Ninth Grade A Leadership Year
OUR NINTH-GRADE PROGRAM IS A TRUE FRESHMAN YEAR,
except thatour students are leading our school rather than entering it. As a capstone experience, the year is specifically designed to challenge and inspire our oldest students with opportunities to shine as leaders, leap forward academically, and transition to adolescence in a supportive setting. Our students eagerly await their ninth-grade year, which is filled with beloved traditions, milestones, and a multiday educational trip to Washington, DC. Across our programs, students in ninth grade hone skills in leadership, team building, and time management.
“As someone who has been at Bement since kindergarten, I got to see what the ninth-grade experience was like. I always looked up to the ninth graders, and I dreamed of the day I got to be one. I couldn’t wait to create my ninth-grade board, do my monologue, be a part of Farewell Evening, and speak at graduation.”
—Class of 2025 graduate
“I’ve had a wonderful year here and I’ve changed so much. I became a better learner, athlete, and person, and I’m so glad I made the choice to stay for ninth grade. I’ve only been at Bement for a short time compared to others, but the impact that the school has had on me has been drastic.”
—Class of 2022 graduate
THE NINTH-GRADE CURRICULUM IS RIGOROUS AND LIVELY. With courses such as Precalculus and Physics, we are constantly challenging our students to continue to grow intellectually, socially, and emotionally. By design, the student–teacher ratio in our ninth grade is among the lowest in our upper school, allowing our students to receive personalized attention and lead and participate in small group discussions. Students often place out of certain classes in secondary school based on performance and class level here at Bement. The visual arts and drama programs, as well as English classes, build public speaking skills, culminating in monologue writing and performances, the creation and presentation of a symbolic self-portrait, and the development and rehearsal of reflective speeches that students deliver during baccalaureate and commencement services. Every ninth grader also performs in the spring ninth-grade musical, with performances for the entire school community as well as parents, friends, and family.
LEADERSHIP
Whether they are acting as concert masters for the orchestra, serving as captains of athletic teams, planning social activities, helping at lunch tables, running meetings, or serving on student council, every ninth grader plays a leadership role at Bement. By taking on the challenges of leadership, ninth graders perform the important task of passing along our school culture and values to younger students, while learning lessons about the importance of good citizenship and social responsibility.
“For me, getting to know the students, figuring out their passions, and helping them find the best match for secondary school is so much fun. I get to see different sides of each student, be it in the classroom, on the soccer field, or as an advisee.”
—Jeffrey Pilgrim Director of Secondary School Counseling
ACCEPTANCES TO SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR BEMENT’S 2023, 2024, and 2025 CL a SSES
The Academy at Charlemont
Berkshire School
Blair Academy
Brooks School
Canterbury School
Cheshire Academy
Choate Rosemary Hall
Concord Academy
Cranbrook School
Culver Academy
Cushing Academy
Deerfield Academy
Emma Willard School
The Ethel Walker School
The Frederick Gunn School
Garrison Forest School
The Governor’s Academy
Holderness School
The Hotchkiss School
Hun School
Indian Springs School
Interlochen Center for the Arts
‘Iolani School
Kent School
Kimball Union Academy
The Knox School
Lake Forest Academy
Lawrence Academy
The Lawrenceville School
The Loomis Chaffee School
Madeira School
The Masters School
Mercersburg Academy
Middlesex School
Miss Hall’s School
Miss Porter’s School
Northfield Mount Hermon School
Peddie School
Phillips Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy
Pomfret School
Portsmouth Abbey School
The Putney School
Shattuck-St. Mary’s School
Solebury School
South Kent School
St. Andrew’s School
St. James Academy
St. Mark’s School
St. Paul’s School
Stoneleigh-Burnham School
Suffield Academy
Tabor Academy
The Taft School
Wayland Academy
Western Reserve Academy
Westminster School
Westover School
Wilbraham & Monson Academy
The Williston Northampton School
“Over the course of my ninth grade, I got to know myself and what I wanted. Working with Mr. Pilgrim, we came up with a list of schools that matched my interests and aspirations. In the end, I’m going to a school that not only fits me, but will challenge me to strive for my best.”
—Class of 2025 graduate
OUR HISTORY
Grace “Menty” Allan Power Bement, a tutor and drama coach deeply interested in education and women’s suffrage, founded The Bement School in 1925. The school grew quickly as word spread about Grace Bement’s educational philosophy: education should be tailored to the needs of the individual child while emphasizing responsibility for the rights of others. This early foundation persists today, as Bement is dedicated to the development of each student while cultivating a strong community.
OUR MOTTO
Alis Propriis Vola Fly on Your Own Wings
OUR LOCATION
Located in the historic town of Deerfield, Bement is surrounded by natural beauty and situated within an intellectual and cultural haven that includes the esteemed Five Colleges, world-renowned museums, and charming New England towns. Our campus, where Deerfield Academy is our neighbor, is just minutes off I-91, which connects Hartford to Vermont and is easily accessible to nearby cities.
We invite you to visit.
CONTACT ADMISSIONS
We would be thrilled to assist you in learning more about Bement. Visit our website at bement.org. Please do not hesitate to contact us directly with any questions at 413 774 4209 or admit@bement.org.
T 413 774 7061 F 413.774.7863 admit@bement.org
94 Old Main Street PO Box 8 Deerfield, MA 01342 USA