OUR MISSION
WE PREPARE DIVERSE THINKERS FOR LIVES OF PURPOSE
WE PREPARE DIVERSE THINKERS FOR LIVES OF PURPOSE
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Brewster transforms students who come to us with diverse academic profiles and from diverse backgrounds into self-aware, capable adults who are committed to lives that are larger than the self. We take a remarkably personal approach to education, using the time-tested, research-driven Brewster Model as a foundation for a student-centered and nurturing school community. Our teachers cherish your individuality and teach you to work together. Your questions guide our discussions. Your unique talents and varied perspectives enrich our classrooms—and each other’s education. We provide the tools and compassion for students to succeed on their terms.
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DIVERSE THINKERS
DIVTH ERINK SEERS Brewster’s student body represents a dynamic mix of learners and thinkers. Athletes. Artists. Musicians. Math wizards. Lovers of science and poetry. Lovers of nature. Our 350 students come from two dozen states and more than 20 countries. A fifth of them attend as day students from Wolfeboro and our surrounding New Hampshire communities. They come from all parts of the socioeconomic spectrum and from a range of civic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. All that diversity enriches an academic community that values individual differences, where students work together and challenge and support each other. Where you’ll find the capacity and opportunity to learn from other people like you and not like you. We are an elite school without the elitism. That is one of our core strengths.
CHRIS: 4
The Instructional Support class here is amazing.
Brewster helped me identify that I’m a tactile learner—learning by doing is best for me. ELLA:
It’s all about the skills you need in college and for life.
DIVERSE THINKERS
WE INSPIRE GREAT MINDS TO THINK ALIKE. Learning is a deeply collaborative endeavor at Brewster. We challenge our students with high expectations—and then provide the tools and structure to meet them. We require our students to work and learn together in teams, recognizing the power of student-to-student teaching and engagement. We have developed a culture that is rare among rigorous private schools: one where all can do their best without besting each other. To an extraordinary degree, our student-centered approach is tailored for individual success. Teachers here quickly come to understand how you learn best; they differentiate their instruction to serve you most effectively. As one of our faculty members puts it, Brewster’s teachers will meet you exactly where you are—plus a little bit more. The Brewster Model is the antithesis of Group Think and the status quo. It nurtures independent thinkers, learners who gain confidence in themselves and the strength of their opinions. It develops creative problem solvers. Entrepreneurial spirits. Leaders.
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ASAL:
After class, it didn’t feel
like teacher and student. It was just two people sharing a passion for reading and good writing.
SPENCER:
There is always a
new perspective here that will make you think twice.
DIVERSE THINKERS
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING Tending to the emotional and social side of our students’ education has long been a hallmark at Brewster. In 2011 Brewster became the first boarding school in the country to implement an emotional literacy curriculum in partnership with the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. The program helps students develop competency and knowledge related to character development, social awareness, and life skills. We understand the challenge and excitement of navigating the emotional and social dynamics inherent in this period of growing independence—and have developed intentional opportunities for guided reflection, exploration, and discussion, both inside and outside the classroom. Here, you learn not only math and history and chemistry. You will learn deeply about yourself in relation to others, how to create and maintain positive relationships, and make good decisions. All in a supportive and—yes, we’ll say it—fun environment! We make adolescence joyful.
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SOPHIA:
You can find who you are here.
This community will help you do anything. It’s like a family that way. ZAC:
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WE PREPARE DIVERSE THINKERS FOR LIVES OF PURPOSE
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Brewster’s model of education prepares our students for the world they will inhabit by focusing on all dimensions of a student’s experience—inside and outside the classroom, on campus, and in global programs around the world. Our progressive programs reflect best practices in the field of education, blending direct teaching, collaborative and project-based learning, and student-to-student tutoring. We focus on emotional as well as intellectual growth, with an emphasis on developing character. We help young people understand themselves, learn from others, and achieve together—and to take those skills into life. Here, you will gain mastery. You will develop positive habits of mind and habits of heart. Our students graduate with confidence, curiosity, and compassion.
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W E P R E PA R E
PROGRAM
“
Brewster students are challenged appropriately. They are supported appropriately. This is not a one-size-fits-all school.” —CRAIG GEMMELL, HEAD OF SCHOOL
Brewster’s rigorous academic program is developmental in nature. Subject courses are linked to build skills incrementally over time. The curriculum is specially designed to meet individual needs. We do this by differentiating what we expect of students based on who they are as learners. We will give you the support to achieve success in all of your classes, not just the ones in which you are strongest. Our program is distinguished by: Personalized instruction. Best teaching practices. An emphasis on team learning.
STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO
6:1
12 100%
COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE RATE
AVERAGE CLASS SIZE
A strong academic support system. Immersive two-week project period. Commitment to global education. Attention to social and emotional learning. A culture of inclusion. Our academic program has one goal—to inspire you to be the best learner you can be. 13
PEOPLE
“
I spent 16 years teaching in the public school system. Now I can’t imagine teaching without the team approach.” — M I C H E L L E R A FA LOWS K I - H O U S E M A N , SCIENCE TEACHER
350 25+ STUDENTS
STATES
20%
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INTERNATIONAL
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ACADEMIC TEAMS
Before you ever play a sport, sing in a choir, or act in a play, you will be part of a team at Brewster. Your team comprises the people who will teach you and help you grow, including an advisor and a diverse group of classmates. You will collaborate and work together throughout the year on academic, extra-curricular, and service endeavors - all to better stretch you as an individual and a contributing member of a community. You will come to know yourself deeply, make a difference in others’ lives, and create friendships that last a lifetime. Our teachers are passionate about their profession and committed to your success. Most of them live on campus, many serving as dorm parents in living quarters connected to the student living space. All of our faculty members are trained in best practices. They are specially prepared at the Brewster Summer Institute, a four-week professional development program designed to assist teachers in accelerating student growth. Our administration is led by Head of School Craig Gemmell, who came to Brewster in 2015 following three decades as a boarding school teacher and administrator. A former All-American athlete at Trinity College, Dr. Gemmell has built an impressive reputation for his innovative and collaborative approach to education. He believes the Brewster Model has the exponential power to transform lives, communities, and the ways that schools serve students in their care.
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W E P R E PA R E
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STOP LIGHTS
HALF MILE LAKE FRONTAGE 16
6 ICE CREAM
SHOPS
50,000 SQ. FT. ATHLETIC AND WELLNESS CENTER
PLACE
“
I made connections at Brewster that I am confident will be lifelong. It became a home away from home.” —E LISE H E N N ESSEY ’16
At Brewster, whether you’re a boarding or a day student, you will live in a diverse, active community of learners surrounded by the stunning four-season beauty of northern New England. Our 80-acre campus spreads a half-mile along the eastern shore of New Hampshire’s largest lake, Lake Winnipesaukee. The exquisite setting, framed by the Belknap Mountains and steps away from the dynamic, small community of Wolfeboro (“The Oldest Summer Resort in America”), inspires both quiet reflection and vibrant activity. Here, place will be a deep part of your experience—and your development as an aware, involved member of a broader community.
Our state-of-the-art facilities are distinguished by: A core, traditional-on-the-outside Academic Building that houses most of our classrooms, academic departments, and lecture halls. Our open-concept, lake-view and light-filled Kenison Library. An indoor rowing tank and convertible turf field. A 75-seat amphitheater. Unsurpassed athletics facilities, including a 50,000-square-foot athletic and wellness center; six playing fields; nine tennis courts; a boathouse for sailing, crew, and waterfront programs; and a climbing wall. Arts facilities featuring a 450-seat proscenium theater; dedicated spaces for painting, sculpture, dance, and music; a darkroom; blackbox theater; and multimedia classrooms for photography, film, and digital innovations. A centrally located dining and student center featuring a fireplace and brick oven. 18 residence halls, many with a lakefront view. 17
WE PREPARE DIVERSE THINKERS FOR LIVES OF PURPOSE
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Here, values and character are as important as academic knowledge. We are a private institution committed to shaping the public good. Our students come to understand their role as citizens of a local community and a large, diverse, inter-connected world. The guiding principles of a Brewster education emphasize respect, integrity, and service. Our challenge to you for your journey into adulthood: Serve yourself and others with your best in all that you do. Our goal is to equip all of our students with the skills and wellrounded capacity to seize great opportunities —and to lead lives of purpose and meaning.
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LIVES OF PURPOSE
The most important skills I use as a lawyer I learned as a student at Brewster. LU KE APFE LD ’09
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Luke graduated from the University of Vermont with a double major in English and sociology. Worked on the staff of Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy and the Senate Judiciary Committee. Graduated from Berkeley Law. Upcoming: clerkships in U.S. District Courts of Southern New York and Southern California. What gives his life purpose: “I want to work for the Department of Justice in the Civil Rights Division. I want to make a difference in people’s lives as a trial attorney—and maybe even run for public office.”
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The coffee houses at Brewster were the avenues that led to what I do now. W I L L F O OT E ’ 1 3
Will graduated after studying sociology, peace studies, and music at St. Lawrence University. Cofounded the nonprofit Documentary Songwriters, which makes songs from people’s own words while creating vehicles for healing and connecting. What gives his life purpose: “In our country’s great movements, it’s music that has brought people together. Our work gives voice to people’s stories.”
LIVES OF PURPOSE
Brewster is where I became comfortable being me. A L LY S O N R E I N E R ’ 1 0
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Allyson graduated from Lehigh University. Worked in sales and merchandising for Ralph Lauren; now enrolled in the NYU Stern School of Business Fashion & Luxury MBA program. Interests: fashion, international culture, trends. What gives her life purpose: “To understand trends, and why trends change. To play a role in people’s self-expression.”
THE WAY EDUCATION SHOULD BE.
OUR VISION
AN APPROACH TO EDUCATION THAT HAS THE EXPONENTIAL POWER TO TRANSFORM LIVES, COMMUNITIES, AND THE WAYS SCHOOLS SERVE STUDENTS IN THEIR CARE.
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