A parent who joined us for our Christmas Day Banquet at Shortridge Academy summed it up by saying it was "The best prime rib I ever had." His son had just enrolled a few days earlier and was one of 7 new students in the month of December making the 4th quarter the best in the school's history. The meal, which included prime rib, homemade French onion soup, roasted vegetables, and homemade mashed potatoes, was thoughtfully prepared by one of Shortridge's talented chefs, Matt Gordon. The gathering was one of the largest we have had on Christmas Day as we opened our campus to parents and family members of newly enrolled students. We exchanged simple gifts, baked cookies, and enjoyed eggnog together around the 18 foot Christmas tree in our Great Room. The only thing we needed was fresh snow, which arrived the next day.
We certainly have a lot to celebrate at our intimate program near the Seacoast of New Hampshire. Not only did we finish the year ahead of plan in terms of student enrollment (80% of capacity), we neared completion of our music production studio, and we celebrated a graduation of 8 students - with an average stay of a little over 15 months and representing a cross-section of our bright and creative student population with a diversity of backgrounds. As usual, many of our alumni returned to join current students, families, and staff in the celebration. The graduating class was the first group representing a mix of our former 18-month model and our new 14-16 month (average) program. These students were also the first group to participate in the development and implementation of our student-centered, strengths-based approach to change, known as Positive Youth Development. Some of them are wrapping up their final years of high school, while others are heading off to colleges including the University of Alabama, Albright College, and Cabrini College. All are eagerly looking forward to bright futures with a restored sense of optimism and belief in themselves.
The New Year holds lots of opportunity for Shortridge Academy. We hope to build on our success of last year, with continued focus on implementing our Positive Youth Development curriculum, rolling out our new girls' initiative - "Especially For Girls", and embarking on further evidence-based outcomes measurement and an entrepreneurial leadership class, both led by our Founder, Adam Rainer.
If you haven't visited us recently, please make a point to stop by to see the latest renovations to our 350-acre campus, and perhaps hike, snowshoe, or mountain bike along our stone wall-lined trails, play guitar with our students, or attend one of our bi-monthly new parent workshops. Our best to everyone and here's to a great 2011!
Shortridge Academyis a year round, college preparatory, therapeutic boarding school for young men and women ages 14-17 years old at enrollment, grades 9-12. For more information or call 877-903-8968 or visit www.shortridgeacademy.com.