Creating the Path Mission Driven Learning at The Agnes Irwin School
Empowering Each Girl Since 1869
The Agnes Irwin School
The Agnes Irwin School | Creating the Path
The AIS Difference: Our Process The Agnes Irwin School is a place where students can find their voice and passions through unlimited possibility and unwavering support. Our PreKindergarten - Grade 12 program is designed to reinforce the unique needs of students across developmental stages while also ensuring coherence within and across programs and divisions. Our team of educators analyzes their planning and instructional program through the lens of – how is this good for our students? At AIS, faculty know their content, know their learners and have a repertoire to bring the two together. Our repertoire is constantly evolving to ensure it is girl centered and supports the contemporary needs of our learners.
GIRL CENTERED FOCUS
A unique focus on girl centered education allows students to develop a deep sense of self as they lean into their intellectual pursuits and develop their voice, free of typical social distractions. According to UCLA researcher, Linda Sax, girls from single-sex schools: • Spend more time talking with teachers outside of class which improves physical and mental health outcomes • Have higher SAT composite scores • Are more likely to attend graduate school • Have higher academic self-confidence in writing, public speaking, math, computer science
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• Are more likely to aspire to engineering careers • Have higher political engagement The AIS Center for the Advancement of Girls (CAG) provides deep insight into girl centered education. Program directors and teachers carefully examine the research into the unique needs and opportunities of educating girls and apply that learning to programs. The Center also supports annual parent engagement related to girl-centered education through its professional speaker series. Visit agnesirwin.org/cag to learn more.
INCLUSIVITY THROUGH BELONGING
The AIS community is a positive, culturally competent and inclusive school environment where students feel a sense of belonging each and every day. A team of six representatives across PK -12 work to support the diversity, equity, inclusivity and belonging (DEIB) of students, faculty and staff. Students develop their voice in alignment with the AIS Core Values and their family values in developmentally appropriate ways. When students feel seen and heard as individuals, they feel a sense of belonging. They are able to bring their best selves and ultimately thrive individually and in community with others. HOLISTIC APPROACH TO EDUCATION
Learning should feel purposeful and joyful, and the best institutions are places of constant reflection, growth and improvement. AIS faculty strive to ensure all students feel seen, heard, challenged, and welcomed. Programs are designed to support the intellectual engagement of learners as well as the development of their social emotional and physical health. When rigor is expertly woven together with personal passions and wellbeing, students learn who they are and how they can engage with others and the world around them. Intellectual curiosity and authentic inclusivity work in tandem to create the environment for students to thrive. Students who know themselves as learners develop strong self-awareness and self management. This allows them to be more socially aware, have stronger relationship skills, and exhibit more responsible decision making.
“ Belonging means being a part of something larger than yourself. It’s not just about being welcomed into a community, it is about actively participating in it to help shape its future.” john a powell 3
The Agnes Irwin School | Creating the Path
AIS Outcomes: ’ Our Promises In December of 2022, AIS shared a new five year strategic plan, A Boundless Vision of Success. Four strategic areas will both inspire and guide work to support each student in achieving her own boundless vision of success:
Intellectual Curiosity
Personal Wellbeing
Authentic Inclusivity
Courageous Leadership
We will inspire creativity, innovation, and collaboration among students and colleagues.
We will support wellness of body and mind as essential to the academic journey and lifelong fulfillment.
We will foster inclusion and belonging, instill equity, and embrace diverse perspectives and people.
We will lead our school, and each other, toward ideas and solutions that positively impact community
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To read the entire plan, please visit: boundless.agnesirwin.org
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Portrait of a Graduate The AIS Portrait of a Graduate identifies seven important attributes that define an Agnes Irwin graduate. It is through the development of these attributes across every grade and every program that students will achieve unique traits that will allow them to be successful in college and beyond.
Intellectually Curious Brave Communicates clearly and confidently ___
Thinks___ critically Asks meaningful questions ___ Wrestles with complex ideas and content
Challenges___ assumptions Advocates for self and others
Balanced Finds joy in learning ___ Makes choices that support physical, mental, and emotional ___ health Develops self-awareness
Creative
Collaborative
Takes ___risks Adapts to and learns from failure and challenge ___ Uses knowledge to imagine new possibilities and address novel problems
Builds strong interpersonal relationships ___ Gathers and empowers others to work towards ___shared goals Gives and accepts feedback in order to learn
Self-Directed Reflects on how and why she ___learns Sets and pursues goals ___ Seeks help and support
Globally & CommunityMinded
Makes ethical decisions ___ Acts out of empathy and care___ for others Seeks out and learns from perspectives different from her own
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The Agnes Irwin School | Creating the Path
AIS Expertise Our Curriculum is developed with girls at the center. Clear learning goals are defined to develop the necessary competencies for mathematical mindedness, scientific thinking, artistic expression, and clarity of voice. The curriculum that our students experience is designed by teachers and teaching teams to make the learning clear, accessible, engaging and meaningful. It is also designed to merge students’ interests and passions into the rigor of our program aligned to our curricular goals.
Stories that embody the Agnes Irwin experience... Lower School INVENTION CONVENTION
In collaboration with Science and the iWonder Lab, the Kindergarten girls do a six week study of Tools and Inventions. They learn about what inventors do, what inventions are, and how they help to simplify and enhance our lives. Following this learning and discovery, the girls use a design thinking model to interview their families for what “problems” they may need solved. Each of the girls selects one of those problems and designs a solution. During their Science and iWonder Lab time, the girls build a prototype of their invention. The culminating event is The Kindergarten Invention Convention, where the girls display and describe their inventions for the entire Lower School and their families. 6
CHANGEMAKERS
For their Lower School Capstone Project, fourth graders are tasked with finding ways to make meaningful change in their community. Students begin this work by using a program called Thrively and completing a strengths assessment which is designed to identify the individual strengths, interests, and aspirations of young learners. Fourth graders then leverage those strengths, working collaboratively to design for members of their community. Students use a methodology called design thinking, by the design firm IDEO and developed for education at Stanford University. At the end of this process each fourth grade group creates a prototype based on their community members needs. Fourth graders learn to embrace failure as a necessary step towards success, and to approach challenges with an open and curious mindset.
Middle School 8TH GRADE IMMIGRATION PROJECT AND TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY
Students are assigned an immigrant group from the second wave of immigration in the late 19th to early 20th centuries to research (push/pull factors, economic opportunities in the United States, religious/other traditions, challenges in assimilation, etc.) and then retrace some of their footsteps in a 3 day trip to New York City. They visit the Tenement Museum, the Lower East Side, houses of worship in Midtown Manhattan, as well as Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Upon their return, students work in collaborative groups to create a website that documents their travels and experience, building empathy for the lived experiences of the past. 5TH GRADE MUSICAL
Students in grade 5 work collaboratively across music, theater, and visual art classes to put on a musical theater performance. They explore methods of choreography, set design, light and sound design, and vocal performance culminating in the musical celebrated by the entire grade. This integrated approach to learning asks our students to step outside of their comfort zone to engage in visioning, planning and execution in order to create a shared performance. Students experience how an idea moves from concept to reality through this creative process, which culminates in a unique creation.
Upper School EXPLORING BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Hallmarks of girl centered education are relational experiences and mentorship. Students in grades 9-12 have the opportunity to experience both by participating in a day-long mini business and entrepreneurship conference hosted in partnership with Villanova University. Students engage in workshops in finance, analytics, marketing and management. Workshops are hosted by female professors from the business school. This connection to the university offers authentic experiences for our students to explore fields of interest through the experiences of business leaders and entrepreneurs. HONORS CAPSTONE
Many of our Junior and Senior electives offer the opportunity for students to enroll in the Honors Capstone program. For this academic program, motivated, curious students have the opportunity to explore topics that may not be covered in the
classroom. This independent study option is supported by a cohort of faculty who provide instruction in finding, evaluating, decoding, and synthesizing scholarly literature in a variety of disciplines. Regular cohort meetings provide opportunities for peer review, feedback, and support. At the end of the year, students present the results of their research to students, faculty, families, and outside experts at a public exhibition of learning.
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The Agnes Irwin School | Creating the Path
DEPARTMENT CHAIRS Classics
LOWER SCHOOL CURRICULUM COORDINATORS
Patrick Beasom (Gr 5-12)
Literacy
English
Patty Hicke
Lydia Traill (Gr 5-12)
Math
Visual Arts
Anna Tobia
Dan Solderitsch (PK-12)
Social Studies
Science
Caitlin Sweeney
Jim Mathisen (PK-12) World Languages
Rita Davis (Gr 5-12) History/Social Science
Jake Greenberg (Gr 5-12) Math
Trish Colclaser (Gr 5-12) PE / Wellness
Michele Kane (PK-12) Library
Julie Diana (PK-12)
DEIB TEAM Director of DEIB
Ana De León LS Coordinator
Noelle Harmon MS Coordinator
Meghan Halberstadt US Coordinator
Paolo Morales Staff Coordinator
Vanessa Babinecz
The Agnes Irwin School Core Values Our Core Values are the essence of our community and the code by which we live— the principles upon which we make our decisions. They are the heart and soul of The Agnes Irwin School. LEAD WITH CHARACTER We are courageous leaders who model empathy and compassion. We embody honesty, kindness, and personal integrity in all that we say and do. FOSTER TRUST AND COMMUNITY We build trust through openness and understanding fostering supportive relationships, deep connections, safe risk-taking, and the space to be our best selves. STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE We encourage and support each other to tenaciously reach our fullest potential as we demonstrate resilience and champion greatness in all our pursuits. NURTURE PASSIONS AND WELLBEING We nurture a love of learning and academic success by cultivating individual passions and the pursuit of our own unique path, supporting the whole person in wellness and wellbeing. RESPECT AND CELEBRATE ALL We treat all with dignity and respect, welcoming differences in backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. We foster an inclusive environment where everyone is valued, contributions are celebrated, and community is cherished.
Office of Admission | Ithan Avenue and Conestoga Road | Rosemont, PA 19010 Grades PreK-4: 610.801.1203 | Grades 5-12: 610.801.1202 | admission@agnesirwin.org agnesirwin.org/admission
Assistant Head of School Dr. Elizabeth Rossini is a visionary, globally-minded educator with over 30 years of experience and expertise in curriculum development, classroom and program assessment, teacher leadership, and standards-based education. In her role, she is responsible for leading strategic cross-divisional curricular alignment initiatives, identifying the signature experiences of an AIS education, supporting our faculty, and continuing the work of activating AIS’ community-wide commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Dr. Rossini joined Agnes Irwin from the Nueva School in Northern California, where she served as the Director of Teaching and Learning. Her prior experiences include leadership roles at International School Bangkok and for Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia, and serving as a globally-recognized educational consultant. Dr. Rossini holds a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, a Masters in Special Education Technology from George Mason University, and a BS in Education from the University of Wisconsin at Lacrosse.
2023.OV.01