2023-2024 Admissions Brochure - Upper School

UPPER SCHOOL

GRADES NINE THROUGH TWELVE

From the Upper School Principal: Challenging Minds for a Changing World

The Upper School at Dwight-Englewood is a place in which young people are met each day with opportunities for profound intellectual and personal growth. It is a place that challenges their minds and nourishes their spirits. We are proud to offer an academic program that focuses on first building a solid foundation of skills and behaviors so that students can confidently and elegantly pursue more individual journeys later. One of the beautiful things about our school is that learning takes many shapes here and never happens in a vacuum. Learning is a collective and continuous process and so we emphasize the connectedness of our world throughout the curriculum and lean into opportunities for students to grow their capacity for self-advocacy, collaboration, and responsible leadership.

At Dwight-Englewood, we are also extremely proud of our extraordinary faculty. Not only do our teachers bring a wealth of subject-matter expertise to their work but they also bring a deep respect for the art of teaching to their classrooms. Faculty members in the Upper School are busy both in and out of the classroom - serving as club advisors, meeting with students for extra help, or seizing the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues. Our teachers are dynamic, committed to lifelong learning, and passionate about building relationships with their students. They are a gift to the school and one of the many aspects of the D-E experience that travels with our students long after they have graduated.

Beyond the classroom, we have a rich and compelling co-curricular program that enhances our students time at Dwight-Englewood. Students have their pick of nearly 80 student-run clubs to participate in during the school day and a wide variety of competitive athletic teams to join after the school day is over. Dwight-Englewood truly believes that the work students do in the classroom informs their lives outside of it and inversely, the work they do in pursuit of interests outside of the classroom informs their experience in it.

I hope that this has inspired you to learn more about all that Dwight-Englewood has to offer.

Sincerely,

Kim Lalli

Academics

9TH-10TH GRADE CURRICULUM: THE CORE

The Upper School Curriculum begins with a two year core program in English, history, mathematics and science. The primary goal of the core is to meet each individual student’s needs and introduce them to a higher level of study for the future. By that we mean not only the content of each discipline will be addressed, but also the crucial skills and habits needed to make our students true scholars.

Beyond reading and writing, our students will learn how to use textbooks effectively, how to be organized and methodical in writing research papers, how to brainstorm and communicate their creative ideas and how to solve mathematical problems that involve more than just numerical calculations. We want our students to be willing to try new methodologies, venture into new subjects and utilize cross disciplinary knowledge to solve assignments. We want them to stick with a project until they are satisfied and enjoy sharing their findings with others for everyone’s educational benefits. Our students will learn what it means to study English or math or history or science and be primed for advanced work, both within any one discipline or in combination.

MULTICULTURAL LITERACIES AND ETHICS

During the ninth and tenth grades students will also explore two important subjects that we term “literacies”. These literacies fall outside the traditional curriculum, but at D-E we believe are essential to our student’s growth as a scholar and as a human. In the ninth grade, students participate in a seminar on self-identity, empathy and human relations. The seminar encourages students to take advantage of the diversity within our school community while honing their academic skills for the future.

This seminar is followed by the Ethical Thinking course in tenth grade which provides a philosophical introduction to ethical thinking and problem solving. Through case studies and guided conversations, students discuss practical applications of ethical and philosophical concepts in real life situations. Students can choose to pursue ethics by taking upper level electives in philosophy or bioethics in the 11th and 12th grades.

11TH-12TH GRADE CURRICULUM: THE ELECTIVES

The Upper School Curriculum dramatically changes in the junior/senior years. The elective program, that begins in the 11th grade, allows our students the flexibility and access to many unique subject choices in each field. Students will have the opportunity to follow their passions and engage with seasoned teachers while tailoring a curriculum that works specifically for them. For example, students can study United States history from the perspective of the presidency, or that of industry and war, or through the lens of international relations. They can investigate conspiracy theories or journalism or forensics. Additionally, if a student wants to pursue a subject beyond what our curriculum offers, there is flexibility and support to study independently with a faculty member.

SEMESTER COURSES

Astronomy

Bioethics

(H) Bioethics

Current Events in Science (minor course)

Engineering

Environemental Science

Forensics

Physics: Principles and Applications

Robotics

VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS

At Dwight-Englewood, therefore, the arts play an important role from pre-kindergarten through the 12th grade. They permeate the school’s culture: students can take courses of many varieties from performance to set-construction to video production to industrial design. Outside of course work, they can play in ensembles, audition and perform on stage or backstage, in venues larger and smaller, formally or informally. Or they can work after school in the art studios, taking advantage of the facility and contact with the faculty.

SENIOR FOCUS

The Focus program offers seniors a unique year long experience that combines independent intellectual and academic pursuit with extensive fieldwork. In the fall, students write a college-level research paper on a subject of their choosing. Class time is spent on the process of higher level writing and research. For the second semester, they complete an off-campus fieldwork program that complements their research-based experience. The capstone is a formal presentation to a panel of outside experts and faculty, as well as a portfolio documenting their findings. The D-E Focus program was awarded the Leading Edge Award for Curricular Innovation by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).

THE FACULTY

The excellence of a Dwight-Englewood education rests firmly upon the foundation of our seasoned faculty. Of the 70 members of the Upper School faculty, 80% have earned a Masters degree or higher in their field. D-E faculty are experienced, passionate and as dedicated to life-long learning as our students.

A STRUCTURED INVOLVEMENT IN THE ARTS UNLEASHES THE KIND OF CREATIVITY THAT CAN INVIGORATE ONE’S ENTIRE LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

Participating in the fine and performing arts can also help a student grasp mathematical and visual concepts, develop critical literacy and see patterns across academic disciplines.

One of the most exciting things about DwightEnglewood’s arts program is that so many of our instructors boast significant professional experience. Many are active on Broadway, perform in musical ensembles and/or have international recording labels.

By sharing their real-world experience with students, our teachers serve to inspire and to prepare a new generation made up of both people who make art and those who deeply appreciate it.

UPPER SCHOOL

Bell Choir

Ceramics

Chamber Music

Chorus

Dance Club

Digital and Visual Studio Art

Dwight Mix (Coed A Capella)

Fall Play

Festival of Student-Written One Act Plays

IDEA (Intensifying D-E Arts)

Industrial Design

Innovative Design

Jazz Rock

Music Theory

Orchestra

Painting and Drawing

Photography

Printmaking

Stage Band

Stage Crew

StringJam

Student-Directed Theatre Productions

Video Production

Winter Musical

Visual and Performing Arts

Student Groups and Organizations

WE ARE DEDICATED TO PROVIDING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT PROMOTES LEARNING IN DIVERSE WAYS ABOUT OUR COMPLEX, DYNAMIC WORLD.

We believe clubs play a significant role in the development of our students. Clubs allow for students to explore their passions outside of academics and to gain leadership skills.

In Upper School, opportunities expand exponentially. We view extracurricular involvement as opportunities for students to grow personally and develop critical leadership skills while pursuing areas of interest, or perhaps curiosity. In the structure of our Upper School schedule, students are able to engage in various areas of interest ranging from music to community service to robotics.

Student Groups and Organizations

Robotics

MAGIC

STUDENT GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS

AIDS Awareness

All-Mountain/Ski Club

Animal Cruelty Awareness Club

Asian Affinity Group

ASL Club

Begin Your Business

Black Affinity Group

Calliope

Chess Club

Chinese Culture Club

Classics Club

CODES (Community Outreach of D-E)

Coding Club

D-E Crew

D-E Stress

Dance Club

DE-Scover

Debate Team

DECA/Future Business Leaders of America

Drama Club

Dwight Mic

DEFAC (Dwight-Englewood Fights Against Cancer)

Dwight-Englewood Robotics

Educadores Latinoamericanos

Environmental Club

Ethics Bowl

First Amendment Political Discussion Club

Girl Up

GSA (Gender & Sexuality Association)

HODES (Humans of D-E)

HOPE

INSPIRE (student diversity club)

JADE (Jewish Awareness at D-E)

Jazz Rock

Korean Culture Club

Latino Affinity Group

Marketing Club

Math Team

Memory Keepers

Mock Trial

MODE

Model Congress

Model United Nations

My Mind Matters

Multiracial Affinity Group

Parnassus

Peer Tutoring

Philosophy Club

Photography Club

Robotics: FTC Teams 0207, 13048, 13663

Russian Culture Club

Spectrum

Stock Market Club

Students in Support of Doctors Without Borders

Teens Connecting Communities

The Flea

Tour Guides

UNICEF at DE

WISE (Women in STEM Education)

Yearbook

Young Democrats Club

Young Republicans Club

Groups Organizations

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE EQUALLY IN ACADEMICS AND ATHLETICS PERMEATES D-E SCHOOL CULTURE.

Our coaches help students become strong team players and effective leaders - both on the field and in the classroom. In this way, students develop character as much as physical skill.

At Dwight-Englewood School, we teach the concept of good sportsmanship beginning in the Lower School, where young students develop gross motor skills.

In Middle School, some children may have their first athletic experience with a specific sport and with competitive athletics; for others, it may represent a move from a club or town recreation league. Therefore, we strive to provide a safe learning environment for students to acquire the skills and concepts for the sport in which they are participating.

In the Upper School, Dwight-Englewood School strives to provide an athletic environment complementing the educational experience that promotes excellence through the virtues of commitment to team and community; a focus on development of discipline to a cause; the benefits of healthy competition that motivates winning; and the importance of sportsmanship, ethical behavior, and growth in humility.

Girls Lacrosse

Boys Basketball

Girls Softball

UPPER SCHOOL

FALL

Cross-Country

Field Hockey

Soccer

Tennis

Volleyball

WINTER

Basketball

Winter Track

Indoor Track

Ski Racing

SPRING

Baseball

Golf

Lacrosse

Softball

Tennis

Track & Field

Ultimate Frisbee

Crew

Congratulations to the Dwight-Englewood Class of 2023

CLASS OF 2023 MATRICULATION LIST

We celebrate the class of 2023 as they graduate and move on to the next chapter of their lives. For these talented and spirited seniors, the end of their Upper School experience is truly a “commencement” as much as a graduation. The broad range of their interests and accomplishments allows them to leave Dwight-Englewood firm in the knowledge that they have succeeded in many ways during their time here. They are well prepared to face their new beginnings in many of the most selective colleges and universities in the country. They have chosen these colleges after significant and focused research, so they also leave with the confidence that they have made smart choices for themselves. We applaud them for their efforts and wish them the very best.

As a community of learners, Dwight-Englewood School strives to foster in each student a passion for life-long learning. We seek excellence, honor integrity, and embrace diversity in order to develop the skills, values and courage to meet the challenges of a changing world and make it better.

Jessica Lee Director of Upper School Admissions