BAYLOR SCHOOL ACADEMIC DAY
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2025
BAYLOR SCHOOL ACADEMIC DAY
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2025
Schedule
8:45 - 9:00 a.m. ............ Check-In and Schedule Pick-Up (Guerry Dining Hall)
9:00 a.m. ....................... Welcome to Academic Day!
9:30 - 10:00 a.m. .......... Class #1
10:10 - 10:40 a.m. ....... Class #2
10:50 - 11:20 a.m. ........ Class #3
To Register
1. Read the class descriptions and narrow your choices to those that are most interesting to you. Students will attend three classes; parents will attend two and an Admissions Information Session as their third class.
2. Select three classes along with two alternates on the online registration form by Monday, Nov. 3.
Please scan or CLICK HERE to access your Admission & Enrollment Portal to register and select your classes. If you haven’t already, you’ll need to submit your student’s application prior to registering for Academic Day.
Dear Students and Parents:
The Baylor Experience is truly extraordinary, and I am pleased to invite you to join us for a glimpse into what makes us so special and distinctive!
On Saturday, November 8, 2025, we will host prospective students and parents for our annual Academic Day. While Baylor’s doors are always open, this is your unique opportunity to gain insight into our dynamic academic program that truly, in the words of our founder, John Roy Baylor, “prepares students for university and the business of life.”
We have designed the Academic Day program for both students and parents with the common denominator being Baylor’s nationally acclaimed and award-winning faculty. We invite you to experience what Baylor students enjoy every day: learning and growing in an environment of intellectual inquiry, personal attention, honor, and, yes, fun.
Baylor School offers one of the finest college preparatory programs in the nation…a program that inspires our students to excel. Academic Day allows prospective students and their families to picture themselves as members of this exceptional educational community. You will witness first-hand why Baylor students love coming to school every day.
See you Saturday, November 8th!
Sincerely,
Christopher B. Angel ’89, President and Head of School
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
A Knot… Or Not?
How many different ways can you tie a tie? Is your half-Windsor a proper mathematical knot? What’s the deal with bow ties? And what do the “Matrix” movies have to do with all of this? Step up your fashion game by exploring both topology and knot theory, and view mathematics as a precise language for communicating ideas. Ties will be provided.
Justin Burner: B.A. in Mathematics, Colby College; M.S. in the Teaching of Mathematics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Instructor of Mathematics
Accelerated Spanish at Baylor
Did you know that Baylor offers a specialized class for middle school students who are already fluent Spanish speakers? Whether students are coming from an immersion elementary program or from a Spanish-speaking household, this course this couse invites sixth, seventh, and eigth grade students to grow their literary skills through reading, class discussions and presentations. Attend this session with Accelerated Spanish instructor, Señora Gil González, along with several middle school students currently enrolled in the course to learn about our Accelerated Spanish track at Baylor.
María Gil González: B.S. Universidad de Navarra; M.Ed. Temple University; Instructor of Spanish
An Introduction to African Drumming
The basic elements of music performance – rhythm, dynamics, pitch, and ensemble musicianship – are often first explored at Baylor using hand drums from West and North Africa. In this class, explore djembes, doumbeks, and talking drums to make wonderful musical moments - no experience required!
Vincent Oakes: B.A. University of Florida, M.A. Emory University; Director of Choral Music and Fine Arts Department Chair
AP Art History Visual Analysis (Parents Only)
Parents are welcome to learn more about AP Art History, one of nine Advanced Placement courses that the Baylor History Department offers to upper school students. In this session, parents will work on developing their visual analysis skills, which will help them not only interpret art, but also better enjoy and understand the visual world in which they live. Parents will practice their visual analysis skills while working with several of the 250 works of art that AP Art History students must know and recognize for the AP Exam in May.
Natalie Rodriguez-Nelson: B.A. Princeton, M.A. University of Virginia; Instructor of History and Exchange Program Coordinator
Baylor: A Walking History
Explore the rich history of Baylor School, founded in 1893, on a captivating walking tour that highlights its storied past and beautiful campus.
Hiram S. Chamberlain V: B.A. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, M.Ed. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga; History Department; Eighth Grade Dean
Baylor Academics Roundtable (Parents Only)
If you have questions about Baylor’s academic program – especially about the specific courses offered or the suggested progression of classes – join this roundtable discussion with Baylor’s Dean of Faculty and the department chairs for each of the academic disciplines.
William Montgomery: B.A. Johns Hopkins University; M.A. St. John’s College; Dean of Faculty
Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency
What exactly is a currency, and why is digital money reshaping how we think about value? Could tuition someday be paid via crypto wallets instead of checkbooks? How did decisions made in the 1970s pave the way for Ethereum? And who is Satoshi Nakamoto, the shadowy figure behind Bitcoin? If you’ve ever wanted to cut through the hype and understand why crypto keeps showing up in headlines – and what it might mean for the next generation – this talk is for you.
Jack Studer: B.S.E. Princeton University; Instructor of Math and Economics
Creative Writing Activities
Writing doesn’t always mean sitting quietly with a pencil. Sometimes writing feels like a game! In this session, students explore a variety of fun activities to spark their creativity. Using imaginative photos, collaborative storytelling, and Mad Libs, students experience writing in a playful way.
Hal Gruetzemacher: B.A. University of Georgia; M.A. University of the South; Instructor of English
Crime Solvers
Participants will try their hand at Forensic Science to help solve the latest Baylor campus Mystery. Fingerprints, fibers and fun to be found!
Erin Strickland Woodrow: B.S. University of North Carolina; M.S. University of NC at Wilmington; Instructor of Science
Descriptive Writing
In this session, students can let their creativity flow by considering the importance of sensory details to make writing beautifully descriptive. Using a writing model, students create a patterned poem composed of memories. After writing and workshopping, students can read their writing aloud, as well as take home a memorable token to reflect on the experience.
Regan Fazio: B.A. Psychology, Miami University; M.Ed. Vanderbilt University; Instructor of Sixth and Eighth Grade English
Engaging Community Through Storytelling
Take a tour through Baylor’s applied humanities courses and learn how students are utilizing the power of storytelling to enrich our school community. Using documentary films, multimedia story maps, podcasts, social network analyses, audio tours, and more, students are chronicling campus stories both from the past and the present. We will look at several ongoing projects as well as new undertakings, including how we are building our the Baylor Veterans Archive. We will also introduce several software platforms participants might enjoy using in their own storytelling ventures.
Mike Kelly: B.A. University of Northern Iowa, English; M.A. University of Virginia, English; Director of Applied Humanities
Fall in Love with Hedges Library
Join us in Hedges Library for a fall-themed scavenger hunt where you’ll visit our cozy Academic Day Café, create a literary-themed craft, and find plenty of new books to add to your TBR (to be read) list along the way! As you explore our library and complete the scavenger hunt tasks, you’ll test your book knowledge and expand your creativity. Get ready for a morning of adventure and a touch of library magic!
Lauren Callihan: B.A. Berry College; M.A. Auburn University; M.S.I.S. University of Tennessee; Director of Hedges Library
Rhonda Sixto: B.A. University of Georgia; M.A.T. Agnes Scott College; Reading Librarian
Lee Howick: B.A. Middle Tennessee State University; M.L.I.S. University of Denver; Research Librarian
Languages Unlocked: Chinese
In our ever-connected world, Chinese has rapidly become a vital language for international business, finance, and technology. Boasting 1.4 billion nativespeakers and millions more who use the language for work, life, and so much more, Chinese is truly a global language today. Plus, it comes with 5,000 years of history, culture, and—most importantly—food to explore! Perhaps surprisingly, this beautiful language is not as hard as it seems. Learn how Baylor students of Chinese are quickly able to exchange greetings, count like a pro, write using this artistic script … ultimately, speaking Chinese is actually a breeze.
Chen “Jenny” Wang: B.A, Teacher’s College of Beijing Union University; Instructor of Chinese and International Admissions Coordinator
Languages Unlocked: French
Bonjour! Did you know that French is the official language of 29 countries and is spoken by 320 million people worldwide? Learning French can help you connect with these world citizens, and learning French at Baylor allows you to acquire the language naturally. With the help of a few famous Disney characters, you will understand and (gasp!) even be able to speak some basic French by the time you leave. Whether you’re a parent or a student, this is “not your parents’ French class!”
Ruth Ann Graham: B.A. and M.A. Auburn University; Instructor of French; Chair of the World Languages Department
Languages Unlocked: German
German is the official language of six countries and boasts 200 million speakers worldwide! Learning German at Baylor starts with listening – the first step in learning any new language – and expands to speaking. In our session, you’ll notice many English words have German roots, and you’ll learn how German compounds nouns to create long, even more interesting words. By the end of class, you’ll see how approachable (and playful) learning German can be. Willkommen!
Sheila Earl: B.A. Penn State University; Instructor of German
Languages Unlocked: Latin
Breaking News: Latin is alive and well and is all around us! Granted, you won’t have the opportunity to order a restaurant meal in Latin, but this not-so-dead language is actually very present in your life today. Learning Latin at Baylor helps you navigate the world around you with open eyes, gives you a leg up in learning any Romance language, and helps you understand your own language in a deeper way. So come along and see how “Latin lives today!”
Kristin Vines: B.A. Hollins College; Instructor of Latin
The Living Campus
Baylor’s campus harbors nearly 300 acres of green space encompassing a river, wetlands, forests, creeks, lakes, and fields. This class focuses on the ecology, geography, and biodiversity of Baylor’s campus in the context of academic engagement and experiential learning. In this class, we will discuss the diversity of habitats on Baylor’s campus and how Baylor students take part in ongoing efforts to restore, preserve, and protect our region. This course will also go into details into how Baylor students are collaborating with other agencies in Chattanooga to ensure conservation extends beyond our campus.
Ben Holt: B.S. in Biology, East Tennessee State University; completing a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee; Instructor of Science
The Many Pathways to Student Success at Baylor (Parents Only)
Come learn about Baylor’s dedication to student support and what our model of creating an environment of healthy struggle towards student self-advocacy and success looks like throughout a student’s time at Baylor.
Jennifer Averbeck: B.A. The University of the South, M.A. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga; Director of the Learning Center
Math on the Move: Family Vacation Budget Challenge
Pack your bags – it’s time for a dream trip to Universal Studios! But wait… will your budget cover the rides, snacks, hotel, and that must-have souvenir? Work together to crunch numbers, make money-smart choices, and see if your budget can take you on the ultimate adventure.
Kajal Ramjee: B.A. Rutgers University, M. Ed. Rutgers University; Instructor of Sixth and Seventh Grade Math
Order Matters! Patterns, Puzzles, and PEMDAS
How do numbers work, and what patterns can we uncover using integers? Can the order of operations help us creatively construct every whole number? In this session, you’ll explore the rules of arithmetic and put them into practice through a fun, hands-on number puzzle.
Celyn Christensen: B.S. in Applied Mathematics (STEM Education) Florida State University; Instructor of Seventh Grade Pre-Algebra and Eighth Grade Algebra
Performance Playground (Students Only)
Come explore the world of acting and performance opportunities at Baylor! We will explore theatre games, character development, pantomime, and so much more in a fun and low-stakes environment. All abilities and interests are welcome!
Allison Lamb: B.F.A. Baylor University; M.A. Oregon Center for the Arts at Southern Oregon University; Instructor of Middle School Theater and Director of Middle School Play
Photos Throughout American History
Photographs are a great resource for studying American history. They serve as primary sources that provide a unique perspective on specific events. Students will attempt to place a set of photographs in chronological order based on clues seen in each image, then briefly study the historical event captured in the photos.
Micah O’Hara: B.A. Regent University; Instructor of History
Science of Terrariums
How do terrariums work? How do they reflect the larger biogeological cycles of our planet? This short course will explain the science of terrariums as we build a small version to take home.
Matthew Irvin: B.S. Biology, Grove City College; Instructor of Upper School Science
Turning Words Into Art
In this hands-on session, students use markers and imagination to transform a page from a book or a magazine into something completely new, poetic, and eye-catching. By blacking out some words and keeping others, students create a hidden message or poem within a unique artistic piece.
Penny Batt: B.A. Georgia State University, M.A. Middlebury College; Instructor of English
Who’s Who in the Symphony?
Can you identify the different instruments in the orchestra by their sound? How complicated is it to read and navigate a musical score? What do things in musical language end up sounding like and how are different musical sounds notated? Explore these elements of music and more as you take a peek from the orchestra director’s podium (no musical or conducting experience required)!
Ben Sposet: B.M.A. Vanderbilt University; Director of Orchestras
Woodturning: Spinning Tops and Small Bowls
The fundamental elements of woodworking, design, technique, precision, and creativity are brought to life on the lathe. In this class, discover the art of wood turning by crafting spinning tops and experiencing the process of shaping small bowls. Watch a live demonstration, then step up to try it yourself; no experience required!
Garret Walsh: B.S. Columbus State University, M.F.A. University of Alabama; Director of Technical Theater
Wordplay
Have you ever wondered where the word “brainrot” comes from, how it caught on, and why most adults can’t understand it? Now is the time to find out! In this session, we will learn how some of English’s weirdest and wackiest words were created, and how, over time, they either disappear or change into something else entirely. Students will also have the chance to make up brand new words and try them out on the rest of the class. Maybe your word will be the newest addition to Webster’s dictionary!
Ben Swakopf: B.A. German Studies, Covenant College; M.A. Germanic Studies, Indiana University; Instructor of English
