The Stone Independent Blog

In the ever-evolving landscape of STEM, adaptability and resilience are non-negotiable. PBL instills these traits by presenting students with challenges that require creative solutions. Learning how to navigate uncertainties and setbacks during their educational journey prepares them for the dynamic nature of STEM professions.

“School needs to be a place where students come to relieve themselves from the anxiety that pervades their lives, where they feel welcome and know that they have friends and support from their teachers to be themselves.”

“And of course, it is our job as college counselors to listen closely to each of our students, to help them design and tell their stories.”

The hardest part of the trip? “Lake Clarke, the Susquehana,” Gralyn says. “It was really windy and really choppy that morning. I think I was three or four miles in, I was probably 50 yards out from shore, I was just going into every wave, every wave was just crashing down onto my boat, water just started to collect on the inside and I was thinking it was going to sink for about 20 minutes!"

“The place where you are actively sitting at this very moment was populated by Iroquian-speaking people before the arrival of Europeans. Today, we generally know these people as Susquehannocks, although many English settlers called them Conestogas, which was in fact the name of their largest and last settlement. We don’t actually know what the Susquehannocks called themselves, a part of their story that has been forgotten.

Sadly, today we know much more about the end of their story than the beginning.”

“National rankings delineating a school as #1 or #262 does not indicate fit. Nor does the undergraduate research budget, study abroad opportunities, specialized programs, or nationally-known visiting faculty. If a student does not feel a sense of belonging, find classes that interest them, work with mentors who guide them, or connect to peers offering the appropriate level of challenge, rank is irrelevant.”

“We’re two weeks in and the school year is off to a very Stone-start! The building is loud, House service projects are up and running, the work is rich and complex, and the school is — as ever — a joyful and really funny place to learn and to work.”

When seats open up in those classes we will offer them to wait-pool families first, so if your student is excited about the prospect of joining one of those classes we encourage you to let us know! And, we are currently reviewing and accepting applications for the class of 2028 (that’s rising 7th grade!) and the class of 2023. Interested in learning more about Stone or our Admissions process? Here are three “next-steps” you can take today…