Dear Parents, Families, and Friends,

Welcome back to our House Blog!

We have now started the 2nd Marking Period and, as we always do at the beginning of the term, we have asked our boys to set their own academic and personal goals. We will, of course, support the boys with their objectives, reminding them about their commitment and showing them ways of attaining what they have set for themselves at the beginning of this term.

These are the four main reasons why we ask our boys to set their goals at the beginning of each term:

1. Goals Give You Focus

2. Goals Allow You To Measure Progress

3. Goals Help You Overcome Procrastination

4. Goals Give You Motivation

We would also like to share with you what our goals are as educators, what we constantly aim at for ourselves and what our mission is; all beautifully depicted in this image:

P.S.: Do not forget to ask the boys which goals they have set for this 2nd Marking Period!

Congratulations to the boys who have created a beautiful and exquisite starter:

”  Rose di sfoglia con zucchine  “… we got the 2nd place!!!

Sunday Chores are an important part of our weekly routine in Champs des Bois. We strongly believe this is an essential point about kids’ upbringing.

Chores can teach many lessons; these are, we believe, the most significant ones:

Responsibility. Chores teach children that you have an active role in determining how your things are cared for. Parents may give kids responsibility for their rooms, their play areas or their toys.

Natural consequences. Chores teach children that sometimes when you don’t do something, it just doesn’t get done. Natural consequences could include having no clean “cool clothes”, having a favorite pair of jeans dirty when wanted for wear, or having a toy broken from being accidentally stepped on or eaten by the dog.

Organization. Chores teach children that everything has a place. Toys go in the toy room and books go on the bookshelf, for example.

Independence. Chores teach children that they can accomplish some tasks on their own. Assigning age-appropriate chores can foster independence.

The value of teamwork. Chores teach children that sometimes it takes the effort of all to accomplish a task. Everyone needs to pitch in to tidy the house or clear the table before going out or moving on to the next thing.

Value. Chores teach children that things and contributions have value. Assigning chores helps kids to see that their contributions in keeping the home neat are part of a shared family success.

Self-reliance. Chores teach kids that sometimes they can count on themselves. As kids grow older their tasks grow larger and kids can learn to do many household things for themselves.

How to be self-sufficient. Chores teach kids that they can care for their own basic needs. Allowing kids to be responsible for preparing snacks or cleaning their room teaches them that they can take care of themselves.

When our students join our community they immediately become part of a big family. This family will always be by their side and they will have all the support needed to start their journey.

We expect our “boarders” to learn independence through a three steps process:

• Personal care
• Personal growth
• Self-awareness

Our guiding statement R I S E, with all the activities, discussions, rules and policies we have in place have the same clear objective of raising kind, independent, resilient and mindful human beings.

It is a difficult and challenging journey especially for our boys. At their age, being away from home, away from the loving embrace of their beloved ones, asked to share rooms and spaces with complete strangers when the year starts…

…but this is why our presentation was about that special sense of pride we hope they can feel when someone asks them: “are you/have you been a boarder?”  With all our strength we hope that “being a border” will rhyme to them with being a changemaker, embodying tolerance, observing things with an open mind, be ready to help, be able to appreciate the present moment, be grateful and understanding that the pursuit of true happiness will necessary mean pursuit of meaning.

If you want to find out more about this House Assembly, just need to ask the boys how they feel about “being a boarder”…