Our Faculty: Self-Proclaimed Nerds
In interviews, we tell prospective teachers that we are looking for two main things: passion for subject and passion for teaching teenagers. Passion for subject means that our teachers are…
Traditional Curriculum + Progressive Methodology
Traditional Curriculum + Progressive Methodology Broad and diverse voices Primary sources Intellectually challenging Core curriculum, plus flexibility In past articles, we’ve talked about the St. Francis schedule and the faculty; now,…
“Back to School” for Faculty!
A few weeks ago, while the students got an extended break from classes, our faculty and staff went “back to school” at the annual ISACS Conference held this year at…
Learning by Doing
Young children process knowledge and gather information through hands-on experiences. The more involved the experience, the greater the opportunity for learning. Each day, our teachers facilitate learning by preparing activities…
Important Changes to the College Admissions Process
Please read on for a statement from the National Association for College Admission Counseling that describes fundamental changes beginning with the Class of 2020 regarding the Early Decision process and…
Learning Through Experience
In his 1938 work Experience and Education, John Dewey (one of the founders of Progressive education) outlines his philosophy of experiential education. He described that learning most effectively happens through…
Academic Risk-Taking
As a member of ISACS (Independent School Association of the Central States), we receive numerous informational newsletters about current trends in education. Earlier this week, I made some time to…
“Trying On” Kindergarten
The Trailblazers spent the morning “trying on” kindergarten while parents attended an informational coffee with Head of School Alexandra Thurstone and Lower School Director Jennifer Griffith. The children visited several…
Downtown as Our Campus
The High School is on what we call the “Downtown Campus” and, for us, that’s more than just a geographical designation. Being downtown is a core part of what the…
Wishing You a Heartfelt Happy Holidays!
Earlier this morning, children, parents, and staff gathered together to sing songs of the holidays! With sleigh bells ringing merrily, we all joined in the festive time that proved to…