Headmaster's Notes

What are Colleges Looking For?

Recently, I read a blog from Pat Basett.  Pat is the President of the National Association of Independent Schools.  Pat recently was asked to sit on a panel of College Presidents, including the Presidents of Georgetown and Stanford.  His blog struck me.

He posed the question to the various colleges presidents: what can our Independent Secondary Schools do better with respect to preparing our students for college?  Pat went on to say, he fully expected them to come back with a variation of his 5 "C's", Critical Thinking, Communication, Creativity, Collaboaration and Character.  And, although they acknowledge those as being important skills to develop, they were unanimous in stating the crisis in college students today is emotional maturity/resiliency.

They cited statistics such as: 30% to 40% of undergrads are on anti-depressants (some I am sure, are self medicating to deal with stress), 10% of college females are suffering from eating disorders, and finally the problem of rampant alcohol abuse on college campuses (drinking for the purpose of getting drunk).  These are sobering statisitics and facts.

It seems to me, that as important as the ABC's and Math Facts are, we should acknowledge that a child's emotional well being (happiness, confidence, maturity) is of equal or greater importance. 

 

Great Challenges to have at AFA!

Do you know how one can tell what kind of school year it is going to be?  I can usually tell from the problems that arise in the first few weeks.  Examples from this year so far:

1.  Sir, we have over twenty sailors who want to sail competitively, we need more boats.

2.  Sir, we have filled all of our female dorm rooms and we have a couple on a waiting list, where should we go from here?

3.  Sir, we have over 16 students who want to sign up for the Saturday Engineering class and we only have room for 16.

4.  Sir, we had to ease up on our football game Friday night (a 47 - 7 victory), how do we manage the high expectations for our Football team?

If these are our challenges, it looks like it might be a great year!

 

 

Graduation Ceremonies - A validation of an Independent School Education

I did not need to look any further for a validation of the education of Admiral Farragut Academy, than to sit and listen to our graduates speak at our Commencement Exercises this past weekend.  The pride that we, our staff, had in listening to three graduating seniors talk about Admiral Farragut, their education and their experiences was tremendous.

The students were poised, articulate and demonstrated public speaking skills that most adults would envy.  The messages that they passed on were exceptional and insightful.  All three shared their journeys, one from South Korea, one from Russia and one from right here in St Petersburg.  But, as they all talked about their teachers, their friends, their activities, their families and what they learned by going to Farragut, I could only sit in admiration of their poise, their presence, their leadership,... their message.

Great job, Kamila -  Great job, Joon - Great job, Michael -

- but also, great job Admiral Farragut Academy - Those students along with their fellow classmates will make you proud.

 

First Day at a Boarding School - Memories are Made

As I witness 130+ students move into the dorm this week, I could not help watch the interaction between the students and recall the many, many conversations I have had with alum over the years about their first day at Admiral Farragut Academy.  The stories surrounding their first roommate, the first officer who gave them direction or who was kind and helpful.  Stories that began on that first day of AFA, the boarding school, and evolved and developed into the continuing story of a lifetime.

You see, at a boarding school, life-long friends develop.  I can not tell you the countless stories I have heard, that involved the first day at AFA and continued with stories about school, college years, weddings, and ended by stories of visiting each other with wives and kids over the years.  Boarding schools are special places. 

So today, I paused while watching formation and wondered, what pair of roommates who met this week, will stand up in each others wedding, will send cards to each other for the birth of their children and will stay in contact for the next sixty years.

God Bless Them.   

Quiet Endorsement of Admiral Farragut Academy

Several weeks ago I attended our Elementary School's "Donuts with Dads" morning where about 50 dads came out in attendance.  As I looked over the attendees I was struck with the number of fathers who are also graduates of Admiral Farragut Academy.  Fathers who attended the school in the seventies, eighties, nineties and one who graduated earlier this century. Fathers who thought highly enough about their experience at AFA, that they wanted those same experiences and opportunities for their children.  

I can honestly say that this is a true indication of a strength of the school and the impact we are making with our students.  What a better, and quiet endorsement of what we do here every day than educating second and third generation Farragut families.   

For the record, over 10% of our Elementary School is made up of second generation Farragut Families.

Why Boarding School?

I recently read a letter from Peter Upham, the Executive Director of TABS, that dealt with the virtues of Boarding Schools.  I must admit, although I did not attend a Boarding School during my formative years, I have been witness to the tremendous transformations of boarding students who have passed through our halls. I have become an advocate and fan of what Boarding Schools can offer a young person.  Please let me share with you a portion of Mr. Upham's comments.

"Boarding schools don't simply deposit information; they transform lives.  And that transformation happens on site, in person, by encounter, and through relationships...  The deeper the relationships, the deeper the education.  I believe this is more or less true regardless of age or station in life, but never more true than for teenagers, who developmentally and culturally stand on the bridge between childhood and adulthood, undertaking one of the most important crossings of life, and who almost intuitively reach out beyond their immediate families (however strong and loving) to their peers and to other adults for guidance and safety, caution and courage.  The genius of boarding schools is that they're designed to deliberately foster these relationships and to make use of and maximize their naturally cantilevering effects-at just the time in life young people need them most."  

Well done Mr. Upham.

Are we a College Prep School or a Military School?

Recently, we had an opportunity to have a group of MBA students from the University of Tampa conduct their final "consulting" project with us, here at Admiral Farragut Academy.  The students go through an exhausting process of research, interviews and preparation.  This is the third time we have participated with UT in the past ten years in such a project.  Each time we get some great and valuable feedback.  This year was no different.  Interesting that although each team of students focused on different aspects of the Academy, they all came back with the question, "are we college prep or military?" Although not unexpected, considering we spend a lot of time explaining to new families who we are not, instead of who we are, it is an issue.  An issue, we know, we battle, each and every day.

For those of us here day in and day out, we "get it".  We are a college prep school that functions, appreciates and values operating within a military framework.  We value that our students are asked to say "yes sir", and "no mam", we value a dress code that we hope enable our students to gain an appreciation of first impressions, we value the peer leadership opportunities our students can take of advantage of, we value the development of self discipline and ethical behavior, and finally, we value the fact that "it takes a village to raise a child" and the academy has faculty and staff who are concerned about the whole child, not just their academic prowess in one or another discipline.

We embrace our military structure, and as a parent, I am not sure why other parents would not want those same values instilled in their child.  So why does the word "military" denote, non academic and non college prep? I am not sure.  But I do know the word is often associated with self discipline, honor, and well mannered.  As a parent, I know,  I want that for my children as much as I want academics. 

Admiral Farragut Academy's 75th Celebration Week Complete

 

 
General Charlie Duke with Coach Slaby

The 75th celebration week ended Saturday Night with the formal announcement of the Coach Slaby and Coach Nick Athletic Endowment Fund.  Over $105,000 has been raised to date.  Although this event celebrated the past and present, much of the week focused and educating our alum and our community about who and what Admiral Farragut Academy is today and where are we headed.  Our students were showcased, our faculty were applauded and our direction was laid out.  Farragut today, is an institution committed to preparing young people to succeed and lead in the 21st century.  Our focus on S.T.E.M. (science, technolgy, engineering and mathematics), along with our military framwork that teaches leadership and discipline should position Farragut well for the next 75 years.    

Coach Nick