Learning with Exuberance: Dana Hall Middle School Viewbook

MIDDLE SCH O OL

Learning with exuberance

Middle school is a major pivot point in a girl’s social, emotional, and intellectual life. It’s a moment of truth. Will she stand tall or start to shrink back? Take charge or watch the boys take over?

Continue to tackle her schoolwork with unabashed enthusiasm and determination—or begin to question if she truly has what it takes to excel?

This is the moment for a girl to be challenged and championed. Given the chance to learn with exuberance, and without fear. Understand her intelligence, value, and power—and recognize all the world’s beautiful possibilities at her feet.

T his is the moment for Dana Hall.

“The middle school-aged brain is designed to figure out where the boundaries are, and then to go beyond them. Our job is to understand our students: We give them space to make mistakes, keep them safe, and provide avenues for them to use their creative and inquisitive minds in productive ways.”

L AU R E N G O L D B E R G (A . K . A . “ DR . G .”)

D I R EC TO R O F T H E M I D D L E S C H O O L

A bright, motivated student can succeed at any school.

But how well she does—and how far she goes—depends on who surrounds her. Will her math teacher know how she learns best and help her use that knowledge to her advantage?

Will the girl who sits next to her in English be just as excited to discuss Lord of the Flies and Lions of Little Rock as she is? Will she be known, respected, and given every opportunity to grab hold of her future with both hands?

At Dana Hall, she will.

She will embrace the challenge.

Dana Hall is different, not only because we’re a girls school, but because of the kind of girls school we are. Open. Encouraging.

Inclusive. Equal parts serious and fun-loving. With students who really care about learning and dive into their education with zeal.

Dana Hall students build wind turbines and code computer games.

They solve quadratic equations, conjugate Ancient Greek verbs, and discuss themes in American poetry. They test their hypotheses, miscalculate, recalibrate, and try again. And they never stop to question if they are capable of such challenging coursework—or pause to see who’s watching.

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She will look ever closer.

She will take science every day.

Engage in an advanced and collaborative math program. Study and perform Shakespeare. Read narratives from enslaved Africans and contemplate long-marginalized perspectives. Discover what it takes to succeed in every subject.

Uncommonly broad, deep, and impactful, our Middle School curriculum constantly asks students to look closer, think harder, and make connections that cross boundaries—setting them up with crucial skills that will prove invaluable in their academic, professional, and personal lives.

She will benefit from the best of two worlds.

She will shine ever brighter.

It’s virtually impossible for a girl to remain quiet in a school that so clearly values her opinions, encourages her to express them, and gives her a million and one ways to do so. Shy students speak louder here—and so do girls who bring their fierce independence, confidence, and nascent leadership abilities to Dana Hall. We know each student for who she is and help her discover who she’ll become—shaping opportunities that align with her interests, strengthening areas where she’s already strong, and introducing new and exciting terrain to explore.

Our students describe their teachers as understanding, persistent, helpful, funny, and wise. Our teachers describe their students as smart, poised, reflective, thoughtful, and kind.

Together, they engage in a vibrant learning experience full of joy, wonder, and mutual respect.

Our approximately 130 middleschoolers have their own vibrant, light-filled building as well as access to the impressive resources of our full 5–12 program—including our science center with its advanced labs and classrooms, high-tech library, bustling School of Music, equestrian facilities, and fully equipped athletics center. Our smart and dynamic Upper School students serve as peer advocates and guides for younger students, and our teachers work across disciplines, grade levels, and divisions to create a highly integrated experience.

She will move the world forward.

Dana Hall students come from down the street and across the globe.

They are talented athletes, budding designers, and future entrepreneurs.

Loquacious leaders and voracious readers. Nearly 30% are students of color, and our Upper School boarding students hail from places as diverse as Texas and Thailand—contributing to a truly global education. With no typical Dana Hall student, our community teaches that difference is typical. Learning at Dana Hall means becoming exceptionally well informed, globally engaged, and committed to creating a more just and equitable society.

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E very answer sparks a thousand questions Why do seed carriers spin when they fall? What conditions can give rise to a dictator? What’s the Latin root for “eloquence?” (And how did Latin evolve into so many different languages, anyway?)

Bright, relentlessly inquisitive students convene at Dana Hall to engage wholeheartedly in a vigorous and comprehensive academic program.

From studying the melting points of different solids in our chemistry labs to examining the whys and hows of history, our students learn through active participation—as investigators, scientists, makers, critics, authors, and artists. Motivated and inspired by expert faculty, our students engage in eye-opening, interdisciplinary, confidence-building projects that allow them to make big discoveries about how the world works and how they can work to improve it.

“By the end of eighth grade, our students have mastered abilities many students don’t develop until college.

They’re used to speaking up in class, asking for help, and advocating for their needs.

Our students are fearless and ready for everything that comes next.”

L E S L E Y D O L L , S C I EN C E T E AC H ER A N D A S S I S TA N T D I R EC TO R O F THE MIDDLE SCHOOL

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A journey of s elf-discovery N I C O L E , F I F T H G R A D E R “All of my teachers at Dana Hall are the greatest I’ve ever had,” says Nicole. “They help me understand how I learn best so that I can succeed.” Some of the things Nicole most enjoyed learning in fifth grade: writing sentences that flow better; that she loves to draw; Ancient Greek; how to work well in groups; that her classmates speak different languages (Russian, Mandarin, Italian); and she’s always willing to help other students (for which she won an award). Says Nicole, “I have great relationships with so many nice people at Dana Hall.

I don’t think I would have found that at another school.”

U pstanding citizens J E N N Y S A L A M O N E

Dana Hall middle-schoolers present to their teachers and parents self-assessments about their personal and academic efforts, successes, and needs— becoming directors of their own learning at a young age.

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“I teach students how to be good citizens,” says Jenny Salamone when asked about her required eighth-grade social studies class, Identity and Injustice.

When confronting tragic moments in history, including the Holocaust and the Apartheid era, Jenny’s students examine in great depth the social and economic conditions that preceded these events as well as their modern-day parallels. For their final project, students research and present on an upstander— a person currently working to improve the world. “In my class, the how and why are just as important as the when and where,” says Jenny. “Students gain a keen awareness of cause and effect and the dangers of staying silent.”

The evidence is out there Dana Hall students learn through hands-on, active engagement that leads to profound connections— across disciplines, to their own lives, and to realworld consequences. They may: • Experience life as an early settler at Plimoth Plantation, and get into character for a debate at Boston’s Old South Meeting House

• Create landscape paintings during a social studies unit on westward expansion, and capture the process on their iPads • Become geologists for the day during a visit to Nahant on the Massachusetts coast • Make, break, and reassemble a piece of pottery to develop archeology skills

• Mix up batches of elephant toothpaste, and detail their use of the scientific method

E ngineering excellence LIZZIE KENNY “Students will always need to solve problems in their lives, and learning how to do so in a methodical and planned way will help them throughout their academic career and outside of school,” says Lizzie Kenny, who gives students in her sixthgrade math and science classes as many opportunities as possible to figure out information for themselves. Whether learning about area and perimeter by creating a blueprint for a zoo, building marshmallow catapults in their study of simple machines, or redesigning wind turbine blades to produce the greatest amount of energy possible, sixth-grade students are naturally curious and love to create. Says Lizzie, “That experience of brainstorming solutions to engineering challenges will take them far.

They often find multiple ways to solve problems, and often prefer to work together and help each other out.”

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Our Middle School students enjoy their own building and dedicated learning space while having access to all of Dana Hall’s facilities and resources.

D iving in. Doing it all.

A R I E L L E , S I X T H G R A D E R Arielle experienced many firsts in sixth grade—including running for (and winning) co-representative of her class, giving her first speech (for said campaign), throwing clay and using watercolors in art class (which she loves), and playing on the B-level volleyball team (to which she’s bringing her athletic skills as a swimmer and lacrosse player). “Dana is helpful in boosting confidence.

All my friends here support me, and the older kids set a good example,” Arielle says. “The students here have such different backgrounds and personalities, and they are all funny, kind, and inclusive. You’ll find a friend no matter what.”

A community that’s all in The genuine smiles. The generosity of spirit. The palpable joy that comes from understanding—and loving—who you are. (And from knowing— and appreciating—the diverse, interesting, and enthusiastic people around you.) Dana Hall students want to be here, and they exhibit unrestrained excitement for the discoveries, activities, and conversations that happen here—in every class, every space, every day.

At a school that values hard work, trying new things, and doing your best (rather than besting your classmates), students feel free to be themselves and to push themselves beyond what they once believed was possible. Whether practicing algebraic functions or leading an affinity group meeting, Dana Hall students go all in. They work together, root for each other, learn from each other, and help one another succeed.

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Inclusive learning At Dana Hall, we respect the intelligence, curiosity, and empathy of our students—which means we don’t shy away from tough topics.

Our curriculum elevates diverse voices—including those that were previously silenced or pushed to the sidelines—and ensures our students have the language, knowledge, and networks to process difficult subject matter, share their feelings and perspectives freely, and grow as a community. In a world that’s often confusing, always changing, and saturated with conflicting media, it’s our responsibility to make sure students are not only well-informed, but also skilled at analyzing information and determining how best to respond.

Girls at the helm The world is calling for new leadership, new perspectives, and new ideas. Dana Hall ensures young women are prepared to heed that call. Our abundant and robust leadership opportunities include: • SAIL (Students Aspiring to Inspire Leadership), our wildly popular student government program.

Students in grades six through eight run for elected positions, while our fifth-graders share and rotate class representative roles, giving many students the chance (literally) to rule the school.

• Leading clubs and groups, such as ALANA (for students of African, Latin American, Native American, and Asian descent), Dana All (our multicultural group), Art Club, and Improv Club.

• The chance to be inspired by the enterprising alumnae who reunite on campus every other year for She Sails, a daylong conference on women and leadership.

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Explorers wanted Dana Hall students are interested in a wide variety of activities. Some love to sing and draw and play basketball. Others are passionate about the environment and looking for new ways to make a positive difference in the world. Still others enjoy writing stories—and plan to publish a few before penning their debut novel.

Our community is the absolute best place for students to get better at the things they enjoy doing, and to test themselves through new-to-them artistic, athletic, club, and community endeavors. Here, visual artists take Upper School math courses. Tennis players design and build set pieces for our school plays. Poets become class presidents. In fact, the most fitting way to define our students is “audaciously undefinable.”

Endless opportunity in the arts Students at all levels have an unparalleled number of opportunities to develop their artistic voices and skills. They embrace the chance to: • Take a class focused on film soundtracks, and compose their own original film score using advanced software • Show off their printmaking talents at the Middle School Art Show • Try out for the fall play or winter musical • Study the ukulele or the electric keyboard, and perform as part of an ensemble • Learn the fundamentals of hip-hop in Dance I, or perfect their skills in pointe ballet in an advanced class

Many students take private music lessons through the Dana Hall School of Music—where no prior experience is required. Instruction is offered in piano, guitar, strings, woodwinds, percussion, vocals, and more.

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A stage to soar DA N N Y M O R R I S “We teach the girls everything they need to know—how to call the show, build the sets, mix the mics, run the lights and soundboard—and then we step back and allow them to take ownership,” says Theater Director Danny Morris, who previously worked at the Huntington Theatre and co-ran a small Boston-based theater company. In addition to starring in all the roles, Middle School students have the chance to work with, learn from, and be inspired by Upper School students, who write plays for them to perform, choreograph dance routines, and serve as stage managers. “Our students truly take advantage of the space we give them to learn and grow,” says Danny.

In the spotlight Dana Hall students don’t fear the stage, podium, or Keynote presentation, because they’re accustomed to being in the spotlight. From our fifthgrade creative movement workshops to seventh-grade workshops in costume design and playwriting, Dana Hall students are always (in all ways) expressing themselves in front of others. Our robust performing arts program—integrated into the curriculum and full of exciting course options—prepares students for specialized and intensive courses and activities in the Upper School.

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C ontinuous play A V E R Y, E I G H T H G R A D E R Avery knows that once she starts thinking about college, she may have to choose soccer or lacrosse as her main sport. But for now, she’s thrilled to get to play both, at Dana Hall and with her local club team. “The coaches at Dana Hall are so dedicated and encouraging,” says Avery. “They’ll work with us one on one and even consult with us on the starting lineup.” Last winter, Avery added squash to her repertoire, and she’s loving that, too. “Dana Hall is all about trying new things, whether it’s sports or clubs or academics,” says Avery. “If you fall down, you get right back up.

The community really values that.”

Interscholastic sports Fall Cross country Equestrian Field hockey Soccer Volleyball

Winter Basketball Equestrian Fencing Ice hockey Squash Swimming

Spring Lacrosse Equestrian Softball Tennis

We also offer horseback riding lessons, rock climbing, spin, and dance classes (three levels) throughout the year.

Our turf field provides Dana Hall’s studentathletes the space to be both competitive and collaborative.

Eighty-five percent of our Middle School students play a competitive sport, and we provide the appropriate degree of challenge for every athlete. Students may compete in one of two competition levels (A or B) or be approved to try out for Upper School teams.

All students have access to a full suite of state-of-the-art athletic facilities—including a 25-meter six-lane pool, 34-foot climbing wall, equestrian center, dance studios, ice hockey rink, turf and grass fields, and well-stocked fitness center.

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P ositive exchange At Dana Hall, we like to challenge that ingrained message to stick with people who are ‘safe’—people who are similar to us.

One place where students dismantle harmful messaging is Forum, a weekly class that proactively addresses challenging issues in a developmentally appropriate way—from questions about fairness for our fifth-graders to social media responsibility for our eighthgraders to the dehumanization of Black women for our Upper School students. There is a set Forum curriculum, but a lot of conversations happen organically. It becomes an open venue for students to share experiences and ideas.

C onnecting to our community Middle School students and teachers run clubs together and collaborate to explore new possibilities for activities—like the student-initiated Junior STEMinist Club, in which students create and customize their own BOSEbuild Speaker Cubes. Recent clubs at Dana Hall have focused on painting, reading, singing, psychology, growing healthy foods, learning new languages, playing board games, and performing improv. Many students also participate in our affinity groups where they connect, share, and learn with girls of similar cultural backgrounds. At Dana Hall, the options for exploring, caring, growing, and making an impact never stop.

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C onnecting with the world As much as our students learn from our global community on campus, we know it’s just as critical that they learn from their experiences and interactions outside Wellesley. We maintain relationships with a broad range of organizations, including hospitals, women’s shelters, youth programs, and food pantries, where students give their time and energy to volunteering.

Middle School students frequently go much further afield, too. They take trips to Lowell National Historical Park, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Science, and other Boston-area locations. They travel to the places they learn about in class, such as Mystic, Connecticut; New York City; and Philadelphia. And they experience such wondrous parts of the world as the Grand Canyon; Montreal, Canada; Italy; Greece; and South Africa.

With a focus on geology and history, the Middle School trip out west includes a stop at the breathtakingly beautiful Antelope Canyon near Page, Arizona.

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P assions ignited TORIN, J UNIOR One of the things Torin appreciates most about her Middle School experience is the space and encouragement she was given to speak up in class and share her opinions—abilities she considers invaluable in the Upper School. Dana Hall’s engaging classes and enriching opportunities opened Torin’s eyes to new interests, talents, and potential pathways. “I was able to take Latin and Spanish in the Middle School, which sparked my interest in other languages and cultures,” says Torin, who is pursuing both French and Spanish in the Upper School. “I also had the chance to travel to South Africa, which strengthened my interest in studying international relations in college.”

Promising pathways Students accepted into Dana Hall’s Middle School are accepted through grade 12. Having become adept thinkers and self-directed learners in the Middle School—and engaged in our highly integrated 5–12 program—our students are well prepared to tackle advanced Upper School coursework.

Dana Hall’s Upper School students impress on standardized tests, win annual awards in the arts, get recruited by Division I college sports programs, and go on to pursue distinct and ambitious academic tracks in college and grad school—from an advanced degree in neuroscience at Oxford to international public affairs at Columbia University. We’re proud of what they accomplish and the people they become—strong, fierce women with the intelligence, grit, creativity, and determination to make an indelible impression on the world.

All Dana Hall graduates enroll in a four-year college or university, many at the world’s top ranked— such as Georgetown, UPenn, RPI, Smith, and UC Berkeley, to name a few recent examples.

We prepare every student to thrive in her ideal college and choose a path that matches her talents and ambitions.

A senior project at the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston provides the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of how a professional theater is run.

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W hat kinds of students a re right for Dana Hall?

Dana Hall enrolls intelligent, enthusiastic students who are fascinated by the world around them. Who are always asking why, want to know how, and eager to determine what’s next. If that’s who you are, you belong here—regardless of what you look like, where you come from, or what your parents do for a living.

Dana Hall is committed to an inclusive, equitable future—and we believe that future begins with the community we cultivate here. Every year, we award more than $4.5 million in financial aid to ensure tuition isn’t a barrier to enrollment. We also offer financial assistance for purchases such as books, iPads, and international travel—enabling qualified students to benefit from the full scope of what Dana Hall has to offer.

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DANA HALL: F ast facts

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STU D E NT–TO – FACU LT Y R ATI O

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interscholastic athletic teams

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campus 12 miles outside Boston

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the year DANA HALL was founded

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16 APs and 12 HONORS-LEVEL courses offered each year in Upper School

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#AudaciouslyHerself DANA HALL SCHOOL | 45 DANA ROAD | WELLESLEY, MA | 02482-9010 | 781.489.1331 | DANAHALL.ORG