February 14, 2024

What does excellent reading instruction look like? It's a science.

By Amy Jolly, Head of School

The Boston Globe recently had a front-page article on the “Science of Reading” (SoR) called “Lost in the World of Words” (McLaaren, Mandy & Martin, Naomi  “Lost in a world of words: Key takeaways from Globe literacy investigation” Boston Globe January 17, 2024) that highlights that “Learning to read is the greatest gift a school can give a child. And yet here, in the birthplace of public education, outmoded teaching methods leave thousands of students struggling to gain this critical skill”... read more

December 15, 2022

All-school assembly builds community through connection.

Like a family, a strong community requires work and dedication from its members. One of the ways that we work on being a large family at Applewild is through the all-school assembly block built into our 7-day schedule rotation. While these periods never look exactly the same, each one has the same goal: building community. read more

January 18, 2022

Why middle school boarding? Last major window for academic intervention.

By Amy Jolly, Head of School

Middle school is a time of explosive growth and intense awkwardness for many. If we pause and reflect on our own middle school experiences, most of us would inwardly cringe at remembering. The hormones are flowing and development is uneven across boys and girls at this age. Friendships which seemed secure in fifth grade are abandoned in sixth grade causing great anxiety. Girls and boys begin to be interested in each other as more than friends. It is not uncommon for adolescents to explore their gender and sexual identity while clarifying their interests and talents overall... read more

October 21, 2022

Junior Boarding: The 9th grade advantage.

By Amy Jolly, Head of School

There are only 11 junior boarding schools in the United States, and these schools specialize in the unique academic and social-emotional needs of residential students in grades four through nine. There are many compelling developmental and educational reasons why families choose middle school boarding but one of the top reasons is overall secondary school preparation and placement... read more