CFS is a family-oriented place. These boys are looking to succeed and they need people to support them. We are also here to push them beyond what they think they can do. They are very motivated kids. There’s a strong work ethic and a spirit of healthy competition. The best students lead by example, are involved in a wide variety of activities and are able to engage with faculty and students.
How we relate to each other is extremely important here. We talk about it a lot. The four core values infuse daily life at CFS. If there is a conflict, we talk about how it happened, why it escalated, when the relationship changed, and how to step out of the dynamic and create a new framework for the relationship. As a cottage parent, I am actively involved in this process.
In ninth grade, values and ethics are big concepts. After a few years, they are very, very familiar, with great meaning in everyday life—from snowball fights, to loud music, to class discussions, to athletic competition. The four core values act as touchstones to help students see where they stand and to propel them to be better people and better members of the community.
I love watching these boys grow into who they are. By the time they graduate from CFS, their confidence has grown enormously, but so has their humility.