Grades 5-9
Boarding

Boarding Life

 
Boarding life at Fessenden is a rich and fun-filled experience in a supportive community that truly makes our campus a home.

Here, we’ve gathered information to help both prospective students get a glimpse of boarding life at Fessenden.

Dorm Life

It’s impossible not to make friends in our small dorms of 11 to 18 residents. With two faculty/staff families residing in each hallway, caring adults actively supervise and support dorm life. We make sure your time is well balanced, and we’ll give you the chance to mix it up. Need to let loose and go for a run between afternoon study hall, dinner, and “lights out”? There’s time for that.

Faculty-organized evening programming gives you the chance have some fun with activities like dorm competitions, indoor soccer, floor hockey, open weight room, board games, ping pong, and foosball--plus many additional offerings.

Need some time to relax? Even in a place as packed with activities as Fessenden, there’s downtime. Whether it’s board games or quiet chill time with friends or dorm families, you’ll have many opportunities to take it easy.

All About the Food

We know you’ll be working up an appetite, so Fessy’s chow options include fresh meat and veggies from Russo’s (a local farmstand), as well as our on-campus soup bar, salad bar, and pizza and calzone bar on Friday nights.

Clubs

Take a break from school work with friends who share your interests. Into sports? From cricket to indoor soccer, there’s an athletic club for you. Additional clubs include fly fishing, ultimate frisbee, robotics, board games, and classic movies. Into building, cooking, or the arts? You’ll have a chance to build a model plane, cook a pasta dinner, make sushi, learn photography, or build stage sets for an upcoming theatrical production. And that’s just during the week. Read more about weekends at Fessenden here.

Leadership Opportunities

Make your mark! Whatever you’re interested in, you’ll find opportunities to be a leader at Fessy. From proctors, to table monitors, visitor hosts and tour guides, “Big Brothers,” student government, sports team captains, and peer tutors, there’s a role that’s right--and fun--for everyone.
 

Weekday and Weekend Schedules

A Fessy day offers a healthy balance of independence and structure. Check out examples of a weekday and weekend boarding schedule below. You can also view a list of recent weekend trips here!

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  • DAILY BOARDING SCHEDULE

    Monday - Thursday
    6:45 a.m. – Wake-up
    7:00 a.m. – Breakfast
    7:50 a.m. – Morning meeting 
    8:05am - 2:50pm - Classes
    3:00 p.m. – Sports begin
    4:20-5:00 p.m. – Snack, shower, relax
    5:00-5:50 p.m. – Before Supper Study
    6:00 p.m. – Family-style dinner
    6:45-8:00 p.m. – Evening Study
    8:00 p.m. – Free time 
    9:00-9:15 p.m. – Wash-up
    9:15-9:30 p.m. – Rooms and reading
    9:30 p.m. – Lights out - Grades 5-8
    10:00 p.m. - Lights out - Grade 9
  • WEEKEND BOARDING SCHEDULE

    Friday Evening
    5:00-5:30 p.m. – Before Supper Study
    5:30-6:00 p.m. – Free time
    6:00-6:40 p.m. – Pizza/calzone dinner
    6:45-9:30 p.m. – Evening trips
    9:30-10:30 p.m. – Free time
    11:00 p.m. – Lights out

    Saturday
    8:30 a.m. – Breakfast
    9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. – Morning activity
    12:30-1:00 p.m. – Lunch
    1:00-5:00 p.m. – Afternoon trips
    5:30-6:00 p.m. – Dinner, buffet-style
    6:00-9:00 p.m. – Evening trips
    9:00-10:30 p.m. – Free time
    11:00 p.m. – Lights out

    Sunday
    9:00-10:00 a.m. – Breakfast brunch
    9:30 a.m. – Church vans depart (optional)
    9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. – Free time
    1:00-1:40 p.m. – Lunch
    1:40-5:00 p.m. – Afternoon trips
    5:00-6:00 p.m. – Free time
    6:00-6:40 p.m. – Dinner
    6:45-8:00 p.m. – Evening Study
    8:00-9:00 p.m. – Free time 
    9:30 p.m. – Lights out - Grades 5-8
    10:00 p.m. – Lights out - Grade 9
© 2015 The Fessenden School. All Rights Reserved.
The Fessenden School
250 Waltham Street
West Newton, MA 02465
(617) 964-5350

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