Collegiate School Admission Brochure

– from Collegiate School’s seal circa 1915

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t the heart of academics at Collegiate is our desire to inspire students to strive for ways of thinking that are independent and collaborative, rigorous and creative. From early days in the Lower School, when they first learn to put reflections on a page with a pencil, to Senior Seminar, the Upper School’s capstone class that explores complex civic issues, students are encouraged to ask questions and discover personal passions. Connections are

Collegiate is a jackpot of amazing teachers.

These are the people who I want guiding my children through the day and through childhood.

– Haley Nolde ’92, Alumna and Parent

made across disciplines – a class play may contain elements of history and music or a biology lab could require math and drawing – to illustrate the way that the world works as a merging of many talents. Problemsolving, analysis, investigation and mastery of skills are all involved in the process.

Outside the conventional classroom, students are given opportunities to stretch the imaginative mind as they perform on stage or create in the art studio. Lessons in strategy

and sportsmanship, a hallmark of our athletics program, are also learned as they compete on any field, during a game of kickball at recess or at a state championship meet.

We do not take our task lightly. As we prepare the next generation of dynamic, creative thinkers and citizens of many communities worldwide, we aspire to teach in ways that are not just formative, but transformative.

Our challenge is to inspire and equip our students to be thought leaders for a new era.

– Keith Evans, Head of School

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ollegiate’s Latin motto, chosen in our early years – parat, ditat, durat – means prepare, enrich, endure. The world has changed in ways unimaginable to our founders, from the explosive growth in science and industry to the digital revolution that continues to expand our horizons, but their initial vision of preparing students for college and beyond still stands firm.

Preparation for an unknowable future requires that we maintain a wide angle lens as we develop our curriculum and devise new

ways to challenge students. The proof that our students are, in fact, prepared to move on to further studies and fulfilling professions is also evident in our alumni. They are entrepreneurs, educators, artists; they are leaders in medical research, finance, nonprofits, politics and historic preservation.

Whatever their field of choice, we often hear from them that their Collegiate education made the difference with enduring values and skills.

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ounded in 1915 in downtown Richmond, our school community is rich in tradition, but our leadership has always had the wisdom to focus on the future.

While faithful to our unchanging values of honor, integrity, respect, and service, we continually seek ways to make the Collegiate experience more engaging and relevant. To do so, we reach out to colleagues worldwide to assess best practices and varied perspectives, and we are fortunate to have the freedom to either try a new approach or stick with a triedand-true path that consistently leads to success.

Partnerships with international schools and service organizations, senior project internships with professionals, language instruction and diversity initiatives at every grade level K-12 – these endeavors all enrich our solid core of academic instruction. Our innovative spirit is evident as we build a new Academic Commons to better accommodate progressive teaching, research methods and flexible student spaces for collaboration.

I am proud that my children are part of an innovative community which prioritizes service to others, global education and technology. And I’m equally proud they understand the timeless value of honor and intergrity.

– Frank Mountcastle ’83, Alumnus and Parent

The academic experience is essential.

But more than that, it is important to know that our children are learning the life lessons and skills to carry them into the real world.

– Catherine Hill ’85, Alumna and Parent

“I hope you have learned many things … besides the very important facts outlined in various books … I would have you live for humanity’s sake. I would have you be good citizens in the widest sense…”

– Helen Baker, founder

t Collegiate, we teach new habits of mind but keep enduring habits of heart. Respect, honor and service to others are key components of life on campus and as we interact with the community, be it local or global. Putting those ideals into practice, both in service projects and in the conduct of everyday school life – through our Honor Code and the way we give each other the freedom to be ourselves – makes them real for our students. Lasting relationships are formed among faculty and

students, who return to visit long after they graduate. Likewise, meaningful connections are made by students as they participate in annual activities like Freshman Service Week or our Lower School Stone Soup project.

We establish long term relationships with those we serve, and our commitment to keeping our focus outside ourselves lives on. In fact, many students and alumni return to continue work started during those experiences.

As we celebrate nearly a century of heritage, we take great pride in the ways in which our curriculum and values prize innovation, experimentation and adaptation. At Collegiate, from the very first day your child takes that bold step into a new classroom, know that this is a place where character is as important as creativity, integrity accompanies intellect and service joins leadership. This is the Collegiate experience.

The mission of Collegiate School is to create a community of learners committed to a challenging and supportive educational experience that will foster the intellectual, moral, emotional, and physical development of each student.

Collegiate was founded by Miss Helen Baker in 1915 as the Collegiate School for Girls, a college preparatory school located in downtown Richmond. In addition to this campus in town, Collegiate opened the Collegiate Country Day School, off Mooreland and River roads, in 1953. Collegiate’s Town School and Country Day School merged on Mooreland Road in 1960, and boys were admitted. The Lower School and Upper School are coeducational; the Middle School is coordinate with boys and girls in separate classes. Today, our academic program remains on Mooreland Road while many sports activities take place on our 177-acre Robins Campus just four miles away.

Collegiate School is a community with a continuing commitment to the following shared values. These values guide our philosophy, educational program, and daily interaction:

Honor Personal integrity and devotion to the truth which make one trustworthy, forthright, responsible, and fair.

Love of Learning A creative spirit that promotes intellectual and personal growth through exploration, inquiry, and openness to change.

Excellence A sustained commitment to meeting high standards of character, achievement and personal accountability.

Respect Fundamental regard for the dignity and worth of each individual regardless of differences.

Community A commitment to responsive and compassionate citizenship and service on campus, in the local community, and in the broader world.

At Collegiate School, we prepare the next generation of dynamic, creative thinkers.

Not just a skill set, a mindset – where character is as important as creativity, integrity accompanies intellect, and service joins leadership.

103 North Mooreland Road Richmond, Virginia 23229 T 804.740.7077 F 804.741.9797 www.collegiate-va.org

The Collegiate School is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national origin in the administration of its educational, admission or financial aid policies, or any other programs administered by the School.