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…
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,…
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…
Enriching the Compassion and Understanding of Our Community
The High School has welcomed a few interesting speakers in recent weeks. Last week, students heard from Richard Field, a native Australian who works in Africa as a safari guide.…
A Progressive Viewpoint on Standardized Testing
One of the most common ways that people judge the strength of any school is by looking at their standardized test scores. Because St. Francis is a Progressive school, we…
Lunch, the Sign-Out System, and Safety
What do our high schoolers do for lunch? What does a sign-out system mean? How does it work? Do they just wander around downtown? Is it safe? These are all…
How to Have Difficult Conversations
It is an understatement to say that we at St. Francis are big on conversations. From exchanges between four-year-old friends over a toy to lower school conflicts to middle school…
Saying Goodbye to the Class of 2019
It’s surreal to be writing my last newsletter article of the year. Somehow, as the year goes on, time speeds up and these last weeks simply fly by. We…
Advice to a Graduating Senior
Each year at our Graduations, students choose a member of the faculty or staff to speak on their behalf. This year’s seniors chose College Counselor Leslie O’Connor. You can read…
Fostering Healthy Habits
And we are back! What a fantastic first week it’s been. We kicked things off with 9th Grade Orientation on Tuesday, welcomed 157 students to the new school year on…