Back to School with Prep for Prep

Beginning the Preparatory Component program brings change and new experiences for our middle school students. For the contingents who began the program during a pandemic, some challenges were magnified. After their second summer, we’re proud to see they’ve grown into some of the most resilient students we’ve seen yet. 

In their first summer, Preparatory Component classes for Prep Contingent XLIII and PREP 9 Contingent XXXIV were held entirely online. Faculty, staff, and advisors provided a holistic approach to learning while also adapting and raising the bar for students, knowing what these amazing middle schoolers were capable of. Students also proactively formed connections and community through forming their own group activities like Pillar Palls founded by seventh grader Aniya S. (XLIII) and a Prep Newspaper begun by Emy H. (XLIII) when she was in sixth grade. “I felt like no one knew who anyone really was,” said Emy about the start of the remote program. “I wanted to start something to connect everyone, where everyone can freely share their ideas.” Both created spaces for students to engage with each other, think critically, and have fun. Pillar Pals also housed a Study Buddy program for students to receive help from their contingent mates in any subject they needed. 

Thankfully, the second summer students were able to meet their new friends in person and attend summer courses at Trinity School and Nightingale-Bamford this year, with safety measures in place such as social distancing, contract tracing, and wearing masks. “I felt like I got more of a glimpse of the Prep experience and I definitely built connections with my advisors and my teachers in person,” said eighth grader Noor N. (XLIII).

This fall, these cohorts of students are entering independent day schools and boarding schools for the first time. Students like Noor aren’t too worried. “I feel like the preparation that I got during the school year and in my summer sessions is really helping me this year. There’s not much that I didn’t learn.” Aniya has joined the yearbook committee at her school and Emy hopes to continue writing creatively during the school year. The contingents that follow them, Prep XLIV and PREP 9 XXXV, are finally able to join in-person classes held at the Trinity School this academic year. Our students are tackling these new experiences head on and we couldn’t be more Prep proud. We wish all of our students the best of luck this year!