“The best part of our 2014 college list is that each school tells a story. Every match is indicative of who that student has become during their time at LREI and the future path they are embarking on. We are very proud of the thoughtful process each student demonstrated along the way.”
–Carey Socol, Director of College Guidance
Congratulations to the class of 2014! Below you will find links to the seniors’ options and choices. We are so proud of these students. We are also quite proud of the process that led to these decisions, a process that requires the students to bring all of their considerable powers to bear as they imagine their university experience. Our college process supports families as they move towards this important transition in their lives.
While the official college process begins in 11th grade, an essential component of our process begins early in each student’s LREI career, whether the student joins us in lower school, middle school or in the ninth grade. Our students know themselves quite well. They understand how they learn best, what challenges them, what their interests are and in which situations they will need additional assistance. This deep understanding begins for lower school students in the first moments of school. Lower school principal Namita Tolia says, “From the start in lower school our youngest students are asked for their opinions, their interests, their passions. They reflect on themselves as learners, what they could have done better, or strength or talent they have.” We see teachers working with students to deepen this understanding through the making of work time choices, when relating to their peers on the roof playground, and when taking a “brave taste” of a new food at lunch. So much is new to our youngest students that they have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of themselves each day.
In middle school students learn about themselves through student-led family conferences. Mark Silberberg, middle school principal writes:
“Family conferences create a meaningful context for students to practice essential reflection skills. In conjunction with their digital portfolios through which students curate artifacts from their learning experience, students engage regularly with their teachers and advisors to explore strengths and challenges and to set goals for the future. Younger middle school students are provided with the necessary support and scaffolding to complete this work. By the time students reach eighth grade, most of these routines have become habits that allow students to engage in this work more independently.”
Middle school finds the children participating in a variety of extracurricular activities, often developing real passion and enhanced skills. These activities allow the inner track star, robot scientist, trombone player, or actor to emerge.
As students move through high school they have an ever-increasing level of input into designing the way they spend their days in school. They can focus on areas of deep interest while opening themselves up to new experiences. They develop substantial academic skills and continue to explore a variety of extra-curricular activities. Again, as in lower and middle school, they ask, “What fits?” “What can I imagine continuing to explore in college?” “What might challenge me?” “How do I develop the relationships with adults that will support all of this?” Ruth Jurgensen, high school principal, describes our students by adding, “Generally, our students know themselves and learn to advocate for themselves and for others. They are resilient, and they love learning.” While we witness the students’ knowledge of themselves throughout their high school career, there is nothing quite like the fraught, emotional, multifaceted experience of searching for a college and of a family contemplating a child leaving home, for bringing this understanding of self to the fore and for demonstrating the worth of the time spent developing it.
Again, congratulations seniors!
Click here to see a list of the schools to which this year’s seniors were accepted.
Click here to see a list of the schools in which the Class of 2014 has enrolled.