THE LEARNING COMMONS

The Hub of EdTech at Far Hills

In 2017, an idea was born.

During Far Hills Country Day School’s campus master planning process, the administration identified priority physical improvements to the campus that would make the most significant positive impact on the School’s community as a whole. This included reenvisioning the Main Entrance and transforming what was known as the Arcadium space into a vibrant, interactive Learning Commons and adding two breakout rooms.

“Our teachers are amazing, our classrooms are bright, airy, and open,” said Linda Corcoran Pˇ21, Far Hills Country Day School Director of Engagement and Philanthropy. “But, we identified a need for an academic space that could serve as the heart of all Far Hills has to offer—an interactive, dynamic and flexible place where students and teachers could problem-solve creatively and move Far Hills’ goals forward.”

The idea behind the Learning Commons was to provide a space for Far Hills students to feel inspired and curious, to be empowered to ask questions and explore ways to find the answers to them. Not only did this mean creating a new space, but it meant expanding curriculum offerings.

“Far Hills needed a space that connects the five subjects of STEAM— science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics; a spot where

Pictured above are: (front row, left to right) John Palmer '28, Luke Isgro '27, Chase Frerich '27, Blaine Frerich '28, and Leo Pliutsinski '28; (back row, left to right) Aidan Irene '27 and Ben Sobel '27 not only the students can collaborate with their peers, but also where our teachers can collaborate with other departments,” said Far Hills Country Day School Director of Technology Oliver Forsythe Pˇ33.

Aligning with the school’s mission, STEAM was prioritized to further prepare students for success by teaching them ever-important critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

“The ability to inspire innovation and exploration is a lifelong tool,” said Forsythe. “Our STEAM curriculum is designed to impact students throughout their Far Hills experience and beyond. We are motivating our students to embrace collaboration and engagement.”

“STEAM creates a basic framework to think critically, but also contributes to collaboration, creativity, and leadership,” said Pat Barry, Director of Lower School. “These skills are vital for a child’s development and will provide them the skill set to thrive in any environment. It will allow them opportunities in the future to be ahead of their peer group because of the foundation they received in the Learning Commons. These skills are integral to any educational endeavor or job that they pursue.”

Pictured inset is Anaiya Patel '28 taking instruction in the Learning Commons. Pictured right is STEAM Teacher Lauren Kelly (pictured far right) working with Chase Frerich '27 and Ben Sobel '27 during Coding, Robotics, and STEAM Enrichment.

This meant the school had a lot of work to do over the 2022 summer break.

USA Architects of Somerville, NJ, designed a space meant to be functional, versatile, and inspiring. Natoli Construction of Pine Brook, NJ, brought USA Architects’ vision to life.

Michael Petillo Pˇ22, ˇ23 played an integral role, too. As Chairman of the Buildings and Grounds Committee of the board, he was a member of the Learning Commons team effort through concept, budget, planning, and completion. He took on special projects, including finishes on the vintage ceiling/roof, elevating the look of the ceiling, and repaving the parking lot and Main Entrance sidewalk.

Far Hills opened its doors for the 2022–23 school year on Monday, September 12, 2022, and those doors led to a new Main Entrance, the state-of-the-art Learning Commons, and two incredible breakout rooms.

“This bright space with cutting-edge technology sits at the heart of our school, engaging students of all ages,” said Head of School Georgia S. Zaiser. “I am proud of what we accomplished to instill a love of learning in our students.”

“Students now have a place to learn that is customizable to their needs,” said Forsythe. “The Learning Commons provides a space large enough to spread out, but also find a spot small enough to collaborate with peers.”

Lauren Kelly was hired as the STEAM Teacher for Far Hills. Lauren has 16 years of teaching experience and is currently working on her master of education in curriculum and instruction: technology leader, anticipating completion in June of 2023. She is an Apple Certified teacher and a member of the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA).

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Pictured are (front to back, left to right): Kiran Lucas '28, Stella Ingenito '28, faculty member Patty Sullivan, Charlotte Macy '28, and Cash Blanco '28.

“Children learn through discovery—by asking questions and solving problems,” said Kelly. “The Learning Commons allows me to help foster that discovery through building, coding, apps, robotics, and projects, and also allows me to offer support to other teachers in their subject areas. Students who come through the space find ways to innovate, work together, and communicate, and through that, they can develop an authentic love of learning.”

“The Learning Commons checks all the boxes a student needs to succeed,” said Forsythe. “Students can present to their classmates one day, build a robot the next, and work on their Expo project the day after that…all in one space.”

In the words of Matt Mullenweg, social media entrepreneur, and creator of WordPress, “Technology is best when it brings people together.” That’s exactly what we intend to do in the Learning Commons. l