US Divisonal Piece

breckschool.org

Upper School

Confidence in knowing.

What comes next begins today.

The skills you gain, the strengths you discover, and the knowledge you attain will set the stage for every act to follow.

Welcome to Upper School

“Breck has given me a learning environment with supportive classmates and teachers who help me grow both in and out of the classroom.”

Max Upper School Student

Welcome

In the Upper School, we challenge and inspire our students to strive for excellence.

Our academically rigorous curriculum is brought to life by our veteran faculty.

Each Breck teacher knows and cares about their students — and inspires them to pursue challenging and rewarding academic opportunities each day.

Developing each student’s unique talents, spirit, and potential is central to our mission. We encourage students to carve their own path, led by the ongoing discovery of where their interests meet their potential. Through competitive athletic teams, vibrant visual and performing arts programs, and a robust community partnerships program, Breck graduates leave our campus with a healthy understanding of the complex world they are entering. More importantly, they graduate with the skills to compete, the confidence to lead, and the empathy to serve.

Troy Baker, Ed.D. Upper School Director

1

2

Upper School

Tomorrow begins to Personalization and Press

Academic Opportunities

Students work hard at Breck.

It’s through connecting to them as individuals that we know how best to push them without overwhelming them.

At Breck, our rigorous and wide-ranging academic program prepares students for what’s next. We offer an Upper

Our weekly tutorial periods mirror the office hours at most colleges and universities and allow our teachers, advisors, and college counselors to guide students as they chart their course to college and beyond.

School student experience that blends foundational courses with opportunities to dig deep into content areas through advanced, honors, AP, world language, and May Program courses.

Academic Program

3

ow oday.

Firmly rooted in our mission to create confident learners, Breck’s academic program equips students with a well-rounded education that will support them as they move on to college and beyond.

Schedule

Teacher Accessibility

Our daily schedule has a rhythm similar to a college campus.

Designed by our tenured faculty

We ask every student to complete one task: do Breck well. To us, this is defined by taking

and guided by research from Breck’s

advantage of the many pathways

Peter Clark Center for Mind, Brain,

created for connection, creativity,

and Education, this approach allows

and deeper learning. Our small class

students time for deeper exploration

sizes allow students to connect with

and more meaningful discussions. It

their teachers on a one-to-one basis

also teaches them the demands and

and partner with our faculty as

time management skills they’ll need

learners and collaborators.

for their future education.

4

Upper School

Set for every stage.

Learning doesn’t only occur in the classroom. We offer these programs so students can broaden their passions, deepen their interests, and create their most authentic experience while they’re here.

At Breck, we see athletics as an extension of the classroom. Whether on the court or on the field, student-athletes are always learning new ways to lead, collaborate, and work toward a common goal, all while strengthening their mental and physical health. Our coaching staff is dedicated to teaching commitment and preparation, personal growth and teamwork, and urge our students toward excellence independent of outcome.

5

The Performing Arts at Breck provide students more than just the chance to grow and explore their own self-expression and creativity — it’s a chance for them to build something together. Through dance, music, and theatre, students gain first hand exposure to the arts and develop the skills and discipline to create as a group.

Our Visual Arts Department is studiobased at its very core.

Students create work in vivid, beautiful studio spaces under the guidance of real working artists who share their knowledge, talent, enthusiasm, and inspirations that rouse their imagination.

World Languages

Religion* (Semester-long course)

Performing Arts

Visual Arts

Health & Physical Ed.

Spanish

French

Advanced History Research (grade 12 only) African American Studies

Research.

Chinese

Chinese I–VI Advanced Chinese Seminar I–II Advanced Chinese for Immersion Students & Heritage Speakers I–II

Upper School Voices Advanced Concert Chorale Symphonic Winds/Jazz Ensemble String Orchestra Advanced Chamber Players Music and Film Music Psychology Music Theory I AP Music Theory

Music

Bioethics Ethics Religious Imagery in Film Theologies of Liberation

French I–VI AP French Language & Culture French VII: Advanced French Literature & Culture Advanced French for Immersion Students & Heritage Speakers I–II

Theatre

3D

Actors Workshop: Film and Monologues Actors Workshop: Musical and Classics Advanced Studio Theatre Theater Production I–II Advanced Theatrical Design: Scenery Advanced Theatrical Design: Light & Sound

World Religions II

Spanish I–VI AP Spanish Language & Culture Spanish VII: Advanced Spanish Literature & Culture Advanced Spanish for Immersion Students & Heritage Speakers I–II World Religions I

Dance

Dance Advanced Dance Repertory

2D

Creative Design Draw/Paint I–IV Draw/Paint Studio I–II AP Drawing

Photography

Creative Design Photography I–IV Photo Studio I–II AP 2D Art and Design

1 semester of Physical Education OR 3 sports for 2 years, 2 sports for 3 years, OR 2 semesters of dance

Creative Design Ceramics I–IV Ceramics Studio I–II AP 3D Art and Design (Ceramic)

Health and Performance Physiology

Please see the course guide at breckschool.org/academics/upper-school for more details.

Grade 10

Grade 11

Grade 12

Grade 9

AP Literature AP Language & Composition Creative Writing* Self in the World* Advanced English Scholarship & Research *advanced version available

English 10

Calculus AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC AP Stats Advanced Topics in Mathematics

English 9

Algebra II Precalculus Honors Precalculus Calculus Computer Science I–II

Func./Stat./Trig.

Precalculus Calculus AP Calculus AB Advanced Mathematics Research AP Computer Science A

U.S. History AP U.S. History

Year-Long Electives

Varying course themes such as Economics, American Elections, and Honors

Semester Electives

Engineering Advanced Molecular Biology Robotics Anatomy and Physiology

Semester Electives

AP Biology AP Chemistry AP Physics C Advanced Physics Advanced Science Research

Year-Long Electives Biology AP Biology

English 11 AP Language & Composition AP Literature

Algebra 1B Algebra II Honors Adv. Algebra Geometry Computer Science I–II

Physics Honors Physics Advanced Physics

Modern World History

Electives available throughout Upper School

Chemistry AP Chemistry

Curriculum Overview English

Mathematics

Science

History

AP Art History AP European History AP U.S. History

8

Upper School

Leave no i unexplore World Languages With Chinese, French, or Spanish to

Advanced Research Opportunities

choose from, our World Language

For students in grade 11 and grade 12

program exposes Upper School students to new people, cultures, and ideas. It enhances a student’s capacity to speak languages and develop a lifelong appreciation for other people and cultures.

Religious Studies At Breck, our Religious Studies program emphasizes understanding religion as lived, diverse, and dynamic, knowing the ways religion functions as a part of peoples’ lives and society as a whole.

with the ambition for advanced study, we offer four highly regarded research programs in English, History, Mathematics, and Science.

Guided by professional mentors and expert faculty, students pursue college-level research projects, working in labs and professional settings on some of the most essential subjects facing our society.

idea ed.

Student Experience

At Breck, we urge every student to pursue knowledge in and out of the classroom.

9

May Program Students thrive when given the opportunity to pursue their interests. Which is why, every year, Upper School students take part in May Program. During this two week program, grade 9 and 10 students have more than 50 short courses to choose from; at the same time, grade 11 and 12 students pursue internships or immersive trips domestically or internationally.

Community Engagement Social responsibility is central to a Breck education.

Therefore, Upper School students engage with one of over 38 Twin Cities community partners each week. Whether working with preschoolers at our local Head Start chapter or packing nourishing meals, every student is urged to serve our neighbors.

Clubs We want to encourage students to pursue their passions, and maybe even discover a few new ones.

From experimenting with robotics or writing for the student newspaper, debating in Model UN, or advocating for the environment, there’s always a new and exciting way to make friends, learn more, and grow together.

Student Leadership Breck students are integral to the leadership of our school and have the opportunity to serve on one of six of our student councils, as well as councils in advocacy, arts, athletics, community action, and DEI.

12

Upper School

Forward to the future.

At Breck, preparation for college goes well beyond grades.

College Counseling

Senior Speeches

Preparing for college can be

Every week, Upper School students

overwhelming. Which is why, at

gather to hear speeches presented

Breck, nobody does it alone. Starting

by their classmates. During this

in grade 10, students meet their

cherished Breck tradition, students

college counselor to discuss interests,

have the opportunity to share a

prepare for standardized testing,

personally meaningful topic with

and develop a plan to achieve their

the community, often reflecting

academic goals. We work together

on the impact of their Breck

with families to ensure every student

experience. Senior speeches are

is confident and pointed in the right

a culminating and formational

direction for whatever’s next.

experience for our graduates.