This week's spotlight takes us to Gould Academy in Maine. Gould is a small boarding school with about 250 students in 9th grade through PG year. Located a couple of hours north of Boston, the Academy offers some interesting programs which set it apart from other schools. The Point Programs, for example, offer experiential learning in each year a student is at Gould. Winter sports are another feature at which schools in the northern climes excel.

Read Gould Academy's profile. If you went to Gould, tell us about your experiences and what you thought of the school. Please post your response here.

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Recently I asked Jeff Wolfsberg to answer a few questions about teen substance abuse. The result was a splendid interview which I am honored to publish. Parents and educators alike need to read what Jeff has to say. He speaks with authority and eloquence on an issue about which he cares very deeply.

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Prep Schools Face Cuts in Student Aid confirms what most of us have suspected for some time now. Private school endowments have taken a hit in these tough economic times. The good news is that they have not taken as much of a hit as some major university endowments have. Why is that? I am convinced that it is the result of trustees charting a conservative fiscal course when it comes to their fiscal responsibilities and duties. You won't find any derivatives and other exotic investments in private school endowment portfolios. Their physical plants have been updated to save energy costs and make their programs more sustainable.

Supporting this cautious, conservative financial approach is the high regard and affection their graduates have for their alma maters. (Read the comments Peddie grads have left following a recent profile on this site of their beloved school.) If you are grateful to your school for what it has done for you, you will support it over the years. Perhaps you will even remember it in your will as Elizabeth Beckwith Nilsen did with her amazing gift of $31 million for Chatham Hall School. All these factors combine to make most private schools financially stable and poised to weather the economic storms we will face in the months and years ahead.

If you need financial aid, don't panic. Be proactive. If you are going through the applications process for admissions in fall 2010, don't delay. File the Financial Aid Forms as soon as you can. If you are one of those fortunate families who needs no financial aid, you might want to investigate schools which normally might have been a reach. If you don't need financial aid and everything else is what the school is looking for, you just might - no guarantees - get the acceptance you are looking for. Always hedge your bets when applying to private schools and colleges. Include a safe school or two on your list.

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This week's spotlight takes us to Peddie School in southern New Jersey. Perhaps Peddie School doesn't have the name recognition of Exeter or Andover, but it's got all kinds of good things going for it. Its finances are exceptionally strong. The buildings and facilities are state of the art. The academics, sports and extracurricular activities are extensive. The location between Philadelphia and New York in the Princeton area of New Jersey is wonderfully convenient. But there's a catch! Peddie is a selective school. Make sure you have what the school is looking for.

Read Peddie School's profile. If you went to Peddie School, tell us about your experiences and what you thought of the school. Please post your response here.

You can follow me on Twitter at PRIVATESCHL.

This is not a blog topic I enjoy writing about. It hits too close to home for me as I have lost several friends over the years to suicide. The horrifying story in the NY Times, Anguish Over California Teen Suicides Spurs Action , reminds me once more that teen suicide can be prevented. The problem is that you have to be attentive to the warning signs and act on them. If your teen is a senior, she is going to feel enormous pressures at this time of year. College applications and financial strains in the family can create a tough scenario for many young people. Spend time with your teenager. Above all, be sure to listen. Listen carefully to everything she says. She has to know that you faced similar pressures. She has to know how you coped with them. Read Depression - A Leading Cause Of Teen Suicide.

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Thousands of brave private school graduates have served their country in the armed forces over the years. Many of those young people got their start at one of our private military high schools. These schools instill more that just patriotism and sterling leadership skills. They mold and shape character with solid core values like honor and integrity. 10 Facts About Military Schools offers some reasons why you might want to consider a military school for your child.

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An important part of choosing a school is actually visiting the schools on your short list. It also takes a lot of your time. From the school's point of view it can get a bit hectic trying to schedule 50 visits on the same morning or afternoon. That's why many schools will schedule open houses. It is a more efficient way of handling a lot of traffic. What about the interview and testing? The school will explain how all that is handled. Procedures vary from school to school.

Looking for a list of open houses? Your state association of private schools will usually have a list. School websites will also have information about their specific events. Early November is prime time for open houses. Make the most of it.

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Test your knowledge of private school history with this short quiz.

Match these schools with their founders.

1. Kent School

2. Hotchkiss School

3. Georgetown Preparatory School

4. Phillips Exeter Academy

5. Chatham Hall School

a. John Phillips

b. The Reverend C. Orlando Pruden

c. The Reverend Frederick Herbert Sill

d. Maria Bissell Hotchkiss

e. Father John Carroll

Are you thinking about starting a private school? It's a complicated, lengthy process. Fortunately many folks have done it before you. How to Start a Private School will get you started. Good luck!

Answers to the quiz:

1c;2d;3e;4a;5b

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October 30 is the deadline for late online registration for the November 14 SSAT test date. November 27 is the deadline for the December 12 test date. If you haven't registered, don't delay. Do it this week.

Need some last minute test practice? These widely available test prep books will help.

Dr. Theodore R. Sizer, a leader in the area of education reform, died on Wednesday, October 21, 2009. His obituary in the New York Times chronicles the life and work of this great person. We extend sympathies to Dr. Sizer's family as well as his extended family at Phillips Academy Andover where he was headmaster from 1972-81.

The progressive movement has lost a strong, articulate champion. If you knew Dr. Sizer, please share your experiences with us.