Families, as you look ahead to summer plans, we write with a thoughtful recommendation: make a deliberate shift toward less structure for your students.

Research consistently shows that when students put down their screens and escape to the outdoors for unstructured play, they gain greater focus and creativity and they experience lower levels of stress and anxiety. We encourage you to build this essential time into their break.

Summer is also prime time for reading. In an age of decreasing attention spans, the reading of full-length books is a critical practice for students who want to flourish in college and in life, and at St. Andrew’s we expect students to read several books each summer. Please make sure they have the time to do so!

With these thoughts in mind, we invite you (parents and guardians) to our next virtual conversation on Monday, December 15, at 7 pm ET. Emily Pressman, Dean of Teaching and Learning, and Kate Cusick, Chair of the English Department, will discuss the critical impact of reading for SAS students. Please join us!