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From the desk of Jenifer Fox, Head of Berkshire Country Day School, Stockbridge
As a parent, you want only the best for your child. One of the most important decisions you will ever make is where to send your child to school. A strong start in life allows your child to develop into their best self. Many people don't believe that private schools are for them and most often the reason is they think they cannot afford a private school education.
As the Head of Berkshire Country Day School, and a career educator with a focus on developing children's strengths, I believe that every child can benefit from private school education and that it is not the only the best investment you will ever make in your child's life, it is also an opportunity you can afford.
Here are 10 reasons why a private school education at Berkshire Country Day School (BCD) is worth investigating:
1. Your child will be valued and known. Perhaps the most important benefit of a BCD Education is that your child is known. Small classes mean deep interpersonal relationships between students and teachers and among students. Your child will receive the support needed to thrive and take risks. We will discover and celebrate your child's strengths.
2. Tuition is aligned with your income. Using BCD's Fair Share Tuition model, all families can afford a BCD education. We offer a competitive tuition scale for families that invites diversity and inclusion in our student body.
3. Nobody falls through the cracks. Our teachers meet their students where they are in their learning. Because we are not tied to state mandates, teachers are empowered to create dynamic lessons and projects based on student interest. Curiosity drives our curriculum and we teach to the individual.
4. Your child will receive a strong foundation for future success. BCD graduates often enroll in high school honors and advanced classes. Strong foundational skills are formed as habits through consistent attention to how children organize, plan, and study.
5. You can leave the drive up to us. Transportation is available to and from BCD for our students living in and around Pittsfield, Lenox, and Great Barrington, MA, as well as in Columbia County, NY.
6. The Outdoors is an exciting learning space. Our 27-acre campus includes fields, hiking trails, a natural pond for children to explore nature, play in the fresh air and learn to be stewards of the environment. We offer ample opportunities for outdoor learning.
7. You will have access to teachers and administrators. Through open lines of communication, meetings, and events, BCD provides parents with access to their students’ teachers and administrators. The mutual support encourages challenging academics, student engagement, and reinforcement of shared values while promoting the child’s well-being.
8. Freedom from the shackles of standardized tests. We acknowledge that some students, although capable, struggle with standardized testing. As a private school, we do not have to participate in national/state testing, releasing that pressure for our students.
9. We prepare your child for success in the real world. As a private school with a public purpose, we teach kids that their voices matter and that they can make contributions that matter. We believe students have the ability to make the world a better place and we attend to this through a culture of shared values.
10. Opportunities for Community. BCD offers a place for both students and adults to meet new friends, experience mutual support, and receive the personal and caring attention many people are missing in today's hectic world.
We look forward to meeting you!
In the meantime, we invite you to download this FREE workbook for you to share with your children in an effort to discover their strengths.
 Head of School Jenifer Fox, with Students (Photo taken pre-Covid) |
For more information about Berkshire Country Day School, visit www.berkshirecountryday.org
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