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Forming iGen: On the Forces that Shaped Them (Episode 1)

Our headmaster begins a three episode series on iGen. In today’s episode, Mr. de Vicente explores the influences and forces that have overprotected, distracted, and unsettled our sons. In this episode, Mr. de Vicente references a previous episode on the Stressed Son and Teenage Anxiety.  Listen to this companion episode here. Click here for episode 2: The Impact on Our Sons Click here for episode 3: Strategies and Considerations for Parents Fully Aware

Fact or Opinion: On Preventing (or Unwinding) Moral Relativism

In this week’s episode Mr. Michael Moynihan discusses an exercise that allows teachers to isolate the relativistic variable in the moral minds of their students. What is relativism? What is the exercise? And why does any of this matter to those of us just trying to live the good life–however you define that? Mr. Moynihan’s article available here. Check out Mr. Moynihan’s follow-up webinar below: Michael recommended several resources during the webinar.  In particular, C.S. Lewis’ The Abolition of Man, in addition to the same principles presented in fictional form through…

On Home Schooling the Future Heights Boy

Lower School Head, Colin Gleason, offers some high level thoughts and general considerations for homeschooling families during this, a year that has seen an unprecedented number of new homeschooling families. In particular, Mr. Gleason bears in mind the 2nd graders who are soon to be Heights-bound. What are systems that can prepare our boys for the adventures of the Heights Lower School? Listen in! A huge number of parents are home schooling for the year. We offer some thoughts here for parents finding themselves in the teachers’ seat. Generally: Know…

Forming Wise, Courageous Risk-Takers

Why all the tree climbing, virtue talk, and fancy old books? It’s all part of our grand conspiracy to form wise, courageous, risk-takers. Hear our Headmaster, Mr. Alvaro de Vicente, discuss how The Heights goes about teaching boys to manage risk in a virtuous, intelligent manner. The process isn’t mud-free, and we can guarantee mistakes–your sons’ and our own. But the end result, with prayers and God’s grace, is a “man fully alive,” who understands that living isn’t the sole purpose of life.

Inferno or Paradiso? On Introducing Students to the Divine Comedy

Dr. Jason Baxter, Academic Dean at Wyoming Catholic College and author of The Beginners Guide to Dante’s Divine Comedy offers his thoughts on how to introduce students to the Divine Comedy.  By forcing the Divine Comedy (and many other “Great Works”) on our boys without the proper groundwork, we risk cheating them of a profound encounter.  But there is value, and this is an introduction worth making.  How do we go about it?  Listen in and follow our guide.

Tom Longano on Performing Books Aloud: Don’t Just Read Aloud… Perform!

Today we feature an interview with Tom Longano, author of two recently published books: The Blue Book of Stories and The Red Book of Stories. A Heights graduate and former lower school teacher, Tom offers his thoughts on children’s literature, reading for boys, and the importance of not just reading books aloud, but actually performing them aloud as well.

The Middle School Years

Heights Middle School Head, Mr. Andy Reed, discusses the middle school years.  Drawing on his years of experience working with middle school boys and their families, Mr. Reed offers practical advice on how parents can best help their sons grow during these crucial years of formation.  While we have often heard it said that parents should “cut the cord” and “let him leave the nest,” in this talk Mr. Reed emphasises the importance of parents combining freedom with formation.  He recommends parents keep their sons especially close during these critical years, even…

The Costs of Closing: Accompanying our Sons through Covid

Our lives have been altered in ways few of us thought possible before March 2020. As a school, we wouldn’t presume to broadcast our opinions on matters of public policy or medical science. We can, however, at this point speak to the impact of closure and other preventative measures on our boys. No preventative comes without cost, and for a young man in the formative years of his life, these days have ceased being a brief episode, taking on an air of semi-permanence. How is this affecting our sons? Alvaro de…