Lee Carey
Director of Admissions & Secondary School Placement
It's all about the teaching, both in and out of the classroom. Instructional groups are ten-twenty students. Student relationships are personal, and teaching occurs in the classroom, on the playing field, in advisor groups, at lunch and recess, in study periods, and independent study mentorships. Teachers know their students strengths, passions, and learning styles. Students share commonalities of strong ability and high motivation. They energize each other, bringing focus and excitement to their classes. And teaching happens in the hallways as we strive to meet the expectations of our Community Code. Its tenets help to exercise and to recognize the kindness, openness, honesty, and respect that guide the tone of the school community.
It's all about the curriculum. Students learn to write in all disciplines, to present their work, and make connections between subject areas. They practice habits, skills, and attitudes of learning that support every area of study for high school and college. Students engage in team and independent work, writing conferences, lab sciences, and research. They understand their teachers as resources for their learning. Reading groups by ability start at Pre-K, and math is stretched everywhere: in the homeroom materials, Third Grade logic, Six Grade math team, and honors algebra and geometry. Specialist teachers and facilities support the curriculum. While the three R's are always core subjects, from the youngest Pre-K students through Grade Nine, science is taught in the lab, art in the studio, and PE and sports in the gymnasiums or on the fields five days a week. Spanish words migrate from the language classrooms back into the homerooms, and integrated projects combine disciplines at every grade level and incorporate the information technology of the library.
It's all about the communication. Teachers expect to be in frequent touch with parents. Formally, twice yearly conferences and extensive narrative reports inform both parents and children about their progress. Informally, calls, e-mails, and meetings bring parents into conversations about student progress, needs, and strategies. From this partnership, students understand the priority of education, and from parents' participation, students understand the importance of community. Help with a project, volunteer in the library, have a lunch with a child, share a love of reading or professional expertise with a class unit. Parents are welcome on campus everyday. Weekly assemblies and curricular celebrations draw both students and parents together. Class dinners and school-wide activities ensure that families from differing parts of the region form community friendships.
It's all about the faculty. To teach children is an honor. The profession comes with high expectations. All employees work on one year contracts. Professional review is standard and professional development and advanced degrees are funded. New hiring is offered to teachers who love their profession, understand the impact of learning styles, multiculturalism, and subject integration. Collegiality is key as teachers join in their planning and share strategies for teaching individual students. While guided by strong department leadership, they are unfettered by state mandates, and encouraged to incorporate personal passions. They aspire to generate independence and a love of learning in their students. They must be learners themselves. Above all, they must love children. Graduates return frequently to visit, and it is their teachers they wish to see.
Discover an independent school. Let us show you our programs and introduce you to our faculty and families. View our calendar of Open Houses and receptions. You will find tours, activities, and conversations for all!
Smart. Strong. Sure.
