Interview with Kendellhurst Academy Alum, Konrad Manuel
Konrad, an alumnus of Kendellhurst Academy, shared his views on the school's supportive environment, the benefits of the Reach Ahead program, the importance of extracurricular activities, and the sense of community.
Highlights from the interview
I most appreciated the Reach Ahead program for giving me a head start in math and English for high school as I was ahead of most other students in high school. You have the opportunity later to take extra classes, which is good. I have appreciated how I was taught for most subjects and about the Reach Ahead program, which gave me a large advantage in high school. I was able to use it to get ahead in English and math, which in turn will help me in grade 12 when I'm able to pick more electives and have more space.
I feel that this school was different from other schools, because there is a fun and safe environment provided by all the teachers and faculty. It is caring because you are always in a safe environment and everyone checks up on you for work and other things. It is a fun environment, and there are a lot of opportunities to get involved, such as school plays or play sports. I feel like there's a good opportunity for your kid to make lots of good friends going later in life. I still keep in touch with the people that I graduated with, which is pretty cool.
If Kendellhurst Academy were a person, I would describe it as caring, smart, and fun. It would be smart because you are getting a higher level of education than other schools and it prepares you better for high school. The biggest advice that I would give to someone coming into the school being new is that you're in a safe environment. Everyone is friendly, so feel free to talk to anyone. Anyone will help you. Any of your classmates will help you, and you shouldn't have any problem fitting in with everyone.
The clubs at the school connect most students as they generally are all grades together, and most students get to meet each other and get to know each other through doing the clubs. Something that everyone will find surprising is how fun the school actually is with the many clubs that are put on or the teachers playing sports with kids or the different plays that are run every single year, twice a year during Christmas and at the end of the year, which end up really being fun.
I'd say the most important value is the sense of togetherness that you get from the teachers that help you engage in every subject. They bring the students together, whether it's group activities or a project, and it gives you that sense of togetherness. If there are subjects that you don't normally enjoy, they will help you to like them.
The school made me feel very self-reliant. The high school work is very similar to the work that was provided, and I am able to complete most of my work quicker than most people, and that has given me lots of confidence in myself.
I would recommend this school to other families because your kid will be getting a higher level of education from the teachers. They really do a lot of work to make your kid understand the subjects more and enjoy the subjects more.
