have also mentioned academic strength, which is table stakes for success. Nearly every kid was an A student in their prior school. So it can come as a shock when those first grades come rolling in. It’s tough academically but infinitely rewarding, and with extraordinary student-teacher engagement.

@janehoya, CaliMex will check with her daughter, but when my son attended, doors were never locked, not sure that they have locks. Regardless, the kids are just as safe and secure at night as they are during the day. Zero worries.