Comments for Girls Sent Away

Comment on Return to Boarding School by Delia

Delia — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:35:05 +0000

I would love to see the photo! Boy, do I remember Sr. Claire. Loved the dog!

Comment on Return to Boarding School by Dottie

Dottie — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 03:50:20 +0000

I sent a comment to this author, which I hope she receives. I been interested in writing a book about children, particularly girls, who were sent away to boarding school before the age of 12. I read a book titled, The Making of Them, written by a male boarding school surviver, that I identified with throughout the book. Anyway, I was sent to Villa Maria Academy, outside Philadelphia, Pa., at the age of 5. I was actually too young for the local kindergarden, due to my birthday being in February. So, I was place in Villa Maria, where they put me in 1st grade, because they did not have a kindergarden. I was the youngest in the school by a year. The school was 1st thru 12. I was there until I was 8, 1954 to 1957. When I was enrolled, my mother told me to go play on the hill, while she went into the office. I could see the car from the hill. All of a sudden, I realized the car was gone, & my life changed forever. I had never even seen a nun up close. I don’t care how plush the school look or the wonderful activities they have, most children want to live a home with their parents. In a boarding school, no one tucks you in at nite, or comforts you when you don’t feel well. The rules just go on forever, & you usually find out about them only after you have broken one, like talking after lites out. I remember being anxious for Friday nite so I could go home, & hating Sunday nite when I would be taken back. When I did go home, I went to a neighborhood where no one knew me, because I didn’t go to school with them. I, also, never knew much about the girls I boarded with, because we didn’t go to each other homes. I couldn’t even tell you what town any of them lived in. It would be interesting to hear from other boarders about their experiences. One thing I hear alot of people say about boarding school, is how lucky I was to go to one, but it is always people who did not go to one themselves. I can’t imagine anyone who has gone to one feeling lucky! Thank you!

Comment on Return to Boarding School by Miriam C Arrighi (Carrillo)

Miriam C Arrighi (Carrillo) — Mon, 23 May 2011 03:32:02 +0000

Hi Delia, I also attended St. John Villa Academy in Staten Island boarding school in the late 60′s. The sister in charged then was St. Claire and she had a dog, named Lassie. My sister too attended the boarding school with me. I only remember some of the girls first name. Thank you so very much for such pictures…and your description of the boarding building…perfect. I have one class picture of the time I was there…let me know if you would want to see it. Thanks too for sharing…Love to hear from you. Miriam

Comment on New York Times ad, Sept. 10, 1933 by The Red Velvet Shoe

The Red Velvet Shoe — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 00:49:15 +0000

I happened upon this post doing research for an Eve Stillman peignoir set I will be listing in my vintage boutique. This post was so touching about your grandmother…she reminds me very much of my own grandmother, who I miss terribly. I know she would give me so much help in my work with vintage clothing. Thank you for sharing this.
Michelle

Comment on Were you a boarder at a girls’ Catholic boarding school? by Marta Szabo

Marta Szabo — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:15:46 +0000

Yes, Enid Blyton had alot to do with me wanting to go to boarding school — and though it was not like the books, for me it was pretty much a very good experience — and I am not a conformist, well-behaved conservative — somehow the school I went to was freeing from my family and home — it was the closest I could get to my own apartment when I was nine.

Comment on Were you a boarder at a girls’ Catholic boarding school? by CLM

CLM — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 11:46:59 +0000

I went to Catholic school in Boston (day), although it had some boarders at the time, run by RSCJ nuns, and my mother attended an Ursuline School in Westchester, NY. Her aunt was an Ursuline sister at the College of New Rochelle. While I loved boarding school books as a child and still collect them to this day, I always suspected that real boarding school life would not be a whirl of midnight feasts and best friends. However, there is a listserv for those like me who still enjoy Antonia Forest, Elinor Brent-Dyer, and Enid Blyton!

Comment on Return to Boarding School by Delia

Delia — Thu, 06 May 2010 17:49:51 +0000

Thanks for your interest. The school stopped taking boarders in 1970s, but remains a day school.

Comment on Return to Boarding School by Sue Glasco

Sue Glasco — Thu, 06 May 2010 16:26:17 +0000

Interesting. Sometimes what we think is best for our children really is not. I enjoyed the photos. I wanted you to talk to some of today’s students. Did I understand that this is no longer a boarding school–or is there a new dorm?

Comment on Vintage Postcards of My Boarding School by elizabeth

elizabeth — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 02:51:21 +0000

the sepia makes it feel VERY jane eyre

Comment on Verrazano-Narrows Bridge @ 45 years old by Vintage Postcards of My Boarding School « Girls Sent Away

Vintage Postcards of My Boarding School « Girls Sent Away — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:35:22 +0000

[...] and a few buildings have been added. The Verrazano Narrows Bridge, which recently celebrated its 45th anniversary–and remains a symbol of my longing to go home during my days there–hadn’t been [...]